Unnecessary Performance

July 29, 2016July 29, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Don’t you know?

Don’t you remember?

You are someone’s child

You are God’s child

And He created you

to be in relationship with Him

But you think you need

to perform for Him

To get it right

to impress

To stop

messing up

But His love is not conditional

on your performance

Nestle into that love

and stay there

Performance is for an entertainer

not a beloved child

I was inspired to write this piece after listening to a interview my cousin, Kathy Gray, did on her new book “Light in Our Darkness”. In the interview Kathy said, “We were never created to perform. We were created for relationship.” Amen. Thank you, Kathy

– Susie Stewart

Don’t be mistaken; in and of ourselves we know we have little to offer, but any competence or value we have comes from God. Now God has equipped us to be capable servants of the new covenant, not by authority of the written law which only brings death, but by the Spirit who brings life.

– 2 Corinthians 3:5,6 (VOICE)

But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

– John 1:12,13 (NLT)

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith…

– Galatians 3:26 (NIV)

See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know Him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is.

– 1 John 3:1,2 (NLT)

And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

– Romans 8:17 (NLT)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Courage

July 29, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Courage or Cowering?

That’s the choice

In the face of evil

in the day of danger

in the heat of challenge

the ones who trust

an all-powerful God

should take courage!

After all,

we are victors in battle

with a

Wall-Tumbling

Giant-Destroying

Red Sea-Parting

Tomb-Conquering

King!

No cowering necessary

Stand strong

in Divine power and strength

– Susie Stewart

Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.

– 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NLT)

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you.

– 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

– 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Photo by Susie Stewart

More and Less

July 26, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

The more we grow in Christ

and learn to love Him

and to trust Him

the less our peace and joy

are dependent

on people

and circumstances

What a relief

– Susie Stewart

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

– Romans 15:13 (NLT)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Rain

July 20, 2016July 20, 2016 / 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

All His

July 14, 2016July 14, 2016 / 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

Heaven Blessing

July 3, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)

I underestimate, Lord,

what you have blessed me with

I fail to realize that

out of Your immense love and grace

You have blessed my spirit

from heaven

Everything that can touch

the spiritual part of me

everything that heaven enjoys

is mine here on fallen earth

I try to wrap my head

around that

And I realize

that I’ve not tapped into Your favor

enough

I have not begun to grasp

my spiritual blessings

I have not been filled

to all the fullness

And I long for more

I can never get enough

of You, my Lord

I imagine that is why

everyone surrounds your throne in heaven

shouting “Holy, holy, holy…”

never having enough praise

because the spiritual blessings

are found in You

in who You are

and I am leveled with the fresh thought

that YOU live in my heart

I can’t help but have every spiritual blessing

from heaven

right here on earth

because it is all about You

– Susie Stewart

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

– Ephesians 3:19 (NLT)

The One sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled His throne like a rainbow Twenty-four thrones surrounded Him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

– Revelation 4:3-8 (NLT)

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”

– Revelation 5:11-13 (NIV)

A Video for You

June 8, 2016July 3, 2016 / 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)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Harvest

June 6, 2016 / 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

Defender

June 1, 2016June 1, 2016 / 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)