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.

Month: November 2020 (Page 3 of 4)

November 10, 2020

November 10, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
We just got home after being gone since 6 a.m. this morning to Bemidji. It’s good to have my nose surgery behind me now and it was more complex than I had anticipated. I had a great Dr. and nurse and I had quite a few stitches and now a big bozo bandage on that has to stay there for a week. Emoji Can’t even wash my hair! I think I better hole up in our apt!!! Thank you for prayers as I was lifted by them and felt His peace. Hope your day is going well!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
The Bible is inspired and powerful and also full of wondrous surprises. The words are alive and come from God through the Holy Spirit. The Word can change and transform us if we are open to what is written in it; and even though we may have heard certain portions of it many times, it is always new and can speak to us. Yesterday I changed the sheets on our bed and when I went to put the clean ones on, out popped a sock. Where did it come from? I missed it when I pulled the fitted sheet from the dryer and it got tucked away in the fold of the contour. I never saw it and now it suddenly appeared and I had a matching sock to the one I thought was lost. How many times do we read scripture and it is an aha moment when all of a sudden, a verse seems to pop out of the pages and speaks to what we are going through at that time? It can bring comfort, or praise, or a sense of conviction; other times a verse may describe exactly what is going on in our hearts and holds a promise we can cling to. When I was pregnant and soon to deliver, my mom gave me a scripture that I hung onto when I was in labor. Many who go through surgery have a verse that they carry with them to give them peace. Others have said a verse pierced them like a sword and they saw how they were going the wrong direction and it brought conviction and a desire to change. Heb. 4:12-13 (The Message) says, “God means what He says. What He says goes. His powerful Word is as sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.” God’s Word is so powerful and we are encouraged to meditate on it day and night. May we let the Word speak to us, surprise us and change us by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Challenge for today: Spend some time alone reading the Word with an open heart and let God surprise you. 
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

November 9, 2020

November 9, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed the warm weather as it is rainy and cool now. This morning I did food prep and shopped at Aldi’s and went to my exercise class. Early tomorrow morning we are going to Bemidji as I am having Mohs surgery on my nose for skin cancer. I know I will look like Bozo for a while!  
Devotions from Judy’s heart 
Oh, how easy it is to judge others! Sometimes the Lord just lets us see how wrong we are in our judgmental conclusions when we should be extending His grace and love. Yesterday afternoon when Al and I were going for our walk on the Paul Bunyan trail, we came upon a couple that we have seen several times and often exchange conversation together. He is very talkative and we noticed she hardly ever said a word as it would be hard to break in on her hubby. We thought maybe she was just painfully shy, although she was a Doctor and would have to deal with patients. He walked somewhat ahead of her and Al and I were thinking that this man needs to be more caring for his wife and well you can guess the train of our thoughts. But then on this Sunday, he had some Finnish words for Al and a Finnish joke so I asked his wife what nationality she was and she made some motions but couldn’t answer me. That’s when her hubby said she had memory problems and we suddenly knew we had judged this man, without having any idea what he was going through caring for his wife. He drove 6 miles most days to take her for a walk and he was probably hungry for conversation with others. We had been so wrong and needed forgiveness. Jesus was very clear when He spoke that we are not to judge others for good reason; none of us know the whole picture of someone else’s life and who are we that don’t have as many faults ourselves. He said in Luke 6:36-37 (God’s Word), “Be merciful, just as our Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” The Message translation says we shouldn’t jump on people’s failures or criticize their faults unless we want the same treatment. We are all saved only by his grace and receive what we don’t deserve. We are to be channels of grace to others and show compassion not criticism.
Challenge for today: Be an exemplar of God’s grace and reach out in love to others without judging.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

Our Moral Compass

November 9, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Findings of the biennial State of Theology survey from Ligonier Ministers conducted with Lifeway found more than half of American adults, including 30% of evangelicals, I believe that Jesus isn’t God but rather a great teacher.  52% of American adults believe that Jesus was a great teacher and nothing more, while  65% of evangelicals agreed with the statement, “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God,”  not both God and man.  An earlier Barna study showed that only 51% of Americans believed God to be “all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect and just creator of the universe who still rules the world today.”  In 1991, 73% of Americans believed that to be true.

Stephen Nichols of Ligonier Ministers noted, “As the culture around us increasingly abandons it moral compass, professing evangelicals are sadly drifting away from God’s absolute standard in Scripture.”  “The spiritual noise in our culture over the last few decades has confused and misled hundreds of millions of people,” according to Barna.” [We] can no longer assume that people have a solid grasp of even the most basic biblical principles.”  

These findings  come with a “trumpet alert” to men reading this blog.  Our culture will descend into chaos without a moral compass. “I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!'” (Jeremiah 6:17). This blog from time to time will sound the trumpet, warning of danger ahead.  Pay attention. “Shout it aloud, do not hold back.  Raise your voice like a trumpet” (Is. 58:1).  I raise my voice as a warning to all men who read this blog. Men, the enemy wants to take you out, intending to have you drift without direction in the coming chaos.   

Joel was told to blow the trumpet because the day of the Lord is coming. “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill.  Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming” ( Joel 2:1).  God is warning his people.  A flood is coming.  But like Noah’s day, “people didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away.”  The enemy would like for you to be spiritual asleep and completely unaware of the coming flood, allowing you to be swept along by the coming confusion.

Men, don’t let yourself be caught napping in the coming tide.  You may be in danger of being swept away without a moral compass.  Remembering these anchor points will help.   First,  Scripture is your sure moral compass.  Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away away” (Luke 21:33).  The Psalmist declared, “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heaven” (Ps 119:89).

This second suggestion may surprise you.  I encourage you to have a passionate, loving relationship with Jesus.  The Psalmists panted after God.  Let your deepest passions be for God.  Allow yourself to be a lover of God.   

Thirdly, in your daily affairs, know that you are part of the kingdom of God.  It is now, not by and by.  Jesus’ resurrection power and life are available to you.  “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21).  

Fourth, I plead with you to find a group of men who are building an ark.  That is, they know what is coming and they are preparing to weather the storm, not just for their sake, but their families.  “By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land.  He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved” (Heb. 11:7 Message).  

November 7, 2020

November 7, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Another lovely day and hope you are enjoying it. Yesterday our grandson came and then surprise company from Starbuck. Fun time! This morning I made bars, wrote letters, and studied, and now I am going shopping. Emoji  Enjoy your weekend!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How does faith and politics relate today? Do we express our faith in love for others and in service to them? Of course, to love and help others must begin with our own experience of God’s overflowing love for us and for the world. It does not begin with politics (left or right) but with us. Faith should be our starting point and loving others with Christ’s love instead of beginning with politics and then using religion to try to figure out how our faith fits in.  I read an article by Rev Wes Granberg-Michaelson who was formerly head of the Reformed Church and he writes about how Jesus embodied what God’s love intends for the world. He didn’t just show the way, He lived the way of love by the power of God. He loved His enemies, He embraced the marginalized, He disregarded social exclusion and helped the oppressed. He lived in the presence and power of love and is our example to follow. What if all Christians lived the same way and showed compassion for the poor, loved our enemies, included others that are on the fringes etc. Our world would be vastly different today. In fact, isn’t it hard to find positive examples of people of integrity today for the young people to look up to and follow? Jesus wants to show us the way and tells us how to live His way that can change the world. In Luke 6 (NRSV) He says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you…Do to others as you would have them do to you.” God wants our hearts changed so that we love others as He does. In Micah 6:8 (NRSV) He also says, “And what does God require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” It’s pretty clear He wants us to live our faith out by being fair, just, merciful and humble. Let us not put our trust in politics to change the world we live in, but to begin by letting the Lord change our own hearts to love.
Challenge to love: Express God’s love to someone who is in need.
Blessings on your weekend and prayer and love, Judy

 

November 6, 2020

November 6, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones, 
Hope you are having a great weekend and enjoying warm temperatures before it turns cold. This morning I did food prep, cleaned the apartment and made a big stew in the crockpot. Our oldest grandson, Joe, is coming by today on his way to the cities and we haven’t seen him for a while. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Persevere! Persevere! We are not to give up but to hang on and persevere even when things may seem impossible. We have a God who can do anything, and when He tells us to persevere, that’s what we need to do even if we have no idea how He will work things out. The other day I was packing Christmas shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse. I had them nearly full when I found in my prize box, two lovely necklaces with turquoise beads strung on very fine leather-looking strands at three levels. The problem was the two necklaces were all emmeshed together and I could not get them untangled. I tried and tried for some time and was about to give up and just cut one off to save the other. But as I worked, I felt like the Lord was trying to teach me and this was like an object lesson that even in the most difficult circumstances of life, we need to persist and persevere and not give up. We have many examples in scripture of those who could have given up but like Job remained steadfast even when his life came crashing down on him; he lost everything and yet we read how he was rewarded greatly. I think of Joshua and Caleb who were the only ones of those who spied out the land of Canaan that believed God could help them conquer their enemies; they persisted and got to go into the Promised land. Or so many examples of the Apostle Paul who didn’t threw in the towel when he was imprisoned, beaten and even left for dead; no, he just got up again and continued his work. He tells us in I Cor. 15:59 (The Message), Stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.”   We are to persevere, stand our ground and not throw away our confidence in Him. If we do not get fatigued and lose heart, we are promised we will reap a harvest of blessings.
Challenge for today: The next time you are tempted to give up, persevere and seek God’s strength go keep on keeping on!
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

November 5, 2020

November 5, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Dear Ones, Hope you are enjoying lovely weather before more snow comes. Today I made bars and did some cleaning of cupboards that seem to get dirty and cluttered so quickly. I picked up my neighbor and we went downstairs for coffee this morning as she is quite new here. Let us all  continue to pray for our nation during this time of uncertainty. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

No situation is hopeless when we have the Lord; even though it may seem utterly impossible in our own eyes, God has the power. When we see His workings, it helps us realize that it doesn’t depend on us but it is all Him.  Over and over again as I read in the Old Testament battles were won in the most extraordinary ways, if people followed God’s instructions to them. Have you ever seen a commander that had his soldiers march around a city with thick walls, putting trumpeters in the front line, and wins the battle with shouts and trumpet blasts?  Or have you heard of a teenager come up against a giant, and with a single stone, triumphs over him? Or have a food shortage and have God multiply your food supply? Actually, I think I may have told you how that happened to us. We got unexpected company, friends of my folks, who stopped in on their way south. We were already having left overs for supper but I felt the Lord wanted me to invite them. I told our kids to not eat too much the first time around but we all had seconds and there was still a little left over. I couldn’t explain it because it should have hardly fed our family and we were all left full. I knew it was the Lord and a very short time later the man died and I thanked the Lord for the time we had with him. It seems like the Lord does things in many different ways so we have to listen carefully for each situation to know what our part is. Sometimes He may tell us to remain silent and just pray. Other times He may give us instructions that may seem a little strange and yet we see the results when we carry it out. Our hope is in the Lord and not in our ability to solve problems on our own. The enemy may throw negative words at us, to cause us to doubt and to lose hope, but we need to hang on to what the Lord may give us. Romans 15:13 (The Message) says, “Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!” Let us believe God’s promises and find our hope in Him.

Challenge for today: When things seem hopeless, go to the Lord and claim His promises in the Word.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Novemeber 4, 2020

November 4, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
It’s a gorgeous warm sunny day and seems more like spring than fall. Well we went to bed last night not knowing who was going to be president and we woke up still not knowing. Now we wait and pray. Al had a good men’s group this morning and I made salmon/zucchini cakes, pumpkin pancakes and individual egg dishes before going to my exercise class. Looking forward to a beautiful walk this afternoon! 
Devotions from Judy’s heart,
Where is our focus at this time? It is good to ask ourselves that question when so much is happening in our culture that is rapidly changing. We see evil being called good and good evil, and those who seem to oppose God’s laws are being emulated and while those who seek His ways are being persecuted. Of course, the enemy wants us filled with hate and worry, and watching the news seems only to increase the fear levels in our hearts. But when we know the Lord, where can we go and how do we handle what is happening today? Like Peter, we have a choice if we are going to look at the size of the waves, or if we are going to keep our eyes on the Lord, Himself. When the storm was fierce on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus walked towards the disciple’s boat, Peter requested Jesus that he might walk on the water to him. He started out fine as he got out of the boat and walked toward Jesus; but his mistake was looking at the choppy sea and the bigness of the waves and he started to sink. Now before we criticize Peter, we can ask ourselves if we would have had the faith to even make such a request of the Lord. Peter obeyed but then fear gripped him as he looked at stormy sea,  he began to sink.  Jesus reached out to save him and He is there for us whenever we falter too. Our part is to keep our eyes on the Lord who is greater than all our fears and worries, and as David prayed in Psalm 141:8 (The Message), “But God, dear Lord, I only have eyes for you. Since I’ve run for dear life to you, take good care of me.” The Lord is always, always there for us, and we need only cry out to Him and then keep focused on Him. A few of the words from the song by Reuben Morgan and Graham Kendrich goes: “Keep my eyes on you/ whatever I go through/ You’re still God / you are God/ your every word is true/  So I’ll put my trust in You/ Faithful One/ Keep my eyes on you.” May we trust in these stormy times with our eyes on Him!
Challenge for today: When fearful situations arise, lift your eyes to the Lord In faith and trust.
Blessings on  your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

November 3, 2020

November 3, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope your day is filled with peace. As we go into this election day may our hearts rest in His peace, knowing our future is in God’s hands. We  have a dual citizenship for we are earthly citizens of the U.S. but most importantly our citizenship is in heaven! I baked choc chip cookies on a stick, as requested by some of the residents here, and Al and I plan to go downstairs for coffee. What are you doing on this election day? Be sure to vote!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I woke in the night and was very thirsty and gulped down some filtered water that was just what I needed. I didn’t need food or anything else, for it was my thirst that needed to be quenched.  Today there are so many voices telling us that we need their device to be happy, we have to have a particular item to have a good life, or we can’t get along without their product to be fulfilled. But even if we had all those things that are advertised, we would still be thirsty. Spiritual thirst is something that is not satisfied by things but by a person, the person of Jesus Christ. He invites us to come to Him for living water so that our spiritual thirst will be satisfied. In John 8:37 (The Message) Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let Him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believe in me this way, just as the Scriptures says.” When we drink of this living water, we are given the Holy Spirit and living water will flow from within us and flow continually out of us. We can have peace and joy even in the midst of whatever happens. The worry level is very high in our world at this time as we face so many unknowns dealing with COVID, the election, and all that is before us in the future. But what do we really need? More things are not the answer, but we need the One who holds the future. We can fully depend on Him for everything and have peace no matter what happens. Let us spend time with the Lord, and drink deeply of His life- giving water. I find I get very thirsty when I go to my exercise class and work out. I can hardly wait to get my water bottle during any little break. Oh, how satisfying that is! Also, when we are in hard work-out situations in our everyday lives, we especially need the Holy Spirit. Let us read God’s promises and take them to heart, pray in faith, and drink lots of pure living water.
Challenge for today: Spend some time in the Word and open your heart in new ways to the Spirit.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

 

October 31, 2020

November 2, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Happy All Saints day. Just found some cookies on our door knob to celebrate the day. I made apple crisp and we are going to have a new couple here for coffee early this afternoon. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I think friendships are made in heaven and they are one of the most valued and precious gifts. True friendship can’t be bought or even sought, but received from the Lord who brings us together with special people for His purposes and to enhance His joy in our lives. I am blessed as a pastor’s wife that we have lived in many places and each time the Lord has given me special friends that I can be real with, pray with and especially share Him with. Just the other day, as I was leaving our apartment, I noticed a card taped to our door. When I opened it, I was touched by beautiful words from a friend in our apartment complex that I had just taken shopping with me and had a fun time together. I thanked her and the Lord, for I believe God has special things to impart to us through those he sends our way. Later down getting my mail was a new gal who has recently moved here and eager to get acquainted. We invited her and her husband for coffee today and who knows if God has something special in this relationship too. We never know but we need to treasure those that God puts into our lives and receive the gifts He imparts to us through them. But of course, the greatest friendship ever, is our friendship with the Lord who knows us, is always there for us, takes us as we are, wants the best for us, and loves us through and through. We must not take Him for granted but spend time with Him each day and seek to know Him greater depth.  In John 15 Jesus tells us to make ourselves at home in His love and in verses 12-15 (The Message) says, “Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.” Isn’t it neat that Jesus, the One who sacrificed everything for us, should call us His friends? Let us respond by loving Him, listening to Him, obeying Him, and reaching out to love others as well.
Challenge for today: Thank the Lord for old friendships but be open to the new ones He also sends.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and much love to you both. May you have a good night. love, Judy

November 2, 2020

November 2, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Dear Ones, Hope you had a wonderful weekend!  Yea for the Vikings too! The house is still full of aromas as I made cookies and porkchops with browned apple slices on top, roasted Brussel sprouts etc. I went to Aldi’s and my exercise class this morning and this afternoon we have a couple places to go before our walk. The snow is melting and almost gone now. Devotions from Judy’s heart I’m sure we can all remember times our parents told us if we continued with our present bad behavior there would be consequences. They didn’t always say what the consequences would be, but we knew we were in for it if we kept on. We can acknowledge it was for our own good, as they wanted us to grow up to be persons of character and integrity with hearts that would obey. I remember one friend who told me he was not disciplined as a child and he clearly remembered that people dreaded when he came to their house. That is not love that lets our child just go his own way. In Proverbs 3:11-12 (The Message) it says, “But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under His loving correction. It’s the child He loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.” I believe God has been trying for some time to not only get our individual attention but that of our nation as well. How many warnings do we need to bring us back to be a nation under God?  We are like children who have strayed so far and He will not keep tolerating it but bring correction to us. I am reading Jonathan Cahn’s book, The Harbinger II and recognize the warnings we have been given already, that should have awakened us.  He goes into detail about signs and warnings given before 9/11 and how we did not heed them. All throughout the old testament whenever God’s people followed Him, they were blessed and fruitful and prospered. But when they strayed from God, had idols and forgot God, they were taken over by their enemies. When it happened to Israel, Judah did not learn and later suffered the same fate. David said in Psa.18:27, “For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.” America is proud and has been going the way of the world, contrary to God’s commands. He has sent us watchmen that have been sounding the alarm but it seems not to be heard. It is time to wake up, time to repent for the time is short and we don’t know when God’s judgement will fall. Let us pray as never before and heed His warnings. Challenge for today: Gather with others to pray for our nation. Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

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