Testify

October 5, 2016October 5, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

My mouth

and my life

testify

to Love

Not just any love

But Unconditional Love

Love Perfect

given to imperfect

And I would testify to this Love

in any court

And some will doubt

and some will scoff

and some will turn away

But that does not change

my testimony of Him

And the evidence is not just in me

It is worldwide

The Fruit is the evidence

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Gentleness

Faithfulness

Self Control

And lives changed

Growing

and not stagnant

Softening

and yet strengthening

Kinder

and yet bolder

Love testified

through life

and words

And evidence

That we are truly saved

from so much more than sin

– 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 (NLT)

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

– John 13:35 (NLT)

“No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.

– Luke 8:39 (NLT)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Together

October 3, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I think we don’t take God seriously

about unity in the Body of Christ

We divide ourselves into denominations

and separate from one another

We look down on this group

or that one over there

And we quarrel with our brothers and sisters

not taking seriously that God is about forgiveness

and about reconciliation

and unconditional love

We take advantage of His grace

and feel justified in our bitterness

Because if you only knew what they did….

When all along it has been us, too,

holding onto judgment

and bitterness

and unforgiveness

How ironic

For in our minds

we are pointing out their sin

And we could all be put in a basket

a basket of people stained and broken

BUT that is not how God sees us!

His precious Son died so that we

could be reconciled to the Father

He bought us reconciliation!

Do you hear that word?

Reconciliation

And that is what we ought to be about

with one another

Reconciliation

After all, do you not know

that together we build

The Holy Temple of God?

Each one a brick

adding to the beautiful structure

Jesus, the Son of God,

is the Cornerstone of that temple!

It is important that we be together

Each having a place

Brick by brick

by brick

So, please, brothers and sisters

let’s not judge

and criticize

and hate

and draw denominational lines

God has called us to love

so that others outside the building

Will know of our Savior

What barrier have you erected

that the cross already demolished?

– Susie Stewart

People are incorporated into [Jesus Christ], and when He is raised to new life, a new being comes into existence, one in which people are one with Christ and one with each other in Him. Grace not only connects us to God and Christ, it connects us to each other.

– Klyne Snodgrass

Jesus prayed: “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in Me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent Me.”

– John 17:20-21 (NLT)

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself. We are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through Him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit.

– Ephesians 2:20-22 (NLT)

God’s purpose and Christ’s achievement is a single new humanity, a model of human community, a family of reconciled brothers and sisters who love their Father and love each other, the evident dwelling place of God by His Spirit. Only then will the world believe in Christ as Peacemaker. Only then will God receive the glory due His name.

– John Stott

And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in Him
will never be disgraced.”
Yes, you who trust Him recognize the honor God has given Him. But for those who reject Him,

“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”

And,

“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
the rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.

“Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.”

– 1 Peter 2:4-10 (NLT)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Bear It No More

September 28, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Heavy

burden

weight of weights

constraining

Shame

Guilt

Soul burdened

with wrong-doing weight

And I ask you,

Why do you bear it?

Why do you carry the shame

the guilt

the burden

of sins past?

It is all

nailed to the cross

Bear it no more

For Jesus carried the heavy

for you

He died to take your shame

To take away your sin

And you do Him an injustice

by trying to carry the weight

that He already bore

His sacrifice should bring you freedom

Not burden

You have accepted your Savior

Have you accepted grace?

– Susie Stewart

Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

– Micah 7:19 (NLT)

So now you need to rethink everything and turn to God so your sins will be forgiven and a new day can dawn, days of refreshing times flowing from the Lord.

– Acts 3:19 (VOICE)

This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to Him.

– John 3:16-18 (MSG)

Photo by Susie Stewart

No Fear

September 24, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

– John 14:27 (NIV)

You have a will

over your fears

It is possible to not

let

your heart be troubled

It is possible to choose

not

to be afraid

And God is there

to strengthen

and enable

and affirm you

in your not-fearing

and your resolute mind

Giving you what you need

as you do battle with fear

His Spirit will bring you

the courage you need

– Susie Stewart

When struck by fear, I let go, depending securely upon You alone.

– Psalm 56:3 (VOICE)

You see, God did not give us a cowardly spirit but a powerful, loving, and disciplined spirit.

