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

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)

Christmas Week – The Cast: Mary

December 24, 2017 / Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

My mind could barely grasp

the words I was hearing

An angel of God, Gabriel,

stood before me!

his presence overwhelming

bold

and beautiful

His words were like liquid gold

flowing,

“Greetings, you who are highly favored!

The Lord is with you.”

I struggled with his declaration

and I was troubled deep

But the heavenly being assured me

and calmed my fears

And then

the words I will never forget,

“You will conceive

and give birth

to a son

and you are to call Him

Jesus…”

Such confusion filled my head

but I knew in my inmost being

that this was from God

“He will be great

and will be called

the Son of the Most High.

The Lord God

will give Him the throne

of His father David,

and He will reign

over Jacob’s descendants

forever;

His kingdom will never

end.”

So many thoughts

but only one question,

simple and to the point

“How will this be

since I am a virgin?”

Without hesitation

the angel replied,

“The Holy Spirit will come on you,

and the power of the Most High

will overshadow you.

So the Holy One to be born

will be called

the Son of God.”

My Son

would be God’s Son?

I did not understand

but I knew God could be trusted

and I trusted

Gabriel’s parting words were,

“No word from God will ever fail.”

And with a heart full of joy

and a womb blessed,

I replied,

“May your word to me be fulfilled.”

I rushed to my cousin’s home

in the hill country of Judea

for the angel told me my aged relative

had conceived as well!

As I greeted Elizabeth

we both felt pure joy

and a knowing

that this moment

was profound

Baby John leaped in his mother’s womb

as the presence my Jesus was felt

And Elizabeth, too, was filled

with Holy Spirit fire!

The first of many

to worship my Divine

God-conceived

Son

My heart and mind

treasured the moment

Elizabeth shouted these words,

“Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the child

you will bear!”

She knew!

Without a word from me

and I was humbled

by the exclamation

Elizabeth told me

I was blessed

for I had believed the Lord would fulfill

His promises to me

and I pondered what was said

and hoped

that all women would believe

the Lord’s promises

My spirit soared

and I spoke these words,

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices

in God my Savior,

for He has been mindful

of the humble state

of His servant.

From now on all generations

will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One

has done great things for me –

holy is His Name.

His mercy extends

to those who fear Him,

from generation

to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds

with His arm;

He has scattered

those who are proud

in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers

from their thrones,

but has lifted up

the humble.

He has filled the hungry

with good things

but has sent the rich away

empty.

He has helped His servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and His descendants

forever,

just as He promised

our ancestors.”

I was at peace

with God’s plan for me

and I stayed with my sweet cousin

for three months

for that support of my relative

would help strengthen my heart

for what was to come

when I returned home…

the ridicule

the scorn

the gossip

the pain…

My betrothed,

so loving and kind,

couldn’t bear the news

that I was with child

without him…

He planned to cut ties with me privately

so as not to disgrace me publicly

But the Lord’s eye never left me

and an angel visited Joseph as well

to confirm the promises made to me

and we became man and wife,

my beloved and I

I treasured the days

of my Son growing inside me

singing lullabies

to God

I rejoiced at my cousin giving birth

to John, my Son’s forerunner and prophet

A census was required

and so

Joseph and I traveled to Bethlehem

the journey long and difficult

While we were there

it came time for our boy to be born

We searched everywhere

for just one room

but there was none

We were ushered into a place

meant for animals

It was unfathomable to me

that God’s Son might be born

in these circumstances

but there was no room

for us anywhere but here

So there,

in humble surroundings,

my child

and God’s child

was born

The pain

the blood spilt

the miracle

I had never seen anyone

so beautiful

I wrapped Him tightly

in clothes

and because there was no bed

I laid Him in an trough for animals

He, nonetheless, radiated light

and joy and glory

yet humility….

I could scarce take it all in

My mother’s heart treasured every moment

even as I lay exhausted from labor

My first experience

with the miracle of birth

was a holy moment

and I looked to the future with my God-Child,

unknowing of what that might look like

yet trusting God knew,

and I was His

– Susie Stewart

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women,and blessed is the child you will bear!But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for He has been mindful
    of the humble state of His servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
    for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is His name.
His mercy extends to those who fear Him,
    from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as He promised our ancestors.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

…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.

– Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-17 (NIV)

Christmas Week – The Cast: Joseph

December 23, 2017December 23, 2017 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

We were pledged to one other,

Mary and I

and we longed for the day

when we would be man and wife

I loved her,

this young girl with dark eyes

and a heart full of God

Mary was my faithful betrothed,

she was the one I could trust

until one day…

She came to me

and, with trembling voice,

told me she was with child

and my heart broke in two

It was beyond my comprehension

that she would make this choice

this choice with so many consequences…

but my love for her

eclipsed my anger and disappointment

I planned to break our engagement,

a divorce of sorts,

so as not to embarrass

or shame the woman I loved

But God has a way

of stopping us just in time,

sometimes

and I heard from Him

in an unimaginable way!

One of God’s magnificent angels

visited me in a dream!

He told me not to be afraid

to take Mary as my wife

and that the baby growing in her

was placed there by the Holy Spirit!

The angel said that it would be a boy

and that I was to name Him Jesus!

because He would save His people

from their sins

As soon as I awoke

I was on my way

I ran immediately to my betrothed

and shared with her my love

and the beautiful message

she already knew in her heart

We would endure

the ridicule

the scorn

the gossip

the accusations

TOGETHER

for we knew that no matter what,

God was for us

I committed to her, and to God,

that we would not truly become husband and wife

in every sense of the word

until our son was born

But to everyone else

she became my wife

We traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem,

for I was of the house of David

and there our son was born,

ours and God’s

I wanted so much more for my small family

but because of the census, so many people flocked to this town

and my precious son was born

and laid in an animal’s trough

for there was no space for us

in a decent room

Surroundings aside,

I could not take my eyes off of this miracle child

and I could not have been more joyful

or more proud of this boy

who was not of my seed,

for God was with us

And I would dedicate myself

to raise this Divine Son along with His siblings

in a way honoring

the deity He was

and is

and is to come

– Susie Stewart

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet:

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

– Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT)

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

– Luke 2:1-7 (NLT)

Christmas Week – The Cast: A Shepherd

December 21, 2017 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Why would the starry heavens open

to reveal glory

to someone

such as me?

I tell you,

I know not why

But that is what happened

one unforgettable night

just outside of Bethlehem

It was a beautiful, clear night

as we watched our flocks closely

We live out in the wilderness

away from the town and the people

It was just us

and it was just the sheep

But God

noticed

Believe me when I tell you,

He sent angels

lit with His glory and light!

They were as prisms

radiating pure white color

We were overwhelmed

and terrified

and humbled

and awestruck

One of them spoke,

“Do not be afraid!”

This angel of the Lord

spoke to us!

He was bringing us great news

and he said it would bring great joy

for ALL PEOPLE!

Humble shepherds

told this important news

for all the world…

it was more than we could take in

But then I thought…

about how the Scriptures said

that the Lord is the good Shepherd

…The LORD

is the good Shepherd….

and I thought that just maybe

He truly cared about lowly shepherds

and small sheep….

The angel then revealed news

that we could hardly believe

He told us that in David’s home town

of Bethlehem

the Messiah had actually been born!

The Lord!

And he told us how to find Him

Imagine,

the Messiah Lord

being born…

and he was wrapped in swaddling,

just as a baby should be

or a person ready for burial…

But just as we wanted to jump up

and find this small King…

the entire sky lit up

with the glory of many angels!!

So many

we couldn’t count!

We shielded our eyes

but we couldn’t look away

The most beautiful sight

we had ever seen!

They were praising God,

of course they were!

And we bowed low

as we struggled to take it all in

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”

The most inspiring, true words

I had ever heard

When they left we took a breath,

stunned to our very core

and we got up and ran into David’s town

to see what the Lord had told us

There we found Him,

the infant King just born

and the God of promise

solidified His oath

to bring us the One to save us,

the people of frail earth

And we had to tell all,

for everyone needed to know

about love Divine

Messiah small

Hope for all the world

– Susie Stewart

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!And you will recognize Him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

– Luke 2:8-20 (NLT)

The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
He leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to His name.
Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

– Psalm 23:1-6 (NLT)

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

– John 20:11 (NIV)

I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,

– John 10:14 (NLT)

Christmas Week – The Cast: Gabriel

December 19, 2017 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

I stand

in the very presence of God

and my appearance

is light,

overwhelming light

I know heaven

and I know earth

I fight battles unseen

and I bring messages of truth

All tremble at my appearing

for I stand

in the presence of God

Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary

all recorded as God followers who heard my voice

I came with good news

and I came with challenging words

messages from the Maker of heaven and earth!

who I revere

who I adore

who I obey

in whose presence I stand

I am Gabriel

and God is my strength

I do only what He directs

and I am given authority in the spiritual realm

by His gracious hand

I am Gabriel

and I spoke tenderly with the mother of my Lord

I told her of the conception immaculate

and the beautiful name to be given her son

Jesus

He is great and is called the Son of the most High!

His reign and kingdom will have no end!

My eyes

which have seen God

look deep into her

and she who is highly favored

bows to God’s words

She is to be the mother of the Messiah

I am otherworldly and intimidating

but God’s mother listens intently

and she does not doubt

I, Gabriel, stand in the presence of God

and I go to earth to speak His words

to those who also

will stand in His presence

because of Messiah

– Susie Stewart

Then the angel said [to Zechariah], “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was He who sent me to bring you this good news!

– Luke 1:19 (NLT)

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!“

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus.He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. ³³And He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God.What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.For the word of God will never fail.”

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

– Luke 1:26-38 (NLT)

As I, Daniel, was trying to understand the meaning of this vision, someone who looked like a man stood in front of me. And I heard a human voice calling out from the Ulai River, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of his vision.”

As Gabriel approached the place where I was standing, I became so terrified that I fell with my face to the ground. “Son of man,” he said, “you must understand that the events you have seen in your vision relate to the time of the end.”

While he was speaking, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. But Gabriel roused me with a touch and helped me to my feet.

Then he said, “I am here to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath. What you have seen pertains to the very end of time.

– Daniel 8:15-19 (NLT)

The biblical meaning of Gabriel is “God is my strength”.

For Them

October 13, 2017October 13, 2017 / Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

They cannot speak for themselves,

and so you speak

They cannot do for themselves,

and so you do for them

They cannot pay,

you give

They cannot fight,

you march

They are destitute

victims

marginalized

poor

young

mute

alone

and passed by

But you

with your indwelling Hope

YOU are the hands

and the feet

and the voice

and the justice

for each one

knowing that YOU

were the one in need

when your Savior

left heaven to save you

He spoke for you

He fought for you

He did what you could not do

when he died to save you

And He paid

when you could not pay….

His heart for those in desperate need

replaced your heart of stone

and so you march

and you speak

and you pay

and you do

for the least

and the mute crying

– Susie Stewart

**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!”

– Matthew 25:37-40 (NLT)

Photo by John Butler

Spirit Walk

August 11, 2017August 12, 2017 / Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Holy Spirit

guide my mind and heart

this day

May I not heed

pop culture’s grasp

emotion’s wave

accolade’s hold

comfort’s woo

distraction’s tug

the wisdom of this world

or the lies of the enemy

May I follow You

wherever that leads me

confident in my trustworthy God

who sees the big picture

from eternity’s standpoint

Holy Spirit

lead on

into my unknown day

known by You

alone

– Susie Stewart

So now, where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the skilled debater, the best of your time? Step up, if you dare. Hasn’t God made fools out of those who count on the wisdom of this rebellious, broken world?

– 1 Corinthians 1:20 (VOICE)

When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, He was full of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit led Him away from the cities and towns and out into the desert.

– Luke 4:1 (VOICE)

If the Spirit of God is leading you, then take comfort in knowing you are His children.

– Romans 8:14 (VOICE)

Now since we have chosen to walk with the Spirit, let’s keep each step in perfect sync with God’s Spirit.

– Galatians 5:25 (VOICE)

But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

– Mark 13:11 (VOICE)

The Spirit of truth will come and guide you in all truth. He will not speak His own words to you; He will speak what He hears, revealing to you the things to come and bringing glory to Me. The Spirit has unlimited access to Me, to all that I possess and know, just as everything the Father has is Mine. That is the reason I am confident He will care for My own and reveal the path to you.

– John 16:13 (VOICE)

But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I’m completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won’t be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

– Acts 20:22-24 (MSG)

Photo by Susie Stewart

Willing To Risk

July 14, 2017 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

David walked right out

to meet the giant man

Paul faced persecution head on

in each town he entered

Mary bowed her will

and bravely carried God’s Son

Noah stepped into the unknown

in the face of ridicule and stares

and

My Jesus resolutely chose to die

for this world of people we live in

So,

will I be a person

willing to risk it all

when God speaks?

Will I bow my will to His?

Will I live my life differently

because of my life in Him?

I will,

by His power

And I am able to step out in faith

because I serve a faithful

God

– Susie Stewart

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands… and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

– 1 Samuel 17:45-47 (NIV)

The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

– Acts 23:10 (NIV)

The angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.See! You are to become a mother and have a Son. You are to give Him the name Jesus.He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the place where His early father David sat.He will be King over the family of Jacob forever and His nation will have no end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen? I have never had a man.”The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you. The power of the Most High will cover you. The holy Child you give birth to will be called the Son of God.

“See, your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is going to give birth to a child. She was not able to have children before, but now she is in her sixth month.For God can do all things.”Then Mary said, “I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel went away from her.

– Luke 1:30-38 (NIV)

Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

– Genesis 6:22 (NIV)

Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled.Then He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

Going a little farther, He fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

– Matthew 26:36-39 (NIV)

Photo by Andy Stewart in the Garden of Gethsemane