Eric Suddoth's Blog, page 38

Brave…Not Timid Me

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I went to bed super early last night since I slept none the night before, but I kept waking up ever 2 hours. I eventually got up and headed to my first spot – Honfleur. Honfleur is a small fishing village but lots of charm. I walked the cobblestone streets and reflected. This is a fishing village, but Jesus said we are all to be fishers of men. Looking at my past, I don’t recall moments of my “biggest” catch. I back off on sharing the gospel because I assume people around me know based on my actions. But am I living any different than a atheist doing good deeds? Could someone tell the difference? Probably not, sadly.

Next I went to two neighboring villages, Deauville and Trouville. Once again more beautiful seaside towns with many quiet streets to hide in. And then I wondered, how often am I hiding in the quiet spots in my life? Hiding in the contentment, hiding in the mundane, hiding in the stereotypical life I live. Christ was bold with His living. While I tiptoe on eggshells. I live the quiet life too well…sometimes to my own detriment.

Lastly, i went to Omaha Beach. As I stood on the beach where soldiers bled and died, I couldn’t help but think, who would seriously go to war for the act of bravery? I was amazed how many men were eager to fight in this horrific battle. Eager. While I get numb watching Saving Private Ryan between my fingers, a mere movie. Oh, how little I know of bravery. How little I know of sacrifice. How much I know of selfish cowardness. I know that too well.

Once again I listened to Hillsong while I drove. The song Anchor played as I approached the beach and it struck a nerve. Christ is my anchor…but where’s my proof? Where’s the sacrifice? Where’s the burden needed to convince others of my devotion?

Maybe I will find it someday. Maybe I will learn to be a little braver like the men on D- Day. Maybe just a little.

Peace – Tomorrow Mont Saint Michael. If you’ve never heard of it, google it. I’m excited to get lost in that island.

Claude the Bod and God

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I landed in Paris this morning before 7 and had preordered my rental car to pick it up at 8:30 a.m. Customs was quick, I didn’t have to wait for luggage since I brought only a carry on and the rental companies were actually at the airport…so I had to wait at Hertz 45 minutes since I prepaid to pick it up at 8:30 and I showed up at 7:45. Really? You couldn’t just release the car 45 minutes early? Nope.

Well, it all worked out. Since I had to wait it gave me time to fool with my GPS. Crossing my fingers that the Garmin chip I bought on Amazon was going to work for the Europe maps. It found the satellite right when I started my car, which is incredible because sometimes it take 10 minutes or so if you use the GPS in a new location. And the maps worked great. Only a few detours, but luckily she recalculated my route. I wonder how many times God recalculates our routes to keep us on track with Him? I always say that God is smart enough to have some onramps in life for when I mess up and take the wrong exit, to allow me the chance to get back on track. Thank goodness for His heavenly GPS, His still small voice, guiding me.

I attached my iPod and instantly Hillsong was being played in my car. The hour long drive to my first stop was a time to relax and trust God. I stress out during this part of my trip every time, but this time, I felt calm. It was as if God was saying, “Just chill and enjoy the views.”

I headed to my first stop, Giverny, France, the home to Claude Monet. Walking around the tiny village, I was amazed that this impressionist painter painted in the same place I was standing. He has a massive body of work that expands beyond lily pads. Call me an art nerd, but I think anyone who can take pieces of anything and make something are geniuses. Woodworkers, bakers, painters, quilters…I can’t do it. Just as God takes pieces we each have to He unites us in a Heavenly fashion that we could never have orchestrated. Interesting how creative God is in so many ways.

Then I headed north to the coast to see the stunning Etretat Coast. I was shocked by the cozy village of Etretat that I strolled through and then stood amazed at the beautiful cliffs. I love coastlines and cliffs. It’s humbling to see something so massive and know God sculpted it and it’s even more heartening to know He sculpted me with much more care. I was able to see the cliffs from the bottom and then I made the climb up to the top of the cliffs. Different perspectives give different insights. When you look at something you get an awe moment, but when you look out from that height and see the entire village nearby, well, it was a sight to behold. It’s like when we are dealing with something and all we see is the giant mountain in the way. But God who is on the mountain sees the impact that one mountain is going to make for generations to come. Don’t fear the cliffs…climb them knowing God is with you every step of the way.

Lastly, I headed to another small village to stay for the night. I strolled the empty streets and eventually succumb to tiredness since I can’t sleep on planes and it has been a busy last 2 days.

Tomorrow…Normandy.

May you find something God has created and marvel at His art. It could be something you’ve seen everyday, but sometimes we just need to slow down and breathe. Dig deeper into Him. If you do, He will blow your minds.

Peace

France – Cincinnati

I begin my trip to France today and I want bring each of you along. So I’m going to try to blog each day about the day. The sights, the experiences, the awesome wonder of it all. I’m hoping this week alone with God will stir an awakening for things to come. As I was driving to Cincinnati I listened to Hillsong Worship and the speaker preached, Behold New Roads. Fitting.

Who knows what may happen, but I know these are just some new roads to explore. And Behold.

Peace

Take a Chance

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I’m getting ready to leave for a week and explore a place I’ve never been. I’m well planned, I have a route to drive, sights to see, places to sleep each night. Yet, no matter how much I plan I’m always nervous between the airport and my first stop. Always. I am fine getting lost on day 3, but on day 1 I need that assurance that everything is okay.

I have a surge of emotions every time I walk around aimlessly in the airport – where do I go for customs, where’s the luggage, hopefully the signs are in English or someone will point me in the right direction. No matter how many times I have traveled that’s the feeling that gnaws at me the most. The feeling of being lost in a new place without any reference of how to get to point B.

Isn’t that how life in general is?

We enter this world feeble, lost and weak and we need help from someone whose been around to guide us, lead us, teach us, and help us. Without the love of our parents or guardians we would be prey for the fittest because sadly life is all about survival. There have been many times strangers must have seen the baffled look on my face and pointed me to the local train or subway. It’s those people that I just want to hug with my suitcase and backpack in hand. Yet it’s those type of people we take for granted in daily life.

Kindness of strangers is a blessing, but kindness from loved ones is a precious heirloom. Treasure it.

I may be afraid at first, but it’s only for an hour. The rest of the trip will be an adventure in a new land. New faces to see. Unbelievable sights to sneak a peak at. Dreamlike memories to be made. I may physically be alone on my trip, but I’m not. I will only be a WiFi away from chat from home. I will only be a snack break away from a strangers smile (hopefully). I will only be a prayer away from Him.

So take a chance for a life without chances will still end in death.

Peace

Devotional – Chapter 2 – Hope…What Are You Hoping For? Part 2 of 2

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“For
in this hope we were saved.  But hope
that is seen is no hope at all.  Who
hopes for what he already has?  But if we
hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”  Romans 8:24-25

Have
you ever heard anyone say, “I can’t find my car keys” as they are driving in
their car?  Or “I can’t find my book,” as
they are reading it on the couch?  Or “I
can’t decide what to eat” as they chew on their hamburger?  Well, hopefully, we never hear people say
these as they are doing them, but we often hear them.  People search for their lost cell phones as
friends dial their number, anxiously following the path to the ringing.  They hope to find their cell phone, but do
they hope for it after they get it?  No,
and there is no reason to hope for something that they already have.  It’s like a child at Christmas hoping to get
the latest video game. But they never sit hoping for it on Christmas afternoon
after they have unwrapped their game. 
No, they are playing it like they only have a few hours of
daylight.  If you had a crystal ball and
knew on a certain date when your dream would happen, would you do anything
until that day?  Would you work hard or
would you slack off, because you know that it will happen?  We all would stop working and take longer
naps if we knew the day that our goals would be achieved.  I wonder if that’s why God never gives a set
date, He just plants us with a dream to follow and fills us with hope until the
perfect day arrives.

Are
you still hoping?  What can you do to
stay strong in your faith and hopes?

If
you have given up on hoping, why give up on the God who has never given up on
you?  If God spoke to you, He didn’t
intend for that message to be for someone else. 
You didn’t pick up someone else’s prayer.  He wants you to continue to hold firm to the
belief that there is something bigger coming your way.  Hold onto hope.

“Hope
is faith holding out its hand in the dark.”  – George Iles

Reach
for it!

We
need to wait patiently with hope. God works everything out perfectly, but sometimes
from our viewpoints it may seem chaotic. 
We need to rest in His plans, His good and perfect plans.  May you rest in your hope that God has given
you a dream to fulfill. 

Hope has a way of turning its face to you
just when you least expect it
you walk in a room
you look out a window
and something there leaves you breathless
you say to yourself
it’s been a while since I felt this
but it feels like it might be hope

– Sara Groves

Sometimes we mistake God’s grace and mercy because we have forgotten what it feels like.  Do you remember the feeling?  Why not reconnect with God to ignite the flame that wants to burn long and strong.

Daily Scripture – Psalm 39

If you enjoyed this devotional, check out my book, Dream Chasers – A Journey of Faith. Peace

Chapter 2 – Hope…What Are You Hoping For? Part 1 of 2

“Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.”  Song of Songs 2:7b

Many
years ago my Tuesday night Bible Study group did Tommy Nelson’s A Study of
Love, Sex, Marriage and Romance.  I
wasn’t dating anyone at the time and at the beginning of the study I wondered,
“Why even come? Why do I need to hear about romance when I’m not even dating
anyone?”  Thankfully, the Gardners, the
leaders of the group, convinced me to stick with it.  Tommy Nelson made a point that has forever
changed my lookout.  “It is better to be
single and have hope than to be in a hopeless marriage.”  If that was the only thing I got out of the
two months (I got a lot out of Tommy Nelson, and I highly recommend this study
series) it was well worth it for that giant statement.

So,
in your life, where is your hope?  Do you
feel like you are single, searching with incredible hope and faith that God has
something great in store? Or have you settled down to your mundane life and
given up on hope?  Most people would
think that searching for a lifetime would be horrible, but if you are searching
with God, is there a better life?

I
don’t want this devotional to veer onto marriage, but I see how faith and
marriage mirror one another.  One night
when I was having supper with my friends, a married couple, the wife looked at
me sincerely, “Eric, are you happy?”  The
question startled me because she thought that since I was single I must not be
happy.  “Yes, I am very happy.” I
answered and wondered, should I have asked them the same question?  Sadly, I look around at many marriages and if
I asked that question to them, I bet they would say the same thing I did. Only they
would be lying through their teeth.  They
jumped into love to quickly because it was time for them to get married. So,
are you happy?

This
may sound strange, but don’t jump into your dreams to quickly, because after a
week or two you may hit rock bottom and be in a hopeless life.  I believe that is the worst life to
live.  Do not become a Christian robot.  Feel the love of God.  Express your heart to Him, the good and the
bad.  Show your true colors of
faith.  Don’t get tied down by your life,
but let your life run free with hope. 
Are you tied or are you free? 
What do you need to do to untie your knots?

If
you feel like you are in a hopeless life, God can change that.  It will not be easy; it will take time; it
will probably hurt, but it will be worth it. 
It may be similar to someone sitting in the dark for days lonely,
starving, and afraid.  It is a bad
existence, but you have adapted to the surroundings.  Your vision may have even adapted to see the hard-cold
brick walls.  When finally the doors open,
you are excited about your freedom. But when the bright light shines into your
eyes, you are blinded.  At first the
shock of the light startles you and you sink back into the darkness because it
was familiar; it was comfortable; it was what you knew.  Please don’t sit a lifetime in the dark
because that is what you are used to. Get up and walk in the blinding
light.  It is going to be hard and you
may bump into many things along the way. But eventually, it will be well worth all
the stumbling.  If you fall, get back up.

Please
hold onto hope. Relationships can be mended. Marriages can be rekindled. Dreams
can be awaken. A phoenix rising from the ashes is mythical, but God has done
greater things than that. Far greater.

Daily Scripture – Psalm 16

If you enjoyed this devotional, check out my book, Dream Chasers – A Journey of Faith. Peace

Devotional – Chapter 1 – Are You Sure? 2 of 2

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“Your path led through the sea,

Your way through the mighty waters,

though
Your footprints were not seen.”  Psalm
77:19

Imagine
yourself leaving Egypt with the rest of the Hebrew children, running from
Pharaoh. You are at the head of the pack. 
Suddenly, you come to a mighty sea. 
You look back and see the rest of your friends and family being chased
by chariots filled with Egyptians.  “Um,
God, are you sure about this?”  Moses
raises his hands and miraculously the water parts, opening a path to
freedom. 

Would
you take the first step or would you wait for someone else to lead the
way?  Would your faith be strong enough
to walk the hallway of the Red Sea?

God
is still performing miracles to direct our paths. The path that He planned
before time.  Where is God calling you to
walk?

Has God performed a great work in your life?  Yes!  Say amen!  Just living and breathing is a miracle.  Why do we forget about all He has done and only see the bleak future?  Think about your past.  You made it through all your mountains and valleys.  I know that there were times that I thought I would fail, and I just wanted to crawl up in my bed and wait for the storms to pass.  They eventually passed, and I am stronger today because I faced them. Think of times when you thought that you would not make it through some of your circumstances.  Well, you are still alive so you made it through.  That should bring praise.  What can you do to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness to you?

“I
will remember the deeds of the Lord;

Yes,
I will remember Your miracles of long ago.” 
Psalm 77:11

Come
on and give testimony to the blessings in your life.  You may need to hear them more than anyone
else.  You may not see God’s footprints,
but He’s here.  He is always walking with
you.

Even though I walk through the valley of shadow of death

Your perfect love is casting out fear

And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this
life

I won’t turn back, I know You are near

And I will fear no evil

For my God is with me

And if my God is with me

Whom then shall I fear?

Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go

– Matt Redman “You Never Let Go”

Daily Scripture – Psalm 27

If you enjoyed this devotional, check out my book, Dream Chasers – A Journey of Faith.

Peace

Devotional – Chapter 1 – Are You Sure? – 1 of 2

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When I wrote my recently published book, Dream Chasers – A Journey of Faith, a friend recommended me writing devotionals for each chapter. So, in the coming weeks, I will be releasing the devotional portion of the book to dig deeper into this dream journey that we each are on. I have written two devotionals per chapter, so each week I will be sending out two blog posts. These devotionals are not included in the book, but were written to encourage the reader a little more. Hope you like them.

Devotional – Chapter 1 – Are You Sure – 1 of 2

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before Him.”  1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Have
you ever looked at someone and thought, “How did he get that position?” or “How
did she do that?”  I know I have done
that many times, and I have often thought that about myself.  I am nothing special.  I have come to terms that I am not the
smartest person.  I have yielded to my
thinking of not being the most talented. 
I have even held up of my hands in surrender of not having the highest
potential.  I understand that I am just a
man, like everyone else…but with God, all He needs is just a man. 

We
are God’s vessels to be used.  Are you
willing to raise your white flag and humbly accept the fate that you are
nothing?  Can you lay down your own prideful
reputation of being seen as the person who can do it all?  What do you need to surrender?

When
you surrender, that is when you become something. Interesting how when you lose
it all, you really gain more than you had before.  God is a baffling God. 

“In a very real sense not one of us is qualified, but it seems that God continually chooses the most unqualified to do His work, to bear His glory.  If we are qualified, we tend to think that we have done the job ourselves.  If we are forced to accept our evident lack of qualification, then there’s no danger that we will confuse God’s work with our own, or God’s glory with our own.” – Madeline L’Engle Walking on Water – Reflections on Faith and Art

It
is humbling to realize that we are but a vapor in life.  We puff out our chest and think that we are
gods walking on earth. When really, that is the farthest thing from the
truth.  We are only able to do what we
do, because of God.  Have you come to terms
with that fact?

When
we faithfully follow God where He leads, sometimes the outcome is not what we
planned.  Success is not always about an
endpoint or a destination.  Success is
saying that you endured the journey, the journey with God.

“I
have fought the good fight.  I have
finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 
2 Timothy 4:7

“I have to try, but I do not have to succeed.  Following Christ has nothing to do with success as the world sees success.  It has to do with love.” – Madeline L’Engle Walking on Water – Reflections on Faith and Art

Daily Scripture – Psalm 118

If you enjoyed this devotional, check out my book, Dream Chasers – A Journey of Faith.

https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Chasers-Journey-Eric-Suddoth/dp/1949869059/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=dream+chaser+book&qid=1566782905&s=gateway&sr=8-5

Peace

Have You Had the Talk with Your Kids?

[image error]I’m not talking about the birds and the bees talk, even though that talk is important. I’m talking about the talk to ask if anyone has “hurt” them? It’s a sad world that this type of talk has to be said, but it needs to be said.

I cringed when I first heard the statistics a few years ago that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually victimized. When I first heard this I was leading a group of middle school boys and it saddened me to think that statistically speaking one of them might have been a victim. So I talked to my group of guys. Was it fun? Nope. It was awkward. But I loved them enough to tell them that if anyone had ever done anything to them that they needed to tell someone, if not me, tell their their parents, teachers, guardians, or anyone. Thankfully, no one spoke up. Next I sent the awkward text to the parents to ask them to talk to their sons. Open communication is the answer in so many situations. Thankfully, I had a good number of parents text me back thanking me about bringing up this topic.

If you can get past this awkwardly important conversation, good, because life is full of awkward moments. Sweeping conversations under the rug is not the answer. Thinking that your kids will come to you is a cop out. Believing that they are safe is irrational. It’s not a safe world, but taking precautions can make them safer. The people that hurt kids are the people already in their lives and that’s a chilling thought. Not all predators are on a list that you can look up. Not all worthless scum bags have tattoos on their forehead, “Warning! Warning!” Many of these vile humans are your friends, neighbors, family members, teachers and mentors.

You may think, “Eric, you are a prime example of someone you are warning us about?” Exactly. Even though I know I would never hurt any of my young friends that I help lead, you don’t. You don’t know what someone else thinks about. So get to know the people in your kids lives. Ask your kids questions. Ask the adults questions. Have these tough conversations now. How many times do you hear about 30 or 50 year olds coming forward and saying they were abused and they never told anyone about it before. It happens. But that is too many years for that person to be locked in their own prison of fears. You have the keys to unlock that prison. You hold the keys to help them never get in that cell.

If you have had these conversations, good. But it’s not a one time and done conversation. They need to be had routinely. If you haven’t had these type of conversations, it’s time that you have it. It’s better to have an awkward conversation now than having a worse conversation in the future.

You may think, why this topic Eric? Well, I was having lunch with my dad a week ago and he brought up about the police raiding a human trafficking place and arresting many people in the U.S. It happens here in the U.S. It could be happening in your neighborhood. So have the talk.

One of my guys told me one time that his parents had “the talk” with him. “If Eric ever does anything to you, you have to tell us.” He laughed about the conversation.

I said, “Good! I’m glad they said that. That just means your parents love you.”

So, love your kids enough to have the talk.

Please.

We Are Each Given a Seed – Have You Planted It Yet?

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Are you a gardener? Or do you have a green thumb that can grow just about anything? I’m not sure if I am or not, but my coworkers tend to think I am and give me their dying plants. Some have come back, one did not. But the process isn’t a quick one. It takes time to see new life start to grow. Our lives are just like that.

I truly believe God has given each and everyone of us a seed. Call it a dream, a goal, a passion, a desire to do something that only we can do. What are you going to do with that seed? Are you going to keep it locked in a chest like an heirloom and pull it out on special occasions and regale of the memory you once had? Are you going to sit it on the mantle like a trophy and showcase it to everyone? Or are you going to bury it in some rich soil, water it and tend it to make it grow? But the thing is, when you bury it, you have to have patience. You don’t know if the seed has sprouted roots or if it’s just a dud seed doing nothing. We all have the same options in life. It’s just are you going to take that step into the unknown and start an uncharted journey…a journey God wants to walk with you. It doesn’t matter your age or wealth or education or background. If God gives you a dream, He will provide the means. I have a saying, take a chance for a life without chances will still in death.

Don’t live one more day in regret. Only you can make that change. Only you can take that first step. Only you can plant that seed.

You will never experience the beauty of a bloom until you dig your fingers in trenches of the dirt.

It’s time to start planting.

Peace