Uganda

Investor

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

 

If you were to have the title

of Life Investor

 

hired by God

in the here and now

 

What would He observe

about your investment practices

and priorities?

 

Would He say

that He observes you investing your life

in the valuable?

 

Or would He say

that He observes you investing your life

in that which doesn’t last?

 

Is all your energy spent on yourself

and getting ahead

in worldly success

and mindless pursuits?

 

Or is it invested in people

in your relationship with your Creator

in glorifying Him

and in the deeper things of life?

 

Is your life invested in bigger, better, and prestigious

or

in the smallest, poor and broken?

 

Do you know which one God prioritizes?

 

He is the authority

on what matters

 

We are given only one life

to invest in the eternal

and in the things He values

 

May we invest wisely

for we never know

when God will retire our position

 

for the afterlife

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a trip. He called his servants and entrusted some money to them.  He gave one man ten thousand dollars, another four thousand dollars, and another two thousand dollars. Each was given money based on his ability. Then the man went on his trip.

The one who received ten thousand dollars invested the money at once and doubled his money. The one who had four thousand dollars did the same and also doubled his money. But the one who received two thousand dollars went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The one who received ten thousand dollars brought the additional ten thousand. He said, “Sir, you gave me ten thousand dollars. I’ve doubled the amount.”

His master replied, “Good job! You’re a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

The one who received four thousand dollars came and said, “Sir, you gave me four thousand dollars. I’ve doubled the amount.”

His master replied, “Good job! You’re a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s happiness.”

Then the one who received two thousand dollars came and said, “Sir, I knew that you are a hard person to please. You harvest where you haven’t planted and gather where you haven’t scattered any seeds. I was afraid. So I hid your two thousand dollars in the ground. Here’s your money!”

His master responded, “You evil and lazy servant! If you knew that I harvest where I haven’t planted and gather where I haven’t scattered, then you should have invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would have received my money back with interest. Take the two thousand dollars away from him! Give it to the one who has the ten thousand! To all who have, more will be given, and they will have more than enough. But everything will be taken away from those who don’t have much.…

– Matthew 25:14-30 (GW)

 

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

– Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)

 

This is my last gift to you, this example of a way of life: a life of hard work, a life of helping the weak, a life that echoes every day those words of Jesus our King, who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

– Acts 20:35 (VOICE)

 

…if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
    He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.

– Isaiah 58:10,11 (NIV)

 

Photo By Susie Stewart

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer & Trust

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

When you don’t get the answer you want

from God,

what is your response?

 

Is it anger?

Self-pity?

Turning away from Him?

 

Or do you Trust?

 

Trust that He is God?

 

Before you had this trial

you knew

 

that sometimes God says

“Yes”

 

sometimes

“No”

 

sometimes

“Later”

 

sometimes

“I have something better”

 

But does your trust in Him

reflect that?

 

Do you still praise and bless Him

when the answer is “wait”?

 

or “No”?

 

Or do you stomp your foot

as a demanding child?

 

You either have confidence in God’s sovereignty

or you doubt it

 

Prayer and trust

go hand in hand

 

It

is

Faith

In God who knows best

 

Don’t fall into the trap

of faithfulness to Him

only when the answer

is “Yes”

 

– Susie Stewart

 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

– 1 John 5:14 (NIV)

 

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called—His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance.

– Ephesians 1:18 (NLT)

 

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. 

– Romans 12:11,12 (MSG)

 

Photo by Wade Callison

Large Burden, Small Child

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Why are we…

 

….scratch that

 

Why am I

so slow to cast my cares

on You, Lord?

 

Why do I take time

to mull them over and over

in my mind?

 

As if I’m a small child

trying to shoulder a large load

hiking next to my strong Dad

 

When He is clearly saying to me,

“Give it to me, Child.  I will carry it.”

 

But No!  I’ve got this!

 

I really need to think about this

a lot

and I need to go over scenario 1

scenario 2

3, 4, 5 and 6….