– 2 Timothy 1:7 (VOICE)

Photo by Arik Stewart

Eye Contact

September 23, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

When you see someone you love

in a crowded room

Your eyes light up

your spirit smiles

You make eye contact,

and all is in black and white

Except for the one you love

I see Abiding in Christ

that way

In the eternity cracks

of my every day life

I make eye contact with God,

the One I love most

I can’t see Him,

but my spirit does

The eyes of my heart

focus on Him

And I may not say a word

but I know that He knows

I “see” Him

There are many ways I abide in Him

Through reading or thinking about His Words

Through calling out to Him

By listening for Him

By talking about Him

By trusting Him

and more…

And in those times,

I see my beloved

and He sees me

Across my crowded life,

that would be black and white

without Him

– Susie Stewart

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

– John 15:1-11 (ESV)

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people…

– Ephesians 1:18 (NLT)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Before & After Christ

September 18, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

I was love-starved

and now I am beloved

I was existing

and now I am thriving

I was invisible

and now I am seen

I was aimless

and now I have purpose

I was a mess

and now I am His messenger

I was lost

and now I am aligned with God

I was confused

and now I see clearly

I was hopeless

and now I am hopelessly in love

I was directionless

and now I am Holy Spirit directed

I was confined in my sin

and now I am confidant in my redemption

I was empty

and now I am full of Him

I was drowning

and now I am saved

I was dead

and now I am alive!

Life before Jesus

and after Jesus

The Divine Difference

– Susie Stewart

We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!

– Luke 15:32 (NLT)

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

– Ephesians 2:1-10 (NLT)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

– 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

It’s urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put Me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.

– John 5:24 (MSG)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Come

September 15, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

You hear my heart

as I turn to You

You know my thoughts

not a single one missed

No pompous prayer needed

or pretentious posture required

I come as I am

in what state I am in

The highs and the lows

bowed before Love

Imperfect speaking to Perfect

adoring one another

All bowed down

– Susie Stewart

We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

-1 john 1:2-4 (MSG)

“…those the Father has given Me will come to Me, and I will never reject them.”

– John 6:37 (NLT)

“Come now, let’s settle this,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.”

– Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

– Revelation 22:17 (NLT)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Spirit to Spirit

September 9, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

Spirit

The connection Divine

Unbroken

For You have taken up residence

inside my heart

I think about You

and I speak to You

and even when I do neither

Your Spirit knows

the worship that is all for You

In the mundane

I know I am heavenly connected

to Your God-Spirit

always there

– Susie Stewart

Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

– Psalm 42:7 (NIV)

There is a way of ordering our mental life on more than one level at once. On one level we can be thinking, discussing, seeing, calculating, meeting all the demands of external affairs. But deep within, behind the scenes at a profounder level we may also be in prayer and adoration, song and worship and a gentle receptiveness to divine breathings.

– Thomas Kelly

I will be in my kitchen cooking for missionaries or writing at my desk, my mind on “outward” things, but when I turn inward, where my Lord resides, it is as if I’ve never left. I am aware that worship has been going on from my spirit to Him who is Spirit while I was cooking and writing! Oh, it is so beautiful to be aware of the continuous connection, spirit-to-Spirit.

– Linda Dillow

Blessed are the people who know how to praise you. They walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.

– Psalm 89:15 (GW)

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.

– 1 John 4:15-17 (MSG)

It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before Him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship Him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.

– John 4:23,24 (MSG)

Photo by Susie Stewart

He Is There

September 3, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Are you looking?

Are you listening?

Are you searching?

God is there

He is there!

He is communicating to you,

the child who He loves

He is conveying His

Mercy

Comfort

Love

Forgiveness

Himself!

But you’ve got to quiet yourself

Intentionally

You’ve got to look

to listen

to search

On Purpose

For all that entangles

and distracts

and pulls you away

from His loving presence

Will drown out the whispers

and the shouts

of God

– Susie Stewart

Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you;
collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,
and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

– Proverbs 2:1-5 (MSG)

DEMONSTRATE Your ways, O Eternal One.
Teach me to understand so I can follow.
EASE me down the path of Your truth.
FEED me Your word
because You are the True God who has saved me.
I wait all day long, hoping, trusting in You.

– Psalm 25:4-5 (VOICE)

But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep respond to His voice. He calls His sheep by name and leads them out of the pen. After He has brought out all his sheep, He walks ahead of them. The sheep follow Him because they recognize his voice.

-John 10:2-4 (GW)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Signs

August 28, 2016August 28, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

If you were a sign

what would you say?

Really.

Indulge me here

What is the loudest thing about you?

What does your life shout?

If you were a sign

where would you point?

What do your words

and your actions

direct people to?

Is your life sign solid?

Clear?

Or is it falling apart and undecipherable?

Let your sign be clear

Let your life be loud

Point to Jesus,

worthy is He

the perfect destination

– Susie Stewart

I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ Himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with His rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple.

– 2 Timothy 4:1-3 (MSG)

My brothers and sisters, I pray constantly to God for the salvation of my people; it is the deep desire of my heart.

– Romans 10:1 (VOICE)

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.

– John 14:6 (NLT)

We get to be God’s plan for the whole world by pointing people toward Him.

– Bob Goff

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

– Matthew 5:15-17 (MSG)