Locust Free

"And the Lord changed the wind to a very strong west wind which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt." Exodus 10:19

As we look forward to the new year and change, I am reminded of the children of Israel who were about to prepare to leave Egypt. But before they could have effective change, something that would set a precedence for their future, and future generations. They believed their long awaited freedom was about to take place. But God did an extraordinary thing, he had to prepare both the Egyptians and the Israelites to receive His perfect plan.

If Pharoah would have said, "Okay Moses, take this group and leave" when first requested, the Israelites would most likely not have taken much with them. They would have gone in the direction of God's promise but without the spoils of the evil that they had suffered through for over 400 years.

Sending the plagues to the people of Egypt prepared both camps to understand that it is the Living God Jehovah that all things bow to; that creates and can stop crisis. The magicians of Egypt could duplicate the miracle, but they couldn'd reverse them. Only God!

Today, if you just can't seem to get over the hurdles, take some time and ask God if you're fully in His camp. Then ask for the help over the hurdles; send the locusts out of your life. Locusts bring a type of death because they eat up all the provision, which kills the spirit, robs you of your inheritance, and destroys the vision.

This is a time when we think in terms of new resolutions, may I strongly suggest that we make strong commitment unto the Lord, so that each step will be in the perfect will of the Father, for our success and His glory.

Remember everything starts with one word and one step, point yours in the direction of success.

A firey flame for His service,
Susan Storm Smith

How Far The East Is From The West

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

Psalms 103:12 NIV

What a wonderful thought for today as we see the collapse of peace internationally, challenges in every country that the population has no control over; but the Lord, he knows the end from the beginning, and in Him shall those who believe have salvation and safety. And in those moments of wonder and concern, I know that in and because of Jesus, I am free.

Because of His sacrifice for each of us, he has removed our sin. We can face today and the tomorrows that are not promised on this earth, knowing that we remain His no matter what. Thank you Lord for repentance, for salvation, for making time and space of no consequence in You.

A Firey Flame For His Service,
Susan Storm Smith

That's The Way God Planned It!

"Do not let your hearts be troubled; Trust in God, trust also in me." John 14:1 [Jesus speaks comforting His disciples]

He says the same thing to us today, let not your heart be troubled. He has told us the things that we are challenged with in life would certainly happen. The song in the video below has stayed on my heart for weeks and I share it with you dear friends as we are more than over comers by the Word, "That's The Way God Planned It!"

If you fell like getting your dance on while listening--get it on! The late great Billy Preston ...



A fiery flame for His service,
Susan Storm Smith

Love Give Life To Me

"According to Your steadfast love give life to me; then I will keep the testimony of Your mouth [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it]." Psalms 119:88 Amp

King David understood that there was something about God's love that went beyond what we could comprehend in our human emotions. Unconditional love the gives life and meaning to our existence. The steadfast love of God allows us to experience the supernatural realm of glory; to be transformed by the renewing of our minds [Romans 12:1-2], desiring more of a real relationship with Him.

A superficial acknowledgment of my salvation is not enough any more. Lord, I want all of you! Let me experience the love that goes beyond mortal understanding. When you sing to me, let my praise meet with your awesome truth. With every breath let it be for your glory! You are the lover of my soul, for you give me life for evermore.

May your prayer be for real relationship with God that our emotions can only hint toward.

Trusting Beyond Faith

"I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the darkness." John 12:46 NLT

What an inspiration Jesus gave to each of us if we will TRUST in Him. I found that faith and trust are not the same thing. For several months He asked, "Do you trust me?" Flippantly I answered, "Of course I do." This back and forth went on for a while. One day I realized I wasn't giving God the right answer. Finally I inquired, "what do you mean, trust?"

Searching the scriptures, especially in Psalms, trust and faith are not used interchangeably but quite separately. Then the Holy Spirit gave me a beautiful explanation. I pray that it will be a help to you in your daily walk of pressing forward towards the goal "for which Christ apprehended me." Philippians 3:12

Picture yourself standing within the entrance of an extremely long tunnel. Faith can see a small pinpoint of light at the further end, but not what is in the blackness of the walk towards the light. Now stand in that same spot blindfolded, you don't know what is ahead, and like faith, you don't know what is under your feet or on the walls. You just Trust God and move forward. You have come to the place of knowing that He is constantly with you, and that"your feet are ordered by the Lord." Psalms 37:23

May your journey take you through trusting in the Lord, walking in His light for a bright tomorrow.

A Fiery Flame for His Service [Hebrews 1:7]
Susan Storm Smith

Oil For the Lamp

"Tell the people of Israel to bring you pure olive oil for the lampstand, so it can be kept burning continually. The lampstand will be placed outside the inner curtain of the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle."

Exodus 27:20-21

Reading this passage of scripture today, I pondered whether my oil was pure enough to place in a lampstand to be placed within even the proximity of the Most High God. While we know that each day we are saved by Grace from our loving Lord, are we doing all that we can to be pressed out to our full measure and pure before Him?

It is so fitting that the Lord put on my heart to start this new blog today, on what the world refers to as Christmas Eve. A season of new beginning and magnitude of hope in the promises of prophets heralding what God had planned for those who seek after His righteousness.

The purpose of this blog is to inspire and encourage each of us to be pressed through the Word and Holy Spirit, to be crushed from ourselves into the refiners oil that would be able to fill the lampstand of the Lord--being a beacon on a hill that all through Him might come to salvation.

A Fiery Flame For His Service
Susan Storm Smith