He does not tarry

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it, Because it will surely come." ~ Habakkuk 2:3

You pray
You make known to God
the desires of your heart
of which He does know
He has told us
time before
and now
and again
Do not be anxious
Do not fret
Do not question
when

The Lord will answer
in His time
All is in His time
not ours
He knows what we want
and when we want it
But our wants are not
always His best for us
And our time table is not
always His

We may think He tarries
But He is NEVER too early
NEVER too late
But just the right moment

God still rules
in every facet of our lives
Thank Him for His provisions
Be grateful
instead of in a state of
constant turmoil
Keep your focus
on the Lord Jesus
He will guide you
and bring a calming peace
to your every struggle.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

July 4, 2018

Are we "being still" or are the sounds destroying us?

The sounds can destroy us

The Lord speaks
I have heard His gentle voice
I have listened to His words of wisdom
I have obeyed His instruction

Yet
It has not always been so
and is not now

I could hear Him -
I was "still"

Now
It is hard to be still
when pushed and pulled
in every direction

My own thoughts
tear me down
filling me
with questions, concerns,
irritation,
even outrage

Calling
Asking
Seeking

Noises distract
ringing, rattling, talking

Where is my time
with You, Lord?!
When will the "stillness"
You desire of me
return

The Enemy seeks to devour, destroy

I miss what I know
I miss what I had,
what I remember

My Jesus
My Lord
My Father God

Show me the way back
to being still in Your Presence

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
June 30, 2018

___________________

I wrote the following on April 24, 2015, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is titled "Be still, and know."

"Be still, and know
that I AM God." (Psalm 46:10)

God is here
with us
His Presence
our refuge
our hiding place
our strength

Be still
Will yourself
to focus
on Him
who is...
GOD

Remove
yourself
from endless thinking
planning
for any and every
circumstance

It is not easy
Keeping yourself
away
from where
you should not be
should not travel

Oh Lord
guide my steps
my every step
guide my thoughts
so I am not
led places
that are unfruitful

You are my Light
How can I be
fruitful
and multiply
if I stumble
along the path
before me?

You, Lord
show us
love
and joy
and peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
self-control (Galatians 5:22)

to show
another
the way
to You
the way
You lived
the way
You are
the way
for us
to become
like You

So much
seeks
to destroy
our walk
our life
with the Lord
Selfish desires
become
a higher priority
than
God's desires (Galatians 5:19-21)

We hear
but not
that which
God wants us
to hear
We see
but our vision
is cloudy
We think we
comprehend
but are misguided
True Understanding
escapes us

Do not fear
but we are afraid
The Almighty God
creator of the universe
and of us
lowly humans
We fear His Promises
are not real
We fear His Presence
is not surrounding us
We fear His Power
is not enough

Oh we of little faith
Where is our trust
We make ourselves
bigger
We are so small
so insignificant
yet God loves us
Loved us
so much
He sent His Son
to be
the sacrificial lamb
to die
in our place

Be still
and know
Ask for all
you do not receive
Seek all
you do not find
Know
as much as
He will share
and understand
He Is.

Jesus had it

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."                                                                                         John 14:27 NKJV

"Rest is a state of calm rising from a heart deeply and firmly established in God."                                                                         ~ Henry Drummond

Jesus had it
within His heart

Although turmoil and
life's everyday troubles
wore His body down
Peace
and rest
sustained Him
and gave others
Hope.

Cathy Orrick Luders
June 13, 2018

Later... we will know

"You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." ~ John 13:7

Our days
we do not understand
Sometimes dismalness
crosses our path
and stays a while
We are saddened
No one seems to notice
or care
But God is at work
If only we would
remember
He is always with us,
always working
Life is not about me
nor you
It is about the Lord
Yet we forget
to look only and always
unto Him,
letting our thoughts
take precedence,
becoming our reality.
Woe is me.

God told us
through the apostle Paul,
"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Do we not love Him
Did we only say we did to get Him off our back

Woe indeed we are
My good
Your good
Those who love Him
who follow Him
study His book
meditate on His word

Those who are called ...
We all are
but not all have heard the message
nor listened
nor obeyed
nor trusted
nor believed

God is calling
God has called

The call goes forth -
Come
Come to Me as little children
Come to Me and sit at my feet
Come, My child
learn and know
Bring your every burden unto Me and find rest

Take that step
One step at a time
not one forward and two backward,
but one in front of the other,
Come, Follow Me

The dismalness of your days
will dissolve
as you rely more and more
on Me
for I AM
He who was
and is
and forever will be.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

The Lord knows - do we?

Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, only believe. ... The child is not dead, but sleeping. ...And they ridiculed Him."  ~ Mark 5:36, 39-40

The Lord knows
if one is sleeping
as at rest
or
as dead

Who are we to ridicule
He who is greater
more powerful
than all we are
all we know
all we think

Who are we to reject
He who came to earth
to save our souls
from the pits of hell,
worse than any terror
we face on earth

Who are we to condemn
He who spoke the truth of His Father
who knew no evil

Who are we to love
He who died,
bearing our sins upon His body
who was buried
and three days later,
rose from the grave

Who is He we say
He who we have ridiculed
rejected
condemned

He is Jesus
Our Savior
Our Redeemer
Our Foundation Rock
Our Everlasting Promise
Our Teacher
Our Refuge
Our Protector
Our Strength
Our Witness
Our Truth
Our Hope
Our Wisdom
Our Light
Our Life
Our Way
Our Peace
Our Patience
Our Kindness
Our Faithfulness
Our Joy
Our Gentleness
Our Forgiver
Our Healer
Our Judge
Our All

Jesus
is He
Who is The Way
The Life
The Truth

Jesus
is He
who loved us then
loves us now
will love us tomorrow.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

June 2-3, 2018

An Ode of Remembrance

He lived
He died
But he is not dead
His soul lives on
in the hearts
of every loved one
left behind

He was born
and lived life
as he saw fit

But then one day
he discovered God
became re-born -
a believer
in the Lord
who saved him
from an eternal hell

and lived life anew
with Jesus
his redeemer
his Savior
his refuge
guiding his way
to the golden gates
of God's heaven -
our eternal home.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

