**Inspired by my daughter’s prayer march against human trafficking today. We each need to take a look at ourselves and ask what we are doing for someone who cannot do or speak for themselves.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.
– Proverbs 31:8 (NLT)
Learn to do good; commit yourselves to seeking justice. Make right for the world’s most vulnerable – the oppressed, the orphaned, the widow.
– Isaiah 1:17 (VOICE)
Stand up of the poor and the orphan; advocate for the rights of the afflicted and those in need.
– Psalm 82:3 (VOICE)
Real, true religion from God the Father’s perspective is about caring for the orphans and widows who suffer needlessly and resisting the evil influence of the world.
– James1:27 (VOICE)
Jesus said – The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.
– Luke 4:18, 19 (NLT)
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
– Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)
Then these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? Or a stranger and who You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing? When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?”
And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sister, you were doing it to Me!”
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
– Colossians 3:15 (NLT)
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
– Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
– Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
– Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and He’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.
– James 4:7-9 (MSG)
They won’t be afraid of bad news; their hearts are steady because they trust the Lord.
– Psalm 112:7 (NCV)
I have pursued You with my whole heart; do not let me stray from Your commands.
– Psalm 119:10 (VOICE)
Don’t put on a show just because they are looking (as if you were a people pleaser); but as a slave of the Anointed, do the will of God from your heart.
– Ephesians 6:6 (VOICE)
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
– Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
– Matthew 11:29 (NIV)
I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
– Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
– Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
…You will fill me with joy in Your presence…
– Psalm 16:11 (NIV)
What a stack of blessing You have piled up for those who worship You, Ready and waiting for all who run to You to escape an unkind world. You hide them safely away from the opposition. As You slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, You silence the poisonous gossip. Blessed God! His love is the wonder of the world.
– Psalm 31:19,20 (MSG)
God’s way is perfect! The promise of the Lord has proven to be true. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in Him.
– Psalm 18:30 (NIV)
The spacious, free life is from God, it’s also protected and safe. God-strengthened, we’re delivered from evil— when we run to Him, He saves us.
– Psalm 37:39,40 (MSG)
The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
– 2 Peter 3:9 (AMP)
Is there anyplace I can go to avoid Your Spirit? to be out of Your sight? If I climb to the sky, You’re there! If I go underground, You’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute— You’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, He even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to You; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to You.
– Psalm 139:7-12 (MSG)
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.
For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver… we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
– Psalm 66:10-12 (NIV)
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…
– Isaiah 43:1-3 (NIV)
Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
– Revelation 22:1 (NLT)
There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.
– Exodus 3:2 9NLT)
The Eternal went on ahead to guide them during the day in a cloud shaped like a pillar; at night He appeared to them in a fire shaped like a pillar to light their way. So they were able to travel by day and by night.
– Exodus 13:21 (VOICE)
The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, believers) say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take and drink the water of life without cost.
– Revelation 22:17 (AMP)
As evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.Then He asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey Him!”
– Mark 4:35-41 (NLT)
Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and He won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God Himself is Fire!
– Hebrews 12:28,29 (MSG)
You make Your messengers like the winds; the breeze whispers Your words, Your servants are like the fire and flame.
– Psalm 104:4 (VOICE)
Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?
– Jeremiah 23:29 (NLT)
With joy in each step, you will drink deeply from the springs of salvation.
– Isaiah 12:3 (VOICE)
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usualand commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God,come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants! They trusted in Him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
– Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the Lord will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won’t become weary. They will walk and won’t grow tired.
– Isaiah 40:31 (GW)
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.
– Psalm 130:5 (NIV)
Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
– Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us – an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with Him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with Him! -Romans 8:14-16 (MSG)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
– Romans 5:1,2 (NIV)
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 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 4:14-16 (NIV)
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body,and since we have a great priest over the house of God,let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
I had a feeling that was the diagnosis I would hear
Once again my husband and I held one another
and cried
and have stayed close to one another since the news came
Our children were told
and they were stunned,
sorrowful,
and older and braver than last time
My parents
supported with such love
and tenderness
and words deep
My brother and his wife
came right over
with food love
and flowers sweet
and listening ears
Phone calls were made
and friends were told
and they offered up unbelievable support and love
endless
And people wonder
how am I feeling?
I feel
sad
and I feel thankful
and I feel strong
in my sorrow
And I am keenly aware
once again
that all the people care,
but my deepest need
is for my Jesus
In all of this
I can’t get my mind off of the One
who is my Rock
my Comfort
my Everything
And it’s me
and it’s Him
eyes locked on one another
My good
and His glory
are
ALWAYS
His intent
And I walk forward
taking one day at a time
just like we all do
yet
with a sharper focus
on every
little
thing
I pray with all my might
that healing would be mine
and I know He’s heard every word
And the sentiments I penned
one day before diagnosis
are true in the valley of the shadow ~
“My relationship
with the Lord of the Universe
is new
freeing
and vibrant”
Cancer is ugly
God is my freedom
His unchanging character
did not flinch
when I was diagnosed with cancer
once again
and I can’t imagine
walking this road
without Him
My life is still
for HIM,
not for me
Not what He does
for me
This is such a broken world, friends
And you hear and experience bad news
every
single
day
The signs are pointing
to the earth groaning
in preparation
for Jesus’ return
Be ready
And don’t get hung up
on whether God is good or not
when bad things happen
tossed and turned in your faith
by bad news
God warned us
of trials
and tribulations
and pain
and attacks from our circling
and preying
and vicious enemy
Stay with God
and do not be swayed by your feelings
about why He lets certain things happen
What kind of God would He be
if He claimed to be Love
and claimed to be good
and claimed to be just
and claimed to be ALL the things He claimed to be
and then forfeited it all
by allowing trials in a Christ-Follower’s life?
It’s not possible
He is perfect
and His ways are right
And what a patient and amazing God
to reach into our broken world
and provide salvation from it?
I choose to rest in Him
in this cancer journey
And believe what you will,
but I have been singing His praises with joy
since I got up this morning
– Susie Stewart
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
– Romans 8:22, 23 (NIV)
Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.
– Hebrews 13:8 (AMP)
But as for me, I will sing about Your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.
Pass this on to everyone you know. The message is for the whole world.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
~ John 14:6 (NIV)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
– Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.
– Matthew 23:27 (MSG)
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
– Romans 10:9 (NIV)
We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He himself is fair and just, and He makes sinners right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.
The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by Him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.
I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner in His suffering, and go all the way with Him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
– 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.
– Hebrews 12:2 (VOICE)
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our Apostle and High Priest.
– Hebrews 3:1 (NIV)
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
– Hebrews 12:1-3 (MSG)
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!
– Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.
– Proverbs 4:23-27 (MSG)
Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
Susie Stewart 