The Lord says ... It will be so

Taken from Isaiah 30: 1-26 and other Scripture

Distress, sorrow will come
to rebellious children everywhere
who take counsel, but not of the Lord
who devise plans, but not of the Lord’s spirit
who add one sin on top of another sin
who walk about – (to Egypt as is this setting  - and elsewhere),
but not the Lord’s way
who do not seek His advice
nor His strength
nor trust in His provisions

It is a disaster coming – there is no remorse

The Lord promises – It is a warning
The strength of the opposition will be your shame.
The trust placed in the hands of the opposition will be your humiliation.
The opposition – the world – will not benefit you nor come to your aid.

A worthless burden carried, going nowhere

It is sad indeed – there is no remorse

Rebellious people - children are everywhere
who lie
who do not hear the law of the Lord
who do not see that which the Lord shows
who desire smooth talking and prophecy filled with deceit;
none of the right things of God
who want to travel paths away from God
who do not want His Holy Presence with them.

The Lord is grieved. His children have no remorse.

Therefore, He, who abides with us, and does not forsake us,
passes judgment.
Disciplined for wrong thinking,
wrong doing,
disobedience
Because we despise His Word,
Because we trust in and rely on oppression and perversity,
We will fall, broken.
We will not be spared.
Our calamity will come suddenly.

If we would return to Him,
rest in Him, in quietness
trust, confident in His power
we would be saved,
He tells us
repeatedly,
but we would not, we will not

We flee,
We think we will escape Him
We think the opposition is better

But we do not escape
We will be pursued
We will be trampled
We will have nothing
The evil we pursue will become our downfall
We will be tormented

But the Lord says, I AM He.
I do not change
I AM the same – yesterday, today, tomorrow – forever!

I wait for you
to turn around,
to repent of your every wrong (sin)
I will be exalted when mercy, My mercy comes to you
I AM a God of Justice – waiting
waiting to bestow blessings unto you.

A time will come
I will hear the anguished cry of your heart’s repentance
and I WILL answer
For I AM gracious.

The troubles (adversity) and pain (affliction) that come in the midst of circumstances are your teacher. Through this you will learn the way, know the truth and live the life. You will see the wrongs and not run toward them, but back away and be rid of them. They are unclean things, like filthy rags. Get Away! Will be your adamant response.

I love you.

(c) April 8-11, 2017

Who do you look to?

Sorrow looks back.

Worry looks around.

Faith looks up.

God looks within our hearts
Man looks at outside appearances

Put aside all, every trouble weighing us down
keeping us hung up on every circumstance.
filling us with defeat all around

We wanting to run away
from those who come against
seeking to destroy
what we desperately seek
and desire.

Let us run, keep running
against all odds
against the pain
Difficulties faced
not a hindrance

Holding onto God’s hand
we keep looking upward
persevering

Jesus
the author and finisher
of our faith
endured it all
for us

He is always with us
will see us through
to the very end.

Do not let sorry
or fear take root

Faith in Jesus
is all we need.

But, where is our faith 
why have we allowed anger
to grab hold and carry us 
down mud-soaked streets 
of disgust and discontent 

Anger has no place
often, but not always,
many words best left unsaid

Satan wants us to be angry 
frustrated, ready to throw in the towel

But I am not a follower of Satan
he so proud
prancing around the world
looking for those to devour

God wants us to be calm 
patient,  a quietness to our voice
that brings peace to another

 I fail so often.

I hope Jesus forgives me.

(c) February 23 and March 21, 2017

Always rejoicing ...?

God's word says in II Corinthians 6:10 -- "Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing"

I find that hard to do - to always rejoice - in bad times as well as good.

We endure the pain
the agony of every trial.
Are we calm and quiet
still before the Lord, our God,
without fear
of what the outcome may be?

Are we thankful
for the blessings God has given ...
to what is good?

Are we forever patient
and kind
and gentle?

Are we faithful to God alone,
trusting in His will,
obedient to His instruction?

Do we see what is true - and right - and just?

"...Whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue
and if there is anything praiseworthy -
meditate on these things." - Philippians 4:8 

(c) March 20, 2017

Rise, and go on

"Rise, let us be going."  - Matthew 26:46

No matter what has happened
that you have done
another was better
but that, that you failed to do
Go and do the next thing
Why let one act of failure
become continual despair
Rise up, and go on

(c) February 18, 2017 

Why Lord?

