The Living Word

Hebrews 5:12 – “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.”

Have you ever noticed that the Word has life? It’s not static. It has depth and breadth; hidden corners and nooks that require repeated exploration. I’ve been through the Bible a few times; and every time, I learn something new. It’s like the Spirit is reading me as I read the Word, guiding my heart and mind to a new interpretation of the text that speaks to my current life experiences and provides valuable insight and wisdom for me (or for someone to whom I am meant to minister). It amazes me, actually!

It also humbles me a bit. There are millions of people out there reading the Word RIGHT NOW…developing new and unique perspectives about God’s heart and character of which I might never have dreamed. It would be pure hubris to believe that mine was the only valid insight into the Word. To be clear, there are definitely very black and white, certain, and inarguable aspects of the Bible; but it is always fascinating to me how you can take one verse and get 50 different insights from 50 different people. The Word has life!

However, despite my appreciation for some diversity of perspective, I’ve learned that it’s important to handle the Word with care…engaging in our own study (not just being receivers of the Word on Sunday morning), praying for wisdom and discernment, seeking wise council from spiritual mentors, and questioning and testing everything (1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:21); not believing a “truth” just because someone said so, but reading the Word ourselves and opening our hearts and minds to be led by the Spirit. With the Word firmly imprinted upon your heart (Deuteronomy 11:18, Hebrews 10:16), you will be better prepared to discern the truth when someone is wielding the Word misguidedly; and you will be better able to lovingly engage in a healthy discourse on scripture in a way that bears fruit and brings glory to God.

You’re A Star!

WISDOM

Daniel 12:3 – “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

“You’re A Star!”—Has anyone ever said that to you (or have you said it to yourself)? In the context of fame and fortune, this statement may or may not be true 🙂 ; but according to the Word, beloved, there is one thing of which you can be sure—when you walk in wisdom and strive to lead others to righteousness, your countenance will shine like the brightest star in the heavens forever and ever! And believe it or not, the wisdom that we seek is accessible to everyone!

James 1:5 states that if any of us are lacking in wisdom, we have only to ask, and it will be given to us. All we have to do is ask, and God will bestow upon us the knowledge and wisdom we need to be happy (Ecclesiastes 2:20) and protected (Proverbs 4:6-7); to gain understanding (Proverbs 3:13), bring peace to volatile situations (Proverbs 14:1); be considerate, merciful, fruitful, and sincere (James 3:17); and live lives that are righteous and holy (1 Corinthians 1:30). As we share this knowledge, this peace, this holiness and righteousness that wisdom affords, we are, in effect, sharing our light…the light of God’s love.

And as we let this light shine within us, we bring honor and glory to God; and we draw others to us who long to experience the peace, joy, and fulfillment that God’s love and wisdom provides. Like a star, you can light the way for someone who is lost in darkness and seeking a way into the light.

Shine Your Light!

2 Corinthians 4:6 – “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine our of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

Song: “This Little Light of Mine” by Addison Road

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Love Thyself

LOVE

Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. I know that full well.”

Valentine’s Day and the month of February have come and gone, and throughout the month, there were numerous conversations about romantic (eros), brotherly (philos), and godly (agape) love; but I realized this morning that sometimes, we overlook one of the most important loves of all—love of self! Far too often, we neglect this valuable step—loving ourselves—which I think is actually second only to loving God in the Love Process. The first step in this process, always, is experiencing God’s love—receiving His adoration of you with your full heart and understanding that His love for you is unending and without measure. When we accept this love, internalize it, and start to see ourselves through God’s loving eyes—flawed, but fearfully and wonderfully made—we begin to see ourselves differently and position ourselves to experience the phenomenon of self-love…of seeing ourselves for who we really are—children of a loving God—and accepting ourselves (the good and the bad) as we continue this journey of learning and growing and evolving into the people that God created us to be.

There are so many voices around us—from images in the media to toxic people that we may have allowed into our inner circle—telling us that we’re not good enough and causing us to doubt ourselves, deride ourselves, fall out of love with ourselves…And when we don’t love ourselves, it becomes so much harder to engage in loving relationships with anyone outside of ourselves. It is only when we remember who and WHOSE we are that we can block out the negative voices and find peace in knowing and loving ourselves for who we are.

The other danger is one of simple neglect. I see so many people in ministry and giving professions (myself included) who become burnt out and exhausted because they devote so much of themselves to others that they neglect taking care of themselves until they become broken down or ill because their hearts, minds, and bodies just can’t take it anymore. So many of us place such a primary focus on loving and serving the people around us, that we forget that loving and caring for ourselves actually equips us to better care for the people in our lives. The Word says to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). It’s one of the great commandments given to us by Jesus Himself; and it implies that we must learn to love ourselves first before we can apply that same level of love to the other people in our lives.

So, as we continue to prioritize loving God, loving our family, and loving our neighbor each day, let’s be intentional about showing ourselves a little love—consider treating yourself to a quiet, restful night at home; a day out at the spa; or a little time engaging in that beloved hobby that used to bring you such joy! When you take the time to take care of and love yourself, you refill your tank and are better prepared to then go about the business of loving and serving others.

Make it a point to take care of yourself today and every day!

Shine your light!

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

You Are Royalty

IDENTITY

1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

I love God—with all that is within me; but I have to admit that for a good portion of my life as a Christian, this notion of being a part of His royal priesthood never really took root in me. I don’t really know why; I just never thought of myself as royalty or as a “royal priest.” But there it is in black and white! It’s what I am; it’s part of my identity in Christ, and it’s a key component of who He calls us to be.

A royal priest…What does that even mean? Well, according to Peter, we, as Christians…all of us…are the chosen people of God; and as his royal priesthood, we to be holy, set apart. As we receive the love and favor that He imbues into our lives; we are to be an example to those around us, showing His love to everyone we encounter, extolling His goodness, and lifting our voices in praise.

This is a vital role that God calls us to fulfill, but it is so easy to prioritize the other roles and facets of our identity that beckon to us in this world and cause us to put God and our kingdom work on the back burner. It’s so simple to abandon our praises as we forget God’s goodness in the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. It’s so easy to forget His charge to love one another as we endure the slights of those who don’t know Him. It’s so easy to just ignore this calling. So simple…

I guess the question we have to ask ourselves is, do we want to follow the ways of the world or the ways of God? Do we want to go our own way, do our own thing, or fulfill the role and calling that God has placed on our lives—the call to be holy, set apart, separate from the ways of this world…to live a life that is worthy of God’s Royal Priesthood?

You are royalty. As a Christian, you are one of the chosen people of God, and as such, you are a part of His royal priesthood. But you have a choice of how (and whether) you will fulfill this role. What will you choose?

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Shine Your Light!

Lovely images obtained from

Be Free

Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

I have such mixed emotions when I read this passage! It warms my heart ❤ when I think of all Christ has done to set me free! It’s a shame, though, that I don’t always embrace that freedom. Christ died on the cross to loose the spiritual shackles that kept me bound—He made the ultimate sacrifice for me. As a result, freedom is mine if I want it! But despite this truth, I often find myself slipping back into old habits that don’t serve me or making decisions that move me backwards into metaphorical bondage instead of forward into freedom.

In Galatians 5:1, Paul reminds us that Christ set us free for a reason, and that we are now to walk confidently in that freedom, never again allowing ourselves to be “burdened by a yoke of slavery.” This verse has served as a reminder for me on countless occasions that God has a path for me and a purpose for my life, and that I cannot fulfill that purpose when I fall back into old habits and behaviors that kept me bound in the past. I WANT to be FREE! I want to be unhindered and embrace the freedom that Christ bought for me with His sacrifice; and I want to use that liberty to fulfill God’s purpose for my life. But in the end, it’s all up to me. And so, I must stand firm and make the decision (sometimes multiple times a day) that I am not going backwards. I am moving forward. I will not be bound. I. Am. FREE.

Has God delivered you from something to which your flesh keeps pulling you back? Determine today that you are FREE and that you will not go backwards. Be free! Fulfill your purpose. BE. FREE.

John 8:32 – “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Song: Israel Houghton – Moving Forward

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Shine Your Light!

Quality Time: The Love Language Series (Part 1)

LOVE

James 4:8a – “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

I was reading a devotional the other day by Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages series. In it, he spoke about how true quality time—when you are focused on your time with the other person with NO distractions—helps to build intimacy and bridge emotional distances. Good Advice!

I think the same is true of our relationship with God. Just like any other relationship in our lives, to grow and develop, it requires Quality Time—time in the Word, time in prayer, time in meditation, time praising and worshiping. As we devote this quality time to getting to know God and His character, being open about our dreams and fears and being emotionally and spiritually available to His response, we begin to draw closer to Him; we begin to hear His voice (literally and figuratively) more clearly; and we become more aware of His leading and guiding as we go about our daily lives.

God wants a more intimate relationship with us—once a week for two hours just won’t do! He wants to chat with us throughout the day (pray without ceasing—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18); He wants to share His thoughts and perspectives (read the Word daily—Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2); and He wants us to share His love with other people (fellowship—Thessalonians 5:11).

How are you feeding and fostering your relationship with God? Are you checking in with Him once a week for a couple of hours, or are you spending quality time with Him each day? Are you making Him a priority, or are you allowing the other demands and distractions of the day to take precedence? Instead of giving Him our leftover time, let’s try in the coming days to put our relationship with God first. Speak His love language—giving Him the quality time necessary for your relationship with Him to grow and flourish as we draw ever closer to Him.

Shine Your Light!

Agape Love

LOVE

(I thought I’d re-post this one from 2014 in honor of Valentine’s Day)

Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Reflections: Have you ever felt truly loved? I’m not talking about that fly by night, flash in the pan, fleeting love; I’m talking about everlasting, AGAPE LOVE, where you are seen and known and cherished unconditionally and beyond measure…the type of love that, in reality, you can only find in the heart of your Heavenly Father…

Our souls long for this love, our hearts yearn for this connection; but far too often…

We seek it in all the wrong places

In a sea of blank faces

In the company of false friends

Winding up at dead ends…

…And ultimately, we end up feeling unfulfilled, because THAT love—that soul-fulfilling, heart-wrenching, mind-blowing, never-ending love—is only available in one place: the arms of our almighty God.

As Valentine’s Day draws near, and we are surrounded by people consumed by the pursuit of love, know that you don’t have to look far to find it. You have only to look to the Father, who waits for you with open arms and an open heart to hold you close, take away your cares, and give you peace and love that surpasses anything you’ve ever known.

Happy (Almost) Valentine’s Day! (You are truly loved!)

Song: How He Loves Us by New Breed (Original)/How He Loves Us by Anthony Evans (Remake)

It May Not Seem Like Much, But It’s All He Ever Wanted

it-aint-much-but-its-all-i-got

Love Thy Neighbor

LOVE
(Our Theme for the Month!)

Galatians 5:14 – “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

It seems so simple, the call to love your neighbor…to be kind and considerate, and to treat those you encounter as you would want to be treated. I find, though, that this is not something that comes naturally to everyone. Almost everyone and everything around us urges people to look out for themselves, please themselves, do what’s good for themselves…It’s so rare that we receive messages that convey this key command from God—Love your neighbor as yourself—to be selfless, sacrificing, and to consider someone else’s well-being above your own.

This decree becomes even more challenging to fulfill when we consider the fact that the “neighbor” to which God refers is not only your friend, your relative, or your loved one; but also your enemy, your adversary, the proverbial bane of your existence. Loving them as you love yourself?? THAT’S when things get really tough and really interesting. I think it’s important to note, here, that loving someone does not equate to serving as their proverbial punching bag. It doesn’t mean that you have to just sit there and accept unacceptable behavior. I think that God simply means that we are to show them the grace and mercy in their flawed state that God shows us daily in ours. In doing so, we begin to create spaces for change, for reconciliation, for redemption, and hopefully, for salvation.

So, in the end, the mission is clear—Love thy neighbor. Your love, your patience, your acceptance may be the very thing needed to bring about a miraculous and life-changing work in someone else’s life.

Song: Speak Life by Toby Mac
Song: Set the World on Fire by Britt Nicole

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Shine Your Light!

