Susie Stewart

Freedom

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I am a slave to no one

and nothing

 

especially to sin

 

It does not rule over me

 

Christ set me free

and I am free forever

 

I am no slave to fear

to people’s opinions

to shame

to evil

 

I conquer

through Christ

 

in fact, I more than conquer

 

The victory is mine

 

And no matter what,

I am free

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.

– Galatians 5:1 (MSG)

 

“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.”  ~ Jesus

– Luke 4:18 (NLT)

 

Doesn’t it make sense that if you sign yourself over as a slave, you will have to obey your master? The question before you is, What will be your master? Will it be sin—which will lead to certain death—or obedience—which will lead to a right and reconciled life?

– Romans 6:16 (VOICE)

 

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us].

– Romans 8:37 (AMP)

 

Photo by Andy Stewart

His Name

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Your name, Jesus,

has power unlimited

 

Your name

has meaning deep and profound

 

Your name

sparks controversy and division

 

Your name

melts the calloused heart

 

How is it that Your name

is spoken in vain?

 

As if You weren’t God

over all the universe?

 

As if it were any other profane word….

 

The blasphemers don’t know,

or they don’t care

 

But one day,

all will acknowledge Your name

 

And for me, Your name

will only leave my lips

 

to honor You

or speak to You

 

Your name

is the most beautiful one I know

 

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor
and gave Him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

– Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

 

Lord, there is no one like you!
For you are great, and your name is full of power.

– Jeremiah 10:6 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Security

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In these days of uncertainty

of violence

of confusion

of hatred

of pain

 

I am eternally grateful

for my hope in You, Jesus

 

my security in Your promises

my peace, God-given

 

You are my Rock

when all is crumbling

 

All of my hope

is in You

 

– Susie Stewart

 

After all they had endured, they remembered that God, the Most High,
was their Rock, their Redeemer.

– Psalm 78:35 (VOICE)

 

We must meet the uncertainties of this world with the certainty of the world to come.

– AW Tozer

 

 

No one is holy like the Eternal One—
no, no one but You;
and there is no rock as solid as our True God.

– 1 Samuel 2:2 (VOICE)

 

My salvation and my significance depend ultimately on God;
the core of my strength, my shelter, is in the True God.

– Psalm 62:7 (VOICE)

 

Internet photo

The Battle

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

The battle is invisible

and it is fierce

 

Unseen

but real

 

This fight

affects you

 

And if your eyes were opened

to the unseen reality

 

You would fall to your knees

before the God of Angel Armies

 

You would know that darkness

wants to take you down

 

You would know that angels

are protectors and fighters

 

strong and valiant

 

And you would know that demons

are liars and destroyers

 

Purveyors of

defeat

stress

division

lies

death

and fear

 

And know this –

 

if you have not surrendered to King Jesus,

you WILL lose this fight

 

You are defenseless without Him

 

If you DO know Him

and believe Him

 

Don’t forget your battle gear

 

Take up your Sword!

the Word of God to combat lies and deception

 

Take up your shield!

which is your faith in Almighty God

 

Put on your helmet!

the salvation of your precious soul

 

Lace up your shoes!

that come with the Peace only He can give

 

Strap on your belt!

of Truth, lies dispelled

 

Hold up that shield!

God’s armor of righteousness for you

 

Don’t underestimate your enemy

or

God’s army

 

Get in that battle

and hold onto the One who holds victory

 

for you

 

– Susie Stewart

 

We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places.

– Ephesians 6:12 (VOICE)

 

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

– James 4:7 (NLT)

 

For though we walk in the world, we do not fight according to this world’s rules of warfare. The weapons of the war we’re fighting are not of this world but are powered by God and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His truth.

– 2 Corinthians 10:3,4 (VOICE)

 

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

– 1 Peter 5:8,9 (NLT)

 

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

– Ephesians 6:13-17 (NLT)

 

Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.

– Deuteronomy 3:22 (NIV)

 

Artwork by Arik Stewart from his childhood

 

 

Big

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

You are big enough

to create an endless universe

 

with words and will

 

You are big enough

to have Your eye on billions of souls

 

always

 

You are big enough

to hold everything and everyone

 

in Your hand

 

and yet

You are mine

 

You hold everything together

and all the while, You speak tenderly to my heart

 

You are big

beyond comprehension

 

but You love

one-on-one

 

personally

in the closest way

 

as if You were not so big

 

but I’m glad You are

for that is why

 

I can trust you with the small

 

– Susie Stewart

 
God stretches the northern sky over empty space
and hangs the earth on nothing.

He wraps the rain in His thick clouds,
and the clouds don’t burst with the weight.

He covers the face of the moon,
shrouding it with His clouds.

He created the horizon when He separated the waters;
He set the boundary between day and night.
The foundations of heaven tremble;
they shudder at His rebuke.
By His power the sea grew calm.
By His skill He crushed the great sea monster.
His Spirit made the heavens beautiful,
and His power pierced the gliding serpent.
These are just the beginning of all that He does,
merely a whisper of His power.
Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of His power?

– Job 26:7-14 (NLT)

 

When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers—
the moon and the stars You set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that You should care for them?

– Psalm 8:3,4 (NLT)

 

O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

– Jeremiah 32:17 (NLT)

 

Photo by Arik Stewart

 

Tired

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

I’m tired, Lord

 

This morning

my body aches

my head hurts

and I’m tired

 

Not enough sleep

 

But in this state

I give You praise

 

A sacrifice of praise

 

Even when all

is fuzzy

 

I worship You

 

and I know you will turn my tired praise

my effort in the fog

 

to something beautiful

 

because You

who never grows weary

or tired

 

are the object of my praise.

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name.

– Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

 

Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of His understanding.

– Isaiah 40:28 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Freedom

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I’m thankful, Jesus,

for the physical freedom that is mine

 

And even more thankful

for my spiritual freedom in You

 

Remind me often, Jesus,

to live free

 

not in bondage to anything

You have already loosed

 

Help me to walk in the wide open space

of You

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

– 2 Corinthians 3:17 (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)

 

In him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

– Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

 

But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.

– Romans 6:21-23 (MSG)

 

When trouble surrounded me, I cried out to the Eternal;
He answered me and brought me to a wide, open space.

– Psalm 118:5 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Heaven Blessing

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All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)

 

I underestimate, Lord,

what you have blessed me with

 

I fail to realize that

out of Your immense love and grace

 

You have blessed my spirit

from heaven

 

Everything that can touch

the spiritual part of me

 

everything that heaven enjoys

is mine here on fallen earth

 

I try to wrap my head

around that

 

And I realize

that I’ve not tapped into Your favor

enough

 

I have not begun to grasp

my spiritual blessings

 

I have not been filled

to all the fullness

 

And I long for more

 

I can never get enough

of You, my Lord

 

I imagine that is why

everyone surrounds your throne in heaven

 

shouting “Holy, holy, holy…”

never having enough praise

 

because the spiritual blessings

are found in You

 

in who You are

 

and I am leveled with the fresh thought

that YOU live in my heart

 

I can’t help but have every spiritual blessing

from heaven

right here on earth

 

because it is all about You

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

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.

– Ephesians 3:19 (NLT)

 

The One sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled His throne like a rainbow Twenty-four thrones surrounded Him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

– Revelation 4:3-8 (NLT)

 

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”

– Revelation 5:11-13 (NIV) 

 

 

Beautiful

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God created Beautiful

He is the Author of Lovely

 

The Maker of Mountains

and seas

bird songs

mother love

and skin types various

 

Eyes sparkling

colors inspired

 

majesty

and billows

and clear

 

And the beauty of His Creation

inspires

warms

and fills

 

But

everything beautiful fades

in this temporary world

 

everything, that is,

except the beauty inside of people

 

It grows more and more radiant

when the Author of beautiful resides in a heart

surrendered

 

Reflecting the Creator

 

No outer beauty that fades

is more important

than the beauty inside that doesn’t

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Charm can be deceptive and physical beauty will not last, but a woman who reveres the Eternal should be praised above all others.

– Proverbs 31:30 (VOICE)

 

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.

– Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

 

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!

– Isaiah 52:7 (NLT)

 

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

– Isaiah 62:3 (ESV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Consider It

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

CONSIDER it pure joy,

my brothers and sisters,

whenever you face trials of many kinds,

BECAUSE you know that the testing of your faith

produces perseverance.

Let perseverance finish its work

so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

– James 1:2-4 (NIV)

 

My friend Paul, from our Life Group, pointed out to us that this portion of Scripture in James says “consider” it pure joy when you face trials.  It doesn’t say “feel joyful”.  It seems to imply that you mentally consider it.  You make a thinking decision.

When trials come, we don’t usually have a feeling of overflowing joy and happiness.  Trials are hard and draining.  They take a lot out of us.  But we can consider it pure (free of contamination) joy when we face trials BECAUSE we have the assurance that it is producing perseverance in us.

And we need to LET PERSEVERANCE FINISH ITS WORK in us.  There is no hurrying or getting past certain trials.  We need to let the work be completed.

When we do this, we become more mature and we won’t be lacking.  That is encouraging when the trial is a financial one or a loss.  The Lord assures us that we will not be lacking anything when we allow God to work through our trials.  He knows what we need.

Then in verse 12 we see this –

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

There is heavenly reward for those who persevere under trial!  What an encouragement!  And a joyful thought!  The crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

So, my friends, take your thoughts captive when it comes to trials.  It’s tempting to ask “Lord, why are you doing this to me??”  But I encourage you to trust God’s heart for you and to consider joy in the midst.

There is much good going on

during your bad.

– Susie Stewart

 

…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

– 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

 

Photo by Jennifer Macfadyen