God
Victoria
I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul.
– Psalm 139:14 (VOICE)
Photo taken by Susie Stewart
Rest
To every toiling, heavy-laden sinner, Jesus says, Come to me and rest. But there are many toiling, heavy-laden believers, too. For them this same invitation is meant. Note well the words of Jesus, if you are heavy-laden with your service, and do not mistake it. It is not, Go, labor on, as perhaps you imagine. On the contrary, it is stop, turn back, Come to me and rest. Never, never did Christ send a heavy laden one to work; never, never did He send a hungry one, a weary one, a sick or sorrowing one, away on any service. For such the Bible only says, Come, come, come.”
– Hudson Taylor
My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.
– Exodus 33:14 (NIV)
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
– Psalm 62:1,2 (NIV)
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
– Matthew 11:28, 29 (NIV)
Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
– Psalm 116:7 (NIV)
Photo taken by Susie Stewart
Doors
No matter how hard you try to open that door,
to break it down
No matter how much you want something,
or someone
If God closes that door,
it won’t be opened to you.
Rest in His love,
and wide scope of your life.
– Susie Stewart
…the Holy One, the True One, and the One who possesses the key of David, which opens the possibilities so that no one can shut them. The One who closes all options so that no one can open…
– Revelation 3:7 (VOICE)
I know what you have done. See, I have opened a door in front of you that no one can shut. You only have a little strength, but you have paid attention to my word and have not denied my name.
– Revelation 3:8 (GW)
…yet not My will, but Yours be done.
– Luke 22:42 (NIV)
And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
– Psalm 9:10 (AMP)
Artistic Illustration done by Carla Autrey
Best News
Jesus’ apostles were beaten and murdered for their bold witness, and they rejoiced to suffer for the name of Christ.
What was my reason again for not opening my mouth to speak the Good News?
– Susie Stewart
They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.
The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
– Acts 5:40-42 (NLT)
He preached without fear in the name of the Lord. He talked and argued with the Jews who spoke the Greek language. They kept trying to kill him.
– Acts 9:29 (NLV)
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.
– Acts 14:29 (NLT)
Always think about Jesus Christ. He was brought back to life and is a descendant of David. This is the Good News that I tell others. I’m suffering disgrace for spreading this Good News. I have even been put into prison like a criminal. However, God’s word is not imprisoned. For that reason, I endure everything for the sake of those who have been chosen so that they, too, may receive salvation from Christ Jesus with glory that lasts forever.
– 2 Timothy 2:8-10 (GW)
The Best News
must be shared
boldly
passionately
graciously
lovingly
for it is not by your own power
that you speak this News
but by the power
of God’s Spirit
He will quicken your mind
give you discernment
make you strong
and give you compassion
for those lost
and in bondage
You are the witness
to something glorious
something amazing
something unheard of
Sacrifice
Grace
Forgiveness
Heaven
Forever with God
The Best News
Sharing what He has done
for you
is a privilege
Speak
open up your mouth
and speak
trusting that when you do
regardless of the outcome
you have been obedient
and you have spoken
Hope
You are not a proselytizer
but an enthusiastic messenger
with the Best News
– Susie Stewart
Photos taken by Susie Stewart
Truth
We’ve all been in a position like this at one time or another, haven’t we? We thought for certain God was telling us something specific. We knew it. We were sure of it. The only place we got a little fuzzy was when we tried squaring it with what we knew of Scripture, or when we tried explaining our thinking to a parent or friend who lived on intimate terms with God. Then it took a lot of mental effort and self-styled logic to try holding all the loose ends together. The voice we thought we’d heard from God didn’t fare so well in the light of His Word. We were left to determine: Will we count on God’s Word as truth? Will we choose to conform to His true character despite what we are feeling?
– Priscilla Shirer
When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth..
-John 16:13 (NLT)
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
– Psalm 25:4,5 (NLT)
Photo taken by Susie Stewart
Humility
Humility disappears when God is neglected. True humility is total trust in God. The Holy Spirit tells us to cast all our anxieties on God and that means we trust Him totally. If we don’t give Him those worries, it means we’re lacking humility.
~ Jay Oertli
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though He was God,
He did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, He gave up His divine privileges;
He took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When He appeared in human form,
He humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
~ Philippians 2:3-8 (NLT)
So bow down under God’s strong hand; then when the time comes, God will lift you up.
~ 1 Peter 5:6 (VOICE)
Photos taken by Susie Stewart
Worship
Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness, the nourishment of the mind with His truth, the purifying of the imagination of His beauty, the opening of the heart to His love, the surrender of the will to His purpose.
~ William Temple
It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men.
~ C.S. Lewis
Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and He won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!
~ Hebrews 12:28 (MSG)
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.
~ John 4:23 (NLT)
Photo taken by Susie Stewart
Unworthy
A step back.
That’s what you take.
Unworthiness still plagues you
even though your head
is full of that redemption knowledge.
And regret,
and shame,
and averted eyes
prevent you from approaching His throne,
from whispering His holy Name….
And then you remember
unworthy was made Worthy
and it’s all because of Divine love
and sacrifice
and new birth.
His worthiness clothed you in righteousness.
And it was meant to take your shame
your fear
your hesitancy
your not enough.
A gift without merit
bestowing merit.
And you received it.
And you forgot.
Run child!
Run toward your Father,
who runs toward you,
with daddy arms open,
always ready to embrace.
You are Worthy
because He loved you
enough to give all
to redeem you.
Realize and actualize.
Be unencumbered
as you move out boldly
as a child
unconditionally loved.
– Susie Stewart
But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.
– Galatians 3:26, 27 (MSG)
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness…
– Isaiah 61:10 (NLT)
Photo taken by Andy Stewart
First
FIRST
then second.
It started with decisions
His decisions
Because He has always been LOVE,
I was loved
and then….
He created
the Universe, heaven and earth, people and creatures,
All of it
And I was conceived
through His love
And He saw me
And I was born into this broken world
I grew
and I chose Him
but He had actually chosen me
My eternal life began
and I started to love Him
I trusted Him
I trust Him
and my life-dance has been stumbling through this broken world
and my own brokenness
and also
standing tall in victory
He has been
my Constant
my Encouragement
my Light
my Salvation
my Hope
my Love
my Rock
And I see Him
in people’s eyes
in the sun rising and falling
in the vivid flowers
in marriage
in children
miraculously
all around
And His love in my heart
is the filter with which
I see the world
and the brokenness
and the beauty
I allow His Light to reveal every corner
even when it uncovers
ugliness
pain
brokenness
and I know
Because I have seen
that
He redeems
and
He makes new
And I want Him First
intentionally
lovingly
obediently
with the flow of romance
and honesty
and listening
and connecting
and above all
His will be done
no matter what.
He is FIRST
Because He first loved me.
Because that is the place He deserves.
Because only then am I satisfied.
Because there is my joy.
And
people
jobs
entertainment
ministry
all of it
fade to second
Very second
in light of my relationship with Him
He knew me first
He is
FIRST.
– Susie Stewart
Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.
-Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit…
-John 15:16 (NLT)
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb….”
– Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)
Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
– Matthew 22:37 (CEV)
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
– Romans 8:38, 39 (NLT)
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
– Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
Susie Stewart 