(This was a billboard I saw while driving one day that made me smile as I paused in the middle of my road rage lol)

Waiting On You (A Poem)

by Nichole H. Stewart

I have been waiting on you
Patiently
Waiting
Knees bent
Head bowed
Hands clasped

Waiting

For you to move
In my life
Like a whispering wind
Or a mighty gale

Waiting

Climbing tooth and nail
From this valley
Straining
Toward the mountaintop
But still…

Waiting

Refusing to doubt
Never looking down
Gazing only at you
As the waves toss and turn and churn
beneath my feet

Waiting

Trusting
In your promises
And believing
That I am not alone
Never forsaken

Waiting

Knowing
Your ways are not my ways
And wanting
Only what you have
In store
In your time
And not my own

Waiting…

I
Will
Wait
For
You.

Tied up in Knots

SURRENDER (Part 3)

I just read a devotional from Joyce Meyer in “Promises for Your Everyday Life” that equated the problems in our lives to a series of knots in numerous shoestrings. She pointed out that just as it took a length of time for us to get all tangled up in our knotted mess, it will take time to get to a place where we unravel those knots and are free from the tangle. Thankfully, God is hard at work helping us to break free, and he unravels each knot with his infinite patience…never giving up, never making the situation worse…in His perfect timing, He slowly works to make us whole again.

I thought of a similar analogy involving my bi-weekly massages and these incessant knots that my therapist always finds in my shoulders (that’s where I hold my stress). They’ve been there for years, and many a therapist have gone about trying to break them up and relieve my pain…but I always refuse to let them! Why? Because it HURTS! I have spent YEARS growing those knots through my stress and worry and poor self-care, and they do NOT want to go away easily. They’ve become a part of me, and I’ve grown accustomed to them. Besides, it’s easier to deal with the occasional discomfort and limitations of the knots than the painful process of working them out.

It’s the same way with God, when he tries to relieve us of our “knots.” The process can sometimes be long and painful…and those knots might even feel like a part of us now, because we’re so used to them. But if we can endure the painful process and get to the other side…allowing God to do His work in us, then we are so much better off for it! In the end, we are freer, able to bend and stretch and grow in so many more directions…stronger because now our (spiritual) muscles can bear more, and we are better prepared (without those incessant knots restricting us) to go about the business of fulfilling the calling that God has placed upon our lives.

Is God trying to loose a few knots in your life? Are you resisting the process or opening yourself up to endure the discomfort so that God can take you to a better place in Him? Don’t stay tied up in knots! Surrender to the process, and let God do the work in you to set you free from the tangled mess!

Philippians 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 2:8 – “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Jeremiah 18:3-4 – “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.”

Psalm 66:10 – “For You, O God, have proved us; You have tried us as silver is tried, refined, and purified.”

Song: Potter’s House by Vashawn Mitchell

Song: Refine Me by Ayiesha Woods

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Shine Your Light!

Wonderful images taken from

The Everyman

SURRENDER

The other morning, I was thinking about how much Jesus was like the “everyman.” He wrestled with anger and fear; He felt disappointment when His friends let Him down; He experienced loss, rejection, false love, and betrayal…trying situations and emotions that most of us have experienced at one point or another in our lives. But the difference between Jesus and so many of us (outside of His being the Son of God and all 🙂 ) is that He knew exactly where to turn when He endured these earthly trials. He turned to His Heavenly Father and gave himself over, fully, to God’s will and His way. He surrendered Himself completely to God’s plan for His life; and in return, God gifted Him with abundant wisdom, unshakable peace, boundless courage, unfailing love, and a power beyond anything the Earth had ever seen!

What wonders could we accomplish, what mountains could we move, what strongholds could we demolish if we were only willing to give God our whole selves…holding NOTHING back? We would be earth shakers, mighty warriors of God, bringing His light and His love to a desperate and dying world and demonstrating with clarity to all around us the power and freedom that lies in complete and total surrender to God.

Luke 22:43 – “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Song: He Wants It All by Forever Jones

Shine Your Light!

Embrace Your Superpower!

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1 Corinthians 12:7 – To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

The other day, my brother and I were talking about his uncanny ability to accurately judge a person’s character within a few seconds (minutes?) of meeting him. I’ve always known that he had this talent, but I took it with a grain of salt until he revealed during this particular conversation that sometimes, it was almost as if he could see something dark clinging to certain people who made him more wary. I was taken aback, because this indicated that he’d been gifted with the ability to discern things in the spiritual realm, and that I’d better start heeding his impressions moving forward.

