Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a great weekend.  We are packing up to leave for home tomorrow and had a wonderful time celebrating Lily’s graduation. We had a scrumptious meal and games and prizes and gifts. I am sending this early as we will be leaving at 6:30 am. tomorrow and Kurt is riding with us as far as Ames, Iowa, where he is looking at a truck for Grant. Appreciate prayers for a safe trip.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   How many things do we do, maybe even subconsciously, to be noticed by others? Our ego loves to have others think that we are sacrificially serving and showing kindnesses to others and somehow it will make our lives feel more validated. That only shows our pride has gotten the better of us when we need to be praised all the time, and neglect to give the glory to God.
   When we make a show of what we do for others, we already have our reward for Jesus said in his sermon on the Mount that we are not do our deeds to be seen by men, but rather in secret for then our Father will reward us. (Matt.6:1-4)
   What do we do when others praise us for something we have done? We need to give the glory to the Lord, even though we may not say it out loud. That doesn’t mean we should shun words of affirmation but when we are humble we don’t feel the need to be praised….we feel free to just be… be whatever we need to be for others. Our well-being doesn’t depend on their affirmations to us, for we are already at peace as we experience God’s hand of blessings on us. We can also rejoice when others are honored and not have hard feelings.
   Our personhood is found in the Lord and we need to see ourselves as God sees us. We don’t need constant praise from others when we are secure in His love. We are worth a lot to God that He should give His son to die for us. How could we be more greatly loved?! The more we are dead to self, the more we are free to live for Him.  And with that in mind, we can desire to live fully for him each day of our lives, just as if it is our last day.  Like Paul said in Eph. 3:19-20, “I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.”
   Challenge for today: Live fully for the Lord and others as if it was your last day on earth.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy