Scripture

Tears

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

I had a good cry this morning

 

Because of fatigue

and chronic pain

and sadness over small stuff

 

And after all the tears

and pouring out my heart

to husband listening

 

I felt better

 

Not wonderful,

but better

 

And then I read a post

from my friend Sandy

about tears

 

And it got me to thinking….

 

About emotion

and expression

and pain in this life

 

And I think

that tears are a gift

 

They cleanse

and show depth

and express

 

the heart

 

And I also thought

of how we not only cry

when sad or in pain

 

but with joy

 

How closely related

pain and joy

really are

 

How water flows

out of the windows

to the soul

 

and that is how

we deeply show

the pains and the joys

of life here

 

But when we arrive

in heaven

all those tears will be gone

 

The pain will be gone

death will be gone

sadness will be gone

 

And even our tears of joy

will be gone

 

For all will be contentment

all of the time

 

No need for moments

of sheer joy

 

ALL will be joy

 

But for now

tears are a gift

 

A show

of what is

heart-deep

 

A river

of pain and joy

 

– Susie Stewart

 

On the subject of tears: God gave us the ability to cry for a reason — so if you feel sad and feel like crying — do so and do so as long as you can —- let every last tear fall – don’t repress them —- tears are the way God heals our hearts —- and afterwards you feel very refreshed — kind of like a good rain after a long dry spell. Oh, and never ever tell someone not to cry — so damaging to the spirit!  And don’t say “I am sorry you are sad” —- sadness is a natural human emotion and nothing to feel shame about!
I had a good cry on Thursday and I felt so good and joyful afterward. I will be missing my Drew coming down from Boulder this Thanksgiving —- He can not come down from heaven but I can go up — and what a glorious day that will be!
Psalm 126:8 Those who sow in tears will reap songs of joy —– and that is exactly what happened!

– Sandy Marthaler 

 

Thank you, Sandy, for your beautiful post!  ❤

 

Then I saw a new Heaven and a new earth, for the first Heaven and the first earth had disappeared and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride dressed in beauty for her husband. Then I heard a great voice from the throne crying, “See! The home of God is with men, and He will live among them. They shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death shall be no more, and never again shall there be sorrow or crying or pain. For all those former things are past and gone.”

– Revelation 21:3-5 (PHILLIPS)

 

Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.

– Psalm 126:5 (NLT)

 

Jesus burst into tears.

– John 11:35 (ISV)

 

David got up from his hiding place beside the boulder, then fell on his face to the ground—three times prostrating himself! And then they kissed one another and wept, friend over friend, David weeping especially hard.

Jonathan said, “Go in peace! The two of us have vowed friendship in God’s name, saying, ‘God will be the bond between me and you, and between my children and your children forever!’”

– 1 Samuel 20:41,42 (MSG)

 

See the Glory

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

You’re glory

is everywhere, God!

 

in the midst of a sin-tainted world

 

light in darkness

beauty in ugliness

revelation in confusion

 

And some remain asleep

to that glory

 

and look to shallow

and frivolous

and breakable

 

ascribing worth

to worthless

 

I glorify You, God!

 

I recognize

and see

and hear

YOU God

 

here

 

Everywhere

 

I make much of You!

 

For You

are ALL

 

and worthy

worthy

worthy

 

of my attention

and adoration

and love

 

Glory

glory

glory

 

to my God!

 

Always sufficient

Always perfect

Always just

Always loving

 

Always deserving of glory

 

I look in Your eyes,

Jesus

 

I believe

and I see Your glory!

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Jesus looked her in the eye. “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

John 11:40 (MSG)

 

Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell Him what to do? Anyone who has done Him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice? Everything comes from Him; Everything happens through Him; Everything ends up in Him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes.

– Romans 11:35-36 (MSG)

 

Then Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory!”

– Exodus 33:18 (AMP)

 

But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of His divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn’t treat Him like God, refusing to worship Him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.

– Romans 1:19-23 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

Messengers

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Those of us

who have been resurrected

from our old way of life

 

are awakened by Good News!

 

And we are messengers

with a message

 

entrusted to us

by God Himself

 

It is our responsibility

and our joy

 

to make sure people get

God’s message

 

And what kind of messengers

would we be

 

if we didn’t deliver

that message?

 

Especially

GOOD

God

News!

 

May we be the messengers

we were meant to be

 

– Susie Stewart

 

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

– 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)

 

If anyone asks about Titus, he’s my partner and coworker in this ministry to you. If there’s any question about who the other brothers and sisters are, they are emissaries of the churches, traveling to bring glory to the Anointed One, our Liberating King.

– 2 Corinthians 8:23 (VOICE)

 

He said to them, “Go everywhere in the world. Tell the Good News to everyone.

– Mark 16:15 (ERV)

 

Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to remember the Good News I told you. You received that Good News message, and you continue to base your life on it. That Good News, the message you heard from me, is God’s way to save you. But you must continue believing it. If you don’t, you believed for nothing.

I gave you the message that I received. I told you the most important truths: that Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say; that He was buried and was raised to life on the third day, as the Scriptures say; and that He appeared to Peter and then to the twelve apostles. After that Christ appeared to more than 500 other believers at the same time. Most of them are still living today, but some have died. Then He appeared to James and later to all the apostles. Last of all, He appeared to me. I was different, like a baby born before the normal time.

All the other apostles are greater than I am. I say this because I persecuted the church of God. That is why I am not even good enough to be called an apostle. But, because of God’s grace, that is what I am. And His grace that He gave me was not wasted. I worked harder than all the other apostles. (But I was not really the one working. It was God’s grace that was with me.) So then it is not important if I told you God’s message or if it was the other apostles who told you—we all tell people the same message, and this is what you believed.

– 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (ERV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Far Beyond Tolerance

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

If we were called

to just tolerate one another

 

would it not be

so much easier?

 

Bearing with each personality

different from our own

 

with a stiff upper lip

and a grit of our teeth?

 

Tolerating…

Enduring….

People?

 

But we are called

to more

 

to Love

 

And it would seem

impossible

 

if not for the example

set before us

 

Christ would not

have rescued us from ourselves

 

if He only tolerated us

 

No, He loved us

with everlasting love

 

The Trinity

sacrificed much

 

for Love

 

We are not consumed

by fires’ wrath

 

because of love

 

And because He made the first move

we are called to the same

 

And it would be impossible

if not for righteousness imparted to us

 

God’s Spirit loves

the unlovable through us

 

Can we not see

that is what we can be  — unlovable?

 

Nonetheless

we are eternally cherished

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.

– Lamentations 3:22,23 (NIV)

 

I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

– Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

 

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

– John 13:34 (NLT)

 

We love because He first loved us.

– 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

 

He Knows

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Has no one noticed your sorrow,

Friend?

 

Does your anguish

fall on deaf ears?

 

Feeling unseen

and unheard

causes an ache deep

 

But I want you to know

that nothing escapes

the watchful eye of God

 

He hears the thunderous drop

of your silent tears

 

He is wide awake aware

of your pain

 

And you can have unique joy

right in the middle of your sorrow

 

for Perfection

loves you

right in this place

 

And you don’t need to feel

unseen and unheard

 

because there is not a single person

on this earth

 

whose attention on you

 

matters more

than the attention of Eternal God

 

He knows

 

– Susie Stewart

 

I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
for You have seen my troubles,
and You care about the anguish of my soul.

– Psalm 31:7 (NIV)

 

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.

– Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

 

Lord, my longings are sitting in plain sight, my groans an old story to You. My heart’s about to break; I’m a burned-out case. Cataracts blind me to God and good; old friends avoid me like the plague. My cousins never visit, my neighbors stab me in the back. My competitors blacken my name, devoutly they pray for my ruin. But I’m deaf and mute to it all, ears shut, mouth shut. I don’t hear a word they say, don’t speak a word in response. What I do, God, is wait for You, wait for my Lord, my God—You will answer! I wait and pray so they won’t laugh me off, won’t smugly strut off when I stumble.

– Psalm 38:8-10 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

I Wonder

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

I wonder….

 

If people really believed

to their very core

 

that our struggle is not

with flesh and blood

 

but with dark forces

unseen

 

Would they run

to make amends

with people they once loved?

 

And I wonder….

 

If people realized

that they are being played

like puppets

 

by the one who wants to destroy

relationship

 

Would they do everything possible

to bring back unity

and peace?

 

For if we are divided

as Believers,

it ought not be so

 

For God is a God

of unity

 

And our enemy,

well,

he is the opposite

 

And I long

for people to know this

 

and to think about WHY

there is division

 

And run back

to love

 

– Susie Stewart

 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

– Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

 

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

– John 10:10 (AMP)

 

You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.

– Ephesians 4:4-6 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Dark House

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

Worry

Anxiety

Angst

Fear

 

Words that grip

and grasp

and strangle

 

And we, the Free,

choose not to dwell

 

in that dark house

 

We breathe in

and breathe out

 

Light

 

The Light of the World

 

And the reason we don’t live

in that dark house

 

is because we dwell

and we abide

and we exist

 

with God

 

He calms

and strengthens

and shows us

 

that we don’t have to be chained

by fear

worry

angst

anxiety

 

He sets the prisoner free

 

Minds gripped by their circumstances

are bound by this world

 

Walk in your freedom

walk in your Light

 

You may have once been a prisoner

but Jesus set you free

 

Be fearless

because you are held in His arms

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. 

– Philippians 4:6,7 (MSG)

 

Later, Jesus spoke to the people again and said, “I am the light of the world. The man who follows me will never walk in the dark but will live his life in the light.”

– John 8:12 (PHILLIPS)

 

But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

– John 14:26-28 (NLT)

 

…The Lord sets prisoners free.

– Psalm 146:7 (NIV)

 

Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light. Live as children who have light.

– Ephesians 5:8 (GW)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Yourself

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

I have told you, my children,

since you were young

 

that you are responsible

for yourself

 

Many people will do what is wrong

in the sight of God

 

But you remain true to Him

no matter what

 

And don’t get caught up

and offended

and angry

at whatever they do

 

You be responsible for yourself

 

It is your own life

that God will hold you accountable for

 

You will not change others

Change yourself when God reveals truth to you

 

Just go about your Father’s business

and leave Him to handle others

 

And if God opens a door

for you to speak truth into another

 

invited

 

Do so humbly and boldly

 

You, my dear children,

are responsible for you

 

before man

and before God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

…choose today whom you will serve…But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

– Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

 

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

– 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT)

 

Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!

– Luke 6:31 (MSG)

 

Jesus didn’t try to change the minds of those who firmly believed they were right.  His entire focus was to go about the Father’s business.

– Suzanne Eller

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Harsh

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

The words are meant to cut

this morning

 

The harsh is meant to hurt

this morning

 

And as I quiet myself

before You, King Jesus,

 

all of that disappears

and I hear grace

 

with my spirit

 

Grace sounds so sweet

and gentle wins my day

 

I prefer to stay here

with You

 

But I’m called out

and in

 

I know that Your gentle

and Your grace

and Your love

still lingers on me

 

May I be the fragrance of You

on this angry words day

 

Whispering

gentleness

 

In a shouting world

 

Don’t you know, friends,

that the Lamb conquers?

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

-Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

 

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

– Proverbs 15:2 (NIV)

 

The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

– Proverbs 15:4 (NIV)

 

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
but the hearts of fools are not upright.

– Proverbs 15:7 (NIV)

 

The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

– Proverbs 15:14 (NIV)

 

Watch your words and hold your tongue; you’ll save yourself a lot of grief.

– Proverbs 21:23 (MSG)

 

Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].

– Ephesians 4:29 (AMP)

Listen

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Learning to listen

well

is important

 

To be heard is precious

and affirming

to the sharing soul

 

And those who hear

with their hearts

and with wisdom

 

glorify God

and build people up

 

Listening to ourselves speak

may bring satisfaction

 

but may not bring about

the righteousness of God

 

when done out of selfishness

and talking just to talk

 

Hearing should be more paramount

than being heard

 

And there should be no one

we listen to more

than God

 

Hearing Him more than we talk

 

Humility listens much

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

– James 1:19 (NLT)

 

Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];

– James 1:19 (AMP)

 

Listen, open your ears, harness your desire to speak, and don’t get worked up into a rage so easily, my brothers and sisters.

– James 1:19 (VOICE)

 

A [closed-minded] fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity].

– Provers 18:2 (AMPT)

 

Being listened to is so close to being loved that most people cannot tell the difference.

– David Augsberger

 

The ear is the road to the heart.

– Voltaire

 

The first duty of love is to listen.

– Paul Tillich

 

He was interesting because he was interested.

– Gore Vidal

 

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

– Stephen Covey

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

– James 1:22 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart