hope

Dwell

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Where do you dwell?

 

Not

where do you live?

 

But

where do you dwell?

 

Your mind

your spirit

your being

 

where does it dwell?

 

The importance of this

awakened me this morning

 

and I chose

where I would dwell today

 

You see,

our thoughts

can so easily be taken captive

 

by negativity

by being offended

by judgment

by hopelessness

by anger

by bitterness

 

by sin

 

Instead,

let US take our thoughts

captive

 

and make them obedient to Christ

Let us shift the focus

 

to goodness

to beauty

to gratefulness

to healing

to peace

to surrender

to hope

 

to the power

in His Name

that is ours!

 

Dwell in His courts

live in His goodness

 

Always keep coming back

to your Royal dwelling place

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

– Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

 

Let us go to His dwelling place,
    let us worship at His footstool

– Psalm 132:7 (NIV)

 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

– Revelation 21:3 (NIV)

 

One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek Him in His temple.

– Psalm 27:4 (NIV)

 

You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.

– Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

 

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in Him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies.

– Philippians 4:4-9 (MSG)

 

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

– 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)

 

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

– 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

 

 

 

 

 

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)

 

 

 

 

High Hopes

/ Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

Having hope is good

 

Having hope in the Lord

is best

 

And we NEED

His hope

 

We need Him

 

Those who hope in Jesus

are renewed over and over

in their situation

 

Focus is re-established

when it starts to wane

 

And sights are set on things above

on sovereign God

 

not on earthly circumstances

 

For His strength,

mighty and unwavering,

is yours

 

And not only that

but You will soar high with Him

 

From the sky you are given a bird’s eye perspective,

an overall look

 

at each small slice

and circumstance

of life here

 

knowing this season

is woven with care

 

in the tapestry,

the landscape,

of your existence

 

Your hope

does not walk tired

 

And you may run

but it is not away from God

 

You run toward Him!

 

The Author and the Finisher

of your faith

 

The One who establishes

and solidifies

 

your hope

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

-Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
– Hebrews 12;2 (KJV)
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.
-Psalm 25:5 (NIV)

Saved For More

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Your soul has been saved

by Jesus

 

Saved from eternal condemnation

and suffering

 

But do you think about how far

that salvation goes?

 

When Jesus died for you

and was resurrected

 

and you accepted that

beautiful gift

 

He not only saved you from hell

but redeemed your life in the here and now!

 

His salvation in your life

is far-reaching

 

It saves you from

a pointless existence

sin’s grip

a futile focus

slavery’s hold

meaninglessness

fear of death

people dependence

darkness rule

hopelessness

being alone

conjured joy

the enemy’s grasp

man-made religion

blind living

 

…from yourself

 

The moment you accepted Christ

you were made new

 

and your salvation travels with you

into each day

 

Don’t forget

all that He has saved you from

 

and walk in confidence

of the Light He placed in you

 

-Susie Stewart

 

 

…I’ll give you a long life,
    give you a long drink of salvation!

– Psalm 91:16 (MSG)

 

No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you… I will not fail you or abandon you.

– Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

 

…He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

– Titus 3:5 (NIV)

 

There is no one else who can rescue us, and there is no other name under heaven given to any human by whom we may be rescued.

– Acts 4:12 (VOICE)

 

Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew He was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

– 1 Peter 1:18-21 (MSG)

 

Sin ruled by means of death. But God’s kindness now rules, and God has accepted us because of Jesus Christ our Lord. This means that we will have eternal life.

– Romans 5:21 (AMP)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Divine Silence

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Silence

 

Deafening silence

 

And your heart is heavy

and grief-striken

 

How can one hope

in such circumstances?

 

When God is silent?

 

He left

and despair is overwhelming

 

But fight your despair,

 

for even when there is death,

there is hope

 

for the true follower

of Jesus

 

All may be silent

for a time

 

But dawn will come

tomorrow

 

And you will see

that what was dead

 

will be alive!

 

So in this place

of silence and mourning,

 

Hope

 

The end of the story

has not yet come

 

And our Divine Jesus

will not remain silent

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Late in the afternoon a wealthy man from Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, arrived. His name was Joseph. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate granted his request. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean linens, put it in his own tomb, a new tomb only recently cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the entrance. Then he went off. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed, sitting in plain view of the tomb.

After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with Pilate. They said, “Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while He was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ We’ve got to get that tomb sealed until the third day. There’s a good chance His disciples will come and steal the corpse and then go around saying, ‘He’s risen from the dead.’ Then we’ll be worse off than before, the final deceit surpassing the first.”

Pilate told them, “You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can.” So they went out and secured the tomb, sealing the stone and posting guards.

– Matthew 27:57-66 (MSG)

 

Even in the unending shadows of death’s darkness, I am not overcome by fear. Because You are with me in those dark moments, near with Your protection and guidance, I am comforted.

– Psalm 23:4 (VOICE)

 

Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon.

– Psalm 31:24 (MSG)

So Boring

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

If you think

church stuff

is boring

 

If you think

answering to God

is stifling

 

If you think

Jesus-following

is all about rules

 

Wake Up!

 

Because you are asleep

 

Open your eyes

to a full and abundant life!

 

Realize true hope

and unexplainable peace

and overflowing joy!

 

See

Hear

Taste

Experience

 

your creative

inspiring

mind-blowing

God!

 

Dive in to the deep

of His

swallow-you-up Love!

 

Know the calming serenity

of wrongs paid for unmerited

 

Find your DEEP

in Jesus!

 

It’s available

to EVERYONE

 

Why would you not choose

 

Abundant?!

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

– John 10:10 (AMP)

 

I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.

– Jeremiah 29:11 (GW)

 

I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit.

– Romans 15:13 (VOICE)

 

The Eternal One will never leave you; He will lead you in the way that you should go. When you feel dried up and worthless, God will nourish you and give you strength. And you will grow like a garden lovingly tended; you will be like a spring whose water never runs out.

– Isaiah 58:11 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Despair

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Despair

can tempt you

 

It can entice you

to embrace the complete loss

of hope

 

And you feel yourself slipping

into its clutches

 

But then you remember

 

You know that despair

is not an option

 

for one

deep in hope

 

And you remember

to cast your cares

your anxieties

your pain

your agony

your confusion

 

on Him

for He cares for you

 

And the slippery slope of despair

develops footholds

to climb right out

 

into the wide open space

of hope

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
He delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
He protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

– Psalm 34:17-20 (NIV)

 

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!

– 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 (MSG)

 

Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries.

– 1 Peter 5:7 (VOICE)

 

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)

 

Photo by Arik Stewart

More and Less

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

The more we grow in Christ

and learn to love Him

and to trust Him

 

the less our peace and joy

are dependent

on people

and circumstances

 

What a relief

 

– Susie Stewart

 

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)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Security

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

In these days of uncertainty

of violence

of confusion

of hatred

of pain

 

I am eternally grateful

for my hope in You, Jesus

 

my security in Your promises

my peace, God-given

 

You are my Rock

when all is crumbling

 

All of my hope

is in You

 

– Susie Stewart

 

After all they had endured, they remembered that God, the Most High,
was their Rock, their Redeemer.

– Psalm 78:35 (VOICE)

 

We must meet the uncertainties of this world with the certainty of the world to come.

– AW Tozer

 

 

No one is holy like the Eternal One—
no, no one but You;
and there is no rock as solid as our True God.

– 1 Samuel 2:2 (VOICE)

 

My salvation and my significance depend ultimately on God;
the core of my strength, my shelter, is in the True God.

– Psalm 62:7 (VOICE)

 

Internet photo

Beyond

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

It is good to be present

 

here

now

 

But it is also good to focus beyond

 

there

future

 

For when we suffer

when we have trials

when today is heavy

 

Beyond

is a comfort

 

And Jesus will always

give us hope for the beyond

 

Beyond the suffering

Beyond the trial

Beyond this life

 

Jesus endured the cross

for the joy beyond

 

We endure the pain of sinful earth

for the joy of Heaven

 

Always hope

for the beyond

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

And so now, we wait.  We wait for our bridegroom.  “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning” (Psalm 130:6).  We lean on the windowsill of eternity, look to the sky, and whisper, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come quickly.”

Oh when will He come?

And every once in a while, when our heart grows weary of waiting, the Lord revives us with snatches of joy…It is a preview of the joy that will overtake us when, finally, the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

And it will all happen in the twinkling of an eye.

Before we realize it, if we are blessed to be living at the time of His return, we shall find ourselves in the embrace of our Savior at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.  Heaven will have arrived.  The Lord’s overcoming of the world will be a lifting of the curtain of our five senses, and we shall see the whole universe in plain sight.  Life and immortality will no longer be dim thoughts, but vivid and strikingly real.  At first, the shock of joy may burn with the brilliant newness of being glorified, but in the next instant we will be at peace and feel at home, as though it were always this way, that we were born for such a place.  At that moment, earth will seem like a half-forgotten dream, pleasant enough, but only a dream.

– Joni Eareckson Tada

 

…For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

– Hebrews 12:1,2 (NIV)

 

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

– 2 Corinthians 4:17,18 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart