Jul 29

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution Luke 16: Wisdom, Stewardship and having a Heart to Listen
    Using what we have to benefit others, and not ourselves seems simple enough. But even in church we often create a culture that is self-gratifying and not focused on being a blessing to others. When we are removed from comfort how well we've used what we have to be a blessing will be obvious in the presence, or loneliness we see. Being faithful with your finances, not the pursuit of riches, but stewardship is a necessary discipline. If we can't see a priority in being faithful with ite… Read more »

May 21

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution Trust and Obedience - always before Understanding
    I find so often that I can get hung up on trying to "grasp" what God has planned in my life. But honestly, if I could "grasp" what God was doing - what sort of God would he be? That pursuit of understanding can very quickly become a pride ambition to control and "grasp" the reigns. Instead, God desires trust and obedience and faith in him. For the disciple it is more about the following than it is the understanding. Read more »

Apr 25

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution God's Timing
    For as much as we can talk about God's timing being perfect, I think a lot of times that is said with a sense of impatience when we don't know why God isn't doing something we want. When I read through this section of Ecclesiastes, I get a different sense of peace about it. That God's timing is all about God's control in and through our lives. The walking through of all the times, the seasons, that God could bring into our lives - a lot of them sounded like ways that we… Read more »

Jan 8

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution The call
    I love how Chris Hodges described being called in the Kaleo message at LifeChurch.tv He said you are called when you aren't where you are supposed to be. Matthew's simple call, and astounding obedience is challenging! My prayer today is that I will be sensitive to the will of God, and that when he says move I can move with the obedience of Matthew. Read more »

Jan 2

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution day and night
    what a great verse to start with for a year of bible reading in 2009. The word "delight" stuck out to me the most. That a consistent time of joy in my life would be meditating in the Bible, God's words for my life. yeah! Read more »

Dec 18

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution The Reality of Wonder
    When the Holy Spirit came down in power, the faithful disciples where filled with wonder, Jews from every nation were filled with wonder and even people far from God where fill with wonder. But the condition of their hearts either opened their eyes to the reality of the situation or it completely blinded them to the most one of the most significant spiritual events in human history. To the blind their response was to make fun of what they weren't willing to understand. Do we want God to do… Read more »
  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution Prayer, Scripture, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Decision
    How remarkable is it that there weren't any white boards, personality tests, resumes, interviews, button down shirts or executive training as the disciples chose who would replace Judas. There was only prayer, scripture, the Holy Spirit and evidence that the potential men had followed Jesus. I am not trying to over simplify what occurred here, but decisions where made with faith and true spiritual seeking. Read more »

Dec 16

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution Power to Witness
    How many times have we heard that we should share the gospel and our own story and in our heads thought - "yeah right, that'll never happen." A lot of times it is because we don't want to navigate the social tension, but more than that we have a lot of fear that we won't know what to say! Here Jesus tells us that we have power from the Holy Spirit to witness to people all over the world. As we are faithful in taking the step to share our story we can be confident to kno… Read more »
  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution Waiting on God
    For forty days Jesus hangs with his disciples after his resurrection, how awesome would it have been to hear those conversations! What hits me the most in this section of scripture is that even through the Disciples have been with and taught by Jesus himself for three years - they still are commanded to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. How much more is it true with us? That even with our education, study, prayer and training, we still need to be attune to the presence of the Holy Spirit a… Read more »

Sep 22

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution stillness
    Craig preached on this verse today at LifeChurch.tv - about how the hebrew word for still can also represent "drop it". That we are to just "drop it" and know that God is in control. That we don't have to do it all, that God is there. With my digital world it is hard to hear, and even harder to do - but I must increase the "still" moments in my life. To simply rest in God and not hurry into the next thing. Read more »

Sep 3

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution no further judgement needed
    Judgment is already upon us, rejecting Jesus is accepting that judgment. God doesn't need to do anything further to humanity - his judgment is in full with the physical and spiritual consequences of sin - death. (hurricanes aren't God's specific judgment - they are hurricanes...) Read more »
  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution let control go
    Jesus wants to help us learn his ways, and to give us rest from a life spent tirelessly trying to be in control of things we can not. Jesus reminds us that he is in control, he is good enough, and we just need to believe him and step in line with his ways and purpose for our life. Read more »

Aug 30

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution we will walk the same "ground" as he did
    Not one of us who count ourselves as followers of Jesus are greater than him. So, we can expect the same sort of accusations, hardships and betrayals - because we aim to walk in his footsteps. Though this is scary, there shouldn't fear. This is the road that God is leading us to, and he is with us during all of it - the joy and pain. We should not fear men, because they are powerless to control and damage what matters most - our soul. But we should walk in respect and obedience to God, who… Read more »

Aug 27

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution they will hate you - but stand firm
    As Jesus sends us out into the world to serve in his name, he knows that even though we go in peace, we carry a dangerous message that will rise up men to violence and ill will. BUT he doesn't suggest that we become (wolves) violent with them, he advices us to act in wisdom (shrewd) and to live beyond reproach (innocent). Even so, men will not like the conflict our message of faith and truth brings to their hearts and minds, so they will take it out on us. They will mean us harm socially… Read more »
  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution instructions for serving
    Jesus gathered his disciples and gave them authority to minister / serve people at their point of need. As they went out he instructed them: 1. give as freely to their needs as you were freely give the power to cleanse, deliver, heal and preach. 2. serve with worthy people, people of peace. 3. Bless those that receive you with peace and greetings. 4. Remove yourself from unpeaceful and unworthy communities. Read more »

Aug 22

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution God's timing in our faith and his promises
    God is patient for the right faith (wine) in us to be ready for his promises (wineskins). If I'm not ready for a blessing or promise God is patient in his own time, otherwise the blessing would be an even greater curse/temptation (tear, bursting to ruin). The Pharisees wanted the disciples of Jesus to fast, but the disciples' faith was on the new promise of Jesus. The Pharisees weren't ready in their faith and hearts for Jesus, so they couldn't celebrate his presence. At the… Read more »

Aug 17

Dec 24

  • tonysteward
    tonysteward added a text contribution Five Essentials for Every Young Leader
    Many young leaders in the church, or in business get very frustrated when they are looked down upon as being to inexperienced, to "youthful", or are just not taken seriously when they speak or contribute. Paul's advice to Timothy is to focus on how to "show yourself an example of those who believe." Basically, don't focus on what people's expectations are of you - focus on who God is calling you to be and to be about - no matter what your age. The 5 areas Paul… Read more »