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Love Is Not Proud

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Love is not proud…

– 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

 

 

Godly love acts in humility,

but with confidence.

 

This confidence is not in self,

not a prideful confidence,

but a confidence in your position in Christ

and who He created you to be.

 

He created you for this – to Love God, love people, and bring Him glory.

– Susie Stewart

 

A proud man then is a kind of glutton upon himself; for he is never satisfied with loving and admiring himself; whilst nothing else, with him, is worthy either of love or care.

– William Penn

 

In pride we become the objects of our own love; in humility we learn to love others.

– S. Michael Houdmann

 

Pride will create contempt, arguments, misunderstandings, resentment, loss of community, and indifference…We need to seek others first and their well being, not our arrogance and egocentric mentality. Love lifts up God, not us.

– Richard Krejcir

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Love Does Not Boast

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Love does not boast…

– 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

 

Godly love isn’t boastful and arrogant.  It seeks to build up others, not to brag about one’s own accomplishments.  It seeks to make much of God and to bring Him glory.

– Susie Stewart

 

Boasting is the voice of pride in the heart of the strong. Self-pity is the voice of pride in the heart of the weak.

– John Piper

 

Grace puts it’s hand on the boasting mouth, and shuts it once for all.

– Charles Spurgeon

 

Photo by Andy Stewart

Love Does Not Envy

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Love does not envy…

– 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

 

Envying someone else’s life doesn’t make your life better like actually enjoying your own does.

– Ann Voskamp

 

It is a very human trait in us to feel that another’s advancement is in some way a blow to ourselves. It is equally a human trait to feel that another’s downfall and disgrace in some way adds a bit of luster to our own crowns. Of course, nothing could be more utterly false.

-Clovis G. Chappell

 

In some dispositions there is such an envious kind of pride that they cannot endure that any but themselves should be set forth for excellent; so that when they hear one justly praised, they will either seek to dismount his virtues, or, if they be like a clear light, they will stab him with a “but” of detraction.

-Owen Felltham

 

The cure for the sin of envy and jealousy is to find our contentment in God.

-Jerry Bridges

 

Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things.

– James 3:16 (CEV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Love Is Kind

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Love is kind…

– 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

 

I shall pass this world but once. Any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

– Henry Drummond

 

God, You are all-powerful, yet You are humble of heart and kind – something that will always, always amaze me and continually cause me to be grateful that I am a recipient of Your Divine love and relationship.

– Susie Stewart

 

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

– Matthew 11:29 (NLT)

 

I choose kindness…I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God treated them.

– Max Lucado

 

Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.

– Frederick W. Faber

 

The greatest sorrow and burden you can lay upon the Father, the greatest unkindness you can do to Him is not to believe that He loves you.

– John Owen

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Love is Patient

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Love is patient…

– 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

 

It seems that when I write about a certain subject, it is that very day that I am tested in that very area of my Christian walk.  I fail miserably at times, and walk in my God-given freedom from sin at others.

Sanctification, the process of growing to be more like Jesus, is an ever upward thing in which I press on, and He is at work.  There are unfortunate moments when I am not reflecting Him, and it is those moments when I am exceedingly grateful for my patient Heavenly Father, and that He is refining His children through their ups and downs.

God is love.  And love is patient.  Today is a new day.  And with forgiveness, that new day may start right in the middle of your day.

– Susie Stewart

 

We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.
– Helen Keller

 

The times we find ourselves having to wait on others may be the perfect opportunities to train ourselves to wait on The Lord.
– Joni Eareckson Tada

 

Wait on God and He will work, but don’t wait in spiritual sulks because you cannot see an inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our spiritual hysterics to wait on God? To wait is not to sit with folded hands, but to learn to do what we are told.
– Oswald Chambers

 

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

– Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)

 

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is His faithfulness;
His mercies begin afresh each morning.

– Lamentations 3:22,23 (NLT)

 

Photo taken by Susie Stewart

 

Goodness

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

 

God promises to work ALL things for the GOOD

 

for those of us who love Him

and have been called by Him

 

He takes our mistakes

our heartache

our everything

 

and brings purpose and good

 

Beauty from ashes

from all that happens in our lives

 

No exceptions

because of unconditional love

 

How unimaginably gracious!

 

 

So, what if you and I sought to do that

for people?

 

What if we were to respond with grace

when wronged,

bringing the good

to that situation?

 

And what if we loved

when it makes more sense

to hate?

 

And what if we took awful circumstances,

and inserted compassion

and truth

instead of criticism?

 

What if we responded with patience

when it isn’t warranted?

 

What if we sought,

by God’s Spirit,

the good

in everything?

 

What if we showed His goodness,

by His power,

with His Light,

in the darkness?

– Susie Stewart

 

 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

– Romans 8:28 (NIV)

 

…we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

– Romans 8:28 (MSG)

 

And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.

– 2 Corinthians 3:18 (AMP)

 

To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.  In their righteousness, they will be like great oak that the Lord has planted for His own glory.

– Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)

 

Photo taken by Susie Stewart

 

 

 

Authentic

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Throughout history, an authentic faith has been marked by a compassionate response toward those the world tends to forget.

~ Gary L. Thomas

 

This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, “Here I am.”
– Isaiah 58:6-8 (MSG)

 

His is a loving, tender hand, full of sympathy and compassion.

– D.L. Moody

 

Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.

– Francis Schaeffer

 

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Photos taken by Susie Stewart

Most Important

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

If I were to ask you right now,

“What one person or thing is the most important to you?”

what comes to mind first?

 

Does it match up with what you’re doing with your life, how you spend your time?

 

And do people recognize the importance of that person or thing to you?  Would they answer that question the same way about you?

 

Or was that your “right” answer?

– Susie Stewart

 

Whom have I in heaven but You?
I desire You more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
He is mine forever.

– Psalm 73:25,26 (NLT)

 

Do not put any other gods in place of Me.

– Exodus 20:3 (NIRV)

 

Our god is the thing, or person, which we think most precious, for whom we would make the greatest sacrifice, and who moves our heart with the warmest love. He is the person or thing that if lost would leave us desolate.
– Alan Redpath

 

Photo taken by Susie Stewart

Beautiful Love

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

The colored sunsets and starry heavens, the beautiful mountains and the shining seas, the fragrant woods and painted flowers, are not half so beautiful as a soul that is serving Jesus out of love, in the wear and tear of common, unpoetic life.

– Faber

 

Be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve Him. Think of all the wonderful things He has done for you.
– 1 Samuel 12:24 (NLT)

 

…What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

– Galatians 5:6 (NLT)

 

 

Photo taken by Susie Stewart

Planted

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Words…

above the ground

skimming the surface

never digging in

never planted

 

as opposed to

 

Words

piercing the dirt

lodging deep

roots and shoot ever growing down and up

planted and solid

 

It’s a picture of how

the seed of God’s Word

is meant to be cultivated

in you

 

Its effects powerful

causing you to flourish

 

Soaking in

Living Water

 

Let the Seed of His Word

take root

and transform

 

– Susie Stewart

 

…humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

– James 1:21 (NIV)

 

…In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

– James 1:21 (MSG)

 

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.

– Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)

 

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

– Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT)

 

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Photos taken by Susie Stewart