Restoration, Susie's Story

Guest Post Susie Thomas has been living as God’s child for more than 35 years, a mother for 17, and the wife of a crazy visionary leader for 21. She teaches school in conjunction with her family’s current assignment in Kigali, Rwanda. For their amazing, God-anointed calling, click the link to read about the ministry she and her husband Ben founded B2THEWORLD.

Now,

Susie’s Restoration Story

Last night I had dinner with a friend. She and I have known each other for almost 20 years, but life circumstances and ministry assignments have kept us mostly out of touch for a lot of that time. Though we currently live over 9,000 miles apart, a shared experience has knit us tightly together.

Six years after I went through brain cancer treatment, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. When I was sick, she sent me cute headbands and clunky-cool earrings to brighten my day. When it was her turn, we sent Graeter’s ice cream.

So, last night was fun. But it was also deep, teary, and heavy with reflection.

What Tanya and I have in common goes so much beyond diagnosis, hair loss, and feelings about our MRIs. What we share is rooted in thanksgiving and awe at God’s graciousness.

He didn’t and doesn’t owe us healing. And, to be honest, I didn’t much pray for it, so sure was I that that wasn’t what God had for me. I prayed for my kids and for Ben and our families, that He’d sustain us as we suffered great loss.

“When you’re dying (or think you are), a plethora of options present themselves.”

— Susie Thomas

When you’re dying (or think you are), a plethora of options present themselves: prayer, bucket lists, denial, obsessive funeral planning, and goodbyes, making amends, making something -anything- of the time you have left. It’s a smorgasbord of coping mechanisms.

Within each of these are hidden a gift and a temptation. The gift of intention and preparation sits next to the temptation to become the author of the rest of your story. I made plans for Ben to marry again (which he is still upset about), plans to protect my children’s happiness.

All the while, the voice of Jesus quietly asked me to let Him handle it—to let Him be my restor-er. I expected Him to handle it in a way that at least loosely resembled my plans. “I got these plans started, God,” my heart said, “but You take it from here.”

“My family’s restoration threatened to become my project as I made plans for the time we had left together, and their life when I was gone. ”

— Susie Thomas

My family’s restoration threatened to become my project as I made plans for the time we had left together, and their life when I was gone. None of these plans were bad or sinful, nor was the making of them. They were a wife and mother’s loving gift to her family.

But God gently wrestled my plans away from me and offered something so much better than a Plan B. He offered me and us True Restoration.

He gave me life when I made my peace with death.

He gave us anniversaries and birthdays and celebrations and graduations.

He gave me the career I’d dreamed about since I was a child and set aside for years.

He gave us Annie, and me the time to know her well and make memories with her.

He gave us a house and roots and tangible beauty in a home so far from home.

He gave back what cancer had taken from us, and what we’d laid down in submissive sacrifice.

He gave us more than we’d asked for and keeps giving every day.

Restoration is not a transaction. And it’s not an event. It’s an ongoing experience of receiving and participating in God’s plan of putting things back the way He meant them to be.

“Restoration is not a transaction. And it’s not an event. ”

— Susie Thomas

I share this little glimpse of my restoration with you in celebration of my eleventh birthday, since the doctor told me I had three to five years to live. I share it in celebration of Tanya’s three and a half years of life and ministry since surgery made her cancer-free. I share it in celebration of Rwanda’s restoration.

I share it in thankfulness that part of God’s restoration was His inclusion of me in helping to found B2theworld. I share it in hope for the people and stories that are right now, broken and breaking. I share it as a prayer for them to the God who promises to restore the years the locusts have eaten.

Iraq, Cameroon, Pakistan, Sudan, Yemen, Ukraine, North Korea, and others are places in need of God’s restoration. But more importantly, they are full of children and families God longs to restore.

In my story, God asked me to step back and let Him do it. In their story, God invites me to join in and participate in the restoration He’s working. Their restoration becomes part of mine, and mine becomes part of theirs. How beautiful.

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

Listen as Susie shares her story, Restored and Restoring, at this YouTube link.

Clandestine No More

The actions of two men, men who previously hid in the shadows as secret followers of Jesus, deserve our attention this Easter Week. In John 19:38-43, we discover the bold actions Joseph and Nicodemus took. Please read aloud.

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Between the agony of Gethsemane and the sunrise of Easter morning, the courageous actions of these two men speak down through the ages.

Joseph of Arimathea, previously paralyzed by fear, made a daring public move; he went to Pilate. (Imagine that!) And, Nicodemus, (John 3), whose behavior indicates he also wrestled with demons of fear, came forward to help Joseph with the burial preparation.

“They made a difference because they made a decision to step out of their fear and step up to meet the need of the Savior.”

— Living with Eternal Intentionality®

What stands out?

• Joseph and Nicodemus shared a fear. But more importantly, they shared a boldness. By publicly coming forward to care for Jesus’ crucified body, they fully identified themselves with Him.

• Joseph and Nicodemus took the initiative to do the right thing, even when the right thing was the hard thing. They made a difference because they made a decision to step out of their fear and step up to meet the need of the Savior.

• Joseph and Nicodemus worked together; these men needed the support of the other to accomplish the demanding task that so desperately needed to be done.

Joseph and Nicodemus dramatically demonstrate that Jesus changes people. Out of darkness into light, He leads us. From the bondage of fear, He frees us. Oh, hallelujah! Isn’t this the amazing message of Easter?!

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

How is Jesus changing you?

When have you had to step out of the shadows of secrecy and follow Him?

Describe how you overcame fear to identify with our Savior.

What about the actions of these two men give you hope and encouragement this Easter?

Easter Oven Surprise

Oven Surprise Sticky Rolls

Surprise your household with this amazing treat on Easter morning! Made the day before, they rest in the oven overnight and only need to be baked right before serving.

Ingredients:

1 package Rhodes Frozen Dinner Rolls (18-24)

1 C. chopped pecans

1 C. brown sugar

1 small package of Cook & Serve Butterscotch Pudding

1 stick butter

Cinnamon

Instructions:

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray to grease the dish.

Line the pan with chopped pecans and sprinkle a generous amount of cinnamon over the layer of pecans.

Space the 24 rolls in the pan.

Sprinkle the dry pudding over the rolls.

In a saucepan, combine the butter and brown sugar and stir constantly until the mixture is melted and comes to a boil.

Pour the heated mixture evenly over the rolls.

Spray wax paper with cooking spray and place the wax paper over the dish.

Place the pan in a cold oven and leave untouched overnight.

In the morning:

Briefly remove the dish and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Remove the wax paper, return the rolls to the oven, and cook for 25-30 minutes.

At 15 minutes, cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent burning.

Remove from the oven and invert onto a serving platter.

Serve warm! Feeds 15-20

Behind the Cupboard Door:

Granted, we are celebrating Easter, but I have a story related to this recipe from a Christmas long ago.

Having traveled from our home in Budapest to spend Christmas with family in the U.S., I wanted to offer the Oven Surprise Sticky Rolls for our holiday breakfast. Unaware of this intent, my son arose first on Christmas morning and thoughtfully heated up the oven to be ready for baking our traditional Breakfast Casserole. Imagine my shock when the aromas of cinnamon, brown sugar, and warm bread woke me from a deep jet lag sleep. Stumbling downstairs, I thought, “YIKES! The rolls! No one even knew to remove the wax paper!”

Well, the Sticky Rolls were no longer a surprise, but after peeling off the charred wax paper and removing the burned portion of bread, the rest remained a delightful treat as we gathered to celebrate.

So here is a hint to add to the Instructions: Inform any house guests that your oven is occupied.

[Note: The recipe originated in years past from one of our daughter’s roommates. As always, when I share a recipe, I ask that you pray for me when you use it. Thank you so much!]