Jesus

I wonder….

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I wonder…

 

How’s your sense

of wonder?

 

How’s your awe?

 

As you stare down

at the earthy path you’re on

 

Have you forgotten to look up?

 

Is your child buried

beneath layers of adult?

 

Is God big to you?

Or, do the concerns of this world smother?

 

Gaze at His beauty

Be excited for His love

 

And don’t make people wonder

about your wonder

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Let all people stand in awe of the Eternal; let every man, woman, and child live in wonder of Him.

– Psalm 33:8 (VOICE)

 

Therefore, let us all be thankful that we are a part of an unshakable Kingdom and offer to God worship that pleases Him and reflects the awe and reverence we have toward Him, for He is like a fierce fire that consumes everything.

– Hebrews 12:28-29 (VOICE)

 

O Eternal, our Lord,
Your majestic name is heard throughout the earth;
Your magnificent glory shines far above the skies.
From the mouths and souls of infants and toddlers, the most innocent,
You have decreed power to stop Your adversaries
and quash those who seek revenge.
When I gaze to the skies and meditate on Your creation—
on the moon, stars, and all You have made,
I can’t help but wonder why You care about mortals—
sons and daughters of men—
specks of dust floating about the cosmos.
But You placed the son of man just beneath God
and honored Him like royalty, crowning Him with glory and honor.
You ordained Him to govern the works of Your hands,
to nurture the offspring of Your divine imagination;
You placed everything on earth beneath His feet:
All kinds of domesticated animals,
even the wild animals in the fields and forests,
The birds of the sky and the fish of the sea,
all the multitudes of living things that travel the currents of the oceans.
O Eternal, our Lord,
Your majestic name is heard throughout the earth.

– Psalm 8 (VOICE)

 

The people brought children to Jesus, hoping He might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and Me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in His arms, He laid his hands of blessing on them.

– Mark 10:13-16 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

More Vs. Enough

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Jesus, teach me more

about enough

 

about content

and satisfied

 

Settle the desire

for more

 

and more

and more

 

Tame disatisfaction

and expose greed

 

Because more

will never be enough

 

YOU

must be

my Enough

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

– 1 John 2:15-17 (MSG)

 

Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.”

– Luke 12:15 (AMP)

 

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.  These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

– James 1:14,15 (NLT)

 

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 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.  So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

– 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Is This All There Is?

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Living life

in light of eternity

 

means living as if

there is more than now

 

Eyes up

Trust forward

 

knowing that existence here

is a speck of dust

 

in eternity’s line

of endless

 

Remembering what is important,

Who is important

 

and not becoming attached

to what doesn’t last

 

Lord, show me how NOT to live

as if this is all there is

 

Show me my purpose

lived out

in Love

 

Finite life on earth

wrapped in infinite life with You, God

 

There’s so much more to come

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.

– Luke 10:27 (NIV)

 

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 4:7-11 (MSG)

 

Don’t be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you?  If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into My presence so that you will be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.

– John 14:1-4 (GW)

 

For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]!

– 2 Corinthians 4:17 (AMP)

 

This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and Him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

– John 17:3 (WEB)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Confident

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What give us confidence

to approach Almighty God?

 

He does

 

If it weren’t for God’s

mercy

grace

love

and goodness

 

we could not approach Him at all

 

And the thought of Him

providing the means to our confidence

before Him

 

proves even more

His beautiful heart toward us

 

And so, because He tells us

we can be confident in our approach of Him

 

we can!

 

What a gift that is

 

Righteousness

and peace

and confidence

 

because He sits on a throne

of grace

 

-Susie Stewart

 

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

– Jeremiah 17:7 (NLT)

 

…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

– Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

 

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

– 1 John 4:17 (NLT)

 

This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us.

-1 John 5:14 (AMP)

 

In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

– Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

 

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

– Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

 

And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.

– Isaiah 32:17 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

Gifts Multiplied

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For those who have accepted

the beautiful gift of grace

 

our words should be gracious

 

For those who have accepted

the unmerited gift of mercy

 

our actions should be merciful

 

For those who have accepted

perfect love unconditional

 

our love should should come without strings

 

For those who have accepted

redemption from darkness impenetrable

 

our attitudes should reflect intense light

 

What precious gifts, these!

 

Who we are in Christ should be a gift

to those we come into contact with

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Whoever loves a pure heart and whoever speaks graciously has a king as his friend.

– Proverbs 22:11 (GW)

 

Pleasant words are like honey from a honeycomb— sweet to the spirit and healthy for the body.

-Proverbs 16:24 (GW)

 

Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!

– Luke 12:48 (MSG)

 

Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand Him better.

– Colossians 3:10 (CEV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

The Importance of Quiet

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

You must rest

and reflect

and meditate

 

to hear the most important things

I want to teach you

 

A whisper can’t be heard

in noise

 

Truths cannot take root

in chaos

 

Hear Me

in your quiet

 

See Me

through eager eyes

 

Come and taste

and hear

and see

 

Me

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.
Worship God if you want the best;
worship opens doors to all His goodness.

– Psalm 34:8,9 (MSG)

 

This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: “Call to Me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.”

– Jeremiah 33:2,3 (MSG)

 

That is why we ought to pay even closer attention to the voice that has been speaking so that we will never drift away from it.

– Hebrews 2:1 (VOICE)

 

Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.” A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.

– 1 Kings 19:11, 12 (MSG)

 

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

– Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

 

This is what the Almighty Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: You can be saved by returning to Me. You can have rest. You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting Me. But you don’t want that.

– Isaiah 30:15 (GW)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

How Do You Do Life Without Him?

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

He sustains

He carries

He rescues

He loves

 

and He is strong enough

to create and carry

the whole world

 

So, I wonder

how anyone does life

without Him?

 

Any burden

He asks us to cast on Him

 

During our trials

He promises to be there

 

And when we are stuck

He provides a way out

 

In this life

if you don’t have God

 

What

do

you

have

to

cling

to?

 

Everything and everyone

can be gone at any time

 

Almighty God offers Himself

freely and forever

 

even to the point of death

 

Don’t do life

for one more minute

without Him

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am He, I am He who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

– Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)

 

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.

– Psalm 68:19 (NIV)

 

Cast your cares on the Lord
and He will sustain you;
He will never let
the righteous be shaken.

– Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

 

I cling to you;

your right hand upholds me.

– Psalm 63:8 (NIV)

 

Photo by Arik Stewart

 

Prayer & Trust

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

When you don’t get the answer you want

from God,

what is your response?

 

Is it anger?

Self-pity?

Turning away from Him?

 

Or do you Trust?

 

Trust that He is God?

 

Before you had this trial

you knew

 

that sometimes God says

“Yes”

 

sometimes

“No”

 

sometimes

“Later”

 

sometimes

“I have something better”

 

But does your trust in Him

reflect that?

 

Do you still praise and bless Him

when the answer is “wait”?

 

or “No”?

 

Or do you stomp your foot

as a demanding child?

 

You either have confidence in God’s sovereignty

or you doubt it

 

Prayer and trust

go hand in hand

 

It

is

Faith

In God who knows best

 

Don’t fall into the trap

of faithfulness to Him

only when the answer

is “Yes”

 

– Susie Stewart

 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

– 1 John 5:14 (NIV)

 

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called—His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance.

– Ephesians 1:18 (NLT)

 

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. 

– Romans 12:11,12 (MSG)

 

Photo by Wade Callison

Escapism

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

There are places people go

in their hearts and minds

 

to escape real life

 

And those places

may look like other people’s stories

 

They may look like

a fantastical world

 

They may look like

hours before a screen or pages

 

And while it’s good to dream and imagine,

living a life that is not yours

 

can be dangerous

 

for the escape becomes

your god

 

It becomes more important

than anything else

 

it consumes

and dominates

 

and crushes

real life

 

I know,

because I’ve had times like that

 

I was drawn in

and obsessed

and out of touch

 

God was not on the throne

of my heart

 

May we who follow Jesus

be content where we are

 

relying on Him to walk with us

and not seeking escape

 

Come away with your Lord

for He will fill you

 

like no empty world of escapism

ever can

 

When your escape

leads to

Neglect

Obsession

and Avoidance

 

It’s time to get away with God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

…Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

– Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

 

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)

 

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

– Romans 12:1,2 (MSG)

 

Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

– 1 John 2:15-17 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

–

Pained Sister

/ Susie Stewart / 6 Comments

Sister,

you have known much pain

 

You have been doubled-over

in life

for such a long time

 

And yet,

you have faithfully come

to worship

 

You have begged for healing

from your low-perspective infirmity

 

And yet it continues

and continues

 

Faithful sister,

your God has seen your pain

 

Your God has seen

your circumstances

 

He has seen your faithful heart

 

Continuing to trust

continuing to come

to Him

 

And just when you think

it has been too long

to be noticed

 

He speaks your name

and sets you free!

 

And your bowed position of humility

and pain

 

has produced in you

a strength and an inheritance

 

for eternity

 

You are loosed

from the weight

of the world

 

Sister, I see your faithfulness

and your love for the Master

 

You praised Him bent over

and you praise Him standing tall

 

Always trusting

bringing glory to Him

 

– Susie Stewart

 

One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, He saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then He touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!

– Luke 13:10-13 (NLT)

 

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and He saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them,
snatching them from the door of death.
Let them praise the Lord for His great love
and for the wonderful things He has done for them.
Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
and sing joyfully about His glorious acts.

– Psalm 107:18-22 (NLT)

 

So own up to your sins to one another and pray for one another. In the end, you may be healed. Your prayers are powerful when they are rooted in a righteous life.

– James 5:16 (VOICE)

 

For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]!

– 2 Corinthians 4:17 (AMP)