Somewhere to shine

God has put us
where we are

Somewhere straight away
Somewhere to train
Somewhere to sit and pray

No matter where He puts us
we are always
Somewhere to shine

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." ~ Matthew 5:16

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
12.26.2018

I say ...

Glorify God
always
in all ways

I look for joy
I look for peace
I even look for love
All to be found
and is truly so
in God above
through My Lord
My Jesus

I say I'll follow
wherever He leads
but the road is rough
and I often stumble

I say whatever Your will
no matter the cost
but the pain and
suffering is often more
than I can bear

I say the darkness
cannot harm me
You are my refuge,
my help, my hope
but even in the light
I sometimes fail to
open my eyes
or my heart

I say I am Yours
I say I'll show Christ
in my every word
and action
but often my sayings
and doings
fall short

I say this, I say that
I pray Lord Jesus
It is true
It is wise
It is loving

Only You Lord
know me best.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
Dec. 11, 2018

God answers...

Trust Me
He says
Trust Me
and do not waver
Look up to Me
past yourself,
past another,
past the pain
that surrounds
your physical body
past the anxiety
that penetrates
your mind

I know My child
what you need
and what you desire.

I see your struggles ...
everyday
Look up to Me
Come to Me
In the morning
before My glory has risen
with the rising sun
and throughout
each day
In the evening hours
stay near Me
My child
and do not allow the gloom
of circumstances
prey upon you

I am with you
always.
I will not forsake you.
You are My child.
My son died for you
to set you free.

Stay close,
near Me
all the time.

Be aware
of circumstances
around you,
but do not fall
into traps set
to put you in bondage.

Look up to Me.
Come to Me.

In Me, you will find
the solace you seek.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
Nov. 29, 2018

My Lord knows ...

My Lord - Jesus
He the one I still cling
in the midst of every failure
every painful,
exasperating moment
every struggle to understand
to my very core

My Lord - Jesus
He knows me
and just what I need
and He
He will provide
He will enable
He will deliver
He will bless
He will restore
He will comfort
He will rescue
He will be with me

My Lord - Jesus
He knows me
He knows just what I need

I do not doubt Him
or His word
It is man's word and action
which I collide

Show me the way, Lord Jesus
Lead me through the tunnels of despair
Guide me
Take away that which I do not need
Help me to know what I am to know
and to learn what I am to learn

Help me to stay ever focused on You
Help me to be Your loving servant
for another - for him or for her ... here or there, near or far
Help me to help them through You
I pray in Your holy name, my Lord, my Jesus.
Amen.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
Nov. 26, 2018

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; ... and lead me in the way everlasting." - Psalm 139:23-24

"the enemy (within me) has persecuted my soul; ... my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed."  - Psalm 143:3-4

Our focus belongs on Christ alone

Our focus belongs
on Christ
alone

Stay with Him

Do not stray
into the world
and become
enamored
with every delight
you think should be yours
or get caught up in
life's circumstances

Stay close to Christ

Do not stray
For when you do,
you have allowed
Satan to rule
your life journey
that takes you
along paths leading to
Rebellion
Resentment
Rejection
Rage

Do not let it be so

Repent -
Turn away from all that the world teaches
for "Friendship with the world is hostility toward God. So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God." (James 4:4)
and
Turn toward Christ

Resist -
"Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands ... Purify your hearts." (James 4:7-8)

Stay close
Draw near
Keep your focus on Christ Jesus
He is your refuge
He will guide you
along paths of righteousness
He will provide comfort to your weary body
peace and joy
to your heart and soul.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

October 29-30, 2018

joy comes

for a little while
we weep
we mourn
our sorrow is full

but then
in a little while too
joy comes
fills our hearts
We are one
with the Lord

Until that day
when we return
to our Father in heaven
... for it is He
who gives us
the breath of life
and new life.
Until that day
we ask
we seek

Because as Jesus
says in John 16:23-24,
"anything you ask
the Father in My name,
He will give you ...
so that you may be complete."

And then,
O blessed thought,
we no longer need to ask
because we know.
We are complete. 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Oct. 26, 2018

The Lord's desire

The Lord's
desire
is for us
to be
still
silent
long-suffering
(patient)
in the
midst of battles
that come
at us
on every side.

To lay aside
to put away
everything that
hinders,
prevents us
from walking,
journeying
with Him.
Do not fall into
traps that catch us
off guard
that lead us along
paths of neglect
for those under
our care
or destroy
relationships
because of mistaken
thoughts and beliefs.

Do not follow
the world
that shows you
its perception
of right
and wrong

Follow Me
Run with Me
My strength
My power
All that I am
within You
My child
will help you
endure
all that lies
ahead of you.

Keep your eyes,
your focus
on Me
I am the prize
you seek
There is nothing
better or greater
than Me
for I am
the source
I am
He
who perfects you
I am
Jesus,
I am
His Father,
Your heavenly Father
I am
He
who
suffered for you
bled for you
died for you
was buried for you
and rose again
for you.

Through Me
you have
a new life
a new hope

Be still
Be silent

"... lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfector of our faith."  ~ Hebrews 12:1-2

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Oct. 24, 2018

always a reason

always a reason
for every answer
God gives
every no
and
every yes

We do not understand
His reasoning
We ponder why not
for one thing
and why this
for something else

His plan
His reason
His thoughts
all are bigger
and greater
than any of our own

He sees the whole picture
We see but bits and pieces

When His time
is right
for us to know
the whys and wheres
it will be revealed

We will know
without a shadow
of a doubt

He always has a far
greater good planned
A greater gift
A compassionate blessing
Love

Our Lord
loves us so

We should not
ever
second guess
Him
He knows all things
in all places at all times.

He Is.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Oct. 10.23.2018

sometime, somewhere

sometime, somewhere
it will be

the blessings
promised
will come

Our Lord, My Lord, My Savior

Every promise made
will reach fulfillment
He said so
He does not lie

but too, we will learn
(I will learn)
to wait
wait through tears
and prayer
through relationships
through trials
unimaginable

sometime, somewhere
it will be
the blessings
promised
will come

perhaps already
we have received
a promised blessing
but fail to see it

Our eyes, our hearts
are blinded by
misconceptions
and we think
God has failed us

He has not!!

sometime, somewhere
His every promised blessing
for you and for me
will come

and we will see
His eternal love
spilled out and overflowing
upon us.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Oct. 17, 2018

called to ...

Called to follow
Christ

Called to goodness
and kindness
and faithfulness
and gentleness
and self-control
and love
and joy
and peace
and patience

Called to endure
suffering
in the midst

Why?

Because of Christ
Because He suffered for us

He suffered
in the midst of all,
yet He remained
faithful
to His Father God.

"He himself bore
our sins 
in His body
on the tree...
so we 
might live 
for righteousness." 
(I Peter 2:24)

Jesus
is our example -
His steps
we are
to follow

No sin
No deceit
No insults
No retaliation

Called to follow
Jesus

Not our own
selfish
wants and desires

Called to follow
our Savior,
to endure
the pain
life throws at us

Called to receive
God's blessings
because of
our obedience
and love
for The One
who loves us
so much
He endured
the pain
and suffering
of the cross ...
all for us.

We are called

Have we answered

Do we answer
daily - hourly - minute by minute

Do we
endure
every pain
and remain kind
and gentle,
loving,
joyful,
peaceful,
patient,
faithful,
good?

Do we ask
the Lord's forgiveness
for our own
shortcomings?

Do we seek
His guidance
to overcome
every setback?

Have you
"now returned
to the Shepherd
and Overseer 
of your soul?"
(II Peter 2:25)

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
Oct. 6, 2018

We ...

We come
He and I
asked by another
sent by God

We go
He and I
to preach The Word
to guide

A pastor and his wife

We stay and we give
He and I
to show The Way
to offer suggestions

We question
He and I
why our help
is met with silence

We remain
He and I
until God says
to move on.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

October 2, 2018

He knows

Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ... I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me." 

~ John 15: 1, 5

It seems
pruning
destroys,

cuts all away
and there be 

nothing to see. 

But He

who is the
pruner - The Master Gardener 

He knows
what will be.

Pruning

brings 

life
and an abundance
of fruit-full
blessings.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
Sept. 20, 2018

There is Jesus

No matter what
There Is JESUS

No matter who passes on
Jesus sits with you
He is near to comfort you

No matter the pain
of physical or mental aches
Jesus is near to calm and soothe you

No matter the weather --
be it rain - hot and humid -
tornado - hurricane -
earthquake - avalanche
- forest fire - flooding
Jesus walks with you
He stands beside you

No matter the sleeplessness
Jesus quiets you
and shelters you

No matter what comes
into your life
or that of your children
and spouse or any other
loved one
JESUS is always present
always within reach
unseen with your eyes
but recognizable with your heart.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
Sept. 6, 2018

Readiness...

We wait on God
for a response
from Him
It will come
He will have
an answer
But He waits
until He knows
we are ready.

We wait for God
for a response
from Him
It will come
He will have
an answer
But He determines
when He is ready.

We cannot rush into
or rush along
We must be
patient
The answer
will come
when all is ready
for it to be accomplished.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
Sept. 5, 2018

Becoming new

To move ahead
Look forward,
not back
Look upward,
not down
Become
a new person -
Not the one
we were
before things
unraveled

A New Beginning

Memories -
good and bad
The bad ones
we need to stay away from - 
do not dwell there.
Only when we can see the good
that God brought about
because of the bad,
should we consider visiting
and even then
the visits should not be too long.

Think of lessons learned
and where we do not
want to return

Move ahead
Look forward
One step at a time

The steps
backward
are a stumbling block
Pick yourself up
dust yourself off
and continue on

Take hold of the One
whose hand reaches
toward yours
The Lord Jesus
will be with you
through every bad moment
and every good

Just trust Him
to guide you
along the way.

Do not lose sight
of the One
whose Light
shines
in the darkened corners
of your minds
and your hearts.

Believe in His Promises
made to you and me
centuries past
current
and to come

Love Him
for without God
without His Son
without The Holy Spirit

There is no beginning.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
Sept. 3, 2018

The Light of Jesus shines through

Paul
in captivity
tight
yet
freedom
reigned
within
his soul.

He was
a prisoner,
yes,
but not of
some people group
or government
but rather
for the Lord.

The bars
kept his body
imprisoned
yet his soul
was free
to be and do
the work of
His Lord.

The darkness
did not
overcome
him

The Light
of Jesus
shined
through him
and beyond him

Messages
sent forth
beyond the cold
and damp
and solitude
to
buoy,
encourage
others
even you and me
in the days ahead
for centuries to come.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
Aug. 27, 2018
based on devotional readings
in Streams in the Desert

Our longings are with Jesus

We long to be
where we are not
We think our efforts
to find and dwell
and be satisfied
will be
right around the next bend.

But it is not.

Our longings are not
found in another person
or another place

Our longings
are with Jesus
God Himself
Our Creator
Our First Love
Our shelter and refuge
Our confidante

Our home is in the heavens
That is where we long to be
Long to have
But many do not see
and many who come in search
do not find what they have sought
and many do not know where to go.

But there remains
a remnant
of God
who search and find
who see
and know where to go

It is I, is it not Lord Jesus,
to show another
the way to Your Holy Throne?

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
Aug. 26, 2018

You say you know ... but

You say you know
But how can you.....

unless you have opened the Holy Book
and read God's word
of His wisdom
His knowledge
His promises

You say you know
But how can you....

unless you pray, bowing before Him
turning your heart toward the heavens
pouring out heart and soul
to the Lord Almighty
with your every fear
your every question
your every hurt

You say you know
But how can you....

unless you have a personal relationship
with the God you believe in
with Jesus, God's son, whom you accepted as your Lord, your Savior
with the Holy Spirit, who resides in your heart

You say you know
But how can you....

unless you gather with other believers
to worship the Holy One
to sing praises
to join in a Bible study
to learn how to apply  what you learn in living your life anew
to make friends

You say you know
But how can you....

unless you take your children with you to Sunday School
so they too will learn about Jesus
and how much Jesus loves you all

You say you know
But how can you....

unless there is a change -
in and out -
within your heart
and your witness shown on the outside

You say you know
But how can you....

unless you take the necessary steps to know.

You say you know
But how can you....

unless you love the Lord your God
as He loves you
for He died for your sinful soul

You say you know

But,
until you go the way of Jesus
until you are obedient to His commands / instructions
until you do - walk / live the life Jesus shows us

you do not know.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

July 12, 2018

Be ALIVE!

Don't give up
when you see
life around you
dwindling to nothingness,
being destroyed by the world's enticements

The Lord Jesus called
you to Himself
and you answered,
surrendering
to a life with Him
and Him alone

Don't fall into the pits of hell,
where Satan waits,
biding his time
to snatch you away
from God's goodness
and unending love

Satan wants only to show you
a better way to
succumb to death
It is death he seeks for you,
an eternal, endless
place of flame, torture and pain

Life IS Jesus -
remember ...
He was born
He grew to manhood
teaching Christian principals
He bled at the cross of Calvary
He died for the sins of all
and He rose - again
He is ALIVE! He is ALIVE!

Jesus is the epitome of LIFE
He shows The WAY
He imparts The TRUTH

Wake up and BE ALIVE!

Right now
you are dead
Dead to thoughts
that bring you down
Dead to memories
that remind you
of your faults
Dead to comments
from others
whose words and actions
deteriorate you

You believe the lies.
Their blame,
their bitterness
their hate
becomes a part of you
and you believe
what they say
is who you are

But is it really?!
God, the almighty God,
creator of the heavens
and all the earth
and of you
called your name
in the stillness
of your beating heart
and you answered ...
Yes

Jesus is Alive! He is Alive!

And you too are alive
a child of the King
Not of Satan
You have been forgiven
God forgave you
the moment you believed Christ died for you
and accepted
Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection

The Lord has filled you with His love,
His peace, His joy, His gentleness,
His kindness, His goodness,
His patience, His self-control. He has
given you eternal life.

Do not spend your days
wasting what you have
been given
to cower in a darkened corner,
reminding yourself
of every negative thing

Trust in the Lord
Believe in Him

Be ALIVE!
Go The Way of Christ
Obey The Instructions of Christ
Do The Will of Christ

Trust He is who He says He is
Believe His every promise
Read His every miracle
Follow the Lord Jesus -
He will never lead you astray.

Be ALIVE!

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the yes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world." ~ I John 2:15-16

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

July 11, 2018

He does not tarry

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it, Because it will surely come." ~ Habakkuk 2:3

You pray
You make known to God
the desires of your heart
of which He does know
He has told us
time before
and now
and again
Do not be anxious
Do not fret
Do not question
when

The Lord will answer
in His time
All is in His time
not ours
He knows what we want
and when we want it
But our wants are not
always His best for us
And our time table is not
always His

We may think He tarries
But He is NEVER too early
NEVER too late
But just the right moment

God still rules
in every facet of our lives
Thank Him for His provisions
Be grateful
instead of in a state of
constant turmoil
Keep your focus
on the Lord Jesus
He will guide you
and bring a calming peace
to your every struggle.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

July 4, 2018