Canaan's Rest

Canaan’s Rest represents a quiet place “set apart” for the purpose of hearing God's voice, growing in intimacy with the Lord, and being renewed in soul and spirit.

Breaking the Yoke

I ‘ve read Ch.9 of Isaiah often,  especially during the Advent season.  Recently I was struck with the sheer force of verses 4-5, when I consider the yoke and emotional burden our nation is under.   “For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.  You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.  The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will be burned.  They will be fuel for the fire” (Is. 9:4-5 NLT). This would be an unbelievable occurrence for people, “walking in darkness……living in the land of the shadow of death (Is. 9:2). 

At the time of Isaiah’s prophecy, the Assyrians had invaded Zebulun and Naphtali, the two northern tribes of Israel. The invasion brought darkness and despair, but the Isaiah was giving the people reason for hope.  “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress” (Is. 9:1).  These words are given in the “prophetic perfect.” “Though the events were in the future, they were described as if they had already happened” (CSB Study Bible). Matthew quotes this passage in Matt. 4:15-16,  referring to the ministry of Jesus, who as the light of the world has come to  removing the darkness and lifting the despair 

When a nation feels like they are living in the shadow of death, it give the impression of little hope of a brighter future. “The oppressed nation is compared to an ox weighed down by a heavy yoke and an animal that is prodded and beaten.” (NET)  I have been pondering the yoke as a symbol of our nation’s despair and anxiety. In scripture the yoke is the image of subjection.  We read in Deut. 28:47-8, “Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you.  He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you” (Deut 28:46- 47).  The burden of carrying a yoke, can be the consequence of a nation having turned their backs on the Lord.

But God in His mercy will also release a nation from the yoke that they carry.  “They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them” (Ezk. 34:27).  Isaiah prophesied Israel being freed from the Assyrian yoke. “I will crush the Assyrian in my land; on my mountain I will trample him down.  His yoke will be taken from my people, and his burden removed from their shoulders” (Is 14:25). 

Isaiah points to David’s victory at Midan, when he was victorious with only 300 men.  It was unbelievable victory against a great army.  Isaiah promises a similar future victory for the people of God.  It will be a decisive battle, even though it will be bloody.  “The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned.  They will be fuel for the fire” (Is. 9:5).  “The burning of the boots and the bloody clothes of the enemy soldiers….signify a victory in holy war where spoils were dedicated to God and military equipment was se on fire” (CSB Study Bible).

As a nation we are under a cloud of darkness, causing much despair.  There may be some hope and relief as light beginning to shine.  But ultimately, the burden and the rod of despair can only be lifted by the Lord. Only he can “break the oppressor’s rod.” Is. 9:5 reminds us that it will be messy before it gets better.  

May 12, 2025

Dear Ones,
Hope you had a special weekend! It was very hot but a nice breeze by the lake where we spent Mother’s Day with our daughter and husband. We had a delicious steak dinner and went to hear our son-in-law preach and also had time to see Susan and pray together.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Mother’s Day was always special for me, but now I am only on the receiving end since my mother died 17 years ago. Although my mom has been in heaven for some time, I find her so often in my thoughts and what she taught seems imprinted deeply in my heart. The Lord was most important in her life and she prayed all five of us kids would know Him and serve Him.
When I wrote a devotional for Mother’s Day about our moms, I also included others who touched our lives and showed us the way of faith and love, I’d like to share one of the responses I got from a friend whom I have known since my days in nurses’ training.
“Your message sparked something I will share with you. When I was only 5, my mother was in a tractor accident in which she broke several vertebrae and was very close to being paraplegic as the spinal cord was “hanging by a thread.”  She had to be hospitalized for nearly 5 months.  We were all minors, living on the farm.  (Dad had, of course, passed away before my birth.)  Well, my sisters (age 16, 12, 11) became my mothers!  I don’t recall ever being worried or afraid.  (The church people, neighbors and relatives from afar helped where they were able.)  In 2013, I wrote a letter to my sisters in honor of Mother’s Day, thanking them for all the ways they had mothered me during that time, as well as the other acts of love and support throughout my life.
This coming Monday, some of our family will visit my sister and brother-in-law. If it seems appropriate, I will read my letter to them.  I hope it will be a blessing for all to recall how God used them in my life as ‘mothers’ and dear sisters.”
Perhaps God is using us right now as a spiritual mom or dad to someone else and He wants us to be faithful and to let our words and actions reflect Him.
Challenge for today: Memorize Matt. 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so they can see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

May 10, 2025

Dear Ones,
Happy weekend and one of blessings. Early this morning we are going to a sale at the Senior Center and tomorrow we will celebrate Mother’s Day with our daughter and son-in-law at the lake.  We plan to stop to see Susan on the way to church in Hackensack. It’s been so long since I have seen her and she has made a good recovery after her surgery.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
What kind of legacy do we want to leave behind for our children and grandchildren? It is a question Al and I often ponder personally along with those in our Bible study class. Although it is Mother’s Day tomorrow, I want to address this devotional to both men and women, for even if you are not a parent, you are influencing the lives of young people around you. I can think of our friend who is a librarian and deals with children every day. Her caring influence can make a difference in a child for life.
Of course, we are anything but perfect examples, but what would we want others to remember of us? What values do we want those after us to embrace? Many children today are being raised in homes with an absent mother or father that are often too busy to see their needs. One woman shared in Bible Study how when growing up, she asked God why she was put in such a dysfunctional home. Why couldn’t she have a good family like other kids?  In such instances God may use others outside the family that care and come alongside to influence for good. The Body of Christ should be such a place, for in Jer. 30:17 we have God’s promise, “For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord.”
Let us remember those who touched our lives and showed us the way of faith and love. I would like to share a prayer from Just Between Us magazine not just for mothers, but for both men and women. “Lord thank you for those who’ve shaped my faith—those who prayed for me, taught me, walked beside me, and helped me to grow. Help me to be one of those men and women. Let my words, actions, and love reflect Your heart. I may never know the full impact of what I plant, but I trust You to grow it. Teach me to live faithfully and love well—for Your glory and for their good. Amen.”
Challenge for today: Write down three faith-building qualities you want to pass on and ask God for help in living them out.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

May 9, 2025

Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! Today looks to be warmer and by Sunday it will be in the 90’s for Mother’s Day.  We enjoyed the visit from Kurt and Jeff yesterday and hope they catch a big muskie on opening tomorrow!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
It is important that we count our blessings and not give undue attention to things we wish were different, easier and more comfortable. Each of us must decide how we will face whatever life brings us: sometimes sunshine but other times lots of rain. Of course, we’d probably all love only sunny days when everything is comfortable and going smoothly, but life is not like that, for we have storms that cause us to grow in ways we wouldn’t otherwise.
The enemy would try to have us respond to trials by feeling sorry for ourselves. Self-pity is not pretty and it will not make us feel better but rather far worse. When we feel sadness and pity for ourselves our focus is on me, me, me and it puts us on a downward spiral. Thoughts can range from, oh I wish I had an easy road like so and so, or why do I have to suffer when others go about their lives so problem-free. We can also blame others for our situations and then ruminate on how unfair it is. But all of that is a waste of time and energy when it will do nothing to help us overcome the negative emotions.
We have a choice whether to think God’s way and start counting our blessings or wallow in self-pity. I remember years ago when we were in Des Moines and I had a dream that I was going up our stairs to the second story. I was stopped on the way up and heard the Lord ask me if I wanted to be well, because if I was sick others would feel sorry for me. I was not sick at the time but I responded loudly that I wanted to be well. Maybe the question was asked of me as I would have to face some hard times in the church at a later time and self-pity was not the way to respond.
But we must remember the Lord will give us all that we need, and we don’t have to waste energy feeling sorry for ourselves or being a victim. No, we are His children, and we can go in His strength. Let us count our blessings and like Paul said, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil.4:8)
Challenge for today: Don’t welcome thoughts of self-pity, but think on your blessings.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

May 8, 2025

Dear Ones,
May you have a hope-filled day. Al will be going early to Men’s group and later leading Bible study here.  I plan to make a pot of stew and other food prep and go down for donuts!! This afternoon Kurt and a friend are coming by on their way to the lake to open up the cabin!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
What has happened to our country these past years as we see the decline in our moral culture, the breakdown of the family and disorder in our society? We may want to lift up our hands in disgust and frustration, wondering what is going to turn us around. I was given hope while reading Mary Eberstadt’s essay on the signs of cultural revival. She writes as a Senior Research Fellow at the Faith and Reason Institute, giving us positive signs that things may already be changing.
Today we see the signs of the rise of social conservatism. Even though young people today are less likely to attend church, they are becoming more conservative on social issues. The men are tired of being told they should be soft and more like a woman. They are 20% more likely to oppose abortion than women and realize also that the disorder of the family has injured society. Both sexes are finding something is missing in the predominant laissez-faire consensus about sex. The sexual revolution has complicated relations between the sexes more than any other force, and both men and women are scarred by it. Pornography is being seen for the harm it does, with fewer men getting married or even dating.
Another sign Eberstadt gives is educational entrepreneurship.  Parents of faith, seeing what is happening in the schools and what their kids are being taught, have wised up and sought alternatives. There has become a rapid growth in charter schools, homeschooling, etc. In 2023, 72% of parents considered new schools for their kids.
Religious solidarity also has taken place, as serious Catholics, Protestants, and Jews come together cooperating and standing against anti-Semitism, even when university administrators and students were silent or sided with murder of innocents. As many see the problems of the re-paganization of our culture, some are turning and renewing their faith. Instead of viewing everyone as victims and distrustful of others, many are turning to welcome the Christian creed that tells us to love our enemies and forgive those who harm us.
We have all seen what living without the core teachings of the Bible has done to our culture. The chaos of our day has left people diminished, miserable, lonely and afraid. Christianity teaches us the importance of family and that women are co-participants in the sacred act of creation. True liberation comes as we return to God, live according to His Word and don’t suppress truth, for He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)
Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you ways you have given in to the evils of our culture and purpose to go God’s way!
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

May 7, 2025

Dear Ones,
Hope you have a listening day. What beautiful weather we have been having and each day on the trail we see the trees and flowers blossoming. I plan to go to Exercise class and Crafts and later Bible Study.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How open are we to God? We say we want to know Him in a deeper way, but often we just go on in our busy lives and don’t take time to be with Him, to hear what He has to say, and to know how He would lead our lives. We must be open to what He has for us and that means quieting down and seeking to hear Him and love Him.
The first step in our path to draw closer to the Lord is to humble ourselves and the Lord himself gave us His example. Philippians 2 tells us how Jesus was equal with God but He humbled Himself and took on the status of a slave. He lived a selfless, obedient life and died the worst death. Paul says to us in the same chapter, “Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of Himself.” Without humility, we cannot draw close to God and offer our whole selves to Him.
Of course, we need to spend time in quietness and give our passions and thoughts to the Lord, all the while seeking to hear His voice to our hearts. We are to be in the Word, letting it speak to us. We are all unique and God speaks to each of us a different word, for He is forming us according to His plan and timing. We are to be honest and real with Him in our prayers, and He will transform what we give so that His image will be seen in us by others. It makes no sense to spend a lot of time rehearsing our plans to God and then ask Him for His will. Much better is to lay down our will and plans, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us in His way. Words are useless if we don’t live out what we say. Let us draw close to God sob that His imagine can shine out of us to the world!
Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to open your heart door to desire more of Him and draw ever closer.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

May 6, 2025

Dear Ones,
Hope you have a blessed day! Al has an audiologist appointment this morning and I am going along to have my hearing aids cleaned. Later I have Women’s Bible study on Acts.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Belonging to a church or fellowship group is important for our Christian growth but perhaps church membership is made too light of today. Some families go from one church to another, like going through revolving doors, but never actually land and put down their roots. Of course, none of us will find the perfect church that meets all of our needs and desires, for we bring our own imperfections into the church fellowship.

I was reading way back in Roman times A.D. 215 that new believers were put into a training program for three years before they could join a church. The bishops had a manual on how to teach the essentials of faith, with only the most qualified and trained bishops and teachers being responsible to instruct them. Along with scripture, creeds, etc, they gave moral instruction and guidance on what jobs and forms of entertainment they should avoid, etc. They had each one make a formal confession of faith along with a moral examination. Then if the candidates passed, on Easter Sunday morning they were baptized and anointed with oil, prayed over and dressed in white robes. Encouragement was given to be faithful in worship, fellowship with other Christians and included private prayers 3rd, 6th, and 9th hours. What a wonderful way to enter into the Christian family.

That way of belonging to a church is quite different from one of the churches we joined after Al retired. All the previous times a church call committee came looking for Al, and now we were looking for a church body to join. One Sunday at the church we had been attending, the Pastor announced that he was going to receive new members and included our names, although we had not even told him we were interested in joining. That was quite a surprise! Al’s practice had always been to have new member classes that met each week and at the end asked them to pray and seek if this was the Body of Christ that they felt the Lord was directing them to join. It is a big decision as we are committing first to the Lord, then to belonging to the Body of believers that deeply care for one another and grow together as we share the Good News and reach out to the needy and lost.

It’s not all about dynamic preaching and massive church buildings, or a country club or an arm of the Republican party or Democratic Party. It’s all about Jesus and His kingdom. Our former church houses several different kinds of churches in the one building as they vary the times they meet. It is not exclusive and all are welcome. Let us be the church that Jesus gave His life for and share the Good News of His kingdom.

Challenge for today: Get planted in a church family and discover how you can love and serve the Lord together.
May you have a good day and prayers and love, Judy

Christ-hauntedness

Carl Trueman, wrote an enlightening article about Phillip Rieff’s distinction between first, second and third worlds.  Rieff is know for his emphasis on the therapeutic self; a concept of happiness resulting from an inner, psychological happiness.  “Everything else,” notes Trueman, “must conform to my inward desires and pander to my personal needs.  There’s no need for me to fit into larger society and learn to behave in accordance with society norms.”   

Rieff is not interested in either geographics nor economics.  He rather is interested in the type of culture that societies embody.  Trueman believes Reiff’s paradigm helps us understand why the world seems so unstable and chaotic at this time. 

The first-world cultures, “are those in the past that build their moral orders on the basis of notions of fate or the gods.”  In this culture, fate is the controlling idea.  “It is not God as some transcendent being who is in charge, but it is still a force prior to the natural order and beyond the control of mere men and women, that make the rules.” 

The second-world cultures, “are those where the law has authority because it reflects the character of God.”  Second-world societies include Christendom and the world of Old Testament Judaism.  According to Rieff, “both first and second worlds justify their morality by appeal to something transcendent, beyond the material world.  But the second-world cultures appeal not only to supernatural power but to divine integrity.”  Our concepts of justice and mercy have been shaped by a biblical worldview.  “Rieff would say that in second-world cultures, the law has authority because it points beyond the culture and beyond fate to something sacred that grounds it.”

By the term third world, Rieff, “means that a society has moved into a completely secular mode.”  “In a secular society, law codes can only be justified and grounded in society itself.  There’s nothing beyond this society, and that makes law codes inherently unstable.”  When the sacred order is abandoned, cultures are left without any foundation at all.  A culture without a sacred order is left, “justifying itself only by reference to itself.”  This is what we see in our culture today.

As a result, society becomes incredibly unstable and in constant change.  We all sense this instability in our daily lives.  It is hard to live with second-world assumptions, while attempting to ground morality and ethics in higher divine authority in a third world setting.  The third world does not see the Bible as having any authority.  Trueman notes, “I think that’s where a lot of the communication breakdown” happens today. Living in the third world,  we are plagued by what Flannery O’Connor called “Christ-hauntedness.”

The goal of the second world was to help pagans see how Jesus was better than their dead idols.  But Trueman maintains, “While there’s still a place for exposing heart-idols in our own times, our goal in the third world must be to help our more secular friends see that their worldview lacks any firm foundation.”  While present day culture keeps shifting in its beliefs and values, Trueman challenges us to “model community life in the church that’s rooted in the Rock.”

All men who are followers of Jesus in our day, need the reminder that there are no “Lone Rangers.”  We witness to our secular culture  as a believing community.  Jesus who is the truth reminds us of the impact community has when He instructs us, “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35) 

 

May 5, 2025

Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend! Yesterday we enjoyed the beautiful 80-degree weather as we walked the trail. This morning I am skipping my exercise class as we will be going to a funeral at church.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We might confess it is easier for us to be busy going places and doing things than to spend quiet time alone with the Lord. But it is hard to know our real self if we are bopping here and there, not settling in a space where we can just listen to what the Lord is saying as well as what our body, soul and mind are trying to get across to us. If our body is sending us a message, it may come in the form of sickness, weakness, or pain, so we need to listen and adjust our lives. We may have to cut some things out of our constantly busy lives and take time for rest. Perhaps our mind is so busy with negative or judgmental thoughts that we haven’t room for what is good and true and kind.  Or our soul is suffering, feeling like we are empty and not enough, or misunderstood and alone. We need to address those feelings as we turn to the Lord and get to our quiet place which can become like an infirmary where He can care for us and help us heal.

We can’t grow and mature if we are constantly distracted and on the move, missing the clues from our own bodies, souls and spirits. We need to dial down, get alone or with the Lord and at times with someone who really listens, prays and helps us hear Him. It’s good to ask ourselves if we want to mature in the Lord, to know ourselves and grow, above all the voices of the world. Maybe we keep busy to distract us from encountering our shadow side and the truth about ourselves.

 Of course, just because we may be faced with temptations and conflicts doesn’t mean we are going backwards, but they may be the very things that helps us fight and come away stronger. I read about the parable of the palm tree: an evil person was angry with a young palm tree and wanted to damage it. He put a large rock in its crown but in later years when he passed by, the tree was larger and more beautiful than the other palms around it. The rock was a challenge, forcing it to send down its roots more deeply. Our struggles can also cause us to go more deeply into the Lord. None of us are sinless and without flaws, so let us deal with those things in our lives that put distance between us and the Lord, growing more beautiful and dependent on Him. Like Peter wrote in II Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ”

Challenge for today: Thank the Lord even for your struggles. May they drive you closer to Him and help you know that only He can transform you and bring you to maturity.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

May 3, 2025

Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying the weekend!  Yesterday Al and I worked at getting all our rugs and carpets shampooed and it was much needed! Today I plan to make meatloaf and do some baking and writing.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Truly humble people are quite rare for they are content to be who they are and don’t regard others as competitors. They also don’t envy, but accept their gifts and also their limitations, desiring to be more like Jesus. There is an honesty about them as they recognize their failures, but don’t let it become their focus. Bernard of Clairvaux said that “humility is grounded on truth: with oneself, in one’s relation with others, and with regard to God.” Pride, on the other hand, is falsehood and leads us to pursue empty things. We want from others what they can’t give us.

We are all sinful and need to recognize our humanness. If we only want to focus on self-improvement, it is often simply wounded pride. By nature, we are all selfish and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23) When we are humble, we recognize our true condition, accept our liabilities and know our need for God. Somehow, we may feel at times we are not like others but the truth is we all need God’s help which only the humble will accept.

As we have freely received, we are to freely give to others. Each of us have been given gifts and we are to humbly use them to help others. We are to be bold and act and put our gifts to use. Our calling is to live for God and to serve others. Humility is something each of us learn from Jesus who said in Matt. 11:29, “Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart.” He sees our actions, knows our thoughts and sees our struggles with our self-will. He knows if we are content with what we have and if we quickly confess when we blow it. Let us be humble followers that listen to the Lord and act in love!

Challenge for today:  Ask the Lord to help you be forgetful of self to humbly love and serve Him and others.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy
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