Am I ...Are you?

Am I
Are you
Empty
Dissatisfied
Frustrated
Lonely
Angry
Disappointed?

Do I
Do you
try to please
a spouse
a friend?
gain or lose
what really counts

Do I
Do you
look higher
than ourselves
above the clouds
past the sun and moon
to the Lord Jesus
He who guards
my soul
and yours

Do I
Do you
find fulfillment
in
our Savior
or are we ourselves
the answer to our
eternal destiny?

Will I
Will you
run the race of life
with Jesus
as our pilot?

If I
If you
are unhappy, lonely, disappointed
will anyone care
Is it up to me or you
to fix what is broken
because no one else
is willing
to open their heart
and enter into
our burdens carried?

If I
If you
are angry, frustrated
will another answer
in like manner?

If I am stronger
than you
or
if I am weaker
than you
does that mean
one of us has no need?

When will it matter
When will you care
Must I, must you
be what we are not
to receive what we desire?

Lo, but

The Lord
to Him
me and you matter
He cares
He is here
beside me, beside you
surrounding us

Do I
Do you too
often miss Him
Fail to grasp His hand
Speak His name
Realize He is there
right where
you and I
are?

Is
my cry
your cry
only heard
by us
Or do others
hear and listen
what is not spoken?

Does the Lord?

Do I
Do you
feel warmth
security
love
peace
or are we
left in the dark
with only ourselves?

Do I
Do you

Call upon the Lord

Will I
Will you

Seek His guidance

If I
If you

Pray in His name

Will I
Will you

be more full
more satisfied
more truthful
more self-controlled
more peaceful
more joyful
more patient
more faithful
more gentle
more kind
more obedient
more trusting
more encouraging
more content
more forgiven
more loving
more grateful
more faithful

More like Jesus?

(c) Sept. 15-17, 2016

Soaring high

Phone

E-mail
Facebook
I attempt
an audience
of one
to reach
but fail.

Staring
Deep in thought
it appears
to another

There are no clouds

The sky blue
lifeless
until early evening light
brightens
and glows
warm oranges
and pinks
and I know
God is near.

His presence
reminds me
He is near always

He sees
our every circumstance
knows our every turmoil
our desires and dreams

 our tiredness
morning
noon
and night

He sees our stupidity
He knows we must wait
for what is to come

He sees our glad
and happy occasions
too,

but
Be still, He says

Be still
when we don’t know
where we go
or why it is
or how it will be

Be still.

I AM here.
I AM there.
Wherever you are
the quiet stillness
before the storm

Stay focused on Me
and you will be free,
soaring like the eagle
high and higher above.

(c) September 3-4, 2016

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might He increases strength. … those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40: 28-29, 31

“Be still and know that I AM God.” – Psalm 46:10

I AM

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.” – Psalm 37:7

I AM

Emptiness fills
Lost and alone
wandering down paths
thought to bring
renewal
but only
more destruction
meets
your gaze

The darkness
settles in

Love fails
to fill
the deep despair
of your soul

Return
Repent
Refocus
the Holy Spirit whispers

The Lord God
offers
rest
refreshment
fulfillment

Connection to what is good
and true
and complete
cut, snapped in two
You think it’s all about you

The Lord reigns
Satan was and is defeated
at the cross

The Lord judges

One day
sooner than known
He will return
and you will be judged
and your punishment
will be made known

and you will see
how little is about you

For
I AM
The Beginning
and
The End

I AM
The Way
The Truth
and
The Life

You are Nothing
without ME !

© August 19, 2016

Where IS your Love for ME?

God wants to know...
Why, My Child
have you left Me?
Where is your love for Me?

I was No. 1

Now hate and anger and defiance
take precedence

 and you have no need for ME

Have you forgotten so much!?
I AM He who created you
I AM your Savior
I AM your Deliverer
I AM your Teacher

It is My Commandments
you are to follow

 not the leadings of the world

I
 AM He who fights for what is right and true
 I AM He who fights against all Evil

Where is your love for Me?

© August 18, 2016

A sign

"What sign will you perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?" - John 6:30

They 

and we
me too
we all
ask
for a sign
a sign
to show us
who
You
O Holy One
Lord Most High
are.

We say
if we see
we will
believe.

But our vision
is cloudy
Our eyes
open wide
are darkened
covered
by a veil
and
we see
little
if anything
of what
God
has to show us.

A sign
He sends the rainbow
sunrises
sunsets
cloud formations
Do we look up
Do we yet believe?!

No,
we do not.

We talk
Big talk
Meaningless chatter

In all our talking,
is it
with the Lord
and do we
wait
for His response
Are we
earnestly
listening
to His wisdom,
His instruction

We say
if we
heard,
we would
believe
Jesus
is The Way
The Truth
The Life
but do we
listen?
Is it His doctrine
we cling to

No.
We turn away
to a world
of make believe
We ask for a sign
but then
we stop up our ears
and go
our own way

A sign
A sign
We want a sign
You say the world is dying
How can that be?!
What is there
that we have missed?

Our eyes
Our ears
Even our hearts
are closed

The signs
have been given
But we do not
see
for we are blind
we do not hear
for we are deaf
we do not understand
for our hearts are as hard as stone

A sign --
we must
look beyond
beyond ourselves
to the Lord
Focus on Him
for everything
His Life
His Truth
His Way

But,
sadly,
we
do
not.

© August 16, 2016

He is everywhere....

My Presence is everywhere 

you see it
in the rainbow
the sunset
changing of leaves in the fall
the oceans
the mountains
the flowers
and at birth

Some of you rejoice
declaring its magnificence
Thanking Me for the beauty and wonder
of My creation.

Did you know that is worship?

Everywhere you go
I am there
I surround you

Are you thankful
for My every provision?

or do you find fault
with the gifts you receive?

“Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”  - Psalm 29:2

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” – Isaiah 6:3

 

© July 30, 2016

The Lord sees your secret sins

The Lord sees you

He hears you
He knows your heart
Every secret sin
you hide from another
is known by the Lord God

Do not think
your sins are safe
for they are not
You proclaim faith in the Lord Jesus
Yet you do not spend time
with Him – praying and studying His word
Your secret sins control you
Your life revolves around a fantasy world
that you treat as reality.

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.” – Psalm 119:1-3

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 119:23-24

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” – I John 4:18

Do not allow your secret sins to destroy you
Come into His Presence
Let His Love for you
seep into your every pore

“…He who begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:6

© July 29, 2016 

His Light shines, His brightness prevails

His Light shines

His brightness prevails

Many though fail to see
as eyes cloud over
ears plug up
hearts harden

Heartlessness rules
Selfish living dominates
a world filled with
cruelty, evilness, death

Yet,
His Light shines
His brightness prevails
overcoming the darkness

Love within
spreads out
and beyond

The path of goodness
gentleness
kindness
patience
thankfulness
obedience
forgiveness
reaches past
the monotonous days
of living for self
to the
fulfilling days
of living for God

Seek the Light
The Light of Jesus
Seek Meaning
The Love of Jesus
Seek Truth
The Truth of Jesus
Seek Life
Seek Jesus

Open your eyes
so you may perceive
past yourself
to those around you

“for the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – I Samuel 16:7b

Open your ears
so you may understand
the Truth of the Living God
past your own reasoning

“O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past – stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.” – Psalm 78: 1-4

Open your heart
so you may embrace
the Love of the Lord
and of those around you
past selfishness

“The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach.” – Deuteronomy 30: 10-11

© July 28, 2016

Our Prayer

We pray
We ask
What is Your will, Lord
Is it moving
Is it staying put
Is it going
and doing
Is it leaving

You said go and do
We go, we do

You said do not move
You said stay
We stay

You said
I will tell you when your time is finished
We have not heard Your answer

Fear steps in
Worry and anxious moments
threaten our well-being

What is Your will, Lord

You said Trust Me
Do we trust
We say we trust
But are we

Is our fear of the unknown greater than our trust in You

Oh, be it not so
Remove the fear Lord
Remove the anxiety
Keep us ever mindful of You

It is not about us
Not about our desires
Not about the desires of a church body

It is all about You
Your will

Let Your will be done Lord Jesus
You and You alone

Help us trust you more
Help us to remain grateful, ever thankful
Help us continue to be and go and do
all that is Your will.

In Your Name we pray.

Amen.

What do the shadows say?

What do the shadows say?

So still
quietness before
the storm erupts

and then it begins
movement
ever so slightly
becomes louder and louder still

If you don't hear
is there no sound?

Sounds of silence
break
at early light
havoc breaks free
the end coming
the sun shines
slightly

The son watches
God His Father
searches
Will He save the many
for just one
Is there one
Will the Holy Spirit
be heard above the noise

What do the shadows say?

The sun
settles upon the darkness
Only His Light
can remove
the blackness of your soul

Satan grips tighter
Destruction his perfect plan
Death his ultimate goal
There is no tomorrow in hell
Only one torment after another.

Come into My Light and Live
I AM
The Way, The Truth, The Life
There is no other.

