It's when we lose our focus that our belief falls away and we follow our own line of thinking. When our focus is off the almighty, our minds wander aimlessly along the path of "what will we do," "how will we make it." If we can just stay focused on Jesus, stay in His word, remember His promises, not waiver off the trail He has forged for us. Listening to, thinking on anything that is not entirely the Truth brings remorse, repercussions, pain.
Even Abraham at times thought he knew better than God and acted on those very thoughts. But his thoughts were not God's thoughts. God knows all. We know very little in comparison.
Worry ... bring anxiety ... which brings separation from the almighty Father.
Satan wants us to worry - then we will do things not pleasing to the Lord.
Abraham introduced Sarai, his wife, as his sister to the Egyptians (Genesis 12:10-20). This was a half truth as she was his half sister.
Abraham and Sarai concocted a way to have the child the Lord promised them - through Sarai's handmaiden Hagar (Genesis 16:1-16).
The future is not ours to know. The present is where we are currently. The past we have come through.
The future is everything past this moment. As the moments go by our future becomes our present and then our past.
Love each moment for the Lord, to the Lord. Plan your moments as to the Lord, to His glory. Do not look this way and that way. Stay tuned to the one who truly cares for us.
"When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me." (Micah 7:8)
When I pass through the waters of life, the fires that try to consume me, the Lord my God will be with me. He will protect me. I will not be burned, I will not be overwhelmed. He will lead me, guide me over the paths of darkness I see before me. He will make the rough spots even so I will not trip and fall. (paraphrase of Isaiah 43:2)
And even though I pass through the valleys of intense pain and suffering, the fear that attempts to stifle me will not because of my God and Savior who is always with me. (paraphrase of Psalm 23:4)
There is no hope except in you Lord Jesus.
There is no one to trust wholly, completely, except you Lord Jesus.
No one can remove the fears that seek to swallow me. No one, that is, except you Lord Jesus.
"Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you." (Psalm 56:3)
I believe in the Lord Jesus. I believe what I say I believe. I have witnessed the power of the Lord Jesus - His mighty hand has been upon me, upon my beloved Jimmy, in times past. He will not leave me. He remains steadfast. I must not allow any doubt to get the best of me. Doubt is fear. I have nothing to be afraid of. Jesus is right there beside me, holding my hand, cradling my head, rubbing my tummy, bringing me soothing relief.
Close the gate. ... To all that works against you. Close the gate to your doubts and fears. Close the gate and move on. Hand in hand with Jesus walk on. Close the gate. Forge ahead. Ignore the enemy. Follow Jesus. Jesus will help me overcome all my fears.
I am no better than any other.
The only difference, perhaps, is that I know I am a sinner. Jesus accepts me anyway. He offers me grace. He brings peace to my soul. When I accept Him and believe in and on Him, I can rest in His fold. Like the sheep gone astray and found.
When we stay true to all He says and obedient to His instruction it reveals our love for Him. He loves us so much he died for us. We love Him so much we stay true and obedient to Him, even unto death.
No amount of pain we suffer will ever be as much as Jesus' pain that He suffered on the cross at Calvary when He took ALL of mankind's sin upon His shoulders, His body, and gave up the ghost and died. Oh but he rose again. What glory.
Today you will be with Me in Paradise (in Heaven, in My Kingdom)." (Luke 23:43)
Every moment is one closer to being with Jesus.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Glory of God, the Paradise of God
Yesterday I read about the Glory of God, yesterday Satan worked overtime to cause friction between Jimmy and me. Yesterday ended, thank God, with Satan on the losing end.
I read John 11: 1-44. It is about Mary and Martha's brother, Lazarus, who died and was brought back to life. In verse 40, Jesus says to Martha, "Did I not say to you that if you believe you would see the glory of God?"
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Through Him we can have eternal life. Jesus could have restored Lazarus to good health while he was still alive. But many of Jesus' actions are for us to know and believe and accept and trust that He is the Son of God, that He was sent by God. Lazarus' resurrection from death proved that point. It demonstrated (beyond any shadow of doubt) the glory of God even more than restoration from a sick bed.
There were and there are so many who point fingers, who do not believe, who do not comprehend all that He is and does, now, in time past and in time to come.
You pray. Mary and Martha prayed. But Jesus had something else in mind.
It doesn't mean God is absent when He doesn't answer our prayers. His plans are not our plans. His intentions are not our intentions. He knows more than we will ever know. He knows ALL.
Who are we to become angry and resentful at God for our preconceived thoughts of what we think He should do?
God's presence is everywhere. If He's not where you can feel Him, perhaps you are not doing your part.
Death is only an interlude between life on earth and life in heaven ... or life in hell.
You stand at the portal. What do you choose - life with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth to die for our sins, to renew us to righteousness, or life with Satan, a fallen angel, who came to earth to deceive us for his gain alone...
Today I considered Paradise.
Where indeed is that
Is it some Hawaiian island
Some quiet spot off the road near a pond, a good fishing hole perhaps.
Where is Paradise?
What is Paradise
What will we have when we get there
A place of rest
Perhaps Paradise can be found in the deep recesses of our mind
To a place we grew up surrounded by happy thoughts, happy memories.
Or perhaps we think we are living in Paradise
-- would that be like seeing the world around us through rose-colored glasses?
Jesus spoke of Paradise.
In Luke 23, hanging on a cross between two thieves -- one denounced the Lord, the other asked
to be remembered. And Jesus says to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today, you will be with Me in Paradise." (verse 43)
I read John 11: 1-44. It is about Mary and Martha's brother, Lazarus, who died and was brought back to life. In verse 40, Jesus says to Martha, "Did I not say to you that if you believe you would see the glory of God?"
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Through Him we can have eternal life. Jesus could have restored Lazarus to good health while he was still alive. But many of Jesus' actions are for us to know and believe and accept and trust that He is the Son of God, that He was sent by God. Lazarus' resurrection from death proved that point. It demonstrated (beyond any shadow of doubt) the glory of God even more than restoration from a sick bed.
There were and there are so many who point fingers, who do not believe, who do not comprehend all that He is and does, now, in time past and in time to come.
You pray. Mary and Martha prayed. But Jesus had something else in mind.
It doesn't mean God is absent when He doesn't answer our prayers. His plans are not our plans. His intentions are not our intentions. He knows more than we will ever know. He knows ALL.
Who are we to become angry and resentful at God for our preconceived thoughts of what we think He should do?
God's presence is everywhere. If He's not where you can feel Him, perhaps you are not doing your part.
Death is only an interlude between life on earth and life in heaven ... or life in hell.
You stand at the portal. What do you choose - life with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth to die for our sins, to renew us to righteousness, or life with Satan, a fallen angel, who came to earth to deceive us for his gain alone...
Today I considered Paradise.
Where indeed is that
Is it some Hawaiian island
Some quiet spot off the road near a pond, a good fishing hole perhaps.
Where is Paradise?
What is Paradise
What will we have when we get there
A place of rest
Perhaps Paradise can be found in the deep recesses of our mind
To a place we grew up surrounded by happy thoughts, happy memories.
Or perhaps we think we are living in Paradise
-- would that be like seeing the world around us through rose-colored glasses?
Jesus spoke of Paradise.
In Luke 23, hanging on a cross between two thieves -- one denounced the Lord, the other asked
to be remembered. And Jesus says to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today, you will be with Me in Paradise." (verse 43)
The apostle Paul spoke of Paradise.
In 2 Corinthians 12, he shares his visions and revelations (perhaps at the time of his stoning), "how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (verse 4)
And John also spoke of Paradise.
In Revelation, during the time of his exile on the island of Patmos, he shares prophecies of God. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." (Chapter 2, verse 7)
Paradise.
It is where God abides. Where He lives. Where His kingdom is. Where His children go.
Paradise is Heaven. And Heaven is Paradise.
What about you? Are you a future resident of Paradise?
Or are you uncertain of where to go, what to do, are you questioning your existence, are you fearful, have you been duped, are you being deceived into believing the best is what you have now, where you are now ... Nothing more.
But there is more. There is Jesus. We must look to Him, stay focused on Him, believe in Him, accept Him, trust Him, obey Him, for us to gain entrance to the heavenly realms of Paradise.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
"Do not be afraid; only believe"
"Do not be afraid; only believe." - Mark 5:36
Quit looking at the enemy
Quit thinking of ways you can defeat him
Quit studying him and his views
Look to Jesus.
Keep your focus on Jesus
Think only of Jesus
Study Jesus and His views
Jesus will defeat the enemy ... no matter who or what the enemy is.
Quit looking, quit berating yourself, quit thinking of the fears growing inside you.
Rely only on Jesus.
Quit looking at the enemy
Quit thinking of ways you can defeat him
Quit studying him and his views
Look to Jesus.
Keep your focus on Jesus
Think only of Jesus
Study Jesus and His views
Jesus will defeat the enemy ... no matter who or what the enemy is.
Quit looking, quit berating yourself, quit thinking of the fears growing inside you.
