We had a television & microwave. But that’s about it!

Posted on: June 30th, 2023 by Sue Anderson - Leave a comment

When my kids were still really young, and their father wasn’t paying child support, I had to call churches to ask them to help me pay my bills. I didn’t attend church, or have a close one-on-one relationship with God at that point. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even know that was a possibility then. But what I did know was that some churches helped people that were struggling financially. If they felt so inclined. I didn’t know why they did it. I just knew they did it.

It’s embarrassing to call places and ask for help. At least it was for me. I felt like I was being such a nuisance to whomever I called. I was embarrassed that I wasn’t able to provide everything I should be able to provide for my children. I didn’t want anyone to think that I thought providing for my kids was their responsibility, rather than mine. I knew that there had to be so many other people in the world who were struggling with a much more dire situation than we were. So, I felt guilty asking for anything that I thought someone else probably needed more than I did. But I was pretty desperate.

Finally after many phone calls, a man from the local Catholic church came to my apartment to go over all of my bills with me, to see how they could help. As he was sorting through my bills, I kept apologizing to him for having to ask for help. I told him that I was certain there were others who were living in a much worse situation than we were. It’s funny to me now, but I kept apologizing to him for having to ask for financial help even though we could afford a television set and microwave. As if being able to afford a television and microwave indicated you were rich! But even then, when I could barely afford food, I recognized what a luxury it was to have those items. Some people don’t even have a home. I think no matter what our situation is, we must always look for our blessings. Because, they are there.

When I think of the situation now, I realize just how silly I must have sounded for apologizing that I had enough money to afford a microwave and television, but couldn’t afford my bills. I think it had more to do with feeling selfish for asking for money that I knew someone else probably needed more than me. But I truly needed someone to help us! I didn’t know at the time that churches help people in that way because they want to show people, especially unchurched people, God’s love. I can tell you that I’ve never forgotten the way they showed me God’s love. It truly made a positive impact on my life. How have you shown God’s love to others? Or, how have you received God’s love from someone else? I’d love to know!

Do Not Worry About Tomorrow

Posted on: June 24th, 2023 by Sue Anderson - Leave a comment

So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans* run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34 NIV)

_{*People who are not religious.}

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Posted on: June 22nd, 2023 by Sue Anderson - Leave a comment

Long ago, when I first realized that I’d be writing Modern Day Noah, I began searching for the perfect picture that could visually convey the feelings that I was experiencing as I made my decision to step out into the unknown, all alone. Although it was a super exciting thing to do, it was also very scary because I had absolutely no one to fall back on. There were so many risks that I had to take in order to follow God’s prodding for me to live out His plan for my life. I’d never financially lived my life the way He was asking me to live it. And there were real fears associated with that.

When I found the picture that I ended up using for the cover (above), I immediately knew it was the perfect one. Anything else paled in comparison to it. The little boat in the picture represents me. The boat is surrounded by a large, expansive, body of water, which is keeping the little boat far away from the safety of the shore. It looks like an overcast day that has the threat of storms rolling in at any moment. To me, the image accurately captured the totality of the risk I was taking. I would either end up sinking out there, completely alone, with no one there to help me. Or, I would safely make it to shore and live happily ever after. In the end, I felt like the picture accurately represented that I was taking the risk completely alone, with no safety net. I was stepping out into the unknown, by faith alone.

Fast forward to today, more than a decade after I originally chose the image that I ended up using for the book cover. I finally completed writing Modern Day Noah, and published the book a couple of months ago. Within a month of publishing the book, a close friend of mine was vacationing in Hawaii and sent me the picture above. It immediately brought me to tears because it looks just like the same image that I had chosen for Modern Day Noah when I first set out on this journey. Except, the picture she sent me looks like a brighter, more hopeful and happier version of the original picture. It doesn’t evoke those same scary feelings. Instead, her picture evokes warm, peaceful and happy feelings. To me, her picture represents looking at the very same image (decision), but knowing now that it all worked out. Knowing that it was well worth the risks I took. It’s the “happily ever after” version of the same picture I chose so many years ago. It is a nice reminder of how wonderful it is to follow God’s prompting, even when we don’t understand them. What has God been prodding you to do?

I’m a little scared, God.

Posted on: June 17th, 2023 by Sue Anderson - 2 Comments

Although I’ve known for years that it was God’s desire for me to write Modern Day Noah, and share my story, the thought of doing it was still very daunting. On one hand, I was super excited to share the dramatic ways that He worked in my life, in order to encourage others. But on the other hand, I struggled with my own insecurities about whether or not it would be good enough. Yet, I was extremely confident that if He was directing me to share my story, that meant that He would find a way to use it somehow. But still, I was scared.

So, the first weekend that I announced on social media that I had officially published Modern Day Noah, I felt super queasy inside. It was a mixture of excitement, relief and great fear. At church, while bowing my head in prayer at the end of the service, I said, “God, I am praying for the people that read Modern Day Noah. May you have all of the glory. It’s all about you, not me. But, while I’ve got you, God, can I please order a side of reassuring feedback to settle my heart.” I sort of giggled at the notion, but I truly meant it. I needed something that told me I hadn’t just made a complete fool out of myself.

Just as I had shared throughout MDN, God didn’t waste any time answering that prayer. I’d say he answered it almost immediately. Without missing a beat, I received an email with feedback about MDN from someone that I don’t even know. It’s one thing when your friends tell you something you did impacted them. But it’s a whole other story when a stranger takes the time to reach out and tell you how your words impacted them.

On top of that, she was so moved by the book that she wanted my address so that she could send me a water color picture she had made. (She’s an artist.) You’ll find the gorgeous painting to the left of this paragraph. This gesture was such a strong, positive reaction to the book (and to my prayer for reassurance), that I immediately began to cry. I was so grateful that He took the time to reassure me through her words and actions.

Within the next 24-hours, I had two other people reach out to me because they wanted to share the impact my story was having on them. Both of these people were someone that I’ve known, sort of at a distance, for quite some time. But not anyone that would have felt obligated to reach out to me and tell me something encouraging just to make me feel better. They really were moved. As always, I was blown away by the level at which God answered my simple request. I hope you know that He’s waiting to hear from you too!

The Book, Modern Day Noah, is now available!

Posted on: June 15th, 2023 by Sue Anderson - Leave a comment

Modern Day Noah is my own powerfully dramatic “God story.” It is my hope that the book, and this blog, will motivate, encourage and inspire you in a relatable, down to earth way.

The book leads you through the emotional ups and downs of my life. From merely existing, and just doing my best to survive whatever life threw at me, to finding my purpose and thriving in life!

It is my compelling journey of “finding God” after a lot of heartbreak and hardships in my early life. And, how that completely changed my life. The book shares the many amazing and supernatural ways that He tested me, and slowly taught me that I could trust Him completely. Through the journey, I inadvertently discover what my true passion and purpose in life is, and I start to live that out. (Spoiler alert! It’s helping people get organized!) It’s a story of faith, and the power that God can have in our lives, if we let Him.

It was March 1, 2013, when I took a leap of faith and left all of my financial security behind me (by leaving my well-paid, full-time job) to follow God’s direction for my life. After years of struggle and prayer, I finally boldly walked into the unknown, to pursue what I had learned was my purpose in life. It made absolutely no earthly sense to do what I did. But I knew that was God’s plan for my life, and so I knew I had to follow it.

Today is May 12, 2023. That’s more than ten years later! Can I tell you that I have never once looked back with regret? My life has such meaning and purpose now compared to the life I left behind. I am not only thriving in life now, I also have the opportunity to change other people’s lives in a positive way – every single day. It doesn’t get any better than that!