2 Corinthians

I’m Getting Old…Awesome!

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

I’m not one

to speak much

about getting old

 

to recite the aches

and pains,

tiredness and slowing

 

And I guess I got that

from my parents

who still act youthful

 

never really talking about getting old

and how things don’t work

like they used to

 

It’s refreshing

and it’s good to be around

elders like that

 

For getting older

may be tough physically

but what beauty awaits the young!

 

God tells us

that the longer we walk with Him,

the more rooted we become

 

The more we take in Him

and His Words,

the more we flourish and grow

 

What a profound truth!

 

As we get weaker,

as we bow lower,

we can be stronger

 

than ever before

 

Strengthened inwardly

standing taller

grounding deeper

 

in Truth

 

Bearing more

and more

and more

fruit

 

the longer we live

 

And not focusing

on what is feeble

but on what is strong

 

and that is

our character

our hope

our perseverance

 

our relationship with Jesus

who walks with us

 

And the older we get

the wiser we get

and the closer we get

to eternity’s home

 

Our graduation

to bliss

and God-awareness

and pure light

 

Forever

 

So the temporary aches

and temporary slowing

is just that

 

temporary

 

But what is growing

and flourishing

inside

 

is Forever

 

Don’t listen to the world

about aging,

Listen to God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

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But the godly will flourish like palm trees
    and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house.
    They flourish in the courts of our God.
Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
    they will remain vital and green.
They will declare, “The Lord is just!
    He is my rock!
    There is no evil in Him!”

Psalm 92:12-15 (NLT)

 

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

– 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT)

 

The glory of young men is their [physical] strength, And the honor of aged men is their gray head [representing wisdom and experience].

– Proverbs 20:29 (AMP)

 

The silver-haired head is a crown of splendor and glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.

–  Proverbs 16:31 (AMP)

 

Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.

– Job 12:12 (NLT)

 

Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made. Our times are in His hand who saith, ‘A whole I planned, youth shows but half; Trust God: See all, nor be afraid!

– Robert Browning

 

 

Photos by Susie & Arik Stewart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dwell

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Where do you dwell?

 

Not

where do you live?

 

But

where do you dwell?

 

Your mind

your spirit

your being

 

where does it dwell?

 

The importance of this

awakened me this morning

 

and I chose

where I would dwell today

 

You see,

our thoughts

can so easily be taken captive

 

by negativity

by being offended

by judgment

by hopelessness

by anger

by bitterness

 

by sin

 

Instead,

let US take our thoughts

captive

 

and make them obedient to Christ

Let us shift the focus

 

to goodness

to beauty

to gratefulness

to healing

to peace

to surrender

to hope

 

to the power

in His Name

that is ours!

 

Dwell in His courts

live in His goodness

 

Always keep coming back

to your Royal dwelling place

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

– Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

 

Let us go to His dwelling place,
    let us worship at His footstool

– Psalm 132:7 (NIV)

 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

– Revelation 21:3 (NIV)

 

One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek Him in His temple.

– Psalm 27:4 (NIV)

 

You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.

– Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

 

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in Him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies.

– Philippians 4:4-9 (MSG)

 

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

– 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)

 

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

– 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

 

 

 

 

 

Righteousness!

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

The UNrighteousness in our world

smothers

and sickens

and depresses

 

Everywhere

unrighteousness

 

Unholiness

 

Evil

 

 

That is why

I choose this day

 

to SHOUT in words

my adoration

of my righteous God!!

 

His righteousness

obliterates the darkness

 

In fact

His righteousness

brings out the grotesque hideousness

of evil

 

and shows it for what it is

before holy God

 

We would do well to run toward the LIGHT

and not the dark

 

But the darkness pulls at the heels

of human frailty

 

dragging away those meant to be Light-Bearers,

Divine image-bearers

 

into tunnels

and holes

desperate

and depraved

 

feeling as if hope

is not for them

 

…but it is

 

Hope was always meant

for desperate

depraved

depressed hearts

 

Righteous, beautiful God

provides that HOPE

 

I choose!

to stand with hands held high

in praise of the One and Only

righteous all-on-His-own

God Almighty!

 

His white

and His red

changed my black

to white pristine

 

My Jesus

MY Jesus

is

righteous

holy

and

perfect

 

and His justice demands

evil answers to righteousness

 

I will stand in the spotless robe

lovingly given to me

sacrificially

 

And I will shout

and whisper

and repeat

 

“I praise You righteous God,

and I will tell of Your righteousness

throughout this life

You have given to me!”

 

~  Susie Stewart

 

My tongue will tell of Your righteous acts all day long…

– Psalm 71:24 (NIV)

 

He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

– 2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP)

 

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith.

– Philippians 3:8,9 (NLT)

 

I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness;
    I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

– Psalm 7:17 (NIV)

 

Photo by Nicole Stewart

 

 

 

Solid

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Keep your focus

on the target that doesn’t move

 

All distracting targets move about

and are unpredictable

 

Fix your gaze on the Lord

 

And don’t look for fulfillment

in what is seen

 

for what is unseen

makes all of that pale and meaningless

 

Fix your gaze on the Lord

 

And don’t spend all your time thinking about

this temporary world

 

for it is not meant to last

and all will be stripped away

 

Fix your gaze on the Lord

 

Don’t trust in that which is fallible

and worldly

 

Fix your gaze on the Lord

 

Unmovable

Immutable

Undefeated

 

Our Rock

 
Solid and trustworthy

is our Lord

 

– Susie Stewart

 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

– 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

 

Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.

– Hebrews 12:2 (VOICE)

 

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our Apostle and High Priest.

– Hebrews 3:1 (NIV)

 

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

– Hebrews 12:1-3 (MSG)

 

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!

– Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

 

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

– Proverbs 4:23-27 (MSG)

 

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

– Matthew 5:19-23 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

 

 

Know New

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

The enemy of your soul

would like you to believe

that new is not possible

 

He would like you to believe

that you are stuck

 

with no way out

 

He would like you to believe

that you are

your sin

 

and that condemnation weight

cannot leave

 

BUT

 

The Lord wants you to know

that He makes all things

NEW

 

He wants you to experience

His mercies in the morning

 

He wants you to see

all that He is doing in you

 

and to believe

that you have

a new day in Him

 

New life

New mercies

New day

New you

 

Renewed and redeemed

over and over and over

 

that is your destiny

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].

– 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)

 

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

– Revelation 21:5 (NIV)

 

Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.

– Psalm 143:8 (NLT)

 

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.
Great is His faithfulness;
    His mercies begin afresh each morning.

– Lamentations 3:22,23 (NLT)

 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

– John 10:10 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

 

 

 

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

You’ve Been Played

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

I say to you

and I say to myself

 

Don’t get played

 

Don’t walk into the trap

the enemy has set for you

 

He is slick

and he is sneaky

 

He doesn’t play fair

 

And before you know it

you’re caught up in the same old stuff

 

You can’t get over

how clueless the people around you are

 

You grab hold

of those old vices

those addictions

those escapes

 

You stray from truth

and become complacent

 

You forget the now

and that being offended is a choice

 

You forget that grace should reign

in you

and through you

 

And you’ve been played

 

By the one who seeks to divide

who seeks to destroy

who wants you bitter

who desires your downfall

 

And when you realize you’ve been played

you don’t hesitate

 

You run back

to Solid

to Grace

to Authentic

to Alert

to Unity

to Love

 

You embrace your Father

and thank Him

 

for opening your eyes once again

 

to the true enemy

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

– John 10:10 (AMP)

 

When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit,  so that satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.

– 2 Corinthians 2:9-11 (NLT)

 

He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

– John 8:44 (NLT)

 

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.

– Hebrews 2:14 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

Same Heart, Different Methods

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

All of us who believe in God

hope to please Him

 

We know when we don’t measure up

 

But, friend, the difference between you and me

is complete dependence on grace

 

We both want the same thing —

rightness before our Creator

 

but you, friend, you chant

and you go through rituals

and you light candles

and you deify humans

and make confessions to them ….

 

relying on what you can do

to earn God’s favor

 

You have faith

but you also are working SO hard

to earn approval

to assuage your guilt

to make amends

 

And it would appear that’s the way

it should be

 

But it’s not

 

Grace is not cheap

and it came with a high price

 

God’s life

 

Chanting

Repeated bowing

Rituals

Religion

 

will never get any of us

closer to heaven

 

Dive deep into inherent Scripture

and find…

 

We can do nothing

to earn His nod

 

But if we humble ourselves

under His mighty hand

 

and accept grace and mercy

bought high-priced

 

we will find freedom

from man-made rules and rituals

 

and just find our Father,

arms open,

complete in love for us

 

And doing right

will come out of love for God,

moved by His great kindness

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time,

– 1 Peter 5:6 (AMP)

 

…but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.

– 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 (AMP)

 

But if it is by grace [God’s unmerited favor], it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace [it would not be a gift but a reward for works].

– Romans 11:6 (AMP)

 

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

– Hebrews 4:14-16 (AMP)

 

Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

– Romans 2:4 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Grace Flow

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Today, my friend

I pray for you to know

 

really know

 

the grace that is yours

 

I pray that in the midst

of all the Have Tos

and Suppose Tos

and Got Tos

 

that you find the rhythms

of God’s grace flowing in you

 

That you enjoy

just being loved

 

And that you don’t forget to breathe in grace

and exhale praise

 

strengthened by God

knowing He is not burdensome

 

I pray this for you today

 

– Susie Stewart

 

But if it is by grace [God’s unmerited favor], it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace [it would not be a gift but a reward for works].

– Romans 11:6 (AMP)

 

For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].

– John 1:16 (AMP)

 

So you, my son, be strong [constantly strengthened] and empowered in the grace that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus.

– 2 Timothy 2:1 (AMP)

 

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

– Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

 

The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.

– 2 Corinthians 13:14 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

A Free Prisoner

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I am

Your prisoner, Lord

 

and what a freedom I have found

in this captivity!

 

Captivated by Your Love

and surrendered to Your will

 

I am free

when I bow myself

to You

 

Fully

and completely

 

My heart

My life

My marriage

My posessions

My family

My future

 

Everything

 

I am Your prisoner, Lord

 

 

Willingly,

I am Yours

 

– Susie Stewart

 

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles…

– Ephesians 3:1 (NIV)

 

This Lord is the Spirit. Wherever the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom.

– 2 Corinthians 3:17 (GW)

 

Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

– 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (MSG)

 

He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. “Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.”

– Mark 14:35-36 (NLT)

 

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)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart