Window To
Christian Ministries . . . in Iowa
And Jesus said ... "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6








Window To Christian Ministries
Copyright 2001
by Cathy Orrick Luders
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
All Rights Reserved

The Written Letter
This is a my personal collection of copyrighted prose and poetry.

June 10, 2009 -- A cemetery walk
I walk.
The path uneven
Pine cones here and there
under trees bowed inward
like a protective covering
of what lies deep . . .
of souls gone on
of bodies remaining
beneath solid stone.

I wonder.
Why does he live so far away?

Time.
Passing through.
A distant buzzing ...
Perhaps a clap of thunder

Lives lived
long or short
Minute details are not spared

He is near
She is near
As close as our heart beats

Mementos and memories
linger
from a time
filled with richness
and eager anticipation
of sharing life
lovingly with another.

Day in
Day out
I think he is far away
She is too far to reach

But no.
The memories bring them back.

Always present
Always here
Always the sun shines brightly
when I remember.

I don't live here.
I come here to visit.
But,
You too are not here.

A noble pebble on the path
a resting place.
When Jesus returns,
we'll go out together.

"Though time forgets, love still remembers."

May 24, 2009 -- Witnessing The Truth in Love
Witnessing
to
you
and
you
and
you

Have you
Are you

How?

What?

"You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
To your
next door neighbor
To the
grocery checker
To members
and visitors
of the church
you attend
or visit
To your
co-workers
To those
of different nationalities
and lifestyles

To all

The truth ...
in love
All in love

God
commands
His
believers
to
follow

to be
obedient

to do
all
in love

for it
was
because
of love
for the world ...
for all
that
"He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Witnessing
to
bring you
to an
understanding

a belief...

Faith.

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17)

No belief?
No understanding?
No faith?

All the
love the
Father
bestows
upon
you
is
meaningless
when
you
proclaim
God is Not
Jesus is Not

The truth --
God's word

When you
read it
and
claim it false
or
claim it
doesn't apply to you
or
claim it
is useless
ancient history

Your unbelief
condemns you
You are like
many
who have heard
The Truth
that "the light has come in the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19)

The olden days
of Sodom and Gomorrah
The current days
of a new Sodom and Gomorrah
of
abortion
and
same-sex marriages
and
pornography
and
the list goes on

We are still to witness The Truth to bring another to Jesus So his life can be redeemed so he can live Really live in Christ who came to save us from our sin to bring us hope eternal. May 19, 2009 -- It was a dream ... I woke it was 6:06 on the clock dial Too early So I returned to slumber awhile longer It was a dream ... Standing on the stairs near the second floor window I saw it a twin-engine a bi-plane like a crop duster gliding past I waited for it to clip the corner of our house but it did not I rushed up the stairs to a third floor landing to see its massive wings narrowly miss its surroundings I wondered why where who But it was gone. It was a dream. May 12, 2009 -- Peaks ... Valleys Where Lord where Where will you have me go Where will you lead What goals do you have for me What plans What is your desire Where do you want my writings to take me Do I stay Do I go Is there more Or less Do I write books or short stories Non-fiction or make believe Devotionals Poetry or prose Do I capture a new thought, a new idea of You through my experiences or is none of this for me Do I return to school What Lord What do you have for me Am I anyone anything Does it matter Is my labor in vain Or does it come to fruition Are you pleased or are you sad and disheartened with me When I fall down will you lift me up When I am blue will you make the sun shine upon me When I struggle with fears and doubts will you wrap yourself around me encompass me with your greatness and remind me again that I am your child Will you? Where Lord When Lord How Lord Are you sure Lord Help me Lord I want I desire Are they the same wants and desires that you have for me Are they? I pray Lord it is so. But I do not know. Time will tell Your time Not mine. When the time is right Then I will know. Help me to be okay with whatever your desire for me is Help me achieve whatever your desire for me is Help me, Enable me to be all you desire for me. In Your Name Alone I pray and seek guidance. "For to me, to live in Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you." (Philippians 1: 21-24) April 29, 2009 -- Waiting ... and then Waiting People sitting Reading "It's cold in here." Quiet Noisy Early morning sun gives way to dreary glum Waiting rooms. also listless colorless drab. Waiting and thinking Waiting and reading Waiting and boredom Waiting time marches on yet stands still. ... and then your name is called April 8, 2009 -- Shadows ... stripes Shadows tall, gangly like human legs standing still beneath the sky upon the earth flat stripes row upon row endless like Jesus beaten His stripes upon Himself were ours Our sin row upon row endless Our sin Our stripes Our punishment Jesus took it all To bear at Calvary So we could be set free Have you accepted all He has done for you? Have you accepted all He continues to do for you? Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Are you one of His? April 3, 2009 -- God alone Reading into the writings the speakings the tones of another is not always beneficial to you or to them. Thinking ... your mind can play tricks Thinking ... is that true is that real ? Thinking ... can cause trouble, more trouble than is warranted. God tells us to keep our focus sharp by pursuing excellence. Which is? Abiding with Jesus ... Always looking to Him ... Always seeking His wisdom. Not becoming inundated with outside influences Not veering into unknown spaces that you think you know what is and what is not. No matter what we perceive, God is the only one who fully knows. To stay on the right path, the path God has chosen for you, must listen more intently to His leading ... and follow Him. Not me. God alone. March 4, 2009 -- IF I wonder how I would act IF ... The real IF I mean Not imaginings amidst the turmoil Not the questions that come, that came and left us with more of the same. I wonder ... Friends, former colleagues and others I'll never know are now in the IF. Pondering how and why -- Because of the national recession Because of the nearly statewide natural disasters -- the flood of '08 -- the tornadoes Because of decreased sales Just because All good reasons, yet No good reason. We seek peace We seek joy We seek life. I can say I can suggest I can be As can you and you and you. There is no peace Not in the world Only in Jesus Christ There is no joy No exuberance Only despondency and dismay in this world "under the sun." But in Jesus there is joy. Through Him we can overcome. He did! He rose from the dead! He's alive! There is life. But of what does it consist? "and you, being dead in your trespasses, ... He has made alive together with Him" (Colossians 2:13) Jesus' resurrection renews in us hope and joy and life. The IF we have coming or are in the midst of now is NOT The End. It is an opportunity for new life, a chance to rebuild ... with Jesus at the helm. March 1, 2009 -- A weekend get-a-way A weekend get-a-way. a three-day retreat traveling paths not quite forgotten gathering with friends to share laughter, good eats, shelter, games, worship. Such a pleasant time. One day the bleakness seems to overwhelm you and the next day the sun's shining rays peak through brightening straight to the core of your inner being. Childhood memories even if you grew up elsewhere bring a smile like baby chicks underneath a heat lamp Dreams and possibilities, visions of a brighter tomorrow A weekend long coming arrives and now, is soon gone. Need to hold on to all those pleasant moments. Relive them over and over February 28, 2009 -- Even though ... God still is The land lays like death ... bleak desolate naked and bare. The hills are not alive like in the "Sound of Music." Alas, it is still winter with patches of ice lakes and rivers still frozen over with trees like sticks protruding white birch trees add but slight coloration to the stark dullness of the landscape. Even the sun's shining rays do not filter through the cloudy skies. But still, God is. ... above, beyond, over all. I must remember. February 17, 2009 -- Endings and Beginnings The same, but different The end. The beginning. All in one 24-hour period . Changes - some good some not changes nevertheless Location changes for me now Maybe other changes later . How do I feel How should I feel? Glad to have a job Sad it is away from familiar faces Miss the connection with journalisty-types Oh who are they A different breed Still, I will see them from time to time They are not gone forever. Not yet I am not gone forever. The end July 27, 1987 - Feb. 16, 2009 Gazette newsroom The beginning Feb. 17, 2009 - Gazette classified Someday, there will be a new beginning. Jesus is the beginning and the end. The Alpha and The Omega. Even within Jesus I am different I am one of His No matter where I am James 4: 8a in The Bible says: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." Without Him my precious Lord I could not have come this far. Without Him I can not continue on Without Him there is no tomorrow Only many yesterdays Oh Yes why should I be sad? Without my Jesus nothing would really matter "With God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) Not so with mankind. Every thing in the world is useless IF God is not your world. February 7, 2009 -- Twenty-one years ago Twenty-one years ago. A young man a most handsome young man in a 3 p i e c e suit and a young lady met. The place? the church library The time? between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. The date? Sunday, Feb. 7 1988, one week before Valentine's Day The result? a wedding 3 years 2 months 20 days later. We He and I as one renewed our vows in 2006 for our 15th anniversary It's now 2009 On April 27 He and I and Jesus celebrate 18 years Together February 4, 2009 -- So hard to do So easy to become entangled and end up carrying a heavy load of fear with you every day. God does not want you to become, to be fearful. He wants us to trust in Him. TRUST He will provide all we need. Only He knows. We second guess. We look at those around and see what we think we're missing. We become dissatisfied, dismal, very sad, remorseful, depressed. We do things ... yesterday, at the work place, I took down pictures, cleaned files. Must be ready for what I'm hearing is coming soon. Still, God knows. He has come through before. Why does it seem to be so hard Every time to trust He will provide? He said He would. He told me to Pursue. He told me to stay focused, to abide with Him. To Trust. January 29, 2009 -- The day before Yesterday ... The day before Yesterday ... The adrenalin rush The excitement The nervousness ... For Nothing All for nothing, to no avail. It didn't happen. What a BUMMER. Definitely. Questions. Thousands upon thousands of questions remain Pounding in my head. Searching. Why Lord? You knew. Why didn't I? Sometimes it seems it takes a lifetime and then we still have no answers. Sleep. I want to sleep -- past the pain past the turmoil past the regrets. Sleep is all I want. Perseverance ... testing ... stay near ... abiding ... To learn Through it all. I wish the struggles would end. Just end. God knows what it is I don't want. He knows what I do want too. And He knows what is the ultimate best for me. What do You want me to do Lord? I can only imagine. No. That I probably know. Abide in Me, He says. Stay beside me, He says. Right here with Me. Don't falter behind Don't go on ahead Walk with Me, and I, He says, will be with you always. I will show you The way I want you to go, He says. Follow Me. Just follow Me. January 23, 2009 -- Time There is a time for every purpose, every event, every desire, every delight, every pleasure under heaven. When is the time Is my time here or coming Or has it gone by Have I missed it and not known Or is it still coming Are the hopes and dreams, plans and aspirations still an open window of opportunity? Will I be given the chance I so desire Or will it be nipped in the bud? Denied... I can only pray the opportunity the chance for me still exists ... is not fleeting. will gain momentum and be the right time for me now. January 21, 2009 -- Riddles ... ? Riddles - What is? You think you know You are so smart What do you know? Jesus says in John 7:28-29, "You (both) know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me." What does it say? What do you think it says? You know Jesus came from Nazareth. You know Jesus is the son of a carpenter. That is what you remember from ages past. Not what is true Not what is real. Only what you have heard Only what you think you know. Jesus is the son of God. Oh no! that can't be. Jesus is the Messiah. No, No, No! Jesus is the son of Joseph. A mere man Nothing more. How wrong you are. How very wrong. Jesus is I AM. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. Jesus Is. January 15, 2009 -- Are we?

Are we like the tree Are we like the winter snow and frigid air Are we clueless Are we without direction? Or do we have Jesus Is He Are we one of His branches Are you?
January 9, 2009 -- Give your burdens to the Lord "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you;..." -- Psalm 55:22 Cast all my burdens My concerns. Cast them lay them give them ... To the Lord and He shall, He will sustain Me. Carry me through. Be with me. Such a simple command it would seem. For being so simple why is it so hard to follow, to obey ? So easy to be human ... for I am. So hard to be like Christ for I am not ... ... only a follower and a long, long way from being like Him. January 2, 2009 - True love Searching for Psalm 37:7, I found Song of Songs a short book I didn't remember existing nestled between Ecclesiastes and Isaiah. True love between a man and a woman married to each other meeting each other's needs. My beloved How beautiful My treasure How lovely I search but he is gone. heartsick I am. My love is oh so handsome better, more so than any other. None can compete My friend You are my beloved and I? am I your perfect dove December 29, 2008 - The key Do we never remember? Always seeking, searching A little bit of memory hangs on What would we do What would we do? If we didn't have the Bible Our mind constantly searching Where are the answers? Remember. What do you remember Each one of us is different. Remembering is The Key My key. December 19, 2008 - So quiet So quiet it was this morning only the hum of the furnace and snow blowers working Stillness, starkness white all around Except what is bare - The trees and other objects protruding from the frozen tundra grasping for warmth for a sun not shining So quiet only the ticking of a clock or chimes ringing on the hour Absent noises Who do they belong to Where do they come from Hidden corners So quiet hammering I hear The phone rings The quietness ... It stops. December 3, 2008 - All that is was once before All that is was once before All that will be is even now Each experiences something new But it's not new 'cept for you and me. This moment only alone does it count. I see that. You live long enough You see how things that are now were also that once before. Experiences my mother had in her 20s and 50s may be similar to experiences in my 20s or 50s Not the same but enough similar to realize realities of yesterday are the realities of today and future tomorrows. December 2, 2008 - Innocence Innocence means having no sin. Innocence exists until we reach the age of accountability. A newborn is innocent I was thinking I was innocent of countless things but then I couldn't think of what they were. I knew I was guilty of many many more things. My guilt could keep me from moving forward from growing from seeking new paths discovering exploring dreaming. I struggle within that the guilts I carry do not become more than I can bear But I have Jesus and He has set me free My burdens are His burdens and thus, my load is light. "Come to Me, all you who labor (or are weary) and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly (or humble) in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30 November 29, 2008 - Is it? All of life the life we live the circumstances, events surrounding day to day. What have we accomplished if the end result brings only further pain? Further distance from... Where are you What is more important most important in all of life Is it you Is it God Is it you in relation to God Is it? November 25, 2008 - Hold my hand God... Hold my hand. Keep me from stumbling from falling from spiraling downward to Satan's grasp. Do not let me think the wicked have it all. For they do not. Life is more than prosperity... more than poverty Life is You. They don't have You. You Lord are more powerful than Satan. God... Hold my hand. "Nevertheless I am continually with you; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory."- Psalm 73:23-24 November 12, 2008 -- Loved Ones Our memories of loved ones keep them close and alive within us. So many gone on to be with the Lord. But not all. There are others who have just died... No relationship with Jesus, No saving knowledge of their lostness. Thus, they are imprisoned in the vastness of hell. November 10, 2008 -- Do not succumb Do not succumb to the lowly depths of self It brings on depression It takes your mind places you should not be It eats at you Destroys Do not succumb Remember God's truths Dwell on God's goodness, God's love For You November 10, 2008 -- Journeying Onward God is our provider Our care giver All we receive is from Him It is easy to get caught up in To partake of All that those on the other side (those without Jesus) have or do Yes, it is easy. But not right Not ethical or moral Not God's preferred way. When we rely totally on the Lord Jesus When we obey His commands for our lives When we are one with Him the outside world falls away When our minds dwell on His word alone We never go We never stray or rarely do we We come back, return to the fold faster and faster. But all struggle Believers in Christ struggle It's just that we know. We have Jesus in our hearts. We know. Learning and growing It doesn't matter our age Maturity in years doesn't necessarily mean we have it figured out. We have a longer time to get it figured out But that doesn't mean we do. As believers in Christ It is when we have gone home our eternal home in heaven to be with our beloved Jesus that we truly have it figured out. Until then, we journey onward. Striving to do the Lord's bidding Striving to be more like Him. November 8, 2008 -- Are you sure Lord? Are you sure Lord I am okay? I am where I am to be for this moment? Probably not. Always seeming to be unsure. Always it seems I look to what others see in me and wonder if what they see is real is what you Lord desire them to see I fear I am not. Not even among friends or those I think are friends do I feel secure in that friendship Fearful I should not care I imagine I should just move on. Rely totally on you. Perhaps I am not I never feel good enough I'm not good enough I will never be good enough But friendship is important is it not? Tell me Lord what I should do. I feel sometimes no matter what I do, it's not right. How should I How do I rise above all that I feel all the remorse and sadness I feel It isn't where I want to be. How Lord How I don't know how. .... I can choose to dwell on negative thoughts or I can choose to dwell on Godly thoughts. The choice is always ours alone to make. I am because of God because of who God is and what He is No matter how strong another thinks he is God is stronger God is more powerful. God is mightier God is. And because of God I am Not because of me But because of Him who is greater than I will ever be. That doesn't make me a failure God doesn't make failures. Only in our own minds, when we dwell there and become distraught, disillusioned within we think we are a failure But not to God To Him we are a work in proress. Today's devotional Flawed and Frail reminds me The Lord is not looking for superheros but rather those who are frail and flawed. That I am. Through our frailness and our flawedness The Lord brings about strength and grace Be willing Be available God will work in you Through you To reach another. November 3, 2008 -- Me oh My My legs itch. My selfishness gets the best of me at times My plans go awry Me Me Me My feelings My loss My dreams My everything What does God think of me? Where am I Is He happy with me? Can He see my love for Him? Is He ashamed of me Does He consider me an evil doer a foolish woman a prayer warrior? Is God pleased with my attempts to honor Him? Does God consider me His daughter? Or am I alone Should I withdraw into myself Should I hide Should I withdraw from activities No one sees No one responds My fears My concerns My desires What does God see in me? Where am I Am I sunshine or clouds of gray Am I caring Or do I care less Do you Lord see my love for others Or have I betrayed you What does God think of me Am I growing or am I stagnant Is this all selfishness to write so much about nothing Am I nothing Who am I Lord Where am I Am I in the midst of others with greater I know where you are Lord I talk to you daily I read your holy Word I think about what you have to say to me You are here, right here, in my heart. But where am I Lord? Who will answer? Ed Ames once sang a song, "Who will answer?" Who am I Lord Where am I Am I where you want me to be Are you pleased with me Do I bring you any joy or only anguish It's not all about me. But always there is a me. The body of me make up mankind. Woe is me October 28, 2008 -- I I feel somewhat down today Is it because of the cold the time of year the many projects I have and not all my own why is it? not just today though it has been many days sometimes I feel so burdened I think of many There are many who cross, who come, who are there Some I visit with through Facebook or Twitter or E-mail or phone or mailed letter Some I make attempts but success is fleeting No answer No reply No comment. They are not there. And I don't know where or why or what that means If there is something I should be doing I do not know. The tiredness I feel is not necessarily sleepy tired but sort of tired from thinking would like to be free from it all not free from being though Not interested in ending my being. There is only 1 gospel There is only 1 way To life eternal There is only 1 Christ 1 son of God Only 1 That 1 is there for me He can lift my burden if it is His will My desires are not necessarily His desires -- His will is what matters ultimately. But He hears He listens to my turmoil my fears my concerns There are some They are everywhere. think they are Failures Junk Unwanted Unloved Bored So easy to fall in a trap of self So easy to fall into believing what another says of you Harder to ignore to step aside to push away Harder to recognize you are worthy you are a Child of the King of Jesus Christ. His son His daughter His. So hard to do So very hard to do. Help me Lord Lift me up Lord Show me Lord Where Lord you would have me go or do or be Today. Be me? Do I hear Him Does He "Be my child." October 21, 2008 -- He knows ALL Problem continues What to do Scanning always scanning Persists How to remove At what cost Waiting is dangerous Sometimes I think now Still . . . Waiting for a word From the Lord He know ALL . . . even computers October 15, 2008 -- Ignorance is bliss? Ignorance is bliss or so it seems for the many who do not have a clue but alas! a lightning flash mind awhirl innocence gives way despair dismay dominates uncertainty follows Reach Seek Look its what we seem to be about How do we find the answer? How did I .... find the answer? What method Who answered How did I get there I know where I've been I know what I've found But only God knows the path I now journey To follow. Hopefully, True to Him alone. October 15, 2008 -- Much To Do Much to do Think on day to day but not. So tired Listless Encumbered with lists and projects and stuff but not. Reading Studying Talking Mostly, only to God who knows where and what I am about. October 15, 2008 -- Rain Rain aches everywhere culminating to complete Pain. September 23, 2008 -- God understands Distressed Today. All because I remembered what today was. Of what it became. I imagine. I know. God knows my thoughts. Life ends Life begins What is sandwiched inbetween is what is important. Get me past Lord these remorseful feelings I have Gone, but not forgotten. Help me keep the memories of her life alive and bury the memories of her death/demise We all have loved ones die Help me Lord stay focused ... on You Flood my soul with love Encircle me ... September 10, 2008 -- I am a Christian, an Evangelical Christian I am a Christian an Evangelical Christian I believe the Lord Jesus saved me from my sins He gave up the ghost laid down His life ALL for me. ALL for me. I am a Christian an Evangelical Christian I have many fears and doubts I am much like another But different you see for I have Jesus And He means more to me than whatever you have to offer. I am a Christian an Evangelical Christian I believe in God's power His holy word He is my Father up in heaven Understands me better than any being here on Earth. I am a Christian an Evangelical Christian I reside in the United States of America, in Iowa in Cedar Rapids But its only for a while Someday I will go home ... to my Father up in heaven I am a Christian an Evangelical Christian a child, daughter of the King For Jesus died for me. ALL for me. ALL for me. August 28, 2008 -- Silence Silence after a rain Birds singing Squirrels, rabbits about in the stillness, freshness of the day Memories of childhood on the farm in southwest Cedar Rapids So clearly in my mind's eye September 10, 2007 -- It's About Faith Faith is not what we see, what appears to be Faith is not the spoken word of others It is not what we view on television or read in the newspapers. Faith is believing, accepting God is in control God has all the answers God knows. Faith is Looking to Him for everything, Thanking Him for everything. Seeking answers to all our questions from Him alone. Not questioning the hows, whys, whens, wheres, what ifs. Just knowing Just believing Faith can be as tiny as a mustard seed or as huge as a mountain We each have a mountain or many to climb Our successes are not really ours We achieve through our faith in Him alone. My Jesus My Savior My Lord My God In His Name, Amen. August 10, 2007 -- It is God's world afterall Do you hear? Chimes a-ringing over yonder up above God's chapel in the sky ... on the hillside God's creation down below murky water still Turtles big bigger than a hand maybe two paddling swimming Dozens there are. Stillness, quietness mugginess will come Perhaps not Perhaps so Pleasant sitting out on the porch The heat of the day is but a moment away. July 28, 2007 -- How important is it? How important is it? Living as the world lives or living as God tells us Knowing one from the other Having what we need Knowing what we need Thinking, wishing What one has is not realistic thinking that is what another needs or doesn't need Each is different Each person Each family Follow the Lord Follow Him alone Listen to His words, His widsom Only He knows He sees all. He knows our needs and our desires. Some will attempt to meet their needs and desires by themselves. Some will succeed. Some will not. Some will rely on Scripture, on the Lord ...follow His lead. The Lord made us. We are His. Some have much Some have little Some make do Some falter Some complain worry where does it get you? what have you accomplished with worry and anxiety? Listen, obey, do ... The Lord will guide you. He will show you the way In every aspect of Life, God is present. Reach out grab hold He is there. YOU must believe YOU must seek YOU must reach out and hold on Where are you in your walk with the Lord? Are you walking with Him at all or are you walking on your own? July 12, 2007 -- My Anna My friend a special one I've adopted as my mommy A relationship started nourished bloomed She walks with the Lord She cares for the sick and disabled She talks of her childhood of her years married to Ray Of present pain of past hurts of a future time with her Lord She is my friend my very special friend my adopted mommy Anna July 07, 2007 -- Anna's squirrel A little thing bushy tailed Obstreperous ... into everything ... her flowers climbing the tree Causing havoc and providing endless entertainment for two years until one day not long ago a few weeks he met his master out on the roadway ... hit by a car Good-bye Mr. Squirrel July 07, 2007 -- Suicide People give in give up Quit There are some who do that Why? What have they achieved?! nothing. Tired of fighting of repeated attempts of trying Give in give up Don't do that. We were given life You, me Everyone of us. It is not for us to take it away Only God. We must persevere Persist Endure ... to make life worth living. July 04, 2007 -- 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. July 03, 2007 -- Struggles 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 ... June 18, 2007 -- 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. June 05, 2007 -- 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 June 03, 2007 -- 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 May 23, 2007 -- 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. February 19, 2007 -- We can live! The Lord - He is God, The mighty King The Prince of Peace The Holy One The Only One We are but dust - like that found in corners or underneath beds Our life span is limited Tomorrow may or may not come We are destined to die But through the grace of the Lord's son Jesus We can live! June 03, 2006 -- This Is God's World This is God's world All that is is His It is not mine Nor is it yours It is God's and only His. No other power nowhere no how in times past, present or to come God has it all. We - you and me created in His image to rule the fish of the seas the birds of the air and all the animals. But, alas, it was not enough We - you and me wanted more and more and more. And now, we have more don't we? Or do we? We - you and me wanted so much more that destruction and utter chaos settled around us. And now we - you and me struggle to find a balance. God provided that balance ... in the beginning. Why wasn't it enough?