Hebrews

Content

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

So,

if you got

that bigger house

that nicer car

that thinner body

those better roommates

that more compatible spouse

 

that thing that you really hope for

 

Then would you be content?

 

Or would you, like me,

find another reason to be discontent

once you got it?

 

Honestly, it would never be enough

 

So what do we do with our discontent hearts,

our longing for more

of what we don’t have?

 

We take our discontent thoughts captive

putting them in check

 

We develop more gratitude

 

And we live in the moment,

in the mess (sometimes)

 

and we tell ourselves

“This is enough”

 

And we find that it is enough

because

Christ is our enough

 

He fulfills our need

 

Everything else

will fade

pass away

fall apart

 

But God’s Word STANDS

when all else falls away

 

And His Word says,

the secret to being content

is

 

I can do ALL THINGS through Christ

who strengthens me

 

And that means

 

that I can live in the here and now

with all it’s annoyances and problems

 

And I can BE content

in Christ

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

– Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)

 

Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote,

God is there, ready to help;
I’m fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?

– Hebrews 13:5,6 (MSG)

 

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

– 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Solid

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

I don’t want

a circumstantial faith

 

I want a solid faith

 

Up & Down

Up & Down

Down & Up

 

That wavering

is a rollercoaster

I don’t want to be on

 

Jesus, help me

keep my eyes on You

and on Your promises

 

In the storm

In the desert

In the fire

In the parties

of life

 

And let my confidence

be unshaken

 

For circumstances

don’t change who You are

 

You

are

my

Rock

 

– Susie Stewart

 

If our definition of success is solely based on outcome, we’ll live like we’re on a never-ending bungee jump.  We’re up.  We’re down.  We’re swayed by failure or buoyed by success.  We’re left hanging until someone reels us in with a word of praise.

– Suzanne Eller

 

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

– Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

 

…for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

– Proverbs 3:26 (NLT)

 

But the Master, God, has something to say to this: “Watch closely. I’m laying a foundation in Zion, a solid granite foundation, squared and true. And this is the meaning of the stone: A TRUSTING LIFE WON’T TOPPLE.

I’ll make justice the measuring stick and righteousness the plumb line for the building. A hailstorm will knock down the shantytown of lies, and a flash flood will wash out the rubble.

– Isaiah 28:16,17 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

Thy Will Be Done

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

“In all things,

our family says,

‘Thy will be done'”

 

I looked up at her on her porch

from my trailside fence position

 

My friend Becky

had just gone to see her brother

 

Stage 4 cancer

and things looking bleak

 

I told her I was sorry

and she gave a small smile

with the reply,

 

“In all things our family says,

‘Thy will be done'”

 

It wasn’t a typical response

to looming death

 

It wasn’t what I expected to hear

from grieving sister

 

And it impacted me

right down to the dirt I was standing on

 

It made me think

about You, Jesus,

 

Bowing Your will

to the plan of Your Father

 

Bowing Your fears

Bowing Your wants

 

In the face of pain

and death

 

“Not my will, but Yours be done”

 

May that be the simple sentence

that permeates my life

 

For there are times

when Your will

does not match mine

 

But I bow

everything

to You

 

Thy will be done

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not my will, but Yours be done.”

– Matthew 22:42 (NIV)

 

…Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

– Matthew 6:10 (NIV)

 

Our God is in the heavens, and He does as He wishes.

– Psalm 115:3 (NIV)

 

Now may the God of peace—
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with His blood—
may He equip you with all you need
for doing His will.
May He produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to Him.
All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.

– Hebrews 13:20,21 (NLT)

 

Photo by Arik Stewart

 

Temptation

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God has provided a way out for you

He always does

 

Temptation is NOT your master

 

Well,

it can be

if God is not truly your Master

 

We are all tempted

 

What you experience is nothing new

 

But the Lord’s faithfulness

will not allow

more temptation than you can stand

 

He will show you your exit

from that which will pull you down

 

He was tempted

and understands

 

Don’t be ruled by something

that will lead you away from Him

and only end in death

 

Let His Spirit lead you

out

 

– Susie Stewart

 

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

– 1 Corinthians 10:12,13 (NLT)

 

Here’s my instruction: walk in the Spirit, and let the Spirit bring order to your life. If you do, you will never give in to your selfish and sinful cravings.

– Galatians 5:16 (VOICE)

 

Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

– Hebrews 2:18 (NIV)

 

A man must not say when he is tempted, “God is tempting me.” For God has no dealings with evil, and does not himself tempt anyone. No, a man’s temptation is due to the pull of his own inward desires, which can be enormously attractive. His own desire takes hold of him, and that produces sin. And sin in the long run means death—make no mistake about that, brothers of mine!

– James 1:13-16 (PHILLIPS)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Words

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May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

– Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

 

Did my words

encourage today?

 

Were they chosen carefully?

 

Did they build people up?

 

Did they affirm

and bring glory to God?

 

Were my words

reflective of the faith I profess?

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (AMP)

 

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.

– Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT)

 

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and He’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

– 1 Peter 4:8-11 (MSG)

 

Don’t say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.

– Ephesians 4:29 (GW)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Tired

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

I’m tired, Lord

 

This morning

my body aches

my head hurts

and I’m tired

 

Not enough sleep

 

But in this state

I give You praise

 

A sacrifice of praise

 

Even when all

is fuzzy

 

I worship You

 

and I know you will turn my tired praise

my effort in the fog

 

to something beautiful

 

because You

who never grows weary

or tired

 

are the object of my praise.

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name.

– Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

 

Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of His understanding.

– Isaiah 40:28 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Ready

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Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

– Luke 12:35-38 (NLT)

 

I’m looking up, Lord!

I’m waiting for You!  

 

I don’t live my life perfectly

and I don’t have it all together

 

But I’m gladly expecting You

Perfection, my Salvation

 

You promise to come for me

and I’m ready when You are

 

My Bridegroom, my Savior

The Reason I wait with joy

 

Come, Lord Jesus, come

 

– Susie Stewart

 

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died[a] will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

– 1 Thessalonians 3:16,17 (NLT)

 

Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation.

– Hebrews 9:28 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Dirty Little Secret

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

You have a dirty little secret

 

Your life that people see

is not what they don’t

 

Your outward

is not the same

as your inward

 

God and people

are not truly honored

behind closed doors

 

Lies and deception

are disguised as piety

and truth

 

And people are hurt by secrets

especially the one doing the hurting

 

Because what you don’t realize

is that the one who truly has

a dirty little secret

 

is the enemy of your soul

 

He has you in his grip

and you thought you were in control

 

of the facade

 

Nothing is truly secret

Except the way you are being deceived

 

– Susie Stewart

 

There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light.

– Luke 8:17 (GW)

 

Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!

– Luke 12:3 (NLT)

 

For God will judge every action—including everything done in secret—whether it be good or evil.

– Ecclesiastes 12:14 (VOICE)

 

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.

– Hebrews 4:13 (NLT)

 

* Disclaimer — This is not written about anyone within the walls of our home. Friend, if your life inside your home does not match up with your life outside your home, if you are putting on a facade, if you are being deceived by the enemy into not living out God’s grace and honor toward the people you are closest to, please wake up!  Your enemy prowls and looks for those who he may devour.  Don’t be deceived, God is not mocked.  Bring all into the light and let God’s Spirit cleanse and mend.

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Attachment

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Our Lord did not teach detachment from other things:  He taught attachment to Himself.   Jesus Christ was not a recluse.  He did not cut Himself off from society.  He was amazingly in and out among the ordinary things of life; but He was disconnected fundamentally from it all.  He was not aloof, but He lived in another world.

– Oswald Chambers

 

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

– Hebrews 13:1 (NLT)

 

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your word, which is truth. Just as you sent Me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give Myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by Your truth.

– John 17:15-19 (NLT)

 

A divided heart loses both worlds.

– A.B. Simpson

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Advocate

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An Advocate

unmerited

 

A Voice

on my behalf

 

A Mediator

before the Most Holy

 

My Love

standing up for me

standing in my stead

 

My Defense

secure and uncorrupted

 

My Advocate

my Jesus

 

Love

pleading for me

 

– Susie Stewart

 

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)

 

For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

– 1 Timothy 2:5 (NLT)

 

My little children (believers, dear ones), I am writing you these things so that you will not sin and violate God’s law. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action].

– 1 John 2:1 (AMP)

 

If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and He’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take Him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see Him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know Him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

– John 14:15-17 (MSG)

 

But as it is, Christ has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is more excellent [than the old Levitical priestly ministry], for He is the Mediator (Arbiter) of a better covenant [uniting God and man], which has been enacted and rests on better promises.

– Hebrews 8:6 (AMP)

 

Christ didn’t go into a holy place made by human hands. He didn’t go into a model of the real thing. Instead, he went into heaven to appear in God’s presence on our behalf.

– Hebrews 9:24 (GW)

 

God will not lightly or easily lose His people. He has provided well for us: blood to wash us in; a Priest to pray for us, that we may be made to persevere; and, in case we foully fall, an Advocate to plead our cause.

– John Bunyan

 

Photo by Susie Stewart