Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! It’s another rainy day and Kurt will be on his way to the lake to do some work. We will be going to Costco when it opens and pick up our cake for the monthly Birthday party this afternoon. The house is full of aroma as I just made Al his favorite cookies as they disappear so quickly. Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   Don’t we wish at times that things could stay the same? We may have a nice comfort level in an area and then all of a sudden change comes when we least expect. It can be small changes just like the other night when I went to make coffee to have while we watched the evening news. The coffee pot is not very old but I noticed only a trickle of coffee was making it into pot and steam was pouring out. I thoroughly washed the pot, checked that everything was in place but got the same result a couple of times more. Bummer! We are going to have to get a new coffee pot and it took a while in the past to find just the right one for us.   
   Now this is a minute change compared to the huge changes of life without a loved one, a vocational change, a change in our health etc., but change most often comes without our permission.
  It made me reflect on our lives with the Lord and how we may feel comfortable in how we relate to Him and have our devotions in a certain way, and practice certain spiritual disciplines etc. And then one day, we feel dry spiritually and the Lord is bringing something new into our lives and the old needs to be laid aside. In fact, it says in Isaiah 43:19 (God’s Word), “I am going to do something new. It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it.” The Message translation says, “Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?”  We are in a time of transition and we should not stay where we are at but move on. 
  Just like our children outgrow certain behavior practices, there are times the Lord says enough to us, and we need to change and grow in a particular area. We can no longer get by with responses that are   juvenile and we need to change. Sometimes he prepares us for the changes if we are paying attention and so it isn’t a shock but rather a smooth transition.
   Now just a few days ago there was a used coffee pot on the free table at our apartment complex. I could have taken it and would have been prepared when our pot died but I didn’t take advantage of it. I missed my chance!
   Life is full of change and can be exciting when we move with the Lord, so let us be willing to move on with Him in His timing.
   Challenge for today: Think of change as a chance to grow in new ways and welcome it. 
Blessings on  your weekend and prayers and love, Judy