Through Me
is
Salvation
Hope
Love
Joy
Peace
Life Evermore

What do the shadows say?
is the noise booming louder
or do you hear the still
small voice of God
....whispering

Ar you one with Him  --
the called, the chosen, the faithful

or
are you among those
who make war
with the Lamb

Do not be deceived.
The shadows play games with your mind,

but the Lamb,
the Lamb who was slain
for every sin
past present and future,
is the Lord of lords
and King of kings
He - the Lamb of God -
Jesus Christ
is the overcomer
and He WILL
overcome them.

(c) July 10, 2016

Cathy Orrick Luders

"These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."  _ Revelation 17:14

Do you need reprogramming?

Do you need reprogramming?

No! - you're not a robot, you say

But actions deceive
over and over
responses
consistently the same

The Lord

Our Father in heaven,
who created you

His Son Jesus Christ,
who died for you

His Spirit,
who lives within you

tells us to
STOP! 

Stop listening to the noise of the world and
to your own negative thinking

Hear Me! 

Hear My voice
speaking softly to you

Ask Me
My Spirit
to quiet your mind
remove the deafening sounds
that explode within you

Come to Me
Do not fear

I will give you what you need

"Do not be conformed (or molded) to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." _ Romans 12:2

Answers ...

Answers

We always wait
and God reveals --
sometimes all at once
but mostly bits and pieces
in His good time.

We think we understand
His word to us
but then we doubt
whether we heard it at all.

Answers

Sometimes yes
Sometimes no
but mostly just plain wait

Wait

and continue to go
continue to do

The end will be greater
than the beginning

and what does that mean?!

wherever He leads
whenever the time

His answer
will come to us all
For it is His answer
that matters most --
more than any other.

Continue to go
Continue to do
Be My Light
to those who reside in the darkness
who have lost their way
who fail to see all they have and/or could have.

Answers.

1 "Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! In your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness. 7 Answer me speedily, O Lord; My spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. 9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies, In You I take shelter. 10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness."  -- Psalm 143 

Hope

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11) 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Why?
For what reason
would

you hurt
worthless
let me be

But they did not

Choices
made
all hurt

Jesus
loves 
you

He
died
for you

Will you
not live
for Him? 

No one
not one
is less than
another
All precious
to God

Perspectives
flawed
thinking
disconnected,
distorted

Think about Jesus
Think about His love for you
Think about His plans for your future

You fall
the pit deeper
Endless misery
when to end

But hope whispers
picked up
brushed off
taken in
embraced

Disappointed
God is
bad choices
swallow you

But hope whispers
Do not be afraid
His hand extended
Another chance
perhaps? 

You accept His hand
cling to life

Will you accept His love
freely given?

Will you accept His guidance
to direct your steps?

Will you accept Him as your Lord, your Savior?

Will you become a new man, discarding the old? 

(c) April 20, 2016

Rise Above

We share
We help
another
We feel
downtrodden
We see
looks of disdain
We are
disheartened,
hurt
Smiles
hide
ourselves
Quietness
closes in.

God says
Rise Above.

Needless,
unnecessary
words
do not
build up
only say
how far
another
has to go
Looking down
as if to pass
judgment

Are we so good?
Our thinking,
perceptions
remove us
from reality.

God says
Rise Above.
It is
My Way
My Truth
My Life

When
you
fall down,
Rise Up,
Rise Above
the circumstances
of every moment
locked behind
invisible walls
in darkened minds.

Rise Up
Rive Above
Come,
into My Presence
Daily seek
and Follow Me
bring your awareness
of your need
to Me
Be thankful
for I give you
Peace.

(c) April 18, 2016

He promises, He knows, He says, He Is

He promises
to meet all our needs.

He knows
exactly what our needs are.

 He says
PEACE
is our deepest need.

 He says
trials
bring about peace
through trusting in Him
in the midst of every trouble.

 He says
Focusing on Him
instead of the stones and weeds
that take up residence in our hearts
will bring us Peace.

 He says
PEACE
will flourish
 when pride
and
worry
and
anger
and
swearing
and
lying
and
cheating
and
envy
and
jealousy
and more
are kicked out.

 He says
I DIED FOR YOU
 not for the world
not for the things of the world
but FOR YOU.

 He says
I LOVE YOU.
You are Mine.
I can do all things.
I AM all things.

 He says
Believing in Me
is good,
but even the demons
believe.

 I want a relationship with you.

 He says
I want a future for you,
a hope growing within you

 He says
PEACE in Me
I give you.

 In the world
there is only one struggle on top of another.
It is unending.

 He says
COME.
Come into My Presence
and listen
and hear
and do.

 Be Still.

He says
I AM ALIVE!
I arose from the grave!
Satan has not won
I am not defeated.

 He says
defeat does not live
in your heart.
I moved in
when you accepted Me
as your personal Lord and Savior.

 I AM THEVICTOR.

I offer abundant life.

 Come.

 Walk with Me

 and live life abundantly,

 in Victory.

(c) April 2, 2016

John 16:33 ~ “…In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ “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.”

Philippians 4:19 ~ “Any my God shall supply all you need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

James 2:19 ~ “You believe that there is one God, you do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble!”

Who do we please?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
~ Proverbs 3:5-7

Should we do that
Should we do this
Should we please you
… individually
or as a group
Should we please ourselves

Someone
wants this done
Another
wants something else

And then there is the Lord
He too we hear
His word is different
than all the others
To please Him
we simply must be
in His Presence.
Meeting with Him daily
Listening to His counsel
Following His advice

We are bombarded

The Lord says to go
So we go
He says to stay
So we stay
Sometimes too He says to stop
Stop and wait
So we stop… and we wait

But some do not like
where we go
nor
where we stay
and stopping and waiting
is just not reasonable thinking

The Lord says
+ to keep our focus on Him
+ to seek His kingdom, His righteousness
+ to follow His leading
+ to look at every circumstance for His provisions
+ to live our lives with His light
shining in us
shining upon us
shining through us

+ to share His love with everyone
+ to be still and know Him.

It is not the world
and not our Christian brothers and sisters
to whom we owe allegiance,
but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!

To Him
we must look first
for every answer, every need, every desire

Is not our faith in Him?
We trusted Him to save us … do we not trust Him with our day-to-day living?

 How can we say we trust the Lord,
but do not obey His commands, do not follow His  leading ?

 How can we pray for guidance and then  decide it is not enough?
 We need more.
We know what we need.
God doesn’t have a clue.

Are we sure our faith is in Him …
Are we sure we trust the Lord to guide us down the right path …
Are we sure He knows the way?

 No, we are not sure.

 We proclaim to be born-again Christians
and yet we live as though we control the universe.  

and we do not. 

(c) March 31, 2016

The best gift of all

Christ is me
The best gift of all
For without Him
all of me
all of life
is filled with distractions

It is not
what He does
nor
what He gives
but
who He is

And
who He is in me

I only walk
through the motions
of the day-to-day grind
in the workplace
in home life
even in leisure time

Our bodies fail
and wither away

Our minds nod off
into dull senseless thought

 We are … nothing.

But we can be transformed.

Christ
born for us
lived for us
died for us
and three days later,
He arose
for us!

Christ is alive!
I too am alive
Reformed
Reborn
Renewed

I must Be still
I must
come into His Presence…
I must
listen
be alert
obey
His every call
upon me

I must!

For if I am only
what is
and nothing more

God’s light in me
will never shine.

(c) March 27, 2016

Showered with blessings

The Lord says to me, I shower blessings on you daily, but sometimes you do not notice them. When your mind is stuck on a negative focus, you see neither Me nor My gifts.

The showers (of blessings) fall upon you

 Are you so unaware when things go contrary to the way you think is right
that you can not give another the benefit of the doubt?

Is the other always wrong?

Do you ever consider your perceptions might be faulty?

Do you go to your Father in heaven?

Do you ask for a better vision  of how you see things?

Do you seek the light of God whose presence defeats the very darkness that overwhelms and steals all that is good from you?

Do you knock daily, seeking a presence with His almighty Presence?

He lives in your heart.

He is with you always.

or

 Do you believe the day you accepted Him as your Savior was enough?

Do you wonder  … What more could there be? 

                                                                                                      (c) March 21, 2016

Shadow of Emptiness

I am like a shadow

Cast upon the earth,

My worthiness being

That of dirt,

In darkness I am not known,

But in light my life is shown,

Nothing to glory in, nothing to own.

This is my destination,

For eternal condemnation.

But lo, I heard a voice,

God said I have a choice,

"My Son I send to thee

To be your Savior

To set you free.

He'll give you purpose and meaning

He'll give you a life worth living,

Believe in Him my beloved friend

For to His kingdom there is no end." 

(c) Donald Brayton, 1979

God knew ...

He heard the call
You Lord placed on his heart
He heard
and responded
If you please Lord, I will go
And he went
off to school
to learn and be equipped
to follow You wherever sent

Along the way
life crowded in
oh so merry
so very grand
but distractions
overtook and
the path
He was destined to follow
became overgrown
with fear and worry,
anger, lies

The call, still present
He knew it was there
God doesn’t say yes
and mean no

There was another voice
He heard in the darkness
No, you can’t!
You are done for
You’re a failure

You can’t
You can’t

The words echoed
in his mind

Many years
come and gone
He remembered
the call
the words spoken
by many
who could not condone
would not forgive

Awakened
as if in a dream

a phone call comes

God remembered His child
God knew his heart
God sent him
for He knew he would go.

(c) March 20, 2016