Galatians

That Name

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Love has a Name

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know Him if you don’t love. This is how God showed His love for us: God sent His only Son into the world so we might live through Him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.  ~ 1 John 4:8-10 (MSG)

It’s Jesus

 

 

Hope has a Name

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.  ~ Romans 15:13 (NLT)

It’s Jesus

 

 

Joy has a Name

You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life.
    As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending,
    and I know true joy and contentment.  ~ Psalm 16:11 (VOICE)

It’s Jesus

 

 

Peace has a Name

And now, dear friends, may the Lord of peace Himself grace you with peace always and in everything. May the Lord be present with all of you.  ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (VOICE)

It’s Jesus

 

 

Faithfulness has a Name

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.  ~ 2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT)

It’s Jesus

 

 

And at that Name,

above all names,

every knee will bow

 

So you should know this Name

 

or never truly know

love

hope

joy

peace

or faithfulness

 

~ 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 5:22,23 (NLT)

 

So when His name is called, every knee will bow, in heaven, on earth, and below.

– Philippians 2:10 (VOICE)

 

 

 

 

What’s Keeping You?

/ Susie Stewart / 6 Comments

You know in your heart

He is there

 

yet you pretend He isn’t

 

ALL of His creation shouts

and whispers

and sings

His glory and His goodness

 

And yet…

 

What’s keeping you, friend?

 

You see His character

in those who are

the givers

and the faithful

and the peaceful

 

And yet…

 

You think that life with Him

would be stuffy religion

and stifling rules

and….

 

accountable

 

Well, you can nix the idea of stuffy religion

and stifling rules

 

but accountability is a reality

 

You are accountable

before Almighty God

 

we all are

 

And you WILL give an account of your life

 

But wouldn’t it be better

if you could be accountable to God

 

with God’s help?

 

Because, guess what?

 

When you accept His love

and you accept His Son

 

and you accept His grace and mercy

and you choose relationship with Him

 

He becomes your Advocate!

 

How amazing is that??

 

Dive in, friend!

ALL in!

 

Nothing satisfies

like a relationship with the One who made you!

 

What’s keeping you?

 

Run

to

Him

 

and find freedom

 

for if you are ignoring Him

and rejecting Him

and not walking hand-in-hand with Him

 

you

are

NOT free

 

What’s keeping you?

 

~  Susie Stewart

 

 

Walking with Jesus

 

 

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)

 

  …You will fill me with joy in Your presence…

– Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

 

What a stack of blessing You have piled up
    for those who worship You,
Ready and waiting for all who run to You
    to escape an unkind world.
You hide them safely away
    from the opposition.
As You slam the door on those oily, mocking faces,
    You silence the poisonous gossip.
Blessed God!
    His love is the wonder of the world.

– Psalm 31:19,20 (MSG)

 

God’s way is perfect!
    The promise of the Lord has proven to be true.
        He is a shield to all those who take refuge in Him.

– Psalm 18:30 (NIV)

 

The spacious, free life is from God,
it’s also protected and safe.
God-strengthened, we’re delivered from evil—
    when we run to Him, He saves us.

– Psalm 37:39,40 (MSG)

 

The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

– 2 Peter 3:9 (AMP)

 

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid Your Spirit?
    to be out of Your sight?
If I climb to the sky, You’re there!
    If I go underground, You’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
    to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
    You’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, He even sees me in the dark!
    At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to You;
    night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to You.

– Psalm 139:7-12 (MSG)

 

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

– 1 John 2:1 (NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

Jesus First

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Take note

of what distracts you

from Jesus

 

We say

“Love the Lord your God

with all your heart

and all your soul

and all your strength

and all your mind.”

 

and then we start the day

without talking to Him

 

we ignore His prodding

to love people practically

 

and we end the day

soaking in more distractions

 

with a token prayer at bedtime,

if that

 

Lord, I want to love You

with everything I have!

 

as a brand new lover

who can think of little else

 

Jesus, You saved me

with Your love!

 

with Your love…

 

I want You to know

that I recognize that and I’m grateful

 

and I see this

as a reciprocal relationship

 

I want to love You

MORE

each day

 

and I want people to see

that You

come

first

in me

 

I  want You to know

without a doubt

that I love You

 

– 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)

 

One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in His answers, he put in his question: “Which is most important of all the commandments?”

Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.”

– Mark 28:27-31 (MSG)

 

So I am not the one living now—it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God. He is the one who loved me and gave Himself to save me.

– Galatians 2:20 (ERV)

 

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

– Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

 

– Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Self-Examination

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

May I be a follower

who examines myself 

more than I examine others

 

May my eyes be on You, God,

with Spirit-led reflection

on how I’m doing

as your follower

 

For I want to hear You, Lord,

when You are calling for change

and growth

and turning

 

I don’t want self-obsessed introspection

designed to tear me down

 

I will avoid my own voice of self-degradation

originating with the father of lies

 

The only voice I want to hear

is Yours,

loving

and for my good

 

I want to examine my own heart

by Your Spirit

so that I take my stand against the devil’s schemes

 

and so that I may repent

of all that is against You

and Your plan for me

 

and turn my face

to the Light

and the Truth

 

Help me, Jesus,

examine myself

in Your way

 

leading me closer to You

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. I hope the test won’t show that we have failed. But if it comes to that, we’d rather the test showed our failure than yours. We’re rooting for the truth to win out in you. We couldn’t possibly do otherwise.

We don’t just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. We pray hard that it will all come together in your lives.

– 2 Corinthians 13:5-9 (MSG)

 

If you hear the message and don’t obey it, you are like people who stare at themselves in a mirror and forget what they look like as soon as they leave. But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget.

– James 1:23-25 (CEV)

 

Don’t take this opportunity to think you are better than those who slip because you aren’t; then you become the fool and deceive even yourself. Examine your own works so that if you are proud, it will be because of your own accomplishments and not someone else’s.  Each person has his or her own burden to bear and story to write.

– Galatians 6:3-5 (VOICE)

 

Now let’s search out our thoughts and ways and return to the Eternal.

– Lamentations 3:40 (VOICE)

 

As your spiritual teacher I give this piece of advice to each one of you. Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith that God has given to you all. For just as you have many members in one physical body and those members differ in their functions, so we, though many in number, compose one body in Christ and are all members of one another. Through the grace of God we have different gifts. If our gift is preaching, let us preach to the limit of our vision. If it is serving others let us concentrate on our service; if it is teaching let us give all we have to our teaching; and if our gift be the stimulating of the faith of others let us set ourselves to it. Let the man who is called to give, give freely; let the man who wields authority think of his responsibility; and let the man who feels sympathy for his fellows act cheerfully.

– Romans 12:3-8 (PHILLIPS)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Clothed with Light

/ Susie Stewart / 7 Comments

You have His spirit inside,

but is He on the outside of you?

 

Can people tell by your

words

your actions

your attitudes

that Christ dwells within?

 

Scripture says to

CLOTHE yourself with Jesus

 

And we know that abiding in Christ

naturally causes us to show Him more

 

but are you intentionally

putting the old man to death

by putting on Christ?

 

Are you keeping your flesh in check?

 

Clothe yourself with God,

He is your robe of righteousness

 

Imagine the light

of the Light

as a holy garb

 

The taking off

and

the putting on

are all a gift from God

 

Is your Jesus showing?

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ…

– Romans 13:14 (NIV)

 

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,  for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

– Galatians 3:26,27 (NIV)

 

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

– Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT)

 

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…

– Colossians 3:9, 10 (NKJV)

 

Every believer has put on Christ by virtue of trusting in who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Yet we are also called to put on the character qualities and virtues that reflect our identity as children of God. We pursue this lofty goal in anticipation of the day when we will take off our mortal bodies and put on resurrected bodies that fully reflect Christ’s own resurrection body.

– Matthew Harmon

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

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

Compare Not

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Let God tell you

who you are

 

Comparing yourself

to your brothers and sisters in Christ

 

will only make you feel superior

or inferior

 

Leave it up to God

 

Be your absolutely unique

self

and give yourself grace

 

to grow in Christ

without pride

or condemnation

 

The most important thing

 

is not

 

to be more like this person here

or that person there

 

It is to be like Christ!

 

Compare yourself with others

NOT

 

Know your Father’s delight

in created

YOU

 

– Susie Stewart

 

We’re not, understand, putting ourselves in a league with those who boast that they’re our superiors. We wouldn’t dare do that. But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.

– 2 Corinthians 10:12 (MSG)

 

Am I now trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

– Galatians 1:10 (AMP)

 

But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another.

– Galatians 6:4 (AMP)

 

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