Alive in our hearts

I think of those gone on
this  Christmas Eve
This Christmas morn

Remembering moments
missing them so
Wishing they were here
to sit awhile and visit
to enjoy a meal together
to be a family once again

O what a gift that would be.

I think of those gone on
this Christmas Eve
this Christmas morn

Remembering
and Realizing too
They gave their hearts to Jesus
as you and I (perhaps?) have too

They are in His Presence -
filled with glory bright
praising and worshipping
at the feet of Jesus
O holy one, most precious

Gone from our physical presence
but present still
in the hearts of loved ones
family and friend
They remain

They are with us
Just as Jesus -
Alive in our hearts

(c) Christmas Day, 2017

We have Jesus

We are scattered
so lost and alone
we fear the future
moments to come
what will it be
we dare not go

We are scattered
yet we are never
fully alone
For He knows
where we are
what we need

Yes, we are scattered
but we are surrounded
by God's love and mercy
shone through His Son
Our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ

December 21, 2017

Jesus - Upon the Cross

Jesus died
He gave His life
and took your sins
Upon the cross
at Calvary

He came to Earth
to pay the price
Walked the road
for you
Upon the cross
at Calvary

He taught
He healed
He loved
He showed The Way
to life eternal
Upon the cross
at Calvary

And you -
you, who He died for
you, who He healed
you who He loved
and loves still -


Have you Accepted His love
His healing
His teaching
His Way

Have you Believed
He died for you
He took your sins
and gave you a new life?

Have you Committed
to turn away from your old life
and turn to Jesus?


The Apostle Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5:17: "...if anyone is in Christ, he is a anew creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 

Beginning in Ephesians 4:17 and following, Paul reminds us that we are to "put off our former conduct ... to be renewed in the spirit of our mind ... to put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness ... to put away lying, to speak truth ... to not go to bed angry ... to not steal ... to not use corrupt words..." Verses 31-32 tells us: "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking  be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." 

December 17-18, 2017 

Give it up!

Give it up, My child
The load you carry
It is not I, Jesus, Your Lord and Savior,
but the Devil - Satan himself
who brings you
these heavy burdens.

Wearing on you,
Satan brings one trouble after another
So downtrodden you are
with worry and fear,
resentment, bitterness, deception, rejection.

Give it up, Give it all up
You have no need -
weighted down so.

Come to Me, My child
Rest in Me.
"(I) The Lord will be a refuge
for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble." 
-- Psalm 9:9

"And those who know Your name
will put their trust in You;
For you, Lord, have not forsaken
those who seek you." -- Psalm 9:10

December 1, 2017

Do you ... believe?

ASK
not of those around you
who do not know,
but of  The Lord,
who will guide you
in The Way
best for you.

SEEK
not in worldly things
that do not bring fulfillment,
but God,
who will forgive you,
heal you
restore you,
bring yearnings impossible
for another, to become reality.

KNOCK
not on a loved one's heart's door
that refuses entrance,
but on God's door,
open to all who choose
to believe and trust and commit.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

 - Matthew 7:7-8

Don't stop!
Ask God
and receive blessings

Seek answers from The Lord
and find The Truth

Knock on heaven's gate
and His mercy and grace
will be opened to you. 

"Do you believe that I (God) am able to do this?" - Matthew 9:28

Thanksgiving Day
Nov. 23, 2017

When ... Trust Him

When you accept Him as Savior
Trust Him to be with you, keeping you safe in His care.

When a setback brings you untold grief
Trust Him for greater strength, endurance to carry on
to reach out to others with love.

When you get caught up in fear and anxious moments
Trust Him to remind you of His blessings.

When you say you love the Lord
Trust Him when He says, "I loved you first."

When you commit to go and do and obey His will
Trust Him to know the way, to show you the way,
to instill in you the truth

When you think it is time to get out of a situation, to move on
Trust Him to give you the answer at the right moment in His time.

When you want this, you want that
Trust Him to give you what you need

When you long for love and find hate
When you look for encouragement and are discouraged
Trust Him who loves you so much that He died for you.

When you want a relationship that's good and solid and pure
Trust Him to give you what is in your best interest

When you've lost what you once had
Trust Him to be there for you

Whenever ... whatever .... however ....
Trust Him ... Trust Jesus .... Trust the Lord
who is more than we shall ever be
and loves us more than we shall ever understand.

