Unworthy

/ Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

A step back.

That’s what you take.

Unworthiness still plagues you
even though your head
is full of that redemption knowledge.

And regret,
and shame,
and averted eyes
prevent you from approaching His throne,
from whispering His holy Name….
And then you remember
unworthy was made Worthy

and it’s all because of Divine love
and sacrifice
and new birth.
His worthiness clothed you in righteousness.
And it was meant to take your shame
your fear
your hesitancy
your not enough.
A gift without merit
bestowing merit.
And you received it.
And you forgot.
Run child!
Run toward your Father,
who runs toward you,
with daddy arms open,
always ready to embrace.

You are Worthy

because He loved you
enough to give all
to redeem you.

Realize and actualize.

Be unencumbered
as you move out boldly
as a child
unconditionally loved.

– Susie Stewart

 

But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.
– Galatians 3:26, 27 (MSG)

 

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness…
– Isaiah 61:10 (NLT)

 

Photo taken by Andy Stewart

First

/ Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

 

FIRST

then second.

It started with decisions

                              His decisions

Because He has always been LOVE,

                                                  I was loved

and then….

He created

the Universe, heaven and earth, people and creatures,
All of it

And I was conceived
through His love

And He saw me

And I was born into this broken world

I grew

and I chose Him
but He had actually chosen me

My eternal life began
and I started to love Him

I trusted Him
I trust Him

and my life-dance has been stumbling through this broken world

and my own brokenness

and also
standing tall in victory

He has been
my Constant
my Encouragement
my Light
my Salvation
my Hope
my Love
my Rock

And I see Him
in people’s eyes
in the sun rising and falling
in the vivid flowers
in marriage
in children

miraculously
all around

And His love in my heart
is the filter with which
I see the world
and the brokenness
and the beauty

I allow His Light to reveal every corner
even when it uncovers
ugliness
pain
brokenness

and I know
Because I have seen

that
He redeems
and
He makes new

And I want Him First

intentionally
lovingly
obediently

with the flow of romance
and honesty
and listening
and connecting

and above all

His will be done

no matter what.

He is FIRST

Because He first loved me.
Because that is the place He deserves.
Because only then am I satisfied.
Because there is my joy.

And
people
jobs
entertainment
ministry

all of it

fade to second
Very second

in light of my relationship with Him

He knew me first

He is

FIRST.

– Susie Stewart

Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.

-Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit…

-John 15:16 (NLT)

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb….”

– Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT)

Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

– Matthew 22:37 (CEV)

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

– Romans 8:38, 39 (NLT)

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

– Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

The Truth

/ Susie Stewart / 6 Comments

 

The tension.

It’s everywhere.

The battle is seen, and yet so unseen.

 

And my heart longs to really see each one.

 

And each one wants to be seen.

 

The aggressor, the victim, the marginalized, the misunderstood, the confused, the angry, the hurt,

the human.

 

And I seek HIM.

 

I seek the One who sees all the earth,

and all the people,

and how we are falling apart

and ripping apart at the seams.

 

How we are lashing out at one another,

and hurting one another,

and self-destructing,

 

and blaming Him.

 

And He knows each heart.

Because He is love.

 

And when He walked this earth,

Immanuel,

He looked out at the masses

and He had compassion, and His heart broke.

We were harassed and helpless,

like sheep without a Shepherd.

 

There was a battle

and He knew it.

 

And the battle was not with flesh and blood – with people against people –

but the real battle was spiritual.

 

Spiritual forces,

angelic and demonic,

Deity and satanic,

locked in combat.

Good versus evil.

 

And there was,

and there IS,

a battle for the human mind and heart.

 

Confusion,

hatred,

discord,

violence,

abuse,

isolation,

dullness,

compromise,

doubt,

fear….

 

Truth came in human form,

and He saw through it all.

 

And He had compassion,

and He condemned those that claimed to have the corner market on truth

without truth.

 

And He stood up to temptation

 

with His sights on the goal

 

and He reached the goal

 

and He was silenced……………..

 

And humanity went on with their day

and their next

and their next

not knowing that a precious,

and holy,

and sacred

sacrifice

had been made for each of them.

 

Out of love.

For He is Love.

 

And when my Jesus,

my Jesus,

walked out of that tomb,

He had heaven’s glow.

For the weight of the world,

the weight of sin,

the sting of death,

and condemnation for wrong-doing,

had been conquered with that act.

 

And He had made it so simple!

Follow Him, trust Him, believe that

He

is the only One to save.

 

And He invited everyone to the table.

 

Everyone.

 

And He invited everyone to drink deep of His love and wisdom.

And He invited everyone to freedom from the harassment of evil.

And He invited everyone to walk in truth.

 

Truth.

 

He validated the O.T. writings.

He fulfilled the law.

God with us.

Holiness was finally satisfied with this one act,

perfect,

necessary.

 

And before Jesus

ascended heavenward before their eyes,

He charged His followers with unwavering commitment.

He warned His followers that they would be treated badly,

because although He conquered death,

the battle raged on seen and unseen.

 

Because now it was a race against time

before the end,

 

and the glorious beginning.

 

Evil knew this.

 

And a small contingent of humans

started the word

about the Word,

Indwelled by Spirit,

holy and wise.

 

And people,

all

of the people that were born into this world,

were loved by He who formed them

and who is Love.

 

And the weight of sin on this world,

and the attacks unseen,

and the choices made

that don’t follow He who is Truth,

cause the mind to battle

and cause the enemy to double-up forces

and cause brother to be against brother

 

and looking up

is what we need.

 

And we stare at our feet,

stuck and mired in mud.

 

And we embrace life in the mess.

 

And we go with the crowd.

 

And we delight in our rebellion.

 

And we are unaware….

 

That we are meant to be kept in the dark

by those who are darkness.

And that light and Light are pursuing

and offering a way out

to freedom.

 

And this man, Jesus, who mingled among us,

walked humbly and boldly,

a beautiful combination.

 

Sinners were the ones He moved in and through life with.

But He always offered His righteous hand,

to pull them out of being stuck.

 

Some would grab hold,

some would refuse.

 

And that is still the case.

 

You know the truth.

Know the Truth.

Be set free.

– Susie Stewart

 

“…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free….if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

– John 8:32, 36 (NLT)

What IF?

/ Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

What IF

we really decided

this day

to love the Lord our God

with all our heart

with all our soul

with all our mind

with all our strength?

What would that look like?

And are we brave enough to peer into that potential world?

Would we….

Shout His name when we felt like it?

Take better care of the vessel in which His Spirit dwells?

Actually put Him first like we say we do?

Admire and take notice of all that He has lovingly created more often?

Go where He asks us to?  No matter what?

Look at each person as someone He loves?

Praise and thank Him when our hearts are broken and our faces are stained with tears?

Actually not complain about our circumstances?

Love His body, the church, more?

Take walks just to be alone and talk with Him?

Bow to thank him for a meal in public?

Bring glory to His Name by the way we live, speak, and what we put into our minds?

Run to Him in true repentance when we have wronged Him?

Not feel like we need to lower our voices when speaking about Him around people?

Turn to Him first, instead of a person?

Go to sleep thinking about and talking to Him?

Wake up thinking about and talking to Him?

Write Him a letter of love?

Love people with effort because that is what He called us to do?

Be intentional about time with Him?

Honor Him with our marriage and family?

Fall to our knees before Him more?

Not allow things into our minds that are against Him?

Listen for His truth?

Read His love letter to us often and hold it close to our heart?

Not go with the crowd, but go with Him, even if no one else is following?

Tell people about how much He means to us?

Tell people about the difference He has made in our lives?

Tell people about how He allowed His spotless self to be crucified for all of us?

Tell people that even the grave couldn’t keep Him down?

Just open up our sealed lips and tell people??

Because HE

is worth loving

and respecting

and honoring

and praising

and worshiping

with all our Heart

with all our Mind

with all our Soul

with all our Strength.

– Susie Stewart

* These are just a few drops in a vast ocean of ways to love God with everything we are.  I’m going to continue to ask God for ways that I can do this better.  Want to join me in that?  There is no more fulfilling relationship you can have than the one with your Creator.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.

– Luke 10:27 (NIV)

Photo taken by Susie Stewart