Hear My Voice

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish;  neither shall anyone
snatch them out of My hand.”  (John 10:27-28)

Hear Me
My voice
I call
I know you
You respond
and come

I AM
everywhere
I bring
love
and peace
life eternal

forever
mine

but some
are they
I call
deafness
surrounds
My voice
rings true
but you
do not hear
going out
as coming in
dead in your sin
You live in a world
of evil

Hear Me
My voice
I call

Be forever mine
safe and secure

or

follow the path
of eternal destruction.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

July 25, 2015

He ... endures

"His truth endures to all generations." - Psalm 100:4b

Enter into His Presence
with thanksgiving
and praise
Bless His Holy name
because He Is
All and Forever

The real deal
filled with loving kindness
gentleness
goodness

The Light
filters
through 

the darkness
of our mind
Remember
He who is in you
Is greater than he
who is in the world

He who is
The Great I AM

of the universe
His love forever
His truth endures
to all peoples,
all generations

Do not lose your way
to feelings of dismay and doubt

that strike
bringing fear to your being
Do not give in nor give up
Do not listen to the past
rearing its ugly head
and raining down 

Remember the love
of those around you
and of our Lord
Jesus,
who loved us,
loves us still
so much
He gave His life
for ours

Do not travel roads
of remorse and falsehoods
The past is not the present
You are surrounded by love
Do not allow your thoughts
to settle upon you
so you fail to see 

all that is good and loving

Reach out to Jesus.
Trust Him.
He will provide
for your every need.
He will walk with you
Side by side, hand in hand.

(c)Cathy Orrick Luders
 July 24, 2015

Learning a choice

We to learn
in every circumstance
whatever it is
whenever it is
wherever it is

A choice
our thinking
His thinking

Patience
Trust
Thankfulness

to give, to receive
to and from Him
who Is

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
July 24, 2015 

He talks to me - do I hear?

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." ~ Romans 12:2 New Living Translation

He talks to me
He talks to you
do we hear
what is He saying
what do we hear
are we listening
is it clear
or muffled
Are sounds around us
robbing us
of what we need to hear
is it only dull noise
deafening our thoughts
that bring unrest

We get caught up
in anothers' thoughts
as much as our own

The still small voice
of God
so soft
so quiet
so gentle
never loud nor demanding

He talks to me
and to you
what is He saying
what do we hear

We cannot know
what He says
if we cannot discern
good from bad
right from wrong
truth from falsehoods

We cannot hear
what He says
if we do not listen
and
we cannot listen
if we do not tune out
all that distracts us
in the world
and in our own thinking

We cannot be at peace
if we do not spend moments
of quiet solitude in His Presence.
(c) July 9, 2015
Cathy Orrick Luders

We see so dimly

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." - I Corinthians 13:12

Jesus tells us "I am The Way, The Truth and The Life." - John 14:6

Dim
dimmer
all I see
in the mirror
I peer into
is pain
that flows over me
in waves

My head
throbs
the pain grips
and explodes
masking briefly
that surfacing elsewhere
hips
back
shoulders
neck

Too much to do
Too little done
Push Push
There is no end
Where am I
I cannot handle
I am tired
Sleep comes
but I do not
wake refreshed
muscles ache
joints sore

Day after day
I go
I look for answers
I know He is near
I cry
Surely He hears my agonizing cry

His reply
I hear constant
Keep your focus on Me
Look unto Me
not into yourself

Look up
up to the heavens
not down
I will guide you
on the way to go
Stay close, closer still
Do not wander
down paths that
take your thoughts
away from Me

I AM The Way
The Truth that leads to freedom
The Life that shows you how to live your life

Follow Me

(c) July 8, 2015

Cathy Orrick Luders

We live in an evil time - Do our lives reflect His Love?

We live in an evil time
destruction is all around
division meets us at every corner
One strikes
and we respond
dismayed by the evilness
we do not expect
The darkness
is hidden
we do not always see
the same path the Lord sees
The Lord answers
our anquished cries
and comes,
rescues us from that
which seeks to hold us in
We are forever indebted
He loves us so
Do we love Him
enough to forgive those ones
who strike out
against us
Do we love Him
enough to love those ones
who have lost sight
of who the Lord Jesus is
of what the Lord Jesus did
for them
Do we love Him
as much
as He loves you and me?
Do our lives reflect
His Love
in the midst of every evil.

(c) June 21, 2015

Arise and shine!

"Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
and deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
and His glory will be seen upon you." 
(Isaiah 60: 1-2)

Darkness was your mindset
before I became Your Light
But even now
darkness settles over you
and you do not see Me

You flounder, helpless and hopeless
undermining relationships
fueling fires
with words
to bring another down
instead of building up

seeing ugliness, imperfections
instead of beauty

curses
instead of blessings

complaints
instead of thankfulness

Where is your patience
your kindness
your gentleness
your self-control
your goodness
your faithfulness

I took away the darkness
yet you return to it
day after day

When My child
will you see Me --
the Light that came to you
when you believed
and accepted My love

When will you move away
from the darkness
that is destroying you
and come into the Light
of My Presence
to live
for all your days
to grow into the man / woman
I know
to be a beacon
to others to grow
within your household
as others are beacons
of My Light
of My Presence
to you.

(c) June 6, 2015 

We are precious

"...in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." _ John 16:33

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." _ Revelation 22:13

"...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7

We, like precious stones
and flowers in full bloom
created
for His glory
for His purpose
yearning to reach Him
His Son
rescued
cleansed
redeemed
saved
sanctified

We, through the blood
the death, burial and resurrection
of Jesus
are one
of His

precious in His sight
coming into full bloom
through obedience, trust,
faith, love
in He
The Alpha and The Omega
The First and the Last
The Beginning and the End
who is Peace
offers us peace
beyond the world
for He has overcome
the world

We have the Trinity
God the Father
God the Son
Jesus Christ
and God the Holy Spirit
He is
all we ever need
He is
He has
We face trials
The trials do not need to overcome,
overwhelm us
Reach
in Him you can have peace
Come to Him
walk with Him
Stay true to Him

Turn away
from the focus of the world
and rein in your gaze
to God
whose peace,
which surpasses
all understanding,
will guard your hearts
and minds through the Lord Jesus.

(c) May 26, 2015

Our choice

Our choice

The Lord
or
others
who we serve
who we desire
to please
who we respond to
by our actions
who we listen to
meditate on
through His word.

Our choice
to get tangled up
in knots
over perceptions
defensive
because of
another’s comments
or pray
the Light
of God’s love
will shine
within us
and enable us
to be
more like Jesus
less like
any other
who are not
more or greater
than ourselves.
We are
all equal
in God’s eyes.
All sinners
saved by grace
all human
all powerless
without
Him.

Our choice
to be
imprisoned
in a cell
without bars
bowing down
to the realities
of the world
we live in
and deciding
it is just fine the way it is
or
kneeling
before the throne of God
to what is true
and grounded
standing firm
on the realities
the promises
the miracles
the unconditional love
of the Lord Jesus.

Our choice
to see
only our circumstances
to look for security
in the things
we have
or think we need
or
to see
what cannot be seen
looking beyond ourselves
beyond our spouse,
friends and family
to the grace
God extends to us
when we accept
His Son Jesus
as our Lord
and Savior.

Our choice
to ask questions
seek answers
gain knowledge
and understanding
to step beyond
our selfishness
and spend time
with the Lord
our Father in Heaven
in His Holy Book.

Our choice
to dust off the book
sitting stagnant
on a shelf
only to be used weekly
or less
and open its pages
Our choice
to read
and study
and meditate
James
John
Ephesians
Philippians
Psalms
Proverbs
a few


Our choice
to find the answers
in this most knowledgeable
of books
filled with useful information
as much today
as in yesteryear

Our choice
to live as the Lord
desires us to live -
with Him at the helm
or to live
focused solely on
the “me” in each of us.

Our choice
What have you chosen this day?
What will you choose tomorrow?
Do you choose the Lord
for every day
or is it still only you
that is important?  

(c) May 3, 6, 2015

Are you looking in all the wrong places?

When you find yourself cornered
burdened with circumstances
beyond your control
yet looking for a way of escape
Do not get caught up
in acts of desperation
and confusion
leading you down lonely roads
away from where
The Lord
of your life
desires you to be

Reach for Him
He has no angles
No evil intent
You belong to Him
He is everywhere
There is no one
who is or will be
more to you
than Jesus

Come to Him
in the midst
of your pain
Concentrate on His love
for you
His plans for you
His Presence in you
Turn to Him
The Lord is not hidden
He see you
He is Everywhere, Everything, Every Time
If you do not see Him
Are  you looking in all the wrong places?

Turn away from where your mind wanders,
sidetracked by all that isn’t right
Turn to Him
Rely on the Lord
not on yourself
Come to Him
He will ease
the load you carry
He is All we need
Always.

(c) April 25, 2015

Be still, and know

“Be still, and know
that I AM God.” (Psalm 46:10)

God is here
with us
His Presence
our refuge
our hiding place
our strength

Be still
Will yourself
to focus
on Him
who is …
GOD

Remove
yourself
from endless thinking
planning
for any and every
circumstance

It is not easy
Keeping yourself
away
from where
you should not be
should not travel

Oh Lord
guide my steps
my every step
guide my thoughts
so I am not
led places
that are unfruitful

You are my Light
How can I be
fruitful
and multiply
if I stumble
along the path
before me?

You, Lord
show us
love
and joy
and peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
self-control (Galatians 5:22)

to show
another
the way
to You
the way
You lived
the way
You are
the way
for us
to become
like You

So much
seeks
to destroy
our walk
our life
with the Lord
Selfish desires
become
a higher priority
than
God’s desires  (Galatians 5:19-21)

We hear
but not
that which
God wants us
to hear
We see
but our vision
is cloudy
We think we
comprehend
but are misguided
True Understanding
escapes us

Do not fear
but we are afraid
The Almighty God
creator of the universe
and of us
lowly humans
We fear His Promises
are not real
We fear His Presence
is not surrounding us
We fear His Power
is not enough

Oh we of little faith
Where is our trust
We make ourselves
bigger
We are so small
so insignificant
yet God loves us
Loved us
so much
He sent His Son
to be
the sacrificial lamb
to die
in our place

Be still
and know
Ask for  all
you do not receive
Seek all
you do not find
Know
as much as
He will share
and understand
He Is.

(c) April 24, 2015  

Our All in All

God gave
God gives
so much
All to us

and what do we see
or hear
or understand
of
His love to us

He gives
Through beauty in nature
all around us
Through His creation
Through His Son
and His Word

Have we lost sight of it all

Do we love in return

Or does our pain
in every cubicle of life
escalate
higher and higher

The child
we were
once filled
with wonder and pure delight

Have we turned away

His Love
His Presence
is everywhere

Why do we not rest in Him
His glory
bright
surrounding

Be still

Bask in His Everlasting Love
Surrounded by His Holy Presence
Believing, Trusting
in His every Promise

Be still
and know
fully
completely

He is
our All in All

Within me
is my Lord …
His Love
His Presence
His Peace

(c) April 24, 2015

Hidden Treasure

Have you
found
what was hidden
Do your findings
brighten your day
your heart
are you filled
with joy and gladness

Or are you glum
unhappy
unsatisfied
Do your findings
only bring you down
to the pit
of despair

Signs
of the
Lord’s Presence
are everywhere
even when
your days
may be cloudy
or dark
or foggy
or rainy
His Presence
can brighten
your
own little corner

See the blessings
He gives
See the goodness
all around you
Be thankful
in everything you have
and receive

If you only see
what is wrong
what is incomplete
what is unfinished
what is negative

You have not found
the treasure
of God’s eternal truth
undying love
everlasting joy

Jesus.

What do you do
when
you’ve found
the treasure
and share
the treasure
but
allow life’s circumstances
to seep into every fiber of your being
and you,
for all you have
found
are failing to believe
failing to trust
failing to focus
failing to obey
failing to ask
failing to plead
failing to love
failing to hope.

Where
is the treasure
hidden
... from your eyes
...from your heart

(c) March 30, 2015

“I AM the Lord, and there is no other;
I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the LORD, do all these things.”  ~ Isaiah 45:6b-7

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”  ~Jeremiah 29:11-13

The time is coming

“For the Lord will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

The time is coming
It could be around the next bend
you – believer!
nearer,
nearer still
The time
of our salvation
when we first believed
and accepted
The Lord
Jesus Christ
as our Savior
That time
is coming
Stay in the Light
Remain in the Light
Give up, cast off
all that keeps you
secluded, on the fringe
of the darkness

 You toil
you rest
Do not let your rest
bring strife,
envy, anger, fear
But walk in the way
of the Lord
uprightly, without prejudice
without scorn
 Put on Love
The Love of
The Lord
 You will see His Love
You will see what is hateful
what is unnecessary
 You will hear His commandments
You will hear what is unimportant
the world
 You will understand God’s purpose for you
You will understand what is wrong
 You will walk toward the ungodly
and bring the freshness
of the Lord’s saving grace
into their midst
You will walk away, turn away
from negativity
You will bring possibilities
and you will be at peace.
(based on readings in Romans 13: 8-14)

 (c) March 16, 2015

Is His message foolishness to you?

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
~ I Corinthians 1:18

You say you are a Christian,
but are you?

You say you turned your life around,
but have you?

You say He is with you always,
but are you always with Him?

You say you pray,
but is it unceasingly?

You say you are wise and knowledgeable,
but do you read and study His word regularly?

You say you understand what the Lord says to you,
but do you apply it to your life?

You say you are saved,
but where is the power of God in you?

where is His love in you to share
with those around you?

where is His strength in you
to enable your every weakness
to be under His control? 

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  ~ II Timothy 1:7 


Be still
and see
Be still
and hear
Be still
and consider ALL
He has to say
and understand
and
give Him,
The Lord God,
all glory and honor. 

(c) March 13-14, 2015

A - S - K

Ask
God
for wisdom
in faith
without doubting
and
it will be given
you will receive
answers

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” ~ James 1:5-6

Seek
God
through prayer
through Bible study
through worship
through praise
through Thanksgiving
through the day
above everything
and
you will find Him
and hear
His voice
His still small,
calming voice

“Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!”  ~  I Chronicles 16:11

“But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” ~ Matthew 6:33

Knock
a chance encounter
may lead
to opportunities
wherever
God directs
our willingness
to go
to do
to preach
The Gospel
of Jesus Christ
in word or deed
however  the Lord
prepares, instructs
The door
is
opened
to you
by the Lord
to plant
the seed of faith
to water
and to give
all glory and honor
to God
the rescuer
of the perishing
from
death
to
life
through
His Son,
Jesus.

“…to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord.” ~ 2 Corinthians 2:12

“For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. … Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” ~ 1 Corinthians 16: 9, 13-14

(c) March 10, 2015

The sun / Son is always shining

The sun / Son
is always shining
in the sky
in our hearts
if we
believe
in God Almighty
and Jesus Christ,
His Son

The sun / Son
is always shining
It’s the clouds
in the sky
and in our hearts
that cover the light
of day
and the Light of His Presence

The sun / Son
is always shining
when gladness and joy
fills our hearts
and God’s love
fills our souls
as each new day
begins …
and ends,
bringing rest
and peaceful slumber.

(c) March 6, 2015

Do not let the ways of the world destroy you

We cannot
fix – repair - change
the one (s) we love

It is
not
our
responsibility

We
are
held
accountable
only
for
ourselves

The best
The very best
The most excellent
we
each
can do
for him
for her

 is

to love them
unconditionally

 to forgive them
without fail

 to pray for them
unceasingly

and in between
to listen
to laugh
to cry
to live!

Change
if you already
proclaim yourself
a Christian
happened
the moment
God brought you
to Himself
and you became
His child

You are not
what you were
You are different
You are changed
and you change every day.
If you are
the Christian
the follower of Christ
you claim to be
your allegiance
is to Jesus
not
to yourself

If you want
to be
a better parent
a better husband
a better wife
a better person,
go to God
First,
Second,
Third,
Always
He is your first
resource,
your first
line of defense
never your last

Ask
Seek
Knock

“For everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds and to him who knocks it will be opened.” ~ Matthew 7:7-8

If you do not ask God in prayer
how will you receive all that the Lord has for you?

If you do not seek God’s wisdom,
how will you find the answers to every life issue faced?

If you do not knock at God’s door
how do you expect His blessings to be opened to you?

How can you know Him better … Trust Him more?

If you do not Ask, you will not receive
If you do not Seek, you will not find
If you do not Knock, the door will not be opened

You are not
what you were

If you say you are
If you proclaim
“This is who I am. I can’t change.”
Then perhaps
you are NOT
the believer
in Jesus Christ
that you say
you are

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified.”  ~ II Corinthians 13:5

You cannot be
who you were
and who you became
in Christ Jesus

You are one
or the other

You live to yourself
and your selfish desires
and wants

or

You live to Jesus
whose very life and death
transformed you
made you whole
and complete

If you claim
allegiance to
the Lord Jesus
our Savior
for all eternity
then it is to Him
you must live your life
You must repent, turn from
all that goes against
His way
For it is His way
you must follow
and not your own

He knows more
about us
than you or I
who we are
what we need

Listen to Him
Open His Word
Study His Life

Come again and again
to The One
who constantly seeks
you out
to fill you
with His Light
His Love
His Presence

“Do not be deceived. God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh, will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life.” ~ Galatians 6:7-8

Do not grow weary
Do not lose heart
Do not hunger for that which destroys the good work God put in you. 

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” ~ Galatians 5:24-26

Satan seeks control over your every move.
Satan has no desire to see you live or walk in the Spirit of God’s Love .  His plan of attack is for you to live and walk in the way of selfishness, to be forever blinded to what you know is wrong, to what God has said is unrighteous.

You know what is wrong – you know what is right.

 Do not be jealous

Do not be argumentative

Do not be envious of another

Do not look for a quarrel

Do not be negative-minded

Do not be hateful

Do not be scornful

Do not be resentful

Do not be filled with destructive behavior

Do not look for revenge

Do not be overcome with intense anger

Do not lie

Do not be a know-it-all

Be loving

Be joyful

Be peaceful

Be patient

Be positive

Be kind

Be faithful

Be gentle

Be respectful

Be helpful

Be prayerful

Be grateful

Be thankful

Show goodness

Have self-control 

Everything changes when God is in your life. 

Everything changes when you take God out of the equation as well. 

Don't take the wrong path.  Don't stay on the wrong path. Don't give in to desires and wants. Do not let the ways of the world destroy you. Turn away, turn from what is wrong, and turn to God. 

(c) March 3-4, 2015

a prayer

Lord of Light, Lord so bright
Your Love within me every night
I pray for comfort, I pray for peace
I pray for him, I pray he'll be all right.
And have this prayer fulfilled I pray tonight.

(c) February 26, 2015

A new day dawns within

“…a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” – II Peter 1:19a

A new day dawns
The Son is risen
The Bright and
Morning Star
shines
His Light
within you
His Resurrection Power and Strength
overcomes
the darkness
and the coldness
seeking
to penetrate
your heart.

(c) February 18, 2015