His sweet, sweet song

Sing a song of gladness
Sing a song of praise
Sing a song of love
     to our Savior
Sing a song of hope
     to our redeemer
Sing as if there were no tomorrow
Sing a song of pure joy
     for God has defeated the foe
Sing a song in the morning
and at noon-day fair
Sing a song in the dark of night
or when the moon shines bright.

~~~~~

I hear ...
the melody lingers
as she sings
and he sings
and sometimes, me too
but often, perhaps,
our lips are silent
our hearts stilled
as the circumstances of life
     overwhelm us.
Stop!
Listen!
and Sing!
Surround yourself with Jesus
     and be lifted up daily
through His sweet, sweet song.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
May 5, 2018

God's way

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." ~ Joel 2:32

God made the promise
Not me
Not you
and God will find a way
to keep the promise.

It is not up to me
or you
to direct His ways,
but rather,
to obey His commands.

Are we listening
Are we doing
Do we go to Him
or do we plan our own course of action
and then
pay for the misfortune that results?

"He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." ~ Isaiah 2:3

The Lord God is gracious
He waits
for you
He hears
your cry
He answers.

Adversity comes
and pain abounds
He teaches
"This is the way, walk in it." ~ Isaiah 30:21

Do your eyes see?
Do your ears hear?
Do you obey His commands?
Does your life reflect the Lord and His way, His truth, His life?

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
May 3, 2018

God said ...

"in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised." ~ Titus 1:2

Faith.
Believing God's promises
True
Resting in that belief
because God said so.
He does not lie.

Faith.
Believing God sent it,
therefore,
it must be good for me.

Faith.
Believing God said
trials will come,
therefore,
it must be good for me.

Faith
Believing
His Word
His Truth
His Way
His Life

Where is our faith?

Why
is it only the misery
we see in the midst
of every trial?

Why
do we not see the good
that will come out
of our struggles and pain?

Why, in our wildest imagination,
do we not see
any good thing?

"The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all." ~ Psalm 103:19

It is His - our Lord, Jesus Christ
His kingdom 
that rules over all

The best of times

The worst of times

We are to bless Him
for all of it.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all that is within me,
bless, His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits
who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your disease,
who redeems your life from destruction,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
who satisfied your mouth with good things."  ~ Psalm 103:1-5

Bless Him
and bless others through the blessings God has bestowed on us

Love Him
and love others through the example Jesus has shown us

Seek His forgiveness
and forgive others as Jesus forgave us,
being reconciled through His grace, His peace, His love.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
May 2, 2018