Dear Ones,

Hope you wake to a day of spontaneity! We are having friends over today and I made a banana split dessert that we already sampled!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Don’t we all want to live freely and that our life would speak volumes of Whom we serve. So wonderful when we know who we are and live transparently, not trying to be someone else but letting our light shine for the Lord. I smiled today when I read author Robert Wicks, description of a Lutheran Pastor whom he went to lunch with and asked the pastor to pray before they ate. In his words about the pastor: “He smiled, nodded, and then proceeded to belt out a grace before meals in such a booming voice that everyone stopped talking and put down their knives and forks. I even think that a couple in the corner who were planning on having an affair at that point changed their minds!) He obviously knew who he was and lives out of the knowledge without a concern for image or success.”

I hope we all want to be free and spontaneous and live transparent lives, enjoying who God made us to be in an open way. Maybe we struggle with self-consciousness and are always trying to read how we are coming across to others. Even if they don’t understand where we come from, we don’t need to be apologetic but enjoy the freedom, seeing ourselves as the Lord sees us. Recently we had a new couple come to our church but since we sit on the far right, I had never seen them before. But Rose showed up for the baby shower we had at church and sat next to me at our table while we ate. She was a delight and full of laughter and fun and just herself. Even though we had never met before, I felt like I had always known her. I told my husband about her as I was impressed at how free she was, and I described her to him since he is a greeter. So, the next day when she came to church, he met her by the door and greeted her by saying, “Welcome Rose!” She had no idea how he knew her name and asked who he was etc. We had coffee with her after the service and she said in a joshing way that she wondered if the Holy Spirit had revealed to him her name! Lots more laughter and sharing of her spiritual journey and others said they wished they had sat at our fun table!

When we accept who God made us to be, it has a way of prompting others to walk in freedom too. May we show gratitude for His workmanship in us and accept others also where they are at. As Paul said in Eph. 2:10, “God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that He has prepared for us to do.

Challenge for today: Share with a friend how you see God’s workmanship in them.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy