Tuesday, July 7, 2009

A few days ago, I posted some thoughts about all the news coverage on Michael Jackson and the fact that his Thriller album went platinum 100 times worldwide (meaning the album sold 100 million copies).

We talked about the difference between platinum and gold (see my older blog post for the scoop), and that platinum is more precious than silver and 30 times rarer than gold.

So in order for us to "Go Platinum" in our relationship with Christ, what would that entail?

Here are a few of my ideas:

1. Welcome Him in right now! When Jesus visited Mary and Martha in Bethany, they immediately welcomed Him in. They were excited to let Him use anything and everything they had. It's as if they were saying, "Our house is Yours, Jesus. Come right inside and get comfy. Whatever You want. We're simply here to serve."

They DIDN'T leave Him standing on the porch. So many Christians have simply left Christ on the porch . . . keeping Him at an arms length . . . never experiencing true intimacy with Him.

Jesus wants to come inside and bring us into genuine intimacy with Him. He doesn't want us to settle for being close to Him; He wants us to become part OF Him.

2. Sit at His feet. Mary sat wide-eyed like a child at Christ's feet just soaking up everything He had to say. Think back to when YOU were a little child. Remember how excited you were to have a parent watch every new thing you tried? "Watch Mom! Watch me jump over this log! OK, now watch me run. Are you watching?"

Jesus doesn't want us to lose that wide-eyed excitement of a child when we're with Him. Just as we want to show off for a parent, God wants to show off for YOU! If you're faithful, He'll show Himself to you in ways you can't even imagine. But be willing to sit at His feet.

Be willing to soak in His teaching. Read the Word. Become saturated with Him. Get obsessed with becoming all He calls you to be.

3. Define yourself in Him. I can quickly think of three people who have defined themselves so closely with what they do, that the person and their career have become synonymous. For example:

Michael Jordan is synonymous with basketball.
Tiger Woods is synonymous with golf.
Michael Jackson is synonymous with king of pop.

What if YOU could become synonymous with Christianity? When people hear your name, they automatically think of Jesus. 

Wouldn't that be amazing?
Define yourself in Him.

I'm striving to do these three things in my platinum relationship with Christ. 

Will you do the same?
GO PLATINUM with Jesus!

(For more spiritual growth vitamins, subscribe to the printed, monthly magazine SUSIE Mag. You can call 1-888-81-SUSIE or you can subscribe at: susiemag.com)

Love you!
Susie Shellenberger

48 comments:

  1. Once again Susie, I feel as though you wrote this especially for me! I kept thinking: "How many times do I keep Jesus waiting patiently on the porch?". Thanks for all you do for us girls!
    Love you, sisses in Christ!
    "Kay" 8-)

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  2. You rock, Kay! God dreams BIG for you. -Susie Shellenberger

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  3. Thank you for that post, Susie! It would be so cool for people to hear my name and think of Jesus! I will strive for that!
    Erin

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  4. Susie, what you wrote is so true. Though lately I have felt so dry...so helpless in getting down and sitting with God in devotion time. I don't understand it. There are nights when I want to do devotions and it's like a brick wall. Other nights where I would rather snuggle up with my big stuffed animal dog and talk to God until i fall asleep. I just want something to feed my soul...something that waters my heart. I want God to just rain down...am I the problem? I can't figure it out.
    Also...I lately have gotten into the habit of talking i guess in a way to just God. My H-father...the man I curl up in his lap when I'm scared at night. It just recently occurred to me that I have left Jesus out in the cold...I'm trying to start talking to him.
    Lol..goodness am I long-winded...I hope I have given you something that you can write back with. Thanks so much for starting your mag. I got July in the mail today and I am so excited!!!
    -Leah

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  5. Hey Leah!
    I totally understand how you feel! Sometimes devotion time almost feels like a chore, when other times, it's the only thing you want to do!
    Erin

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  6. I agree with both Leah and Erin! See we are sisters. .sisters in Christ! :D

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  7. My magazine came today!!

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  8. Thanks so much for your blog, Susie!
    (this is a different Leah lol)

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  9. Susie...I just want you to know that what you wrote inspired me to write a poem/song. Thanks for all you do and I have a feeling you'll inspire me more than once...
    Kay

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  10. Oh my goodness! Girls thanks so much for your response!! I love it!!! I think SUSIE is going to be great! I'm a brio veteran!
    - Leah (the first one..like on this blog..lol)

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  11. I can completely relate! I used to never want to read my Bible, but I did anyways because I knew that it was the right thing to do. Now that I've consistently spent time in God's word everyday, it's become something that I look forward to!!
    Thanks for everything that you do for us Susie, you're amazing!!
    For anyone out there who knows, I've got a question! I've seen things posted about how when you subscribe to SusieMag, you get the online sisterhood for free. I subscribe to the magazine, but how do you access the online sisterhood? I haven't seen anything about it on the SusieMag website. Can anyone help?

    Thanks for everything everyone! Jesus loves you! :)

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  12. Hey Meg!
    Susie said that the Sisterhood won't be ready until September. When it is ready, you'll get a special code to access it! I can't wait until then!
    Hope that helped!
    Your sis in Christ,
    Erin

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  13. Okay, thanks Erin!! That helped so much!
    I can't wait either!!
    Luv you guys!

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  14. hey! Kay here! I need an idea for my next poem/song...any ideas? 8-)

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  15. I usually come up with something I want to write about, then come up with a few lines. It usually flows from there.

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  16. Hi Susie,
    I loved that line towards the end--"Define yourself in Him." God's put that on my heart recently, and it's so encouraging to hear someone else say it too (in just about the same exact words! :)).
    Thanks! -Nicole P.

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  17. Hey Kay!
    I like to write songs about how God is always there even when you are going through a hard time. I also like to write about standing up for Him and for what's right!
    Hope it helps!
    Erin

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  18. Hey Kay! Why don't you turn to your Bible for some inspiration? I'm sure God would reveal something to you to write about!!
    Best of luck! :)

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  19. Girls: Great to read your comments. The Psalms are a great source of inspiration for song-writing. Many of the Psalms ARE songs written by David.

    You're right about the global online sisterhood being launched around September. When we get to that phase on our Web site, we'll send each of you a membership code. You'll each have your own unique code that you'll enter when you go to the Web site. THEN you'll be able to go inside the sisterhood.

    Please tell your friends to hurry up and subscribe NOW so they'll be able to get the sisterhood for free as well.

    And keep talking about GOING PLATINUM in your relationship with Christ.

    Love you!
    Susie Shellenberger

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  20. I love that, Susie! Great job once again.

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  21. Thanks Susie, you're really an inspiration!
    I can't wait for the online sisterhood!

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  22. Hey Susie! I love your last post!

    Just wondering, when will the Susie mag website be fully updated to the July issue??
    There were some things that the magazine said would be online that I can't find?
    Thanks!

    ~~Curious

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  23. I would like to agree with "curious"...I haven't found those articles yet...
    Love you, sisses in Christ!

    Kay

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  24. Thanks for your ideas, girls! Yesterday, I was actually flipping through Psalms... 8-) Keep going platinum!
    Kay

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  25. Hi Susie!
    I love your post about going platinum with Christ!

    Just wondering, have the winners of the More Beautiful You contest been notified yet?

    Thanks!

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  26. Hey Susie! How's Guatemala going?!?!

    ~~Meg

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  27. Hi Susie! I got your mag about a week ago and I keep on reading it over and over.

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  28. Heyy guys!
    Lately, I've been thinking about that a lot... being defined by Christ. You don't realize how hard it is until you get there - and usually theres something you want to change afterwords. :) - thats usually how its gunna be. I know for me... I'm an all-time worrier. I mean, ALL time! I don't know if I've ever come back from a social event and not worry that I've done something wrong.
    Sometimes its big, sometimes its small. Hey! I'm not perfect... But I always feel like I could be a little better, you know?

    What hits me so hard and is so amazing is that the God that made this WHOLE universe,this whole world -it would take over 100,000 years just to get to the end of the milky way btw- in ALL that, He cares for ME... me! And He forgives me! Every little thing! [God is so good...]

    But in the moment... it is sooo hard. I'm workin towards being defined by Christ!

    Keep it up guys! Prayin for all sisses in Christ! :P

    Megan H.

    BTW... Thanks so much Susie! Love ya!

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  29. Wow Megan, you are absolutely right about God. I love the way you really showed how much God loves EVERYONE is this whole world!

    Mandi

    P.S. I have a new blog going and I was just wondering if you could take a few seconds and visit. I have a question, and I need all the help I can get!

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  30. Hey Megan!
    I totally agree with you! I am an all-time worrier, too, but I know that God is always with me.
    Erin

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  31. Megan,

    I used to worry a ton too. Over the past few years, even though things have gotten tougher, God has been there to take all of my worries from me. Let God take over your worries.

    Luv u guys! :)

    Meg

    p.s. - i love your name! lol.

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  32. Hey Susie!

    When will the article about Susie Mag Readers' favorite Scripture verses be posted??

    Thanks!!

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  33. Thanks guys! :)

    Oh ya... and does anyone have any really good devotional books that they would recommend? I just finished mine...

    Thanks!

    Meg

    (Megan H)

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  34. Hey Meg!
    I have two devotional books that I really like a lot!
    The first is One Year Devos by Susie!!!! I have really learned a lot from it! btw, great job Susie!! :)
    Another is Teen People of the Bible by Daniel Darling. It has profiles on different teens in the Bible, and it has showed me that teens back then dealt with a lot of the same things that we deal with today.

    Hope this helps!! :)

    Meg (the other one)

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  35. Hey, I just wanted to also suggest some of Melody Carlson's devotional books. She is awesome in how she tackles hard issues and has taught me so much through her devotionals! I really recomend them!

    KK from IA

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  36. I really like melody carlson! She is a good author, I am on new series of her's. It's the Carter House girls.
    Abigial(abby)
    KK what part of iowa are you from? I live in a small town called rock rapids. About an hour from Sioux city.

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  37. Thanks guys! I'll be sure to check those out! If you have any more ideas please post on my blogspot under 'Devotional Ideas'. My blogspot is jesusfreakkgirl.blogspot.com. Thanks!

    Meg
    (Megan H)

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  38. Hi SusIe - just enjoyed hearing you speak at our camp meeting! I am "resolved" to follow Jesus - even at 66 years of age!

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  39. No way! I am just reading the Carter House books too! I love them! I can't believe there is someone else from Iowa on here! That is so cool! Anyway, I live in the Des Moines metro. Too cool!

    KK from Iowa

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  40. By the way, just talking to all of you makes me so excited to talk even more when we get the sisterhood started! It is amazing knowing that there are others out there who think like I do! Love all of you!

    KK from Iowa

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  41. I know right!! It is so amazing!! I have never had any real Christian friends, and even though I don't personally know you guys, it really comforts me to know that there are other Christian girls out there who care!!
    Luv u guys! :)
    Meg

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  42. I have a few Christian friends but I only get to see them twice a week at church because I live 45 minutes from my church so it is nice to meet other Christians out there. .. especially people from IOwa!!!! I can't wait to read the next Carter House book but my library doesn't have it so I will have to put it on hold! Can't wait for that and SEptember when the sisterhood comes out!!!! yay!

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  43. Mandi: I will try to visit your blog soon! But, I'll need the site!! haha What's your question? Keep going platinum, sisses!
    "kay"

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  44. Um, Kay, if you click on Mandi's name, it will take you to her profile where you can get to you blog. :)
    I always love to here about new books, so I will try to find the Carter House girls! I just finished two really good books, both by Jenny B Jones; So Not Happening and On the Loose, and Katie Parker production act 2. So Not Happening was on the back of the last Susie issue!
    Love you sisses! Can't wait for the Sisterhood!
    Erin

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  45. Hey guys!! I will have to check out those books cuz I'm always looking for something new to read!

    Hey I've got a question for anyone out there who might know.....

    Has anyone found the article about members of the Sisterhood's favorite Scripture verses?? In the July issue of SusieMag on one of the first few pages it said that the article (called "God's Word is Alive") would be posted on the website this month, but I still haven't found it! Does anyone know anything about it??

    Thanks guys!!!!! Love you girls!! :)

    Meg

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  46. Hey Kay! If you click on my name and then once you are on my profile, scroll down to where it say "blogs", you will see Summer Promise right under it. Hope this helps.

    Mandi

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  47. Hey Susie,
    Thanks for your post about the online sisterhood and online magazine. I signed up online and I saw where it said you get an online mag so I checked my email but it wasn't there. So thanks for that comment.
    Love ya!!

    -Michelle 8-D

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  48. check out the Brio book from Focus on the Family. they're awesome.

    P.S.
    I'm the same Michelle who had the 8-D after my name but I don't like it so i'm gunna stop doing. But it's the same Michelle. :)

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