We ask,
Why Lord?
"Why do you stand afar off?
Why do you hide in times of trouble?"
(Psalm 10:1)

But does he?

No, He does not

He is there
in the midst of our trouble
waiting

"God is our refuge and strength, 
a very present help in trouble."
(Psalm 46:1) 

He allows trouble,
suffering,
pain,
to come upon us.


We are to put our trust
in Him

but
we are blinded
as though we have bandages
covering our eyes
and we refuse
to remove them


We accepted the Lord.

Did we decide along the way
of life
that we were better
than He?
that we had no need of Him?
"God is in none of his (my) thoughts." 
(Psalm 10:4)
"God has forgotten.
He hides His face.
He will never see." 
(Psalm 10:11)

Yet ...

He does see
He sees everything
He has not forgotten
It is not He who hides
but His created people

Do we say in our hearts
with such disdain to the Lord,
"You will not require an account."
(Psalm 10:13)

We are mistaken.
We are filled with sin - each and everyone
One sin is no less sinful than another

When we come to the Lord's throne of grace
we will be judged
for our trespasses.
He will ask
He will hold each of us
accountable for our every action

"... You (Lord) have seen, for You observe trouble and grief."
(Psalm 10:14)
"(The Lord will) "do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed." 
(Psalm 10:18)

(He will) "seek out the wickedness (and evilness in mankind) until You (He) find none." 
(Psalm 10:15)

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

January 25, 2017

We all fail

Do not be quick to turn against another
You're not better than any other
You have failings too - no one is exempt

Seek after God
Rest in the quietness
of time alone with Him
Pray.
God will answer
He will take care of you
and the one you're so quick to judge

Some may defend you
what you say is true

But God is truly Judge
and although we are to be like Him
Judgment is His alone.

(c) February 4, 2017

Author's Note Feb. 6, 2017: 

I remember ...

the one who called me out
and said things better left unsaid

I remember ...
and I, no better, 

call out another

What may be true and right

is not necessarily 

the best thing to do.

And for that I apologize.

I am sorry.

we are God's treasure ... is He ours?

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy." ~ I Peter 1:13-16

God's treasure
we are
made from the dust
of the earth
in His image
for His pleasure


chasing
after every desire
we refuse to be molded
by Him
we refuse to conform
to His will
we refuse to be obedient
we refuse His Truth
believing only lies
overtaken by
ignorance


He is holy
He
calls us too
to be holy
in all we do
in all we say
in all we see
in all we feel
in all we think

God's command is
"Be holy, for I am holy."

But we are not.

Why!?

We are
God's treasure

But do we treasure
He who made us

Do we treasure
His Son
who died
and rose again
to save us
from eternal damnation

Where is your treasure?
Who is your treasure?
Is the Lord your all
Or are you all there is?

(c) January 25, 2017

What about you?

Some hear the Gospel
Some come to Jesus
Some accept His Gift
Some become a child of the King

What about you?

Did you hear the Gospel
Did you come to Jesus
Did you accept His Gift
Are you a child of the King

or does your lifestyle pull you away
Do your thoughts, desires, wants, perceptions
leave no room for God in your life?

Are you abandoned to the call of Christ on your life
or have you abandoned Christ
to live a life of your own choosing ... good or bad

Hearing the Gospel
Coming to Jesus
is not a one-time thing
It is every day, every hour, every minute, always, forever

When you accept His Gift of salvation
you believe Jesus is
The Way
The Truth
The Life.

Jesus is the key
through Bible Study
through Worship
through Prayer
to learning
to understanding
to loving
to living.

But what about you?

Have you heard the Gospel
Have you come to Jesus
Have you accepted His Gift

Are you living a life guided by the Lord
or
is it only your way, your truth that guides you?

(c) January 24, 2017

Do you...?

Do you go
when God opens the door
to opportunities
or do you
decide the timing isn't right
and you'll "go later?"

Do you trust
in God
who knows you better
than you know yourself
or is it
your job
the government
your abilities
that you count on?

Do you believe
when the Lord
says He is with you
or do you
stand by yourself
denying your need for anybody?

Do you come
to the foot of the cross
to Jesus
to bare your soul
to make you whole and complete  in Him
or do your
wants, your thoughts, your desires
take precedence?

Do you know
Jesus
is
Everything
or are you
all that matters?

Jesus loves you
Do you love Him?

Jesus cares about you
Do you care about Him?

Jesus is your friend
Are you His friend?

Jesus wants a relationship with you
Do you want a relationship with Him?

Jesus is filled with joy
as the angels sing in the heavens
rejoicing
when you accept Him as your Savior.
Are you filled with joyous song
when you think of Him?

Jesus wants you to grow in faith,
to be mature spiritually.
Are you willing to take a step for Him?

(c) January 19-20, 2017

Whom shall I send ... Who will go?

The call
of God
for all
but few hear
and are chosen.

Still, the call
of God
goes out
into the day
throughout the night
seeking ...
"Whom shall I send?
Who will go for Us?"
(Isaiah 6:8)

The call
of God
keeps on ...
searching

Who will ask and receive,
to hear His Truth?

Who will seek and find,
to see His Way?

Who will knock and open their heart,
to understand His Life?
(paraphrase Luke 11:9-10; John 14:6)

"Whom shall I send,
Who will go for Us?"

"Here am I! Send me." (Isaiah 6:8)

Send me

Send me

Does He send you?

Do you ask?
Have you received
The Good News of Jesus Christ?

Do you seek?
Have you found
His Love, His Forgiveness, His Peace?

Do you knock?
Has your heart been opened to further understanding
through His Wisdom in His Book - The Holy Bible?
through godly men who preach the Gospel
and men and women alike who teach Sunday school and lead Bible studies?

Will, does God send you
Will you go

Or
Do you take a step back?

Do you hear the call
and receive the truth
but fail to look further, deeper
seeing only your way
and your life?

"Whom shall I send,
Who will go for Us"

Here am I. Send me." 

(c) January 16/17, 2017

A star led the wise men to Jesus

The wise men came
who knew their wisdom
astrologers ... were they? 
following a star
seen in the east
to lead them
guide them
to ...

God's glory
full of wonder
and splendor
and majesty

the babe lying 
in a manger
The Lord Jesus

To their knees
they bow
these wise men
who came
in praise
and honor
and worship

bringing gifts
to
The Holy One
King of Kings
Lord of Lords

Are we
so wise? 

Do we follow
the Lord's lead?

Do we look up ...
Bow down?

Do we know
who He is ...
The Almighty One

Is He
your King
your Lord? 

(c) December 22-23, 2016

The Lord beckons

"To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." - Luke 1:79

"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts ... be thankful." - Colossians 3:15 


Emptiness gnaws
Hopelessness threatens

The Lord stands firm
His hand open, beckons

My Presence
is the Light
you need

My Presence
is the Completeness
you seek

Come
be filled
with My Love
My Hope
My Peace

Let the Light of
My Presence
linger
upon you
wash over you
pulse through you

 (c) December 24, 2016

Lord, You tell us ...

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”   ~ Psalm 37:3-4

Based on Psalm 37

Dear Lord,
You tell us not to fret
to trust You
to do good
to live in this place and feed on Your faithfulness
to delight ourselves in You
to commit our way to You
to continue trusting You
to rest in You
to wait patiently for Your answers
to not fret over what may or may not come
to not be angry
to not fret
You remind us again and again.

You tell us
You know our days
You know those who stand with You and for You
are not ashamed in the evil time
and in the days of hunger are satisfied
and show mercy and give

You, Lord, tell us
the steps to take
and when we fall
You help us up
to begin again
You do not give up
You are beside us
All the way.

Woe, is he and she and me
who fail to delight in You
and Your every provision

Cast down, forsaken
are our feelings
in our heads
But not really real, not truly true
God loves us
God sent His son, Jesus,
to die for us, He loved, loves us
so much.

The Lord does not forsake us
It is not He who walks away
and lets us walk alone
We forsake ourselves
We believe every wrong
every lie
We walk a path we believe
is our destiny,
however crappy it may be

The Lord is ever merciful
He showers us with countless blessings
Every new day a blessing awaits

You tell us Lord,
to depart from evil
to do good

Justice,
wisdom
speak
Your law in our hearts
is Your desire

You do not condemn what is Yours

You tell us
to wait on You
to keep Your way
to rely on You,
Your strength (not our own)
in time of trouble

You, Lord, will help us
will deliver us
will save us
because
our Trust,
our Faith
is in You.

(c) November 6 and 8, 2016

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