Artist’s statement: This was the very first Christian piece I ever composed. I began it as a poem of heartbreak about my son, but as I wrote and edited, it moved away from my sorrow about him to my sorrow about my spiritual immaturity and subsequent failures. Then it continued on to the approaching darkness of this age and my inadequacies and weakness relative to my witness for Christ. I still am panged when I read this piece, but determined to continue on and strive against my “self” and honor Christ.
Poetry by Kay Cude. Used with permission. Right click on image to open larger in new tab. Or read the text below. Artist’s statement:
I keep returning to our (me!!) needing to “remember” God’s promises and provision. GOD THE I AM is the only fortress in Whom we find a righteous protector, defender and provider. He is the only place of eternal refuge from the world’s continuing tragedies and chaos. He is the stronghold Who is and Who will provide peace, wisdom, understanding, instruction and endurance.
FACING FEAR: IN THE MIDST OF GOD’S PROVIDENCE As waves of fear rolled nearer still, as deep its swell approached us nigh; our hearts near failed as we cried out, “O Lord, Your servants rescue now!” And crashed the waves of terror strong, our lives at risk — we knew death’s tide; yet stilled our hearts Your Glorious Word and on we clung and Truth prevailed.
As deep and dark, as depth of brine, we battled ‘gainst the foe’s onslaught; its torrents fierce as bounding main, — with cruelest rage this foe can slay. Yet in Your Will, O Saviour ours, Salvation’s Light’s our mighty Ark; afloat we stay midst evil’s gale, for You prevail within its rage.
Afloat we ride with knowledge sure, we look ahead with strength not ours; Endurance meets us Face-to-face, ’tis You our Strength our sure Bulwark, The fears we face — our spirit’s gain, makes strong we resolute of heart, to live God’s Will through providence — and triumph through His Will’s Intent. ~kay cude, October 1, 2017
OUR FORTRESS PREVAILS Refer to Psalm 46. FEAR NOT, GOD IS OUR ETERNAL REFUGE AND STRENGTH. “We will not fear, for God hath willed His Truth to triumph through us; The body they may kill. God’s Truth abideth still, His Kingdom is FOREVER.” ~Martin Luther
IT IS the grace of God through His unfathomable mercy through the power of His predetermined love that urges us to remain and stand in His will concerning providence! WHAT THEN
IS IT that assails our thoughts with such unrelenting vengeance that can tempt us into overbearing fear when trials overtake us?
IT IS not remembering His Word — that He is Sovereign over all circumstances and issues we will encounter during our lives, during our service to, for and through Him…
right click to open larger in new tab. Poetry by Kay Cude
Right click the picture to see larger in new tab. Used with permission of author. Text from the picture below:
WHEN WE PICTURE THE TRINITY TO BE A SINGLE PEARL Oration 37, Gregory of Nazianzus
–I set before you the One Deity and Power, found in the Three-in-Unity, embracing the Three one-by-one, equal in essence and nature… Picture the Trinity to be a single pearl, alike on all sides, equally glistening. If any part of the pearl is damaged, the whole loveliness of the precious stone is gone. So when dishonour the Son in order to honour the Father, the Father doesn’t accept your honour. How can the Father glory in the Son’s dishonour? Likewise, if you dishonour the Holy Spirit, the Son doesn’t accept your honour. For although the Spirit doesn’t come from the Father in the same way as the Son, yet He comes from the same Father. Either honour the whole or dishonour the whole, and so have a consistent mind! I can’t accept your half-godliness. I would have you altogether godly.
Oration 37, Gregory of Nazianzus, (AD 330-390) Source: “Shapers of Christianity,” Nick Needham Banner of Truth Magazine, No. 706-July 2022
ORATION 40, CHAPTER 41 – GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS
I set before you the One Deity and Power, found in the Three-in-Unity, Embracing the Three One by One, equal in essence and nature, Neither increased nor decreased by ideas of greater or less; In every way equal, in every way the same, Just as the loveliness and hugeness of the heavens are one: The infinite oneness of Three Infinite Ones, Each of whom is God when seen individually in Himself. As the Father is God, so is the Son, And as the Son is God, so is the Holy Spirit; And the Three are likewise One God when seen together. Each is God because they are of the same essence, And they are One God because of the single principle of Deity. The very instant I conceive of the One, I am enlightened by the brightness of the Three; The very instant is differentiate them, I am carried straight back to the One. When I regard any One of the Three, I think of Him as the Whole; My sight is filled to the brim, And the greater part of what I am thinking of eludes me! I cannot grasp the greatness of One of the Three So as to reckon a greater greatness to the Others. And when I see the Three together, I see only one torch, And I cannot divide or share out the Undivided Light.
