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: September 2021 (Page 4 of 4)

September 2, 2021

September 2, 2021 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying this day. This morning I made starch free Peach Crisp, chicken tenders, and veggie stir-fry. Also, went down for donut day and this afternoon we have Bible Study. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Do you ever feel like you are being pulled in two directions? Maybe all of us have those times and wonder which way to go when we feel opposite pulls on us. We often waver and sometimes we go the way God is directing but there are other times we feel the pull of the world and end up going the opposite way.
Michael Casey in his book, Grace on the Journey to God, says our life often feels divided and we are easily distracted. We feel pulled two ways and it is the default condition of all of mankind. The apostle Paul knew that there is a constant battle going on inside us and he says in Romans 7:19 (ESV), “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” Like Paul, we have the same struggle between going God’s way or the enemy’s way. Yet in our hearts we desire to be strong and to resist the pull of the enemy. We may make progress for a time and then suddenly fail; and we end up realizing we are both are saint and sinner. In our hearts, we want to stand when the trials and storms of life hit us. Casey said it is much like being on a surf board and trying to stand while we let it take us forward. We have to deal with the wind and waves and constantly adjust as the center of gravity changes. It takes a lot of energy but even if we do fall and get swept under, we can be resilient and quickly get up again and stand.
Yes, life is full of good times of love and happiness but it also has hard times of loneliness and grief. Of course, it is easier to handle the good times but the hard windy times are unavoidable and have to be endured. We experience both and each has a purpose. Even the bad times force us out of our comfort zones and help us to grow and build character. Saint Bernard said that the changing times between good and bad things are necessary for then “we will neither be crushed by adversity nor lose discipline through too much joy. Also, it is by this means that joys are more appreciated and difficulties more readily endured. Blessed be God forever!”
Challenge for today: Thank God for what He is teaching you in both the good and bad times and ask for help in resisting the pull of the enemy. 
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

 

September 1, 2021

September 1, 2021 / / 0 Comments
 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How well do we love others as we do ourselves? We are probably tested on this every day as we make choices that go in favor of what we want and is best for us, or putting ourselves out for others. James says in James 2:8 (ESV), “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love you neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.” We can’t change ourselves but we need the power of the Holy Spirit within us to make us more loving, more giving and less selfish. It doesn’t come naturally but is a work of God in our lives changing us from focusing on ourselves to considering others first. 
We have people here at Northern Living that play Bingo each week. In the past there was a Pastor who played and when we are in the elevator returning to our rooms there would often be scripture quoted. (in gest) If we had not won a game, we might have shared the verse about rejoicing with him who rejoices and weeping with him who weeps, emphasizing the weeping. (Romans 12:15) Or we maybe quoted another verse about giving to the poor etc. We knew that though we may win one week we may be the one next week who would lose.
But there are so many other times when we seriously need to be there for others especially when they weep as Paul tells us. Our tears can be expressed in tangible ways when others are going through sorrow. Michael Kelly who is Directory of Group Ministries at Lifeway in Nashville wrote about how others were there for them. They had two funerals for family members in one week and they were gone 1000 miles from home for 2 weeks. There were those friends that showed up for the funeral, and also others who prayed very specifically for them before they left and while they were gone. Then before they came back others stocked their pantry so they didn’t have to think of meals when they got home. That is practically weeping with those who weep and expressing God’s love. The Lord asks us to love others just we do ourselves, to listen to them and be there for them. Let us not be so consumed with ourselves that we neglect those whom God puts before us.
Challenge for today: The next time someone is in dire circumstances, ask God what practical service you can do for them.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy
 
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