Zephaniah

His Attention

/ Susie Stewart / 1 Comment

Getting someone’s attention

can be difficult at times

 

Just to have them look you in the eye

and to be heard

 

is rare

 

But you have God’s attention

 

He always sees you

and always hears you

 

His love for you is eternal

His attention faithful

 

God is not distracted

when you talk to Him

 

He is not preoccupied

with items more important

 

So if you have God’s attention

why not engage with Him?

 

Or is the problem

that God does not have

your attention?

 

-Susie Stewart

 

My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in His presence, freely asking according to His will, sure that He’s listening. And if we’re confident that He’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.

– 1 John 5:13-15 (MSG)

 

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer…

– 1 Peter 3:12 (NIV)

 

The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and He will refresh your life with His love.

– Zephaniah 3:17 (CEV)

 

Those who fear God get God’s attention; they can depend on His strength.

– Psalm 147:11 (MSG)

 

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with Him, make us fit for Him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

– Romans 5:1-3 (MSG)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

First One

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

We have people

that we go to first

 

with heartache

and anger

and excitement

 

They are the close ones

who listen to our hearts

 

And what if

we sought God first

 

with heartache

and anger

and excitement

 

That He would be the One

to remind us who we are

 

when we forget

and listen to lies

 

That He would be the One

to laugh with us

 

when all is hilarious

 

That He would be the One

to mourn with us

 

when our hearts are broken

 

That He would be the One

to calm us

 

when unfairness plagues us

 

That He would be the One

to be still

 

with us….

 

God with us

 

He is the first

and the best friend

 

we will ever have

 

And we will hear

the most perfect response

from Him alone

 

– Susie Stewart

 

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

– Colossians 3:1-4 (MSG)

 

So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, help you. I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.

–  Isaiah 41:10 (VOICE)

 

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

– Zephaniah 3;17 (NLT)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Delight

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

To know that YOU

delight in me

 

Is almost too much

for me to fathom

 

Delight?

In me?

 

And I choose to believe You

and not overthink it

 

For delight is not demanding perfection

 

And You smile

at me

 

I am undone

by my Beloved

 

For I delight in You too

my Father

my Jesus

my Holy Spirit

 

My Love

 

And where there is mutual delight

there is an understanding

 

A heart-deep smile

A stirring

 

For in each of our heart’s,

 

God’s

and mine,

 

there is a special place

that only the other can fill

 

No one else

 

– Susie Stewart

 

The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in His love He will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.

– Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

 

the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.

– Psalm 147:11 (NIV)

 

Take delight in the Lord…

– Psalm 37:4 (NLT)

 

Then I will go to God’s altar with nothing to hide. I will go to God, my rapture; I will sing praises to You and play my strings, unloading my cares, unleashing my joys, to You, God, my God.

– Psalm 43:4 (VOICE)

 

Photo by Susie Stewart

 

Reminder

/ Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

I’m thinking you might need a reminder today

 

A reminder of who you are

 

Because we all tend to believe lies sometimes,

spoken to us

or whispered in our heads

 

Truth is a good reminder,

so soak it in

 

YOU ARE

Loved more than you can even imagine

Redeemed from the worst

Royal, grafted into the family tree

Accepted right now

Child of Almighty God

Saved from eternal death

Friend of Jesus

Heir of treasures and life unimaginable

United with your Creator

Temple to the Holy Spirit

Member of the Body of Christ

Forgiven for everything

Free to walk in freedom

A new creation

Chosen by God

Wise by His guidance

Complete

 

Let truth remind you

and don’t listen to those lies

 

Live a life worthy of your calling

 

And if you went over that list quickly

as you are running through life

stop

and read it again

 

slowly

 

Believe His promises to you

 

– Susie Stewart

 

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

– Ephesians4:1 (NLT)

 

How blessed is God! And what a blessing He is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in Him. Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son.

– Ephesians 1:3-6 (MSG)

 

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

– John 1:12 (NLT)

 

And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

– Romans 8:17 (NLT)

 

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

– 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT)

 

For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With His love, He will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

– Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

 

Photo by Andy Stewart