Month: March 2012 (Page 2 of 3)

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

Things change and we change. Lately when I get up in the morning to fix breakfast, I no longer have to deal with our wood stove.  Just a short time ago when I awakened, I cleared out the ashes and started a fire in the stove before calling Al for breakfast. But with this nice weather, I no longer have to do that. A nice change! Change is happening all the time and all around us. We have to be flexible and flow with the changes. Some things we wish would stay the same and never change, but we are not in control. Other times we wish change would come rapidly but circumstances remain the same. The important thing is to live from our Center, Christ in us, and not from the periphery.

We can trust Him and let Him be central in our lives, even when we can not make sense of what is going on.  Sometimes we may brace ourselves thinking the worse may happen.  But why not live in openness and trust, surrendering ourselves into His care, even when change comes?  It is the most secure place to be. Like the song goes, “I trust in you, O Lord. I say you are my God. My times are in your hands, my times are in your hands.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Devotions from Judy’s heart

More thoughts from Conversation Magazine…If we were asked about a time we felt close to God, for most of us it would be a time of pain or difficulty. Pain contains within it many spiritual invitations. The choice is ours if we want to seek God in our pain or if we try to exert more control and avoid intimacy with God.  I think pain makes us become more aware:   aware of our attachments and ways in which we cling to things that are not of God:  aware of where we may be stuck or closed to His presence.

Letting go may be painful in itself, but we can sense it is right and good and will bring freedom. Actually there is more pain as we try to hang on or grab onto something else. “True letting go requires us to face into the emptiness for a time, rather than give into the temptation to try to fill the emptiness with something new.”  But as we quiet ourselves and stop struggling against the pain, we will find God holding us in our pain until your brokenness is healed by His love. God is bigger than us and with us and in us, even in our pain!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I have been reading Conversations Magazine as I have been recovering and it’s all about pain in this edition. It is  especially interesting for me at this time as my cousin Mary is battling cancer and in pain. I was looking for the positive aspects of pain from the many authors writing about it. A few thoughts and questions that stood out to me….Are we diminished by pain or transformed by it? Pain can teach us to listen and show us insights and a changed view of reality. Don Simpson said, ” A positive response involves allowing pain to reshape our will by daily directing our intentionalty more lovingly and trustingly to God.”  When we go through these tough times, it can make us more humble and more dependent on God. It can give us a hunger for truth and show us what lies within us. I notice it can free us from attachments and allow us to see what is really important.  I don’t think any of us would choose pain but may our capacity for God be enlarged as we go through these times.  Let us abandon ourselves to His will and know that it is the best place to be.

 
Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday there was a truck in our driveway and I told Al they must have the wrong place as we aren’t expecting any packages.  But our doorbell rang and there was a big box for me. An unexpected surprise!  In it was a lovely porcelain doll, Lizzie, who is called the tea party doll. She has fine features and has a smocked dress on and cute as can be. It was from a friend who thought Lizzie would bring me joy. Since I have a doll collection and since it was from a friend, it will be treasured and join the display of my other dolls.  Are we often surprised by the gifts the Lord sends our way and proceed to thank Him with hearts of gratitude?   Or do we try to demand that He give us what we think we need or want?  As a parent it is so much more fun to surprise our kids with something we know they desire rather than to give them a gift that they keep begging for and reminding us of constantly.  Of course, we have received the most wonderful gift of becoming His children and in Romans 8, it says that God gave us His son and “will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”  I believe the Lord loves to give to us and He knows our needs and just what to give us at the right time.  I was amazed when I came home from the hospital and He sent us food through friends, flowers through family, cards and gifts through friends….and now even a doll to bring a smile. Let us remember every good gift is from Him and worthy of our thanks….  And would you believe the door bell just rang and the Fed EX just brought me something I ordered some time ago?   But how much more fun to get the unexpected surprise gift, I never ordered!  May the Lord surprise you too!!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

When I woke up this morning I laid in bed for a few minutes just thanking the Lord for how wonderful I felt. I don’t think I realized how far from wellness I was, even when I came home from the hospital. Last week at this time, I was awake most every hour in the night coughing etc. Now I had a sustained sleep and as I looked back, I could see how far I had come. I thought of our spiritual lives and how it is good to think back on where we were when the Lord found us. We were all “dead in our sins” and in great need of Him. I don’t think any of us realize how truly “sick” (in our sin) we are.  Often we are like the Pharisees who felt no need for a Physician since they thought they were already fine by keeping the law. But our need is desperate and the Great Physician is eager to help us. Change doesn’t happen over night but He begins His work in us and we see His hand of grace.  I love to hear people share of being rescued out of darkness and being brought into the light of His healing presence. Let us press on to know Him but let us also remember where we were when He found us…. For then we will live in gratitude and grace.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

As I went to Doctor appointment yesterday I was eager to have him pronounce me healthy again and completely over my pneumonia. After he listened to my lungs, he told me the good news that there were no more rattles and both lungs were clear. I thought of the healed lepers in Jesus day that had to go to the priest to be pronounced clean. What wonderful words!  You are clean! You are whole and well again.  Spiritually, that is also the best news. When we ask the Lord to forgive and cleanse us, He is so ready to do that. We can move forward, knowing our hearts are made clean and it’s like having a clean slate. At our Sunday morning worship service after we have confession and also quiet time for reflection, my heart rejoices when Pastor says,…”by His authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  This is the greatest news of all!  At this time of Lent, may we meditate on the sacrifice He made so that we can receive His grace and forgiveness.

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   Devotions from Judy’s heart

No matter what we go through, the Lord can teach us and bring good things out of it, even if we don’t see it at the time.  I think being sick has not only helped me to slow down but also to have more empathy towards those who have chronic illnesses. I found that I got stronger each day when I got on meds, but some people are getting weaker each day as their disease progresses. We don’t have a choice when illness strikes but we can choose how we respond. Some people go through so much and get stronger spiritually. I am amazed at some teens that are paralyzed by spinal cord injuries but accept the challenge to go on.  Others go through less but get bitter.  Yancy said that pain is like a hearing aid- it offers a chance to tune in and listen more attentively to what matters most. This hearing aid may allow us to hear God’s promises of love and cause us to pay attention to something that needs changing. “Love and pain are prime movers for our spiritual growth! “  In fact when we do go through difficult times it can give us a larger eternal perspective.  Our times are in His hands and what that looks like we don’t know. But we do know He goes with us through everything that touches our lives. It all goes back to TRUST.  Can we trust Him even when we wouldn’t choose what is happening to us?

Devotions from Judy’s heart

It has taken me a while to feel better and I ask the Lord often what He wants me to learn through this time.  Today I read from a popular devotional book called, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. I am behind on the readings, due to our trip, but the one I read today seemed to fit me lately. Maybe it will fit you at sometime in your life.
“Thank Me for the conditions that are requiring you to be still.  Do not spoil these quiet hours by wishing them away, waiting impatiently to be active again. Some of the greatest works in My Kingdom have been done from sick beds and prison cells. Instead of resenting the limitations of a weakened body, search for My way in the midst of these very circumstances. Limitations can be liberating when your strongest desire is living close to Me.
Quietness and trust enhance your awareness of My Presence with you. Do not despise theses simple ways of serving Me. Although you feel cut off from the activity of the world, your quiet trust makes a powerful statement in spiritual realms. My Strength and Power show themselves most effective in weakness.”

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

When I was sick, I slowed down and did not rush through my work….mostly because I didn’t have the energy to do it at full speed. But I found it was more satisfying and fun to do it at a slower pace and I hope to refrain from going back to my old ways. So often when I get up in the morning it is my practice to push into high gear and I miss the joy of the moment. It is something that I have always struggled with. Every time I read a book on living in the present moment, I think Yes, I want to do that more. Some how slowing down helps me to savor the moment and enjoy His presence with me. When I was preparing for the Wildmen, I had all day on Friday to do that and so I just took my time. Sometimes we don’t have that luxury when something unexpected comes up, but much of the time we are rushing into the future and missing the present. When I am alone in the car, I often just sing and talk to the Lord and I want to do more of that as I am home in the midst of my work. Mary is such a wonderful example of not being anxious but enjoying Him and sitting at His feet.  I’m afraid I have lots of Martha in me but I know the Lord can help me to change one step at a time. May we have Mary hearts!