Rely only on Jesus.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Being obedient
When
you get too close
to the Truth
of who Jesus is
and what He represents
When
you are obedient
to the Lord
and teach from the heart
His commandments
Others
become afraid.
They don't want
what you have
They don't want
what Jesus offers.
They want you
to leave, to depart
to be gone
They don't want
to be bothered.
So you go.
But you remain
faithful, obedient
to the Lord Jesus
Through prayer.
"Then they came to Jesus and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region." (Mark 5:15, 17)
you get too close
to the Truth
of who Jesus is
and what He represents
When
you are obedient
to the Lord
and teach from the heart
His commandments
Others
become afraid.
They don't want
what you have
They don't want
what Jesus offers.
They want you
to leave, to depart
to be gone
They don't want
to be bothered.
So you go.
But you remain
faithful, obedient
to the Lord Jesus
Through prayer.
"Then they came to Jesus and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region." (Mark 5:15, 17)
Cathy Orrick Luders
11.11.09
11.11.09
Monday, November 9, 2009
We must look to Him
"Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." -- (Peter says to Jesus in Matthew 26:33)
If we do the Lord's bidding without questioning His reasoning, the results we see will be one hundredfold or more. Jesus is our master. He is in control. We must be obedient to Him and Him only if we are to achieve any success. True success is only found through the Lord Jesus, not through our individual efforts.
Look to Him always and all all times, through hardship and agonies, and through the good times. Jesus will see us through. We must return to His fold, remain wrapped in His love, stay constant in His word, pray without hesitation and fear.
The fear is Satan's push to bring us down to his level, where we wallow in self despair. We take the whole world on our back and shoulders and are burdened with thoughts of what we should do. Give it to Jesus! Give it all to Jesus!
It is not so easy. Talk is cheap. But we who have received the Lord's gift of salvation know who Jesus is. His talk is not cheap. It teaches us volumes. His talk reaps great reward. Are you listening? Do you hear. Do you believe. Have you forgotten.
We all stumble, but we don't have to remain there. Pick yourself up and carry on. Ask the Lord to help you. You must ask! You must be willing to receive, to accept.
Stumbling does not mean you have failed. Refusing to be renewed, restored, rejuvenated, refusing to be reunited with the Lord will be the destroyer. Do not refuse. Do not give in or give up because your own perceptions indicate failure. Has the Lord said to you "You are no good? or You are useless! You are worthless?" I doubt it. Those are our words. The Lord brings us, sends us, gives us, LOVE.
There is great sadness when Jesus sees our Yes Lord become No, No I won't do it, No I'm not your child. No, No, No. We must not go there. We should not allow the world's woes to become our downfall and the way we would go. Nothing in and of the world is more powerful than the Lord Jesus.
Rely on Him always and forever, for everything, at all costs. When He is with us, we can overcome all that is in the beyond.
Try Again. With Jesus. Not alone, not with a friend. With Jesus. Try Life with Jesus. Live Life with Jesus. Again and again and again. Always. Never ending. Don't give up.
Try again. He is the answer to ALL we seek. In Him there is hope. Try again. The Lord is waiting.
If we do the Lord's bidding without questioning His reasoning, the results we see will be one hundredfold or more. Jesus is our master. He is in control. We must be obedient to Him and Him only if we are to achieve any success. True success is only found through the Lord Jesus, not through our individual efforts.
Look to Him always and all all times, through hardship and agonies, and through the good times. Jesus will see us through. We must return to His fold, remain wrapped in His love, stay constant in His word, pray without hesitation and fear.
The fear is Satan's push to bring us down to his level, where we wallow in self despair. We take the whole world on our back and shoulders and are burdened with thoughts of what we should do. Give it to Jesus! Give it all to Jesus!
It is not so easy. Talk is cheap. But we who have received the Lord's gift of salvation know who Jesus is. His talk is not cheap. It teaches us volumes. His talk reaps great reward. Are you listening? Do you hear. Do you believe. Have you forgotten.
We all stumble, but we don't have to remain there. Pick yourself up and carry on. Ask the Lord to help you. You must ask! You must be willing to receive, to accept.
Stumbling does not mean you have failed. Refusing to be renewed, restored, rejuvenated, refusing to be reunited with the Lord will be the destroyer. Do not refuse. Do not give in or give up because your own perceptions indicate failure. Has the Lord said to you "You are no good? or You are useless! You are worthless?" I doubt it. Those are our words. The Lord brings us, sends us, gives us, LOVE.
There is great sadness when Jesus sees our Yes Lord become No, No I won't do it, No I'm not your child. No, No, No. We must not go there. We should not allow the world's woes to become our downfall and the way we would go. Nothing in and of the world is more powerful than the Lord Jesus.
Rely on Him always and forever, for everything, at all costs. When He is with us, we can overcome all that is in the beyond.
Try Again. With Jesus. Not alone, not with a friend. With Jesus. Try Life with Jesus. Live Life with Jesus. Again and again and again. Always. Never ending. Don't give up.
Try again. He is the answer to ALL we seek. In Him there is hope. Try again. The Lord is waiting.
Friday, November 6, 2009
He is
This is the day ...
The day
The Lord
has made
He has made
Every day
and
All
that is in it
He is
The mighty one
The all-powerful one
The one
who sees
All
who searches
across the mountain tops
and into the caverns
and valleys.
He is
The one
who looks
beyond our outer beings
and sees
within our souls.
He is
The one
who knows
what we fel
and understands.
He understands
our longings
our desires
our agonies
He --
The Lord
The God of all creation
The God of the universe
The God of me
The God of my beloved Jimmy
He is
The one
who says
who commands
who restores
who teaches
who loves
who sent
His Son ... Jesus.
The Lord
He is
The one
who tests
our allegiance to Him
who stands by us
protects us
enables us
to do whatsoever His will is for us.
He is
The one
who removes
obstacles
that may be deterrents
to His will for us.
He is
The one
who rejoices
in our small beginnings
who watches
our struggles to go on
who hears
our prayers
of fear and pain and despair
He is
The one
who completes us.
He is
The one
whose Spirit
Lives on
Through His Son,
Jesus Christ,
who gave His life for mine.
He is
The one.
My Father. My Lord. My Eternal Friend. My Jesus.
The day
The Lord
has made
He has made
Every day
and
All
that is in it
He is
The mighty one
The all-powerful one
The one
who sees
All
who searches
across the mountain tops
and into the caverns
and valleys.
He is
The one
who looks
beyond our outer beings
and sees
within our souls.
He is
The one
who knows
what we fel
and understands.
He understands
our longings
our desires
our agonies
He --
The Lord
The God of all creation
The God of the universe
The God of me
The God of my beloved Jimmy
He is
The one
who says
who commands
who restores
who teaches
who loves
who sent
His Son ... Jesus.
The Lord
He is
The one
who tests
our allegiance to Him
who stands by us
protects us
enables us
to do whatsoever His will is for us.
He is
The one
who removes
obstacles
that may be deterrents
to His will for us.
He is
The one
who rejoices
in our small beginnings
who watches
our struggles to go on
who hears
our prayers
of fear and pain and despair
He is
The one
who completes us.
He is
The one
whose Spirit
Lives on
Through His Son,
Jesus Christ,
who gave His life for mine.
He is
The one.
My Father. My Lord. My Eternal Friend. My Jesus.
Cathy Orrick Luders
11.6.2009
11.6.2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
He is
God knows all.
Beginnings
Endings
The in-be-tween
Your day
My day
Yesterday
Tomorrow
Today.
All that was
All that is
All that is to come
He knows.
He is.
Why do you falter?
Why do you question?
Say Yes to Him.
Open the door
as He knocks.
Don't turn away.
Say Yes to Jesus
before
"All that is to come"
is too late.
Beginnings
Endings
The in-be-tween
Your day
My day
Yesterday
Tomorrow
Today.
All that was
All that is
All that is to come
He knows.
He is.
Why do you falter?
Why do you question?
Say Yes to Him.
Open the door
as He knocks.
Don't turn away.
Say Yes to Jesus
before
"All that is to come"
is too late.
Cathy Orrick Luders
11.4.2009
11.4.2009
A new day
The day after
The night before
comes early
I am
awakened
with a hug and a kiss
a splash of cold water
a cup or more
of hot caffeinated tea
A thought of
returning slumber
beckons me
The sunlight trickles
through the trees
and upon still colorful
leaves not yet fallen.
God's creatures bit and small
are about their daily tasks.
A new day is dawning.
A new day is here.
So peaceful.
So full of life.
It is God-ordained.
The night before
comes early
I am
awakened
with a hug and a kiss
a splash of cold water
a cup or more
of hot caffeinated tea
A thought of
returning slumber
beckons me
The sunlight trickles
through the trees
and upon still colorful
leaves not yet fallen.
God's creatures bit and small
are about their daily tasks.
A new day is dawning.
A new day is here.
So peaceful.
So full of life.
It is God-ordained.
Cathy Orrick Luders
11.4.2009
11.4.2009
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