Overflow

June 5, 2016June 5, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

We are dependent on You, God,

for filling every need

and You go beyond the need

to the blessings

they overflow

causing our lives

and our love

to spill over

into the lives of others

Abundant and flowing love

coming from You

gracefully filling another’s cup

with blessings through us

All of it

every part

is YOU

– Susie Stewart

And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.

– 2 Corinthians 9:8 (AMP)

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

– 2 Corinthians 9:7-9 (MSG)

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

– 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)

God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share.

– 2 Corinthians 9:9 (VOICE)

Photo by Katy Mae Nelson

College Graduation

June 5, 2016June 5, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 7 Comments

I gaze down at you

from my bleacher seat perch

with a sea of black square-top hats before me

and I pick you

out of the crowd

staying fixed on that one square hat

for you are my son

and my heart is set on you

This is a monumental moment

when the boy we raised

becomes an independent man

and I’m proud,

so proud,

but my emotions start to stir

for when I close my eyes

and open them again,

you are standing there with a white square hat

and my heart skips a beat

I can never convey to you

what raising you all these years

has meant to me, Arik,

and God’s heart for you

rests in me

for He put that love for you there

I thank Him,

with tears that words cannot express,

for allowing me

and your dad

to watch you all these years

become the man you were meant to be

I love you, Arik ❤

– Mama – Susie Stewart

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

– 3 John 4

Photos by Andy and Susie Stewart

Quiet Place

June 3, 2016June 3, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

I know you are going 100 miles an hour

these days

and you don’t know how it will all get done

But you had time to read this

and so I want you to know

Jesus is gently calling

“Come”

“Come to me and find some rest”

He will help you get it all done

but for now

take some moments with Him

Your strength will be replenished

You will find some peace

and You will never regret

time with the King

– Susie Stewart

Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

– Mark 6:31 (NIV)

The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.

– Mark 6:31 (MSG)

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

– Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Photo by Kim Stewart

He Hasn’t Left

June 2, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 5 Comments

Do you get the feeling

that God’s Spirit leaves

when you are grumpy

sad

angry

when you do something wrong?

That He can’t really stand

to be around you

when you’re like that?

That He’ll come back

when you’re back to yourself?

The Holy Spirit dwells with you

just like your family

but the difference is

He doesn’t leave the room

in disgust

when you are out of sorts

He walks with you

always

and He will be that friend

that sticks closer than a brother

He will be the one

who doesn’t leave

ever

His voice might be harder to hear

when you’re a hot mess

but He hasn’t left

that’s His promise

– Susie Stewart

…He will never leave you nor forsake you.

– Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

– Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with each of them.”

– John 14:23 (NLT)

Photo by Arik 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)

Photo by Susie Stewart

My brother, Danny Oertli – “Fight For Me”

Cheerful

May 31, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

My husband has a cheerful heart.

People are drawn to his infectious, loud laugh,

he whistles the Looney Tunes melody in the shower,

he dances with abandon in Uganda,

he sings and hums while he’s cooking,

he makes up nicknames for people,

he loves on the people he loves without holding back.

He’s not a pouter.

He’s a joy to be around most of the time (Nobody is a joy to be around all of the time).

And when I think about what God’s Word has to say about cheerfulness — that it’s good medicine — I know it’s true,

because I live with a cheerful man who soothes my heart with his kind eyes and whimsical ways.

May we all be more cheerful and not self-centeredly sullen.

May the light of God’s Spirit show through in our eyes.

– Susie Stewart

Bright eyes and a cheerful expression bring joy to the heart, and good news revives the spirit and renews health.

– Proverbs 15:30 (VOICE)

A warm, smiling face reveals a joy-filled heart, but heartache crushes the spirit and darkens the appearance.

– Proverbs 15:13 (VOICE)

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

– Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

Photos by Susie Stewart and Melissa Sievers

Spirit Gift

May 30, 2016May 31, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Walk in His Spirit

Speak in His Spirit

Rest in His Spirit

Serve in His Spirit

Love in His Spirit

Be Strong in His Spirit

Be wise in His Spirit

Hear His Spirit

Do you realize

the gift the Holy spirit is?

And do you realize

how many times you are trying

to do it all in your own strength?

Trust the Holy Spirit in you

to be everything for you

– Susie Stewart

But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

– Acts 6:10 (NIV)

I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.

– John 14:25-27 (MSG)

A similar thing happens when we pray. We are weak and do not know how to pray, so the Spirit steps in and articulates prayers for us with groaning too profound for words.

– Romans 8:26 (VOICE)

Don’t you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don’t belong to yourselves.

– 1 Corinthians 16:9 (GW)

And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

– Isaiah 11:2 (NLT)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

– 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

– Acts 1:8 (NIV)

When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.

– 1 Corinthians 2:13 (NLT)

Photo by Andy Stewart

Gripping Eternity

May 28, 2016May 28, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

I’m holding tightly, Lord,

to eternity

and I’m holding loosely

everything here where I am

…at least I’m trying to

Life here can be hard

and disappointing

and painful at times

but knowing there is perfect

and beautiful

and everlasting, never-ending love

beyond

and forever

makes me want to hold tight

and to savor the thought

of peaceful and vibrant heaven

and of forever with You,

my beautiful Savior

– Susie Stewart

Set your heart not on riches, but on goodness, Christ-likeness, faith, love, patience and humility. Fight the worthwhile battle of the faith, keep your grip on that life eternal to which you have been called, and to which you boldly professed your loyalty before many witnesses.

– 1 Timothy 6:11,12 (PHILLIPS)

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

– 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

My heavenly guide brought me to the river of pure living waters, shimmering as brilliantly as crystal. It flowed out from the throne of God and of the Lamb, flowing down the middle and dividing the street of the holy city. On each bank of the river stood the tree of life, firmly planted, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and producing its sweet crop every month throughout the year. And the soothing leaves that grew on the tree of life provided precious healing for the nations.

<<<Fed by a crystal clear river is the tree of life. In the beginning, Adam and Eve were prevented from eating from the tree once they were expelled from the garden of Eden. Divine creatures and a flaming sword then stood guard at the entrance to the garden (Genesis 3:24). Now the tree of life returns to the story, a single tree situated on both sides of the river. No one is denied access to its luscious fruit and healing leaves.>>>
No one or nothing will labor under any curse any longer. And the throne of God and of the Lamb will sit prominently in the city. God’s servants will continually serve and worship Him. They will be able to look upon His face, and His name will be written on their foreheads. Darkness will never again fall on this city. They will not require the light of a lamp or of the sun because the Lord God will be their illumination. By His light, they will reign throughout the ages.

– Revelation 22:1-5 (VOICE)

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

– 1 Peter 1:3,4 (NLT)

I would not give one moment of heaven for all the joy and riches of the world even if it lasted for thousands and thousands of years.

– Martin Luther

Photo by Susie Stewart

Breath and Beat

May 27, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

Stop for a moment

and notice each breath you take

Put your hand on your heart

and feel it pulse

Life within you

given by God

Each breath a gift

each heartbeat His to give

You are alive

Are you alive in Him?

Or are you merely existing?

Does His heart beat in you?

Does the Life-Giving Spirit breathe in you?

– Susie Stewart

His speech shaped the entire cosmos.
Immersed in the practice of creating,
all things that exist were birthed in Him.
His breath filled all things
with a living, breathing light—

– John 1:3,4 (VOICE)

…in Him we live and move and have our being…

– Acts 17:28 (NIV)

God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul!

– Genesis 2:7 (MSG)

For the Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

– Job 33:4 (NLT)

He Himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need.

– Acts 17:25 (NLT)

I will give them a new will—an undivided heart—and plant a new spirit within them; I will remove their cold, stony heart and replace it with a warm heart of flesh.

– Ezekiel 11:19 (VOICE)

Photo by Susie Stewart