Acts

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

Willing To Risk

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

David walked right out

to meet the giant man

 

Paul faced persecution head on

in each town he entered

 

Mary bowed her will

and bravely carried God’s Son

 

Noah stepped into the unknown

in the face of ridicule and stares

 

and

 

My Jesus resolutely chose to die

for this world of people we live in

 

So,

will I be a person

willing to risk it all

when God speaks?

 

Will I bow my will to His?

 

Will I live my life differently

because of my life in Him?

 

I will,

by His power

 

And I am able to step out in faith

because I serve a faithful

God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands… and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

– 1 Samuel 17:45-47 (NIV)

 

The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

– Acts 23:10 (NIV)

 

The angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid. You have found favor with God. See! You are to become a mother and have a Son. You are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the place where His early father David sat. He will be King over the family of Jacob forever and His nation will have no end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen? I have never had a man.” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you. The power of the Most High will cover you. The holy Child you give birth to will be called the Son of God.

“See, your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is going to give birth to a child. She was not able to have children before, but now she is in her sixth month. For God can do all things.” Then Mary said, “I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel went away from her.

– Luke 1:30-38 (NIV)

 

Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

– Genesis 6:22 (NIV)

 

 Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

Going a little farther, He fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

– Matthew 26:36-39 (NIV)

 

Photo by Andy Stewart in the Garden of Gethsemane

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investor

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

If you were to have the title

of Life Investor

 

hired by God

in the here and now

 

What would He observe

about your investment practices

and priorities?

 

Would He say

that He observes you investing your life

in the valuable?

 

Or would He say

that He observes you investing your life

in that which doesn’t last?

 

Is all your energy spent on yourself

and getting ahead

in worldly success

and mindless pursuits?

 

Or is it invested in people

in your relationship with your Creator

in glorifying Him

and in the deeper things of life?

 

Is your life invested in bigger, better, and prestigious

or

in the smallest, poor and broken?

 

Do you know which one God prioritizes?

 

He is the authority

on what matters

 

We are given only one life

to invest in the eternal

and in the things He values

 

May we invest wisely

for we never know

when God will retire our position

 

for the afterlife

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a trip. He called his servants and entrusted some money to them.  He gave one man ten thousand dollars, another four thousand dollars, and another two thousand dollars. Each was given money based on his ability. Then the man went on his trip.

The one who received ten thousand dollars invested the money at once and doubled his money. The one who had four thousand dollars did the same and also doubled his money. But the one who received two thousand dollars went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The one who received ten thousand dollars brought the additional ten thousand. He said, “Sir, you gave me ten thousand dollars. I’ve doubled the amount.”

His master replied, “Good job! You’re a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

The one who received four thousand dollars came and said, “Sir, you gave me four thousand dollars. I’ve doubled the amount.”

His master replied, “Good job! You’re a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

Then the one who received two thousand dollars came and said, “Sir, I knew that you are a hard person to please. You harvest where you haven’t planted and gather where you haven’t scattered any seeds. I was afraid. So I hid your two thousand dollars in the ground. Here’s your money!”

His master responded, “You evil and lazy servant! If you knew that I harvest where I haven’t planted and gather where I haven’t scattered, then you should have invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would have received my money back with interest. Take the two thousand dollars away from him! Give it to the one who has the ten thousand! To all who have, more will be given, and they will have more than enough. But everything will be taken away from those who don’t have much.…

– Matthew 25:14-30 (GW)

 

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.

– Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)

 

This is my last gift to you, this example of a way of life: a life of hard work, a life of helping the weak, a life that echoes every day those words of Jesus our King, who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

– Acts 20:35 (VOICE)

 

…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)

 

Photo By Susie Stewart

 

 

 

 

 

Story

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

What’s your story

of His grace

in your life?

 

Because

I’d love to hear it

 

What’s your story

of His love?

 

What’s your story

of His mercy toward you?

 

What’s your story

of His hope?

 

I would love to hear it all

 

And I want to encourage you,

my brother,

my sister,

 

to share that story

 

For you are called

to speak as a WITNESS

for your Savior

 

Your TESTIMONY

is what people need to hear

 

You are not asked

to bear witness

to complicated theological facts

 

but to the difference

our great

and gracious God

has made in your life

 

And people are dying to hear it….

 

So let it flow

 

just as you would speak with joy

about the people you love

 

For there has been no greater LOVE

than the story of the One

who laid down His life

for you

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Here’s the knowledge you need: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be My witnesses, first here in Jerusalem, then beyond to Judea and Samaria, and finally to the farthest places on earth.

– Acts 1:8 (VOICE)

 

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim Your power.
I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim Your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about Your righteousness.

– Psalm 145:407 (NLT)

 

I will tell everyone about Your righteousness.
All day long I will proclaim Your saving power,
though I am not skilled with words.

– Psalm 71:15 (NLT)

 

Photo by Amy O’Neil

 

Dark Pit

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

How dark is your pit?

How deep your valley?

 

How far down have you gone?

 

Into sin

Into grief

Into regret

 

That hole of darkness,

is it so all-encompassing

 

that you think

you’ll never see the light of day

again?

 

Even there

God will come for you

 

As long as you are alive

here on planet earth

 

you  will never be so low

that Jesus’ light cannot penetrate your darkness

 

This darkness,

it blinds

 

Wake up

to White Light

 

And He will bring you out

of that pit

 

– Susie Stewart

 

I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in Me won’t have to stay any longer in the dark.

– John 12:46 (MSG)

 

Everything was created through Him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without Him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out.

– John 1:3-5 (MSG)

 

I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in Me.

– Acts 26:17, 18 (MSG)

 

Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God’s Sunrise will break in upon us, Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace.

– Luke 1:79 (MSG)

 

 

Photo by Arik 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

 

 

 

Conscience

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

A conscience clear

is sign of hope

 

in the One

 

who makes all things new

and can keep us from willful sin

 

A clear conscience shows

that life renewed

and actions redeemed

 

are all the heart of a Savior

 

Who provides new

and do-overs

and mercy

 

We make amends

and we mend brokenness

 

because of hope

 

We ask for forgiveness

and we offer it

 

because of hope

 

We keep short accounts

on account

of hope

 

And we choose right over wrong

because we have every reason to

 

God is our reason

 

His reverence

love for Him

respect for Him

 

And if there were no Divine reason

for a clear conscience

 

all would be hopeless

 

We would do our worst

and sink deep

 

All would weigh heavy

and overwhelming

 

So, keep your slate clean

and clear things up where needed

 

and do it because of hope

 

and for the love of your Savior

 

You know the Truth

Now walk in it

 

conscience clear

and hopeful

 

unencumbered

and free

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Because of this hope, I always do my best to live with a clear conscience toward God and all people.

– Acts 24:16 (VOICE)

 

“Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of Him will keep you from sinning!”

– Exodus 20:20 (NLT)

 

Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

– Romans 5:5 (AMP)

 

And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words].

– 1 Peter 3:16 (AMP)

 

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.

– 1 Timothy 1:19 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Neighbor

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I found writing

all man-scribbled

on the white board

 

And it took me a moment

to figure it out

 

Husband had jotted

the names of our neighbors

 

Those on one side of our house

and the other side

and across the street

 

And it made me smile

 

A deliberate action

to know people

 

To honor his neighbors

and remember their names

 

And it is further evidence

to me

of a man after God’s own heart

 

Loving the Lord

and loving people

 

And I am thankful

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.  The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

– Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)

 

Don’t seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people. Love your neighbor as yourself. I am God.

– Leviticus 19:18 (MSG)

 

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

– Romans 13:8-10 (NLT)

 

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

– Romans 15:2 (NIV)

 

I’ve searched the land and found this David, son of Jesse. He’s a man whose heart beats to my heart, a man who will do what I tell him.

– Acts 13:22 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Bear It No More

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

Heavy

burden

weight of weights

constraining

 

Shame

Guilt

Soul burdened

with wrong-doing weight

 

And I ask you,

Why do you bear it?

 

Why do you carry the shame

the guilt

the burden

of sins past?

 

It is all

nailed to the cross

 

Bear it no more

 

For Jesus carried the heavy

for you

 

He died to take your shame

 

To take away your sin

 

And you do Him an injustice

by trying to carry the weight

that He already bore

 

His sacrifice should bring you freedom

Not burden

 

You have accepted your Savior

Have you accepted grace?

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

– Micah 7:19 (NLT)

 

So now you need to rethink everything and turn to God so your sins will be forgiven and a new day can dawn, days of refreshing times flowing from the Lord.

– Acts 3:19 (VOICE)

 

This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to Him.

– John 3:16-18 (MSG)

 

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Relationship Over Religion

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Religious people talk to God

out of obligation,

in memorized words,

focused on what they can get out of Him

 

Lovers of God bask in His beauty,

seek Him wholeheartedly,

walk with Him,

and love Him with their words

 

Religion is man-made

Relationship is His Divine plan

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for Him, as if He couldn’t take care of Himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make Him. Starting from scratch, He made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find Him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; He’s near. We live and move in Him, can’t get away from Him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.’ Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it?

– Acts 17:26-29 (MSG)

 

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

– Galatians 5:25 (NLT)

 

And I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.

– 2 Corinthians 6:18  (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart