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Susan Alexander Yates

Susan Alexander Yates

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Certainty In Christ

Photo by Hugh Fergusson on Unsplash.

Dear Friends, 

God doesn’t want us to hope or wonder if we will one day be in heaven with Him. He wants us to know for sure. 

“For God so loved the world that He gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“To all who receive Him, who believe in his name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

Jesus comes to us and knocks on the door of our very own life and if we open the door in faith and ask him, he comes into our life and he will not leave us. 

“Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens the door I will come into Him.” (Rev. 3:20)

“I will not leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

When you ask him to come into your life He does!

When you ask him to forgive your sins, He does!

“As far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our sins from us.” (Psalm 103)

Whenever you disobey God and ask him to forgive you, He will always forgive you.

“If we confess our sins God is faithful to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John1: 9.)

You do not need to ask him to come into your life but once. He says to those who believe in Him, “I am with you forever.” (Matthew 28:20)

You can know that one day you will be in heaven with him.

Going to heaven isn’t dependent on being good enough to deserve it–no one is good enough to deserve heaven. This is a gift to those who have accepted that Christ died for their sins.

“God has given us eternal life and this life is in his son whoever has the son has life. (I John 5:10-12)

When Christ comes into your life, it is his Holy Spirit that comes . . .

and gives you the ability to live the life he has planned for you and as you learn to depend on upon His help you learn that Christ’s Spirit in you is the key to enable you to live a life that pleases God. He intends that we depend upon Him for the strength we need, not upon ourselves.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25.)

You have a great, large family of other brothers and sisters in Christ who will help you grow up in Him.   

Just as all of us go through different physical growth stages you will go through different stages in your spiritual growth.

It‘s important to have friends to whom you can go with your spiritual questions. There is no question, or doubt, or feeling that is silly or insignificant, or even unique. Others have experienced the same questions.  It helps to have others who have “been there” to guide the way! You can always ask an older Christian any questions you have. They will be glad to help you. 

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence! (Ephesians 3:12)

Still have questions? Learn more about Jesus here through my church’s website.

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Hello, I’m Susan.

Susan Alexander Yates

I’m a wife (of 50 years), mom to five children (including a set of twins), and grandmother to 21 (including a set of quadruplets!). My favorite time of the year is when all my kids and grandkids are together for a week of “cousins and family camp” in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

Read more…

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Eleanor and Campbell are learning 5 things they ca Eleanor and Campbell are learning 5 things they can know for sure about God and having fun doing it!

If you want to see what they're learning, check out my blog: 5 Things You Can Be Sure of in a Season of Uncertainty. Link in bio! (Or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog)

#christianwomen #christianfaith #christianwoman #bedeeplyrooted #womenintheword #shereadstruth #womenoftheword #belovedlife #womenoffaith #gritandvirtue #choosejoy #lampandlight #biblestudy #bibleteaching #biblicaltruth #christianwriter #christianwriters #christianlife  #pursuewhatislovely #christians #sheislight
ONE WORD: New ONE VERSE: “Remember not the for ONE WORD: New
 
ONE VERSE:
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43: 18-19
 
ONE THOUGHT:
Father, sometimes I get tired of me. Today, I ask you to do something NEW within me. I long to see YOU in new ways. Today I ask that you would give me an expectant heart that looks to you for new things in this season.
We have five children and I have been trying to we We have five children and I have been trying to wear out five Bibles. I am on my fifth and my goal is to have heavily marked and heavily worn Bibles for each one of my children when I am gone. 
I know you can read your Bible on your iPhones but there’s something very special about having a heavily marked Bible to share with your kids and grandkids so I encourage you to use paper Bibles and mark them up when you’re having your own quiet times. Use your cell phones for when you’re stuck in traffic or in an office or carpool line—just a thought.
If there was one word to describe our lives today If there was one word to describe our lives today it might be *uncertainty.*⁣
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We are uncertain about the potential of full-scale wars, economic upheaval, political divisions, racial unrest, school shootings, protest mobs, immigration crises, and the never-ending possibility of a new virus. Big issues which cause angst.⁣
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Closer to home we don’t know about our own finances, our job security, the health of those we love, our concern for a child who has strayed, or the uncertainty of a child’s future as he leaves home for the first time.⁣
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Uncertainty can cause us or our children to fear. To imagine the worst. To look for control that we do not have. To wonder if anyone understands.⁣
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We long for a sense of security, for something to hold onto. And so do our children.⁣
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Amid personal and international uncertainty there are *5 things that we can know for sure* -- and I'm sharing them on the blog this week! Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog to check it out!
My grand puppy Opie is a dog of the Word…sort of My grand puppy Opie is a dog of the Word…sort of! 😜
When your child leaves home, beware of falling int When your child leaves home, beware of falling into one of these two extremes:⁣
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A “helicopter parent” is one who is constantly texting, tweeting, emailing her child -- advising on daily activities and many decisions. ⁣
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Although she wants her child to be self confident she is actually undermining her confidence by making too many decisions and this communicates to the child, "You may not make the right decision so I will make it for you." This is not healthy for the child.⁣
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Another trap is that of a “hands off parent.” Her attitude may be, "I raised her to be independent and now she’s gone so I’ll wait until I hear from her. She now is on her own to make decisions." ⁣
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Weeks can go by without any communication. This is too extreme. You need to be involved in major decisions -- rooming, grades, and health. A weekly phone call is a good idea.⁣
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This is just a small piece of what I'm sharing in the blog this week -- 6 things to consider as you Raise Your Child to Leave Well. Check it out! Link in bio.
ONE WORD: Works ONE VERSE: The Lord works righte ONE WORD: Works

ONE VERSE:

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 
Psalm 103:6
 
ONE THOUGHT:

Even when I can’t see it, you are working while I am waiting.
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Spring? Maybe not! We must persevere!            

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2
As college acceptances and denials arrive we are a As college acceptances and denials arrive we are a mix of emotions. And so is our senior!⁣
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Change is in the air whether it’s a job, a gap year or college looming on the horizon. Other parents have kids preparing to go in the fall to middle or high school or even preschool. Time does not stand still. Our kids are growing! And at some time in the future they will be leaving us.⁣
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How well I remember driving away from the dorm after leaving Susy at college. Just the week before we had left Libby, her twin and soul mate, at another college. These were the last of our five children. ⁣
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My husband John had planned a romantic night at a mountain inn on the way home. Not a good decision. Instead, I cried all the way home. My poor husband. It was not just the fact that my last were leaving it was also the pain of their being separated for the first time ever. It had been their decision and it proved to be a wise one in their maturity but at the time all I felt was grief.⁣
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From the time our child is born we know this day will come and part of raising them involves preparing them to leave - as healthy, confident adults. But most of us don’t factor in the sadness it will bring us!⁣
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Some parents coddle their children too much and others give too much freedom too soon. Our challenge is finding the balance. Raising kids who will be ready to leave involves intentional planning at each stage of their development. ⁣
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On the blog this week, I'm sharing 6 things to consider as you Raise Your Child to Leave Well -- check it out! Link in bio.

Copyright © 2022 · Susan Alexander Yates · All Rights Reserved
Calligraphy by Jessica Blanchard · Paintings by Christen Yates
Blog and Ask Susan Photo by Natalie Puls Photography · Books Photo by Cambria Elizabeth

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