Kay Cude Author Statement:
“I [Kay Cude] was reading the July 2022-Volume 706 Banner of Truth Magazine when I came upon an article by Nick Needham, “Shapers of Christianity-Gregory of Nazianzus (AD 330-390).”
Mr. Needham begins, “The fourth century is often considered the Golden Age of the Early Church Fathers, owing to the sheer intellectual and spiritual brilliance of that century’s Christian thinkers in expounding the faith doctrinally and practically. Among its most influential figures were the Cappadocian Fathers.”
‘”This was a group of three theologians from the Roman province of Cappadocia in Asia Minor –Basil of Caesarea, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus. Of the three Cappadocians, Gregory of Nazianzus came to be the most treasured by following generations. Greek speaking Christians reverentially called him “Gregory the Theologian,” as if he were the first true theologian after the apostle John. In the Greek East, the term “theologian” had special reference to the Doctrine of the Trinity. The apostle John was held to be the first great theologian in that sense, and Gregory the second.”
Poetry by Kay Cude. Used with permission. Right click to open larger in new tab. Or read below
JEHOVA-ELOHIM OEverlasting God, El-Olam, who can compare with Thee? Who, O Lord God, is there named amongst all creation, amongst all mankind-yea, amongst all earthly and spiritual kingdoms, principalities, powers and authorities who can speak and by his breath, creation is? Only Thee O God, THE I AM…
Who is like unto Thee, O God, EL-Elyon, The Lord God Most High? Who can by his unspoken will instruct each star, each planet – yea, all of the universes and the trillions of galaxies, to suspend themselves in the appropriate locus? Who is able to command them – and their order and their paths and their seasons of ingress and transit, are? Only Thee O God, THE I AM…
El Shaddai, Almighty God, The Ancient of Days, who is able to sit above the circle of the earth and the beginning from the ending of each celestrial orb, or by his hand stretch out the heavens as a curtain to spread its spanse over all creation as a tent? Who can’ by his word, cause the sun and the moon to stand still in their circuits, and by such, testify that he is The God, The El Shaddai, The Adonai? Only Thee O God, THE I AM… kay cude, March 2016 AD
IN THE BEGINNING, IN THE BEGINNING, IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH IT IS… “By the Word of The Lord the heavens were made, and by the Breath of His Mouth all their host.” Psalm 33:6
“You alone are The Lord. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them and the heavenly host bows down before You.” Nehemiah 9:6
“Lift up your eyes on high and see Who has created these stars. The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name, because of the Greatness of His Might and the Strength of His Power not one of them is missing.” Isaiah 40:26
Poetry by Kay Cude. Used with permission. Kay Cude is a Texas poet.
Surely the mouth of the Lord has spoken: FEAR NOT “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous Right Hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them- Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing.” Isaiah 41: 10-12
OBSERVE Though deadly times seem far away, they are around life’s curve; their winding path continues on–take note that you observe–
Though fear assails your very heart, let not your faith succumb; the adversary’s reign soon ends, his power now’s undone. A chasm deep may lie ahead, so vast and wide its beams;
…for He Himself has said, I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we may confidently say, The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5c-6
Text by author, Kay Cude, purposed solely for non-profit, non-commercial sharing.
IN SONG AND IN PRAISE LET US PROCLAIM TO ALL NATIONS THE MERCY AND THE LOVE OF GOD
Verse:
But when the kindness of God our Saviour and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly– through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7 NASB1995
Song: The love of God is greater far: Written by Frederick Martin Lehman
The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell; The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain: Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure- The saints’ and angels’ song.
When hoary time shall pass away, And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall, When men who here refuse to pray, On rocks and hills and mountains call, God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong; Redeeming grace to Adam’s race- The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.
Songwriters: Robby Shaffer/Jim Bryson/ Mike Scheuchzer/Nathan Cochran/Bart Millard/Pete Kipley image: pixabay.com/en/tatras-mountains-sky-clouds-haze-2470928/ expression by kaycude 03/23/21 AD
Poetry is by Kay Cude. Used with permission. Kay Cude is a Texas poet.
The Sheepfold, Moonlight. 1856-1860
BY KAY CUDE
Through shadows long the dusk drew near to spread its cloak ov’r all; and watched I there the setting sun, its glory long displayed. And as the eve flowed like the sea, there saw its breaking tide; wash ov’r that shore, submerge that line that marks the night from day.
And as the twilight covered me, upon the path I trode, heard I a howling–not afar–yea, wolves therein at bay. What then that sound, that too-near cry, that breaks upon my ears? T’was Satan’s voice through men–his words–deception’s planned foray.
So then my step at quickened pace, determined to avoid, the rushing onslaught of those fiends, proficient with their lies. From mouths perverse I heard their yelps–distortion, rank deceit!! Through mouths profane, egregious words, revealed demonic ties.
Then on that path near where I stood, upon a group they came; engaged them there to turn aside and listen to their words,– to capture those within that flock, with clever speech persuade; they narcigeted God’s Sure Word, made theirs the “truth” preferred.
And I distressed in shadows stayed, perchance their faces see; for in that pack, before me clear, saw faces I knew well! And greatly shaken to my core, with trembling heart I watched; and there was grieved that “who they seemed,” their idiom dispelled.
And as the eve became the night, that veil that sets our rest; I watched as they revealed themselves as hunters for a prey. Though garbed these men in cleric’s robes, through doctrines of Sheol, perverted they God’s Holy Word; blasphemed Salvation’s way.
With souls suborned spoke they the words borne through the Devil’s lips, neath shepherd’s cloaks, dressed they like those of Christ’s beloved redeemed; supplanted they the Word of God with flagrant disregard; contrived their will, incited doubt, their dogma there esteemed!
And soon saw I the faltering steps of some turn slight their heads; to hearken to deception’s swill, therein perceived as truth! Beheld bewitchment glaze their eyes, confound their reasoning; watched them beguiled, near trance-like state, no longer resolute.
Like pigs at feast midst slop and filth, some joined to sup their fill, there wallowed in idolatry; renounced Christ’s finished work. Bedazzled by the lure of wealth, of health and “easy” grace, defiled they soon Christ’s sacrifice; atonement there besmirched.
And as they trode upon the grace of God’s redemptive plan, they as the wild ass roams the plains, as harlots sin pursued! There turned from Light they said was theirs, yet proved themselves as fools; enraptured with self-righteousness, their love for Christ withdrew.
How then? I queried of myself, can evil overtake, so quickly those who name the Lord their sovereign Christ I AM? –Through words or script that hold not fast to God’s delivered Word; –preferring tales that tickle ears, make Christ mere mortal man.
As tears and anger filled my breast, I shouted out a plea! “turn now from myths, forsake these wolves whose writ consumes the soul!” Reject this feast they offer you–’tis vomit you’ll consume, belched forth from depths of Satan’s bile–THIS hatred’s not its whole.
–It never rests, nor does it sleep, it never sates his need; therein is set his subterfuge to render you bemused. –Then she deception casts her net, delusion her end yield; and round your soul draw tight the ropes, reel in the dragnet’s due.
Like greedy dogs still they pursued this gospel borne of Hell; like mindless men devoid of sense, joined to that wicked throng! And they like Judas took that sop and dipped it in the bowl, there seared their minds incapable of judging right from wrong.
And as the shadows of the night grew deeper in the dark, saw I deception master them; delusion unconstrained. And they who “seemed” like branches true, engrafted into Christ, bewitched by lies, removed themselves preferring sin’s domain.
And then I fell upon my knees neath failure’s crushing weight, there realized the choice they made, my pleas would not deter! And suddenly a fear arose that gripped my very heart! Now I a hindrance for the wolves, their vengeance might incur!
And in that shock of sudden fear, my face prone to the earth, cried to the Lord to wash me clean, this sin to set aside! Then quick within my spirit rose the reason not to fear– the battles we engage with wolves, o’er each the Lord presides!
Remember, those who leave the flock, those never to return, were never Christ’s but of the world; pretenders from the start. But there amongst that depraved throng, perchance are God’s elect– know ’tis Christ’s will to seek them out, redeem their errant heart.
The brands we seek to pluck from Hell IS NOT a work of ours; for ’tis Christ’s Spirit that prevails, our part is faithfulness. And when think we that we have failed to reach those ones deceived: THE DRAW IS GOD’S FOR HIS ELECT; SALVATION TO POSSESS.
Description of Millett’s painting, The Sheepfold, Moonlight: In this nocturnal scene, the waning moon throws a mysterious light across the plain extending between the villages of Barbizon and Chailly. Millet was recorded as saying of the solitary shepherd: Oh, how I wish I could make those who see my work feel the splendors and terrors of the night! One ought to be able to make people hear the songs, the silences, and murmurings of the air. They should feel the infinite.
Poetry by Kay Cude. Used with permission. Right click on image to open larger in new tab. Artist’s statement below.
I keep returning to our (me!!) needing to “remember” God’s promises and provision. GOD THE I AM is the only fortress in Whom we find a righteous protector, defender and provider. He is the only place of eternal refuge from the world’s continuing tragedies and chaos. He is the stronghold Who is and Who will provide peace, wisdom, understanding, instruction and endurance.
Kay Cude is a Texas Poet. Used with permission. right-click to open larger in new tab, or, read text below
THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD THE SON ARE DISPLAYED “For SINCE THE CREATION of the world HIS INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES, HIS ETERNAL POWER and DIVINE NATURE, have been clearly seen, BEING UNDERSTOOD through what HAS BEEN MADE, so that they [mankind] are without excuse.” Romans 1:20
“HE [Christ] IS THE IMAGE of THE INVISIBLE GOD, THE FIRSTBORN of ALL CREATION. For by HIM ALL things were CREATED, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – ALL things have been CREATED through HIM and for HIM. HE is BEFORE ALL things, and IN HIM ALL things hold together. HE is also HEAD OF THE BODY, The Church; and HE IS THE BEGINNING, THE FIRSTBORN from THE DEAD, so that HE HIMSELF WILL COME TO HAVE FIRST PLACE IN EVERYTHING.” Colossians 1:15-18
BY KAY CUDE: “But now INVISIBLE MADE VISIBLE Through broken sunlight gazed I still, through shadows dusky to the west; down paths I wandered towards the mill, to sit ‘neath bowers moss bedressed.
Pure diamonds glisten flowed the stream that feeds the wooden waterwheel; as gently tumble aerie dreams, so Waking Truth Christ’s call made real. Lush grows the grass on emerald vale, where spotted fawn and doe oft’ play; strolled I said bank and meadowed trail, and there for me God’s Love displayed.
His Love, first seen through golden wisps, then glorious bursts those Hallowed Beams; and o’er His Head a Dove persists, and by His Grace, my life redeemed… /end Kay Cude poem
ask the beasts, and let them teach you; and the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; and let the fish of the sea declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the HAND OF THE LORD has done this, in WHOSE HAND is the LIFE of every living thing, and the BREATH of ALL mankind?” Job 12:7-10
Text by author Kay Cude purposed solely for non-profit sharing/download. kay cude, revised July 2016 ⓒ
All by Kay Cude, poet. Used with permission. Right click the image to see larger in new tab, or read below.
LOOKING INTO THE EYES OF THE SIN OF THE FLESH BY Kay Cude, February 26, 2018
How do we guard our hearts if our flesh becomes the lone sentry? How do we make wise decisions if we are its fountainhead of wisdom? How do we walk righteously if our pathway is no longer narrow? How do we abide in Christ as His branch if we believe we are the Vinedresser? How do we judge Scripturally if we are practicing hypocrisy? How do we trust God’s instruction if we are dubious that in all things it applies to us? How do we forgive a trespass if we secretly harbor anger and vengeance? How do we discern rightly if we rely upon feelings and experiences instead of the leading of the Holy Spirit through the study of God’s Word? BY Kay Cude, February 26, 2018
“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh–for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if BY THE SPIRIT you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:12-13)
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:16-17, 24
THE NECESSITY OF MORTIFICATION “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth. Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.” John Owen, 1616-1683.
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