Death

Death comes
like a thief
in the night
silently
tiptoeing
ever so quietly

We hardly know
it has come

Except
in the aftermath

Our loved ones
family, friends
gone.

Only our memories
will keep them
alive
within us.

Cathy Orrick Luders

7.4.2007

Struggles

On Monday, when my husband came home for lunch, he commented the alternator light came on in the car and we needed to take the car to the shop. I thought that interesting, considering just a few hours earlier after reading the day's devotional, I had written about struggles. Of course, in my writings, I had neglected to mention our vehicles and the struggles we have with them. Following is what I wrote:

Struggles
Always
Never ending
No matter who we are
What we hope to accomplish
God's will
or our own

Struggles
Small or big
All important
to us
individually

Life's challenges
where we work
the place
the type
the accomplishments
the process
the ending
the beginning again
where we live
how we live
the friends we have
the people beyond ... that we meet
at work
our neighbors
at church
at businesses we frequent
Everywhere.
the foods we choose to eat
the words we read
the choices

Struggles
never ending
morning to night
over and over
and over again

Aging
not just in years
But our bodies
wear down, wear out
We can get
new knees, new hips
new legs, new arms,
new teeth, new eyes
new heart, new kidney,
new, new, new
Only a replacement.
Struggles

God waits
He is ever present
He will carry our burdens ... IF we ask
He will show us the way ... IF we seek
He will fill us, renew us again and again ... IF we accept, IF we believe, IF we obey

Struggles can be overcome.

Our God, my God is an awesome God. He is with me always.
But,
unless I actively seek Him,
obey Him,
follow Him,
He waits ...

Cathy Orrick Luders

7.2.2007

And .... its sold!

The 1957 Chickering has been sold.
Moving on .....
A new life
Another chapter
It's good-bye.......

And ....

And what now?
What to do.
What to think.
Does anyone think, does anyone care?
Where are we?
Where are we going, heading, anywhere?
What is the end?
Where, when, why.
So many questions.
Do you know ...
Do I know.
Who knows?
Who cares?

God.

Cathy Orrick Luders

6.18.2007

Do I learn?

Do I learn from the Lord's discipline?

He says Don't
He says No
He says Wait
He says In My Time
He says Not Now

And what do I say?
What do I do?

Am I learning?
Am I even listening?
Am I paying attention?
Do I care?
Well, ...... do I? Am I?

Something to think about isn't it.

Life.

It's not just day to day existence.
It's living in obedience
to God,
His rules.

After all, its His world and we are His people.

6.14.2007

Cathy Orrick Luders

Piano for sale

I have now gained posession of the family piano - a Chickering console. It was built in 1957, so this year it is 50 years old. It is in good condition and is played occasionally, although it does need tuning. Asking price $1500. Please call if you are seriously interested. (319) 378-0830 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

God's creation

It's the first time
The very first time
Mother Robin
made her nest
and laid in it
Didn't move away
but stayed nearby
Keeping her precious eggs warm

Until one day
The eggs hatched
Two little baby robins ....
God's creation.

The wonder of it all.
His love
His glory

Cathy Orrick Luders

6.5.2007

The Truth

The Truth ... according to Scripture
The Truth ... about Jesus' death
The Truth ... do you know it? Do you have it? Are you truly free?

Can you fill in the blanks to the following and do you believe what it says?

Luke 23: 46 = Jesus literally ________ on the cross .

John 1: 29 = Jesus came to take away the _____ _____ _____ ______.

John 3: 16 = Jesus is God's ____ and ____ Son.

Romans 8: 23 = God sent Jesus to accomplish His plan of ____________.

1 John 5: 10-11 = Jesus __________ so we could have eternal ________.

A place in heaven

"When everything is ready I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." John 14:3

Jesus will come for me, I will be with Jesus forever. When everything is ready, when it is time, Jesus will come. I will go with him, home, my eternal home, to heaven. What a glorious day that will be.

Why?

Why oh why would anyone want to beat up one of God's creatures? Whether human or animal, all are God created. All deserve life.

Hope Eternal

Hope Eternal
I have it
Yes. I have it.
I know.

God showed me the way
Through others
My heart was open
Ready to receive

Walking, running, skipping
joyously, excitedly
Through the Scriptures
Wondering what the Lord
would say
To me

Something new
every time.
How to live

Trust and obey
His will
Not mine

Cathy Orrick Luders

6.3.2007

That time is here

2 Timothy 4: 2-4 says, "Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. . . . For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths."

Now is that time. Past ... present ... future, failure to listen to right teaching has been consistently present down through the ages.

The Lord knows all, is all. Who are we, what are we doing, when we follow our own desires?

Insight ... understanding ... wisdom

We may think we know so much about this and that, but until we seek God's wisdom by listening, studying, praying, doing, what we know is so very shallow.

Thoughtful ramblings on God's leading

If God leads us to an unfamiliar place of obedience, He accompanies us and provides for our every need.

God is faithful when we are obedient to His will. We must act on that realization, not be fearful. Not do something because of our fear, but do it because God said so. When we are fearful, our faith is damaged. We are not believing what God has said --- "With God, all things are possible."

Fear is fueled when we focus on the limited information gained from our perceptions about a situation.

God is with us when we are following His commands, pursuing His will. When we rebell against Him and do our "own thing," we must not assume God will be there with us, helping us.

Wait on God. Trust His timing.

When we defy God's directive, thinking we know what's best for ourselves, we risk forfeiting or delaying the blessings God has reserved for us.

When we are impulsive, we go round and round and get no where.

The Lighthouse

It was rather small,
snug to the coastline,
This Lighthouse,
with a tiny window near the top
to view the skyline.

Not many ship's captains
nor boaters near.
Off the beaten path
It was
With only birds and animal critters roaming.

Traveling up above,
zooming along the highway,
high overhead,
Like an airplane
Cars, vehicles of all descript, whizzing by.

Look down. Look to the right.
See the magical, the imaginary fixture
in swirls of black and dull white ...
guarding its lone section
of earth against would-be attackers.

Birds - so generic
sunning themselves
on a slim section of beachfront property
smack dab in the middle ....
of a lake,
where people fish around its perimeter.

Cathy Orrick Luders

5.23.2007

Purpose - Glorifying God

Today's Scripture reading was II Corinthians 3: 11-18 and 4: 3-4.

If I understand it right, the Old Covenant is known as the Mosaic, with laws and rules set forth to follow in obedience to God. With Jesus' coming, death and resurrection, we have the New Covenant.

When you live within the confines of the Old Covenant, a veil covers your mind so you cannot understand the truth. But when we believe in Jesus Christ, accept Him as our Savior, that veil is lifted, removed.

Freedom. With the veil removed, with our minds opened, we can follow Christ more fully. We can reflect the glory of Christ more and more as His spirit works within us.

Having the New Covenant doesn't mean the veil is removed from everybody. The key is "when we believe in Jesus Christ, when we accept Him as Savior."

When that has happened, then our life begins anew and we glorify God by putting His character, His will, His ways into action in everything we do.

Satan is always present, always at work. See what II Corinthians 4 : 3-4 has to say:
"If the Good News we preach is veiled from anyone, it is a sign that they are perishing. Satan, the god of the evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don't understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."

Resolving Conflict

Scripture for Jesus' process for resolving conflict with another believer is found in Matthew 18:15-17:

"If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector."

Step 1 - confront the person by yourself

Step 2 - confront him or her with one or two other believers

Step 3 - bring the situation before the church

Step 4 - remove the person from church leadership/fellowship

I think sometimes we skip some of these steps. An individual may be afraid to confront another, even though they are a believer, so goes immediately to step 2. A group of believers, such as deacons, may decide its better not to bring the situation before the entire church, so skips step 3 and goes immediately to step 4.

I think it is very unfortunate when the church is not involved in the decision making. Except for a few, we have no idea why someone in our midst is ostracized and are often told, its of no concern. Doesn't this open up a whole new can of worms?

Love

Love is an attitude, Love is a prayer,

For a soul in sorrow, a heart in despair;

Love is good will for the gain of another

Love suffers long with the fault of a brother.

-- Anonymous

Give to the Winds Your Fears

Words to this song were written by Paul Gerhardt in 1653 and translated by John Wesley in 1739. Here it is:

"Give to the winds your fears;
In hope be undismayed;
God hears your sighs and counts your tears,
God shall lift up your head.
To him commit your griefs.
Your ways put in His hands --
To his sure truth and tender care
Who earth and heav'n commands
Who earth and heav'n commands.

O put your trust in God;
In duty's path go on.
Walk in his strength with faith and hope,
So shall your work be done.
Leave to his sov'reign sway
To choose and to com-mand;
So you shall, faithful, seek His way --
How wise, how strong His hand,
How wise, how stroong His hand!"

Looking back

It's hard to believe, but its been nearly 2 months since I have written anything in my blog. That's not to say I haven't done any journaling. I write every day - about what has gone on or hasn't in my life, about what God has said to me, about anything and everything.

Tonight while looking in my journal, I came across what I wrote Feb. 25. That day was when snow and ice bombarded Iowa and most churches across the state did not hold services.

The Scripture reading that morning was Hebrews 3:12-14. What I gleaned was ..... Today I must listen to His voice. Today I must not harden my heart. I must not turn away from the Lord.

Looking back is good when it is to recall what God has done on our behalf.

Looking ahead is good when we remember God is ever present. When we follow Him and obey His commands, He is always with us.

But when we see only obstacles and react to them out of fear we have taken God out of the picture.

Fear hinders faith, but trust kindles confidence.