"... I am rich,
have become wealthy,
and have need of
nothing -
... do not know
that you are
wretched,
miserable,
poor,
blind,
and naked?"
(Revelation 3:17)
I am rich,
have become wealthy
and have need of nothing.
Are you sure?
Do you really have
everything you need?
In all of life,
are you absolutely sure
there is nothing more?
"To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven.
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace."
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
But,
do you have love?
Do you provide for those
less fortunate?
Are you kind,
patient?
Do you build another up?
Do you rejoice in the truth?
Do you believe in the Lord Jesus?
Do you endure all things?
Do you have love?
(paraphrase of I Corinthians 13:1-13)
"Behold,
I (Jesus) stand
at the door
and knock.
If anyone hears
My voice
and opens the door,
I will come in
to him
and dine
with him
and he with Me."
(Revelation 3:20)
Do you hear
the call of Jesus?
Do you feel the tug
on your heart strings?
Have you awakened
to the need to be
more than
what you are?
Have you looked
for answers
to eternal questions?
Have you answered
the knock
of Jesus?
Have you accepted
Him on His terms?
Are you complete?
Have you made room
for Him
who came
who comes
who is here
to save you
from your sins?
Or,
have you turned the lock
and refused Him entrance?
Do you still believe,
I am rich,
have become wealthy,
and have need of nothing?
Only if we have Jesus are we rich and wealthy.
With Him, we have need of nothing
because with Jesus we have enough,
we have everything.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
As the Lord directs, do
It has been said
the giving of greeting cards has become obsolete
the giving of greeting cards has become obsolete
too expensive has been the cry
or too much work to tackle
it has also been said
the giving of greeting cards is a ministry
a love gift, priceless
a way to stay in touch
to remind another
they are important to you.
Not everyone
alas, you and I might,
but not everyone else
has connections
to a computer,
to the
world wide web
to be the bearer
or the recipient
of an electronic greeting.
I do send cards
and letters too
for birthdays
and anniversaries
holidays
and other special occasions
sympathy
and retirement
and even
"just because"
I send them
through the mail
I send them by
email
and I send them
through social networking sites.
I do it because I enjoy it.
Not because it is a chore
or an obligation.
I do it because,
sometimes,
God, in His wisdom,
says to me
to write so and so today.
Let them know you are thinking of them.
Let them know you care.
And so I do.
And I am blessed.
God sends us reminders.
He finds ways to reach us.
He doesn't discontinue old ways
just because
newer and faster ways
have become available.
He doesn't discontinue old ways
just because
newer and faster ways
have become available.
"To everything there is a season,
A Time for every purpose under heaven."
(Ecclesiastes 3:1)
"A man has joy by the
answer of his mouth,
And a word spoken
in due season, how good it is!
(Proverbs 15:23)
"Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established."
(Proverbs 16:3)
"A man's heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps."
(Proverbs 16:9)
Monday, December 27, 2010
He is my shepherd
The Lord
He is my shepherd
... He can be yours too
He knows me
He knows you
And I know Him
more and more
closer and closer
The relationship deepens
He is always near
But we
are not
When we go
our own way
Follow another path
a road we think
will bring us more
- of what we're unsure -
But when we seek
other avenues
The relationship falters.
He still knows you
He is still near
But you have moved away
and the relationship with
The One
that matters most
is no longer.
He is my shepherd
He knows me
He is always near
And I know Him
more and more
closer and closer
and the relationship
deepens.
He is my shepherd
... He can be yours too
He knows me
He knows you
And I know Him
more and more
closer and closer
The relationship deepens
He is always near
But we
are not
When we go
our own way
Follow another path
a road we think
will bring us more
- of what we're unsure -
But when we seek
other avenues
The relationship falters.
He still knows you
He is still near
But you have moved away
and the relationship with
The One
that matters most
is no longer.
He is my shepherd
He knows me
He is always near
And I know Him
more and more
closer and closer
and the relationship
deepens.
Cathy Orrick Luders
12.27.2010
"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own." (John 10:14)
"The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23, New Living Translation)
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Veiled ... or not?
Vision fades
Words seen
but not recognizable
Like snow-covered objects
visible to the imagination
yet not to the naked eye.
Is this the same too
veiled, yet not?
"I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near;"
(Numbers 24:17a)
"Behold, He is coming
with clouds
and every eye will see Him."
(Revelation 1:7a)
Words seen
but not recognizable
Like snow-covered objects
visible to the imagination
yet not to the naked eye.
Is this the same too
veiled, yet not?
"I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near;"
(Numbers 24:17a)
"Behold, He is coming
with clouds
and every eye will see Him."
(Revelation 1:7a)
Cathy Orrick Luders
12.26.2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
When The Lord calls
When The Lord calls
your name
whispering softly,
"Come my child,
your room is ready."
You go,
ready to depart now
for a calmer place
nearer to Jesus
barely aware of what is
left behind
ties of family,
friends too
Tiredness
overcomes you
and God's
still small voice
is what you hear
and what you
answer to
"I'm coming Lord.
I'm coming home."
and those who remain
face remaining time
without that physical presence
but memories linger
and the Lord --
He is nearer still.
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-3)
your name
whispering softly,
"Come my child,
your room is ready."
You go,
ready to depart now
for a calmer place
nearer to Jesus
barely aware of what is
left behind
ties of family,
friends too
Tiredness
overcomes you
and God's
still small voice
is what you hear
and what you
answer to
"I'm coming Lord.
I'm coming home."
and those who remain
face remaining time
without that physical presence
but memories linger
and the Lord --
He is nearer still.
Cathy Orrick Luders
12.24.2010
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-3)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Jesus is the gift ... the best gift of all
What is the gift?
The gift we seek
The one to give another
The one another brings
What is the gift?
Is it love shared
a sacrifice made
Together
or alone
What is the gift?
on this
Christmas Day?
Who gave the gift?
Who gives it still?
It is NOT Mr. Claus
It is NOT
that one in a red suit
and white beard
who shakes when he laughs
who comes but once a year
and makes you think
he knows what you want
and will bring it too.
No.
It is NOT Mr. Claus.
It was and is LOVE.
It was and is a sacrifice.
Jesus is the gift.
The one we seek
The one we share
Love come down
from heaven above
"For Unto Us" .....
"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
May you be richly blessed this Christmas!
The gift we seek
The one to give another
The one another brings
What is the gift?
Is it love shared
a sacrifice made
Together
or alone
What is the gift?
on this
Christmas Day?
Who gave the gift?
Who gives it still?
It is NOT Mr. Claus
It is NOT
that one in a red suit
and white beard
who shakes when he laughs
who comes but once a year
and makes you think
he knows what you want
and will bring it too.
No.
It is NOT Mr. Claus.
It was and is LOVE.
It was and is a sacrifice.
Jesus is the gift.
The one we seek
The one we share
Love come down
from heaven above
Cathy Orrick Luders
12.23.2010
"For Unto Us" .....
"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
May you be richly blessed this Christmas!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas ...
Just a few short days and Christmas will be here. Although I've been busy with a Bible Study on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, I'm far from writing another post relating to that. Christmas is on my mind. It's probably on your mind too.
Jim and I had our annual Christmas Open House this past Saturday. We've been married nearly 20 years and together we've had this event for those many years as well. It is a special time of year, a sort of "family Christmas," where we invite friends and family and hope for a good turnout to visit and catch up on their activities. We clean and clean and decorate our home, inside and out, with nativities and trees and other knick-knacks of the season. Our home smells of evergreen via candles and potpourri and baking of cookies and candy. We look forward to it with great anticipation.
Sunday, the day before yesterday ... it was Dec. 19. I thought .... When God says no, do you know? He doesn't always say yes or even maybe. He does say no. But do you know when He does? How have you responded? Are you content? Are you at peace, knowing that the request you've made has been answered and it is not really the answer you wanted? Do you give up or do you instead seek guidance?
Christmas.
What do you want for Christmas? We hear that every year and not just from kids. Adults do the same. They're kids too, just a tad older and not necessarily any smarter. Is your shopping done? Are you happy with your purchases? Are you filled with anticipation, excited to see reactions of gifts given? Have you spent too much or not enough? Does the cost matter?
What do you want for Christmas? Does it change with each passing year? Do purchases really matter or are there more important things to be concerned about?
What do you want for Christmas? I thought. I remembered a few weeks earlier when I was at the dentist, it was being discussed. I thought a Christmas wish would be to have no pain, to have all bills paid. Other things that came to mind were a relationship mended, a promise kept, a roof over our heads, a child to love, someone to come home to, true love.
What do you want for Christmas?
Monday evening, Dec. 20, we watched "The Children's Carol," a Christmas special about The Walton Family at the beginning of World War II. It was shown on the inspiration channel Saturday night and we taped it to watch later.
Today, this morning, I thumbed through the December issue of Mature Living, skimming the headlines and reading the short stories: "Christmas Presence," "Broken Cookies," "Come, Let Us Adore Him," "The Greatest Gift! Really?" and "Trimming the Hearts."
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)
This is the gift.The greatest gift. "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)
This gift is available to all, but not all receive it, not all accept it. Have you?
I also looked through the December issue of The Pathway, a newjournal put out by the Missouri Baptist Convention. David Tolliver, executive director of the MBC, wrote the article, "Jesus is the only genuine celebration of Christmas." Included in it was the following poem, "Why Jesus is Better than Santa Claus," which can also be found on the internet.
Santa lives at the North Pole ...
JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh ...
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year ...
JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies ...
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited ...
JESUS stands at your door and knocks,
and then enters your heart when invited.
You have to wait in line to see Santa ...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap ...
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is
"Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?" ...
JESUS knew our name before we were born...
Not only does He know our name,
He knows our address too.
He knows our history and future and
He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ...
JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ...
JESUS offers health, help and hope.
Santa says "You better not cry" ...
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."
Santa's little helpers make toys ...
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts,
repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but ...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree....
The cross.
Christmas.
What is it all about?
What does it mean?
What will you celebrate?
What is the real reason for the season?
What do you believe?
What does Jesus mean to you?
Christmas.
Jim and I had our annual Christmas Open House this past Saturday. We've been married nearly 20 years and together we've had this event for those many years as well. It is a special time of year, a sort of "family Christmas," where we invite friends and family and hope for a good turnout to visit and catch up on their activities. We clean and clean and decorate our home, inside and out, with nativities and trees and other knick-knacks of the season. Our home smells of evergreen via candles and potpourri and baking of cookies and candy. We look forward to it with great anticipation.
Sunday, the day before yesterday ... it was Dec. 19. I thought .... When God says no, do you know? He doesn't always say yes or even maybe. He does say no. But do you know when He does? How have you responded? Are you content? Are you at peace, knowing that the request you've made has been answered and it is not really the answer you wanted? Do you give up or do you instead seek guidance?
Christmas.
What do you want for Christmas? We hear that every year and not just from kids. Adults do the same. They're kids too, just a tad older and not necessarily any smarter. Is your shopping done? Are you happy with your purchases? Are you filled with anticipation, excited to see reactions of gifts given? Have you spent too much or not enough? Does the cost matter?
What do you want for Christmas? Does it change with each passing year? Do purchases really matter or are there more important things to be concerned about?
What do you want for Christmas? I thought. I remembered a few weeks earlier when I was at the dentist, it was being discussed. I thought a Christmas wish would be to have no pain, to have all bills paid. Other things that came to mind were a relationship mended, a promise kept, a roof over our heads, a child to love, someone to come home to, true love.
What do you want for Christmas?
Monday evening, Dec. 20, we watched "The Children's Carol," a Christmas special about The Walton Family at the beginning of World War II. It was shown on the inspiration channel Saturday night and we taped it to watch later.
Today, this morning, I thumbed through the December issue of Mature Living, skimming the headlines and reading the short stories: "Christmas Presence," "Broken Cookies," "Come, Let Us Adore Him," "The Greatest Gift! Really?" and "Trimming the Hearts."
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)
This is the gift.The greatest gift. "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)
This gift is available to all, but not all receive it, not all accept it. Have you?
I also looked through the December issue of The Pathway, a newjournal put out by the Missouri Baptist Convention. David Tolliver, executive director of the MBC, wrote the article, "Jesus is the only genuine celebration of Christmas." Included in it was the following poem, "Why Jesus is Better than Santa Claus," which can also be found on the internet.
Santa lives at the North Pole ...
JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh ...
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year ...
JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies ...
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited ...
JESUS stands at your door and knocks,
and then enters your heart when invited.
You have to wait in line to see Santa ...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap ...
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is
"Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?" ...
JESUS knew our name before we were born...
Not only does He know our name,
He knows our address too.
He knows our history and future and
He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ...
JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ...
JESUS offers health, help and hope.
Santa says "You better not cry" ...
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."
Santa's little helpers make toys ...
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts,
repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but ...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree....
The cross.
Christmas.
What is it all about?
What does it mean?
What will you celebrate?
What is the real reason for the season?
What do you believe?
What does Jesus mean to you?
Christmas.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Look down, Look Up ... to Jesus
Look down where He lay
born amongst animals
no room at the inn
to His mother, Mary,
a virgin
uniquely chosen by God
Listen to the songs
of Jesus' birth
Away in a Manger
Look down where He lay
Hear the quiet, the stillness
See the sky
a star-filled sky
with one just ever so bright
To show us
where He lay
Look up
in the sky
to the heavens
where the Lord Jesus
reigns
He sits at the right hand
of His Father
Son of God
Son of Man
O Holy One
O Holy Night
Look down where He lay
Look up where He reigns
Set your mind on things above, on Jesus
and you will find the way to true joy.
born amongst animals
no room at the inn
to His mother, Mary,
a virgin
uniquely chosen by God
Listen to the songs
of Jesus' birth
Away in a Manger
Look down where He lay
Hear the quiet, the stillness
See the sky
a star-filled sky
with one just ever so bright
To show us
where He lay
Look up
in the sky
to the heavens
where the Lord Jesus
reigns
He sits at the right hand
of His Father
Son of God
Son of Man
O Holy One
O Holy Night
Look down where He lay
Look up where He reigns
Set your mind on things above, on Jesus
and you will find the way to true joy.
Cathy Orrick Luders
12.12.2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
A new song
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." -- Colossians 3:1-3
I died. Not physically, as in all bodily function ceasing, but spiritually.
A goodbye to earthly, worldly, flesh things --
adultery
fornication
uncleanness
licentiousness
idolatry
sorcery
hatred
contentions
jealousies
outbursts of wrath
selfish ambitions
dissensions
heresies
envy
murders
drunkenness
revelries
(Galatians 5:19-21)
No more were they to be the accepting way of life.
I gave my life to Jesus
The year was 1982
I accepted His birth, His death, His burial, His resurrection
He died for me
Not so I could live to me and mine
But to Him, to His
To live as He lived
To walk as He walked
A hello to
love
joy
peace
long-suffering/patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control
(Galatians 5:22-23)
"And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:24-25)
For I died, and my life is hidden with Christ in God and since I live in the Spirit, I must walk in the Spirit.
"Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!" (Psalm 98:1)
A new song, a renewed song, a song of beginning again in God's way, of rejoicing in what the Lord has led you to and through.
Not an old song, stagnant and full of remorse.
Sing to the Lord a new song! One filled with blessings, filled with joy, filled with peace, filled withlove.
A new song
A new beginning
God's way.
I died. Not physically, as in all bodily function ceasing, but spiritually.
A goodbye to earthly, worldly, flesh things --
adultery
fornication
uncleanness
licentiousness
idolatry
sorcery
hatred
contentions
jealousies
outbursts of wrath
selfish ambitions
dissensions
heresies
envy
murders
drunkenness
revelries
(Galatians 5:19-21)
No more were they to be the accepting way of life.
I gave my life to Jesus
The year was 1982
I accepted His birth, His death, His burial, His resurrection
He died for me
Not so I could live to me and mine
But to Him, to His
To live as He lived
To walk as He walked
A hello to
love
joy
peace
long-suffering/patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control
(Galatians 5:22-23)
"And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:24-25)
For I died, and my life is hidden with Christ in God and since I live in the Spirit, I must walk in the Spirit.
"Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!" (Psalm 98:1)
A new song, a renewed song, a song of beginning again in God's way, of rejoicing in what the Lord has led you to and through.
Not an old song, stagnant and full of remorse.
Sing to the Lord a new song! One filled with blessings, filled with joy, filled with peace, filled withlove.
A new song
A new beginning
God's way.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Remember ...
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." -- Colossians 3:1-3
A verse brought to mind, played over and over, finally served as the reminder I needed. All weekend I thought on these verses. The reminder didn't come. Not until today. Today I realize, today I remember, I am His, I was raised with Him in new life, and all I think about, all the negative does not belong. I must set my mind on Him, nothing else. There is nothing more important than Him and things above, where He is. My life must revolve around Him, not me, not my emotions. Thank you Lord for bringing me this verse and for keeping it before me until I finally heard.
A verse brought to mind, played over and over, finally served as the reminder I needed. All weekend I thought on these verses. The reminder didn't come. Not until today. Today I realize, today I remember, I am His, I was raised with Him in new life, and all I think about, all the negative does not belong. I must set my mind on Him, nothing else. There is nothing more important than Him and things above, where He is. My life must revolve around Him, not me, not my emotions. Thank you Lord for bringing me this verse and for keeping it before me until I finally heard.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
How will I know?
I cannot
No!
I cannot
I'm busy
I can't talk now
I have someone here
I'm eating breakfast
No!
I cannot
call you back
What do you want?!
Why, nothing
I'm sorry
I bothered you.
I cannot
call you another time.
Death outside
Death inside
Physical death
Spiritual death
What is death
... the cease of oxygen flow to the brain?
... the loss of another's friendship?
Is it futile
worthless
Should I bother
to seek out another
who, it seems
repeatedly says
you are bothering me
a bother
is it better to stop
calling
if the 'right' time
is not when I call.
How will I know
Will God tell me
when to call
when I won't be a bother
How will I know?
"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;" (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 5a, 7a)
How will I know?
Will God tell me
when to speak
when I won't be a bother?
Will He?
No!
I cannot
I'm busy
I can't talk now
I have someone here
I'm eating breakfast
No!
I cannot
call you back
What do you want?!
Why, nothing
I'm sorry
I bothered you.
I cannot
call you another time.
Death outside
Death inside
Physical death
Spiritual death
What is death
... the cease of oxygen flow to the brain?
... the loss of another's friendship?
Is it futile
worthless
Should I bother
to seek out another
who, it seems
repeatedly says
you are bothering me
a bother
is it better to stop
calling
if the 'right' time
is not when I call.
How will I know
Will God tell me
when to call
when I won't be a bother
How will I know?
"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;" (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 5a, 7a)
How will I know?
Will God tell me
when to speak
when I won't be a bother?
Will He?
Monday, November 29, 2010
Learn from Me
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
To carry our burdens
with gentleness
humbleness in heart
To learn from Jesus
who carries the burden
of all our sins
upon Himself.
He is gentle
He is humble
He is kind
We will find rest
comfort
peace
When upon Him
we cast our fears
concerns
doubts
anxieties
For all He is
we are to be likewise
To carry our burdens
with gentleness
humbleness in heart
To learn from Jesus
who carries the burden
of all our sins
upon Himself.
He is gentle
He is humble
He is kind
We will find rest
comfort
peace
When upon Him
we cast our fears
concerns
doubts
anxieties
For all He is
we are to be likewise
Cathy Orrick Luders
11.29.2010
11.29.2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Outside looking in
Outside
looking in
What do you see?
Who are you who sees whatever it is?
Do I speak in riddles?
Does God
Is the Bible
a jumbled conglomeration
of words
mismatched
discolored
out of sync?
I read
I study
I listen
I read again
I remember
I write
I ponder
I read again
Enough you say, you think
But no, it's not enough
Never enough
The Bible
God's Holy Word
offers insights
anew
every time
Don't stop now
The best
is yet to come
The best
began with creation
The best
continued with Abraham and Moses and David
and Solomon and Ruth and Paul and Peter
The very best
is Jesus
God's son
Born of a virgin
Living among us
Died for our sins
The very best is Jesus
who rose from the grave
and sits at the right hand of God
who sent the Holy Spirit
to live within each of us
personally
upon our acceptance
of Him,
our Savior, our Redeemer, our Lord, Jesus.
Outside
looking in
Who is outside
What is outside
Who is looking in
and who sees?
looking in
What do you see?
Who are you who sees whatever it is?
Do I speak in riddles?
Does God
Is the Bible
a jumbled conglomeration
of words
mismatched
discolored
out of sync?
I read
I study
I listen
I read again
I remember
I write
I ponder
I read again
Enough you say, you think
But no, it's not enough
Never enough
The Bible
God's Holy Word
offers insights
anew
every time
Don't stop now
The best
is yet to come
The best
began with creation
The best
continued with Abraham and Moses and David
and Solomon and Ruth and Paul and Peter
The very best
is Jesus
God's son
Born of a virgin
Living among us
Died for our sins
The very best is Jesus
who rose from the grave
and sits at the right hand of God
who sent the Holy Spirit
to live within each of us
personally
upon our acceptance
of Him,
our Savior, our Redeemer, our Lord, Jesus.
Outside
looking in
Who is outside
What is outside
Who is looking in
and who sees?
Cathy Orrick Luders
11.26.2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
"The change is in the heart"
Knowing You
No greater thing
You are my all
You are the best
You are my joy
You are my righteousness
And now,
my heart's desire ...
to know You more,
much more.
A hymn,
"Knowing You" by Graham Kendrick
words and music
written in 1993
was sung
this night
Nov. 19
The place --
the campus
of HLG U
in Hannibal, MO
The event --
a booster banquet
to raise funds
for a library,
years out-of-date
The speaker --
Kirk Cameron,
a child actor.
Perhaps
you remember him
from "Growing Pains."
Once of the world,
he saw no need
and had no desire
for a spiritual relationship
with The One
above all.
He came
and we came
A thousand, more or less,
were present
To hear
what this man,
no longer a child,
but 40,
had to say
He came
He shared
with boldness
the transformation
of what his life
without
became
within.
The change is in the heart.
The "change is from the bottom up,"
Cameron said.
"You must become a lover of Christ."
Without Christ,
you are a lover of self
and that accomplishes nothing.
So much is hidden ...
hidden in plain view
and we don't see it.
"We've been taught not to see it,"
said Cameron.
God called us,
calls us still,
"We need to continue
to be
a 'deacon of light,'
a 'disciple for Christ.' "
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
(Matthew 5:14, 16)
Read Bev Darr's story in the Hannibal Courier-Post: Cameron leaves 'Growing Pains' behind
No greater thing
You are my all
You are the best
You are my joy
You are my righteousness
And now,
my heart's desire ...
to know You more,
much more.
A hymn,
"Knowing You" by Graham Kendrick
words and music
written in 1993
was sung
this night
Nov. 19
The place --
the campus
of HLG U
in Hannibal, MO
The event --
a booster banquet
to raise funds
for a library,
years out-of-date
The speaker --
Kirk Cameron,
a child actor.
Perhaps
you remember him
from "Growing Pains."
Once of the world,
he saw no need
and had no desire
for a spiritual relationship
with The One
above all.
He came
and we came
A thousand, more or less,
were present
To hear
what this man,
no longer a child,
but 40,
had to say
He came
He shared
with boldness
the transformation
of what his life
without
became
within.
The change is in the heart.
The "change is from the bottom up,"
Cameron said.
"You must become a lover of Christ."
Without Christ,
you are a lover of self
and that accomplishes nothing.
So much is hidden ...
hidden in plain view
and we don't see it.
"We've been taught not to see it,"
said Cameron.
God called us,
calls us still,
"We need to continue
to be
a 'deacon of light,'
a 'disciple for Christ.' "
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
(Matthew 5:14, 16)
Cathy Orrick Luders
11.22.2010
11.22.2010
 |
| Kirk Cameron signs my husband's Bible |
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Walking and Living
"if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ... if we live by the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit." (Galatians, 5:18, 25)
Walking
and living
being
and doing
What we do
What we say
Is that who we are
Our actions
a result of our beliefs
Do our beliefs
always reveal
goodness
and love within
without
Are we always true
Do sometimes
we allow grumpiness
to get in the way
to supercede
better intentions?
Is it sometimes better to
say nothing
Everyone different
None the same
Even within the same body of believers
or smaller family unit
Some alert and cordial
every waking moment
Some not so alert
nor so cordial
Some soak in their surroundings
before pursuing the day
and greater moments
of relating to another.
Should we apologize
for our differences?
Does another frown
on us
because we are different
Not like them
Not like they perceive
we should be.
Is it a sin
because I am not
like you.
Are you the right one
Are you so perfect
that you have no room
for the differences
reflected in another?
Did Jesus forgive you
and judge you so righteous
that you needn't forgive
another?
Did Jesus forgive you
and say,
'go, condemn another'?
Did Jesus say,
'your way is best'?
Who are you?
What did Jesus say?
What does He say
Is He constant
Does He change
"I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world." (John 12:46-47)
"The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14:26)
"When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He wll glorify Me, for He will take care of what is Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:13-14)
Walking
and living
being
and doing
What we do
What we say
Is that who we are
Our actions
a result of our beliefs
Do our beliefs
always reveal
goodness
and love within
without
Are we always true
Do sometimes
we allow grumpiness
to get in the way
to supercede
better intentions?
Is it sometimes better to
say nothing
Everyone different
None the same
Even within the same body of believers
or smaller family unit
Some alert and cordial
every waking moment
Some not so alert
nor so cordial
Some soak in their surroundings
before pursuing the day
and greater moments
of relating to another.
Should we apologize
for our differences?
Does another frown
on us
because we are different
Not like them
Not like they perceive
we should be.
Is it a sin
because I am not
like you.
Are you the right one
Are you so perfect
that you have no room
for the differences
reflected in another?
Did Jesus forgive you
and judge you so righteous
that you needn't forgive
another?
Did Jesus forgive you
and say,
'go, condemn another'?
Did Jesus say,
'your way is best'?
Who are you?
What did Jesus say?
What does He say
Is He constant
Does He change
"I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world." (John 12:46-47)
"The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14:26)
"When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He wll glorify Me, for He will take care of what is Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:13-14)
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
God's design for life (Part I: To plant, To pluck)
As a result of one of my readings by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I have begun a study on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. To get there, I had to pass through Ecclesiastes 1, which is where Bonhoeffer’s reading led me.
His reading:
“God’s way are ways that He himself traveled and that we are now supposed to travel with him. God does not let us go anyway that he himself has not gone and on which he does not go before us. The way to which God calls us is the way cleared by God and protected by God. Thus it is really his way …One does not meet God on the spot. Rather, one follows a way. And the way moves forward, or one is not with God.”
On to Ecclesiastes 1 ….
4 “One generation passes away, and another generation comes;”
9 “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there anything of which it may be said, ‘See, this is new’? It has already been in ancient times before us. 11There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.”
Seasons come and seasons go, year after year. What we face today someone else faced years before and another will face in the future.
God’s design for life - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
A time – a season;
a span of time, a moment
Expansive or minute.
Remember – a thousand years to us is like a day to Him and vice versa.
Bonhoeffer says, “The source of action is not the idea, but readiness for responsibility.”
Individually, personally, globally. The time comes and what we choose to do with it – that is what is important, whenever it comes. Not that it has come, but that we are ready to take action, and responsibility.
There are many times, many seasons in the course of one’s life.
Moments come
moments go
in between
we stay a while
reap rewards
or face untold anguish
Today
Tomorrow
Yesterday
All in a single moment
of Time
A season
Always wondering,
Is there nothing new?
Is it always the same
day in,
day out
1 “To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven.”
In all of Life
However short or long
there is a season
2 “A time
to be born
to die
to plant
to pluck what is planted
3 to kill
to heal
to break down
to build up
4 to weep
to laugh
to mourn
to dance
5 to cast away stones
to gather stones
to embrace
to refrain from embracing
6 to gain
to lose
to keep
to throw away
7 to tear
to sew
to keep silence
to speak
8 to love
to hate
of war
of peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
You read those words and you think on them and you have ideas to what they mean. But what you think and what they really mean don’t always come together. This is God’s design for life and His design is already one that is and we are to follow. But what has been will be again and what is now was once. You’d think you were going in circles, but you’re not.
My study began, not with being born and dying, because to me, that seemed self-explanatory, but with planting and plucking -
“A time to plant; A time to pluck what is planted”
The direction I went took me along this route:
• Matthew 15:13, where Jesus is speaking to his disciples. “Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.”
• Isaiah 53:2, the prophet Isaiah speaks of Jesus, the Messiah, to come. “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground…”
• Isaiah 11:1-2a, “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,”
• Psalm 1:3, “He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water That brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”
• Psalm 92:12-15, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing; To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no uprighteousness in Him.”
• Jeremiah 17:8, “For He shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But her leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
We are to be a blessing to others at all times.
• Ezekiel 19:10-14, “Your mother was like a vine in your bloodline, Planted by the waters. Fruitful and full of branches Because of many waters. She had strong branches for scepters of rulers. She towered in stature above the thick branches, And was seen in her height amid the dense foliage. But she was plucked up in fury, She was cast down to the ground, And the east wind dried her fruits. Her strong branches were broken and withered; The fire consumed them. And how she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. Fire has come out from a rod of her branches And devoured her fruit, so that she has no strong branch- a scepter for ruling.”
• Jeremiah 31:28, “And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the Lord.”
• Jeremiah 1:10, “See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.”
• Jeremiah 18:7-10, “The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it. If that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.”
• Psalm 128:1-4, “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands (fruit of the labor), you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.”
• Jeremiah 11:16, “The Lord called your name, Green Olive Tree, Lovely and of Good Fruit.”
Jesus is the root/the vine. Israel/the Jewish nation is the natural branches. When rejection of the Lord became their preferred choice of living, God’s gift of salvation through Christ was offered to the rest of the world – the Gentiles.
I am a Gentile. The Bible calls us wild, being we are not natural. We are grafted in to become part of the Tree of Life. If/when we reject the Lord we can be removed from the Tree just like the Jews. Only those who believe and trust and obey are/is a branch of this tree.
And we are blessed. Must not brag about what we have, what the Lord has given us. The natural branches were broken off because of unbelief and unfruitfulness, making room for us, the Gentile people, to be grafted in, to become part of God’s goodness. We must never think we/I am better than another.
• John 15:1-2, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
• John 15:4-8, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 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 nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
• John 15:16, “You didn’t choose me, I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last…”
The fruit He speaks of – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
“We can only live life, not define it,” says Bonhoeffer.
Jesus says, of himself, in John 14:6a, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
God’s design for all of life is found in and through Jesus Christ, who shows us the way.
His reading:
“God’s way are ways that He himself traveled and that we are now supposed to travel with him. God does not let us go anyway that he himself has not gone and on which he does not go before us. The way to which God calls us is the way cleared by God and protected by God. Thus it is really his way …One does not meet God on the spot. Rather, one follows a way. And the way moves forward, or one is not with God.”
On to Ecclesiastes 1 ….
4 “One generation passes away, and another generation comes;”
9 “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there anything of which it may be said, ‘See, this is new’? It has already been in ancient times before us. 11There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.”
Seasons come and seasons go, year after year. What we face today someone else faced years before and another will face in the future.
God’s design for life - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
A time – a season;
a span of time, a moment
Expansive or minute.
Remember – a thousand years to us is like a day to Him and vice versa.
Bonhoeffer says, “The source of action is not the idea, but readiness for responsibility.”
Individually, personally, globally. The time comes and what we choose to do with it – that is what is important, whenever it comes. Not that it has come, but that we are ready to take action, and responsibility.
There are many times, many seasons in the course of one’s life.
Moments come
moments go
in between
we stay a while
reap rewards
or face untold anguish
Today
Tomorrow
Yesterday
All in a single moment
of Time
A season
Always wondering,
Is there nothing new?
Is it always the same
day in,
day out
1 “To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven.”
In all of Life
However short or long
there is a season
2 “A time
to be born
to die
to plant
to pluck what is planted
3 to kill
to heal
to break down
to build up
4 to weep
to laugh
to mourn
to dance
5 to cast away stones
to gather stones
to embrace
to refrain from embracing
6 to gain
to lose
to keep
to throw away
7 to tear
to sew
to keep silence
to speak
8 to love
to hate
of war
of peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
You read those words and you think on them and you have ideas to what they mean. But what you think and what they really mean don’t always come together. This is God’s design for life and His design is already one that is and we are to follow. But what has been will be again and what is now was once. You’d think you were going in circles, but you’re not.
My study began, not with being born and dying, because to me, that seemed self-explanatory, but with planting and plucking -
“A time to plant; A time to pluck what is planted”
The direction I went took me along this route:
• Matthew 15:13, where Jesus is speaking to his disciples. “Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.”
• Isaiah 53:2, the prophet Isaiah speaks of Jesus, the Messiah, to come. “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground…”
• Isaiah 11:1-2a, “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,”
• Psalm 1:3, “He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water That brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”
• Psalm 92:12-15, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing; To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no uprighteousness in Him.”
• Jeremiah 17:8, “For He shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But her leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
We are to be a blessing to others at all times.
• Ezekiel 19:10-14, “Your mother was like a vine in your bloodline, Planted by the waters. Fruitful and full of branches Because of many waters. She had strong branches for scepters of rulers. She towered in stature above the thick branches, And was seen in her height amid the dense foliage. But she was plucked up in fury, She was cast down to the ground, And the east wind dried her fruits. Her strong branches were broken and withered; The fire consumed them. And how she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. Fire has come out from a rod of her branches And devoured her fruit, so that she has no strong branch- a scepter for ruling.”
• Jeremiah 31:28, “And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the Lord.”
• Jeremiah 1:10, “See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.”
• Jeremiah 18:7-10, “The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it. If that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.”
• Psalm 128:1-4, “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands (fruit of the labor), you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.”
• Jeremiah 11:16, “The Lord called your name, Green Olive Tree, Lovely and of Good Fruit.”
Jesus is the root/the vine. Israel/the Jewish nation is the natural branches. When rejection of the Lord became their preferred choice of living, God’s gift of salvation through Christ was offered to the rest of the world – the Gentiles.
I am a Gentile. The Bible calls us wild, being we are not natural. We are grafted in to become part of the Tree of Life. If/when we reject the Lord we can be removed from the Tree just like the Jews. Only those who believe and trust and obey are/is a branch of this tree.
And we are blessed. Must not brag about what we have, what the Lord has given us. The natural branches were broken off because of unbelief and unfruitfulness, making room for us, the Gentile people, to be grafted in, to become part of God’s goodness. We must never think we/I am better than another.
• John 15:1-2, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
• John 15:4-8, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 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 nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
• John 15:16, “You didn’t choose me, I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last…”
The fruit He speaks of – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
“We can only live life, not define it,” says Bonhoeffer.
Jesus says, of himself, in John 14:6a, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
God’s design for all of life is found in and through Jesus Christ, who shows us the way.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Pain
"I will greatly multiply your sorrow (and your conception)," God says to Eve in Genesis 3:16, but is it just in childbirth that there will be pain? I think not. Our sorrow will increase AND....
"Pangs (sharp pains) and sorrows will take hold ... they will be in pain as a woman in childbirth;" (Isaiah 13:8a)
The first mention of pain comes from God as a form of punishment, condemnation to Adam and Eve for their disobedience. This is what will happen. This is how it will be. In childbirth you will suffer. In anything and everything from here to our final going home, our pains will be great, our sorrows multiplied.
Pain comes in many forms. Not just childbirth. Not just surgery. Not just physical.
Each person is under their own personal load of pain and agony. What one suffers is not of less or more importance than another. We may say to ourself that another's pain is minuscule, but who are we to judge? God is well aware of all we undergo. We brought it on ourselves. Mankind's race screwed up at the running gate.
Does God determine pain can be inflicted to prove a point? Is that what happened with Job, who was "blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1)?
Job suffered physical torment (he had boils), loss of possessions (animals and land), loss of friendship and fellowship, loss of family. Yet he says "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10a)
God's will overrides everything. It is His will to permit, to allow, to prove, to stop, to heal, to release.
"Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed?" (Jeremiah 15:18)
"Woe is me for my hurt! My wound is severe. But I say, 'Truly this is an infirmity, And I must bear it.' " (Jeremiah 10:19)
In these verses the prophet Jeremiah cries out to the Lord. But, I can hear the Apostle Paul say similar things. He too had pain, pain that wouldn't leave him, pain that no amount of requesting from God was going to heal. It was an infirmity and he had to bear it.
"Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitudes of your iniquities, Because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you." (Jeremiah 30:15)
We are destined to suffer pain - at all levels, all across the board. It is a fact of life. And although we cannot ever rid ourselves of it, we have a Savior and a lifelong friend who does not depart from us, in Jesus, who also suffered pain and agony, who obeyed the Father's call, until death.
He prayed.
"Pray that you may not enter into temptation." (Luke 22:40)
"And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44)
Our pain
my pain.
Should we stay silent? Should we not allow the tears to fall, to fill our hearts and souls?
How do we prevent that which seems to come naturally?
The pain of lost relationships
The immense sadness that overwhelms us
Was it wrong for Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1), who spoke fervently to the Lord from her heart? Her pain too was great - she wanted a child, a son. One she didn't have because the Lord had closed her womb. It was her pain and it made her life miserable. Her husband didn't understand and her peers mocked her.
Yet she remained steadfast in her prayers to the Lord - a plea that if only He would answer her specific request she would give her child back to Him.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 tells us we are to preach the word. At all times we are to be ready to share God's message, to convince, rebuke, exhort others with patience, and in the midst, to endure afflictions.
Perhaps we do endure.
We are not to allow our weariness to cause us to become discouraged. Don't become so weary that we lose sight of Jesus and stop praying, studying, being obedient, rejoicing, living.
"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1a-2)
So, dear Lord, I pray you will help me to put aside, to become less aware of the physical pain, to not allow it to get the best of me and thus trap me and get me off course, to continue running, with you at the helm and beside me, surrounding me, teaching me about patience toward others who may not understand. You endured it all for us. Oh Lord, help me be more like you. Amen.
"Pangs (sharp pains) and sorrows will take hold ... they will be in pain as a woman in childbirth;" (Isaiah 13:8a)
The first mention of pain comes from God as a form of punishment, condemnation to Adam and Eve for their disobedience. This is what will happen. This is how it will be. In childbirth you will suffer. In anything and everything from here to our final going home, our pains will be great, our sorrows multiplied.
Pain comes in many forms. Not just childbirth. Not just surgery. Not just physical.
Each person is under their own personal load of pain and agony. What one suffers is not of less or more importance than another. We may say to ourself that another's pain is minuscule, but who are we to judge? God is well aware of all we undergo. We brought it on ourselves. Mankind's race screwed up at the running gate.
Does God determine pain can be inflicted to prove a point? Is that what happened with Job, who was "blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1)?
Job suffered physical torment (he had boils), loss of possessions (animals and land), loss of friendship and fellowship, loss of family. Yet he says "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10a)
God's will overrides everything. It is His will to permit, to allow, to prove, to stop, to heal, to release.
"Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed?" (Jeremiah 15:18)
"Woe is me for my hurt! My wound is severe. But I say, 'Truly this is an infirmity, And I must bear it.' " (Jeremiah 10:19)
In these verses the prophet Jeremiah cries out to the Lord. But, I can hear the Apostle Paul say similar things. He too had pain, pain that wouldn't leave him, pain that no amount of requesting from God was going to heal. It was an infirmity and he had to bear it.
"Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitudes of your iniquities, Because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you." (Jeremiah 30:15)
We are destined to suffer pain - at all levels, all across the board. It is a fact of life. And although we cannot ever rid ourselves of it, we have a Savior and a lifelong friend who does not depart from us, in Jesus, who also suffered pain and agony, who obeyed the Father's call, until death.
He prayed.
"Pray that you may not enter into temptation." (Luke 22:40)
"And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44)
Our pain
my pain.
Should we stay silent? Should we not allow the tears to fall, to fill our hearts and souls?
How do we prevent that which seems to come naturally?
The pain of lost relationships
The immense sadness that overwhelms us
Was it wrong for Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1), who spoke fervently to the Lord from her heart? Her pain too was great - she wanted a child, a son. One she didn't have because the Lord had closed her womb. It was her pain and it made her life miserable. Her husband didn't understand and her peers mocked her.
Yet she remained steadfast in her prayers to the Lord - a plea that if only He would answer her specific request she would give her child back to Him.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 tells us we are to preach the word. At all times we are to be ready to share God's message, to convince, rebuke, exhort others with patience, and in the midst, to endure afflictions.
Perhaps we do endure.
We are not to allow our weariness to cause us to become discouraged. Don't become so weary that we lose sight of Jesus and stop praying, studying, being obedient, rejoicing, living.
"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1a-2)
So, dear Lord, I pray you will help me to put aside, to become less aware of the physical pain, to not allow it to get the best of me and thus trap me and get me off course, to continue running, with you at the helm and beside me, surrounding me, teaching me about patience toward others who may not understand. You endured it all for us. Oh Lord, help me be more like you. Amen.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Be alive! Come to Jesus
"You are dead -- and yet you have risen! You are in the dark -- and yet you are in the light. You are afraid -- and yet you can rejoice." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
Dead in our sins
Christ came
to die for us
for our sins
everyone and all
not one to leave behind
unless ...
by our choice
we refuse
we say no to Him
over and over and over
countless times
Always no.
Christ came
for you
He sees
He hears
Our tears, our sighs
Our pain
reaches out
to pull us in
because of God's love
God's mercy.
Why oh why do you say no
Why is all He has done
still not enough
What more do you need
What do you seek if it is not
Jesus the Son
God the Father
and the inner voice of the Holy Spirit?
What else is there
Jesus is The One
The Only One
The Only Way
One alone
Him alone
He will guide you
everyone and all
But you must give yourself,
every bit of you,
to Him
Let Him guide you.
The lonely path you travel,
the one that leads far into
the world of fear and dread,
can be overcome
Give your heart and soul to Jesus
Step out into the light and rejoice
Be alive!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the wold to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)
Dead in our sins
Christ came
to die for us
for our sins
everyone and all
not one to leave behind
unless ...
by our choice
we refuse
we say no to Him
over and over and over
countless times
Always no.
Christ came
for you
He sees
He hears
Our tears, our sighs
Our pain
reaches out
to pull us in
because of God's love
God's mercy.
Why oh why do you say no
Why is all He has done
still not enough
What more do you need
What do you seek if it is not
Jesus the Son
God the Father
and the inner voice of the Holy Spirit?
What else is there
Jesus is The One
The Only One
The Only Way
One alone
Him alone
He will guide you
everyone and all
But you must give yourself,
every bit of you,
to Him
Let Him guide you.
The lonely path you travel,
the one that leads far into
the world of fear and dread,
can be overcome
Give your heart and soul to Jesus
Step out into the light and rejoice
Be alive!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the wold to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)
Friday, November 5, 2010
God's Truth or your own?
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness ... who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever." (Romans 1:18, 25)
I write from the Truth, God's Truth, not my own, but is actually, totally, because I have accepted, because I believe it was He who sent Jesus, His Son, to death for our sins, my sins. But it is still God's Truth and it can only be mine if I am obedient to Him. His Truth is not made for me to fine tune and make agreeable to me.
I cannot write legitimately with the thinking it can be arranged more to my (generic) liking.
Governments change rules to appease the mass majority. Judges are retained or not, as are governors, other political leaders, any leader.
God's Truth, God's Law does not appeal to the masses.
God has revealed Himself to everyone, yet we ignore, preferring instead to live wise unto ourselves.
Ultimate judgment will come. God's judgment, God's truth. When (not if) the end comes, we will see God's wrath poured out. If we do not see the error of our ways now, and repent, we will see in the final days how all our unrighteousness has come back to haunt us.
Yet at times His word is heard over any other word. His people have stood and are counted. WE have let it known where our allegiance lies and whose law we will follow.
I write from the Truth, God's Truth, not my own, but is actually, totally, because I have accepted, because I believe it was He who sent Jesus, His Son, to death for our sins, my sins. But it is still God's Truth and it can only be mine if I am obedient to Him. His Truth is not made for me to fine tune and make agreeable to me.
I cannot write legitimately with the thinking it can be arranged more to my (generic) liking.
Governments change rules to appease the mass majority. Judges are retained or not, as are governors, other political leaders, any leader.
God's Truth, God's Law does not appeal to the masses.
God has revealed Himself to everyone, yet we ignore, preferring instead to live wise unto ourselves.
Ultimate judgment will come. God's judgment, God's truth. When (not if) the end comes, we will see God's wrath poured out. If we do not see the error of our ways now, and repent, we will see in the final days how all our unrighteousness has come back to haunt us.
Yet at times His word is heard over any other word. His people have stood and are counted. WE have let it known where our allegiance lies and whose law we will follow.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
More of God's Love
God's Love took me through the week and into another, through worship services, exploring the Scriptures, stopping to reflect on all He is and all He did and does and all He continues to do and be. My verse may seem simple, but its more than simple. Yet not complicated. We are living in God's Love. Even you who do not know or do not care. We are living proof of God's Love. (This is an updated post of God's Love that was published Oct. 30, which has been deleted.)
God's Love
is patient, kind
Not envious
Not jealous
Not proud
Not selfish
Not in a hurry
Not bearing grudges
Not rude
is passionate
Rejoices In the Truth
Not wrongdoing
Not a falsehood
Not a lie
(not even a little white one)
Sees clearly
Not with malice
is faithful
Not dependent on our courage or lack thereof
Not giving in when we fail
is miraculous
is mighty and strong, powerful
Not weary
Not weak
is perfect
Not to be feared
is complete
Not separated from the frenzied hurriedness,
busyness of our lives
Shares with others
Moves you to live righteously,
not as sinners
is gentle and compassionate
Not angry
Not quarrelsome
Not forceful
is supportive
Always concerned about the well-being of His children
Never fails
is like a lamb
Not a roaring lion.
is for us
undeserving,
without any thought of return
is calming
Pursues us
Not to punish,
but to have a relationship
because of love …
God’s Love.
God’s Love
is a reminder -
He is Pure and Holy,
without blemish
Not flawed
Not the deceiver
Not the enemy
God’s Love
is invisible, yet not
Surrounds you
Embraces you
Reveals His Son to you and reveals Himself as your Holy Father
is the Holy Spirit,
living within your heart
when you have accepted His Son
as your Savior.
God’s Love
Builds you up
Not a disappointment
Not conditional
Sets you free
Not enslaved
God’s Love
grows
Not stagnant
Fills you to overflowing
Instructs, guides you
on your life’s journey of twists and turns
Created you
Gives meaning and purpose
Understands your pain and anxiety
and gives comfort
God’s Love
searches high and low
for you, His lost child,
and when He finds you,
there is much rejoicing
and gladness of heart
God’s Love
gives you reason to thank Him
always, continually
Shows us how expressing
our love for His Son, Jesus,
frees us
from the burden of our guilt
Knows you,
your innermost being
your troubled heart
Helps us
to forgive others
to let go of the past
is genuine
Not a list of errors
does He keep
is always with you
Always has your best interest
God's Love
expresses joy
in the face of a believer
when we give
sacrificially
to Him alone
a single solitary act
of returning His love
for us
to Him.
to Him alone.
God's Love
a longing for more and more
of Him.
God's Love
brought us
a mediator,
a savior
Jesus!
God's Love
is sufficient
deserves our praise, our honor
Not our mocking
Invades us
our very being
enfolds us with Him
bring us to Him
one with Him .... alone without Him
is never ending.
Eternal.
“does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” ( 1 Corinthians 13:6-8)
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
“For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 4:15)
“And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.” (1 Corinthians 6:14)
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
“Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:35, 37)
Listen to the video below and pay attention to the words in "All I Have is Christ." Embrace God's Love.
God's Love
is patient, kind
Not envious
Not jealous
Not proud
Not selfish
Not in a hurry
Not bearing grudges
Not rude
is passionate
Rejoices In the Truth
Not wrongdoing
Not a falsehood
Not a lie
(not even a little white one)
Sees clearly
Not with malice
is faithful
Not dependent on our courage or lack thereof
Not giving in when we fail
is miraculous
is mighty and strong, powerful
Not weary
Not weak
is perfect
Not to be feared
is complete
Not separated from the frenzied hurriedness,
busyness of our lives
Shares with others
Moves you to live righteously,
not as sinners
is gentle and compassionate
Not angry
Not quarrelsome
Not forceful
is supportive
Always concerned about the well-being of His children
Never fails
is like a lamb
Not a roaring lion.
is for us
undeserving,
without any thought of return
is calming
Pursues us
Not to punish,
but to have a relationship
because of love …
God’s Love.
God’s Love
is a reminder -
He is Pure and Holy,
without blemish
Not flawed
Not the deceiver
Not the enemy
God’s Love
is invisible, yet not
Surrounds you
Embraces you
Reveals His Son to you and reveals Himself as your Holy Father
is the Holy Spirit,
living within your heart
when you have accepted His Son
as your Savior.
God’s Love
Builds you up
Not a disappointment
Not conditional
Sets you free
Not enslaved
God’s Love
grows
Not stagnant
Fills you to overflowing
Instructs, guides you
on your life’s journey of twists and turns
Created you
Gives meaning and purpose
Understands your pain and anxiety
and gives comfort
Shows you the foolishness
you give in toGod’s Love
searches high and low
for you, His lost child,
and when He finds you,
there is much rejoicing
and gladness of heart
God’s Love
gives you reason to thank Him
always, continually
Shows us how expressing
our love for His Son, Jesus,
frees us
from the burden of our guilt
Knows you,
your innermost being
your troubled heart
Helps us
to forgive others
to let go of the past
is genuine
Not a list of errors
does He keep
is always with you
Always has your best interest
God's Love
expresses joy
in the face of a believer
when we give
sacrificially
to Him alone
a single solitary act
of returning His love
for us
to Him.
to Him alone.
God's Love
a longing for more and more
of Him.
God's Love
brought us
a mediator,
a savior
Jesus!
God's Love
is sufficient
deserves our praise, our honor
Not our mocking
Invades us
our very being
enfolds us with Him
bring us to Him
one with Him .... alone without Him
is never ending.
Eternal.
