Out of the Miry Clay

By Susan A. Millican

My faith journey has been one that took many twists and turns as I struggled to figure out that Jesus needed to be more than just my Savior. Once I realized He had to be Lord and Ruler of my life, my passion and gifts for writing were revealed to me. I began with journaling during my devotional/quiet time. With pen and journal in hand, I would totally open myself up and pour out my heat to God. It was during this time that I began clearly hearing God speak to me and I would write in my journal the lessons He taught me.

July of 2008, my husband, Billy, was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer and many people wanted to be kept up-to-date on his condition. Thus, I began composing update e-mails that I hoped would glorify God and how He was sustaining us through this cancer journey. However, I was determined I would wait on God to give me the words He wanted me to share. So with the keyboard at my fingertips, I began sharing the lessons God was teaching us along this journey. While everyone was very grateful to hear that Billy was being healed, they were very touched by how God was working in our lives.

Little did I know that God would use the recipients of these e-mails to encourage me to see my passion for writing as a gift that God was using to call me to expand His territory. Therefore, during the summer of 2010, I finally heeded Gods call to put all my journaling skills and His lessons into composing this devotional book. I pray that God will be glorified as He uses these lessons to help you come to know Him in a deeper more intimate fashion:

Broken Shells
Chasing Crabs
Lessons from The Boys
Loving the Unlovable

Root Bound
Score Another for God
Candy Along the Way
Flowers From Fertilizer
I Want One of Those
Covered in Feathers
Dead Trees and Deep Roots
Foresight
Dance With Me
The Birds and the Bees
Angels and Chemo
Gods Orchestra
Healing in the Journey
Seeing the Wheat
Scarcely Abundant
Strolling
Cracked Pots
Give Em More

These stories reflect Susans ability to see God in both the big and the little life events. They will inspire you to seek God in both the extraordinary and ordinary events of your life.

Jennifer Reese - Academic Coach Dade County High School Trenton, Georgia

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449726072

Susan A. Millican

Susan A. Millican has used stories to move students into greater understanding for over thirty years. Here she shares personal stories to illustrate how God reveals Himself through the simple, everyday happenings in life. Susan and Billy reside in Trenton, Georgia, and worship and serve Jesus at Calvary Chapel in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Book preview

Contents

Forward

Introduction

Broken Shells

Chasing Crabs

Lessons From The Boys

Loving the Unlovable

Root Bound

Score Another for God

Candy Along the Way

Flowers from Fertilizer

I Want One of Those!

Covered in Feathers

Dead Trees and Deep Roots

Dance With Me

Foresight

The Birds and the Bees

Angels and Chemo

God’s Orchestra

Healing in the Journey

Seeing the Wheat

Scarcely Abundant?

Strolling

Cracked Pots

Give ‘Em More

I dedicate this book to:

—My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for dying for me on the cross to cover all of my sins, carrying me through the dark hours, comforting me through the sadness, filling me with His joy and peace, adopting me into His kingdom, and using me to share His great love through the lessons in this book.

—My beloved husband, Billy Lee the love of my life, for showing me how Christ sees me, showering me with Christ unconditional love, and treating me as Christ treats the church!

—My parents, Don and Ann Thornhill, whom I am forever grateful for being a living example that loving Jesus is the most important relationship I can nurture, that sharing His love is the best gift I can give, and extending His grace, and mercy is the best example I can live.

—My sister, Pam McDaniel, for being the best friend ever, loving me through all stages of my life, holding me accountable to Christ, and sharing her beautiful children, Carson and Kameron, with me.

—My brother, David Thornhill, for showing me the difference Christ makes, sharing the Word of God in a manner I can understand, praying me through all the tough times, and being a living example of unconditional love.

—Carla Miller for ALL of her prayers and encouragement for me to stand firm, keep my faith, and wait on Jesus!

—All of my friends who encouraged me to write this book.

I love you and thank you all for being Christ to me!

Susan

² He drew me out of the horrible pit (a pit of tumult and of destruction), out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings.

Psalm 40: 2 (AMP)

Forward

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Psalm 73:23

I met Susan when we began working together in the fall of 2010. She reached out to me on my first day and made me feel welcome and wanted. Her faith was evident even then, but as our friendship deepened, I was impressed with her ability to see God in ordinary, everyday things. I had fallen into a pattern of only seeing God during the big events of my life, but Susan always inspires me to look for His presence in my daily life.

These stories reflect Susan’s ability to see God in both the big and the little life events. I hope they inspire you to seek God in both the extraordinary and ordinary events of your life. What a comfort to know that He is continually with us.

God bless,

Jennifer M. Reese

Introduction

While I was raised in a Christian home and accepted Jesus as my Savior at an early age, it was not until I was pulled out of the horrible pit of sin as an adult that I realized I needed to make Christ more than my Savior. You see, I had invited Jesus into my heart but I put Him in the guest room and only allowed Him to participate in the parts of my life that I chose; you know, the parts that looked and felt good. It wasn’t until I was facing my second divorce that I realize I needed more than just a Savior if I was ever going to get my house in order. At this point I knew I had to surrender to Jesus the rest of my house and make Him Lord and Ruler over my life.

It was during this time that I decided if I was going to surrender, I better get to know who was going to be running the household. That is when I decided to actually spend quality, quiet time with Jesus and journaling became the central focus of my time. Through journaling I began writing love letters to God. It was during this time that I began clearly hearing Him speak to me. With my pen in hand I could feel the connection with my new Lord and Savior. This was the beginning of the most beautiful love relationship I had ever experienced.

Since that time, I have heard and seen the Lover of my soul through many facets of this life journey. But it is through writing that I have been able to discern and share His message with others. Two years ago my wonderful husband was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer and I began sharing our miracle journey of healing through e-mail with our friends and family. I was determined to only write when it was God inspired. Throughout these e-mails I was encouraged to share my stories with others through the writing of this devotional book.

All of the stories are lessons our Lord and Savior taught me through various venues of my life. Some are from our cancer journey, some from my journey with Courage to Teach, and some from the mire and muck of everyday life. Each story is a simple message that God used to help me get to know Him better. As He used the simple happenings of everyday life to pull me out of the miry clay, He became my Rock and Lover of my soul. I pray Christ will use these stories to help steady your feet and establish your goings. (Psalm 40:2)

In His precious love,

Susan

Broken Shells

When Billy and I got married we made a pact that we would celebrate each year of our marriage in a way that would continue to build memories to last a life time; we decided to celebrate each year with another honeymoon. Our third year anniversary came right after Billy’s cancer diagnosis and he was in the middle of his chemo-radiation combo treatment. Therefore, we decided we would wait until his rest and recover period