(c) Nov. 6 and 7, 2017

Quietness comes to us when we Look Up to Jesus

"Only the place of God will quiet our minds and put our hearts at rest. We must place our hand in His as a little child and allow Him to lead us into the bright sunshine of His love. He knows the way out of the dense, dark forest, so may we climb into His arms, trusting Him to rescue us by showing us the shortest and most reliable road." - Oct. 7 Streams in the Desert

Looking forward
yet fearful

why we ask ourselves
The Lord has said
over and over and over again
He will be with us
He is with us
He enables us
He is our helper

He takes care of the tiny hummingbird
and the beautiful flowers on the open prairie
Why would He not also take care of little ole me

But its different
I think
But is it?
Is it really different?

Look up, Look up
He is there
Is is all around
But upward bound is where
we're headed
And upward is His home on high.

Looking forward
is our future and our hope
Looking backward
often brings sorrow and remorse
Looking downward
is all about myself
But
Looking upward
keeps my eye, my mind,
my heart close and closer
to my Jesus
where all of me belongs

Another can't say to you,
"It will be fine."
Even though you want to hear it
It can't be said
unless they know,
really know,
It will ...
be fine.
You cannot say something
if you don't wholeheartedly believe it
and live it.

Otherwise
it's just talk
and talk is relatively cheap
Action - the doing, the going, the obedience -
that says and shows much more
It shows how much we love
how much we trust
our Lord Jesus.

(c) October 21, 2017

Peace

" 'Come, come,' He calls you, 'O soul oppressed and weary,
Come to the shadows of My desert rest; 
Come walk with Me far from life's nosy discords,
And peace will breathe like music in your breast.' "
                                    - Sept. 29, Streams in the Desert

Peace
a calm
moves over me
Oneness with He
who IS
with me
I can do all things
for the peace of the Lord Jesus
surrounds me
and everywhere I am
everywhere I go
He Is
His music soothes
my soul
The music of His Life, His Love
eternal
and unchanging
Fills me
with hope and joy
in the midst
of life's
endless struggle.

(c) October 15, 2017 

Remove the stone

I believe God
on the mountain top
… when nothing disturbs me
… when I am not at odds with everything around me
… when I am not caught off guard

What about in the valley
… when circumstances contradict
… when funds have dried up
… when health is dismal at best

Do I believe then too
that God is with me
that God will keep me safe
that God still loves me
that I am His forever

“Remove the stone,” 
Jesus said. (John 11:39)

Remove the stone?


Lazarus was in the tomb
four days
when Jesus came
The stench was heavy
Yet Jesus said, “Remove the stone.”

But…

But nothing.
Remove the stone.

Have you forgotten?

“Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
Jesus said. (John 11:40)

Remove the stone.
The stone of unbelief

Jesus prays for us, that we may all be one
Like the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are one,
we too may be one with them
completely one
completely loved.

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation.” (John 11:24)

“I made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them and I may be in them.” (John 11:26)

Remove the stone …
every stone attempting to crowd in and take over

The glory the Father gave to the Son who in turn gives to us … abiding always and only … is a one-on-one personal, intimate relationship of pure love.

But you must believe ... in the Father, in the Son, in the Holy Spirit ... in united love ... in Truth.

Faith is unutterable trust in God, trust which never dreams that He will not stand by us. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (August 29)

(c) September 3, 2017

Expressions

Jim Carrey: I Needed Color from JC on Vimeo


It's all about Love. The love of Jesus and expressions of it. Jim Carrey shows it through color in his paintings and sculptures. I show it through poetry and devotional writings.

How about you? How is your love of Jesus expressed?

Waiting

We wait
God waits
We for His promises
said to fulfill
He to renew our motivation,
our inspiration,
our trust
in Him.

He patiently teaches
obedience
We learn
from the wrongs
we do,
the discipline
He doles out,
Father to child.

God waits for us
test after test comes
He will know
when
in all of our waiting,
we are ready
to receive
His blessings.

Our gain
His glory.

(c) July 22-23, 2017

He has all authority

You are the son, the daughter
He is the Father
For the wrongs you've done
you receive discipline
you learn obedience
as you learn
when you think on He who is,
your obedience becomes a given
your attitude changes

You are the son, the daughter
He is the Father
You owe Him your respect
your allegiance
your obedience
because of who He is
not because of who you are
or think you are

God, our most holy Father
in heaven
has all authority
yet He doesn't push it,
doesn't demand it,
doesn't tell us to do this and that
 ... or else

He gives us freedom

Will we choose wisely
and follow the path
directed by our Father

or will be choose foolishly
following a path of
self-destruction

God's blessings are the best
in all of life,
no matter what circumstances
we find ourselves drawn into.

(c) July 19, 2017

the spoken word can be cruel

It made me sad
and unwanted

cruel words
spoken
I wanted to go away
be somewhere else
For what did it matter
...
Words said
Was the meaning understood?
...
maybe not

I read
love is natural
hate is learned
I read
you never know
what impact
you'll have
on another
by what you do
or don't do.
I remember
cruel words
yelled
(when) as a teenager
(I yelled in anger)
at my mother.
I'm sure
looking back
she was sad,
disappointed.

No matter
what our age
in all of life
words spoken
to another
build up
tear down.

Sometimes
building ourselves up
is the way,
discovering
when you want to hide
there is no place
Have to keep going
Keep showing
Keep doing
Keep helping
Keep loving

Just like Jesus
hearing cruel words
bearing the brunt of every cruel deed
for what
for me
for you
because of his great love for us
he died
for us
It made His Father
sad
But He kept on
The greater good
far more important
than our own
feeling of self-worth.

(c) October 14, 2015
updated February 10, 2016

I am but His messenger

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

~ I Corinthians 2:1-5

Listen!
No so much to me
but to God
I step aside
It is He who speaks
I am but His messenger
to present, to share The Gospel
of His Son, Jesus

Listen!
Not singular words spoken
But God's word through me

I am but His messenger
It is not
my style of dress
nor how I preach
as you contemplate the message
God has given
It is not about me
I am but the messenger

There is nothing
absolute zilch about me
that opens the door of your heart
to Jesus

Only the Holy Spirit prompts you
to ask and seek
to hear and understand
to pray and believe
to trust
to come
to follow

I am but the messenger

He who loves you so much more
than life itself
He who gave His very life for your soul

Come to Him.
Trust Him.
Follow Him.
Be True to Him.
Him and Him alone.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

July 17, 2017

O where are you ... you of little faith

The trials
They come
They seem to stay
Sometimes they move away
But then they return
and we struggle
we endure
Irritation develops
with others
with ourselves
with our spouses
and our children

This is not God's way

We are failing
Our faith has moved off center
and Jesus is not our focus

O where are you
You of little faith

The trials do not come
to harm us
We are to learn
We are to grow
We are to stand upright
and strong
leaning on Jesus
who gave His all to set us free
Yet we remain locked in
We believe the lies
of others told
of those we tell ourselves

O where are you
You of little faith

If only we would believe
the word of our Father in heaven

The trials bring blessings
Why do we not see
The trials bring us to You -
enabling us to be
more like You
filled with tenderness
and love,
compassion,
patience,
and much, much more.

O you of little faith
Come forth
believe
see
the beauty that abounds
all around you.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

June 15, 2017

Will you follow Jesus first every time?

Based on Matthew 8: 19-22

Jesus tells us to follow Him
We say, I will follow You
wherever You go, BUT …
first let me do this
let me do that
and Jesus says,
Let another one do whatever
You Follow Me.

(c) May 29, 2017

Are you standing at "Wits' End Corner?"

Today's devotional reading in Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman is taken from Psalm 107, followed by a poem written many years ago by Antoinette Wilson. Following that are my thoughts, based on the same psalm.

"They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses."  - Psalm 107:27-28

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner,”
Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone?
Remember - at "Wits End Corner"
Is where God’s power is shown.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner,”
Blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering,
Dizzy and dazed, and numb?
Remember - at "Wits End Corner,"
Is where Jesus loves to come.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner?”
Your work before you spread,
All lying begun, unfinished,
And pressing on heart and head,
Longing for strength to do it,
Stretching out trembling hands?
Remember - at “Wits End Corner”
The Burden-Bearer stands.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner?”
Then you're just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who fails you not:
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at "Wits' End Corner"
Is the "God who is able" proved.

circa 1900s, Antoinette Wilson

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

We cry out, in anguish,
and the Lord hears
He delivers us from our distresses

Do we thank Him,
shower Him with praise
for His provision, His blessings, His goodness?

or
do we continue to sit in darkness,
now knowing what to do
at  our wits end, 

bound in one affliction after another

Do we rebel against God,
against God's word
Are we filled with hatred
and contempt
Do we have no use for God
for His wisdom

Again and again
when it is too much
we cry out,
in anguish,
to the Lord
and the Lord,
who loves us so,
saves us,
heals us

Do we thank Him
shower Him with praise
for ALL He is

Do we really care  
how very much He loves us?

or have you forgotten
He sent His Son, Jesus,
to die for you.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

May 23, 2017

Tormented ... yes, but God is our defense

We  are tormented
daily, and more frequently too

Our enemy is everywhere

Do we look to The One
who is our salvation

or are we glued to our own self
trying to make the best of things
laying hope in our fellow tormentor (s)
to come to their senses,
understand the stupidity
of their ways

Tormentors
rejoice
holding themselves higher
than another
are they children of the devil - a fallen angel,
who seeks to destroy
or do they live in a pretend world
where they can hide their own fears
from even themselves


Turn,
turn from the fallenness
you have sunk to

Turn to
the God of Grace
The One
who says,
I AM Your salvation.
Jesus is He.
His words, my pen
to you, to me:

Without Me,
you are nothing.
You have nothing.
You stagger about,
caught up in doing nothing
that is pleasing to Me.
You live to self.
You say you are a believer.
But even the devil believes.
You cry.
Is it I, the Lord, to whom you cry?
Is your trust in Me?
Are you thankful for what I Have Provided?
I AM He
who surrounds you,
who is always with you.
But,
Without your attentive focus on ME,
you will not see
My Ways at work
My Wondrous Glory

you will not notice
My Love for you

you will not hear
My Concern for you

you will not feel
My Comforting Embrace.

Turn from, turn away.
Your purpose for your life
is in Me. Turn to Me.

Turn to Jesus.

(c) May 22, 2017

Based on Psalm 56:1-11 (I originally read this from the New King James version. Here, God's word is taken from The Message)
"Take my side, God—I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day. Not a day goes by but somebody beats me up; They make it their duty to beat me up. When I get really afraid I come to you in trust. I'm proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God. What can mere mortals do? They don't let up— they smear my reputation and huddle to plot my collapse. They gang up, sneak together through the alleys To take me by surprise, wait their chance to get me. Pay them back in evil! Get angry, God! Down with these people! You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book. If my enemies run away, turn tail when I yell at them, Then I'll know that God is on my side. I'm proud to praise God, proud to praise GOD.  Fearless now, I trust in God; what can mere mortals do to me?" 

His way

It is His way
even tho we disobey
He takes away
and gives anew
The storm gathers momentum
We think all is lost
and we are without hope
But the Lord God is the Master
He creates us
from the dust of the ground
and breathes into us Life
We are unique and His much-loved
masterpiece.

(c) May 4, 2017

The Lord says ... It will be so

Taken from Isaiah 30: 1-26 and other Scripture

Distress, sorrow will come
to rebellious children everywhere
who take counsel, but not of the Lord
who devise plans, but not of the Lord’s spirit
who add one sin on top of another sin
who walk about – (to Egypt as is this setting  - and elsewhere),
but not the Lord’s way
who do not seek His advice
nor His strength
nor trust in His provisions

It is a disaster coming – there is no remorse

The Lord promises – It is a warning
The strength of the opposition will be your shame.
The trust placed in the hands of the opposition will be your humiliation.
The opposition – the world – will not benefit you nor come to your aid.

A worthless burden carried, going nowhere

It is sad indeed – there is no remorse

Rebellious people - children are everywhere
who lie
who do not hear the law of the Lord
who do not see that which the Lord shows
who desire smooth talking and prophecy filled with deceit;
none of the right things of God
who want to travel paths away from God
who do not want His Holy Presence with them.

The Lord is grieved. His children have no remorse.

Therefore, He, who abides with us, and does not forsake us,
passes judgment.
Disciplined for wrong thinking,
wrong doing,
disobedience
Because we despise His Word,
Because we trust in and rely on oppression and perversity,
We will fall, broken.
We will not be spared.
Our calamity will come suddenly.

If we would return to Him,
rest in Him, in quietness
trust, confident in His power
we would be saved,
He tells us
repeatedly,
but we would not, we will not

We flee,
We think we will escape Him
We think the opposition is better

But we do not escape
We will be pursued
We will be trampled
We will have nothing
The evil we pursue will become our downfall
We will be tormented

But the Lord says, I AM He.
I do not change
I AM the same – yesterday, today, tomorrow – forever!

I wait for you
to turn around,
to repent of your every wrong (sin)
I will be exalted when mercy, My mercy comes to you
I AM a God of Justice – waiting
waiting to bestow blessings unto you.

A time will come
I will hear the anguished cry of your heart’s repentance
and I WILL answer
For I AM gracious.

The troubles (adversity) and pain (affliction) that come in the midst of circumstances are your teacher. Through this you will learn the way, know the truth and live the life. You will see the wrongs and not run toward them, but back away and be rid of them. They are unclean things, like filthy rags. Get Away! Will be your adamant response.

I love you.

(c) April 8-11, 2017

Who do you look to?

Sorrow looks back.

Worry looks around.

Faith looks up.

God looks within our hearts
Man looks at outside appearances

Put aside all, every trouble weighing us down
keeping us hung up on every circumstance.
filling us with defeat all around

We wanting to run away
from those who come against
seeking to destroy
what we desperately seek
and desire.

Let us run, keep running
against all odds
against the pain
Difficulties faced
not a hindrance

Holding onto God’s hand
we keep looking upward
persevering

Jesus
the author and finisher
of our faith
endured it all
for us

He is always with us
will see us through
to the very end.

Do not let sorry
or fear take root

Faith in Jesus
is all we need.

But, where is our faith 
why have we allowed anger
to grab hold and carry us 
down mud-soaked streets 
of disgust and discontent 

Anger has no place
often, but not always,
many words best left unsaid

Satan wants us to be angry 
frustrated, ready to throw in the towel

But I am not a follower of Satan
he so proud
prancing around the world
looking for those to devour

God wants us to be calm 
patient,  a quietness to our voice
that brings peace to another

 I fail so often.

I hope Jesus forgives me.

(c) February 23 and March 21, 2017

Always rejoicing ...?

God's word says in II Corinthians 6:10 -- "Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing"

I find that hard to do - to always rejoice - in bad times as well as good.

We endure the pain
the agony of every trial.
Are we calm and quiet
still before the Lord, our God,
without fear
of what the outcome may be?

Are we thankful
for the blessings God has given ...
to what is good?

Are we forever patient
and kind
and gentle?

Are we faithful to God alone,
trusting in His will,
obedient to His instruction?

Do we see what is true - and right - and just?

"...Whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue
and if there is anything praiseworthy -
meditate on these things." - Philippians 4:8 

(c) March 20, 2017

Rise, and go on

"Rise, let us be going."  - Matthew 26:46

No matter what has happened
that you have done
another was better
but that, that you failed to do
Go and do the next thing
Why let one act of failure
become continual despair
Rise up, and go on

(c) February 18, 2017 

Why Lord?

We ask,
Why Lord?
"Why do you stand afar off?
Why do you hide in times of trouble?"
(Psalm 10:1)

But does he?

No, He does not

He is there
in the midst of our trouble
waiting

"God is our refuge and strength, 
a very present help in trouble."
(Psalm 46:1) 

He allows trouble,
suffering,
pain,
to come upon us.


We are to put our trust
in Him

but
we are blinded
as though we have bandages
covering our eyes
and we refuse
to remove them


We accepted the Lord.

Did we decide along the way
of life
that we were better
than He?
that we had no need of Him?
"God is in none of his (my) thoughts." 
(Psalm 10:4)
"God has forgotten.
He hides His face.
He will never see." 
(Psalm 10:11)

Yet ...

He does see
He sees everything
He has not forgotten
It is not He who hides
but His created people

Do we say in our hearts
with such disdain to the Lord,
"You will not require an account."
(Psalm 10:13)

We are mistaken.
We are filled with sin - each and everyone
One sin is no less sinful than another

When we come to the Lord's throne of grace
we will be judged
for our trespasses.
He will ask
He will hold each of us
accountable for our every action

"... You (Lord) have seen, for You observe trouble and grief."
(Psalm 10:14)
"(The Lord will) "do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed." 
(Psalm 10:18)

(He will) "seek out the wickedness (and evilness in mankind) until You (He) find none." 
(Psalm 10:15)

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

January 25, 2017

We all fail

Do not be quick to turn against another
You're not better than any other
You have failings too - no one is exempt

Seek after God
Rest in the quietness
of time alone with Him
Pray.
God will answer
He will take care of you
and the one you're so quick to judge

Some may defend you
what you say is true

But God is truly Judge
and although we are to be like Him
Judgment is His alone.

(c) February 4, 2017

Author's Note Feb. 6, 2017: 

I remember ...

the one who called me out
and said things better left unsaid

I remember ...
and I, no better, 

call out another

What may be true and right

is not necessarily 

the best thing to do.

And for that I apologize.

I am sorry.

we are God's treasure ... is He ours?

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy." ~ I Peter 1:13-16

God's treasure
we are
made from the dust
of the earth
in His image
for His pleasure


chasing
after every desire
we refuse to be molded
by Him
we refuse to conform
to His will
we refuse to be obedient
we refuse His Truth
believing only lies
overtaken by
ignorance


He is holy
He
calls us too
to be holy
in all we do
in all we say
in all we see
in all we feel
in all we think

God's command is
"Be holy, for I am holy."

But we are not.

Why!?

We are
God's treasure

But do we treasure
He who made us

Do we treasure
His Son
who died
and rose again
to save us
from eternal damnation

Where is your treasure?
Who is your treasure?
Is the Lord your all
Or are you all there is?

(c) January 25, 2017

What about you?

Some hear the Gospel
Some come to Jesus
Some accept His Gift
Some become a child of the King

What about you?

Did you hear the Gospel
Did you come to Jesus
Did you accept His Gift
Are you a child of the King

or does your lifestyle pull you away
Do your thoughts, desires, wants, perceptions
leave no room for God in your life?

Are you abandoned to the call of Christ on your life
or have you abandoned Christ
to live a life of your own choosing ... good or bad

Hearing the Gospel
Coming to Jesus
is not a one-time thing
It is every day, every hour, every minute, always, forever

When you accept His Gift of salvation
you believe Jesus is
The Way
The Truth
The Life.

Jesus is the key
through Bible Study
through Worship
through Prayer
to learning
to understanding
to loving
to living.

But what about you?

Have you heard the Gospel
Have you come to Jesus
Have you accepted His Gift

Are you living a life guided by the Lord
or
is it only your way, your truth that guides you?

(c) January 24, 2017

Do you...?

Do you go
when God opens the door
to opportunities
or do you
decide the timing isn't right
and you'll "go later?"

Do you trust
in God
who knows you better
than you know yourself
or is it
your job
the government
your abilities
that you count on?

Do you believe
when the Lord
says He is with you
or do you
stand by yourself
denying your need for anybody?

Do you come
to the foot of the cross
to Jesus
to bare your soul
to make you whole and complete  in Him
or do your
wants, your thoughts, your desires
take precedence?

Do you know
Jesus
is
Everything
or are you
all that matters?

Jesus loves you
Do you love Him?

Jesus cares about you
Do you care about Him?

Jesus is your friend
Are you His friend?

Jesus wants a relationship with you
Do you want a relationship with Him?

Jesus is filled with joy
as the angels sing in the heavens
rejoicing
when you accept Him as your Savior.
Are you filled with joyous song
when you think of Him?

Jesus wants you to grow in faith,
to be mature spiritually.
Are you willing to take a step for Him?

(c) January 19-20, 2017

Whom shall I send ... Who will go?

The call
of God
for all
but few hear
and are chosen.

Still, the call
of God
goes out
into the day
throughout the night
seeking ...
"Whom shall I send?
Who will go for Us?"
(Isaiah 6:8)

The call
of God
keeps on ...
searching

Who will ask and receive,
to hear His Truth?

Who will seek and find,
to see His Way?

Who will knock and open their heart,
to understand His Life?
(paraphrase Luke 11:9-10; John 14:6)

"Whom shall I send,
Who will go for Us?"

"Here am I! Send me." (Isaiah 6:8)

Send me

Send me

Does He send you?

Do you ask?
Have you received
The Good News of Jesus Christ?

Do you seek?
Have you found
His Love, His Forgiveness, His Peace?

Do you knock?
Has your heart been opened to further understanding
through His Wisdom in His Book - The Holy Bible?
through godly men who preach the Gospel
and men and women alike who teach Sunday school and lead Bible studies?

Will, does God send you
Will you go

Or
Do you take a step back?

Do you hear the call
and receive the truth
but fail to look further, deeper
seeing only your way
and your life?

"Whom shall I send,
Who will go for Us"

Here am I. Send me." 

(c) January 16/17, 2017