Writing

Sinking

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Sink into His love today

up over your head

deep

deep

deep

 

Let the weightlessness

take your worry

your pain

your heaviness

 

Let the quiet

take all that speaks loud

and shouts at you

and distracts

 

Let the Living Water

refresh

and cleanse

and hydrate parched places

 

His love is a vast ocean

of hope and grace

 

Let go

and be enveloped

 

Sink not into despair

but into His love

– Susie Stewart

 

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…with all of Your people they will have the power to understand that the love of the Anointed is infinitely long, wide, high, and deep, surpassing everything anyone previously experienced. God, may Your fullness flood through their entire beings.

– Ephesians 3:18,19 (VOICE)

 

Photos taken by Susie Stewart

 

What you deserve

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Next time you are tempted to allow yourself

to be weighed down by forgiven sins,

remember that Jesus already got what you deserved.

 

He reminded me of that recently.

I was walking my dog Larry and started to slip on some sidewalk ice.  I didn’t fall down and the thought popped into my mind, “I probably would have deserved that”.

I had been hashing over some past regrets.  Not a healthy way for me to be spending my time on this beautiful dark evening under the stars with Larry and God.

As quickly as that downgrading thought entered my mind, I then also heard in my mind, “I GOT what you deserve.”

Such a swift response.  It took my breath away.

Yes, my Jesus!  You paid the ultimate price for all the sins I’ve committed and instead of me getting what was coming to me, You, my beautiful Savior, took the punishment I deserved.

You paid the ultimate price for me.  And You have forgiven me.  You continue to forgive me.

You didn’t deserve that.  I did.

 

And I want to consciously and graciously accept the forgiveness You give,

and move on.

 

Because that’s what You desire.

Moving on.

Turning the opposite direction.

Doing better.

Being free.

 

“I GOT what you deserve.”

 

Regret and sin

need to be left in the past

 

– Susie Stewart

 

“Forget about what’s happened;
don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
rivers in the badlands.

– Isaiah 43:18,19 (MSG)

 

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

– 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

 

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,  I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

– Philippians 4:23,14 (NLT)

 

…this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

– Matthew 26:28 (VOICE)

 

Photo taken by Susie Stewart

Equip

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20,21 (NIV)

 

The God of peace

our promise-keeping

covenant God

Who brought our

Life

out of the grave

 

He will equip us

with everything good

for doing what He intends for us to do

today

 

and work in us to reveal

what pleases Him

 

It is all through Jesus

our Shepherd who leads us

 

Glory to God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

May God, who puts all things together,
makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd,
up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you
with everything you need to please Him,
Make us into what gives Him most pleasure,
by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!
Oh, yes, yes, yes.

– Hebrews 13:20,21 (MSG)

 

Photo taken by Susie Stewart

Chocolate Truffles & Bacon

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

Chocolate truffles and bacon

 

That’s all it took

 

for me to fall into the ditch

from my higher road

 

Resolved to eat better,

I was on my way

 

less sweets

less carbs

more exercise

 

The usual song and dance

for many a New Year enthusiast

 

only 13 days in…

 

But it had been a rough day

and I really wanted to eat bacon

and I really wanted to eat truffles

 

and I jumped in

with both feet

 

Not just a little

 

but a lot

 

and man it tasted good!

 

Then

the after…

 

the feeling crummy

the regret

the guilt

the sigh

 

Isn’t it that way with sin?

 

Without vigilance

we can find ourselves

up to our necks in it

 

Sin can be so tasty

 

But there is always the after

 

and in Jesus

we are free from those chains!

 

Sin reigns no more in us

because of Christ!

 

So when we choose to sin

it’s like bacon and chocolate truffles

 

It is blatant

or

it’s because we haven’t taken up our armor

 

Something is slipping

 

and I have left myself exposed

without a piece of my armor

 

Flesh exposed

 

And I’m not just talking

about the supposed “biggies” of sin

 

How often do we know

the Holy Spirit is pricking our hearts

when we start to speak gossip about another?

 

And we know we should stop

but we’ve already started

so we jump in deeper

because we’re already there

 

Run from sin’s snare!

 

Christ will fight for us

We need to surrender to Him

 

Don’t be burdened with slavery

free Warrior

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Version 2

 

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

– Exodus 14:14 (NIV)

 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

– Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

 

Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

– Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)

 

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

– Romans 6:12-14 (NLT)

 

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Photos taken by Susie Stewart and Arik Stewart

 

 

 

 

His Love

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

“I have trouble recognizing and absorbing God’s love for me,” my husband shared as we were eating leftovers together.

“Tell me more,” I said.

“Well, you know how the Bible tells us over and over about how much God loves us?  I don’t know.  I just have trouble applying that to myself.”

A good, honest assessment.

“Sweetie, think about how much you love your kids, and how they make you so proud, and you love to be with them, and how that video on Youtube about daughters growing up made you cry the other day?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, God sees you that way.  And He loves you even more than you love those kids.”

Pause…. He’s thinking…

I go on.

“And what if I responded mechanically and business-like to your love for me?  How would you like that?”

“I’d hate it.”

“Well, I don’t think we should be responding to God’s love like that either.”

Thinking some more….

“You need to let God love you and let it make you smile.  Really smile!  And respond to His love.”

 

I think things started to sink in for Mr. Logical.  And I so appreciate that he has always been a good listener.

He knows what love for others feels like.

He knows he doesn’t want to receive a mechanical or distant response from the people he loves.

And he also knows how good and encouraging it feels to be loved by people.

 

God put this love in our hearts.

 

We can’t see Him

but He loves us extravagantly

in so many ways

not the least of which was the ultimate sacrifice –

Life.

 

Soak in His love!

 

Notice Him loving you through people

notice Him loving you through nature

notice Him loving you through the Bible

notice Him loving you through “coincidences”

even notice Him loving you through difficulties

and discipline.

 

Notice Him

and love Him back.

 

There is nothing better in this life

than to know that God loves you and to love Him in return.

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;

and,

Love your neighbor as yourself.

– Luke 10:27 (NIV)

 

Love must be sincere..

– Romans 12:9 (NIV)

 

Photo taken by Nicole Stewart

 

 

Infinite

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

I feel the tug

 

the Martha in my head

 

pressuring me to go

to do other things

to leave

 

And my heart longs

to sit here at Your feet

to gaze into Your beautiful eyes

to hear You

to learn and grow

to connect

 

So many distractions

pulling me away

 

an infinite amount it seems

 

And yet

what my heart and soul truly want

is You

 

Jesus

 

truly Infinite

truly Fulfilling

truly the Better

place to be

 

at Your feet

 

May the seemingly infinite

distractions

 

be overruled

 

by my desire to connect

with my Infinite God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

– Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

– Galatians 5:16,17 (ESV)

 

Brothers and sisters, because of the blood of Jesus we can now confidently go into the holy place.  Jesus has opened a new and living way for us to go through the curtain. (The curtain is his own body.)  We have a superior priest in charge of God’s house.  We have been sprinkled with his blood to free us from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with clean water. So we must continue to come to Him with a sincere heart and strong faith.

– Hebrews 10:19-22 (GW)

Photo taken by Susie Stewart

Offended

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

I’ve been realizing more and more that being offended is a choice.  And really, when I concentrate so much on a person who offends me, I’m not able to concentrate on God or where He’s leading me.  I’m spending too much time and energy thinking about how I’ve been offended.  I’m thankful that God doesn’t do that with me.  I’ve given Him plenty to be offended about.  I heard Michael W. Smith speaking on a video once and he said something like, “I’ve made it my goal to never be offended by another person again.”  That really made me think!  How often do I get bent out of shape by another’s actions or attitudes when my focus really just needs to be on Jesus and running this race He’s called me to, and to extending the grace that’s been given to me.

– Susie Stewart

 

Therefore, I accept weakness, mistreatment, hardship, persecution, and difficulties suffered for Christ. It’s clear that when I’m weak, I’m strong.

– 2 Corinthians 12:10 (GW)

 

In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.

– Psalm 109:4 (ESV)

 

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

– John 8:36 (ESV)

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

– Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

 

Photo taken by Arik Stewart

 

Doors

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

No matter how hard you try to open that door,

to break it down

 

No matter how much you want something,

or someone

 

If God closes that door,

it won’t be opened to you.

 

Rest in His love,

and wide scope of your life.

– Susie Stewart

 

…the Holy One, the True One, and the One who possesses the key of David, which opens the possibilities so that no one can shut them. The One who closes all options so that no one can open…

– Revelation 3:7 (VOICE)

 

I know what you have done. See, I have opened a door in front of you that no one can shut. You only have a little strength, but you have paid attention to my word and have not denied my name.

– Revelation 3:8 (GW)

 

…yet not My will, but Yours be done.

– Luke 22:42 (NIV)

 

And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.

– Psalm 9:10 (AMP)

 

Artistic Illustration done by Carla Autrey

Best News

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

Jesus’ apostles were beaten and murdered for their bold witness, and they rejoiced to suffer for the name of Christ.

What was my reason again for not opening my mouth to speak the Good News?

– Susie Stewart

 

 

They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

– Acts 5:40-42 (NLT)

 

He preached without fear in the name of the Lord. He talked and argued with the Jews who spoke the Greek language. They kept trying to kill him.

– Acts 9:29 (NLV)

 

They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.

– Acts 14:29 (NLT)

 

Always think about Jesus Christ. He was brought back to life and is a descendant of David. This is the Good News that I tell others.  I’m suffering disgrace for spreading this Good News. I have even been put into prison like a criminal. However, God’s word is not imprisoned.  For that reason, I endure everything for the sake of those who have been chosen so that they, too, may receive salvation from Christ Jesus with glory that lasts forever.

– 2 Timothy 2:8-10 (GW)

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The Best News

must be shared

 

boldly

passionately

graciously

lovingly

 

for it is not by your own power

that you speak this News

 

but by the power

of God’s Spirit

 

He will quicken your mind

give you discernment

make you strong

and give you compassion

for those lost

and in bondage

 

You are the witness

to something glorious

something amazing

something unheard of

 

Sacrifice

Grace

Forgiveness

Heaven

 

Forever with God

The Best News

 

Sharing what He has done

for you

is a privilege

 

Speak

 

open up your mouth

and speak

 

trusting that when you do

regardless of the outcome

you have been obedient

and you have spoken

Hope

 

You are not a proselytizer

but an enthusiastic messenger

with the Best News

– Susie Stewart

 

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Photos taken by Susie Stewart

Shout

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

 

Hiking along

face down

concentrating on dirt

thinking

walking

thinking

walking

thinking

walking

 

I whisper,

“I love You, Lord”

 

I hear in my head,

“I’m shouting my love for you”

 

Take a breath in

eyes off of dirt

look up

and see a love display from God

 

a shout from God!

 

An “I love you”

from my Father

 

and my heart is stirred

and my eyes light up

and I’m drawn in

by His enveloping love

 

Everyone talks about you whispering, Lord,

and You do,

but sometimes you shout

because you love your children

so much

 

I think You shout a lot

and we are not listening enough

 

So I’m hoping to do better

and keep my eyes off of dirt

looking up

listening for whispers

and shouts

of Divine Love.

– Susie Stewart

 

“The LORD your God is in your midst; He is a Warrior who can deliver.  He takes great delight in you; He renews you by His love; He shouts for joy over you.”

Zephaniah 3:17 (NET)

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Photos taken by Susie Stewart