May 31, 2018

His sweet, sweet song

Sing a song of gladness
Sing a song of praise
Sing a song of love
     to our Savior
Sing a song of hope
     to our redeemer
Sing as if there were no tomorrow
Sing a song of pure joy
     for God has defeated the foe
Sing a song in the morning
and at noon-day fair
Sing a song in the dark of night
or when the moon shines bright.

~~~~~

I hear ...
the melody lingers
as she sings
and he sings
and sometimes, me too
but often, perhaps,
our lips are silent
our hearts stilled
as the circumstances of life
     overwhelm us.
Stop!
Listen!
and Sing!
Surround yourself with Jesus
     and be lifted up daily
through His sweet, sweet song.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
May 5, 2018

God's way

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." ~ Joel 2:32

God made the promise
Not me
Not you
and God will find a way
to keep the promise.

It is not up to me
or you
to direct His ways,
but rather,
to obey His commands.

Are we listening
Are we doing
Do we go to Him
or do we plan our own course of action
and then
pay for the misfortune that results?

"He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." ~ Isaiah 2:3

The Lord God is gracious
He waits
for you
He hears
your cry
He answers.

Adversity comes
and pain abounds
He teaches
"This is the way, walk in it." ~ Isaiah 30:21

Do your eyes see?
Do your ears hear?
Do you obey His commands?
Does your life reflect the Lord and His way, His truth, His life?

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
May 3, 2018

God said ...

"in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised." ~ Titus 1:2

Faith.
Believing God's promises
True
Resting in that belief
because God said so.
He does not lie.

Faith.
Believing God sent it,
therefore,
it must be good for me.

Faith.
Believing God said
trials will come,
therefore,
it must be good for me.

Faith
Believing
His Word
His Truth
His Way
His Life

Where is our faith?

Why
is it only the misery
we see in the midst
of every trial?

Why
do we not see the good
that will come out
of our struggles and pain?

Why, in our wildest imagination,
do we not see
any good thing?

"The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all." ~ Psalm 103:19

It is His - our Lord, Jesus Christ
His kingdom 
that rules over all

The best of times

The worst of times

We are to bless Him
for all of it.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all that is within me,
bless, His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits
who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your disease,
who redeems your life from destruction,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
who satisfied your mouth with good things."  ~ Psalm 103:1-5

Bless Him
and bless others through the blessings God has bestowed on us

Love Him
and love others through the example Jesus has shown us

Seek His forgiveness
and forgive others as Jesus forgave us,
being reconciled through His grace, His peace, His love.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
May 2, 2018

We can live in victory

"Morning by morning The Lord wakens me and opens my understanding to His will." ~ Isaiah 50:4

The best of times
in our lives
can become useless
and we can become defeated

Why?!
Is it because
we do not look anew unto Jesus?

We pray
but is our approach to His throne
fresh, full of love and hope
for each day after
or
do we give up,
no longer open to new ideas
Do we not hear the Master's voice
and when we do,
what is our response?

Is it Yes?
Yes, Lord! Yes!
Wherever Lord
You lead Lord
I'll go wherever you say
or do our fears
take over?
Do we refuse to allow Him
to govern our life?

The best of times
do not have to end
Discouragement
and bitterness
need not be

We can live in victory
every day
every hour
every minute

The Lord Jesus was and is victorious
He defeated the enemy
We can too.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
April 30, 2018

We pray

We pray
We wait for God's response
We pray again
We look for God's revelation
but there is nothing
Are we so wise that we give up
or do we continue
with relentless endurance

The Lord said He is with us always
We shall pray and pray again
Pray continually
Pray without ceasing
Pray without questioning
Pray without seeing
Pray without knowing the end result
Pray earnestly
Pray always
Pray hopefully
Pray fervently
Pray expectantly

We believe
God's answer will come
God will reveal
in His time all we are to know

In the meantime
We pray.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
April 29, 2018

Do not give up... Do not give in

"Stand firm" (Exodus 14:13)
The Lord says
Wait for His response
to your plea

Do not give up
Do not give in
to despair,
but be cheerful
and courageous,
rejoicing in His love.

Do not give up
Do not give in
to cowardice,
but follow the Lord only
because we are
children of God.

Do not give up
Do not give in
to impatience,
but keep your mindset
continually on the Lord,
who is always with you.

Do not give up
Do not give in
to arrogance,
but stand firm
as a rock
until you hear
His mighty response,
"Move On. Go Forward." (Exodus 14:15)

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

April 19, 2018

Wasted years...?

Were those years
wasted
as we think and thought?

Others vehemently against,
opposed to what God
had called one to do,
because of mistakes made

Were those years
really wasted?
Maybe not.

The Lord sees
all everywhere
We see oh so dimly
thinking we know how
things are to be
and respond as such
because we are oh so smart

But we are not smart
Our foolish thinking
does not deliver wisdom

God tells us to trust Him
and we try,
but because our focus
has moved from Him
to ourselves
and to those who
think they know all,
we fail.

Our desire
should be in the Lord
Our lives lived
should be led by the Spirit

When our focus
is not on God
our Father
but elsewhere,
we become trapped
within locked doors
with steel bars.

The fruit
of the Holy Spirit -
love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control -
ours
when we have
professed Jesus
as our Lord and Savior

The fruit
of the Holy Spirit
within us
is truly ours
but not developed
or at best, under-developed

Instead of kindness and gentleness,
we become indifferent,
thoughtless,
mean.
Patience gives way to fear,
frustration,
anxiety.
Goodness is not good,
but evil, dishonest, cruel.
Instead of controlling ourselves,
we are filled with pity
and selfishness.
We trust no one
We look to ourselves
for help, for answers.
There is no joy,
no peace,
no love.

Jesus shows us
how to live
our lives abundantly.

What do we have?
Do we live abundantly?
Do we follow His path?

Or is the only thing we have
an oversupply of foolish,
stupid behavior?

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
April 13-14, 2018

Face to Face

Face to Face
we shall see Him
Oh! What glorious thought
My Lord
to whom I gave my soul
He loves me so
more, much more
than shall I ever

Face to Face
now only dimly
and trembling
Soon and very soon
longer than we'd like
He will come
on high
in all His glory
white as new fallen snow
to gather
all His children
together -
even me
even me. 

Face to Face
Come quickly, Lord Jesus
The trials and sorrows
of this world grow
But You are all-powerful
You are stronger
than any two-edged sword
You have defeated the foe - 
Satan -
for all
even me
even me.

Face to Face
even me Lord
even me
I will see You
to whom I gave my soul. 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

March 27, 2018

God sees all

"...we know in part ... but when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away ... For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face." ~ I Corinthians 13:9-10, 12

"Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see, but does not see, and ears to hear, but does not hear." ~ Ezekiel 12:2

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts." ~ Isaiah 55:8-9

"The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile." ~ Psalm 94:11

"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." ~ Luke 18:27


God sees
We think He only sits
in the heavens
and watches
but does nothing -
an uncaring, unloving Father

We are so wrong.

God sees
our pain
our mishaps
our discord

Today
every day
He is not inactive
He is preparing us
for greater service,
strengthening us
for the time-consuming days
of suffering ahead.

We abhor waiting.
Patience is not
our specialty

The days drag into weeks
and months
and years

We strive
to be pleasing
to God
but we drown in
dismay.
We have lost
all strength
and fortitude
to go on
and patiently wait.

What will You have us
to do this day, Lord?

Don't be impulsive
Don't run ahead of Me
Wait.
I will show the way

God sees all.
We only see partly -
Partly the way
Partly the truth
and although
we may live life
we do not see
the fully complete life
we are to follow.

O Lord,
help us
we pray
to see what You want us to see
to do what You want us to do

Help us
see
and understand
any strength lies only in You.

Without You,
without awareness of You
a dismal life
is all that we see.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

March 22-23, 2018

...can it be?

And can it be ...
That I
should be redeemed
That My God
should die for me?

God said ... and it was so

Do you believe
My Father says
You and you and you,
do you believe
that I am able to do (this)?

...can it be?
I who caused Your pain
I who should have died
I who you did not condemn

... can it be?
That I
should be redeemed
That My God
should die for me

and
He touched me
He loved me so much
and He loves me still

I am His
His child
forever I am
and He is mine
My Savior
My life
My all

His promise fulfilled
according to
my faith
My trust
in Him.

"Do you believe that I am able to do this?" ~ Matthew 9:28

"God said ... and it was so." ~ Genesis 1:9

"According to your faith let it be to you." Matthew 9:29

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

March 21, 2018

It's all about Love

"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him,
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives." ~ Hebrews 12:5-6

You discipline your sons
and daughters
So why should you also 
not be disciplined?

They do wrong
in your eyes
as you do wrong
in the eyes of God

Their punishment 
you consider reasonable
You remove things
from their enjoyment
so they will learn
right from wrong

You, too, are punished
Whatever God determines is best,
will be removed from you
so you, too, will learn
right from wrong

You want your sons
and daughters
to mind
to say "please" and "thank you"
and "I'm sorry"
Just as God wants you
to mind
to be obedient to Him

You have desires
you want met
God, too, has desires -
to ask of Him in prayer
to thank Him in worship and praise
to forgive another
and not constantly remind them
of their faults

God forgave you
He knows your faults,
your Sin
He knows everything
about you
and He forgave you

It's all about Love -
He loves you 
Do you love Him? 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
March 16, 2018

We are A child of God

"Almighty God can make us stronger than our circumstances and can turn each situation to our good." ~ John Henry Jowett, Streams in the Desert

We are nothing
yet we are
God's creation
made in His image
from the dust of the earth
and given the breath of life
We are
A Child of God


We are nothing
yet we have
God's strength.
With Him
we can do all things
we can go all places
we can be all we can be - 
loving, trustful, godly, truthful
believing, faithful, gentle
patient, honest,
a reflection of our Lord,
Jesus Christ.
We are
A Child of God


We are nothing
yet we know
God's instructions, teachings
show us the way
to rise above and beyond
our every fear and temptation.
We can trust God
to guide us
along life's crooked path
and make it straight.
We are
A Child of God


We are nothing
yet we profess
Jesus
is The Way,
The Truth,
The Life
We are
A Child of God

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

March 15, 2018

Promises

"Every promise of Scripture is a letter from God." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon,                                                                                   Streams in the Desert


Every promise of God is built on:

His justice
His holiness
His grace or goodness
His truth

He will NEVER deceive us
He will NEVER forget us
He will NEVER change

On the other hand,
every promise of Satan is built on:

Lies

He ALWAYS deceives us
ALWAYS forgets us
ALWAYS changes

Who do you believe ... What do you believe?

To be like Him

Many trials we must face
through suffering we run the race
In God's wisdom He bestows
strength for our weary souls
encouraging us to glow bright
and brighter still, like the light
of Jesus, His beloved Son.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders
March 4, 2018