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Steady in the Flow

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

You, Lord,

are unpredictable

in many things

 

But Your love

is sure

 

Even when we don’t understand

Your ways,

We rest in who You are

 

Variable in how You answer

wise in Your sovereignty

steadfast in Your compassion

 

All-knowing

ever mindful

of all circumstances

 

The definition of Love

acting

 

Ebb and flow life

Solid God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

To say that God is faithful or consistent is not to imply, however, that He is predictable. Much bitterness toward God results from a misconception of this. Too often we speculate and try to guess the actions of God and, therefore, develop expectations. Through our limited and often perverted reasoning, we determine the “best” for our lives and then consider God’s only reasonable response to be one of quick and complete fulfillment.

– Bob LaForge

 

…God is love.

– 1 John 4:8 (NIV)

 

God keeps His word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same:

“Your words stand fast and true;
Rejection doesn’t faze You.”

– Romans 3:4 (MSG)

 

Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give Him advice or teach Him?

– Isaiah 40:13 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

 

 

 

The Real Love

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Love

gets exhausted

when it is always expecting something in return

 

Love

gets amnesia

when it remembers only wrongs

 

Love

gets disappointed

when it always keeps score

 

Love

is meant

to give

 

with giving in mind

 

Love

freely

 

Love

unconditionally

 

Love

like Jesus

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

– 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (MSG)

 

We have experienced and we have entrusted our lives to the love of God in us. God is love. Anyone who lives faithfully in love also lives faithfully in God, and God lives in Him.

– 1 John 4:16 (VOICE)

 

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

– Romans 12:9-10 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

For Sure

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

In uncertain times

I am grateful to You, my Abba,

for making my footsteps sure

 

You have planted me

in the sure earth

of Your inheritance for me

 

You have established

Your good plans

for my good

 

You have lead me,

never forsaking Your promises,

and I have followed

 

The surety of You

is all I need

in the uncertain

 

For I am Yours

and You are God

for sure

 

– Susie Stewart

 

You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of Your inheritance— the place, Lord, you made for Your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

– Exodus 15:17 (NIV)

 

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.

– Psalm 37:23,24 (NLT)

 

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

– Psalm 16:8 (NLT)

 

The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake
is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God;
I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.

I’m happy from the inside out,
and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell—
that’s not my destination!

– Psalm 16:7-10 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

The Most Important Blog You Will Ever Read

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

As your friend

I must tell you something

 

And maybe it’s kind of familiar

but read it carefully

 

for everything depends on it

 

Everything.

 

So here it is…

 

You will either confess Jesus

as your Lord and Savior here on earth

 

which will bring you salvation

 

Or you will confess Jesus

as the Lord and Savior before His judgment throne

 

which will bring you condemnation

 

forever

 

Either way

you WILL confess Jesus

 

Take the opportunity NOW

to turn to grace, life and love

 

for once your life on earth

is over

 

your confession

will only bring you death

 

And if you read this blog

and you disregard its truth

 

you can be sure

that you will think of my words

 

when you stand before God

ALONE

 

without an excuse

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

So God raised Him up to the highest place
and gave Him the name above all.
So when His name is called,
every knee will bow,
in heaven, on earth, and below.
And every tongue will confess
“Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,”
to the glory of God our Father!

– Philippians 2:9-11 (VOICE)

 

For it is written, “As I live, so I promise,” says the Lord, “every knee will bow down to Me. Every tongue will confess to God.”

– Romans 14:11 (VOICE)

 

I have bound myself with an oath. A word has gone out from my righteous mouth that will not be recalled, “Every knee will bow to me and every tongue will swear allegiance.”

– Isaiah 45:23 (GW)

 

…He has planted eternity in the human heart…

– Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

 

…each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment…

– Hebrews 9:27 (NLT)

 

I saw a Great White Throne and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence, nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth. And then I saw all the dead, great and small, standing there—before the Throne! And books were opened. Then another book was opened: the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, by the way they had lived. Sea released its dead, Death and Hell turned in their dead. Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived. Then Death and Hell were hurled into Lake Fire. This is the second death—Lake Fire. Anyone whose name was not found inscribed in the Book of Life was hurled into Lake Fire.

– Revelation 20:11-15 (MSG)

 

…when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with His mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from His glorious power.

– 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Stretch

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Do you feel

S   T    R    E    T    C    H     E     D

by God?

 

Has He placed you

in a spot

you’re not certain about?

 

Feeling a bit inadequate

for the task at hand?

 

He’s placed you there

nonetheless

 

It’s not meant to be

a painful stretch

 

but an expanding stretch

like breathing in more air

 

And when you breathe in

the very breath

and expanding of God

 

you realize

that this place of challenge

and different

and harder

 

Is for your good

and for His glory

 

You surrender to Him

in the midst of it

 

and find

that you are growing

in the best possible way

 

You see all the more

what God can do through you

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

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

– Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

 

…you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to Him, both now and forever! Amen.

– 2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)

 

…And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into His glorious image.

– 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Large Burden, Small Child

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Why are we…

 

….scratch that

 

Why am I

so slow to cast my cares

on You, Lord?

 

Why do I take time

to mull them over and over

in my mind?

 

As if I’m a small child

trying to shoulder a large load

hiking next to my strong Dad

 

When He is clearly saying to me,

“Give it to me, Child.  I will carry it.”

 

But No!  I’ve got this!

 

I really need to think about this

a lot

and I need to go over scenario 1

scenario 2

3, 4, 5 and 6….

 

And I struggle

and I  stumble

and I think I know best

 

when wise Father

is right there

 

and I imagine a loving

head shake from Him

with a questioning “Why?”

 

And it is then that I remember

 

Limitless Divine strength

and that this burden is not mine

to carry

 

And I cast it off

as the distressing hardship that it is

 

My Abba leans down

and I lay the burden on Him

 

and how small that burden now seems

on strong shoulders

 

Such a small thing

 

“Why take so long?”

I ask myself

 

And I see something else ahead on the trail

that looks like it needs to be picked up

 

I look at my Father

and wise eyes speak volumes

 

I decide not to pick it up

 

at all

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

– Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

 

Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries.

– 1 Peter 5:7 (VOICE)

 

For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”

– Isaiah 41:13 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Strong Tower

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

There is only one Name

that wields unimaginable power

 

That is the Name of the LORD

 

And when I need strength

sheltering

protection

comfort

 

It is the Name I call

the Name I flee to

 

This Name

in fact

is a Strong Tower

 

for those who trust God

with their lives

 

Calling on the Name of YHWH

when fleeing darkness

 

causes the darkness

to flee

 

It exasperates evil

 

I stand atop that LORD tower

and look down at the one who would destroy me

 

He cannot reach me

and I am secure

 

May I never seek anything

before You and Your strong Name, God,

 

My LORD

My Tower

 

secure

fortified

and strong

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil].

– Proverbs 18:10 (AMP)

 

Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy.

– Matthew 6:9 (NLT)

 

So at the name of Jesus
everyone will bow down,
those in heaven, on earth,
and under the earth.

And to the glory
of God the Father
everyone will openly agree,
“Jesus Christ is Lord!”

– Philippians 2:10-11 (GW)

 

No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of His name.

– Exodus 10:7 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

His Attention

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Getting someone’s attention

can be difficult at times

 

Just to have them look you in the eye

and to be heard

 

is rare

 

But you have God’s attention

 

He always sees you

and always hears you

 

His love for you is eternal

His attention faithful

 

God is not distracted

when you talk to Him

 

He is not preoccupied

with items more important

 

So if you have God’s attention

why not engage with Him?

 

Or is the problem

that God does not have

your attention?

 

-Susie Stewart

 

My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in His presence, freely asking according to His will, sure that He’s listening. And if we’re confident that He’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.

– 1 John 5:13-15 (MSG)

 

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer…

– 1 Peter 3:12 (NIV)

 

The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and He will refresh your life with His love.

– Zephaniah 3:17 (CEV)

 

Those who fear God get God’s attention; they can depend on His strength.

– Psalm 147:11 (MSG)

 

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with Him, make us fit for Him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

– Romans 5:1-3 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Tempted

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

You were pushed to your breaking point,

weren’t you?

 

It was just too much to take

and you had to give in

 

to temptation

 

No one could withstand

that much temptation

 

….except they could

 

Except YOU could…

 

God is faithful to you

and He will not let you

 

be tempted

 

beyond what you can bear

 

And if God is the One

Who causes you to bear it

 

then you don’t need to fail

 

His faithfulness

gives you what you need

 

and there is no excuse that stands

against His promise

 

Take your rightful position

and STAND

against temptation

 

– Susie Stewart

 

No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].

– 1 Corinthians 10:13 (AMP)

 

So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and He’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

– James 4:6-8 (MSG)

 

Because Jesus experienced temptation when He suffered, He is able to help others when they are tempted.

– Hebrews 2:18 (GW)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Self-Examination

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

May I be a follower

who examines myself 

more than I examine others

 

May my eyes be on You, God,

with Spirit-led reflection

on how I’m doing

as your follower

 

For I want to hear You, Lord,

when You are calling for change

and growth

and turning

 

I don’t want self-obsessed introspection

designed to tear me down

 

I will avoid my own voice of self-degradation

originating with the father of lies

 

The only voice I want to hear

is Yours,

loving

and for my good

 

I want to examine my own heart

by Your Spirit

so that I take my stand against the devil’s schemes

 

and so that I may repent

of all that is against You

and Your plan for me

 

and turn my face

to the Light

and the Truth

 

Help me, Jesus,

examine myself

in Your way

 

leading me closer to You

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. I hope the test won’t show that we have failed. But if it comes to that, we’d rather the test showed our failure than yours. We’re rooting for the truth to win out in you. We couldn’t possibly do otherwise.

We don’t just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. We pray hard that it will all come together in your lives.

– 2 Corinthians 13:5-9 (MSG)

 

If you hear the message and don’t obey it, you are like people who stare at themselves in a mirror and forget what they look like as soon as they leave. But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget.

– James 1:23-25 (CEV)

 

Don’t take this opportunity to think you are better than those who slip because you aren’t; then you become the fool and deceive even yourself. Examine your own works so that if you are proud, it will be because of your own accomplishments and not someone else’s.  Each person has his or her own burden to bear and story to write.

– Galatians 6:3-5 (VOICE)

 

Now let’s search out our thoughts and ways and return to the Eternal.

– Lamentations 3:40 (VOICE)

 

As your spiritual teacher I give this piece of advice to each one of you. Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith that God has given to you all. For just as you have many members in one physical body and those members differ in their functions, so we, though many in number, compose one body in Christ and are all members of one another. Through the grace of God we have different gifts. If our gift is preaching, let us preach to the limit of our vision. If it is serving others let us concentrate on our service; if it is teaching let us give all we have to our teaching; and if our gift be the stimulating of the faith of others let us set ourselves to it. Let the man who is called to give, give freely; let the man who wields authority think of his responsibility; and let the man who feels sympathy for his fellows act cheerfully.

– Romans 12:3-8 (PHILLIPS)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart