Dear Ones, 
Hope you wake to a peace-filled day! Al is going to men’s group and today it is Donut Day here. We have Bible study this afternoon and in between. I hope to do some baking. The question for you this week is, what scripture has God used to comfort you and give you hope in a situation that was difficult? How did it change how you viewed things? I memorized Psalm 91 years ago and it was like a lifeline to me while going through a challenging time. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Do we face life with open hands and give up trying to control?  When we face life with open hands and let go the urge to take charge, it will lift a great weight off of us! No more trying to control situations so they happen the way we think they should. Instead, we learn to be where we are right now and take in what is there, which is the center of where God is at. I have been reading what Gem and Alan Fadling have to say about control, for in giving it up we learn to be present and focus on Him and one thing at a time.                                                                      
  It’s okay when we don’t know what will happen or what is best for us and others, for it may lead us to connect with the Lord in new ways. It all rests in Him. Every person has the right to choose how they will live their life and it is not up to us to tell them how to do it. It is their life! Letting go is a process and one of the best gifts to take hold of for ourselves and viewing others.                                                                 We will find we have less anxiety and fears when we are able to give up the controls and abandon ourselves to the Lord. I had a recent experience of this as I had my first MRI yesterday. I didn’t know if I was claustrophobic, so I was encouraged to get a pill to help me if needed. I had no idea what it would be like enclosed like a mummy in a tube, but I began to picture it beforehand as being held tightly in the Lord’s arms. I clearly did not have control of the situation but was just trusting Him. I told the Lord it would be nice to be warm enough and that my focus would stay on Him during the MRI. He answered as two warm blankets were placed on me and I had peace throughout it as I rehearsed scriptures and prayed. There was such an awareness of His presence with me, and it was like we were doing this thing together and of course He was in charge. My how it lightened my heart, and I didn’t even need the pill. I left feeling uplifted by the Lord, even though I don’t know the results yet. It’s easy to understand that I was not in control over the MRI but maybe harder for us to believe that we are never in control. When we really get that and surrender to Him, transformation can take place in our lives. He does it in us. God will never force His way but offers us a life of open trust in His love and power to do all things. Our security is in Him and we will come to rest..
Challenge for today: The next time you feel you can do something all yourself, stop and ask the Lord to take charge as you do it together. (I said Psalm 121 many times in the tube!)
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy