Dear Ones,
  Hope you are enjoying the weekend. We woke to rain today and we hope it will clear as Mark’s family from North Carolina is coming  here for lunch and to see our place and go to the Silver Chateau, which has been radically changed since the storm nearly demolished it a few years ago. Can’t wait to see famiily!!!!!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   A question we might ask ourselves each day is: Have we grown lax in pursuing the Lord?
  Jesus wants us to live in closeness to Him and be teachable and to listen for His voice. He tells us to be on guard against the enemy who will throw lies at us to keep us off balance and to trip us up. He may do this subtly by telling us we are worthless, that God won’t love us if we mess up, or that He can’t forgive us for something from our past. But if we place those whispers against scripture, we will know for certain that those are lies.
   Recently I wore a white capris to our monthly Birthday party here at Northern Living. The thought ran through my mind that I hope I wouldn’t spill on them but since it was not choc cake this month, I should be fine. But I was not fine. While hurrying to put on another big pot of coffee, I took the hot grounds out and some dripped right down my capris. I didn’t see it at first as it was congested by the counter, but someone pointed out that I had coffee drips all down my pants. Nothing I could do then and they all wondered, as I did, if my capris were ruined. Later as I followed directions for stain removal that I found online, I also wondered if it was fruitless but kept on in faith. Much to my surprise the spots all came out and it was like my capris were brand new again. I was left feeling so grateful and praised the Lord.
   To me it was a visual picture of the enemy telling lies that we have done something so horrible that we are ruined for life and that there is no fix. But of course, that is not true. The Lord knows we are going to mess up plenty but He has given us the way to be forgiven and made new. We are to confess our sins and He is faithful and will forgive us and cleanse us. As it says in Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified), “Though your sins are like scarlet they shall be white as snow; thought they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.” Just like my white capris, we are restored and made new, as if we had never sinned.
   Let us walk close to the Lord so we may hear His voice of mercy and grace, and give no heed to the enemy’s lies
   Challenge for today: Pursue the Lord and ask for discernment to recognize the lies of the enemy.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy