1 Corinthians

Spirit Walk

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Holy Spirit

guide my mind and heart

this day

 

May I not heed

pop culture’s grasp

emotion’s wave

accolade’s hold

comfort’s woo

distraction’s tug

 

 

the wisdom of this world

or the lies of the enemy

 

May I follow You

wherever that leads me

 

confident in my trustworthy God

who sees the big picture

from eternity’s standpoint

 

Holy Spirit

lead on

into my unknown day

 

known by You

alone

 

– Susie Stewart

 

So now, where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the skilled debater, the best of your time? Step up, if you dare. Hasn’t God made fools out of those who count on the wisdom of this rebellious, broken world?

– 1 Corinthians 1:20 (VOICE)

 

When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, He was full of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit led Him away from the cities and towns and out into the desert.

– Luke 4:1 (VOICE)

 

If the Spirit of God is leading you, then take comfort in knowing you are His children.

– Romans 8:14 (VOICE)

 

Now since we have chosen to walk with the Spirit, let’s keep each step in perfect sync with God’s Spirit.

– Galatians 5:25 (VOICE)

 

But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

– Mark 13:11 (VOICE)

 

The Spirit of truth will come and guide you in all truth. He will not speak His own words to you; He will speak what He hears, revealing to you the things to come and bringing glory to Me. The Spirit has unlimited access to Me, to all that I possess and know, just as everything the Father has is Mine. That is the reason I am confident He will care for My own and reveal the path to you.

– John 16:13 (VOICE)

 

But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I’m completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won’t be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

– Acts 20:22-24 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Cherished

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

It is hard to put into words

what I’m feeling today

 

for my boy,

who became a man,

 

the boy

who I spent minutes

and hours

and days

and weeks

and months

and years

 

nurturing

 

found a beautiful girl

and will marry her today

 

and he loves her

 

Such depth of love they have

and it enlarges my heart

 

 

And joy is right on the tip of my tongue

this day

while melancholy is not far behind

 

My thoughts are all over

 

This child I have poured into

will hold fast to the beautiful girl

 

He will be a husband,

and a good one too

 

And all those minutes

and hours

and days

and weeks

and months

and years

are cherished in my full heart

 

knowing they were worth it

 

and thanking God

for the love He has allowed me to share with this child

 

I gladly

with joy

and a few tears

hold my arms open

 

for both

when it used to be for one

 

for that is the way it is meant to be

and my mama heart knows it

 

and I will add it to my memories

fully cherished

 

– Susie Stewart

 

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

– 3 John 1:4 (NIV)

 

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

– Ephesians 5:25 (NIV)

 

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

– 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

 

5

 

Content

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

The more

time and energy

we invest

in discontentment

with people

and circumstances,

 

the less

time and energy

we have

for contentment

in God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

– Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)

 

…godliness, along with contentment, does put us ahead but not in the ways some imagine.  You see we came into this world with nothing, and nothing is going with us on the way out!  So as long as we are clothed and fed, we should be happy.

– 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (VOICE)

 

I am at peace and even take pleasure in any weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and afflictions for the sake of the Anointed because when I am at my weakest, He makes me strong.

– 2 Corinthians 12:10 (VOICE)

 

…let each one live the life which the Lord has assigned him, and to which God has called him [for each person is unique and is accountable for his choices and conduct, let him walk in this way].

– 1 Corinthians 7:17 (AMP)

 

You will keep the peace, a perfect peace, for all who trust in You, for those who dedicate their hearts and minds to You.

– Isaiah 26:3 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

The Real Love

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Love

gets exhausted

when it is always expecting something in return

 

Love

gets amnesia

when it remembers only wrongs

 

Love

gets disappointed

when it always keeps score

 

Love

is meant

to give

 

with giving in mind

 

Love

freely

 

Love

unconditionally

 

Love

like Jesus

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

– 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (MSG)

 

We have experienced and we have entrusted our lives to the love of God in us. God is love. Anyone who lives faithfully in love also lives faithfully in God, and God lives in Him.

– 1 John 4:16 (VOICE)

 

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

– Romans 12:9-10 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Tempted

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

You were pushed to your breaking point,

weren’t you?

 

It was just too much to take

and you had to give in

 

to temptation

 

No one could withstand

that much temptation

 

….except they could

 

Except YOU could…

 

God is faithful to you

and He will not let you

 

be tempted

 

beyond what you can bear

 

And if God is the One

Who causes you to bear it

 

then you don’t need to fail

 

His faithfulness

gives you what you need

 

and there is no excuse that stands

against His promise

 

Take your rightful position

and STAND

against temptation

 

– Susie Stewart

 

No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].

– 1 Corinthians 10:13 (AMP)

 

So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and He’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

– James 4:6-8 (MSG)

 

Because Jesus experienced temptation when He suffered, He is able to help others when they are tempted.

– Hebrews 2:18 (GW)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

But God

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I looked at her text

and it gave me pause

 

“Interesting times here, but God…”

 

But GOD

with three tiny dots

 

And it got me to thinking

 

about how God is always present

and supremely sovereign

 

And no matter what…

 

BUT GOD

 

So I went on a search

through the Scriptures

 

and found His hand

working in our circumstances

in the middle of our humanness

 

in the pain

in the joys

 

in the midst…

 

But God…

was in

and about

and through

and all over

 

He is here

and He is aware

and He is at work

 

in our present circumstances

 

And no matter what,

our sentence can end

with “but God…”

 

– Susie Stewart

 

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

– Geness 8:1 (NIV)

 

But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night…

– Genesis 20:3 (NIV)

 

He said to them, “I see that your father’s attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.

– Genesis 31:5 (NIV)

 

…But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands…

– Genesis 31:42 (NIV)

 

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

– Genesis 41:16 (NIV)

 

But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

– Genesis 45:7 (NIV)

 

“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

– Genesis 45:8 (NIV)

 

Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you…”

– Genesis 48:21

 

 

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

– Genesis 50:20

 

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid…”

– Genesis 50:24

 

 

…But God did not answer him that day.

– 1 Samuel 14:37

 

David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.

– 1 Samuel 23:14

 

But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.

– 1 Kings 5:4

 

…For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

– 2 Chronicles 20:15

 

With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.

– 2 Chronicles 32:8

 

 

But the eye of their God was watching…

– Ezra 5:5

 

“But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage.

– Ezra 9:8

 

…But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love…

– Nehemiah 9:17

 

But in Your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

– Nehemiah 9:31

 

But God drags away the mighty by His power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life.

– Job 24:22

 

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

– Psalm 9:18

 

But You, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.

– Psalm 10:14

 

 

But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; He will surely take me to Himself.

– Psalm 49:15

 

…but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.

– Psalm 66:19

 

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

– Psalm 73:26

 

But God is my King from long ago; He brings salvation on the earth.

– Psalm 74:12

 

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

– Psalm 86:15

 

But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

– Psalm 94:22

 

But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by His righteous acts.

– Isaiah 5:16

 

But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King.

– Jeremiah 10:10

 

But God made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

– Jeremiah 10:12

 

…but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.

– Daniel 2:28

 

…But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.

– Jonah 2:6

 

 

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

– Matthew 19:26

 

…but God knows your hearts….

– Luke 16:15

 

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

– Acts 2:24

 

You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

– Acts 3:15

 

But God was with him…

– Acts 7:9

 

…but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen.

– Acts 10:40

 

But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike.

– Acts 26:22

 

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

– Romans 5:8

 

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

– 1 Corinthians 1:27

 

But God has put the body together…

– 1 Corinthians 12:24

 

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us…

– 2 Corinthians 7:6

 

…I do not know, but God knows—

– 2 Corinthians 12:3

 

 

Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

– Philippians 2:27

 

 

…but God is the builder of everything.

– Hebrews 3:4

 

…but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness.

– Hebrews 12:10

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

 

Self-Preservation

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Shrinking back

from people who disappoint

 

will only cause a tightening

of your soul

 

Loving and giving

without finding fault

 

will help keep

your heart open and free

 

Loving people unconditionally

reflects the Savior

 

Who didn’t shrink back

from us

 

in our undesirable state

 

Love and joy persevere

because of being accountable for ourselves

 

Walls of self-preservation

will only dim our Light

 

– Susie Stewart

 

* I am not speaking of abusive situations.  Self-protection in abusive situations is entirely warranted.

 

Love…does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

– 1 Corinthians 13:4,5 (NIV)

 

But God put His love on the line for us by offering His Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to Him.

– Romans 5:8 (MSG)

 

Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

– 1 Corinthians 13:7 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Settling

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

I realized something

this morning

 

I realized that I

have been settling

 

No, it’s not what you think

 

God has given me

health and strength

to be fit

 

and I settled for little exercise

 

God has given me good food

to eat

 

and I settled for boxed crackers

and unearthly-orange cheese dip

 

God gave me an endless variety

of things to explore

 

and I settled for the couch

and Facebook

 

God gave me abundance wide open!

and I settled for mediocrity …

 

And it’s a slow, deceiving slope we go down

 

Sinking deeper and deeper

until we are comfortably settled

and the ground is swallowing us up

 

And we wonder how we got here…

 

We realize it was choice

after little choice

after little choice

 

A settling for lukewarm

and blah

and less than

 

Which is NOT

what vibrant God

has called us to

 

But…

 

As His mercies are new every morning,

so are my chances

 

And today I choose

to take care of my body

and take care of my mind

and most importantly,

take care of my spiritual life

 

which encompasses everything

 

No more settling

 

On PURPOSE today

for His glory

 

– Susie Stewart

 

*  This was tough for me to write, but I want you to know you’re not alone if you are in this place too.  God has called me to expose things to the light of Him and then do something about it.

 

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. You were bought for a price. So bring glory to God in the way you use your body.

– 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 (GW)

 

Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].

– 3 John 2 (AMP)

 

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

– Romans 12:1,2 (MSG)

 

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

– 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)

 

Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

– 2 Peter 2:3,4 (MSG)

 

Photo by Arik Stewart

 

Swift

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Your forgiveness

Lord

is swift

 

You take no time

to debate in your mind

whether we are worthy

 

You offer open hands

and warm embrace

without reservation

 

And I think about

how we often

are not quick to forgive

 

 

We make a choice

 

to mull over offenses

and severity

and deservedness

 

And sometimes

we never get to the forgiving part….

 

And the longer we wait

the more hardened we become

 

Instead of swift

we are feet dragging in dirt

 

getting scuffed up

in the process

 

What if

our forgiveness

was swift

 

like Yours God?

 

– Susie Stewart

 

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

– Mark 11:25 (NLT)

 

Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

– Ephesians 4:32 (AMP)

 

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].

– 1 John 1:9 (AMP)

 

Love….keeps no record of wrongs.

– 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)

 

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