Still, Eternal One, You are our Father. We are just clay, and You are the potter. We are the product of Your creative action, shaped and formed into something of worth.
– Isaiah 64:8 (VOICE)
Power belongs to You, God, and with You, Lord, is unfailing love.
– Psalm 62:11,12 (NIV)
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.
– Psalm 73:26 (NLT)
I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
My tongue will tell of Your righteous acts all day long…
– Psalm 71:24 (NIV)
He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].
– 2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP)
Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christand become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith.
– Philippians 3:8,9 (NLT)
I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
**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.”
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.
I am confident in His perfection and goodness and love
in the brokenness of earthly life
– Susie Stewart
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
– John 16:33 (AMP)
…God has said, “I will never abandon you or leave you.”
– Hebrews 13:5 (GW)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under His loving correction. It’s the child He loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.
– Proverbs 3:5-12 (MSG)
My help and glory are in God —granite-strength and safe-harbor-God— So trust Him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for Him. God is a safe place to be.
– Psalm 62:7-8 (MSG)
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.
– Psalm 118:8 (NLT)
For the Eternal will be a shelter for those who know misery, a refuge during troubling times.
– Psalm 9:9 (VOICE)
Photo by Susie Stewart taken in the deserts of Israel
Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.
– Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
– Romans 1:20 (NLT)
Then God surveyed everything He had made, savoring its beauty and appreciating its goodness. Evening gave way to morning.
All the loneliness, angers, hatreds, envies and itchings that [this world] contains, if rolled into one single experience and put into the scale against the least moment of the joy that is felt in Heaven, would have no weight that could be registered at all.
– C.S. Lewis
So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
– John 1:14 (NLT)
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.
– Psalm 19:1-4 (NLT)
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
– John 15;13 (NLT)
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!
Susie Stewart 