Month: June 2016

The Blessing of Obedience

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

There is freedom in obedience

There is joy in obedience

There is peace in obedience

 

What tangles we would avoid

if only we heeded the instruction

 

of the One who is Truth

 

What pain we would prevent

if only we would listen

 

to the One who knows best

 

What heartache we would escape

if only we were humble enough

 

to obey

 

For there is where we find

freedom

joy

peace

 

and show God

how much we love Him

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Anyone who loves Me will listen to My voice and obey. The Father will love him, and We will draw close to him and make a dwelling place within him.

– John 14:23 (VOICE)

 

Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

– Deuteronomy 5:33 (NIV)

 

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

– Proverbs 10:17 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

A Video for You

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

 

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.

They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

– Matthew 22:42-45 (NIV)

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Poison Words

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Friend,

why?

 

Why are you speaking words

of division?

 

Why do you tell one person

negative things about another?

 

Swaying friends’ opinions

when they two were at peace?

 

Stale water and fresh water

should not be coming out

of the same spring

 

Words of gossip

words of condescension

words of poison,

so the Word says

 

The enemy is the divider

and our God is the Unifier

 

Whose team do you want to be on anyway?

 

Use your words to bless,

not curse

 

Edify the Body of Christ

 

– Susie Stewart

 

…a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!  Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?  Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

– James 3:5-12 (NLT)

 

Photo by Arik Stewart

 

Harvest

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Our hearts are soil

and God has provided

all that we need to harvest that soil

 

with love

and righteousness

and goodness

 

 

by allowing His Spirit

to cultivate in us

all for His Divine purpose

 

May the soil of your heart

and mine

not become hardened

and parched

 

but may we be soft

and plantable

with Living Water

and the seed of God’s Word

firmly planted

 

We can be assured of a harvest

bountiful

and huge

bringing glory to the Master Gardener

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.

– Hosea 10:12 (NLT)

 

Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

– Galatians 6:7 (MSG)

 

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, He will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

– 2 Corinthians 9:10,11 (NLT)

 

And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

– Luke 8:15 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Overflow

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

We are dependent on You, God,

for filling every need

 

and You go beyond the need

to the blessings

 

they overflow

 

causing our lives

and our love

to spill over

into the lives of others

 

Abundant and flowing love

coming from You

gracefully filling another’s cup

with blessings through us

 

All of it

every part

is YOU

 

– Susie Stewart

 

And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.

– 2 Corinthians 9:8 (AMP)

 

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

– 2 Corinthians 9:7-9 (MSG)

 

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

– 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)

 

God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share.

– 2 Corinthians 9:9 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Katy Mae Nelson

College Graduation

/ Susie Stewart / 7 Comments

I gaze down at you

from my bleacher seat perch

with a sea of black square-top hats before me

 

and I pick you

out of the crowd

staying fixed on that one square hat

 

for you are my son

and my heart is set on you

 

This is a monumental moment

when the boy we raised

becomes an independent man

 

and I’m proud,

so proud,

but my emotions start to stir

 

for when I close my eyes

and open them again,

you are standing there with a white square hat

 

x5

and my heart skips a beat

 

I can never convey to you

what raising you all these years

has meant to me, Arik,

 

and God’s heart for you

rests in me

for He put that love for you there

 

I thank Him,

with tears that words cannot express,

for allowing me

and your dad

to watch you all these years

become the man you were meant to be

 

I love you, Arik ❤

 

– Mama – Susie Stewart

 

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

– 3 John 4

 

Photos by Andy and Susie Stewart

 

Quiet Place

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

I know you are going 100 miles an hour

these days

 

and you don’t know how it will all get done

 

But you had time to read this

and so I want you to know

 

Jesus is gently calling

“Come”

 

“Come to me and find some rest”

 

He will help you get it all done

 

but for now

take some moments with Him

 

Your strength will be replenished

You will find some peace

and You will never regret

time with the King

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

– Mark 6:31 (NIV)

 

The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.

– Mark 6:31 (MSG)

 

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

– Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

 

Photo by Kim Stewart

 

He Hasn’t Left

/ Susie Stewart / 5 Comments

Do you get the feeling

that God’s Spirit leaves

when you are grumpy

sad

angry

 

when you do something wrong?

 

That He can’t really stand

to be around you

when you’re like that?

 

That He’ll come back

when you’re back to yourself?

 

The Holy Spirit dwells with you

just like your family

 

but the difference is

He doesn’t leave the room

in disgust

 

when you are out of sorts

 

He walks with you

 

always

 

and He will be that friend

that sticks closer than a brother

 

He will be the one

who doesn’t leave

 

ever

 

His voice might be harder to hear

when you’re a hot mess

 

but He hasn’t left

 

that’s His promise

 

– Susie Stewart

 

…He will never leave you nor forsake you.

– Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

– Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

 

Jesus replied, “All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with each of them.”

– John 14:23 (NLT)

 

Photo by Arik Stewart

 

 

Defender

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

He is defending you,

firm and resolute in your corner

 

He Himself,

when all others have turned away

 

The God of the Universe

is your defense

your strength

your vindication

 

And isn’t it so good

to have a Defender

who sees all?

 

Who sees what you are going through?

 

Who sees what is not fair

or right?

 

Be at peace knowing

that He’s got you

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The LORD, the LORD Himself, is my strength and my defense;  He has become my salvation.

– Isaiah 12:2 (NIV)

 

Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. …The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

– Exodus 14:13,14 (NIV)

 

I love you, Lord;
You are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and He saved me from my enemies.
The ropes of death entangled me;
floods of destruction swept over me.
The grave wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from His sanctuary;
my cry to Him reached His ears.
Then the earth quaked and trembled.
The foundations of the mountains shook;
they quaked because of His anger.
Smoke poured from His nostrils;
fierce flames leaped from His mouth.
Glowing coals blazed forth from Him.
He opened the heavens and came down;
dark storm clouds were beneath His feet.
Mounted on a mighty angelic being, He flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
He shrouded Himself in darkness,
veiling His approach with dark rain clouds.
Thick clouds shielded the brightness around Him
and rained down hail and burning coals.
The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded
amid the hail and burning coals.
He shot His arrows and scattered His enemies;
great bolts of lightning flashed, and they were confused.
Then at your command, O Lord,
at the blast of your breath,
the bottom of the sea could be seen,
and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.
He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
He drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
but the Lord supported me.
He led me to a place of safety;
He rescued me because He delights in me.
The Lord rewarded me for doing right;
He restored me because of my innocence.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
I have followed all his regulations;
I have never abandoned His decrees.
I am blameless before God;
I have kept myself from sin.
The Lord rewarded me for doing right.
He has seen my innocence.
-Psalm 18:1-34 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

My brother, Danny Oertli – “Fight For Me”