Waiting

We wait
God waits
We for His promises
said to fulfill
He to renew our motivation,
our inspiration,
our trust
in Him.

He patiently teaches
obedience
We learn
from the wrongs
we do,
the discipline
He doles out,
Father to child.

God waits for us
test after test comes
He will know
when
in all of our waiting,
we are ready
to receive
His blessings.

Our gain
His glory.

(c) July 22-23, 2017

He has all authority

You are the son, the daughter
He is the Father
For the wrongs you've done
you receive discipline
you learn obedience
as you learn
when you think on He who is,
your obedience becomes a given
your attitude changes

You are the son, the daughter
He is the Father
You owe Him your respect
your allegiance
your obedience
because of who He is
not because of who you are
or think you are

God, our most holy Father
in heaven
has all authority
yet He doesn't push it,
doesn't demand it,
doesn't tell us to do this and that
 ... or else

He gives us freedom

Will we choose wisely
and follow the path
directed by our Father

or will be choose foolishly
following a path of
self-destruction

God's blessings are the best
in all of life,
no matter what circumstances
we find ourselves drawn into.

(c) July 19, 2017

the spoken word can be cruel

It made me sad
and unwanted

cruel words
spoken
I wanted to go away
be somewhere else
For what did it matter
...
Words said
Was the meaning understood?
...
maybe not

I read
love is natural
hate is learned
I read
you never know
what impact
you'll have
on another
by what you do
or don't do.
I remember
cruel words
yelled
(when) as a teenager
(I yelled in anger)
at my mother.
I'm sure
looking back
she was sad,
disappointed.

No matter
what our age
in all of life
words spoken
to another
build up
tear down.

Sometimes
building ourselves up
is the way,
discovering
when you want to hide
there is no place
Have to keep going
Keep showing
Keep doing
Keep helping
Keep loving

Just like Jesus
hearing cruel words
bearing the brunt of every cruel deed
for what
for me
for you
because of his great love for us
he died
for us
It made His Father
sad
But He kept on
The greater good
far more important
than our own
feeling of self-worth.

(c) October 14, 2015
updated February 10, 2016

I am but His messenger

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

~ I Corinthians 2:1-5

Listen!
No so much to me
but to God
I step aside
It is He who speaks
I am but His messenger
to present, to share The Gospel
of His Son, Jesus

Listen!
Not singular words spoken
But God's word through me

I am but His messenger
It is not
my style of dress
nor how I preach
as you contemplate the message
God has given
It is not about me
I am but the messenger

There is nothing
absolute zilch about me
that opens the door of your heart
to Jesus

Only the Holy Spirit prompts you
to ask and seek
to hear and understand
to pray and believe
to trust
to come
to follow

I am but the messenger

He who loves you so much more
than life itself
He who gave His very life for your soul

Come to Him.
Trust Him.
Follow Him.
Be True to Him.
Him and Him alone.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

July 17, 2017

O where are you ... you of little faith

The trials
They come
They seem to stay
Sometimes they move away
But then they return
and we struggle
we endure
Irritation develops
with others
with ourselves
with our spouses
and our children

This is not God's way

We are failing
Our faith has moved off center
and Jesus is not our focus

O where are you
You of little faith

The trials do not come
to harm us
We are to learn
We are to grow
We are to stand upright
and strong
leaning on Jesus
who gave His all to set us free
Yet we remain locked in
We believe the lies
of others told
of those we tell ourselves

O where are you
You of little faith

If only we would believe
the word of our Father in heaven

The trials bring blessings
Why do we not see
The trials bring us to You -
enabling us to be
more like You
filled with tenderness
and love,
compassion,
patience,
and much, much more.

O you of little faith
Come forth
believe
see
the beauty that abounds
all around you.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

June 15, 2017

Will you follow Jesus first every time?

Based on Matthew 8: 19-22

Jesus tells us to follow Him
We say, I will follow You
wherever You go, BUT …
first let me do this
let me do that
and Jesus says,
Let another one do whatever
You Follow Me.

(c) May 29, 2017

Are you standing at "Wits' End Corner?"

Today's devotional reading in Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman is taken from Psalm 107, followed by a poem written many years ago by Antoinette Wilson. Following that are my thoughts, based on the same psalm.

"They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses."  - Psalm 107:27-28

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner,”
Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone?
Remember - at "Wits End Corner"
Is where God’s power is shown.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner,”
Blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering,
Dizzy and dazed, and numb?
Remember - at "Wits End Corner,"
Is where Jesus loves to come.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner?”
Your work before you spread,
All lying begun, unfinished,
And pressing on heart and head,
Longing for strength to do it,
Stretching out trembling hands?
Remember - at “Wits End Corner”
The Burden-Bearer stands.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner?”
Then you're just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who fails you not:
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at "Wits' End Corner"
Is the "God who is able" proved.

circa 1900s, Antoinette Wilson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We cry out, in anguish,
and the Lord hears
He delivers us from our distresses

Do we thank Him,
shower Him with praise
for His provision, His blessings, His goodness?

or
do we continue to sit in darkness,
now knowing what to do
at  our wits end, 

bound in one affliction after another

Do we rebel against God,
against God's word
Are we filled with hatred
and contempt
Do we have no use for God
for His wisdom

Again and again
when it is too much
we cry out,
in anguish,
to the Lord
and the Lord,
who loves us so,
saves us,
heals us

Do we thank Him
shower Him with praise
for ALL He is

Do we really care  
how very much He loves us?

or have you forgotten
He sent His Son, Jesus,
to die for you.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

May 23, 2017

Tormented ... yes, but God is our defense

We  are tormented
daily, and more frequently too

Our enemy is everywhere

Do we look to The One
who is our salvation

or are we glued to our own self
trying to make the best of things
laying hope in our fellow tormentor (s)
to come to their senses,
understand the stupidity
of their ways

Tormentors
rejoice
holding themselves higher
than another
are they children of the devil - a fallen angel,
who seeks to destroy
or do they live in a pretend world
where they can hide their own fears
from even themselves


Turn,
turn from the fallenness
you have sunk to

Turn to
the God of Grace
The One
who says,
I AM Your salvation.
Jesus is He.
His words, my pen
to you, to me:

Without Me,
you are nothing.
You have nothing.
You stagger about,
caught up in doing nothing
that is pleasing to Me.
You live to self.
You say you are a believer.
But even the devil believes.
You cry.
Is it I, the Lord, to whom you cry?
Is your trust in Me?
Are you thankful for what I Have Provided?
I AM He
who surrounds you,
who is always with you.
But,
Without your attentive focus on ME,
you will not see
My Ways at work
My Wondrous Glory

you will not notice
My Love for you

you will not hear
My Concern for you

you will not feel
My Comforting Embrace.

Turn from, turn away.
Your purpose for your life
is in Me. Turn to Me.

Turn to Jesus.

(c) May 22, 2017

Based on Psalm 56:1-11 (I originally read this from the New King James version. Here, God's word is taken from The Message)
"Take my side, God—I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day. Not a day goes by but somebody beats me up; They make it their duty to beat me up. When I get really afraid I come to you in trust. I'm proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God. What can mere mortals do? They don't let up— they smear my reputation and huddle to plot my collapse. They gang up, sneak together through the alleys To take me by surprise, wait their chance to get me. Pay them back in evil! Get angry, God! Down with these people! You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book. If my enemies run away, turn tail when I yell at them, Then I'll know that God is on my side. I'm proud to praise God, proud to praise GOD.  Fearless now, I trust in God; what can mere mortals do to me?" 

His way

It is His way
even tho we disobey
He takes away
and gives anew
The storm gathers momentum
We think all is lost
and we are without hope
But the Lord God is the Master
He creates us
from the dust of the ground
and breathes into us Life
We are unique and His much-loved
masterpiece.

(c) May 4, 2017

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