Grown Children

December 29, 2017December 30, 2017 / Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

I sit across from her

at the coffee shop

and I see a woman

but also a child

And my heart is torn,

for I want to gather her into my arms

and I want her to run away

full speed into life

And maybe you can relate

to my ponderings…

full of my three loves,

my children

For when they become adults

we want them healthy and unattached

But we can’t forget…

painful birth

infant soft

adoption waiting

final decree

first words

wobbly walking

I love yous

living room forts

training wheels

pumpkin carving

zoo trips

TV cuddles

hand-holding

Daddy’s home glee

star gazing

chaotic road trips

sweet kisses

first haircuts

messy picnics

nighttime prayers

voices small and sweet

baking cookies

sandbox buckets

swingset giggles….

and they are treasures

for the heart

I reflect for awhile

but I do not dwell too long

for NOW is my place

and the relationship is precious

at this stage as well

My eyes and my heart

gaze at the beauty before me

in that coffee shop

A place in time

to treasure with my heart

and bring out later

as I reflect on my gifts

my treasures

– Susie Stewart

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For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be His own special treasure.

– Deuteronomy 7:6 (NLT)

I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

– Isaiah 45:3 (NIV)

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

– Luke 2:16-19 (NIV)

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured all these things in her heart.And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

– Luke 2:50-52 (NIV)

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

– James 1:17 (NLT)

Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from Him.
Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

– Pslam 127:3-5 (NLT)

Photos by Susie Stewart

The Advantage

June 27, 2017 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

You’ve been through so much

and it hurts

But can you imagine

going through your pain

without Jesus?

Truly alone,

is no place to be

when you are hurting

But for the Christ-Follower,

alone is not an option

Your God never leaves you

And never is a long time

Your God never forsakes you

and never is a long time

Your God is there

and His Divine advantage is yours

in the struggle

Comfort,

spirit-deep comfort,

is yours

through Him

Just think…

you could be going through all of this

without Him

But you’re not

And that makes all the difference

in the world

– Susie Stewart

…the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

– Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

…Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

– Isaiah 43:1-3 (NIV)

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

– Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

You, too, are being completed in Him, the One who has dominion over all rule, all authority.

– Colossians 2:10 (VOICE)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Embraced

December 2, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

You

are wrapped in Light

You who trust God

He promises

to surround you

with Himself

And if you could but see

the Lord

with His arms wrapped

lovingly

around you

fear would be dispelled

and loneliness would fade

Trust Him

and know that His angels

also encamp about you

Know the enveloping

of True Love

Know your protection

in Him

Know your position of embrace,

beloved child of perfect God

KNOW

you are surrounded

by Him

– Susie Stewart

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.

– Psalm 34:7 (NIV)

You have surrounded me on every side, behind me and before me, and You have placed Your hand gently on my shoulder.

– Psalm 139:5 (VOICE)

In a desert land He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of His eye,

– Deuteronomy 32:10 (NIV)

You are my hiding place. You will keep me out of trouble and envelop me with songs that remind me I am free.

– Psalm 32:7 (VOICE)

Just as the mountains around Jerusalem embrace her, the Eternal, too, wraps around those who belong to Him— for this moment and for every moment to come.

– Psalm 125:2 (VOICE)

For the Eternal One says, “Instead of a wall of stone, I will be a wall of fire protecting her all around, and I will be the shining glory within her.”

– Zechariah 2:5 (VOICE)

For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with Your shield of love.

– Psalm 5:12 (NLT)

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in and relies on the Lord shall be surrounded with compassion and lovingkindness.

– Psalm 32:10 (AMP)

Photo by Susie Stewart

I Am Yours

November 17, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Whomever You have created,

God,

has had a choice

To Follow You

or to turn away from You

Even the angels

For Lucifer

a beautiful angel in Your courts

Chose to despise You

instead of love You

And he took with him

others of beauty who made the choice

And all is death

and downhill

without You

I, God,

choose You

I will forever

be Yours

Your created

loves her Creator

and I’m so glad

for the choice

choose

You

I am Yours

– Susie Stewart

Today I have given you a choice between life and death, success and disaster.

– Deuteronomy 30:15 (ERV)

But maybe you don’t want to serve the Lord. You must choose for yourselves today. Today you must decide who you will serve. Will you serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River? Or will you serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land? You must choose for yourselves. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

-Joshua 24:15 (ERV)

I have decided to take the path of faith; I have focused my eyes on Your regulations.

– Psalm 119:30 (VOICE)

I love those who love Me, and those who look for Me will find Me.

-Proverbs 8:17 (ERV)

Photo by Kitty Keefer

Live Today

October 29, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Life is a choice

for you today

Blessings are a choice

for you today

For you can choose a death day

or a life day

And I think you know what I mean

For truly living

is a choice

Blessings toward others

are a choice

“Come follow Me,”

Jesus says

And following Him today

will open your eyes

to His goodness

His blessings

His love

His plans for you

this day

Choose to follow

and choose to LIVE

For a daily death is a slow

and sad

way to exist

Choose to Live

And look Up

to find the beauty

and the reason to truly live

– Susie Stewart

I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love God, your God, listening obediently to Him, firmly embracing Him. Oh yes, He is life itself, a long life settled on the soil that God, your God, promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

– Deuteronomy 30:19 (MSG)

Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.

– Philippians 4:8 (VOICE)

…choose today whom you will serve.

– Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

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)

…I came to give life with joy and abundance.

– John 10:10 (VOICE)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Heart Trust

October 7, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Has a person

broken your heart?

Crushed you

deeply?

And as a result

have you determined

that you can’t possibly

trust your heart

to God?

Secretly

you guard your heart

for fear

that He will disappoint

just like people have

But He calls out to you

as a faithful lover would

A faithful lover

He pursues you

consistently

And you gently learn

that your circumstances

don’t determine

His love for you

And that God,

your faithful One,

will hold you

in those circumstances

That He does not leave

nor forsake

And you find

that in trusting Him

with your heart

that He is the One

who wraps you

in His sheltering arms

When people

can’t be trusted

with your heart

– Susie Stewart

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.

– Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

Our hearts erupt with joy in Him because we trust His holy name.

– Psalm 33:21 (VOICE)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
He’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give Him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
don’t sulk under His loving correction.
It’s the child He loves that God corrects;
a father’s delight is behind all this.

– Proverbs 3:5-12 (MSG)

Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; He won’t leave you.

– Deuteronomy 31:6 (MSG)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Posession

July 24, 2016July 24, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

We act sometimes

like people are our possessions

to be controlled

and manipulated

We act as if they should do our bidding

and it comes from a selfish heart

But God is the only One

who can safely have people as His possessions

We are His

because He created us

and because we were bought with a price

with the precious blood of Christ

His goodness flows to us

because of being under His God-sized umbrella of grace

How blessed we are to be

so lovingly called out of darkness

to be His own

– Susie Stewart

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.

– 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

Remember you are people who have been set apart for Him; He has chosen you to be His own possession out of all the peoples on the earth.

– Deuteronomy 14:2 (VOICE)

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

– 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 (NLT)

Photo by Andy Stewart

The Battle

July 7, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

The battle is invisible

and it is fierce

Unseen

but real

This fight

affects you

And if your eyes were opened

to the unseen reality

You would fall to your knees

before the God of Angel Armies

You would know that darkness

wants to take you down

You would know that angels

are protectors and fighters

strong and valiant

And you would know that demons

are liars and destroyers

Purveyors of

defeat

stress

division

lies

death

and fear

And know this –

if you have not surrendered to King Jesus,

you WILL lose this fight

You are defenseless without Him

If you DO know Him

and believe Him

Don’t forget your battle gear

Take up your Sword!

the Word of God to combat lies and deception

Take up your shield!

which is your faith in Almighty God

Put on your helmet!

the salvation of your precious soul

Lace up your shoes!

that come with the Peace only He can give

Strap on your belt!

of Truth, lies dispelled

Hold up that shield!

God’s armor of righteousness for you

Don’t underestimate your enemy

God’s army

Get in that battle

and hold onto the One who holds victory

for you

– Susie Stewart

We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places.

– Ephesians 6:12 (VOICE)

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

– James 4:7 (NLT)

For though we walk in the world, we do not fight according to this world’s rules of warfare. The weapons of the war we’re fighting are not of this world but are powered by God and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His truth.

– 2 Corinthians 10:3,4 (VOICE)

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

– 1 Peter 5:8,9 (NLT)

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

– Ephesians 6:13-17 (NLT)

Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.

– Deuteronomy 3:22 (NIV)

Artwork by Arik Stewart from his childhood

The Blessing of Obedience

June 30, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

There is freedom in obedience

There is joy in obedience

There is peace in obedience

What tangles we would avoid

if only we heeded the instruction

of the One who is Truth

What pain we would prevent

if only we would listen

to the One who knows best

What heartache we would escape

if only we were humble enough

to obey

For there is where we find

freedom

joy

peace

and show God

how much we love Him

– Susie Stewart

Anyone who loves Me will listen to My voice and obey. The Father will love him, and We will draw close to him and make a dwelling place within him.

– John 14:23 (VOICE)

Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

– Deuteronomy 5:33 (NIV)

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

– Proverbs 10:17 (NIV)

Photo by Susie Stewart

He Hasn’t Left

June 2, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 5 Comments

Do you get the feeling

that God’s Spirit leaves

when you are grumpy

sad

angry

when you do something wrong?

That He can’t really stand

to be around you

when you’re like that?

That He’ll come back

when you’re back to yourself?

The Holy Spirit dwells with you

just like your family

but the difference is

He doesn’t leave the room

in disgust

when you are out of sorts

He walks with you

always

and He will be that friend

that sticks closer than a brother

He will be the one

who doesn’t leave

ever

His voice might be harder to hear

when you’re a hot mess

but He hasn’t left

that’s His promise

– Susie Stewart

…He will never leave you nor forsake you.

– Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

– Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with each of them.”

– John 14:23 (NLT)

Photo by Arik Stewart