Love That Lasts

January 27, 2018January 27, 2018 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Has there been love in your life

that didn’t last?

It would seem that covenant

secured your love

but it wasted away

and crumbled to apathy and regret?

And it made you wonder

whether there was such a thing

as forever love?

Your heart grew cold

to love

And why wouldn’t God

be just like all the rest?

BUT HE ISN’T

He is the only one

who keeps His covenants

and can be trusted

with your heart

Jesus,

Groom,

fills empty hearts

with relationship

with Himself

He holds tender hearts

with care

and mends the deep places

that ache

But in order to KNOW

this love

you must take His hand

and walk forward in love

promised

and surrendered

to Love that lasts

Love that is not

like the rest

– Susie Stewart

For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is His name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth.

– Isaiah 54:5 (NLT)

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    may I never forget the good things He does for me.
He forgives all my sins
    and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
    My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

The Lord gives righteousness
and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

He revealed His character to Moses
    and his deeds to the people of Israel.
The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
    nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him
    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
    as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to His children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.
For He knows how weak we are;
He remembers we are only dust.
Our days on earth are like grass;
    like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
The wind blows, and we are gone—
    as though we had never been here.
But the love of the Lord remains forever
    with those who fear Him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
  of those who are faithful to his covenant,
    of those who obey His commandments!

The Lord has made the heavens His throne;
from there He rules over everything.

Praise the Lord, you angels,
    you mighty ones who carry out His plans,
    listening for each of His commands.
Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels
    who serve Him and do His will!
Praise the Lord, everything He has created,
    everything in all His kingdom.

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

– Psalm 103 (NLT)

…He will say to them, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. That is why I have continued to be faithful to you.”

– Jeremiah 31:3 (NET)

Photo by Gracie Oertli

Condemn Me Not (with Video by Susie)

January 25, 2018January 25, 2018 / Susie Stewart / 6 Comments

Condemnation

heavy

burden

pain

ache

weight

It is what you used to be under

but because of the weight of the cross

and the pain He endured

you no longer have to be

Condemned

And if you feel as if you are,

even though Jesus saved you

resist it!

Open your eyes to freedom

from condemnation

The enemy is a tyrant

and he will heartlessly

try to convince you

that your actions will earn you

a sneer from God

and a turning of His back,

leaving you alone

BUT

remember Truth!

Truth tells us

the love of the Lord for YOU is eternal

and there is absolutely no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus

So don’t tolerate the weight of it

any longer

Confess

and turn

For every rule God put before you

is there for your good

not to harm

or stifle you

Walk in the absolutely

no strings attached

lavish grace

of the One who chose

to set you free of condemnation

– Susie Stewart

…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

– Romans 8:1,2 (NIV)

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

– Romans 8:1,2 (MSG)

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
    and I know I will not be put to shame.
He who vindicates me is near.
    Who then will bring charges against me?
    Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
    Let him confront me!
It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
    Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
    the moths will eat them up.

– Isaiah 50:7-9 (NIV)

The Lord will rescue His servants;
no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.

– Psalm 34:22 (NIV)

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

– James 4:7 (NLT)

This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in Him, and He in us: He’s given us life from His life, from His very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent His Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

– 1 John 4:15-18 (MSG)

Photo by Susie Stewart

All The Single Ladies

January 15, 2018 / Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I am a helpless

romantic

and I long for a special man

for every woman

a prince for every princess

who longs for a prince

But even more than this

I long for you, single women,

to know your groom Jesus first

I long for you to want Him

more than any man

I long for you to know Him

and love Him first

before you find your Mr. Wonderful

I long for you to be so grounded in Truth

and the Truth-Speaker, Jesus,

that no human man

could take His place

No groom will match

the One who chose you first

And no romance will compare

to the one you can have with Him

If you can only see it

and hear it

and feel it

If only you can KNOW it

That is what I long for

for you

What a gift our Groom is

to the whole body of Christ

He gave everything

for us

and He is unswervingly faithful

and true

This is love,

True Love

– Susie Stewart

This is the embodiment of true love: not that we have loved God first, but that He loved us and sent His unique Son on a special mission to become an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

– 1 John 4:10 (VOICE)

I made you. I am now your husband. My name is the Lord Who Rules Over All. I am the Holy One of Israel. I have set you free. I am the God of the whole earth.

– Isaiah 54:5 (NIRV)

And then I’ll marry you for good—forever! I’ll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness. Yes, I’ll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go. You’ll know me, God, for who I really am.

– Hosea 2:19,20 (MSG)

Now is the time for joy and happiness.
        He deserves all the glory we can give Him.
    For the wedding feast has begun; the marriage of the Lamb to His bride has commenced,
        and His bride has prepared herself for this glorious day.

   She had been given the finest linens to wear,
        linens bright and pure,
        woven from the righteous deeds of the saints.

– Revelation 19:7,8 (VOICE)

You’ll get a brand-new name
    straight from the mouth of God.
You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand,
    a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God.
No more will anyone call you Rejected,
    and your country will no more be called Ruined.
You’ll be called Hephzibah (My Delight),
    and your land Beulah (Married),
Because God delights in you
    and your land will be like a wedding celebration.
For as a young man marries his virgin bride,
    so your Builder marries you,
And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride,
    so your God is happy with you.

– Isaiah 62:3-5 (MSG)

Every Day

January 13, 2018 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Every

single

day

we make the choice

who we will follow

who we will serve

who, or what, we will bow low to

And we forget

that it is a daily choice

for we think

YESTERDAY I was doing so well

seeking the Lord wholeheartedly

and following His lead

But TODAY

is today

and choose you THIS DAY

whom you will serve

How your time will be spent

If you will kneel before the God of the Universe

Who will rule your day

not forgetting the swirl of enemy soldiers

all about you

distracting

and deceiving

and demoralizing

Bring your thoughts

into agreement with the One who loves you most

Serve Him

Follow Him

Bow to Him

Listen to Him

Speak of Him

Speak to Him

Nothing in all your day

is as important as this

– Susie Stewart

But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

– Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it.What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

-Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)

Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

– Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Grown Children

December 29, 2017December 30, 2017 / Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

I sit across from her

at the coffee shop

and I see a woman

but also a child

And my heart is torn,

for I want to gather her into my arms

and I want her to run away

full speed into life

And maybe you can relate

to my ponderings…

full of my three loves,

my children

For when they become adults

we want them healthy and unattached

But we can’t forget…

painful birth

infant soft

adoption waiting

final decree

first words

wobbly walking

I love yous

living room forts

training wheels

pumpkin carving

zoo trips

TV cuddles

hand-holding

Daddy’s home glee

star gazing

chaotic road trips

sweet kisses

first haircuts

messy picnics

nighttime prayers

voices small and sweet

baking cookies

sandbox buckets

swingset giggles….

and they are treasures

for the heart

I reflect for awhile

but I do not dwell too long

for NOW is my place

and the relationship is precious

at this stage as well

My eyes and my heart

gaze at the beauty before me

in that coffee shop

A place in time

to treasure with my heart

and bring out later

as I reflect on my gifts

my treasures

– Susie Stewart

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For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be His own special treasure.

– Deuteronomy 7:6 (NLT)

I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

– Isaiah 45:3 (NIV)

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

– Luke 2:16-19 (NIV)

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured all these things in her heart.And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

– Luke 2:50-52 (NIV)

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

– James 1:17 (NLT)

Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from Him.
Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

– Pslam 127:3-5 (NLT)

Photos by Susie Stewart

Dwell

December 27, 2017 / 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)

Christmas Week – The Cast: JESUS

December 26, 2017December 26, 2017 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

He was

and is

and is to come

Always God,

never began

Infinitely wise

He,

Father

Son

Holy Spirit

– One together –

chose us

before the beginning of the world

And He knew of the sacrifice

before He even made us

The selfless

and the painful

sacrifice

for we would need rescuing

before all was said and done

And, God,

in relationship with Himself

gave us His Son

and told us He would be called Jesus

for He would be the Salvation

everyone would need

He would save us all

from our sins

And we would not hold Him

in high esteem

nor love Him like we should

He would be introduced into this world

in the humblest way

for that is His nature,

humble of spirit

And the angels who have always known Him

marveled that He would

do this thing

for those such as us

The angels would praise

and glorify

and announce the King who was a child!

And prepare those closest

to this infant

so they would know the gravity

of the appearance of God

But non could have fathomed

the greatness

and boundless love

of this One and only God

made flesh

Before time, His was the earth

as His footstool

His was heaven beautiful

and pure

His was the universe

and everything in it

and yet…

He became nothing,

poured out for all

And so,

He is Jesus

The greatest of The Cast

in this true story

Tiny baby human

completely Divine

But, hear this!

The next cast member

is you!

for you are part of this story as well

the story of humanity in time

seen by an infinite God

What will you do with this Savior

of all mankind?

There is no neutral,

for He came for all

You must choose to accept

or your choice is already made

Choose Jesus’ love,

dear friend

Choose the One

who came for you

– Susie Stewart

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.

– Luke 2:1-21 (NIV)

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

– Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)

For to us a child is born,
    to us a Son is given,
    and the government will be on His shoulders.
And He will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of His government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over His kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

– Isaiah 9:6,7 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

– John 3:16 (NIV)

Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage;
rather, He made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
    and gave Him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

– Philippians 2:6-11 (NIV)

He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem.

– Isaiah 53:3 (NIV)

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)

Full of It

December 3, 2017 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Lately

I feel like I’ve had my fill

of the evil all around

It seems that the earth

is full of it

And I cry out to God!

Because in the midst

of all that evil

I long for my pure and spotless

God

He reminds me

that He is here

and that the earth

is not only full of evil

but the earth

IS FULL OF HIS GLORY

And I wake from my heavy stupor

of being overwhelmed

with darkness

and wake up to glory

in me

around me

and in His Christ-changed people

And I

hope

in the midst of it all

knowing

the end

to the story

where all that evil

is swallowed

by the fierce jaws

of love

and purity

– Susie Stewart

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.

– Isaiah 6:3 (NIV)

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

– Romans 8:6 (NLT)

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

– Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west And His glory from the rising of the sun. For He will come in like a narrow, rushing stream Which the breath of the Lord drives [overwhelming the enemy].

– Isaiah 59:19 (AMP)

Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.

– Romans 12:21 (AMP)

Photo by Susie Stewart

High Hopes

November 9, 2017 / 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)

Completely

November 5, 2017 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Crush me, God,

with Your love

Drown me

in Your grace

Break me

with Your goodness

Smother me

in Your joy

Push me

in Your strength

Suffocate me

with Your peace

Do all this

until I am completely overwhelmed

with You

– Susie Stewart

Still, Eternal One, You are our Father. We are just clay, and You are the potter. We are the product of Your creative action, shaped and formed into something of worth.

– Isaiah 64:8 (VOICE)

Power belongs to You, God,
and with You, Lord, is unfailing love.

– Psalm 62:11,12 (NIV)

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.

– Psalm 73:26 (NLT)

I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

-Ephesians 3:16-21- (NLT)

Photo by Susie Stewart