Cathy Orrick Luders
Oct. 30 / Nov. 2, 2010
“... God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.” (1 John 4:16-18)Oct. 30 / Nov. 2, 2010
“does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” ( 1 Corinthians 13:6-8)
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
“For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 4:15)
“And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.” (1 Corinthians 6:14)
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
“Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:35, 37)
Listen to the video below and pay attention to the words in "All I Have is Christ." Embrace God's Love.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
You speak
You speak.
silently,
sometimes softly
sometimes ever so loud
but not with words
spoken.
sometimes written
sometimes in art
the snapshot
the painting
sometimes
the way we walk
how our arms hang
how we stand
tells, says all.
sometimes
our view, our vision
of our life
and of another
is seen
through eyes
downcast
flashing anger
wincing with pain
bloodshot with tears
sometimes.
You speak.
Does no one hear
your pain
your cry
your need
Will no one listen
What am I to do
you think
I too was there.
Many have come and gone
Some have stayed
in place,
lost still
and alone.
Others,
maybe you
have gone on,
found the missing piece
of this puzzle of life.
For God
can be your shield
your protector
your guardian
He will hear your cry of distress
and He will care
He will direct your every move.
He will listen
to your pleas
He will put gladness
in your heart
and lightness to your step.
He will give reason
to trust
He is merciful
and loving
and worthy of praise
and thanksgiving.
He is kind,
yet judges righteously
He is Truth
He is honorable
He instructs
provides insight
leads us to
and through
places we are fearful of
He will save you
He will bring you
a gift ...
a singular gift whose value is priceless ...
The gift of eternal life.
One you cannot repay
Cannot earn.
A gift to accept
and live.
silently,
sometimes softly
sometimes ever so loud
but not with words
spoken.
sometimes written
sometimes in art
the snapshot
the painting
sometimes
the way we walk
how our arms hang
how we stand
tells, says all.
sometimes
our view, our vision
of our life
and of another
is seen
through eyes
downcast
flashing anger
wincing with pain
bloodshot with tears
sometimes.
You speak.
Does no one hear
your pain
your cry
your need
Will no one listen
What am I to do
you think
I too was there.
Many have come and gone
Some have stayed
in place,
lost still
and alone.
Others,
maybe you
have gone on,
found the missing piece
of this puzzle of life.
For God
can be your shield
your protector
your guardian
He will hear your cry of distress
and He will care
He will direct your every move.
He will listen
to your pleas
He will put gladness
in your heart
and lightness to your step.
He will give reason
to trust
He is merciful
and loving
and worthy of praise
and thanksgiving.
He is kind,
yet judges righteously
He is Truth
He is honorable
He instructs
provides insight
leads us to
and through
places we are fearful of
He will save you
He will bring you
a gift ...
a singular gift whose value is priceless ...
The gift of eternal life.
One you cannot repay
Cannot earn.
A gift to accept
and live.
Cathy Orrick Luders
10.23.2010
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Our Choice
"... But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, ... you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days ... I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, ... that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;" (Deuteronomy 30:17-20a NKJ)
God created us - Adam and Eve were His first - and we created more. We are not on equal footing with God. No one is of His stature. He is Above all, greater than our greatest. Each of us is created to be like Him, but it is our choice to Be like Him, to listen to Him, to obey Him, to follow in His footsteps.
Likewise, it is our choice to listen to our feelings, to give in to self-doubt, to settle on self, and not on Him, to chase our sorrow in drink (or food), to never open the pages of His book, to never get started on a new road. It is always our choice.
We choose every day. We feel pain and agony, whether physical or emotional, and we can settle there and constantly complain of how we "feel" today ... or, we can move on. Get busy. Open His word. Get into His word. Pursue study. Listen to what He says to us. Find a Bible-believing and teaching church if you don't already attend or belong to one. Get involved. Become attuned to where you need to be. You may discover that where you need to be is where you want to be, and nothing in your life will prevent you from following Him.
It is your choice.
What have you decided?
Will you follow Jesus?
To know more about accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior: http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/ReflectionsOnJesus.html
God created us - Adam and Eve were His first - and we created more. We are not on equal footing with God. No one is of His stature. He is Above all, greater than our greatest. Each of us is created to be like Him, but it is our choice to Be like Him, to listen to Him, to obey Him, to follow in His footsteps.
Likewise, it is our choice to listen to our feelings, to give in to self-doubt, to settle on self, and not on Him, to chase our sorrow in drink (or food), to never open the pages of His book, to never get started on a new road. It is always our choice.
We choose every day. We feel pain and agony, whether physical or emotional, and we can settle there and constantly complain of how we "feel" today ... or, we can move on. Get busy. Open His word. Get into His word. Pursue study. Listen to what He says to us. Find a Bible-believing and teaching church if you don't already attend or belong to one. Get involved. Become attuned to where you need to be. You may discover that where you need to be is where you want to be, and nothing in your life will prevent you from following Him.
It is your choice.
What have you decided?
Will you follow Jesus?
To know more about accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior: http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/ReflectionsOnJesus.html
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
To Know
To Know
To Live
To Be About
yet aware
of the future outcome
when Jesus returns.
To not fall
down in a heap
To not remain
desolate and filled with despair.
To know
... more than head knowledge
... more than thoughts
... more than responses from other people.
To know
the true meaning of life
To find
our way, the way
to Jesus
To not be afraid
To reach out
To grasp hold
To reflect
on where and what we are
where and what we have been
where we will go
what we will be.
To see
beyond our eyes
into our heart.
To review
and remember
Bible prophecies of old
To believe
the promise of the Holy One
To accept
His love for you
His gift of salvation
To live
renewed
re-nourished
reborn
... a new life
... a new beginning
... a new you
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17 NKJ)
To search
To find
To believe
To accept
To know
To live
Do you search?
Have you found?
Do you believe?
Have you accepted?
Do you know?
Have you been reborn?
To know more about accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior: http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/ReflectionsOnJesus.html
To Live
To Be About
yet aware
of the future outcome
when Jesus returns.
To not fall
down in a heap
To not remain
desolate and filled with despair.
To know
... more than head knowledge
... more than thoughts
... more than responses from other people.
To know
the true meaning of life
To find
our way, the way
to Jesus
To not be afraid
To reach out
To grasp hold
To reflect
on where and what we are
where and what we have been
where we will go
what we will be.
To see
beyond our eyes
into our heart.
To review
and remember
Bible prophecies of old
To believe
the promise of the Holy One
To accept
His love for you
His gift of salvation
To live
renewed
re-nourished
reborn
... a new life
... a new beginning
... a new you
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17 NKJ)
To search
To find
To believe
To accept
To know
To live
Do you search?
Have you found?
Do you believe?
Have you accepted?
Do you know?
Have you been reborn?
To know more about accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior: http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/ReflectionsOnJesus.html
Monday, October 18, 2010
Oct. 12 photo collage
On Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 12, my husband and I escaped from the woes of the world and drove north to Backbone State Park near Strawberry Point and into Elkader before returning home. Here are some photos from that excursion. Some show beautiful foliage, some just rocks and trees, some farmland, and some others, the sky in all its splendor and beauty. Enjoy!
See the rainbow!
The Catholic Church in Elkader. It had just started raining, but I was sheltered underneath the trees to get this picture.
That's me in the corner. This is the Keystone Arch Bridge over the Turkey River in Elkader, Iowa.
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