love

Know New

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

The enemy of your soul

would like you to believe

that new is not possible

 

He would like you to believe

that you are stuck

 

with no way out

 

He would like you to believe

that you are

your sin

 

and that condemnation weight

cannot leave

 

BUT

 

The Lord wants you to know

that He makes all things

NEW

 

He wants you to experience

His mercies in the morning

 

He wants you to see

all that He is doing in you

 

and to believe

that you have

a new day in Him

 

New life

New mercies

New day

New you

 

Renewed and redeemed

over and over and over

 

that is your destiny

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].

– 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)

 

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

– Revelation 21:5 (NIV)

 

Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.

– Psalm 143:8 (NLT)

 

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.
Great is His faithfulness;
    His mercies begin afresh each morning.

– Lamentations 3:22,23 (NLT)

 

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 10:10 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

 

 

 

 

Senses

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

You hear….

the whisper

 

And you know

it is unlimited power

brought quietly

 

You see…

the Artist’s brushstrokes

 

And you know

it is the Creator’s beautiful work

lovingly enveloping you

 

You taste…

the Bread & the Water

 

And you know

it is Jesus Himself

given to fill and sustain

 

You feel….

the uncompromising love

 

And you know

it could only come

from He who IS Love

 

Your senses tell you

daily

that He is God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

After the fire died out, there was nothing but the sound of a calm breeze. And through this breeze a gentle, quiet voice entered into Elijah’s ears…

– 1 Kings 19:12 (VOICE)

 

 However, call on the animals to teach you;
        the birds that sail through the air are not afraid to tell you the truth.
 Engage the earth in conversation; it’s happy to share what it knows.
        Even the fish of the sea are wise enough to explain it to you.
In fact, which part of creation isn’t aware,
        which doesn’t know the Eternal’s hand has done this?
His hand cradles the life of every creature on the face of the earth;
        His breath fills the nostrils of humans everywhere.

– Job 12:7-10 (VOICE)

 

 I am the bread that gives life. If you come to My table and eat, you will never go hungry. Believe in Me, and you will never go thirsty.

– John 6:35 (VOICE)

 

…God is love.

– 1 John 4:8 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

His

/ Susie Stewart / 7 Comments

His was the kiss on your cheek

kind and sweet

 

His was the pat on your back

encouraging

 

His was the embrace

warm and sincere

 

His was were the eyes

truly seeing

 

His was the laughter

enjoying your joy

 

His were the tears of empathy

when you suffered

 

His is the heart

who understands you

 

His was the life, pure and beautiful

ungrudgingly given for you

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

We love because He first loved us.

– 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

 

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in You.

– Psalm 33:22 (NIV)

 

But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

– Psalm 86:15 (NIV)

 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us…

– 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

 

 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

– John 11:33 (NIV)

 

Photo by Randy Malsam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Same Heart, Different Methods

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

All of us who believe in God

hope to please Him

 

We know when we don’t measure up

 

But, friend, the difference between you and me

is complete dependence on grace

 

We both want the same thing —

rightness before our Creator

 

but you, friend, you chant

and you go through rituals

and you light candles

and you deify humans

and make confessions to them ….

 

relying on what you can do

to earn God’s favor

 

You have faith

but you also are working SO hard

to earn approval

to assuage your guilt

to make amends

 

And it would appear that’s the way

it should be

 

But it’s not

 

Grace is not cheap

and it came with a high price

 

God’s life

 

Chanting

Repeated bowing

Rituals

Religion

 

will never get any of us

closer to heaven

 

Dive deep into inherent Scripture

and find…

 

We can do nothing

to earn His nod

 

But if we humble ourselves

under His mighty hand

 

and accept grace and mercy

bought high-priced

 

we will find freedom

from man-made rules and rituals

 

and just find our Father,

arms open,

complete in love for us

 

And doing right

will come out of love for God,

moved by His great kindness

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time,

– 1 Peter 5:6 (AMP)

 

…but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.

– 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 (AMP)

 

But if it is by grace [God’s unmerited favor], it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace [it would not be a gift but a reward for works].

– Romans 11:6 (AMP)

 

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

– Hebrews 4:14-16 (AMP)

 

Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

– Romans 2:4 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Enraptured

/ Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

Jesus, show me

how to be

more satisfied with You

 

by letting go

of my dissatisfaction

with people

 

Help me to be so enraptured by You

that offenses

do not offend

 

And, Jesus, show me how to be content

with myself

 

but always growing and learning,

ever pliable

 

Your grace, Jesus,

makes all of this possible

 

How sweet You are,

how satisfying

 

when my heart is enraptured

with You

 

– Susie Stewart

 

But as for me, my contentment is not in wealth but in seeing You and knowing all is well between us. And when I awake in heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see You face-to-face.

– Psalm 17:15 (TLB)

 

I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

– Philippians 4:11,12 (MSG)

 

Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.
– Matthew 5:6 (AMP)
Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
-Psalm 90:14 (NLT)
Photo by Susie Stewart

Speak To Your Soul

/ Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

Sometimes

our souls need a talking to

 

We ourselves

need to remind the deepest part of us

 

to wake up!

to rally

to trust

 

to rest in our life-giving God

 

Our souls

can be dragged down

can lose hope

can forget….

 

God’s perfect love

and care

 

So, awake my soul!

Why so downcast?

 

Open your eyes, soul

 

Put your trust in Him

and praise Him

 

from the deepest part

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

– Psalm 42:11 (NIV)

 

Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

– Psalm 57:8 (NIV)

 

Be at peace again, my soul, because the Lord has been good to you.

– Psalm 116:7 (GW)

 

Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child [resting] with his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me [composed and freed from discontent].

– Psalm 131:2 (AMP)

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

– Mark 12:30 (NIV)

 

Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, And do not forget any of His benefits

– Psalm 103:2 (AMP)

 

Photo by Gracie Oertli

As For Me

/ Susie Stewart / 5 Comments

Everyone around me

may be going one way

 

But as for me

I will go the way You show me

 

They may invent new “truth”

and follow their own broken hearts

 

But as for me

I will stand solidly on Your timeless wisdom

 

All may bow to the world

and its ways

 

But as for me

I bow only to You, Lord

 

I will not be swayed

by a crowd mentality

by expendable truth

by waves of cultural norms

by popular opinion

 

As for me

I am with You, God

 

My commitment to You

clings to who You’ve promised

Yourself to be

 

On the love

that You gave me

proved so beautifully

 

As for me

I follow You

 

– Susie Stewart

 

As for me, I call to God,
    and the Lord saves me.

– Psalm 55:16 (NIV)

 

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

– Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

 

But as for me, I trust in You.

– Psalm 55:23 (NIV)

 

Photo by Maggie Oertli

 

Drowning In It

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

I choose this day

to drown in Your love, God

 

instead of drown in my problems

and sorrows

 

I stand waiting

for Your showers of grace

to cover my whole self

 

You pour out Your liquid love

as if there were no water restrictions

 

and in turn

 

I will pour into those who know not

limitless love

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

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 5:5

 

There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

– Romans 5:3-5 (MSG)

 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

– 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Who’s In Charge Here?

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Lord, You’ve been convicting me

and I’ve only had one ear open

 

But You’ve got my attention

this morning

 

What You require is hard

for me

 

In this relationship You and I have

I seem to knowingly

and unknowingly

try to take the lead

 

It can be so subtle

or it can be blatant

 

I say that I’m following YOU

and yet I seem to find myself

making the rules

 

You taking the lead

means bowing my will

my time

my desires

my selfishness

 

It means that I actually seek You first,

not my own lists

 

Oh, the never ending to-do lists…

 

It means pursuing my God,

my Love,

with determination

 

to see what You are saying

where You are leading

 

When to be silent

when to speak

 

When to act

when to stay still

 

Bowing my will

 

YOU are my perfect leader

in this relationship we have

 

A lot of the time I know when I’m following

and when I’m trying to lead

 

My control of Almighty God is a facade

 

Forgive me, God

 

Lead on

 

– Susie Stewart

 

We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails.

– Proverbs 19:21 (MSG)

 

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Eternal, “plans for peace, not evil, to give you a future and hope—never forget that.

– Jeremiah 29:11 (VOICE)

 

I know, God, that mere mortals
    can’t run their own lives,
That men and women
    don’t have what it takes to take charge of life.
So correct us, God, as You see best.

– Jeremiah 10:23,24 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Heart <3

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

Into your heart

you accepted your God

 

and with your heart

you hear His voice

 

His words are digested

with your heart

 

and He asks that you love Him

with all of your heart

 

You love people as He does

with your heart

 

and you walk in step with Him

with your heart

 

Religosity walks only

by intellect

 

But God calls us close

 

He searches intently

to see if your heart

 

is lit up

with Him

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

– Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths straight.

– Proverbs 3:5,6 (NIV)

 

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10 (NLT)

 

 

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

– Philippians 4:7 (NLT)

 

I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders. I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I’m singing Your song, High God.

– Psalm 9:1,2 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart