I do ...

A special day
shared
begun

I will
I do
on this day
forward
to love
and
to honor
in sickness
and
in health
till
death
do
us
part

Together
two souls
united
as one

Golden rays
of Light
as God encircles us
with His love

And then
the rains
come
clouds of doubt
silence
before the storm
erupts
thunder
booms
Lightening
sharp
across the night sky

Where have you gone
God asks
Here I AM
with you

You had but to call
to whisper My name
to reach for My hand
through every storm
every silence
every heartache

I AM with you

Why do you fear
You are not alone
I see your pain
I hear your agony
I love you still

I know the wait is long
I know your every desire,
and what you need, as well
I know your struggles

Lean on Me
Look toward Me
Listen to Me
Love Me

The answer you seek
will come
It will be as
you desire
I will show you the way
Do not look to another
for affirmation
only onto Me
Follow after Me

The road followed in days past
saturated in mud
Seek Me
in the midst
of the
downpour
and the calm

I AM
a special day
shared
begun

I will
I do

Will you be
and do
and go
and stay
Will you
be united with Me
surrounded by My undying love for you?

(c) September 29, 2015

Come. Hear. Respond.

"The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned,  that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.  He awakens me morning by morning.  He awakens my ear to hear as the learned.  The Lord God has opened my ear;  and I was not rebellious,  nor did I turn away." ~ Isaiah 50:4-5

Come
Awaken
Hear

Respond
to
His
voice
Learn
Understand
His
wisdom

Stay
near
Rebel
not

Come
morning
and
evening
throughout

The
spirit
beckons

Come
to
Him
ready
willing
Sit
at
the
feet
of
Jesus
Commune
with
Him
in
the
stillness.

(c) September 26, 2015

Stay Connected. Trust Him.

"The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe." ~ Proverbs 29:25

Stay
connected.
Trust
Him
Every
step.

Commit
daily
your
life
seeking
Him
Above
All
pleasing.

Fear
judgments
condemnation
uncertainty
gone

Focus
the
path
ahead
The
One
Jesus
beside
you

your
protector
comforter
strength
healer
teacher
your
Everything

(c) September 25, 2015

Follow Jesus. Experience Life.

"I have set the Lord always before me; 

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved." ~ Psalm 16:8

"You will show me the path of life." ~ Psalm 16:11a

First
Second                
Last

Always
Live
Stay
Aware

Him
His
Presence

Peace
envelopes

Love
Encouragement
given

Active
in
Removed
from
world

Follow
Jesus'
path

Experience
abundant
life

(c) September 24, 2015

That day gone by

Today could be Monday
it was a Monday
I seem to recall
19 years ago

I worked late
Time was fleeting

The hour was near
Soon to go home
to be with her Father in Heaven
and all her loved ones there

A long fight
Eight months it was
from first diagnosis
to final breath

She is gone
But not truly gone

She lives on
in the hearts
of those left behind
Fewer and fewer there are
Yet her daughters remain
her grandson too

as I pen these words
in memory of
My Mother
Mae Stoner Orrick
July 31, 1910 - September 23, 1996

(c) September 23, 2015

Who rules your world?

When you worry
When you fret
The way of the world
is what you get

Pulled down and away
your thoughts are selfish
your actions are contentious,
strife erupts
your words swallow and spew
hatred and anger
The way of the world
clamors for your attention
more and more
as the life you lead
the life you have
becomes less and less
about God

Awareness of God
and His Power
His Strength
His Presence
is blocked

You fail to see the good around you -
the blessings God bestows upon you daily

You see instead only pain
and you react to that pain
You see your life spiraling downward
and you want it to stop
but you can’t see how
Everything all negative
Outbursts of anger and bitterness
begins and ends the day
and each situation brings
only more anger, more pain
You want this life you’re living
to Stop.

The Devil has infiltrated your brain
into believing his every lie:

- give up
- it’s no use
- it won’t work
- there’s no way out
- you are worthless
- he or she is lying or cheating
or doesn’t deserve your forgiveness
or your love
- no one cares
- you hear words of condemnation
- you are put down for every comment
You feel so disconnected

You want your life to be pleasant,
enjoyable,
peaceful,
filled with goodness,
kindness and gentleness
and love
You want encouragement

Listening and believe and reacting
to the Devil’s lies will not
get you where you want to be

You must turn away from him and the darkness
and turn to God.

You do well to accept the Lord
as your personal Savior,
but it doesn’t stop there.
There is more
much more to the Christian life
As children of the Living God
we show our faith
and our love of, in and for Him
by demonstrating to others
His Way,
His Truth,
His Life.

Not our way,
or our truth
or our life,
but HIS

When we are disobedient
to the Lord’s teachings,
He is not pleased – with our attitudes or behavior

He wants a relationship
with each of us

When we are seeking the Lord
for everything,
studying His word,
worshiping,
so much of our pain
goes away

We still have hardships
but dealing with them
much easier to bear
The Lord God is with us

Look to the Father
Turn away from Satan
Jesus conquered the enemy
from the cross for you and me
We do not have to give in
to the unfruitful works of Satan

Live in the Light
Follow the Light
Look to the Light
Our God will lead you
out of the darkness
that seeks to erode
your every thought and deed
and bring you into
the joy of knowing Him.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

September 20-21, 2015

Who?

Who...
says the old man
from wisdom of ages past
present and yet to come

Who do you listen to
Who do you hear

Whose voice is it
whispering in the dark of night
making your heart pound

Who brings satisfaction
to your soul

Who hastens you
to move
to accomplish more

to be joyful
in the midst of agony
and apparent defeat

Who loves you
unconditionally
is always with you
does not depart

Who is the answer
to your every problem
every need

Who brings beauty
into your life ...
sunrises, sunsets, changing leaves,
a dandelion
a rose

Who develops a new life
Who grows a marriage
of two individual people
into one complete unit
a blossoming friendship
a baby
a family

Who stands beside you
Who walks your path
Who waits in the wings
for you to come back
to take that step
of love and courage
to remember
a past time
when you gave your life
to Jesus
The One who died for you

Who do you listen to
Who do you hear

Is it your co-workers
your boss
your teacher
your neighbor
your pain
your desires
your complaints

Do you hear only noise

Do you listen to encouragement

Do you hear love in the air
gentleness
kindness
patience

Do you listen
Do you hear
the cries of sadness

Who do you listen to
Who do you hear

and how do you answer

(c) September 12, 2015

I think ... I know ... I think again

I found a poem I wrote last year - June 21, 2014, that I didn't post.  When I searched for it by date, I found another -- titled  "I can pray for you."  It is good to review past posts.  The one I didn't post I wondered if it was worthy of posting.  Now I think perhaps it was and is.

I think and that gets me in trouble
I know God is the answer to everything that is and was and is to come.
I believe this in my heart as well as know it in my mind.
However, sometimes when I stumble, I forget and  think there is more.
And then I am reminded, there is not more.
God is it.
He is enough.
If you don't have Him, you need Him.
And if you have Him, but don't walk steadily with Him
100 percent of the time, you need to return to Him.
Thank Him for His grace. His love. His mercy.
Thank Him for everything every time,
even for those times we find ourselves struggling,
which is often,
and for those other times when it is good.
For every part of our life, God is what we need.
He has every answer.
We only have thoughts ...
Thoughts on what we think,
thoughts on what another thinks,
thoughts on what we perceive.
God's thoughts are higher. And purer. He knows.
His answers bring us hope. And Truth. And always Love.

(c) June 21, 2014

published September 11, 2015

Did you?

Did you take
a wrong turn
wandered down a path
of lies and misguided information
that goes on and on
an endless road
going nowhere

Did you miss
the fork in the road
the one that read
“All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth.”
(Psalm 25:10a)

Did you forget
to ask directions
from the one
who knows The Way
and then follow

“Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me.”
(Psalm 25:4-5a)

Did you turn away
going your own way
taking the wrong turn
following your own thoughts,
your own ideas,
your own beliefs

or

 Did you repent, turn back
ask for help
seek a better way

Did you remember
The Lord –
"He will keep you in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Him.”  (Isaiah 26:3)

(c) September 9, 2015

God's call to Come

Based on Psalm 42

Come
to the inner circle
I do not condemn you
You are one of Mine
and I shall abide with you
all of your days

Come
into My Presence
There is much that saddens you
brings distress and weariness to every bone
Against you they have come
but I will hold you up
higher than they tear you down

Come
be not afraid
Let the Light of My Love
shine upon you, through you, within you
as you enter in
Praising Me and My Holy Name
moment by moment

(c) September 8, 2015