A Bouquet of Thankful Blessings

God showers His children
with an abundance
of blessings

Throughout our days
we receive,
gathering
a beautiful
bouquet

of His Love
given on the Cross
at Calvary

of His Presence
always with us
in front
behind
beside us, hand in hand

of His Peace
guarding our hearts
calming our fears

of His Patience
to persevere
to keep on keeping on
to not give up
to not worry and fret

of His Strength
to carry us, weak and weary,
through every struggle
to give us encouragement
to defeat our foe

of His Wisdom
to teach us right from wrong,
good and evil,
obedience and trust
understanding

of His Forgiveness
when we sin

of His Guiding Light
by the Holy Spirit
who abides in our hearts
guiding our steps
so we do not falter

of His Gift
Eternal Salvation becomes ours
when through faith we accept the death, burial and resurrection
of The Lord Jesus Christ
and proclaim Him as our personal Lord and Savior.

All this
and more, much more
blessings we receive
Is it honor
and praise
and glory
we give with respect
this Thanksgiving Day
and every day

Are we filled with overflowing joy
to be in the presence of the Almighty God
Singing songs of worship
Surrounded by His love
joined in sweet fellowship.  

(c) November 23-24, 2015

I AM the LORD your God

He, The Lord,
says to me -

My life
within you
changes you

like a baby growing
in your womb

yet I AM not.

like a disease spreading throughout
your body

Yet I AM not.

like a negative thought taking control
of your mind

yet I AM not.

It is Me - Jesus Christ
I AM He
who cleanses you
makes you new,
whole and complete,
radiant as pure light
filling you with the glory
of My love

My life
within you
changes you

I AM the LORD your God
and no foreign god shall be among you
No foreign god shall be worshipped
(Psalm 81:9-10)

like Allah
whose teachings are handed down
from the prophet Muhammad
who is a false god
whose Muslim followers bow to and profess is My Father

I AM not.

 like Buddha
a statue of stone

I AM not.

like the stars
the planets
water or fire
animals
nature

I AM not.

I AM the LORD your God
I AM Creator of the Universe.

“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him,

And without Him nothing was made that was made.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
(John 1:1-5)

I AM the LORD your God
I AM Jesus Christ,
the Son of God
I AM God the Father
I AM the Holy Spirit

When you abide in ME
and I abide in you
My life
within you
is changed.

(c) November 14-15-16, 2015

The Door

You want the door to open
You stand in front of it
tugging, turning the knob
but it does not budge
You think the door is the key
to any and every happiness
Life would be better on the other side
if only we could get there.

But it is not the door
Every door we enter
or attempt to
will only get us so far
The greatness we look to achieve
becomes meaningless
Our desires do not bring us
fulfillment
We go  in and out
over and over again.

No, the door does not hold the answer.

The One who stands at the door -
of your heart - He is the key.

He holds the answer to your every quest.

You seek,
but are uncertain what it is you look for
You find,
yet you are lost
You follow,
but the way is confusing

If you seek the Lord -
the Lord Jesus Christ -
The One
who stands at your heart’s door
and waits
for you to invite Him in
That One
you proclaim you do not need,
do not want, have no use for,

Him -  Jesus Christ
If you seek Him,
you will find Him.

“If you seek Jesus, the Lord your God,
with all your heart and all your soul,
you will find Him.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)

 And when you have found Him,
you will have the key
to eternal life
to blessings
to peace
to strength
to love
to so much and more.

If you are connected
you will want to follow
If your communication
is two-way between yourself
and The Lord
for every thing
every time
every situation
be it good or bad
happy or sad
healthy or ill
frustrating or peaceful

If you tear down the barriers
If you don’t build walls
If you stay connected,
focused on and trusting in the Lord
Jesus Christ,
He will open the door for you.
He will show you the way
You won’t be lost
or confused
You won’t travel the wrong path
when you travel with Jesus.

“I  am the way, the truth, and the life.”  (John 14:6)

“With God, all things are possible.”  (Matthew 19:26)

 Without God, without Jesus,
you will not find the Way
you will not know the Truth
you will not live a meaningful Life.

(c) November 5, 2015

IF

If you have accepted
Jesus Christ
as your personal
Lord and Savior
You are
a Believer

If you are a Believer
and have died to sin
and rose to new life
You are
a Follower
of Christ

If you are a Follower
of His Way
His Truth
His Life
You are
An Obedient Servant

If you are Obedient
to His commandments
to love God and your neighbor
You are
Blessed
A Child of the King

But….

If you do not follow
are not obedient
Do not believe
or seek His Way,
His Truth
His Life
for yourself

Have you really accepted
the Lord Christ Jesus
as your Lord
your Savior

Is it all a pretense
Where are you
What do you have to show for yourself
What are you doing for the one
who matters most
the one who died for you

Do you have a heart of stone
or a heart of love

(c) November 2, 2015

Do you?

Do you hear
Are you quiet and still
or always in turmoil

Are you thankful
for His blessings
or is good news
an accomplishment of your own

Do you seek His guidance
listening carefully
following His principles
or is your way the only way

Do you look for the best
or expect the worst
and respond to your expectations

Do you teach your children
about God’s love
and grace and mercy
and forgiveness
or do they learn
your authority rules higher
than God

Do you hear His whisper
Are you listening to His voice
Are you obedient to His instructions
Do you follow His way
or do you stop up your ears
look to the world
follow the drumbeat of your own desires

Lost ….
Found…
a wayward child

(c) October 30, 2015

Like the leaves of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter, He Is

Come
To Me
Come
into My Presence
Sit
awhile
Rest
Think only of Me

The leaves
like you
robed in splendor
My glory

In the Spring
budding
like newborn babes in Christ

In the Summer
green
and growing strong
in the knowledge,
heart and mind
of
My Son

In the Fall

arrayed in golds and reds
burnt orange
like mature believers
guiding others
to My Peace
My Protection
My Everlasting Love

In the Winter

a present
wrapping the whole earth
as a cover
to be covered
from the bitter cold
with  pure white snow,
like Jesus, My Son,
who, without blemish,
knew no sin,
came
covering the whole earth
with His love
offering Himself in the place
of every human being
a Perfect Gift
Eternal Salvation

Come
To Me
Come into
My Presence
Sit awhile
and rest
Think only of Me.

(c) October 27/29, 2015 

Gathering Together

Some go
Some stay
Some
claim busyness
Some
say it is futile, boring, tiring,
unnecessary

It is not for us
individually
to make determinations
reasoning to ourselves
For God has commanded
We unite

Do you not remember
what God’s holy word says --
“Do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)

To gather together
To Commune with our maker
To Worship with our Lord and Savior
To Glorify God our Father in heaven
To Come into the Presence of the Most Holy One
and give Him our undivided attention

Come, He tells us
into My Presence
enter into fellowship sweet
with fellow believers
be open
share the joy and love
He bestows upon us

Whether you go
Whether you stay
Where two or more are gathered
in His name, there He will be
among you
but not to do what pleases you
but to come into His Presence
to study and discuss His word
to give thanksgiving and praises
to proclaim
to worship
to glorify
The Living God.

(c) October 19, 2015

Where is your focus?

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, Because he trusts in You.” ~ Isaiah 26:3

Focus
Set your mind on things above
and the Lord Jesus
and all that is in the world - where you live –
will be revealed to you

Each step taken in trust
will guide you
steadfast and sure

Obstacles
that may block your route
such as large boulders of hatred
and wrath and murder
and small stones of complaining
and arguing and irritation
and tiny pebbles of pettiness
get you off course


 But for every situation that comes up,
no matter how miniscule or gigantic the stone,
IF you seek the advice of your heavenly Father
and abide by His command
every perceived roadblock
will vanish

 We see the world,
aware of what comes and goes
We cannot see God, but our awareness
of Him is far greater
than the world
when our attention is centered on Him.

(c) October 18, 2015

 

Does His Light shine in and through you?

Does the Light fade, grow dim
Does the darkness
reach past our bodies cold
and intrude upon our minds
into every corner
Does what we believe we have
no longer exist
Have we allowed our thoughts
of despair and sorrow,
of pain and anger,
of irritation and frustration
to become our reality
Do we listen to the worldview
of right and wrong
and abide accordingly
Have we missed The Truth
and The Way
Do we fail to follow
The Life that is His?

Is the Light in our hearts hidden
or does it shine before all

How can the Light of Jesus
shine in us
If His goodness
is not ours
If His Truth
we do not believe
If His Way
we do not proclaim
If His Life
we do not practice

His Light overcame
the darkness of Sin

With His Light in us,
His Strength upon us
and our Focus on Him,
we too can overcome
the darkness
that seeks to destroy.

(c) October 6-8, 2015

"You are the light of the world ... let your lights so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." ~ Matthew 5:14, 16

"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotton Son of God and this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." ~ John 3: 18-21

"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." ~ John 8:12

I do ...

A special day
shared
begun

I will
I do
on this day
forward
to love
and
to honor
in sickness
and
in health
till
death
do
us
part

Together
two souls
united
as one

Golden rays
of Light
as God encircles us
with His love

And then
the rains
come
clouds of doubt
silence
before the storm
erupts
thunder
booms
Lightening
sharp
across the night sky

Where have you gone
God asks
Here I AM
with you

You had but to call
to whisper My name
to reach for My hand
through every storm
every silence
every heartache

I AM with you

Why do you fear
You are not alone
I see your pain
I hear your agony
I love you still

I know the wait is long
I know your every desire,
and what you need, as well
I know your struggles

Lean on Me
Look toward Me
Listen to Me
Love Me

The answer you seek
will come
It will be as
you desire
I will show you the way
Do not look to another
for affirmation
only onto Me
Follow after Me

The road followed in days past
saturated in mud
Seek Me
in the midst
of the
downpour
and the calm

I AM
a special day
shared
begun

I will
I do

Will you be
and do
and go
and stay
Will you
be united with Me
surrounded by My undying love for you?

(c) September 29, 2015

Come. Hear. Respond.

"The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned,  that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.  He awakens me morning by morning.  He awakens my ear to hear as the learned.  The Lord God has opened my ear;  and I was not rebellious,  nor did I turn away." ~ Isaiah 50:4-5

Come
Awaken
Hear

Respond
to
His
voice
Learn
Understand
His
wisdom

Stay
near
Rebel
not

Come
morning
and
evening
throughout

The
spirit
beckons

Come
to
Him
ready
willing
Sit
at
the
feet
of
Jesus
Commune
with
Him
in
the
stillness.

(c) September 26, 2015

Stay Connected. Trust Him.

"The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe." ~ Proverbs 29:25

Stay
connected.
Trust
Him
Every
step.

Commit
daily
your
life
seeking
Him
Above
All
pleasing.

Fear
judgments
condemnation
uncertainty
gone

Focus
the
path
ahead
The
One
Jesus
beside
you

your
protector
comforter
strength
healer
teacher
your
Everything

(c) September 25, 2015

Follow Jesus. Experience Life.

"I have set the Lord always before me; 

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved." ~ Psalm 16:8

"You will show me the path of life." ~ Psalm 16:11a

First
Second                
Last

Always
Live
Stay
Aware

Him
His
Presence

Peace
envelopes

Love
Encouragement
given

Active
in
Removed
from
world

Follow
Jesus'
path

Experience
abundant
life

(c) September 24, 2015

That day gone by

Today could be Monday
it was a Monday
I seem to recall
19 years ago

I worked late
Time was fleeting

The hour was near
Soon to go home
to be with her Father in Heaven
and all her loved ones there

A long fight
Eight months it was
from first diagnosis
to final breath

She is gone
But not truly gone

She lives on
in the hearts
of those left behind
Fewer and fewer there are
Yet her daughters remain
her grandson too

as I pen these words
in memory of
My Mother
Mae Stoner Orrick
July 31, 1910 - September 23, 1996

(c) September 23, 2015

Who rules your world?

When you worry
When you fret
The way of the world
is what you get

Pulled down and away
your thoughts are selfish
your actions are contentious,
strife erupts
your words swallow and spew
hatred and anger
The way of the world
clamors for your attention
more and more
as the life you lead
the life you have
becomes less and less
about God

Awareness of God
and His Power
His Strength
His Presence
is blocked

You fail to see the good around you -
the blessings God bestows upon you daily

You see instead only pain
and you react to that pain
You see your life spiraling downward
and you want it to stop
but you can’t see how
Everything all negative
Outbursts of anger and bitterness
begins and ends the day
and each situation brings
only more anger, more pain
You want this life you’re living
to Stop.

The Devil has infiltrated your brain
into believing his every lie:

- give up
- it’s no use
- it won’t work
- there’s no way out
- you are worthless
- he or she is lying or cheating
or doesn’t deserve your forgiveness
or your love
- no one cares
- you hear words of condemnation
- you are put down for every comment
You feel so disconnected

You want your life to be pleasant,
enjoyable,
peaceful,
filled with goodness,
kindness and gentleness
and love
You want encouragement

Listening and believe and reacting
to the Devil’s lies will not
get you where you want to be

You must turn away from him and the darkness
and turn to God.

You do well to accept the Lord
as your personal Savior,
but it doesn’t stop there.
There is more
much more to the Christian life
As children of the Living God
we show our faith
and our love of, in and for Him
by demonstrating to others
His Way,
His Truth,
His Life.

Not our way,
or our truth
or our life,
but HIS

When we are disobedient
to the Lord’s teachings,
He is not pleased – with our attitudes or behavior

He wants a relationship
with each of us

When we are seeking the Lord
for everything,
studying His word,
worshiping,
so much of our pain
goes away

We still have hardships
but dealing with them
much easier to bear
The Lord God is with us

Look to the Father
Turn away from Satan
Jesus conquered the enemy
from the cross for you and me
We do not have to give in
to the unfruitful works of Satan

Live in the Light
Follow the Light
Look to the Light
Our God will lead you
out of the darkness
that seeks to erode
your every thought and deed
and bring you into
the joy of knowing Him.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

September 20-21, 2015

Who?

Who...
says the old man
from wisdom of ages past
present and yet to come

Who do you listen to
Who do you hear

Whose voice is it
whispering in the dark of night
making your heart pound

Who brings satisfaction
to your soul

Who hastens you
to move
to accomplish more

to be joyful
in the midst of agony
and apparent defeat

Who loves you
unconditionally
is always with you
does not depart

Who is the answer
to your every problem
every need

Who brings beauty
into your life ...
sunrises, sunsets, changing leaves,
a dandelion
a rose

Who develops a new life
Who grows a marriage
of two individual people
into one complete unit
a blossoming friendship
a baby
a family

Who stands beside you
Who walks your path
Who waits in the wings
for you to come back
to take that step
of love and courage
to remember
a past time
when you gave your life
to Jesus
The One who died for you

Who do you listen to
Who do you hear

Is it your co-workers
your boss
your teacher
your neighbor
your pain
your desires
your complaints

Do you hear only noise

Do you listen to encouragement

Do you hear love in the air
gentleness
kindness
patience

Do you listen
Do you hear
the cries of sadness

Who do you listen to
Who do you hear

and how do you answer

(c) September 12, 2015

I think ... I know ... I think again

I found a poem I wrote last year - June 21, 2014, that I didn't post.  When I searched for it by date, I found another -- titled  "I can pray for you."  It is good to review past posts.  The one I didn't post I wondered if it was worthy of posting.  Now I think perhaps it was and is.

I think and that gets me in trouble
I know God is the answer to everything that is and was and is to come.
I believe this in my heart as well as know it in my mind.
However, sometimes when I stumble, I forget and  think there is more.
And then I am reminded, there is not more.
God is it.
He is enough.
If you don't have Him, you need Him.
And if you have Him, but don't walk steadily with Him
100 percent of the time, you need to return to Him.
Thank Him for His grace. His love. His mercy.
Thank Him for everything every time,
even for those times we find ourselves struggling,
which is often,
and for those other times when it is good.
For every part of our life, God is what we need.
He has every answer.
We only have thoughts ...
Thoughts on what we think,
thoughts on what another thinks,
thoughts on what we perceive.
God's thoughts are higher. And purer. He knows.
His answers bring us hope. And Truth. And always Love.

(c) June 21, 2014

published September 11, 2015

Did you?

Did you take
a wrong turn
wandered down a path
of lies and misguided information
that goes on and on
an endless road
going nowhere

Did you miss
the fork in the road
the one that read
“All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth.”
(Psalm 25:10a)

Did you forget
to ask directions
from the one
who knows The Way
and then follow

“Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me.”
(Psalm 25:4-5a)

Did you turn away
going your own way
taking the wrong turn
following your own thoughts,
your own ideas,
your own beliefs

or

 Did you repent, turn back
ask for help
seek a better way

Did you remember
The Lord –
"He will keep you in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Him.”  (Isaiah 26:3)

(c) September 9, 2015

God's call to Come

Based on Psalm 42

Come
to the inner circle
I do not condemn you
You are one of Mine
and I shall abide with you
all of your days

Come
into My Presence
There is much that saddens you
brings distress and weariness to every bone
Against you they have come
but I will hold you up
higher than they tear you down

Come
be not afraid
Let the Light of My Love
shine upon you, through you, within you
as you enter in
Praising Me and My Holy Name
moment by moment

(c) September 8, 2015

a rebel nation

(Based on Genesis 16)

"Where have you come from?
Where are you going?" God says.
He knows
but still He asks.

Fleeing,
running away
We see
understand
to a point
but how accurate do we see?

We despise another
and that one sees it -
dismayed, disheartened
the response is to lash out.

And we run

but we are sent back
tail between our legs
we return
submitting to a higher authority.

Mistakes made
errors in judgement
We think our thoughts, our plans
are just as high as God's
or higher,
but foolishness
is upon us.

He is Creator God
and we are created by Him
He is our Master,
our King
We only dust
a whisper in the wind
created.

We look for a word from God
"I will multiply your descendants exceedingly." (verse 10)
Your child you carry
a son
Ishmael
wild
"His hand against every man and every man's hand against him." (verse 12)

And it is as it is written.
Ishmael is a rebel
The beginning of a nation
destined to kill
any standing in its way.

(c) August 30-31, 2015