Dear Ones,
Hope you had a good weekend. We are getting ready for our grandson to come for an early lunch as he is on his ways to the city for college. Shortly after that we are getting friends from Tulsa for coffee and looking forward to catching up. Tomorrow we are going to the lake and I will  get to go to my old Bible Study group! Please keep praying for the Matt who has the virus and for my aunt who is in the hospital with bleeding. Both need prayers.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How shall we then live? In this world that is changing by the minute, in this time of upheaval in our nation, how shall we then live as Christians? As I was going to bed night before last, the thought came to me, live in peace, live positively, live in the present. That is often a challenge and not always easy to practice, but is by God’s grace and He will help us. I awoke to the news on an e-mail from our pastor that one of our young members died that night of a heart attack, and I was stunned. He was visiting his brother whose wife is critically ill with inflammation of her brain and he suddenly died. How do we handle those heart wrenching situations? Only with the Lord! He is our peace when everything around us is suddenly taken. Jesus told His followers when He was about to leave this world in John 14:27 (God’s Word), “I’m leaving you peace. I’m giving you my peace. I don’t give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don’t be troubled or cowardly.” His peace surpasses all our understanding! We are held secure and can remain calm as we know the end of the story…a life forever with the Lord! We can also live positively because of the assurance that He is with us no matter what we go through. It’s important to not dwell on negativity but to think good thoughts and speak encouraging words. It affects health to our whole body and soul. It says in Prov. 16:24, “Pleasant words are like honey from the honeycomb—sweet to the spirit and healthy for the body.” We are also to live in the present and be fully engaged. There are often times we can be with others or busy doing our own thing but our minds are elsewhere. Instead we need to pay attention! God is present to us, and let us be present to Him and live in the now. I have to tell myself often, just enjoy this moment! Be mindful! Jesus said in Matt. 6:34 (The Message), “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Let us fully enjoy life with the Lord now and seek to listen as He speaks to us positive words of peace!
Challenge for today: Get rid of negative thoughts and live in the present, letting His peace flow into you.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy