Wait & Hope

March 28, 2016March 28, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Waiting is hard for me. It’s not my forte. I like to get things done quickly. Boom. Done. My writing, too, is usually short and to the point.

But the Lord has called on me to wait. And wait. And wait some more. This is often His way.

I find myself wanting to sprint out ahead of God. To take things into my own hands. He lovingly grabs ahold of my “suspenders” from the back and places me behind His lead. He is my teacher. And on Him, I need to wait. He sees eternally into the future. And His wisdom is beyond my comprehension.

Waiting and trusting and hoping – all wrapped up in the package of obedience. To this, He has called me.

– Susie Stewart

But as for me, I will look expectantly for the Lord and with confidence in Him I will keep watch; I will wait [with confident expectation] for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

– Micah 7:7 (AMP)

Like the faith diggers do every day. We bury our swollen prayers in Him who’s raised from the tomb.

We lay our hope, full and tender, into the depths of Him and wait in hope for God to resurrect something good.

Good always necessitates long waiting.

Every tulip only blossoms after cold months of winter wait. Every human ever unfurled into existence through nine long months of the womb waiting. And the only kingdom that will last for eternity still waits, this millennia-long, unwavering-hope for return of its King. Instead of chafing, we accept that waiting is a strand in the DNA of the Body of Christ.

That this waiting on God is the very real work of the people of God.

– Ann Voskamp

I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

– Psalm 27:13,14 (NIV)

So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you His love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.

– Isaiah 30:18 (NLT)

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him,
to the one who seeks Him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

– Lamentations 3:25,26 (NIV)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Wait with Hope

March 6, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Right now you may be waiting for something from the Lord. Matter of fact, most people I meet are in some sort of holding pattern. (I Certainly am!) They have something on the horizon that they’re trusting God for. (I certainly do!) And their hope is not misplaced. He is good to those who wait for Him. He is good to those who seek Him. We have nothing to fear. And we certainly have no reason for living each day crushed by guilt or shame…

Contrary to popular opinion, God doesn’t sit in heaven with His jaws clenched, His arms folded in disapproval, and a deep from on His brow. He is not ticked off at His children for all the times we trip over our tiny feet and fall flat on our diapers. He is a loving Father, and we are precious in His sight, the delight of His heart.

– Chuck Swindoll

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?

– Romans 8:31,32 (NLT)

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

– Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It’s a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.
It’s a good thing when you’re young
to stick it out through the hard times.

– Lamentations 3:25 (MSG)

Those who do not hope cannot wait; but if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

– Charles Spurgeon

Photo by Gracie Oertli

Word

February 25, 2016February 25, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through Him,
and nothing was created except through Him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and His life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:1-5 (NIV)

Jesus,

You are

the Word.

The Logos.

Perfect Revelation

Glorious Hope

Life and Light

for us.

And though it may seem

that darkness reigns,

it has not overcome.

Your light

backs up

the darkness.

The Word,

overcomes

the world.

And we stand

unafraid

and unapologetic

for believing in

and shining

Your Light.

Jesus

The Word

spoke the world into being

and will not be extinguished

by the darkness in it.

– Susie Stewart

So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

– John 1:14 (NLT)

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

– John 16:33 (NLT)

The Lord merely spoke,
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.

– Psalm 33:6 (NLT)

He sent out his word and healed them,
snatching them from the door of death.

– Psalm 107:20 (NLT)

Forever, O Eternal One,
Your word stands in heaven, firm and resolute.

– Psalm 119:89 (VOICE)

He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;
he scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

– Psalm 147:15-18 (ESV)

Grace To You — Why Does John Refer to Jesus As The Word?

Photo by Susie Stewart

Love Always Hopes

February 10, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Love always hopes…

– 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)

Love is hope when reason despairs.

– Jack Hyles

If you’ll quit moaning and crying, I’ll use the things to make you into someone I can use in the lives of others to show them that no matter where they’ve been, no matter how deep the hole, no matter how painful the trial, there’s hope. There is victory.

– Kay Arthur

Love always points to a brighter day ahead. Love is the lifeline that the hurting can hold on to.

– Philip Ryken

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.

– Romans 5:2-5 (NLT)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Up

August 27, 2013January 6, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I want don’t want to be grounded.

Hmm..

What do you do with that? Grounded can take on different meanings. The grounded I’m talking about may not be what you think.

This world has a way of weighing us down, almost as if it is pulling us deeper into the earth. Troubles, trials, relationships gone wrong, the depressing things we hear on the news every day… it feels as if it has a downward pull.

God calls us to look UP. He calls us to “set” our minds on things that are heavenly, peaceful, strong, gentle…… truth. He is continually pulling us out of the muck and mire and setting our feet on solid ground or in spacious places (2 Samuel 22:20). He brings us out of darkness into His unimaginable light.

My feet feel very weighted to the earth at times. I allow the cares of this world to eat away at my thoughts and emotion, at my trust. I am called to so much more! “…because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ…”! (Eph. 2:4,5)

Over the years, I have often thought about what it means to “set your mind on things above, not on earthly things…” I’ve assumed that Paul was referring to heaven. I’ve never seen heaven, so at times I find it hard to set my mind on it, having never seen it and all. But, for me, this verse has come to mean even more.

Look down….

earth, dirt, gravity, weightiness, troubles….

Look up….

Sky, heaven, weightlessness, peace, freedom….

I don’t want to be grounded. I don’t want to be weighed down with the troubles of this world, but to trust in Light and Love and Mercy — Jesus!

He is above! He is the Name that is “above every name” (Phil. 2:9).

He is up!

He is in me.

And when I soak Him in and I listen to Him and when I trust and believe and I focus on Him, I’m not so grounded anymore. I feel lighter and more joyful. I’m not so concerned with how the people around me are not meeting my oh-so-important needs.

May I only be grounded in your truth, Jesus. Otherwise, let my feet be just above the ground because I trust in You. You are working in and through me as I look forward to my forever home.

– Susie Stewart

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”

1 Peter 1:13 “Be holy, therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming.”

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 32:10 “Many are the woes of the wicked but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trust in Him.”

Photo: Susie Stewart

1 Year Ago Today…

August 17, 2013January 5, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 13 Comments

1 year ago today I was diagnosed with cancer.

I want to thank God for preserving my life and bringing our family through a difficult year. As I look back at pictures from the past year I think of it all as a journey of growth, tears, strengthening, and lots of love. I share some of them here with you to bring my Savior Jesus glory for His goodness, His faithfulness, and His love for me, for my family, and for every person young or old that goes through cancer.

Right after I was diagnosed, special gifts, texts, calls, emails and FB messages started pouring in. What an encouragement! This fruit bouquet came from Dave & Rebecca, my cousin and his wife.

Thank you for the love!

Psalm 112:7

“He will have no fear of bad new; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

Our son Arik headed to college a couple weeks after diagnosis. Such mixed emotions.

Psalm 18:28

“You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”

Our daughter Nicole shared her testimony, which included my recent diagnosis, at Fields of Faith, a teen event, about a week after my lumpectomy surgery.

Psalm 46:1

“God is our Refuge and Strength, an ever-present Help in trouble.”

Andy took me on a getaway to San Francisco before radiation.

Psalm 55:22

“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you, He will never let the righteous fall.”

My sweet neighbor Chloe in The Race for the Cure.

John 5:17

“Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at His work, to this very day, and I , too, am working.”

End of radiation celebration. We didn’t yet know I needed chemo.

John 10:27

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.”

Hat & Scarf party put on by my sister-in-law Rayna the day before my head was shaved. What a wonderful show of love and support. I used these hats and scarfs to keep warm all through the winter.

Psalm 94:18,19

“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping’, Your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.”

First chemo treatment with daughter Nicole.

Psalm 42:5

“Why so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your trust in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”

Nicole bravely shaved my head before the hair started really falling out two weeks after chemo started.

Romans 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Trying to get used to the new norm.

2 Corinthians 4:8

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Wig-wearing began.

2 Corinthians 4:18

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Reading during chemo.

Ephesians 1:3

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

6 chemo treatments 3 weeks apart. My special “chemo-sabis” with me each time.

Psalm 138:8

“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever – Do not abandon the works of your hands.”

Time with my friend Don as he was going through chemo too at the same place.

2 Timothy 1:7

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

So very thankful for my faithful husband, so loving and encouraging in sickness and in health.

Psalm 3:3

“But You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head.”

Christmas morning holding a beautiful scarf my son brought me from his December missions trip to India.

Psalm 18:1,2

“I love You, O Lord, my Strength. The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer, my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my Shield and the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold.”

Never thought I’d be balder than my sweet dad. 🙂

Isaiah 40:29

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

End of chemo family celebration! I am thankful beyond words for my family’s support!

Hebrews 13:8

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Starting to grow hair back.

Isaiah 49:23

“…then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

By God’s grace I was able to go back to Africa in June, feeling good, and co-leading our True Impact Ministries team with my husband Andy! What a gift!

Isaiah 58:9-11

“…If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”