 

And I struggle

and I  stumble

and I think I know best

 

when wise Father

is right there

 

and I imagine a loving

head shake from Him

with a questioning “Why?”

 

And it is then that I remember

 

Limitless Divine strength

and that this burden is not mine

to carry

 

And I cast it off

as the distressing hardship that it is

 

My Abba leans down

and I lay the burden on Him

 

and how small that burden now seems

on strong shoulders

 

Such a small thing

 

“Why take so long?”

I ask myself

 

And I see something else ahead on the trail

that looks like it needs to be picked up

 

I look at my Father

and wise eyes speak volumes

 

I decide not to pick it up

 

at all

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

– Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

 

Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries.

– 1 Peter 5:7 (VOICE)

 

For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”

– Isaiah 41:13 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

He Knows

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Has no one noticed your sorrow,

Friend?

 

Does your anguish

fall on deaf ears?

 

Feeling unseen

and unheard

causes an ache deep

 

But I want you to know

that nothing escapes

the watchful eye of God

 

He hears the thunderous drop

of your silent tears

 

He is wide awake aware

of your pain

 

And you can have unique joy

right in the middle of your sorrow

 

for Perfection

loves you

right in this place

 

And you don’t need to feel

unseen and unheard

 

because there is not a single person

on this earth

 

whose attention on you

 

matters more

than the attention of Eternal God

 

He knows

 

– Susie Stewart

 

I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
for You have seen my troubles,
and You care about the anguish of my soul.

– Psalm 31:7 (NIV)

 

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.

– Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

 

Lord, my longings are sitting in plain sight, my groans an old story to You. My heart’s about to break; I’m a burned-out case. Cataracts blind me to God and good; old friends avoid me like the plague. My cousins never visit, my neighbors stab me in the back. My competitors blacken my name, devoutly they pray for my ruin. But I’m deaf and mute to it all, ears shut, mouth shut. I don’t hear a word they say, don’t speak a word in response. What I do, God, is wait for You, wait for my Lord, my God—You will answer! I wait and pray so they won’t laugh me off, won’t smugly strut off when I stumble.

– Psalm 38:8-10 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Confident

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Do you feel timid when you pray?

 

Do your sins glare before you

and get in the way of your relationship with God?

 

Do you skip it altogether

because you are altogether imperfect

 

to come before a perfect God?

 

Well, I can relate

 

But God has shown me

that something amazing happened

 

when Jesus became my Savior

 

He became my bridge

to God

 

His perfection

sacrificed for me

 

and His righteousness

imparted to me

 

and His white robe of sinlessness

put on me

 

Caused me to be able to approach

that great throne

 

with confidence

and freedom

and boldness

 

And it’s not because I had a sinless day

but because my sins have been washed away

 

And I look my Abba in the eyes

and I talk to Him

 

We are close

and I don’t need to be timid

 

because of Jesus

 

I confess to Him

what is not right

 

But I don’t feel the weight

of condemnation

 

Because I’m not condemned

 

I am free

 

– Susie Stewart

 

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

– Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

 

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

– Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

 

It is also very comforting to us to observe that the God who hears prayer is enthroned and glorified. The God of grace sits upon the throne of grace and so grace reigns supreme at the place where God meets with us in prayer! The hands of grace are full of blessings through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ—and those hands are happily employed in dispensing royal largess among the poverty stricken sons and daughters of men! Come here, then, all you who feel your need of grace! Be not afraid to approach the throne of grace. Since Jesus Christ has taken upon Himself our nature and suffered in our place, the throne to which the sinner is bid to draw near is a throne of superlative, unlimited, reigning grace—grace that pardons; grace that regenerates; grace that adopts; grace that preserves; grace that sanctifies; grace that perfects and makes meet for glory!

– C.H. Spurgeon

 

…or He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]…

– 2 Timothy 1:9 (AMP)

 

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

– Romans 8:1,2 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Pain & Joy

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

Isn’t it interesting

that in going through a deep valley

 

where all is stripped away

 

we can learn what true joy is?

