It’s almost 2017.
Maybe you are thinking about the next year, praying and brainstorming and dreaming about some aspect of your life.
I’m there with you. Every year, about this time, I put aside time to pray and brainstorm over the next year in ministry.
This year felt complicated. There were a thousand things I could do. All good things. All things that would help reach more women, and spread the message that through Christ we can live free.
Yet, none of those things resonated. Sure, they were BIG, but were they the right thing to do? Not so much.
About that time I received a message from a close friend. She said: “Suzie, what God is asking you to do might look small in the eyes of the world, but it will be big.”
It all fell into place.
It might sound cryptic to you, but I knew.
I put my fingers on the keyboard and started typing. Where I was formerly pecking away as I brainstormed, the ideas poured out.
You see I’ve had this dream for over 10 years now of showing women how to live free, and I’ve watched women do just that. Every day I receive emails from women who say, “My heart mended,” or “God helped me forgive,” or “My faith is changing, and it’s hard but beautiful.”
Yet I felt we were ready for the next step.
So Live free is changing.
There will be a new look for the blog in January, and that’s cool.
There will be a new 21-Day Adventure the 2nd week of January, and that’s going to be fun.
Yet that’s not where the changes are coming. For the past two years I’ve been transitioning from encouraging women to live free to gathering those same women to stand shoulder to shoulder. You see, we’ve experienced healing. We’ve encountered Jesus. We were lost, and now we are found. I have strongly felt that it’s time for us to take that gift and start scooping up other women. To take what God has done and use it to reach other women across the world.
So, the first change that seems small but feels big and wonderful is that this ministry focus is shifting.
Live free is changing to “Living free . . . together.”
I see an army of women — imperfect, whole, healing, quirky or quiet, but faith-filled — making a difference. We’ll continue to grow together. We’ll continue to believe and pray together. We’ll start reaching out and holding hands with other women across the world who feel they have no voice. Who are in desperate need of hope and healing. Who are abused, oppressed, put down. That woman might look like the neighbor next door, sitting across the aisle at church, or living in a slum in a third-world country.
We’ll partner with a handful of amazing organizations who are helping women find freedom, and encourage them in prayer, in awareness, with giving, and perhaps a trip as we come alongside these women tangibly.
We’ll start to discover ways to impact the world, whether that is the world around us or across the world.
We’ll discover how you are helping women live free and share those stories.
We’ll continue to talk about healing. We’ll continue to discuss how to live free in our families, in our faith, and in our feelings. But we’ll also be like the woman in John 4:29, who raced to tell everyone she saw:
“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”
She couldn’t help but tell people what Jesus had done. It was her first act of ministry.
Right now there are #livefree women behind the scenes of this ministry praying. Others are stepping into position to help this new phase unfold.
[ctt template=”4″ link=”U7SMK” via=”yes” ]When God heals our heart, let us share that good news with someone who desperately needs to hear it. #livefreeThursday @suzanneeller[/ctt]
I’m so excited about 2017. I promise I’ll share more later. I’ll let you know ways you can get involved. For right now, I share a little bit on the “What is Live Free” page.
Now, for other news.
If God is speaking a new adventure into your heart, maybe our next study will be an encouragement to you.
On January 9, we’ll begin a study called 21 Days to Believing Big When You Feel Small. If you’ve felt your faith flickering, or just want to go deeper, you are invited to join this study. We’ll have some fun downloadables and action steps to share with you as we go, but all you really need to join us is to be subscribed to this blog, your Bible and a journal.
For today, if you feel God speaking a new adventure in your heart, share that.
We’ll pray over it with you.
I can’t wait to hear about it!
Suzie
The new study (21 Days to Believing Big When You Feel Small) is based on Chapter Six of Come With Me. If you want to grab a copy of that, you’ll find encouragement and teaching that takes the topic even deeper.
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I want to 21 day Freedom stating Jan 9th but I don’t do Facebook and I won’t do any Social media with Facebook sorry seen social media site be more danger can you please email video links like Holly use too
Only way I can be apart I will do Facebook twitter please really want be apart 21 .
Been living in town in Dark
We got you, Brenda. : )
Thank you , I do apologize again sorry for being mess didn’t reread what I was trying say
You are fine, Brenda. <3
I can’t do Face book when only way be apart left only by email please
only apart with email being sent me please I can’t do Face book or twitter social website blog last sentence
this missing
Love it Suzie! I can’t wait for it to all begin (well, it’s already begun, but you know what I mean). I just love how you long to help the hurting women, abused, those needing healing, and standing shoulder to shoulder with them. I am one of them and I’m thankful for your ministry that reminds me I’m not alone. Bless you!
Suzie,
I’m so excited to get to see God move through you in this next season! (And hopefully join you in some way, shape, or form). Thank you for being an inspiration, an encourager, and a challenger of my faith! You are a blessing ♥
Lori
Suzie,
This past year was a very difficult year for me as there were crisis after crisis in my family. Yet, I want to believe that God is doing something though I cannot see it. I tried to reach out to my loved ones with His love as I believe it’s one effective evangelism tool, but it has not been easy. At one point, i thought i am seeing fruits, and then things just seem to get worst. I really need more of His encouragement to press on.