I have to admit that I was just a little jealous. It was like he had this cool superpower! How great is it to be able to discern people’s character before they’ve said a single word!? My gift was so completely different and seemed paltry in comparison. I had this somewhat less exceptional (and not always useful) gift of always seeing the best in people, until their dark or hidden side emerged and the relationship (friendly, romantic, familial, or otherwise) blew up in my face. My penchant for seeing the good has actually made me increasingly wary of opening up to people and trusting them and their permanency in my life.

I pondered this for a while on that day, and eventually realized that this insight into the light in someone’s character wasn’t all bad. In fact, I began to understand that this tendency was a reflection of the gift of empathy—my own superpower! 🙂 I have always been hypersensitive to other people’s feelings, to the point of almost experiencing physical discomfort at the sight of pain in others. I’ve also had a penchant for understanding innately the emotions that certain scenarios and experiences trigger in others, which helps me understand (and empathize with) why they sometimes misguidedly embrace the dark side. This gift, while challenging at times, is the perfect complement to my calling to help and serve. As always, God knows what He’s doing!

We all have our spiritual gifts and talents, although they may manifest in different ways and at different times for different people. It’s easy to look longingly at someone else’s gift and think it’s the best thing in the world; but know that someone else may be looking at you in the exact same way. Your gift is special, useful, and uniquely tailor-made just for you and the calling God has placed on Your life. Embrace your gift, be grateful for it, and use it wisely and in love. After all, it’s pretty cool to have your own God-given superpower. 🙂

Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Shine your light!

1 Corinthians 12:4 – There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

Discarding Distractions

FOCUS

Romans 12:2 – “And do not be confirmed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

I’m easily distracted. When I focus on something, I do it with a laser-like intensity, but I can only focus on one thing at a time; and with so many things in my life in need of my singular attention, I find that as soon as I see something shiny, my focus redirects, and I’m off to put out that other fire over there. 😳

With all of these life priorities battling for my attention, it’s easy to lose sight of the one thing that should always be my primary focal point—God. If I am truly making Him the center of my life, my focus, then I can’t allow anything else to distract me from my efforts to seek Him with all of my heart. Life can get hectic, and it’s easy to let our minds become filled with and focused on the things of this world—good and bad; but when we allow that to happen, we begin to replace God as our center, as we allow our minds to become focused on the wrong things.

The Word says that we are to be transformed by “the renewing of our minds.” This verse can mean a thousand different things to a thousand different people, but one thing is sure—this process of renewal is an opportunity to train our minds to see (and seek) God in every situation. The good news is that He’s never hard to find; and when we focus on His presence, and His good and perfect will for our lives, He gifts us with a sense of peace, joy, and love that provide us with everything we need to face the hectic day ahead.

Wrestling Angels (A Poem)

jacob_wrestling_the_angel_by_21stcenturydamocles-d3buwca

Wrestling Angels

A Poem by Nichole H. Stewart

I’ve been wrestling angels…

Raging
against the whispered words
speaking truth
into my soul

Warring
against the calling
I know is mine alone
to pursue

Fighting…
a soldier
on the wrong
battlefield…
a warrior
evading the cause

Struggling
to arrest the fear
fluttering in my heart
the doubts
coursing through my mind

WHY ME!!???

It would be so easy
to run and hide
to leave the task
to one better than I
but I am Yours, God
and You are mine
and if You call me…
I will come

I’ve been wrestling angels
Pleading
Resisting
Just one swift strike
And I am felled

Accepting
I rise
Blessed
now set apart
to take the path
You’ve set before me

I am flawed
I am afraid
but I am Yours
and I will fight
for You.

Isaiah 6:8 – Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Genesis 32:22-31

jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god

This work by Nichole H. Stewart is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License

Exposed: Everything is Illuminated

"But everything exposed by the light becomes visible–and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. " – Ephesians 5:13

Religion

The Living Word

You’re A Star!

Love Thyself

You Are Royalty

Be Free

Quality Time: The Love Language Series (Part 1)

Agape Love

It May Not Seem Like Much, But It’s All He Ever Wanted

Love Thy Neighbor

Waiting On You (A Poem)

Tied up in Knots

The Everyman

Embrace Your Superpower!

Discarding Distractions

Wrestling Angels (A Poem)

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