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

And He wept ...

Behold, your King, My Son, is coming.
To you who gather He comes
lowly, as was His birth
astride a donkey … foretold
and regally,
a white horse His steed.

Jesus enters
The city
Your heart

To finish
To return
To restore
To carry you home
To conquer
To complete

Palms strewn at His feet
and hands lifted high in praise
cries of Hosanna! Save Us!
hammer the air

As His disciples proclaim,
“Blessed is He, the King, who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory
in the highest!” (Luke 19:37-38)

But they knew not

Peace
was far from them
Rejoicing was in hope
of a “for the moment” fix
Wisdom and knowledge
hidden
as prophecy long foretold
not remembered.

And He wept.

 (c) March 18, 2016

Parenting and ...

Parenting and …
We know nothing firsthand
Yet we know much
Learned and still learning
when our grandson
and then later his brother
were born

We are not their grandparents
Yet we are

There are no blood ties
Yet heart strings pull hard

We love them so
We – Gramma and Papa

(c) March 7, 2016

Hearing Hearing

Hearing, Hearing
What do you hear
Are there many voices
vying for control
or just one
who bends your ear

Hearing, Hearing
What do you understand
of the words that are said
Do you know what is meant
when The One voice you hear stronger
is not yours alone

Hearing, Hearing
concentration a struggle
discernment more
So many voices
How do I know
one from another

Stay near
Walk close
The Lord Jesus says
Read My Word
Study My  Way
Follow My Life
Know My Truth

Hearing, Hearing
I wander
but the path is not rough
nor overgrown with weeds
Wherever I travel
I know the way
for the voice I need
is here beside me
One voice alone
I know His voice
and He knows mine
I hear
He speaks
I follow
His lead.

(c) March 3, 2016

“He who does not enter the sheep hold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”  ~ John 10:1-5

His Love ...

How wide
How long
How high
How deep

Beyond our comprehension
We can only imagine
A fullness we cannot experience
We must wait
until our time has come
and we see Him
face to face

Then we will not only know
but see and embrace Him –

The Lord Jesus Christ -
and His Love.

For now
there is much darkness
We struggle to focus
on His Light.

When we be still
in His Presence
His Light shines bright
glowing in us, through us, upon us
and the awareness of His Love
is enough
each and every day.

(c) February 24, 2016

He did, He did, He did

He did die
He died for all
He who knew no sin at all
took upon Himself
every one of ours

He did lie
buried
3 days
in a tomb

He did rise
The Son of God
arose
The stone did roll
The angel did say,
“Do not be afraid.
He is not here.
He is risen.
He is risen from the dead.”
(Matthew 28:5-7)

Alleluia! He is risen indeed!
 

He did give
He gave the gift
of eternal salvation
when we do accept
Jesus died for us all
each and every one

When Jesus rose from the dead
We too have risen
… from the deadness
of our sins
to new life

No longer to ourselves
are we to live
but to The One
whose life was given
as an
atonement
for ours.

He did
He did
He did

 He died
He rose
He gave

The death He died
and rose from too
Have you accepted
that gift He gave?

Have you become
a new creation?

Have old things
passed away?

(c) February 17-18, 2016

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” ~ II Corinthians 5:17

The Lord says 'Come'

He says to come.

Come to the Father
bring  your brokenness
find comfort in Me

I will shelter you
I will give you rest
I will renew, revive

You are not alone
I am with you
Do not flounder

Ah, My child,
you belong to Me

I see your pain
your  every struggle
I see your fear growing
I see your tears flow

What another misses,
I do not.

I know the longings of your heart
the misery that has captured you

 I will guide you

 Dwell with Me

Do not succumb to thoughts
that pull you down

 Take My hand
We will walk this path together, My child
I will not leave you
I will not give up on you
I am forever with you

Look unto Me
Do not fall prey to what
is lurking out beyond

I am The Way
Follow Me
through the quiet stillness
and the dark shadows

 I am The Truth
Obey Me
My commands
My instructions

 I am The Life
It is My life within you
that changes you
 You are restored, renewed
Do not look back - Look Ahead
Do not look down - Look Up

(c) February 15, 2016

“For with God nothing will be impossible.” ~ Luke 1:37

“…He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” ~ Ephesians 3:20

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul, He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they cocomfort me.”  ~ Psalm 23: 1-4

That One - Jesus

Being aware
of where we be
needn’t  keep us
immersed
in what may come

Only one and ourselves alone
know where we be

Only one and He, the Lord
know what may  come

We long to be free
of every strike
and blow
every ache settling
in our bones

So aware
of all holding us down
we miss
The One
The Only One
up above
the reaches of our mind
yet so near

wherever you are
wherever you’ve been
wherever you think your going

The focus
belongs on the Lord

 Stay in the midst of
His awesome Presence

 Embraced within the arms of
His Precious Love

 Strengthened by
His Almighty Power

and
wherever you are
whatever may come

will come to pass

The One who knows
your every move and thought

 The One who knows
yesterday
and tomorrow
and every today

 is with us always

His name

 That One

 JESUS

“I commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” ~ Psalm 37:5

“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ~Matthew 28:20

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” ~ John 1:1-2

The light

The day is cold
The sun is bright
above a cloudless sky
oh what a sight
His light shines
our countenance grows
we less weary
by every weighty burden
we carry

But when the sun
hidden
where none can see
storm clouds gather
oh how frightening it be
The dark of day
The dark of night
away we run
looking for that precious light -
hidden.

“If I say, Surely the darkness shall fall on me, Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.”  ~ Psalm 139:11-12

The gift

The gift
given
Jesus
He who died
in your place
took upon Himself
your sins, everyone

What have you done?
Is it all in vain?
Does the gift you received
remain unopened?
Is it likened to an empty box
with colorful paper
and a pretty bow
decorating a corner of your home
as if to say
“See what I have.”

What is it you have?
Have you opened the gift?
Have you shared its contents?

Or does the gift
just sit upon a shelf
gathering dust
with each passing day

Does the gift of Jesus
given and received
warm your heart
fill you with love
and compassion
and obedience

or does your heart
grow cold and numb
filling you with the ways of the world

Do you reflect God’s love
or Satan’s hate
in your life?

(c) February 8, 2016

II Corinthians 5:20-21, 6:1 – “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.”

II Corinthians 13:5-8 – “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that you are not disqualified. Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.”

Galatians 5:25 – “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

I John 2:15-16 – “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 eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.”

Read also Romans 1:17-32 and Galatians 5:16-26

Come

Come
enter into My Presence
wherever you are

Seek
find my goodness, my love, my guiding light

Stay
attentive to My every instruction
and the life you desire
with fullness of joy 
will be yours.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

February 7, 2016

Come - Seek - Stay

Come 
Seek
Stay 

My Presence
beckons
My Peace 
awaits
My Rest 
restores 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

February 6, 2016

Peace

The sunlight of His Presence
floods my soul
Gladness comes to my heart
as the brightness of
His everlasting love
settles over me, within me
My eyes twinkle
My whole face shines
as joy surfaces
Songs of praise come to my lips
My head bows in prayerful worship
Peace.

(c) January 29, 2016

It is what it is

I write 

The words
come
to mind
My pen
moves rapidly
or
with slow deliberation
across the page

I write
The words
come
to me
through the Spirit
of the Holy One
Jesus
My Savior
My Guiding Light

I write
The words
come
It is poetry
flowing
from the heart
feel the rhythm
His Spirit
embracing you

I write
The words
come
bringing
renewed hope
and joy
and strength
into weary lives

I write
The words
God gives me

It is poetry
as are many
of the psalms
penned by
King David
in The Holy Bible
Words
expressing
sorrow
love
forgiveness
encouragement
thanksgiving.

It is
as it is

Poetry
from the heart
be it
in any form …
rhythm
parallelism
symbolism
rhyme
free verse
and more.

 I write
 The words

 The Lord
said to me
to write
He would direct
He would set the tone

 And it is so.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

January 18, 2016

The Cradle and The Cross

 by A.S. Reitz

(published in The Speaker's Treasury of 400 Quotable Poems
compiled by Croft M. Pentz, (c) 1963)

When Bethlehem's manger first cradled the King,

And angels glad news to the shepherds did bring,
The blackness of midnight beamed like the sun,
As God gave to mankind His wonderful One. 

But when on the cross, as a sinner, Christ died,
With nail-pierced hands, and with spear-riven side,
The brightness of noonday was turned into night,
And men smote their breasts at the sorrowful sight. 

Yet Bethlehem's cradle and Calvary's hill
were all in the plan of God's infinite will.
The cross and the manger were made for this King
And heaven forever His praises wll sing. 

Today, Christ the light of the world will come in
And cleanse any heart from its midnight of sin.
His presence will banish the darkness of night,
And brighten the soul with His heavenly light.

All hail then to Jesus, our Lord evermore,
As men of all nations the Saviour adore.
To Bethlehem's Infant, to Calvary's King,
Our deepest devotion and homage we bring.

The Way that is His

(Based on readings in Isaiah 50:4-11 and Romans 1:18-22)

The Lord gives
instructions
to live
in the Light
of His Love

Do we hear
and comprehend
Do we speak
with the tongues
of angels
Are we awakened
morning by morning
aware of
His glorious Light
Are we obedient
to His teachings

or
are we rebellious
straying
down alleyways
filled with darkness
our words and actions
portraying anger,
hatred, impatience,
frustration, defiance …
that bring
shame
and remorse
and pain
to ourselves
and those around us?
Are we tormented
with thoughts
striking us down

or
do we trust
in the Lord
to bring us through
every trial

The Lord gives
comfort
to rest in Him
upon His lap,
at His feet
Are we refreshed,
encouraged
by His Life

or
do we grow old
and stale
with no life-giving fruit
of kindness, gentleness,
patience, goodness…
to pass on?

 The Lord gives
so we may know
how to talk and speak
hear and comprehend

 He shows The Way
into the Light
of His everlasting  Love

The way is open
We know the way
but
do we follow the way
Have we entered
into All of Him
or are we still standing
on the outskirts
doing life our own way

We make excuses
for why we do
what we do
but there is no excuse

We know the way of God
yet
we do not glorify Him
we are not thankful
for His provisions
we are not obedient
to His teachings

For all the wisdom
we think we possess
it is our foolish behavior
that shows better
what we deem important. 

(c) December 16-19, 2015

Your wants ... His wants

You wanted to know God
Do you?

You wanted to come to church
Do you?

You wanted to tell others
Do you?

He wants / desires a relationship with you
He wants worship and praise
He wants thankfulness
He wants His Holy Book opened
and His Word read and studied
He wants to give you joy and peace
He wants what is best for you
He wants to teach you life’s lessons
He wants your obedience

He loves you
He wants your love

He wants you
Do you want Him

Do you really want to know
                                       to come
                                       to tell

Or
do excuses become your answer
every time?

 (c) December 1, 2015

I cannot fix it

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." ~ Psalm 32:8

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothng. ~ John 15:5

"And we know that all things work together  for good to those who love God, to thouse who are the called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

I cannot fix things
I want to
I have tried to
I have made every attempt
to bring opposing views together
to help see the right and wrong
Sometimes I succeed
Most times I fail
I cannot fix people
I cannot fix events
I can only fix me
and that I must say
is a work in progress

It is only when
I seek the Lord’s help
His response to my distress
I want to solve problems
I want kindness and gentleness,
patience, love,
for everybody
Yet I cannot fix
what is not mine to fix

I can pray
I can come before my God
and make petitions
I can consider,
“What would Jesus do?”
at every questioning point
I can ask the Lord for guidance,
for myself, for another,
but no,
I cannot fix what is not my responsibility

My responsibility is to stay focused on Jesus,
to rely on Him
for my everything

My personal connected relationship
with Jesus is what counts above all
When I abide in Him and He abides in me
all things will work together for good.

 (c) November 30, 2015