Thank you Suzie.
Suzie~I am so excited for the new adventure of ministry you are stepping out in…active and passing along and teaching the #livefree. The little flame inside me was poked by God as I read your words…words of purpose and hope. Words of action and vision. Thank you. Now to really pray and lean into Him and the ministry He has planned for me. Happy New a Year, Michele
I love your vision for this community of women reaching out to others, sharing what God has done and bringing hope, especially to those who have no voice. This reflects some of the things God has put on my heart too. Look forward to joining you on this adventure!
Way to soldier on for Christ by reaching out to those He’s set on your heart.
I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this space in 2017!
Happy Thursday!
Megs
Suzie, I can’t wait to see what changes come to your blog in 2017. This is one of my favorite sites to visit. You have such a positive, generous heart and I am honored to know you through your blog and Facebook page. Blessings to you!
2017 will be the year! Excited to walk along beside you and other women! For me personally I know God is calling me into the very unfamiliar and I believe it’s a large part of why we moved even though the obvious reason was my husbands job. Honestly it’s very fearful for me! I’m willing though, for whatever it is He is calling me to do. I’m thankful for you and these amazing women!
This sounds so awesome, Suzie! I forgot to change the title of my linked post to “Adventure with Jesus” but Kelly’s words do tell of this. I pray God blesses your endeavors and you have a great year. The new tagline is wonderful and the study sounds fun!
2017 sounds exciting. I’m looking forward to the changes in your blog. My husband and I will be moving around some for the next 3 months. We are traveling to Arizona right now and will be in 1 campground for the whole 21 days. Can’t wait!!! I love how you have blessed so many women and are continually looking for ways to add more. Happy New Year.
What an amazing year it is going to be! Thank you for being obedient to where God is leading. I am excited for you, cheering for you, and praying for you.
Honored to be in this army of amazing women with you, friend! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for 2017 for your beautiful ministry!
I am excited to see the transition come to fruition. Thank you Suzie for obeying God. Your new study, 21 Days to Believing Big When You Feel Small, will be perfect for me. I will be starting my final semester in college to complete my undergrad in January. I’m praying about the new direction. I also want to take my writing to another level, if God says the same. I’m ready to believe God for the big.
Your new adventure sounds exciting! Can’t wait to continue following you! I too have new adventures for the upcoming year … I just need to get my act together! Hopefully, I will be able to link up this week with my new adventures!
What does getting your act together look like Mandy?
I’m so excited about this change Suzie!! It lines up with and confirms what God has placed on my heart-to be available and minister to women that are right in front of me. It might be a listening ear, watching their children so they can have a much needed break, leading a small group women’s Bible
Study in our home or whatever God shows me what is needed. Today it is caring for a young couples French Bull dog for 4 or 5 days so they can go away this weekend knowing their fur baby is having fun with our fur babies while they are away. Shining the light of Christ through the cracks of my healed heart-that’s what God is calling me to do. Love you sweet friend!!
You are a gift!
Beautiful. Can’t wait!
Love this! This vision the Lord has given you is going to be awesome. I will be praying as you follow Him step by step. I look forward to us coming along side each in this thing called life!
I love that, Lenita. Praying that God draws many of us to follow wherever He leads.
Can’t wait to see where and how God uses you and all of us along side if you Suzie!! Praying!
I love that, Jill!
I’m currently fasting facebook until Jan. 11th, but I wanted to let you sweet, #livefree friends and sisters of mine know I’m totally WITH YOU and praying for you!! I get sweet Suzie’s emails and I am so right along side you right now, even if I am not writing on the facebook page. I simply cannot wait until the next 21 day study begins, as chapter 6 is meeting me right where I am walking in this current season in my life. And THIS, THIS prompt?! Walking into my new adventure?! I’ve never felt God calling me stronger into anything more than He has the last several days. I wake up with this adventure on my mind and heart. Doubts flood my mind, most notable regarding financial. Always financial. How can we pursue anything that will add on even MORE to the towering bills we can’t pay, Lord? Yet, I feel deep down that this is the answer to not just my own prayers, but God using me to help answer other’s prayers, as well! I feel it’s Him using me to help grow His Kingdom, using the passions and gifts He’s placed inside me when He created me.
Please, dear friends, please pray for His continued direction and discernment. I need for this to be abundantly clear… not just to me, but to my husband, since it involves finances. We need provision to pursue this. We really need His provision for more than just this, to be honest. God knows all our needs. For this new adventure, as exciting as it feels, it also has the potential to be equally devastating if I ends up on the list of “things I never pursued”. I can’t thank you enough for your prayers.
Love you all!! God bless!!
This sounds wonderful, Suzie! Love how God is using you to reach women. Can’t wait to see what the new year brings.
I can’t wait to see what God has in store for 2017. For the first time ever I’m going to be stepping out of my comfort zone, diving 7 hours by myself to attend a women’s retreat where I have never actually physically met any of the women. For me, that takes alot of faith. But I can’t wait.
Cheering you on!
Amazing to read this at the start of the year. 🙂
Happy 2017!