Face to Face

Face to Face
we shall see Him
Oh! What glorious thought
My Lord
to whom I gave my soul
He loves me so
more, much more
than shall I ever

Face to Face
now only dimly
and trembling
Soon and very soon
longer than we'd like
He will come
on high
in all His glory
white as new fallen snow
to gather
all His children
together -
even me
even me. 

Face to Face
Come quickly, Lord Jesus
The trials and sorrows
of this world grow
But You are all-powerful
You are stronger
than any two-edged sword
You have defeated the foe - 
Satan -
for all
even me
even me.

Face to Face
even me Lord
even me
I will see You
to whom I gave my soul. 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

March 27, 2018

God sees all

"...we know in part ... but when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away ... For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face." ~ I Corinthians 13:9-10, 12

"Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see, but does not see, and ears to hear, but does not hear." ~ Ezekiel 12:2

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts." ~ Isaiah 55:8-9

"The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile." ~ Psalm 94:11

"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." ~ Luke 18:27


God sees
We think He only sits
in the heavens
and watches
but does nothing -
an uncaring, unloving Father

We are so wrong.

God sees
our pain
our mishaps
our discord

Today
every day
He is not inactive
He is preparing us
for greater service,
strengthening us
for the time-consuming days
of suffering ahead.

We abhor waiting.
Patience is not
our specialty

The days drag into weeks
and months
and years

We strive
to be pleasing
to God
but we drown in
dismay.
We have lost
all strength
and fortitude
to go on
and patiently wait.

What will You have us
to do this day, Lord?

Don't be impulsive
Don't run ahead of Me
Wait.
I will show the way

God sees all.
We only see partly -
Partly the way
Partly the truth
and although
we may live life
we do not see
the fully complete life
we are to follow.

O Lord,
help us
we pray
to see what You want us to see
to do what You want us to do

Help us
see
and understand
any strength lies only in You.

Without You,
without awareness of You
a dismal life
is all that we see.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

March 22-23, 2018

...can it be?

And can it be ...
That I
should be redeemed
That My God
should die for me?

God said ... and it was so

Do you believe
My Father says
You and you and you,
do you believe
that I am able to do (this)?

...can it be?
I who caused Your pain
I who should have died
I who you did not condemn

... can it be?
That I
should be redeemed
That My God
should die for me

and
He touched me
He loved me so much
and He loves me still

I am His
His child
forever I am
and He is mine
My Savior
My life
My all

His promise fulfilled
according to
my faith
My trust
in Him.

"Do you believe that I am able to do this?" ~ Matthew 9:28

"God said ... and it was so." ~ Genesis 1:9

"According to your faith let it be to you." Matthew 9:29

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

March 21, 2018

It's all about Love

"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him,
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives." ~ Hebrews 12:5-6

You discipline your sons
and daughters
So why should you also 
not be disciplined?

They do wrong
in your eyes
as you do wrong
in the eyes of God

Their punishment 
you consider reasonable
You remove things
from their enjoyment
so they will learn
right from wrong

You, too, are punished
Whatever God determines is best,
will be removed from you
so you, too, will learn
right from wrong

You want your sons
and daughters
to mind
to say "please" and "thank you"
and "I'm sorry"
Just as God wants you
to mind
to be obedient to Him

You have desires
you want met
God, too, has desires -
to ask of Him in prayer
to thank Him in worship and praise
to forgive another
and not constantly remind them
of their faults

God forgave you
He knows your faults,
your Sin
He knows everything
about you
and He forgave you

It's all about Love -
He loves you 
Do you love Him? 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
March 16, 2018

We are A child of God

"Almighty God can make us stronger than our circumstances and can turn each situation to our good." ~ John Henry Jowett, Streams in the Desert

We are nothing
yet we are
God's creation
made in His image
from the dust of the earth
and given the breath of life
We are
A Child of God


We are nothing
yet we have
God's strength.
With Him
we can do all things
we can go all places
we can be all we can be - 
loving, trustful, godly, truthful
believing, faithful, gentle
patient, honest,
a reflection of our Lord,
Jesus Christ.
We are
A Child of God


We are nothing
yet we know
God's instructions, teachings
show us the way
to rise above and beyond
our every fear and temptation.
We can trust God
to guide us
along life's crooked path
and make it straight.
We are
A Child of God


We are nothing
yet we profess
Jesus
is The Way,
The Truth,
The Life
We are
A Child of God

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

March 15, 2018

Promises

"Every promise of Scripture is a letter from God." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon,                                                                                   Streams in the Desert


Every promise of God is built on:

His justice
His holiness
His grace or goodness
His truth

He will NEVER deceive us
He will NEVER forget us
He will NEVER change

On the other hand,
every promise of Satan is built on:

Lies

He ALWAYS deceives us
ALWAYS forgets us
ALWAYS changes

Who do you believe ... What do you believe?

To be like Him

Many trials we must face
through suffering we run the race
In God's wisdom He bestows
strength for our weary souls
encouraging us to glow bright
and brighter still, like the light
of Jesus, His beloved Son.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
March 4, 2018

Soon and Very Soon

God’s desire
Our mission - to cling to Him
and not become distraught,
seeking escape
from difficult circumstances faced.

Tired and so weary
We lay upon our pillow,
praying.
Won’t You please take me home?
Why am I still here?

Cling to Me He says
Cling My Child
and as you cling, sing praises
thanking Me
for every blessing bestowed
given then
given now
given later

Your room
not yet ready
You are needed
where you are
Do not question
the whys and whens

Just soak in My goodness
Be content to bask in the Light of My Son
and soon and very soon,
You will be in the
Almighty Presence of My Unending Love.

Dedicated to my adopted mommy, Anna, on her 105th birthday. 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
March 1, 2018