1 John

Condemn Me Not (with Video by Susie)

/ Susie Stewart / 6 Comments

Condemnation

 

heavy

burden

pain

ache

weight

 

It is what you used to be under

 

but because of the weight of the cross

and the pain He endured

 

you no longer have to be

 

Condemned

 

And if you feel as if you are,

even though Jesus saved you

 

resist it!

 

Open your eyes to freedom

from condemnation

 

The enemy is a tyrant

 

and he will heartlessly

try to convince you

 

that your actions will earn you

a sneer from God

 

and a turning of His back,

leaving you alone

 

BUT

remember Truth!

 

Truth tells us

the love of the Lord for YOU is eternal

 

and there is absolutely no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus

 

So don’t tolerate the weight of it

any longer

 

Confess

and turn

 

For every rule God put before you

is there for your good

 

not to harm

or stifle you

 

Walk in the absolutely

no strings attached

lavish grace

 

of the One who chose

to set you free of condemnation

 

– Susie Stewart

 

…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

– Romans 8:1,2 (NIV)

 

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

– Romans 8:1,2 (MSG)

 

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
    and I know I will not be put to shame.
He who vindicates me is near.
    Who then will bring charges against me?
    Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
    Let him confront me!
It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
    Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
    the moths will eat them up.

– Isaiah 50:7-9 (NIV)

 

The Lord will rescue His servants;
    no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.

– Psalm 34:22 (NIV)

 

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

– James 4:7 (NLT)

 

This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in Him, and He in us: He’s given us life from His life, from His very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent His Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

– 1 John 4:15-18 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

 

All The Single Ladies

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I am a helpless

romantic

 

and I long for a special man

for every woman

 

a prince for every princess

who longs for a prince

 

But even more than this

 

I long for you, single women,

to know your groom Jesus first

 

I long for you to want Him

more than any man

 

I long for you to know Him

and love Him first

 

before you find your Mr. Wonderful

 

I long for you to be so grounded in Truth

and the Truth-Speaker, Jesus,

 

that no human man

could take His place

 

No groom will match

the One who chose you first

 

And no romance will compare

to the one you can have with Him

 

If you can only see it

and hear it

and feel it

 

If only you can KNOW it

 

That is what I long for

for you

 

What a gift our Groom is

to the whole body of Christ

 

He gave everything

for us

 

and He is unswervingly faithful

and true

 

This is love,

 

True Love

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

This is the embodiment of true love: not that we have loved God first, but that He loved us and sent His unique Son on a special mission to become an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

– 1 John 4:10 (VOICE)

 

I made you. I am now your husband. My name is the Lord Who Rules Over All. I am the Holy One of Israel. I have set you free. I am the God of the whole earth.

– Isaiah 54:5 (NIRV)

 

And then I’ll marry you for good—forever! I’ll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness. Yes, I’ll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go. You’ll know me, God, for who I really am.

– Hosea 2:19,20 (MSG)

 

Now is the time for joy and happiness.
        He deserves all the glory we can give Him.
    For the wedding feast has begun; the marriage of the Lamb to His bride has commenced,
        and His bride has prepared herself for this glorious day.

    She had been given the finest linens to wear,
        linens bright and pure,
        woven from the righteous deeds of the saints.

– Revelation 19:7,8 (VOICE)

 

You’ll get a brand-new name
    straight from the mouth of God.
You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand,
    a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God.
No more will anyone call you Rejected,
    and your country will no more be called Ruined.
You’ll be called Hephzibah (My Delight),
    and your land Beulah (Married),
Because God delights in you
    and your land will be like a wedding celebration.
For as a young man marries his virgin bride,
    so your Builder marries you,
And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride,
    so your God is happy with you.

– Isaiah 62:3-5 (MSG)

 

That Name

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Love has a Name

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know Him if you don’t love. This is how God showed His love for us: God sent His only Son into the world so we might live through Him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.  ~ 1 John 4:8-10 (MSG)

It’s Jesus

 

 

Hope has a Name

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)

It’s Jesus

 

 

Joy has a Name

You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life.
    As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending,
    and I know true joy and contentment.  ~ Psalm 16:11 (VOICE)

It’s Jesus

 

 

Peace has a Name

And now, dear friends, may the Lord of peace Himself grace you with peace always and in everything. May the Lord be present with all of you.  ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (VOICE)

It’s Jesus

 

 

Faithfulness has a Name

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.  ~ 2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT)

It’s Jesus

 

 

And at that Name,

above all names,

every knee will bow

 

So you should know this Name

 

or never truly know

love

hope

joy

peace

or faithfulness

 

~ 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 5:22,23 (NLT)

 

So when His name is called, every knee will bow, in heaven, on earth, and below.

– Philippians 2:10 (VOICE)

 

 

 

 

What’s Keeping You?

/ Susie Stewart / 6 Comments

You know in your heart

He is there

 

yet you pretend He isn’t

 

ALL of His creation shouts

and whispers

and sings

His glory and His goodness

 

And yet…

 

What’s keeping you, friend?

 

You see His character

in those who are

the givers

and the faithful

and the peaceful

 

And yet…

 

You think that life with Him

would be stuffy religion

and stifling rules

and….

 

accountable

 

Well, you can nix the idea of stuffy religion

and stifling rules

 

but accountability is a reality

 

You are accountable

before Almighty God

 

we all are

 

And you WILL give an account of your life

 

But wouldn’t it be better

if you could be accountable to God

 

with God’s help?

 

Because, guess what?

 

When you accept His love

and you accept His Son

 

and you accept His grace and mercy

and you choose relationship with Him

 

He becomes your Advocate!

 

How amazing is that??

 

Dive in, friend!

ALL in!

 

Nothing satisfies

like a relationship with the One who made you!

 

What’s keeping you?

 

Run

to

Him

 

and find freedom

 

for if you are ignoring Him

and rejecting Him

and not walking hand-in-hand with Him

 

you

are

NOT free

 

What’s keeping you?

 

~  Susie Stewart

 

 

Walking with Jesus

 

 

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)

 

  …You will fill me with joy in Your presence…

– Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

 

What a stack of blessing You have piled up
    for those who worship You,
Ready and waiting for all who run to You
    to escape an unkind world.
You hide them safely away
    from the opposition.
As You slam the door on those oily, mocking faces,
    You silence the poisonous gossip.
Blessed God!
    His love is the wonder of the world.

– Psalm 31:19,20 (MSG)

 

God’s way is perfect!
    The promise of the Lord has proven to be true.
        He is a shield to all those who take refuge in Him.

– Psalm 18:30 (NIV)

 

The spacious, free life is from God,
it’s also protected and safe.
God-strengthened, we’re delivered from evil—
    when we run to Him, He saves us.

– Psalm 37:39,40 (MSG)

 

The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

– 2 Peter 3:9 (AMP)

 

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid Your Spirit?
    to be out of Your sight?
If I climb to the sky, You’re there!
    If I go underground, You’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
    to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
    You’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, He even sees me in the dark!
    At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to You;
    night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to You.

– Psalm 139:7-12 (MSG)

 

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

– 1 John 2:1 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Only Thing

/ Susie Stewart / 6 Comments

Some day

when my spirit soars to God’s side

 

the only thing

I really care to be known for on this earth

 

is that I made Jesus known

and lived my life for Him

 

for His glory

 

I care that people know

that I love Him

 

with my heart

mind

soul

and strength

 

and that they would be drawn

to His unbelievably fierce love and grace

 

knowing that I love them unconditionally

as He loves me

 

No matter the trials

no matter the pain

 

my life is about Him

and His renown

 

Nothing else

 

matters

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by Him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.

I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner in His suffering, and go all the way with Him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

– Philippians 3:7-11 (MSG)

 

We love because He first loved us.

– 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Senses

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

You hear….

the whisper

 

And you know

it is unlimited power

brought quietly

 

You see…

the Artist’s brushstrokes

 

And you know

it is the Creator’s beautiful work

lovingly enveloping you

 

You taste…

the Bread & the Water

 

And you know

it is Jesus Himself

given to fill and sustain

 

You feel….

the uncompromising love

 

And you know

it could only come

from He who IS Love

 

Your senses tell you

daily

that He is God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

After the fire died out, there was nothing but the sound of a calm breeze. And through this breeze a gentle, quiet voice entered into Elijah’s ears…

– 1 Kings 19:12 (VOICE)

 

 However, call on the animals to teach you;
        the birds that sail through the air are not afraid to tell you the truth.
 Engage the earth in conversation; it’s happy to share what it knows.
        Even the fish of the sea are wise enough to explain it to you.
In fact, which part of creation isn’t aware,
        which doesn’t know the Eternal’s hand has done this?
His hand cradles the life of every creature on the face of the earth;
        His breath fills the nostrils of humans everywhere.

– Job 12:7-10 (VOICE)

 

 I am the bread that gives life. If you come to My table and eat, you will never go hungry. Believe in Me, and you will never go thirsty.

– John 6:35 (VOICE)

 

…God is love.

– 1 John 4:8 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

His

/ Susie Stewart / 7 Comments

His was the kiss on your cheek

kind and sweet

 

His was the pat on your back

encouraging

 

His was the embrace

warm and sincere

 

His was were the eyes

truly seeing

 

His was the laughter

enjoying your joy

 

His were the tears of empathy

when you suffered

 

His is the heart

who understands you

 

His was the life, pure and beautiful

ungrudgingly given for you

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

We love because He first loved us.

– 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

 

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in You.

– Psalm 33:22 (NIV)

 

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

– Psalm 86:15 (NIV)

 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us…

– 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

 

 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

– John 11:33 (NIV)

 

Photo by Randy Malsam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Be With You

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Jesus,

You have been loved by your Father

 

Forever

 

And how thankful we are

that You want to share that love

 

Welcoming us in,

the adopted

 

into the intimacy

already there

 

How blessed

are the Children of God

 

And You not only welcome us

but You long for us

 

You want this great big family

of loved ones

 

How encircling is Your heart,

my Lord

 

I can’t wait to be with You

where You are

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Father, I long for the time when those You have given Me can join Me in My place so they may witness My glory, which comes from You. You have loved Me before the foundations of the cosmos were laid.

– John 17:24 (VOICE)

 

But for all who did receive and trust in Him, He gave them the right to be reborn as children of God

– John 1:12 (VOICE)

 

And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we’ll be ready for Him when He appears, ready to receive Him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when He arrives.

– 1 John 2:28 (MSG)

 

How blessed is God! And what a blessing He is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in Him. Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son.

– Ephesians 1:3-6 (MSG)

 

Father, I want those you gave Me
To be with Me, right where I am,
So they can see My glory, the splendor you gave Me,
Having loved Me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known You,
But I have known You, and these disciples know
That You sent me on this mission.
I have made Your very being known to them—
Who You are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that Your love for Me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.

– John 17:24-26 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Drowning In It

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

I choose this day

to drown in Your love, God

 

instead of drown in my problems

and sorrows

 

I stand waiting

for Your showers of grace

to cover my whole self

 

You pour out Your liquid love

as if there were no water restrictions

 

and in turn

 

I will pour into those who know not

limitless love

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.

– Romans 5:5

 

There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

– Romans 5:3-5 (MSG)

 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

– 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

More Vs. Enough

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Jesus, teach me more

about enough

 

about content

and satisfied

 

Settle the desire

for more

 

and more

and more

 

Tame disatisfaction

and expose greed

 

Because more

will never be enough

 

YOU

must be

my Enough

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

– 1 John 2:15-17 (MSG)

 

Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.”

– Luke 12:15 (AMP)

 

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.  These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

– James 1:14,15 (NLT)

 

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.  So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

– 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart