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Gift

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Do you know you woke up to a gift today?

 

This day,

this very one,

is a gift

 

You are here,

and your Sustainer

has enabled you to be here

 

We tend to think we are self-sufficient, don’t we?

That all is because of what WE do?

 

No

 

God gifted you with today

 

– Susie Stewart

 

This is the day the Lord has made. Let’s rejoice and be glad today!

– Psalm 118:24 (GW)

 

This is the very day God acted— let’s celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God—a free and full life!

– Psalm 118:24 (MSG)

 

Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

 -2 Corinthians 9:15 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Posession

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

We act sometimes

like people are our possessions

 

to be controlled

and manipulated

 

We act as if they should do our bidding

and it comes from a selfish heart

 

But God is the only One

who can safely have people as His possessions

 

 

We are His

because He created us

and because we were bought with a price

 

with the precious blood of Christ

 

His goodness flows to us

because of being under His God-sized umbrella of grace

 

How blessed we are to be

so lovingly called out of darkness

 

to be His own

 

– Susie Stewart

 

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.

 – 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

 

Remember you are people who have been set apart for Him; He has chosen you to be His own possession out of all the peoples on the earth.

– Deuteronomy 14:2 (VOICE)

 

 

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

– 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 (NLT)

 

Photo by Andy Stewart

 

Come

/ Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

The Son is rising

Do you sense it?

 

His return is near

and our enemy knows

his days are numbered

 

The earth and its inhabitants

are groaning

from the spiritual clash

 

The bold in Christ are getting bolder,

and the evil more heinous

 

And I say Come, Lord Jesus!

 

We know you are rising

to take us Home

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us,
who blood-washed our sins from our lives,
Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father,
forever—and yes, He’s on His way!
Riding the clouds, He’ll be seen by every eye,
those who mocked and killed Him will see Him,
People from all nations and all times
will tear their clothes in lament.
Oh, Yes.

– Revelation 1:5-7 (MSG)

 

With a loud trumpet call, He will send out battalions of heavenly messengers; and they will gather His beloved faithful elect from the four corners of creation, from one end of heaven to the other.

Now think of the fig tree. As soon as its twigs get tender and greenish, as soon as it begins to sprout leaves, you know to expect summer. In the same way, when you see the wars and the suffering and the false liberators and the desolations, you will know the Son of Man is near—right at the door.

– Matthew 24:31-33 (VOCE)

 

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

– Revelation 22:12-13 (NLT)

 

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

– Revelation 22:20 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

Still

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

So often people stay busy

to keep from feeling alone

 

They don’t slow down

for fear that life will not feel meaningful

 

without activity

 

But I have found

that when I am still

that’s when I realize more than ever

that I’m not alone

 

God is always with me

and being still helps me focus

on His being there

 

Stillness

affirms

His existence

to me

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Be still, and know that I am God

– Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

 

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

– 1 Kings 19:11,12 (KJV)

 

I will ask the Father to send you another Helper, the Spirit of truth, who will remain constantly with you.

– John 14:16 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Rain

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Rain down on us

sweet Jesus

 

Living Water, flood us

with Your love

 

We long for Your refreshment

in a dry and weary land

 

Cover us

Drench us

 

With Your kindness

Your forgiveness

Your acceptance

Your joy

Your Light

 

With YOU

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

A song of David while in the wilderness of Judah. O True God, You are my God, the One whom I trust. I seek You with every fiber of my being. In this dry and weary land with no water in sight, my soul is dry and longs for You. My body aches for You, for Your presence.

– Psalm 63:1 (VOICE)

 

Skies above, open up and let the clouds rain down righteousness! Let the earth below sprout triumph and justice. For I, the Eternal, have created them.

– Isaiah 45:8 (VOICE)

 

His voice thunders through the heavens, and the waters gush from the sky; He summons the clouds to build up over the earth. As the rain falls, the lightning flashes at His command; the wind rushes in from where He alone can store it.

– Jeremiah 10:13 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Your Number

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

No matter what you do

or where you go

or who you come into contact with

the Lord has chosen the number of your days

 

You can’t grit your teeth

and will

one extra day

out of life

 

He is the Author,

you are the created

 

He gets to choose

 

And we often don’t understand

why some have 1 day

and some have a 100 years

 

But we trust

 

And we know

that He will fulfill His purposes

for each of our lives

 

– Susie Stewart

 

You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer.

– Job 14:5 (NLT)

 

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

– Psalm 138:8 (ESV)

 

You see all things; You saw me growing, changing in my mother’s womb; Every detail of my life was already written in Your book; You established the length of my life before I ever tasted the sweetness of it.

– Psalm 139:16 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Words

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

– Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

 

Did my words

encourage today?

 

Were they chosen carefully?

 

Did they build people up?

 

Did they affirm

and bring glory to God?

 

Were my words

reflective of the faith I profess?

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (AMP)

 

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.

– Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT)

 

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

– 1 Peter 4:8-11 (MSG)

 

Don’t say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.

– Ephesians 4:29 (GW)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Surrender

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

Surrender

is so sweet

 

It is a free fall into the arms

of Abba

 

It is a breath of fresh air

after holding it for too long

 

It is the white flag

changed from black control

 

It is tight fists

released and open-palmed

 

It is the bowing of all

for God’s purposes

 

Acknowledgement

of sovereignty Divine

 

Surrender is necessary

for peace and joy

 

Surrender

is so sweet

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

– Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)

 

The Eternal made everything for a reason. Even wrongdoers fit in His plans; troubled times await them.

– Proverbs 16:4 (VOICE)

 

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

– Psalm 37:23 (NLT)

 

Peter: Master, we have left behind everything we had to follow You.

– Mark 10:28 (VOICE)

 

For any one of you who wants to be rescued will lose your life, but any one of you who loses your life for My sake and for the sake of this good news will be liberated.

– Mark 8:35 (VOICE)

 

Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship.

– Romans 12:1 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

All His

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to Him.

For He laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.

– Psalm 24:1-2 (NLT)

 

You established all of it, God

 

You created it all, every thing and every person

 

and even though some do not acknowledge You

or they shake their fists at You

 

it’s still all Yours

and always will be

 

You spoke

and it all appeared

 

You created in love and power

 

God, You sustain us

and I am so grateful

 

that the One who spoke life into

oceans and galaxies and babies and whales

 

loves me

and I am Yours

 

– Susie Stewart

 

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.

For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior….

…you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.

– Isaiah43:1-4 (NLT)

 

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them.

 -Revelation 21:3 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

Squirrel!

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

On my hike this morning….

 

Lord, I love you!  I see Your beauty in these wildflowers!  You are lovely, God.  You are so great and I love You…

 

(Don’t forget to get trash bags at Walmart, oh and potting soil…)

 

And, God, please watch over Colie at camp and Arik in Denver, keep them safe….

 

(These shoes are so good for hiking.  I’m really glad I got them.  My flip flops are wearing out, though, I think I better get some new ones before the old ones break…)

 

Oh yes, God, thank you for a new morning, and for health and strength and for life!

 

(Man, I really loved my time with my Jericho Girls group last night.  What a precious time of sharing…)

 

Lord, I’m sorry….

 

I have the hardest time staying focused sometimes when I’m praying to You.  I want to

 

(Squirrel!)

 

I want to keep all my focus on You on these hikes, but I’m so distracted.  I’m just sorry….

 

(Ugh, messed up again….)

 

I love you, child.  I made you a multi-tasker.  I see you trying hard to keep focused on Me.  I made you this way and I use you this way.  You are not messing up.    I’m always here.  

 

God….  I just love You so much.  Thank You.  I will keep trying with Your help.

 

I am just like a friend walking along your side that you jump from topic to topic with.  I delight in you.  

 

Friend, do you struggle with focus when praying?  Boy, I sure do.  But I’m so thankful that God sticks right with me anyway.  And I’m thankful that as I grow to know Him more and more that my communication with Him can flow more and more freely throughout the day.  He is always with me and I can talk to Him any time.  What a precious gift from my Abba Father.  Be encouraged!  God knows we can be flighty.  He is patient with His children. 

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

– Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV)

 

God can’t stand pious poses, but he delights in genuine prayers.

– Proverbs 15:8 (MSG)

 

Search for the Lord and for His strength;
continually seek Him.

– 1 Chronicles 16:11 (NLT)

 

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope Je has given to those He called—His holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

– Ephesians 1:18 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart