Month: February 2016

Your Mind

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Our thoughts are just as important to God as our actions, and are known to God as clearly as our actions.

Jesus taught us in the Sermon on the Mount that God’s commands are intended not only to regulate outward conduct, but inner disposition as well.  It is not enough that we do not kill;  we must also not hate.  It is not enough that we do not commit adultery;  we must not even entertain lustful looks and thoughts.

Just as we must learn to bring the appetites of our bodies under control, so we must also learn to bring our thought lives under obedience to Jesus Christ.

The bible indicates that our thought lives ultimately determine our character.  Holiness begins in our minds and works out to our actions.  This being true, what we allow to enter our minds is critically important.

– Jerry Bridges

 

O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.

– Psalm 139:1-4(NLT)

 

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

– Colossians 3:1-3 (NIV)

 

…people judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

– 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)

 

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

– Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

 

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

– Romans 12:3 (NLT)

 

…let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes

– Ephesians 4:23 (NLT)

 

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

– 1 Peter 1:14 9 (MSG)

 

The neglected heart will soon be a heart overrun with worldly thoughts; the neglected life will soon become a moral chaos.

– AW Tozer

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Peace

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

Perfect peace comes from God.  It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit for the Believer, and it comes even in the storm if our hearts and minds are set on Him.

– Susie Stewart

 

The labor of self-love is a heavy one indeed. Think whether much of your sorrow has not arisen from someone speaking slightingly of you. As long as you set yourself up as a little god to which you must be loyal, how can you hope to find inward peace.

– AW Tozer

 

True faith, by a mighty effort of the will, fixes its gaze on our Divine Helper, and there finds it possible and wise to lose its fears. It is madness to say, “I will not be afraid;” it is wisdom and peace to say, “I will trust and not be afraid.”

– Alexander MacLaren

 

Now may the Lord Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

– 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)

 

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

– John 16:33 (AMP)

 

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

– Isaiah 26:3 (AMP)

 

Walk away from the evil things in the world—just leave them behind, and do what is right, and always seek peace and pursue it.

– 1 Peter 3:11 (VOICE)

 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,…

– Galatians 5:22 (NLT)

 

A mind focused on the flesh is doomed to death, but a mind focused on the Spirit will find full life and complete peace.

– Romans 8:6 (VOICE)

 

For even if the mountains walk away and the hills fall to pieces, My love won’t walk away from you, my covenant commitment of peace won’t fall apart.” The God who has compassion on you says so.

– Isaiah 54:10 (MSG)

 

If our minds are stayed upon God, His peace will rule the affairs entertained by our minds. If, on the other hand, we allow our minds to dwell on the cares of this world, God’s peace will be far from our thoughts.

– Woodrow Kroll

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Relentless

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I thought that maybe God begrudged the business of transformation—that He had to fix me so He could love me more. As if the ultimate goal was for me to be perfect like Jesus so God could love me like He loved His own Son.

Without me being cleaned up, it would be impossible for God to love me—I was just too messed up.

But I started to wonder if I had it all wrong.

What if transformation wasn’t about God making me more perfect so He could love me more, but instead was about changing me so I could experience His love more perfectly?

…In our cheaply made, throw-it-away culture, we have a hard time wrapping our minds around the fact that God doesn’t assess our inherent worth based on our perfection (or lack of it).

He finds us completely worthy just because we are —because He made us.

God doesn’t love us any less because we’re broken. In fact, the care and time He takes to restore our lives is just another way He shows how much He loves us.

He wants us to flourish for our sake.

His desire is for us to have more of what is most important—more peace, more joy, more love.

God has gone (and still goes!) to great lengths to repair us because He wants us to experience this abundant life.

He is pursuing His creation with a relentless love and His method is not to retaliate, it’s to rescue.

As we say “yes” and partner with him, He will transform every part of lives; our fears and anxieties, jealous tendencies and the source of our sadness, our pettiness and pain— they will all be uncovered, excavated and healed.

God’s endgame is for you and me to be completely and utterly able to live in the most intimate, unencumbered union with Him.

– Christa Hesselink

 

But think about this: while we were wasting our lives in sin, God revealed His powerful love to us in a tangible display—the Anointed One died for us.

– Romans 5:8 (VOICE)

 

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

– 1 John 4:16 (NLT)

 

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

– Romans 8:38,39 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

God’s Glory

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Ever wonder what you’re doing here?

Ever wonder what your purpose is in this universe?

Ever wonder why you are stirred by a sunset,

in awe of the ocean,

inspired by the stars?

 

Two words:

God’s Glory

 

That’s why.

 

Do you know this purpose to your very depths?

Are you fulfilling your purpose?

 

– Susie Stewart

 

{Please take the time to read ALL of these verses.  It is so obvious in God’s Word why we exist, why God created everything and everyone, and where our focus should be.  It’s all about HIM.}

 

For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.

– Romans 11:36 (NLT)

 

Yet for My own sake and for the honor of My name,
I will hold back My anger and not wipe you out.
I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.
Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.
I will rescue you for My sake—
yes, for My own sake!
I will not let my reputation be tarnished,
and I will not share my glory with idols!

– Isaiah 48:9-11 (NLT)

 

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

– Ephesians 1:5,6 (NASB)

 

Bring all who claim Me as their God,
for I have made them for My glory.
It was I who created them.

– Isaiah 43:7 (NLT)

 

He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel,
and you will bring me glory.”

– Isaiah 49:3 (NLT)

 

Our ancestors in Egypt
were not impressed by the Lord’s miraculous deeds.
They soon forgot His many acts of kindness to them.
Instead, they rebelled against Him at the Red Sea.

Even so, He saved them—
to defend the honor of His name
and to demonstrate His mighty power.

– Psalm 106:7,8 (NLT)

 

Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent Him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

– John 7:18 (NIV)

 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

– Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

 

And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

– John 14:13 (NIV)

 

“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!

Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.”

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.

– John 12:27,28,32 (NLT)

 

I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake
and will never think of them again.

– Isaiah 43:25 (NLT)

 

For the honor of your name, O Lord,
forgive my many, many sins.

– Psalm 25:11 (NLT)

 

Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

– Romans 15:7 (NLT)

 

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

– 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)

 

Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.

– 1 Peter 4:11 (NLT)

 

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

– Philippians 1:11 (NLT)

 

In the same way, even though God has the right to show His anger and His power, He is very patient with those on whom His anger falls, who are destined for destruction.  He does this to make the riches of His glory shine even brighter on those to whom He shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.

– Romans (:22,23 (NLT)

 

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

– Habakkuk 2:14 (NIV)

 

And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.

– Revelation 21:23 (NLT)

 

The most passionate heart for the glorification of God is God’s heart.  God’s ultimate goal is to uphold and display the glory of His name.

– John Piper

 

IMG_0139

 

Photos by Arik Stewart & Susie Stewart

 

Word

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through Him,
and nothing was created except through Him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and His life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:1-5 (NIV)

 

Jesus,

You are

the Word.

 

The Logos.

 

Perfect Revelation

Glorious Hope

Life and Light

for us.

 

And though it may seem

that darkness reigns,

it has not overcome.

 

Your light

backs up

the darkness.

 

The Word,

overcomes

the world.

 

And we stand

unafraid

and unapologetic

for believing in

and shining

Your Light.

 

Jesus

The Word

spoke the world into being

and will not be extinguished

by the darkness in it.

 

– Susie Stewart

 

So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

– John 1:14 (NLT)

 

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

– John 16:33 (NLT)

 

The Lord merely spoke,
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.

– Psalm 33:6 (NLT)

 

He sent out his word and healed them,
snatching them from the door of death.

– Psalm 107:20 (NLT)

 

Forever, O Eternal One,
Your word stands in heaven, firm and resolute.

– Psalm 119:89 (VOICE)

 

He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;
he scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

– Psalm 147:15-18 (ESV)

 

Grace To You — Why Does John Refer to Jesus As The Word?

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

With You

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

As sure as God puts His children in the furnace He will be in the furnace with them.

– Charles Spurgeon

 

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

– Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)

 

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.

Isaiah 43:1,2 (NLT)

 

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

– Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT)

 

Hold on to the faithfulness of God.  Believe, when you do not understand, that He knows all about you, that He is committed to taking care of you.  He has promised it.

– D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.  But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.  Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.  So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments.  And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in.  So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire.  Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His angel to rescue His servants who trusted in Him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”

– Daniel 3:16-28 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

Strong

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

The Christian often tries to forget his weakness;  God wants us to remember it, to feel it deeply.  The Christian wants to conquer his weakness and to be freed from it;  God wants us to rest and even rejoice in it.  The Christian mourns over his weakness;  Christ teaches His servant to say, “I take pleasure in infirmities.”  The Christian thinks his weaknesses are his greatest hindrance in the life and service of God;  God tells us that it is the secret of strength and success.  It is our weakness, heartily accepted and continually realized, that give us our claim and access to the strength of Him who has said, “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

…And if we want to know how the power is bestowed, the answer is simple:  Christ gives His power in us by giving His life in us.  He does not, as so many believers imagine, take the feeble life He finds in them and impart a little strength to aid them in their feeble efforts.  No, it is in the giving His own life in us that He gives us His power.  The Holy Spirit came down to the disciples direct from the heart of their exalted Lord, bringing down into them the glorious life of heaven into which He had entered.  And so His people are still taught to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  When He strengthens them, it is not by taking away the sense of feebleness and giving in its place the feeling of strength.  By no means.   But, in a very wonderful way, leaving and even increasing the sense of utter helplessness, He gives them along with it the consciousness of strength in Him.  The feebleness and the strength are side by side;  as the one grows, the other also grows, until they understand the saying, “When I am weak, then am I strong…I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:10,9).

…He lives a most joyous and blessed life, not because He is no longer feeble, but because, being utterly helpless, he consents and expects to have the mighty Savior work in him.

– Andrew Murray

 

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)

 

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.  Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

– 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NLT)

 

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

– Luke 24:49 (NLT)

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere.”

– Acts 1:8 (NLT)

 

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

– Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Humility

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

The greatest test of whether the holiness we profess to seek or to attain is truth and life will be whether it produces an increasing humility in us. In man, humility is the one thing needed to allow God’s holiness to dwell in him and shine through him. The chief mark of counterfeit holiness is lack of humility. The holiest will be the humblest.

– Andrew Murray

 

Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

–  Colossians 3:12 (NLT)

 

They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.

–  Titus 3:2 (NLT)

 

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

–  James 3:13 (NLT)

 

…Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.

– Luke 9:48 (NLT)

 

Photo by Andy Stewart

Contentment

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

All our discontents about what we want appear to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.

– Daniel Defoe

 

…give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

– Proverbs 30:8 (NIV)

 

Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something to do which must be done, whether you like it or not. Being forced to work, and forced to do your best, will breed in you temperance, self-control, diligence, strength of will, content, and a hundred other virtues which the idle never know.

– Charles Kingsley

 

If you cannot get what you like, why not try to like what you get?

– Author Unknown

 

Young men, I beseech you earnestly, beware of pride. Two things are said to be very rare sights in the world~~~one is a young man humble, and the other is an old man content.

– J.C. Ryle

 

The secret of contentment is the realization that life is a gift, not a right.

– Author Unknown

 

He might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment….

– Ecclesiastes 6:6 (NLT)

 

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.

–  1Timothy 6:6-7 (NLT)

 

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

– Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Full

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

Guilt

Shame

Sin

Judgment

 

make us feel empty

hollow

lacking

condemned

 

and our souls echo back

the sound

of hopelessness

 

But You, God

You are FULL

 

You are everything

You are abundant

You are plenty

and overflowing

 

Your Fullness

replenishes us

with grace

upon grace

upon grace

 

because we need it, Lord

 

We need the Full

that You give willingly

to the ones You created

 

 

Our empty

is met

with grace

accepted

 

and we become beings

overflowing with the love

that You gave us

 

Fully

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

– John 1:16 (NIV)

 

The heart overflows in the words a person speaks; your words reveal what’s within your heart.

– Luke 6:45 (VOICE)

 

When I think of the greatness of this great plan I fall on my knees before God the Father (from whom all fatherhood, earthly or heavenly, derives its name), and I pray that out of the glorious richness of His resources He will enable you to know the strength of the spirit’s inner re-inforcement—that Christ may actually live in your hearts by your faith. And I pray that you, firmly fixed in love yourselves, may be able to grasp (with all Christians) how wide and deep and long and high is the love of Christ—and to know for yourselves that love so far beyond our comprehension. May you be filled though all your being with God himself!

– Ephesians 3:18-20 (PHILLIPS)

 

For God in all His fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
and through Him God reconciled
everything to Himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

– Colossians 1:19,20 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart