Writing

Guest Blog – “Abundance” by Nicole Stewart

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

My daughter Nicole Stewart is a wise woman.  She is, and always has been, an observer of life and people.  She seeks God’s heart.  Yesterday when I was talking to her on the phone, she spoke with such wisdom beyond her 20 years.  I asked her to try and write down what she was telling me.  “Just write how you speak.  Don’t get caught up in edits.  Let the Holy Spirit guide you.”  I’m so pleased she was willing to do that.  I believe she has much to offer all of us.  Here you have the heart of Nicole, the heart of God.  

 

It saddens me when I realize that we limit God. There is so much more to live and breathe and adventure and experience, but we choose to live differently. We choose to live mundane and ordinary. We choose to put our God in a contained area where we believe He is only capable of working within our constraints. This is wrong. And this saddens God’s heart.

God created us to be a part of His ultimate story. We have all been bombarded by the many stories, fictional and non, that demonstrate strength, triumph, bravery, selflessness. While movies are unrealistic and frustratingly irrelevant at times, our lives are meant for something even that much more exciting. Our lives were meant to proclaim the good news that the Creator who breathed breath into our lungs longs to pound our hearts full of love and grace. We were meant to wake up each morning and ask the Lord what He would have us do. In the midst of ordinary, there is so much beauty and deep need. There are conversations to be had, hearts to be connected, and authenticity of the human soul revealed. Why can we not grasp that this life is nothing without the living testimony of Jesus Christ?  Why can we not comprehend that we will always be left feeling empty and purposeless if we do not pursue a life of supplication and service? This is what life is about. This is what our beings were made for. To live a life with Jesus.

He is our healer, perfecter, lover, fighter, and fortress. Why do we not ask Him for abundant healing and miraculous workings in the deepest crevices of the brokenness within? Why do we not ask for Him to speak to us and reveal more of His character? Even if we do ask these things and He does not respond in the way we hoped, He is still good and our faith ought to be strengthened. He has called us to live in this time and place, surrounded by our specific families, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances, because He views us as worthy to be in such a position. We may feel blessed or we may feel poor, but He is still on His throne and He is still worthy of absolutely, utterly breathtaking praise. This is the life we were called to live. Never be limited by the ways of this world. Our God came, conquered, and is coming again. The story is not over yet.

 

 

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

– Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

 

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)

 

The Eternal One will never leave you; He will lead you in the way that you should go. When you feel dried up and worthless, God will nourish you and give you strength. And you will grow like a garden lovingly tended; you will be like a spring whose water never runs out.

– Luke 6:38 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Andy Stewart

 

 

Penetrating Darkness

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

This is my heart this morning.  It is heavy with the state of relationships, of our nation and of our world.  Jesus, You are my always hope.

 

We are desperate for You

and for Your light, Lord

 

This world feels dark

and heavy

and cold

 

Everyone believes themselves

to be right

and entitled

and stubborn

 

We so need Your graciousness

in our hearts, God

 

We long for Light

 

If we could

thirst

for Light,

we would

 

For darkness

threatens to overtake

 

But there You are

in the stillness leading

us to the banks of calm

and peace

 

To the waters of Your sweet love

 

Such a sweet Love

 

And the darkness that threatens

to overtake us

 

Is washed with the water

of Light

 

And eyes are awake once again

to goodness

and blessings

and most of all

 

to You

 

The Light in the darkness

 

The hope of all nations

 

The hope for each individual

that thirsts for Light

 

I love Your Light, my precious Jesus,

I love Your Light

 

– Susie Stewart

 

I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.

– John 8:12 (AMP)

 

A light that thrives in the depths of darkness, blazes through murky bottoms. It cannot and will not be quenched.

– John 1:5 (VOICE)

 

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

– Ephesians 5:8 (NLT)

 

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

– Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

 

The unfolding of Your [glorious] words give light; Their unfolding gives understanding to the simple (childlike).

– Psalm 119:130 (AMP)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Thunder

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Your voice will not be denied,

God of Heaven and earth

 

It thunders,

for Your power rumbles great

 

And we should all be

extremely grateful

that our God of Thunder

 

does not pour out His holy wrath

every time we rebel against You

 

For Your power is staggering

and Your voice immense

 

My heart listens for Your quiet voice

knowing Your thunderous voice is coming

 

when holiness brings judgment

with a loud and deafening clap

 

And there are those who hide in Your shelter

and those who stand exposed

 

I will be sheltered

by my Jesus’ sacrificial love

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The Lord thundered from heaven. The Most High made His voice heard.

– 2 Samuel 22:14 (GW)

 

Whenever this happens, my heart stops—
I’m stunned, I can’t catch my breath.
Listen to it! Listen to His thunder,
the rolling, rumbling thunder of His voice.
He lets loose His lightnings from horizon to horizon,
lighting up the earth from pole to pole.
In their wake, the thunder echoes His voice,
powerful and majestic.
He lets out all the stops, He holds nothing back.
No one can mistake that voice—
His word thundering so wondrously,
His mighty acts staggering our understanding.

– Job 37:1-5 (MSG)

 

For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

– Psalm 27:5 (NIV)

 

The blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered with a voice that rumbled like thunder.

– Exodus 19:19 (VOICE)

 

The Eternal thundered in the heavens; the Highest spoke; His voice rumbled [in the midst of hail and lightning].

– Psalm 18:13 (VOICE)

 

I was caught up at once in deep worship and, oh!—a Throne set in Heaven with One Seated on the Throne, suffused in gem hues of amber and flame with a nimbus of emerald. Twenty-four thrones circled the Throne, with Twenty-four Elders seated, white-robed, gold-crowned. Lightning flash and thunder crash pulsed from the Throne. Seven fire-blazing torches fronted the Throne (these are the Sevenfold Spirit of God). Before the Throne it was like a clear crystal sea.

– Revelation 4:4-6 (MSG)

 

After the fire, there was a still small voice.

 – 1 Kings 19:12 (WEB)

 

“Pagosa Springs” sung by my brother, Danny Oertli

 

More

/ Susie Stewart / 6 Comments

When my life

was threatened

 

I learned

 

that I truly love You, God,

more than my life

 

When I gave up meals

to fast and pray

 

I learned

 

that I truly want You, God,

more than food

 

When I denied myself

and I wanted to be first

 

I learned

 

that I wanted You above all, God,

more than myself

 

And when I surrendered my will

bowing low

 

I learned

 

that I long for Your plan, God,

more than mine

 

And the longer I walk with You, God,

the more I want to be near You

 

The more I know of You, God,

the more I want to know

 

The more I see of You, God,

the more I want to be wide awake

 

to You

 

– Susie Stewart

 

In the same way, if you want to be My disciple, it will cost you everything. Don’t underestimate that cost!

– Luke 14:33 (VOICE)

 

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.

– Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

 

…man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

– Deuteronomy 8:3 (NIV)

 

Then Jesus went to work on His disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?”

– Matthew 16:23-25 (MSG)

 

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!

– Matthew 13:44-46 (NLT)

 

Photo by Arik Stewart

 

 

First One

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

We have people

that we go to first

 

with heartache

and anger

and excitement

 

They are the close ones

who listen to our hearts

 

And what if

we sought God first

 

with heartache

and anger

and excitement

 

That He would be the One

to remind us who we are

 

when we forget

and listen to lies

 

That He would be the One

to laugh with us

 

when all is hilarious

 

That He would be the One

to mourn with us

 

when our hearts are broken

 

That He would be the One

to calm us

 

when unfairness plagues us

 

That He would be the One

to be still

 

with us….

 

God with us

 

He is the first

and the best friend

 

we will ever have

 

And we will hear

the most perfect response

from Him alone

 

– Susie Stewart

 

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

– Colossians 3:1-4 (MSG)

 

So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, help you. I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.

–  Isaiah 41:10 (VOICE)

 

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

– Zephaniah 3;17 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Fear

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
– Proverbs 9:10 (NLT)

 

A life of worship

is a life of fear

 

And it sounds strange

to say so

 

For fear

brings thoughts of scary

and terror

and angst

 

But Abba calls us to fear Him

with awe

and reverence

and joy

 

He calls us to see Him

in everything

 

He tells us not to fear people

or circumstances

or spiritual darkness

 

But to stand bold

in His Spirit

 

and this leaves us

with only the fear of HIM

 

But it couldn’t be further from the word we know

 

For this fear

dances in His presence

 

And brims over with joy

 

And seeks Him passionately

 

This fear is amazed at

and respecting

all-knowing

all-seeing

all-important

God

 

It is the beauty

of Father and child

 

It is

Fear

and fear not

 

– Susie Stewart

 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

– 1 John 4:18 (NIV)

 

Fearing God has been a term I’ve wrestled with and longed to better understand. I know it means to have a deep level of reverence for God. But I love what a friend of mine who studies language root words to better understand biblical terms recently shared with me. After much study, she now defines a person who fears God as ‘one who sees the hand of God in everything.’ There are several Hebrew words for the word ‘fear’, but let’s look at two of these closely. One is ‘pachad’, which means terror. That’s not the one used in this passage about the fear of the Lord. The word used is ‘yirah’, which means being in awe of God. That deep sense of reverence where we truly desire to look for the hand of God in everything.
– Lysa Terkeurst

 

Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him.

– Psalm 33:8 (NIV)

 

Let all people stand in awe of the Eternal; let every man, woman, and child live in wonder of Him.

– Psalm 33:8 (VOICE)

 

The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned well.

– Proverbs 14:27 (MSG)

 

 

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

– 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

 

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

– Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

Heart Trust

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

 

Has a person

broken your heart?

 

Crushed you

deeply?

 

And as a result

have you determined

 

that you can’t possibly

trust your heart

to God?

 

Secretly

you guard your heart

 

for fear

that He will disappoint

 

just like people have

 

But He calls out to you

as a faithful lover would

 

A faithful lover

 

He pursues you

consistently

 

And you gently learn

that your circumstances

 

don’t determine

His love for you

 

And that God,

your faithful One,

will hold you

 

in those circumstances

 

That He does not leave

nor forsake

 

And you find

that in trusting Him

with your heart

 

 

that He is the One

who wraps you

in His sheltering arms

 

When people

can’t be trusted

with your heart

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.

– Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

 

Our hearts erupt with joy in Him because we trust His holy name.

– Psalm 33:21 (VOICE)

 

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
He’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give Him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
don’t sulk under His loving correction.
It’s the child He loves that God corrects;
a father’s delight is behind all this.

– Proverbs 3:5-12 (MSG)

 

Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; He won’t leave you.

– Deuteronomy 31:6 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

A Whisper

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Your life is a whisper

 

It is a mist,

a breath

 

Your lungs take in the breath of God

at birth

 

And no matter how much time you are given

 

Your life is still

as fog that quickly dissipates

 

Eternity envelopes

and swallows up

your existence in flesh

 

Your spirit is everlasting,

solid

 

And so many are aimless

and unaware of the brevity

 

of Life

 

So precious

so short

 

But we are reminded

in this moment

 

that loving

on purpose

thriving

on purpose

worshiping

on purpose

serving

on purpose

forgiving

on purpose

 

Is vital

in so little time

 

to really live

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Humans are like a passing breath; their time on earth is like a shadow that passes over us during the day and soon is gone.

– Psalm 144:4 (VOICE)

 

…What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears.

 – James 4:14 (PHILLIPS)

 

As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades.”

– 1 Peter 1:24 (NLT)

 

We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.

– 1 Chronicles 29:15 (NLT)

 

He was mindful that they were human, frail and fleeting, like a wind that touches one’s skin for a moment, then vanishes.

– Psalm 78:39 (VOICE)

 

My days go by like a long shadow—stretched thin and disappearing…

– Psalm 102:11 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Gracie Oertli

 

 

Testify

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

My mouth

and my life

testify

to Love

 

Not just any love

 

But Unconditional Love

 

Love Perfect

given to imperfect

 

And I would testify to this Love

in any court

 

And some will doubt

and some will scoff

and some will turn away

 

But that does not change

my testimony of Him

 

And the evidence is not just in me

It is worldwide

 

The Fruit is the evidence

 

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Gentleness

Faithfulness

Self Control

 

And lives changed

 

Growing

and not stagnant

 

Softening

and yet strengthening

 

Kinder

and yet bolder

 

Love testified

through life

and words

 

And evidence

 

That we are truly saved

from so much more than sin

 

– Susie Stewart

 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

– Galatians 5:22 (NLT)

 

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

– John 13:35 (NLT)

 

“No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.

– Luke 8:39 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Together

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I think we don’t take God seriously

about unity in the Body of Christ

 

We divide ourselves into denominations

and separate from one another

 

We look down on this group

or that one over there

 

And we quarrel with our brothers and sisters

not taking seriously that God is about forgiveness

 

and about reconciliation

and unconditional love

 

We take advantage of His grace

and feel justified in our bitterness

 

Because if you only knew what they did….

 

When all along it has been us, too,

holding onto judgment

and bitterness

and unforgiveness

 

How ironic

 

For in our minds

we are pointing out their sin

 

And we could all be put in a basket

a basket of people stained and broken

 

BUT that is not how God sees us!

 

His precious Son died so that we

could be reconciled to the Father

 

He bought us reconciliation!

 

Do you hear that word?

Reconciliation

 

And that is what we ought to be about

with one another

 

Reconciliation

 

After all, do you not know

that together we build

 

The Holy Temple of God?

 

Each one a brick

adding to the beautiful structure

 

Jesus, the Son of God,

is the Cornerstone of that temple!

 

It is important that we be together

Each having a place

 

Brick by brick

by brick

 

So, please, brothers and sisters

let’s not judge

and criticize

and hate

and draw denominational lines

 

God has called us to love

so that others outside the building

 

Will know of our Savior

 

What barrier have you erected

that the cross already demolished?

 

– Susie Stewart

 

People are incorporated into [Jesus Christ], and when He is raised to new life, a new being comes into existence, one in which people are one with Christ and one with each other in Him.  Grace not only connects us to God and Christ, it connects us to each other.

– Klyne Snodgrass

 

Jesus prayed:   “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in Me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent Me.”

– John 17:20-21 (NLT)

 

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself. We are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through Him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit.

– Ephesians 2:20-22 (NLT)

 

God’s purpose and Christ’s achievement is a single new humanity, a model of human community, a family of reconciled brothers and sisters who love their Father and love each other, the evident dwelling place of God by His Spirit.  Only then will the world believe in Christ as Peacemaker.  Only then will God receive the glory due His name.  

– John Stott

 

And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in Him
will never be disgraced.”
Yes, you who trust Him recognize the honor God has given Him. But for those who reject Him,

“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”

And,

“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
the rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

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.

“Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.”

– 1 Peter 2:4-10 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart