1 Thessalonians

Around Me

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

It’s good for me

to reflect on what it’s like

to be with me

 

I think so much

about what people do and say

and how they affect my life

 

But what about

how I affect them?

 

Does being with me

drain you

or

refresh you?

 

When I am around

are you affirmed

or torn down?

 

Do I make you

feel loved

or rejected?

 

And most importantly,

do people see Jesus

or self-focus?

 

All  people

 

It’s good to reflect…

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

…whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

– Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

 

God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with Him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 (MSG)

 

So then, let us pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].

– Romans 14:19 (AMP)

 

Photo by Andy Stewart

 

Forever

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

God hath given to man a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this short time eternity depends.

– Jeremy Taylor

 

 

Forever

is a long time

 

and there is no one

I’d rather spend forever with

 

than You,

my beautiful God

 

Uninhibited praise

will be Yours

 

Untainted cherishing

will be ours

 

And I long for the eternity

that my mind can’t fathom

 

even as I walk

through time

 

And then I realize

that now

is part of always

 

Time is swallowed up

by eternal

 

All is present

 

And even as I wrestle

with the dust

 

I will still seek to praise You

uninhibited

 

And I will choose to cherish You

every day

 

As I look up with,

“Come, Lord Jesus, come.”

 

– Susie Stewart

 

With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God’s trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever.

– 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 (CEV)

 
For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.

– C.S. Lewis

 

I will be there to greet you personally and welcome you home, where we will be together.

– John 14:3 (VOICE)

 

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy., the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.

– C.S. Lewis

 

When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.

– John 14:3 (NLT)

 

I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing:

Salvation to our God on His Throne!
Salvation to the Lamb!
All who were standing around the Throne—Angels, Elders, Animals—fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, singing:

Oh, Yes!
The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,
The honor and power and strength,
To our God forever and ever and ever!
Oh, Yes!

– Revelation 7:9-12 (MSG)

 

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

Worthy

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

You have a calling,

a purpose

 

And is the way you are living your life,

worthy of that calling?

 

The choices you make,

the way you spend your time

 

Is it worthy?

Or is it a waste?

 

What is your purpose?

What is your calling?

 

What has eternal value here,

and what does not?

 

Our lives should reflect the Gospel

 

The Gospel of life

and unity

and grace

and peace

and giving

 

If we spend our lives

serving the unworthy

while keeping our eyes on the only One

who is

 

There we will be living

a Gospel life

 

If we realize that we are not entitled,

but are unworthy

 

Then He can use us

to point people to Jesus,

to He who is worthy

 

– Susie Stewart

 

As a prisoner of the Lord, I urge you: Live a life that is worthy of the calling He has graciously extended to you.

– Ephesians 4:1 (VOICE)

 

You see, they go on and on telling us the story of how you welcomed us when we were introduced to you; how you turned toward God and realigned your life to serve the one true living God—leaving your idols to crumble in the dust—

– 1 Thessalonians 1:9 (VOICE)

 

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

– Philippians 1:27 (NLT)

 

…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

– Isaiah 58:10, 11 (NIV)

 

Then in my vision I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, the living creatures and the elders. There were myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, crying in a great voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honour and glory and blessing!”

– Revelation 5:11-13 (PHILLIPS)

 

Photo by Andy Stewart

 

 

Drifting

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

Drifting away,

aimless and directionless

 

It’s where you will be

unless you actively seek Christ

 

And on the waves of this life,

the ups and downs

 

We don’t want to be drifters

 

We ought to be active in those waves

 

Seeking Truth on purpose

Loving God on purpose

Caring for people on purpose

Walking in integrity on purpose

Sharing Christ on purpose

Avoiding sin on purpose

Living out our faith on purpose

 

Intentional

 

It’s a word that God

keeps bringing me back to lately

 

As if maybe He’s doing it

on purpose?

 

– 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)

 

That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.

– Luke 10:27 (MSG)

 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

– Romans 12:2 (NIV)

 

…pray continually…

– 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Thrive!

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Friend

we are not meant

to just get through it

 

to suck it up until it’s over

 

We are not called to

grit our teeth

and just endure until it’s done

 

No

 

We are meant to THRIVE

to thrive!

 

And believe it or not

this means

 

whatever the circumstances

 

Because no matter what’s going on

on the outside

 

Your spirit can truly thrive

and grow

and burst light!

 

When you came to know Jesus

you were placed positionally

next to Him on His throne in heaven

 

Your inheritance was made secure

your spirit set free

 

And there are many things earthly

that want to weigh your free spirit down

 

But because of your position on high

you don’t have to be weighted

 

You can soar!

 

You can THRIVE

because of whose you are

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Even though you intended to harm me, God intended it only for good, and through me, He preserved the lives of countless people, as He is still doing today.

 – Genesis 50:20 (VOICE)

 

But God, with the unfathomable richness of His love and mercy focused on us, united us with the Anointed One and infused our lifeless souls with life—even though we were buried under mountains of sin—and saved us by His grace. He raised us up with Him and seated us in the heavenly realms with our beloved Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King.

– Ephesians 2:4-6 (VOICE)

 

We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.

– Romans 8:28 (VOICE)

 

…in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (AMP)

 

So we have no reason to despair. Despite the fact that our outer humanity is falling apart and decaying, our inner humanity is breathing in new life every day.

– 1 Corinthians 4:16 (VOICE)

 

But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength.
They will soar on wings as eagles.
They will run—never winded, never weary.
They will walk—never tired, never faint.

– Isaiah 40:31 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Slow It Down

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Slow it down

 

Slow down your prayer

 

Think carefully about what you are saying

 

Slow

 

Down

 

Memorized phrases

and empty words of habit

 

Don’t form deeper connection

 

Choose your words deliberately

and let them be

 

Love expressed

Worship embodied

Confession deep

Adoration clear

 

Words of meaning

 

– Susie Stewart

 

But when you talk to God, go into your room and shut the door. Then talk to your Father in secret. Your Father sees secret things and He will reward you.

And when you talk to God, do not say words that mean nothing, over and over again. People who do not believe in God do that. They think their god will hear them because they say many words.

Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

– Matthew 6:6-8 (WE)

 

Never stop praying.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)

 

Eternal One: Call to Me, and I will answer you. I will tell you of great things, things beyond what you can imagine, things you could never have known.

– Jeremiah 33:3 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Words

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

– Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

 

Did my words

encourage today?

 

Were they chosen carefully?

 

Did they build people up?

 

Did they affirm

and bring glory to God?

 

Were my words

reflective of the faith I profess?

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (AMP)

 

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.

– Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT)

 

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

– 1 Peter 4:8-11 (MSG)

 

Don’t say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.

– Ephesians 4:29 (GW)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Ready

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

– Luke 12:35-38 (NLT)

 

I’m looking up, Lord!

I’m waiting for You!  

 

I don’t live my life perfectly

and I don’t have it all together

 

But I’m gladly expecting You

Perfection, my Salvation

 

You promise to come for me

and I’m ready when You are

 

My Bridegroom, my Savior

The Reason I wait with joy

 

Come, Lord Jesus, come

 

– Susie Stewart

 

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died[a] will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

– 1 Thessalonians 3:16,17 (NLT)

 

Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation.

– Hebrews 9:28 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart