Month: April 2023 (Page 3 of 3)

April 10, 2023

April 10, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a beautiful Easter! We enjoyed going to hear Leif preach and to the lake to have a ham dinner with the whole family. All three grandsons were there and we had games and laughter and prizes! A beautiful sunny day. Today I am soon off to Aldi’s and my exercise class and hope to get the Easter decorations put away too.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We have just experienced another Easter and focused on Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross and His glorious resurrection. He paid the most astounding price ever! It’s hard to comprehend that anyone would willingly suffer and die for another as Jesus did for each one of us. I was reading today from Gal. 5:1(God’s Word), “Christ has freed us so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom. Therefore, be firm in this freedom, and don’t become slaves again.”

When we receive Jesus, we are set free from our past, and free from the bondage that the enemy has held us in! We taste freedom in a new way as never before, for we experience His presence and power drawing us close to Him. Our part is to let go of all those things that hold us back from completely giving ourselves to the Lord. The enemy uses all his tactics to bring us back into bondage again and we must not let him or anyone else put a harness of slavery on us, like the Message translation says. Christ has set us free to live a free life!

Let us be done with enslavement to what others think. Let us be done with putting our desires ahead of the good plans God has for us. If we use our freedom to just do whatever we selfishly want we will only become enslaved again. And truth be told, it isn’t very pleasant to be around people that are self-centered and want the world to revolve around them. We were made for the Lord and for His kingdom.

A song comes to mind by Judson Van De Venter who gives the answer of what we need to do, “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.” Let us freely give ourselves to the Lord that He may fill us with His love and power and joy.

Even when we fail, and we will at times, we don’t need to stay down for there is no end to His love and grace. Each time we acknowledge our sin and ask for forgiveness, there will only be more space for Him and more freedom.

Challenge for today: Freely give yourself to the Lord!

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

April 8, 2023

April 8, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying this Easter weekend. I feel so very thankful as I am feeling good again and was able to clean the apt and do food dishes for tomorrow. We will be going to the Lake to be with Ann’s family and looking forward to that time together. May each of you have a very Blessed Easter tomorrow.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

As we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, we also anticipate the glorious day when He comes back again. The song, One Day, came to mind often during this Holy Week by John Wilbur Chapman in 1910 that seems to describe the life of Jesus from His birth through the days of Holy week and then as we anticipate His coming again.

“One day when heaven was filled with His praises,

One day when sin was as black as could be,

Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin-

Dwelt among men, my example is He!

Chorus

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;

Buried, He carried my sins far away;

Rising, He justified freely forever:

One day He’s coming-O glorious day!

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,

One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;

Suffering anguish, despised and rejected;

Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He.

Chorus:

One day they left Him alone in the garden,

One day He rested, from suffering free;

Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;

Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He.

Chorus:

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,

One day the stone rolled away from the door;

Then He arose, over death He had conquered;

Now is ascended, my Lord evermore.

Chorus:

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,

One day the skies with His glory will shine;

Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;

Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!”

May each of us be filled with much gratitude and thanksgiving for all He went through for us and let us live each day with anticipation of what is yet to come.

Challenge for today: Spend some time in just thanking Him for what He suffered for you.

Blessings on your Easter weekend and prayers and love, Judy

April 7, 2023

April 7, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you will have a wonderful and blessed Easter weekend! I happen to be sick and just getting up today. Hoping for a miracle so we can spend Easter at the Lake with Ann’s family.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today is Good Friday and somehow it seems to be misnamed at first glance for it was a dark day when Jesus died. In fact, it was physically dark from noon until 3 p.m as Jesus was on the cross dying. When Jesus said, “Father into Your hands I commit my Spirit, and died, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, the earth shook and tombs of many of the saints were opened and they were raised to life.

I remember as a young girl being at the lake when a terrible storm hit. We barely made it to the cabin from swimming and then it got dark as night. The wind blew violently, many trees were uprooted and rain was even blown into the cabin by the window frames. We wondered if the cabin would get blown away and with us in it. I can just imagine the fear the disciples must have had during the darkness that fell when Jesus was dying. There went their hope of Jesus rescuing them; and of His followers, only the women and John were with Jesus in his last hours on earth. It seemed like the darkest time ever, and they must have wondered if their lives were also in danger. Jesus died but just as my family was saved from the terrible storm and the sun came out again, Jesus came alive again on Easter morning and that which was darkest is now the brightest light for all of us who trust in Him. We have hope and a future with Him if we believe in Him, and ask forgiveness. Yes, this is Good Friday, for He took our sin and shame and paid the penalty for our sins. Like Paul said in II Cor 5:21 (ESV), “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Jesus loved us that much that He was willing to die for us, let us open our hearts to receive Him and live for Him all our days.

Challenge for today: May we not only receive Him ourselves but share the wonderful news with others.

Blessings on your Easter weekend and prayers and love, Judy

April 6, 2023

April 6, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you wake to a fresh day of His grace with you. Today is Donut day here and Bible Study this afternoon and Maundy Thursday communion service tonight. Holy week is a good time to be reminded of our tendancy to sin and why we need a Savior. The question this week is: Are we aware of our own sin patterns and is it easier for us to recognize the sins of others?

Devotions from Judy’s heart

How honestly do we know ourselves? Do we believe we blow it because we are sinful and can we see ourselves with particular patterns of our failings? Once we come to know the Lord and forgiven of our sins, we are freed from the power of sin and experience grace, although we still continue to fail. But so good to remember that we are loved and welcomed back, just as the Loving Father embraced the prodigal son.

Perhaps each of us have unique patterns of sin and temptations may come to me, that would not necessarily be the same for you. Some of us have more of the Elder Brother syndrome and notice the sins of others and think we are not as sinful and rather squeaky clean. Or we may identify more with the prodigal whose sins seem more obvious and who wants to run his own life, living for pleasure. But we all have the sin of pride and it may show up in different ways and sin patterns. I need to pray daily, “Create in me a clean heart, O Lord and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) For it matters not if our sins are obvious or more hidden, we need to confess them and throw them off…root them out rather than trying to keep them under control.

I am reading “Signature Sins” by Michael Mangis who is a professor of psychology at Wheaton College. He shares how we all have specific patterns of sin in our lives which has an effect on our thoughts, actions and relationships. We may choose to try to manage our outward behavior but neglect and ignore the poverty of our hearts. But he encourages us to face our sins and confess them and find freedom in grace. That will help us from paying more attention to the speck in our brother’s eye and ignore the plank in our own eye.

Let us face our own sins for we all sin in thought, word and deed! We may sin outwardly for others to observe but we also sin by omission for the things we neglect to do. Maybe you will be led to pray the Jesus prayer that I pray often, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me a sinner.” Sometimes I go for a walk and repeat that verse many times. I have an idea you will be getting more devotions from me on sin patterns as I go through Mangis’ book!

Challenge for today: Quit the ways of pretending to be good, and let the Holy Spirit show you your heart.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 5, 2023

April 5, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you have a day of sunshine! I just made almond/ cranberry bread and soon going to Aldi’s and my exercise class. This afternon is crafts and a walk. We didn’t get the amount of snow predicted yesterday and that makes us happy although other places weren’t as fortunate.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

As I wrote this yesterday it was starting to snow and about 5” or 6″ was predicted. Somehow it is hard to think of Spring and of flowers and gardens just yet. I was given a plant that is blooming with yellow daffodils and many purple and lavender flowers and it brings a breath of spring to my heart. But in reality, it is winter out my window!

I am reminded of my days when we lived by the lake. A neighbor (former farmer) and I had a large fenced in garden a few blocks away. After he tilled the soil, planting time was so exciting for we sowed many kinds of seeds: thereafter I walked over there most every day to see the results. At first there was nothing showing above the soil, of course, but things were happening underneath. It didn’t take long until the soil broke open and I saw greens come forth and it was exciting. I could see in my mind’s eye, that if I waited long enough, we would be at the table eating lettuce and radishes, carrots and onions and cabbage etc. Those thoughts helped me press on to tend the garden and weed and water it.

Are not our prayers like seeds that are planted? We sow them often out of concern for our family members, friends who are sick, for others to find the Lord, or problems we are facing. We don’t know how long that seed will be in the ground before we see results but when we sow in faith, we know that it will produce. Our expectations won’t usually be met immediately or else we may feel we just don’t need the Lord. But we can water those seeds by praying often and doing works that are led by the Spirit. We must remember that God has a plan for each seed to produce and our part is to sow and wait patiently. It says in II Cor. 9:6, “Whoever sows bountifully, will reap bountifully.” I’m sure the result may exceed what we imagine. I use to picture the big zucchinis that would multiply or the heads of cabbage that just kept growing; it seemed there was always enough to be shared with many.

So let us be faithful to sow in prayer bountifully and plant seeds into our marriages and families, jobs, churches, and not lose heart no matter how long it takes. Who knows what beautiful fruit will come from it?

Challenge for today: Sow seeds in prayer, be patient and then thank Him when you see the fruit.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 4, 2023

April 4, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you have a peacefilled day. It is suppose to snow lots here today but hasn’t started quite yet. I just scrubbed the kitchen and did food prep as we are having friends come for coffee.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Are we lazy in our spiritual lives or are we alive and on fire for the Lord? After we receive the Lord, our love for the Lord seems to burn brightly. But after a while are we guilty of being similar to the church in Laodicea that was lukewarm? John wrote and said to them in Rev. 3:15-16, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot! So, because You are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” He tells them they don’t realize their spiritual condition for even though they don’t think they need anything they are really wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Wow!

When we come to know the Lord, our road just begins in the lifelong journey to love the Lord and become more like Him and conformed to His image. When we neglect this we are guilty of being slothful…even the word sounds rather disgusting. For my personality type, that is one of the key sins that we are to be watchful for. We can become spiritually lazy and neglectful in loving the Lord and coming to know Him more intimately. It may be seen in something that God asks of us, but we don’t do it. Maybe we don’t spend time examining our hearts for sinful behavior, and especially for inward wrong attitudes that others may not always see. Instead of going along ho hum, we need to make use of the opportunities to grow, to become more like Jesus.

All of us can slowly become indifferent and the things that use to prick our hearts, don’t seem to bother us anymore. There is a whole world around us that needs the Lord, and we are to be sensitive to their needs, to help, to share Jesus with them. When we get too comfortable in our own lives and fail to serve others, a part of us gets lukewarm and then finally cold.

Let us wake up, obey the Lord, serve as He calls us to, and get over our selves. Again, it goes back to He must increase and I must decrease!

Challenge for today: Do something for someone else today out of a serving heart of love.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 3, 2023

April 3, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a good weekend and that this will be a blessed Holy Week for you. Last night we had a choral musical candlelight srvice by our choir with forcus on Jesus going to the cross. It was so beautiful and meaningful! Today I am baking cookies and a dessert and going to my exercise class. We hear more snow is coming tomorrow.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

How many of us could say that we have left everything to follow Jesus? Is it more truthful to say we have left some things behind but have kept things for ourselves and our own will and comfort?

When I married Al, I was not saying that I was only partially committed to him but rather only to him and no other man; I was done looking around at others as I had found the one! He would be the first to say he is not perfect, just as I know I am not perfect, but we are fully committed to love one another.

But even more important in our lives is the place the Lord has. He wants to be in first place in our hearts? Are we willing to leave everything behind to love and serve Him? It’s wonderful when we can do that as a couple but each one individually has to make their own decision. It makes for peace when our hearts are not divided but totally given to the One who loves us most of all

While reading my devotions this morning I was struck how when Jesus called men to follow Him, they left everything behind. In Luke 5, after Jesus had used Peter’s boat to preach to the crowd, He told him to go out into the deep and lower his nets and get ready for a big catch of fish. Peter had fished all night and caught nothing but he obeyed and got so many fish they had to call for help from James and John. Jesus told Peter that from now on he would catch people and not fish and it says in verse 11 that he pulled the boat up on shore and “left everything, and followed Jesus” The same thing happened when he called the tax collector Matthew, he “got up, left everything and followed Him.” He walked away from everything and went with Jesus.

Like the song goes, “All to Jesus, I surrender, all to Him I freely give: I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.” As the song continues, let us forsake all the worldly pleasures and be filled with His love and power.

Challenge for today: Be fully committed to the Lord and leave behind those worldly pleasures.

Blessings on your Holy week and prayers and love, Judy

In Secret

April 3, 2023 / Alan Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Ezekiel prophesied to God’s people in exile. In Ezekiel 20 we find the elders of Israel asking Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord on their behalf. The Lord rejected the inquiry because of their idolatry. The elders apparently thought they could receive a word from the Lord, even while persisting in their idolatrous practices.

In a lengthy response the Lord recalls how often the Israelites failed to keep their covenant with Him. Quite provocatively, God says to the elders, “What you’re secretly thinking is never going to happen. You’re thinking, ‘We’re going to be like everybody else, just like the other nations. We’re going to worship gods we can make and control” (Ezekiel 20:32 – MSG). What a description of our own culture. We think we know better as we seek to control our own destiny. Our idolatry puts science, materialism, and narcissism first.

Then God states in verse 33, “I will reign over you.” God was resolved to bring his people under his rule with his “mighty hand” and “outstretched arm” (v. 33-34). The words, “I will purge you” (v. 38), show the Lord’s intention to purify his people. Through the entire experience of judgment, purging, restoration and acceptance, Israel “will know that I am the Lord” (v. 42, 44).

This is Good News for us. “There is great hope for the world in this, for if it were dependent for its salvation on the spiritual and moral purity of God’s people and their evangelistic obedience, rather than on the indefatigable persistence of God’s longing for the world’s redemption, it would be doomed to disappointment” (Bible Speaks Today).

People were in denial regarding Ezekiel’s message. In the final verse of Chapter 20, Ezekiel complains to the Lord: “And I said, ‘O God, everyone is saying to me, ‘he just makes up stories'” – MSG (v. 49). The NET says, “They are saying of me, ‘Does he not simply speak in eloquent figures of speech?'” In their denial, the elders ridicule the prophet’s message: “Ezekiel’s prophetic words are merely stories and not prophecies…” In so doing, “they deny the impact of the prophetic word from the Lord [as] they still want to inquire of the Lord” (Grace and Truth Bible).

What is the lesson for us? First, we need to realize we are already in exile. This is a post-Christian culture, existing only as a shadow of a Christian past. It is sheer arrogance to assume that we can hear from God when we are caught up in the idolatries of our day.

Second, consider that God may very well be using our present-day cultural exile to purify his church. Peter told the church in exile, “For if it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God” (I Peter 4:17).

Third, be wary of those who ridicule the word of God, while still giving the impression that they are speaking truth. Jesus warned that “many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” (Matt. 24:11). Then he adds, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:12).

Men, God is gathering his remnant and purifying his church. Don’t listen to those who speak arrogantly of the future. Rather listen to those who wait expectantly for and rejoice in the coming of the Lord, even while we humbly endure his purging. We need to cry out for mercy and grace in these days.

April 1, 2023

April 1, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend to you! It is a sunny day today and no more snow, at least for now. I just finished making egg dishes and stir fry and later this afternoon Ann may come. At noon we are going to the funeral of a pastor’s wife who lived only two apartments down the hall from us. Her husband preceded her in going home to be with the Lord and now they are reunited.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I think we would all admit that at times we have talked too much and often our words have gotten us in trouble. We read in scripture how our tongue needs to be bridled as it is restless and has the power of death and life. King David must have recognized how hard it is to tame our tongues as he prayed in Psalm 141:3 (SV), “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

I recently read about sacred silence in John Michael Talbot’s book and he writes that unless we have something helpful to say, it is better to remain quiet. In fact, it is a sign of wisdom when we know when to speak and when to be silent. He shares the discipline of Abba Pambo who carried a pebble in his mouth for 3 years in order to learn the gift of silence.

Al and I have been to monasteries where silence is practiced, and even as we ate, no words were spoken. It is quite a change from the constant noise of chatter, TV going, and phones ringing. It’s a nice change and gives time to think and ponder. Even if we aren’t speaking out loud but rather using our smartphone, we are still talking constantly to others. Studies show that today a person lasts only 30 seconds of inactivity before reaching for their phone! I think that much of it is meaningless and often the person being texted has never had a face-to-face encounter with the other.

But even when we are not on our phones or talking to others, our own minds can be busy with constant thoughts. I find that when I take time to just sit and listen to the Lord, my thoughts can still be jumping from one thing to another. Silence is not easy and like Talbot said we need to hear the space between the notes in the music of our lives. “You have to hear not only the words but also the silence between the words to hear God’s word.” Let us have times of silence both inwardly and outwardly.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to guard your words and to speak only as directed.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Month: April 2023 (Page 3 of 3)

April 10, 2023

April 8, 2023

April 7, 2023

April 6, 2023

April 5, 2023

April 4, 2023

April 3, 2023

In Secret

April 1, 2023

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