Best News

January 3, 2016January 13, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Jesus’ apostles were beaten and murdered for their bold witness, and they rejoiced to suffer for the name of Christ.

What was my reason again for not opening my mouth to speak the Good News?

– Susie Stewart

They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

– Acts 5:40-42 (NLT)

He preached without fear in the name of the Lord. He talked and argued with the Jews who spoke the Greek language. They kept trying to kill him.

– Acts 9:29 (NLV)

They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.

– Acts 14:29 (NLT)

Always think about Jesus Christ. He was brought back to life and is a descendant of David. This is the Good News that I tell others. I’m suffering disgrace for spreading this Good News. I have even been put into prison like a criminal. However, God’s word is not imprisoned. For that reason, I endure everything for the sake of those who have been chosen so that they, too, may receive salvation from Christ Jesus with glory that lasts forever.

– 2 Timothy 2:8-10 (GW)

The Best News

must be shared

boldly

passionately

graciously

lovingly

for it is not by your own power

that you speak this News

but by the power

of God’s Spirit

He will quicken your mind

give you discernment

make you strong

and give you compassion

for those lost

and in bondage

You are the witness

to something glorious

something amazing

something unheard of

Sacrifice

Grace

Forgiveness

Heaven

Forever with God

The Best News

Sharing what He has done

for you

is a privilege

Speak

open up your mouth

and speak

trusting that when you do

regardless of the outcome

you have been obedient

and you have spoken

Hope

You are not a proselytizer

but an enthusiastic messenger

with the Best News

– Susie Stewart

Photos taken by Susie Stewart

Truth

January 2, 2016January 13, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

We’ve all been in a position like this at one time or another, haven’t we? We thought for certain God was telling us something specific. We knew it. We were sure of it. The only place we got a little fuzzy was when we tried squaring it with what we knew of Scripture, or when we tried explaining our thinking to a parent or friend who lived on intimate terms with God. Then it took a lot of mental effort and self-styled logic to try holding all the loose ends together. The voice we thought we’d heard from God didn’t fare so well in the light of His Word. We were left to determine: Will we count on God’s Word as truth? Will we choose to conform to His true character despite what we are feeling?
– Priscilla Shirer

When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth..

-John 16:13 (NLT)

Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.

– Psalm 25:4,5 (NLT)

Photo taken by Susie Stewart

Humility

January 1, 2016January 13, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Humility disappears when God is neglected. True humility is total trust in God. The Holy Spirit tells us to cast all our anxieties on God and that means we trust Him totally. If we don’t give Him those worries, it means we’re lacking humility.

~ Jay Oertli

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though He was God,
He did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, He gave up His divine privileges;
He took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When He appeared in human form,
He humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

~ Philippians 2:3-8 (NLT)

So bow down under God’s strong hand; then when the time comes, God will lift you up.

~ 1 Peter 5:6 (VOICE)

Photos taken by Susie Stewart

Worship

January 1, 2016January 13, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness, the nourishment of the mind with His truth, the purifying of the imagination of His beauty, the opening of the heart to His love, the surrender of the will to His purpose.

~ William Temple

It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men.

~ C.S. Lewis

Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and He won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!

~ Hebrews 12:28 (MSG)

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

~ John 4:23 (NLT)

Photo taken by Susie Stewart