His perspective vs ours

God tells us to try to see things from His perspective,  to fill our minds with Him so that when things don't go as we would like, we can shrug it off and just say, "Oh well."

Negativity can take all of us down. I can be there as well as another. I can withdraw, coiled up like a ball, and spend my every thought on all that is wrong.

God wants us to encourage others, not tear them down. I don't imagine He wants us to see things that are not there either.

I am not perfect. I want so much to be the woman God desires of me and I go about it the best I can - from what I read and study in His word and what He shows me in this life.  I am open to His instruction, to His wisdom, even though there are times my instructions and my wisdom supercedes His.

I have been in the world of depression, where you fail to see the joy; a robot moving through the paces but going nowhere.

I left that world. I have no desire to return there.  However, Satan pushes us, prods us, kicks us down, passes out lies that sound like the truth.

The town of Depression is an easy place to be and return to, a hard place to get out.

There is no pat answer. We each struggle to saw the cell bars of our mind in two and escape the inner turmoils playing havoc on it.

Depression is a disease - that can be healed.

Satan will tell you you are destined to stay there, but that is untrue, a falsehood.

Satan is filled with lies. There is nothing about him we should ever believe. Yet we do - because we are human.

As children of the Lord God above, we have His spirit within us and that spirit walks with us and talks with us. He does not simply abide in us and that's that.  He shows us right from wrong. He convicts us to do or say what needs to be said.

When we pray, we seek His guidance, and then we wait, in anticipation of His answer.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

September 22, 2015 

Are you filled with courage or fear?

Courage is catching, and so unfortunately, is fear. Both come in the face of adversity.

Courage, I believe, shows itself when we are mindful of God at every turn and respond in obedience to His instruction. No matter what comes, when we are focused on the Lord, we can step up, step out and do.

Fear is when our thoughts go haywire and negativity rules. Our response is to withdraw because we can't see any positive outcome. We can't see the Light in the midst of the darkness surrounding us.

Whisper His name
His Presence with you
closer
Jesus, Jesus

Your strength lies in Him
Whisper
The name of Jesus
The trauma within and around you will lessen
as you feel His Love
Experience His Joy
and
Bask in the Sonlight of His Peace

Be courageous in the face of fear. Don't allow stress to overtake you and cause more trouble.

Whisper His name
His Presence is with you
wherever you are

"Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths,
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are he God of my salvation;
on You I wait all the day."  ~ Psalm 27:4-5

"Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!" ~ Psalm 105:4

"Let not your heart be troubled." ~ John 14:1

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

August 25-26, 2015

Formed, Conformed, Transformed

We are formed
man first
from the dust of the ground
God breathed life
into his body
a living being born
in the image of God
The Father
The Son
The Holy Spirit

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7)

Formed
man first
then woman
from man's rib
God took
and molded ...
a woman

"Bone of my bones
flesh of my flesh" 
said Adam (Genesis 2:23)

And God commanded
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

A man,
a woman,
united
as one

We are formed
by God
for His purpose
His good will
to bring us peace
a future
a hope

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)

Do not be conformed
shaped
molded
by the evil in and of the world,
the pressures
what you see happening around you
nor what you hear
Do not let your thoughts --
what you think --
or your emotions -- what you feel --
become your perception of
Truth
your guiding force.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

There is Only One
to guide you
Only One
who always
seeks your best

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." (Psalm 32:8)

"The Lord wll guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." (Isaiah 58:11)

"However, 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." (John 16:13)

"... let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves." (Galatians 5:16)

Be transformed
changed
renewed

Remember
Jesus
is The Way...
to salvation
to life
to being alive
to peace
to contentment
to love
to hope
to joy
to peace
to patience
to kindness
to gentleness
to self-control
to faithfulness

Jesus
is The Truth
"and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)

"He who is of God hears God's words; (therefore) you do not hear, because you are not of God." (John 8:47)

Jesus
is The Life

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me," Jesus says.  (John 14:6)

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

God formed us
Do we conform to the world
and give in to the truths of sin
or do we transform, renewing our minds
to be and do
that which is good
and acceptable
and perfect
in God's sight

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

July 10-11, 2015 

What do we see and hear and understand?

A collage of thoughts … I’m unsure there is a theme, but there might be. I was thinking one day, earlier this month about my eyesight deteriorating and my hearing not being so good and what that might mean in my travels with the Lord.

Eyes to see
but what is seen
Ears to hear
but what is heard
A mind to understand
but what is comprehended
Feet to travel
but where do we walk
© March 8, 2015

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”  ~ Matthew 11:15

“Seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”  ~ Matthew 13:13

The level of one’s commitment to Christ as Lord is demonstrated by the degree of our obedience to God’s will as revealed in His word.

Isaiah prophesies to the people as God instructed (Isaiah 6:9-10, Matthew 13:14-15)

“Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
and seeing you will see and not perceive;
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”

If we claim to be Christians, we must strive to make our lives obedient and pleasing to God.

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”
~ Isaiah 6:21

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.”  ~ Proverbs 3:7

God makes Himself known
He reveals His glory
and all that is ungodly
and how we do not live righteously,
but as foolish people.
We claim to be so wise, so smart,
but our hearts are darkened.
We do not have the Truth of God,
the Light of the Lord within us
and if we claim otherwise
and do have His Light,
we are ignoring the signs
God has given us
and follow instead every lie,
every falsehood
that creeps into our minds.
We lust after another
We dishonor our bodies
(based on Romans 1: 18-19, 21-22, 24-32)

“Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.”         ~ II Timothy 2:7

Continually, I hold on to the verse in II Timothy 1:7 --
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

“Hold fast the pattern of sound (or healthy) words which you have heard from Me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”  ~ II Timothy 1:13

As we trust the Lord more and more, we are able to receive Him and His blessings abundantly.

When we pray, but do not trust the Lord to respond, do not wait on Him,
we will not receive His blessings. We must be still, not anxious. Anxiety and worry are not of God.

Do not let the concerns of another tear you apart. Remain resting in Christ. He will bring you through it.

Trust Me
Depend on Me
Do not fall prey to distractions
I will equip you
Must believe in Me,
obey Me
Trust
in My Promises
Do not falter

The new man/woman
You became
he/she
You accepted
Christ
Believed
on Him
in Him
and His Promises

Yet,
a part of you
remains
in the darkness
You are blinded
holding onto your
former conduct
that you remember well
and go back to
again and again

You are
the new man/woman
not the old one
you gave up

Why do you follow after
that which corrupts
your thinking
and takes you down
paths of deceit
and jealousy
and bickering
with another

Be renewed
Be the new man/woman
for  which God created you

Put away lying
Speak truth
not corruption, not dissension, not contention
Build up, encourage

No bitterness
or clamor
or evil speaking

Be kind
tenderhearted
forgiving

You are no longer in the dark as some still are
The Light of the Lord resides in you.
Walk as that Light – the Light of Jesus -
goodness, righteousness, truth
that which is acceptable
to the Lord.
(based on Ephesians 4: 17-  and 5:8-10)

Do not trod the paths
that lead to darkness
You do not belong there

Why do we hold on to things that only bring discouragement?
Why does not former conduct have such a hold on us?

We know the scheming of Satan
for we lived among them
The power of Christ
overcame his strength
at the cross
when upon His death
and burial
He arose to live forevermore
and gave to each
one who believed
on Him
the power to overcome

We know the way of Christ
for we became new
The power of Christ
in us
through the Holy Spirit

Yet,
for all we know
and all we have been given
we do not utilize
Christ’s power in us

We do not turn away
completely
from every disgusting
thing Satan brings out way
We do not turn to
The One
who is always with us
who never forsakes us
whose might is greater
than anything we can imagine

God and Satan
obedience sought
in all things
Satan’s goal
is to take you away
from Christ
to show you how bad
you are
how good you will never be
Satan leads you along the path
of what feels good,
your rights, your needs.
It’s all about you
and the more you lap it up,
the more your faith in Christ
diminishes
and for all God’s calling
The voice you used to hear so well,
so plainly
is growing faint
and His light dimmer and dimmer

Why do you persist in following
the avenues of deceit,
of living to self?

Give it up
Stop this foolishness
It does not build you up
Satan tears you down
and you see that as the way it is
The way you are

It is not! You are not!
Christ died for you!
Whatever did Satan do for you?

Why do you find it easier to stick like glue
to the enemy …
to the sin of
adultery
uncleanness
jealousy
selfish ambitions
envy
drunkenness
idolatry,
fear
anger
lying
witchcraft
hatred
outbursts of wrath
contentions
heresies
murder
gluttony

than to follow
the Way of Your Savior
the way of
Love
Joy
Peace
Gentleness
Kindness
Faithfulness
Self-Control
Patience
Goodness
Honesty
Patience
Discipline

“Lest Satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 
~ II Corinthians 2:11

“Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”  ~                             ~ II Corinthians 3:16

A veil covers their heart of understanding;
their minds blinded

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”  ~ II Corinthians 3:17b

Where the spirit of Satan is, there is bondage, enslavement

When we became Christ’s, “we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully.”                                        ~ II Corinthians 4:2a

“We do not lose heart.”  ~ II Corinthians 4:1

We do not give up nor give in
We do not stay where we had been
We are recipients
of God’s mercy,
God’s grace

God’s image shines on you
for you belong to Him
Do not return to the hidden world of sin

“We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
We are perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed.”  ~ II Corinthians 4: 8-9

We have God’s power in us

It is His power that delivers us,
protects us
saves us
encourages us
secures us
It is nothing within ourselves
that enables us
to move out
move on
move beyond

As His children, God promises to be with us
wherever we walk, He walks
He is our Father in heaven
We are His son, His daughters on Earth
The promise is two-fold.
If we do not believe,
If we do no act in faith,
If we do not trust,
His promises play forlorn.

It is unfortunate when we restrict His movements;   when we say we believe in Him, but do not trust in His power.

I daresay many of us restrict His movements – we say we don’t, but if we really stopped to think about it, we’d find we plod ahead, do what we think best before we seek God’s advice and rely on Him. How do we know what is right or wrong?

Is cancer a death sentence?  (Visit the blog,: The Race: our journey with cancer  http://theracetorunwithendurance.blogspot.com/.

Cancer is an enemy.
Can it be a friend
Can you make friends with an enemy
Satan is The Enemy
Why would you want to make friends with him

We react negatively to the threat of cancer.
 We become distraught,
disconnected,
dismayed.
Fear overtakes us.
Who gave us fear --
It is not God!
Fear is a work of The Enemy
Fear does not belong
within us
How do we stand up against it
Trust in God

“Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”  ~II Corinthians 7:1

Open your heart to God

God gives us blessings daily, but sometimes we don’t perceive them.
When we are not  focused on God and His goodness, and when we are stuck on a negative focus, we see only the problems, only the struggle. We do not see God. We do not see His gifts.

Thank the Lord for all that blocks the path to Him and the stones will be removed. Not clear sailing, but a clear path to see the way God chooses for us. If we are obedient to His leading, we will follow Him whatever the cost, because being close to the Lord, being at peace within our souls, is best.

Whatever the cost?!  Best know what the cost is we speak of. You give children to the Lord, dedicate them to His will, His service. Can a spouse, a wife, dedicate her husband to the Lord? What does dedication mean?

Whatever comes, and we do not know what that will be.

Do not fear.
The Lord does not give us a spirit of fear
That comes from The Enemy
The Lord gives us Power and Love
and a Sound Mind – good sense

Power and Strength
Love and Mercy and Grace
Trust more in God
than in the fear Satan drives into you

Jesus is the Song of Life
of Love
of Peace
of Joy
Bring into your consciousness
awareness of Me and My Presence!

Trust Me
Thank Me
I will lift you up
Above
Far above
your every circumstance
Be mindful
of Me
of My Presence
as you
go about
your day
Do not remove
your focus
on Me
Do not
let the spoils
of Satan
drop you
a peg
Do not
let Satan
drown you
in quick sand
Rise up
Rise up
My child
I AM with you
Be thankful
Offer praises
to Me
Do not
give in
Do not
give up

Look onward
Look around
Look upward
I AM there
I will bring you through this trial
Triumph will come
I AM your peace
Don’t let anxiety and worry
steal away My Peace
within you,.
I AM your source
I AM your resource
I AM your life blood
I will lead you through the darkness of this journey
Take hold of MY hand --
Do not release your grip
Rest your head upon My lap
and find comfort
I AM with you
every step of the way.
© March 22-23, 2015)

God shows us
See and believe
See and understand
See and trust more
There are signs everywhere

“Gather up the fragments that remain; so that nothing is lost.”  ~ John 6:12

Utilize everything
what you do not need,
what I have given you
abundantly,
give to another.
The blessings will flow.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders 

God is ... but are we -- available to our children?

“I AM with you always,” Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:20b

God … Jesus … and the Holy Spirit
always available to us
His children

But what about
our children
Are we available to our children
or are other things
wishes
of more importance
always taking precedence?

Proverbs 22:6 tells us to “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Are we teaching our children about God, about Jesus, His ways?

Do our children learn about prayer – family prayer / personal prayer?

 Do they learn about faithfulness, patience, fairness, sharing, courage, honesty, overcoming fear?

If we are too busy now to spend quality time with our children,

what will we do when we have time to give and they are not available?

Will our children grow up to be just like us? Will it be a positive thing or negative?  Will we not see it?

Children learn first from their parents or other caregivers, watching their movements, listening to the sounds of their voices. They pick up and put on these traits. And then we wonder the why of it all.

If we do not make time to live our life pleasing to the Lord, our children will see how we live and do likewise.

If our preferences take us away from the Lord’s commands, then our children will follow in our steps.

If reading and studying the Bible is not our cup of tea, then we are missing out on all the Lord has for us – His guiding principles, His blessings, His promises, and so are our children.

We, as Christ’s followers, are complete in Him. He abides in us and we abide in Him. He desires so much for us – His children, as individuals, parents and children. We can be oh so much. Our children – we must teach them, love them, show them the rights and wrongs in life according to our Holy God.

Are we obedient in all things of God or do we allow Satan to take advantage of us? We cannot pretend we don’t know what Satan is up to. (See II Corinthians 2: 9, 11)

When will we turn away from that which is wrong? If we claim we do no wrong or we see no wrong, then we are not honest or faithful to God or ourselves. We let Satan lead our every movement and then we say we didn’t see it coming.  But we do see it coming… we choose to ignore, we refuse to ask God for help.  

The Holy Spirit within us shows us, tries to get us to see the error of our ways, but when we have no regard for Him, refusing to see or hear, we are effectively saying God is not important, and our children follow suit. They too question the importance of God and don’t know who Jesus is or what He represents.

Whose way do you follow?

 Whose way do you obey?

 Whose way is your master?

 Whose way will bring you through the many perils of life?

 Whose way has your best always at heart?

Do not forsake The Way of Christ.

 He who loves you is there for you Always -- for you, for me, for our children past, present and future. Do not turn away from Him who gives you the gift of life to a life that is filled with death and destruction.  

Take to heart the message in this song, The Cats in the Cradle -- 

Spiritual Growth - Christ in You (A Basic Principle to Choose by)

Week 1: CHRIST IN YOU
Day 5: A Basic Principle to Choose By


TODAY'S READING:
I Corinthians 10:31, Romans 14:7-8


The Christian religion does not have a long list of do's and don'ts for you to follow, but rather a simple principle to follow.  It is stated clearly in I Corinthians 10:31 NLT

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Now read Romans 14:7-8 NLT 

"For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

These verses make it clear we should

• have behavior that shows our new life with Christ
• do everything we do to bring glory to God

For Example ... You visit a friend for supper. Your friend brings a bottle of wine to the table and wants you to drink a glass with him. What do you do?

A. Take a small sip and then no more. ____

B. Scold the friend for drinking wine. ____

C. Avoid facing it and make up an excuse. ______

D. Explain that you are now a Christian. Tell your friend that God has taken away your desire for a drink of wine. _____

Which one brings glory to God? 

Life is full of choices. It is best to always act in ways that show Christ living in you and controlling you. You do not have to act like a crazy person to do this. You should have a gentle and loving expression. People will respect you for that attitude. 

One way to help us with those situations is to know Bible verses. Write Psalm 119:11 here. 

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Writing your own Scripture memory cards is a good way to help you learn more quickly. I keep a journal and write verses in it daily to help me remember. 

Remember to have a regular Quiet Time ... to pray as you memorize and think about God's Word. A daily time of prayer and Bible study can be the best way for Christ to live in you and control your life. 

Spiritual Growth - Christ in You (Understanding the new you)

Week 1: CHRIST IN YOU
Day 4: Understanding What Has Happened to You

TODAY'S READING:
II Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 1:21-22, 27

As you develop your Quiet Time you will see changes. II Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) explains some of these changes. Read the verse and fill in the blanks.

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

Your ________________ life is passing away.

Your _________________ life is beginning.

All of these changes are made by ____________________________.

Yes, Christ makes the difference between your old and new life.

Read Colossians 1:21-22 (NLT) and fill in the blanks.

"This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault."

What was your attitude about God before you accepted Christ and became a Christian?

____________________________________________________________________________


Because you and God were enemies, you did things that were ___________________________


Now you are learning that some things you did when you were not a Christian are no fun. God is changing you! He is making you

_____________________________________________________________________________

Holy means you are reserved for God's use and no one else's. II Corinthians 5:17 explains that a different way.

Read Colossians 1:27 (NLT). 
"For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory."

Where is Christ now? __________________________________________________________

Remember discussing the hand?  Write what the palm of the hand is ____________________

Spiritual Growth - Christ in You (Learning to Pray)

Week 1: CHRIST IN YOU
Day 3: Learning to Pray

TODAY'S READING:
Matthew 6:9-13

Some Christians are afraid to pray in a public place - perhaps you know some. Praying is really pretty simple, whether it is done in front of others or in private, because all you are doing is talking to the Lord -- sharing with Him your attitudes, fears, wants, frustrations, etc. He understands, He listens, and He answers.

Jesus' disciples asked Him how to pray, so He provided them and us with a model -- a roadmap for us to use when we pray. It is called the Lord's Prayer.

The Sunday school class of which I am a part has spent the last year studying prayer, and the last two weeks specifically on the Lord's Prayer.

Here are things to consider and how to make your prayer life more meaingful.  I have used the New Living Translation, but I learned the Lord's Prayer from the King James Bible.

v.9 - "Our Father in heaven, may your name by kept holy."  =  we acknowledge and give praise to God

v. 10 - "May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." = we pray over our needs (not our wants) and bring them into line with God's.

v. 11 - "Give us today the food we need" = we remember that the same God we worship, the same God who is in control of our life, is the same God who wants to provide for our daily needs.

v. 12 -  "And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us." =  we ask God to forgive us when we do wrong as we likewise forgive another

v. 13 - "And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one." = we remember that the God who provides is the God who protects.

 v 13b KJV: For Thines is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." We  acknowledge God's eternal kingdom, His power, His glory. All to Him belongs.

The best way to learn how to pray is ... to pray!

Delivered from Satan's power, yet ...

We have been delivered, set free
from everything that keeps us prisoners to the world
Yet,
what do we choose?

Jesus set us free
God delivered us from the power of darkness
Yet,
we are like pigs in miry clay
We stay where it is familiar,
where we are comfortable,

even though it’s not where we ought to be

We accepted God’s gift of eternal salvation through His Son’s death, burial and resurrection. We were set free from every bond that kept us prisoners of Satan. We repented, turned away from Satan’s rule and turned to God’s way.

Yet,

we do not turn away completely.

 We repent, we believe God’s promises

Yet,
our faith is weak

We know we are saved,
we are children of the Living God
Yet,
we do not obey His commands
or study His Word

We cling to being Christian
Yet,
we do not follow Christ

God is always with us
When we accepted His Son as our Savior,
His Spirit came to live in our hearts,
a helper to live with us forever
God provides protection and security
His lifeline of hope
prevents the path of depression and self-pity
from swallowing us
Yet,
we look within ourselves for aid.
We think it is our resources
that will get us out of the mud
and onto solid ground.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.” – Psalm 46:1-2a

The Bible tells us to walk in the way of Christ
so we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh
Yet,
we travel paths of impatience, unkindness, unfaithfulness, disgust,
frustration, hatred, defensiveness, and much more

That which we repented from, turned away from, but have we? 

~~~~~

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” – I Corinthians 16:13-14

Watch… be ready … be prepared … be alert

“Watch therefore for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” – Matthew 24:42

“Therefore you (also) be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.” – Matthew 24: 44

Stand fast in the faith … secure in the gospel of Jesus Christ of which you have received … let your conduct, your actions be worthy of the gospel of Christ, whether seen or unseen

Be strong … be strengthened through the Holy Spirit, so we are able to bear up under whatever comes upon us … persevere… push on, not giving up … endure … strengthened by the power of the Lord in us to be patient and have patience

All done in Love … rejoices in the truth… godly love believes all things, hopes all things...never gives up…endures…accepts hardships or rejection, builds up and encourages another

Don’t let the obstacles that you encounter as you walk with the Lord discourage you. Do not give up. The path will never be easy, but with the Holy Spirit, our ever-present helper, we can overcome any obstacle.  We must remember to walk with Him, in His power, not ahead of Him. It is in His timing that what He wills will be accomplished. Do not give in to stress, but slow down, keeping your focus steady and sure on Him, and through Him the darkness we experience will turn to joy.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” – Psalm 30:5

We must be prepared to do battle with everything and all that God has provided to us and for us.

“Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly (decently), as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”  – Romans 13:12-14

“… Walk as children of light. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth) proving what is acceptable to the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”  -- Ephesians 5:8-11

To expose the unfruitful works of darkness, of which Satan and the devil and his workers prevail, we need to put on the Armor of God – the Armor of Light. That armor is not the weaponry of physical battle, but spiritual.

Jesus defeated Satan.

“He (God) has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”  -- Colossians 1:13-14

 “…Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:10-11

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (to overcome).” – v. 13

Satan is cunning. He undermines us by our very own words and actions to another. Instead of love and compassion and concern and well-being, we act destructively, we hear and respond to criticism, tones of dissatisfaction and defensiveness, condemnation, complaints, fear. That which we do not want to do, we do -- Satan helps us along to achieve all those “don’t wants.” Even with the “do wants, but know we shouldn’t,” Satan works to deceive us, and we fall prey to his every trick. Have we forgotten Jesus defeated Satan and with His power in us, we too can defeat the Enemy? I fear we do not believe we have the power, we do not believe God’s strength is in us. We give up and give in before we take any step of faith.  Satan has us where he wants us and we do nothing. We do not watch, we do not stand fast, we are not brave, we are not strong  and we are not loving. We claim allegiance to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, but we fail to utilize all His provisions. It seems we still live in the world. 

God provides us with armor -- armor at our ready disposal, in His Word, in our hearts when we become His Children. We are to put on the whole armor, not just bits and pieces. How can we ever hope to defeat the Enemy if we’re not ready or only half so?!

Jesus defeated Satan and we can too, when we are encased with the battle gear God provides us --

His TRUTH

 His RIGHTEOUSNESS

 His  PEACE

 His FAITH

 His SALVATION

 His SWORD – His WORD

And PRAYER.
Without prayer, we are incomplete, unsure how to proceed.
(Ephesians 6:14-18)

With all that Jesus is in us, with us, through us, we cannot fail. But the success we look for can only be found when we abide in Christ and He abides in us, when we travel His path, when we look to Him for everything that crosses our path,  when our spiritual faith is stronger than our physical desire, when we say NO to the world, and YES to God. 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

January 7-9, 2015

Only One Thing Is Needed

God says,

Do not let distractions of life, of day-to-day living, lead you away from Me.

 Do not be weighed down by problems, trials, frustrations.

 I AM the one to go to at all times.

 I AM the one to carry your burdens.

 Come, devote time with Me and I will strengthen you to face whatever comes

 Do not think about this and that.

 Distractions come in many forms and each and all are meant to take you away from the very private, intimate relationship I have with you– souring it, dampening it.

 In Me, with Me, through Me, you have everything you now need and will ever need.

“And Jesus said, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’ ’’ - Luke 10:41-42

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” – Psalm 27:4 

Mary has chosen that good part, the one thing that is needed --

To be in The Lord’s Presence, in the midst of His glory, to listen and learn and apply that which He teaches.

Have you chosen that good part too, the one thing needed?

 Or are you like Martha, worried and troubled about many things, letting other things take precedence over that one thing?
                                                                                                         (c) Cathy Orrick Luders 

Pressing On

Why does anger show itself so vehemently?

Why do we allow it to supersede God’s Presence in us?

Why does our flesh nature -- our old self that we gave up -- rear its ugly head at times when we definitely don’t want it?

Why is our spiritual nature – our new self that we seek, that we gravitate to and for – often hidden?

Sometimes, when studying God’s Word and listening for what He might have to say to us, we hear. We are grateful for His mighty words of wisdom.

Other times, however, although we may listen and we may hear, we also remember words said by others, unnecessary words spoken that send up a red flag and result in anger.

Why can’t we just let go of the words, the comments that we have made wrong assumptions about? Just let them flow off our back. Relax. Be still. Be mindful of God.

We need to rearrange our perceptions, our misconceptions.

I struggle with this. I know where I want to be and need to be and where God wants me to be. I go up and down. On a hilltop, blessed and secure in God’s love for me – and in a valley, darkness dulling my senses.

It is a journey we all travel.

None of us have reached perfection. Only Jesus is The Perfect One and it is Him we strive to be like.

I must press on, continue seeking all He has to say to me and there is much. It is unending.

As Paul writes (Philippians 3:13a-14), and it is true,
“forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

2014 has passed -- A new year upon us.

What will your 2015 journey be like? Who will guide you along the way? What will be your response?

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Return. Refocus. Reunite / Reconcile.

LET GOD BE YOUR STEERING WHEEL

A few days ago when reading and studying the Bible, including Psalm 62, I wrote,

Whatever happens
God is our refuge and strength
our place of comfort and rest.
Abide in Me, God says
Abide in Me.
The problems are still present
but by concentrating on Me,
you allow Me to take control,
to take charge of the situation
and bring it to pass.

And then anger struck

and instead of concentrating on Jesus,
I concentrated on what made me angry.

Instead of allowing Jesus to take control
and take charge, Satan took charge

The anger grew by leaps and bounds
as pain and disappointment and irritation and frustration
and miscommunication
wormed their way to the surface
of our hearts and spewed its way out of our mouths
with no evidence of kindness or gentleness
or patience or self-control.

Failed!

God tested
and what He saw brought no rejoicing,
but only deep sadness and extreme disappointment

Is it worth it!? -- to let our anger over whatever
come between our personal relationship with and love for
the Lord Jesus?

If we truly love the Lord -- but we are human -- yes, and as humans, we make mistakes
and errors and have failings, but we do not and should not succumb to being failures.

God knows we will fail, for we are not perfect. If we were, there would have been no reason for God to send His Son to us to save us from eternal destruction, death.

So He knows how we are. But He also knows who we are -- His -- personally created and designed for Him and His purpose. He knows what is uniquely us, even though we often are way off track. We travel routes that do not seek the goodness of God. We are concerned with ourselves and in our interactions with others, instead of seeking God's response, we jump in, saying whatever comes to mind. And there we fail.

Return.
Refocus.
Reunite / Reconcile.

Let God be your steering wheel -- not just for prayer time or Bible study, or any old some time, but ALL the time.

Consider your every action -- what you speak and what you do, so it will be pleasing to the one who hears and sees and most especially, so it will be pleasing and glorifying to our Heavenly Father.

It's not about me. It's about God. The sooner we see that and acknowledge it and respond accordingly, "me" time will be "God" time and we will each see the unique person we are -- the one God designed.

Love God. Love Him more. Love yourself less. It is not our personal wants and needs that will get us where we need to be. The steps to take are
Returning to God
Refocusing on God
Reuniting and Reconciling with God

"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 me Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15: 4-5 NKJV)

WE ARE, BUT WE ARE NOT

God tells us in 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9,

"We are hard pressed on every side,
we are perplexed,
persecuted, struck down ...

yet,

we are not crushed,
not in despair
not forsaken
not destroyed.

We act like we are what we're not. Jesus says we are not crushed, we are not in despair, we are not forsaken, we are not destroyed, yet we act like we are. We give in to the pressure around us. We believe we are failures. We fail to see God's goodness and our intense need for Him and all He is and all we can be through Him.

God sent the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts when we accepted God's Son, Jesus, as our personal Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit was sent to teach us God's way and to enable us to remember all things Jesus has said.

ARE YOU OPEN OR CLOSED?

How can we learn if we are not willing to be taught and willing to change?

How can we remember if we are not in His word daily, reading and studying?

How can we know what to remember and what is true?

Clinging to the past, to the way you've always done it, does not bring us clsoer to God.

God's attention is on us -- where does our attention lie? Are we focused on Him or are we centered on "me"?

Fear grows
Anxiety

Where is your security?

Why do you fear what may come?

If you belong to Jesus, you have your security. Not just for eternity, but here and now. Look to Him for your answers, instead of relying on your own eyes and ears and thinking.

We do not see the whole picture. We are incomplete. We see very dimly. We look in the mirror, but that is only a reflection of ourselves.

We/you/I need Jesus TODAY, TOMORROW, THIS MINUTE, ALL THE TIME.

Live in the Light of His Word,
not in the dullness and darkness
of yourself and of the world

Come.

Return
to Jesus

Refocus
on Jesus

Reunite/Reconcile
with Jesus

and be who you are meant to be.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

written Dec. 28-31, 2014

Will you be the one?

Will you see the unseen
another needs, another seeks
or simply say the Bible has all the answers?

Will you be the friend
to help another see what the Bible says
or simply ignore the quest
and go on about your business?

Will you be the messenger, the mentor
discussing with others how God’s word
applies personally and in every situation
or simply say to read it and study it for yourself?

God calls us to go
and as we go, to make disciples
teaching how to live His way
and be obedient to His commands

You may have been called by God
You may have answered His call and gone forth
but are you obedient to Him?

(Jesus speaking) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”  - Matthew 28:19-20

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

I AM there, but ...

You cannot see Me at work in your life
but I AM there
I often do my work behind the scenes
Watching
Seeing
Waiting …
for you …
a word, an outstretched hand

You accepted Me into your life
but then you left Me … lying

Where are your praises
your thanksgiving
your prayers
your moments of study and meditation

Why My Child
do you not dwell on what is good?
Why do you not waken and shine
with the Light of My Glory within you and upon you?

Why do you live as though there is no joy?
Why do you act or react with negativity surrounding you?
Why do you not see the good I have for you each and every day ?
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”  – Psalm 118:24
Why do you see problems – real and perceived, and not see the blessings?
Why do you dwell on all you dislike, all that makes you angry and irritated?
There are things you want, you expect and you desire…. All from another, but,  what about you? What do you want of yourself, what do you expect of yourself, what do you desire of yourself? It is not about what another can do or be for you. It is about what you can do and what you can be with Me, your God, your Savior, your Lord.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 

See the good.
I AM good. All the Time, My Child.
See the good all around you. Soak it in. Connect yourself with Me and you will see the world you live in in a new and different way.
“Trust in the Lord, and do good. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4

 You are responsible and held accountable for only your thoughts, only your actions, not those of any other.

 “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

- Romans 12:16-19, 21

Do not fret. Do not become anxious. Do not worry. Do not be filled with jealousy. Do not be selfish. Do not be envious. Do not provoke another. Do not be conceited.  (Psalm 37, Galatians 5:20-21)

“Resist him, steadfast in the faith.” – 1 Peter 5: 9

I AM at work My child. You cannot see Me, but I can see you. You are different. You are not the person you once were. But you are not complete, you are not perfect.  Only My Son shines with the perfection you still aim for.

I offer you so much -- within the pages of My word are guidelines, instructions
for every aspect of life.

You are defeated and live as such when you dwell on what is wrong or what could go wrong each and every day.

Arise and shine
Begin each day with praise and a prayer --
“Thank you Lord for this day and guide me along the way.  Amen.”

It is short and to the point…
 thanking Me for what I give and praying to Me for guidance.

Remember the prayer throughout the day
Believe in Me
By faith you accepted Me
By faith you became a new person

You say you know I am with you always,
yet your actions do not reveal that wisdom.

When your faith is strong(er)
and your focus is less on you and more on Me
My Presence will be more known to you
and you will, without a doubt, realize
I AM really with you always.

It is a work in progress
Up and down you go
You are never too old to learn,
Never too old to grow
Never smarter or wiser than Me

For I AM
God
of the universe
and all that is,  is MINE

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

"Count it all joy"

“My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way,   for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure.   Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

  But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind.  If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord.” 

  -- James 1:2-7 Today’s  English Version 

Today’s devotional led me to James 1:2-8, which I read in the New King James version.  Perhaps this is where the Lord was leading me, which I didn’t see, couldn’t see, and only see now because it is there in black and white. 

The trials have certainly been there, but I did not consider it fortunate for being in the midst of them. I did not understand what it was God was showing me, what I was to learn. It was all hidden from me. 

What I see now is I need to remain faithful to the Lord and keep my focus on Him and not everything around me, whether it pertains directly or indirectly to me or to someone else. I have opinions, as does everyone, but that does not mean I need to express them every time. I’m supposed to learn patience. 

The testing produces patience. So far, the testing has produced frustration, irritation, anger. So, I’ve failed. Yet, for all my failures, I still seek guidance, and God still hands it out without complaint. 

He still wants the best for His children. 

There will be other trials, other occasions for me to persevere and endure and hopefully come out on top, with the Lord pleased and not filled with dismay.  

To be like Jesus … more and more – that is what we pursue. He who is perfect and complete, He who endured the cross and persevered with all of whom He came into contact. 

 He is patient, and I am not. 

But I can ask of God … I can ask for wisdom, for discernment, for fruitfulness. 

I can ask and believe He will give me what I seek. Without belief, there is only doubt. When doubt sets in, uncertainty grows with leaps and bounds, and we forget where our loyalties lie.  

We forget it is God who is in control. It is not me or you. No matter how much we think we can do, we can’t really do anything without Him.  And that includes the gift or fruit of patience given to His followers by the Holy Spirit.

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders

Always He is with us

"The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail." - Isaiah 58:11

Even when we think The Lord has left our presence because we do not feel Him near us, He is with us, guiding us, strengthening us for His service.

We must stay in His word, focused on Him, always seeking direction from Him, listening. His voice, however quiet, may be heard in the stillness of each day, each night.

We must be alert or we will miss out on all He has for us.

God called you out from your sin

God called you out from your sin,

which kept you imprisoned -- not so much behind bars,
but your mind was divided and you leaned toward anger, filthy language, lying, rage, grumbling, bitterness and more. 

The world was your home and of all you did, you were mindful of what you heard and saw
and if it appealed to you, you followed suit. 

God called you out from your sin,

called you to Himself to come into the light of His Son's holy presence
and you came. You heard His call to you and you responded. Called to leave behind the desires of the flesh and worldly living and "to set your mind on things above."
[Colossians 3:2]

No fence sitting. No divided loyalties. 

You were dead. All who live and function based on the world and its attitudes are dead -- dead in their sin. 

God called you out from your sin, 

His Son, Jesus Christ, was persecuted and died for you, your sins. He was buried in the grave and He arose -- up from the grave He rose. 

When you answer God's call, you are no longer dead -- you have been resurrected, born again, one with Christ. 

God called you out from your sin, 

You are free.

Why do you believe and even insist who you are is who you've always been? 

You were enslaved -- You have been set free

You were a child of the devil -- You are a son, a daughter of The King, The Holy One

You said No! to the old person, the old way, the old life.
You say Yes! to the new person, the new way, the new life.
You were dead! -- You are alive! 

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." [Romans 12:2] 

God called you out from your sin, 

to live as a new creature in Him,
not to resume life as you were and claim "this is who you are." 

You are the elect of God
You are holy and beloved
You are tender
You are kind
You are humble
You are forgiving
You are patient [Colossians 3:12-13]

You are loyal
You are thankful
You are peaceful
You are considerate
You are consistent
You are faithful
You are precious
You are beautiful
You are helpful
You are hopeful
You are loving and loved
You are blessed

God called you out from your sin,

for you to submit your life to Christ, to raise you up, high on eagle's wings,
created in the "natural image and likeness of God." [Genesis 1:26]

He, whose life was given for yours, because of Love.

He, who became like you and me, because of Love,
to show a better way, a just and fair way,
without bitterness or provocation or discouragement or favoritism.

He, who was obedient to His parents, and most especially, to His Holy Father,
because of Love.

[based on Colossians 3:18-21]

God called you out from your sin,

He called you to be free.  He called you to be loving and loved. He called you to be complete in Him. 

Whose path do we follow?

What path are you on today
What was it yesterday

God tells us to walk with Him, to trust Him.
He knows the way we are to go
He knows what lies ahead, where trouble lies.
He sees all 

God tells us in Isaiah 26:3-4, He will keep all of us who trust in Him and whose focus is fixed on Him in perfect peace. He will give us strength in everything that comes and goes in our lives.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” (New Living Translation)

Listen to Jesus – to the Holy Spirit within you. He will never steer you wrong. He will guide you down the road that is best for you. Rely on Him, not on yourself. When He says go back, then go back. When He says stop, then stop. Do not consider your reasoning to be better than His.

Read what Psalm 25:4-5 says --          
“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”

And also Proverbs 3:5-6 –

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” 

(c) Cathy Orrick Luders