Christianity

Happily Ever After

/ Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

When you were young

did you dream

of your Happily Ever After?

 

Did you imagine your life

would look different

than the reality that has unfolded?

 

Your road has been

so much bumpier

than you wanted, hasn’t it?

 

And happily ever after

seems only a dream…

 

It is true

that in this life

you will have many troubles

 

You are a survivor

in a broken world

wrought with battles unseen

 

But, friend, your joy in between

is unmistakeable

 

For the beautiful parts of your life

are attributed to Him

who created that beauty

 

And you walk in His presence

in the midst of the turmoil

and the disappointment

 

You trust His promises

and you cling to His robe

for dear life

 

He is the Rock

the Fortress

the Shelter you need

 

And you know

without a shred of doubt

 

that your happily ever after

is coming

 

and it will be eternally yours

forever

and

ever

 

– Susie Stewart

 

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.

It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.

– Ephesians 1:11-14 (MSG)

 

 It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, He saved us from all that. It was all His doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with Him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.

– Titus 3:3-8 (MSG)

 

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have Him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.

I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

– 1 Peter 1:3-7 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Peace Sought

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

You who serve

the Prince of Peace

 

how are You

PURSUING

peace?

 

Do you run toward it

or

do you choose the opposite?

 

The Lord

would have you

SEEK peace

 

Which means

you diligently look for it

 

you hunger for it

 

and your first step in peace-seeking

is to quiet yourself

 

before the Prince

before the King

 

and the next

is to quiet yourself

 

before those

you don’t want to quiet yourself before

 

 

And the third thing to do

is to be alert and aware

 

of triggers in you

of the enemy’s tactics

of the ways people choose division

 

and choose peace

 

Pursue it

Seek it

Live it

 

Let it take root

in your heart

 

– Susie Stewart

 

…seek peace and pursue it.

– Psalm 34:14 (NIV)

 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

– Romans 12:18 (NIV)

 

Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

– Romans 12:17-19 (MSG)

 

Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].

– Colossians 3:15 (AMP)

 

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

– Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

A Whisper

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Your life is a whisper

 

It is a mist,

a breath

 

Your lungs take in the breath of God

at birth

 

And no matter how much time you are given

 

Your life is still

as fog that quickly dissipates

 

Eternity envelopes

and swallows up

your existence in flesh

 

Your spirit is everlasting,

solid

 

And so many are aimless

and unaware of the brevity

 

of Life

 

So precious

so short

 

But we are reminded

in this moment

 

that loving

on purpose

thriving

on purpose

worshiping

on purpose

serving

on purpose

forgiving

on purpose

 

Is vital

in so little time

 

to really live

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Humans are like a passing breath; their time on earth is like a shadow that passes over us during the day and soon is gone.

– Psalm 144:4 (VOICE)

 

…What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears.

 – James 4:14 (PHILLIPS)

 

As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades.”

– 1 Peter 1:24 (NLT)

 

We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.

– 1 Chronicles 29:15 (NLT)

 

He was mindful that they were human, frail and fleeting, like a wind that touches one’s skin for a moment, then vanishes.

– Psalm 78:39 (VOICE)

 

My days go by like a long shadow—stretched thin and disappearing…

– Psalm 102:11 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Gracie Oertli

 

 

Testify

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

My mouth

and my life

testify

to Love

 

Not just any love

 

But Unconditional Love

 

Love Perfect

given to imperfect

 

And I would testify to this Love

in any court

 

And some will doubt

and some will scoff

and some will turn away

 

But that does not change

my testimony of Him

 

And the evidence is not just in me

It is worldwide

 

The Fruit is the evidence

 

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Gentleness

Faithfulness

Self Control

 

And lives changed

 

Growing

and not stagnant

 

Softening

and yet strengthening

 

Kinder

and yet bolder

 

Love testified

through life

and words

 

And evidence

 

That we are truly saved

from so much more than sin

 

– 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 (NLT)

 

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

– John 13:35 (NLT)

 

“No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.

– Luke 8:39 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

God in a Box

/ Susie Stewart / 5 Comments

You have Him wrapped up tight, don’t you?

 

In a box

of your own design

of your own size

of your own weight, height, depth.

 

He fits, doesn’t He?

Fits in your constraining box.

 

Of course He must fit, right?

He must fit, because you get to choose….

 

When to bring Him out,

when to acknowledge Him,

when to worship Him,

when to listen to Him,

when to take advantage of His power.

 

As if He were a genie

at your beckon call.

 

It is surreal to try and imagine

GOD in a box.

 

If there ever was anyone who didn’t fit

in a box

it is Him.

 

But we try to do it, don’t we?

 

We try to just bring Him out of that box

on Sunday

when we are afraid

when life is caving in

when we walk through the valley of the shadow…

 

What would we do with a God

who could fit in a box?

 

We would manipulate Him

to do what we want

We would keep Him in there

when we didn’t want Him to see

our sin

our choices

our mediocrity.

 

We would not respect Him.

Because He would be a God

who could be placed in a box.

Relegated to a list.

Put on a shelf.

 

But don’t be fooled.

If anyone is in a box, it is the one who tries to put God there.

 

He is trapped and confined

by his schedule

his sin

his choices

his lack of vision….

 

of THE GOD

who is in all

over all

Alive

Infinite

Uncontainable

Un-boxable.

 

For the one who is wise

God will not be able to be contained

in your mind

or on your list

or in your box.

 

He is so big and so all-encompassing

and so lovingly piercing

that you will know Him

in every part

in every corner

of your life.

 

And you will worship Him

during any moment

in every circumstance

with love in your heart

for God

 

Who cannot fit in a box.

 

He wants your everything.

Are you willing to give it to Him?

Or do you still think He fits neatly and you get to choose?

– Susie Stewart

 

…one God and Father of all,

who is over all, in all, and living through all.

– Ephesians 4:6 (NLT)

Dusk

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

 

 

The Light of Jesus has penetrated your darkness.

Has it penetrated your dusk?

He came in and saved you, pulled you out of chaos, oppression, sin, the pit.  There’s no doubt.

Have you allowed Him access to your dusk?  

Negativity has seeped in.

You have chosen not to rejoice.  You have chosen un-joy.  

People are driving you crazy.  Nothing seems to be working.  

Annoyances.

Gossip.

Dissatisfaction.

Discontentment. 

Disrespect.

Dis….

It’s not bright in your soul.  It’s only dusk.  

A partial light.

Hazy, not able to see clearly for the semi-darkness hanging over your heart and mind.  

Why do we long to stay in the dim sometimes?  

“Just let me have a bad day.”

 

A bad day.

 

Every day is sacred.

“This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” 

“Redeem the time for the days are evil.”  

“He is light.  In Him, there is no darkness at all.”

You are LIGHT.  He is in you.  

Holding on to dusk is not what He would have for you.  

Or for me.

Walk in the light. You’ve been pulled out of darkness into His marvelous light!  

Why linger in the shadows.  In the corner.  In the dusk.

Come out into the wide open space and honor Him, glorify Him, seek Him, love Him.

You were never meant to choose dusk.

– Susie Stewart

Image

 

Psalm 118:24, Ephesians 5:16, 1 John 1:5, 

Willing?

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Jesus,

I want to be willing to endure:

~ pain

~ trials

~ heartache

~ loneliness

~ relational inconsistencies

~ unmet expectations

~ ridicule

~ disappointment

 

I want to be willing to surrender:

~ guilt

~ my “right” to be right

~ self-defeating talk

~ comfort

~ self-centeredness

~ control

~ convenience

…to bring glory to Your Name, to shine Your light brighter, to grow in You, and to come into closer relationship with you, my Savior.

Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Jesus, bring me to a whole-hearted willingness by Your power.  Thank You for being my example.

Amazingly, the more I surrender, the more your love fits in.

Empower me to love recklessly, hope with abandon, and give without reciprocation.

– Susie Stewart

 

Photo taken by Susie Stewart

Listen

/ Susie Stewart / 12 Comments

Deuteronomy 30:20 “…love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.”

I want to hear Him.

Listening can be difficult at times.  Life gets loud and complicated.  But deep calls to deep (Ps. 42:7).

Earlier today my home was quiet.  I asked the Lord to speak through me as I typed my first blog on this site.  I listened with my heart and I spent much time bringing thoughts and Scripture together.

Everything I typed….disappeared.

No explanation.  Just gone.  As hard as I tried, I couldn’t retrieve it, from my computer or from my brain.

Big, big sigh.  This, my first blog on my own site, just vanished.

While I was drawing near to God, while I was listening, while I was absorbing….things took a turn.  This was not the plan I had.  I was going to click a button, publish those words, and there you have it.  But I just couldn’t make it work…

That’s what happened to me in life.  Life took a turn.  Things were going along relatively smoothly.  But then cancer.

I didn’t want to shift this way!  I wanted things to go along the way I envisioned.  Was life now clouded and dark and hard?  Would the good memories of joyful times just disappear, like my typed words, as if they hadn’t happened?  It really depended on my trust in the One leading me.

My Shepherd is Jesus.  I know His voice.

 “…His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.”  John 10:4

My Shepherd promises me that He works all things for my good.  He promises never to leave me or forsake me.  He promises purpose for my life.  I want His purposes to be mine.  (Romans 8:28; Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 138:8)

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”  Proverbs 19:21

Following my Shepherd even when life takes a turn, that takes pliability.  Trust is key.  Listening in the midst of the noise is important, and can be difficult.

“Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…”  Psalm 95:7

I have come through surgery, radiation and chemo.  Things are looking good at this point.  I will keep clinging and praying and listening.

As I bring this new blog to you, my friends, I will be seeking HIM.  I will be looking to bring words of wisdom, of encouragement, of real life.  I want to be pliable as I do it.  After all, I am following the Leader.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the way, in the middle of the night, after a bit of sleep, the first blog I wrote started coming back to me.  I got out of bed, typed it up, and it will come next time.  Things didn’t go the way I planned, but there was purpose in it.  After all, the blog above wouldn’t have happened if things hadn’t taken a turn……

– Susie Stewart

(My blog from the last 7 months:  www.mylifeline.org/susiestewart)