 

In the hurt

and the less

and the want

 

we learn to look up

 

and we find that the joy

is not really in the circumstances

 

but in the Savior

 

It’s not in the stuff

but in the Divine relationship

 

always being strengthened

by the reliance on who is in control

 

Isn’t it interesting

how pain and joy can co-exist?

 

That joy doesn’t always look

like happiness?

 

But it does look

content

 

Because of who we lean into

 

– Susie Stewart

 

And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

– Philippians 4:19 (AMP)

 

But godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God].

– 1 Timothy 6:6 (AMP)

 

So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].

– 2 Corinthians 12:10 (AMP)

 

…constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength],

– Romans 12:12 (AMP)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Live Like It

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Lord Jesus,

May those of us who know You

as the Way

the Truth

and

the Life

 

Live like it

 

May those of us who know Your

freedom

hope

and

unconditional love

 

Live like it

 

May those of us who know Your

peace

joy

and

kindness

 

Live like it

 

The difference You’ve made,

Jesus,

should be detectable

by those we interact with

 

What we believe

should permeate how we live

 

The difference should be

beautifully plain to see

 

The gospel of peace

in its power

spills over

into all our interactions

 

for a life poured out

 

A revolutionary faith

will not be ignored

 

– Susie Stewart

 

 

Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, “Oh, thank you, God!” I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers. And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers.

– Philemon 4-7 (MSG)

 

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way…

– 1 Peter 3:14-16 (NLT)

 

Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.

– 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NLT)

 

The hallmark of Christians in the first century was not their wealth.  They had none.  It was not their theology either.  Their beliefs were so odd, religious people couldn’t understand them.  What gave them leverage was their inexplicable compassion and generosity.  They had little, but they gave.   They received little compassion, but they were willing to extend what they had to other people.  They were hard to ignore.

– Andy Stanley

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

Together

/ 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

 

 

 

 

Friend

/ Susie Stewart / 5 Comments

 

My responsibility to you as a friend

is not

to always be the one you need

 

It is to point you

to the One

who can come closer to you like no one else

 

My aim

as a friend

is to point you to Jesus

 

I want you

to really know Him

 

My desire

is that you hear His voice

more and more

 

That you receive godly wisdom

knowledge

and discernment

 

I long for you to know

the love

that God lavishes on you

 

And the hope

that goes beyond this life

 

What I want

even more than to be close to you

is for you to be close to God

 

And that you

know

the glory to which He has called you

 

That is what being a true friend

is all about

 

– Susie Stewart

 

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. 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, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.

– Ephesians 1:15-23 (NIV)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

God’s Child

/ Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

“He reacted like it was the best news he’d ever heard!”

 

I listened as my friend Carol

recounted one of her interactions in Uganda…

 

As she taught village children about God’s Word

and encouraged them to memorize the precious words,

 

She led some in a prayer of surrender

to Truth

 

And told a young one,

“You are now a child of God!”

 

 

The boy reacted with sheer

uninhibited excitement

 

With elation

inside and out

 

It was the best news

he had

ever

heard

 

No one could curb his enthusiasm

over the unbelievable message

 

And a life was changed that day

 

Because a young one

embraced His Father

 

And God’s grace

and love

and forgiveness

enveloped the child

 

He was grafted into the family

he longed for

 

An orphan’s hope,

to be adopted by God

 

– Susie Stewart

 

But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.

– John 1:2 (NLT)

 

Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

– Matthew 18:2-4 (NLT)

 

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him.

When Jesus saw what was happening, He was angry with His disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then He took the children in His arms and placed His hands on their heads and blessed them.

– Mark 10:13-16 (NLT)

 

You are all God’s children by believing in Christ Jesus.

– Galatians 3:26 (NLT)

 

“I will not leave you orphaned. I’m coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and you’re about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I’m in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you.

– John 14:17-19 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart