Beyond

March 30, 2016March 30, 2016 / Susie Stewart / Leave a comment

It is good to be present

here

now

But it is also good to focus beyond

there

future

For when we suffer

when we have trials

when today is heavy

Beyond

is a comfort

And Jesus will always

give us hope for the beyond

Beyond the suffering

Beyond the trial

Beyond this life

Jesus endured the cross

for the joy beyond

We endure the pain of sinful earth

for the joy of Heaven

Always hope

for the beyond

– Susie Stewart

And so now, we wait. We wait for our bridegroom. “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning” (Psalm 130:6). We lean on the windowsill of eternity, look to the sky, and whisper, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come quickly.”

Oh when will He come?

And every once in a while, when our heart grows weary of waiting, the Lord revives us with snatches of joy…It is a preview of the joy that will overtake us when, finally, the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

And it will all happen in the twinkling of an eye.

Before we realize it, if we are blessed to be living at the time of His return, we shall find ourselves in the embrace of our Savior at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Heaven will have arrived. The Lord’s overcoming of the world will be a lifting of the curtain of our five senses, and we shall see the whole universe in plain sight. Life and immortality will no longer be dim thoughts, but vivid and strikingly real. At first, the shock of joy may burn with the brilliant newness of being glorified, but in the next instant we will be at peace and feel at home, as though it were always this way, that we were born for such a place. At that moment, earth will seem like a half-forgotten dream, pleasant enough, but only a dream.

– Joni Eareckson Tada

…For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

– Hebrews 12:1,2 (NIV)

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

– 2 Corinthians 4:17,18 (MSG)

Photo by Susie Stewart

All I Want

March 6, 2015January 13, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Psalm 23

You brought it to me afresh this morning, Lord.

Your Word is alive, and breathing, and pulsing with light and voice and power.

How many times have I read this passage since I was young?

And the more I know You, Lord, the more precious these words become.

I allow these words to sit, and take root, and fill.

I allow them in deep, and I echo them back to You.

My Shepherd, You provide everything I need. Only You. May I not want for anything outside of what You desire to give, or outside of Your wise counsel. I have contentment in You.

My Shepherd, You let me rest. This world knows little of rest. But in You I rest in green meadows, in my mind, in my heart. That is where I find you, my God of restoration.

My Shepherd, You take my hand and lead me beside the peaceful streams. The sound and motion are healing to my soul. You have taken me there because I need it.

My Shepherd, You make me strong again when I succumb to weakness. Just by You being there I feel strengthened for the next leg of the journey. Your words bring energy.

My Shepherd, You guide me along the wise path. Following Your guidance in doing the right thing brings honor to You, and that is what I want. Help me not to wander.

My Shepherd, there are some very dark times, when I am low, when I am suffering, when death shadows over me. I need not fear because You never leave my side. I am comforted and strengthened by Your presence. You breathe life and light into me.

My Shepherd, You carry a rod and a staff. Even though they are used to guide and discipline me, I am comforted because I know You will keep me safe from consequences and pain. You are seeking to protect me from having to deal with the aftermath of bad choices.

My Shepherd, You are bold and Your parental love for me does not let my enemies gloat over me. You lift my head and You feed me the best of what You have in the company of those who would harm me. I am not intimidated by them.

My Shepherd, You actually honor me with anointing oil. I am humbled as You serve me with a gentle and humble heart. You anoint, and intercede, and bless. A sacred understanding passes between us.

My Shepherd, my life and heart overflow with Your graciousness to me. You never tire of blessing me. It’s as if I’m holding a cup and You’ve forgotten to stop pouring into it, and all manner of glory flows over the sides and onto the path I am taking.

My Shepherd, I know You pursue me with Your goodness and Your love that never fails. May I always feel the warmth of Your presence behind me, because my pace allows You to catch up with me. There is not a day that goes by that You are not pursuing me.

My Shepherd, You are here with me on earth and You have prepared a place for me in Heaven. You dwell inside of me here and I will dwell with you there, beautifully for always.

And You, My Shepherd, will have lead me on the path, and by way of the meadow, and beside the stream, into eternity.

My Shepherd, You are all I want.

– Susie Stewart

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Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to His name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for You are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

(NLT)

Ambassador

February 11, 2015January 13, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

Home.

It’s somewhere I’ve never been.

Amazing really.

That I long for this place.

That there are people I love there.

And I want to spend time with them again.

But I am here.

You put eternity in my heart, God.

And when I look to the sky

and the clouds part

it’s almost as if I am trying to see

Home.

Where I truly fit in.

And feel completely fulfilled.

And there is no pain.

And there is no feeling lonely

for home.

You tell me that I am a citizen of heaven.

I believe You.

Because You are first in my heart

and I trust You when You say

that you have prepared a place for me.

I am a citizen of another place.

Let me live as if I truly believe it!

You, Lord, made me Your Ambassador.

Your representative citizen of heaven

here in the world I was born into.

The world of humanity.

The world that sometimes feels like home, comfortable and safe.

But I know better.

My promised home is perfect.

Imperfections abound in my temporary home.

That’s why I am an Ambassador.

An Ambassador to bring reconciliation

between God and people.

I’m calling out to those who are weighed heavily

with those imperfections

to accept His invitation!

to come home.

He calls all of us from beyond,

and in our hearts.

Will you embrace this earthly home

with everything you have to give?

Or choose a perfect home

swept away to its streets of gold

in the twinkling of an eye

on the day of God’s choosing?

I embrace that which is beyond what my human eyes can see.

For I am seen.

And I am His.

And He will call me
some day

Home.

– Susie Stewart

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

– 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT)

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

– 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)

…He has planted eternity in the human heart…

– Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

Photo taken by Susie Stewart

Holy

January 3, 2015January 13, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I find myself searching….

searching for words that come anywhere close

to describing You

God.

I repeat so many of the same descriptors

over and over

and over and over

and they always seem to want for more.

Wonderful

Amazing

Beautiful

Incredible

And You are all those things

and yet…

My mouth and mind get frustrated

that I can’t come up with more

to describe You and how much I think of You.

To worship you.

And then I remember

how in Your Word

it says that the the winged ones surround Your throne

repeating “Hoy, Holy, Holy…”

over and over

and over and over

A reverence

An awe

A repetition of what and who You are.

Holy

Sacred

Perfect

Righteous

And I think about the repetitious worship

of the mysterious ones in heaven

and it seems to me

that there just aren’t enough words

to describe perfect Divinity

to ascribe perfect worth to You

and we repeat and we repeat

for all eternity

and our minds are blown

trying to fathom

You.

Holy God.

Holy

Holy…

– Susie Stewart

…I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!’
Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

– Isaiah 6:1-3 (NLT)

…I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit[b] of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

– Revelation 4:2-11 (NLT)

Up

August 27, 2013January 6, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 2 Comments

I want don’t want to be grounded.

Hmm..

What do you do with that? Grounded can take on different meanings. The grounded I’m talking about may not be what you think.

This world has a way of weighing us down, almost as if it is pulling us deeper into the earth. Troubles, trials, relationships gone wrong, the depressing things we hear on the news every day… it feels as if it has a downward pull.

God calls us to look UP. He calls us to “set” our minds on things that are heavenly, peaceful, strong, gentle…… truth. He is continually pulling us out of the muck and mire and setting our feet on solid ground or in spacious places (2 Samuel 22:20). He brings us out of darkness into His unimaginable light.

My feet feel very weighted to the earth at times. I allow the cares of this world to eat away at my thoughts and emotion, at my trust. I am called to so much more! “…because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ…”! (Eph. 2:4,5)

Over the years, I have often thought about what it means to “set your mind on things above, not on earthly things…” I’ve assumed that Paul was referring to heaven. I’ve never seen heaven, so at times I find it hard to set my mind on it, having never seen it and all. But, for me, this verse has come to mean even more.

Look down….

earth, dirt, gravity, weightiness, troubles….

Look up….

Sky, heaven, weightlessness, peace, freedom….

I don’t want to be grounded. I don’t want to be weighed down with the troubles of this world, but to trust in Light and Love and Mercy — Jesus!

He is above! He is the Name that is “above every name” (Phil. 2:9).

He is up!

He is in me.

And when I soak Him in and I listen to Him and when I trust and believe and I focus on Him, I’m not so grounded anymore. I feel lighter and more joyful. I’m not so concerned with how the people around me are not meeting my oh-so-important needs.

May I only be grounded in your truth, Jesus. Otherwise, let my feet be just above the ground because I trust in You. You are working in and through me as I look forward to my forever home.

– Susie Stewart

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”

1 Peter 1:13 “Be holy, therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming.”

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 32:10 “Many are the woes of the wicked but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trust in Him.”

Photo: Susie Stewart

ChoiSes

August 18, 2013January 13, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 4 Comments

I was jogging along this morning,

got to the end of a sidewalk where it forked two ways,

and I came across this:

Hmmm….. Which would YOU choose? Seems pretty obvious. Unfortunately my house was in the direction of the “worst” choise. I wasn’t about to run the long way to get back home so I went right.

It made me think about choises, large and small, that we make throughout our lifetimes.

Selflessness < YOUR CHOISE > Selfishness

Soft Answer < YOUR CHOISE > Harsh Words

Listening Much < YOUR CHOISE > Talking Much About Myself

Disunity < YOUR CHOISE > Unity

Love < YOUR CHOISE > Hate

Truth < YOUR CHOISE > Lie

React < YOUR CHOISE > Respond

Violence < YOUR CHOISE > Peace

Addiction < YOUR CHOISE > Freedom

Give < YOUR CHOISE > Hoard

Cheerfulness < YOUR CHOISE > Negativity

And the list goes on and on.

I have definitely made my share of wrong choises. Some that I seriously regret, but can’t take back. Every one of us has.

Throughout this blog, I deliberately spelled “choice” with an “s” just like our young chalk artist. Spelling it the wrong way on purpose reminds me of how we all make deliberate wrong choices.

Deliberate AND wrong — those are the “worst” choices.

I know better and I choose wrongly.

Praise God, love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), but when I do make the wrong choices, and it’s usually because of self, there is strain, relational scars, and consequences.

But here’s a choice that has ETERNAL consequences:

Love God < YOUR CHOICE > Reject God

If you love God and you believe Him when He says Jesus is the only way to the Father (1 John 14:6), then you make that choice to believe and follow.

The choice is simple, yet SO profound.

Eternity with God < YOUR CHOICE > Eternity apart from God.

I made the choice to be blunt, because it’s important.

Lord, help us make right choices. Give us discernment and a grounded sense of right and wrong

from your Word and Your Spirit.

– Susie Stewart

Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

-Psalm 119:105

Photo taken by Susie Stewart

Lyla

May 15, 2013January 13, 2016 / Susie Stewart / 3 Comments

“We as a family are saddened, but also at peace knowing that God is in control.”

I read over those words in a message from my cousin Scott today. His mother, my Aunt Lyla, was just diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic and liver cancer. My heart is heavy because I love Lyla. She shines Jesus.

As I thought about writing something about this very difficult news on my mom’s side of the family, the word from this sentence of Scott’s message that has stayed in my head, amazingly, is “but”. This tiny, little three letter word.

It is the word that seemingly connects heaven and earth right now.

We as a family are saddened, BUT…

Not everyone says this little word when there is a cancer diagnosis. Only God makes this word possible. Only God.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is sorrow and there is suffering here.

But.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair…” 2 Corinthians 4:8

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Our hearts and minds grow faint with grief.

But.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

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Life is hard here.

But.

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body….” Philippians 3:20

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Bad news will come.

But.

“They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” Psalm 112:7

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Life doesn’t always go the way we planned.

But.

“‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord…” Jeremiah 29:11

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Life seems to have kicked me down.

But.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

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My Aunt Lyla. “She’s an amazing example of God’s peace and comfort. She’s confident in her faith and knows life doesn’t end here,” Scott says of his mother. That’s because she knows she is a victor, no matter what!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

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And here is why……. “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son…” Galatians 4:4

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Heaven and earth connected.

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I love you, Aunt Lyla. You are an example of Christ to me and countless people who love you. You may have been given a diagnosis, but you are a victor, conqueror, dearly loved by God, redeemed, precious. You are in the palm of His hand, just as you have always been.

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– Susie Stewart

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

– Hebrews 3:1