Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! The day started out with baking and cleaning here and when I took out a dessert from the oven, our maintenance man came to fix the dishwasher. Everything is all over the floor and so glad the baking got done. I do have a prayer request given to me to share. It is for a pastor who is at Mayo and having surgery right now for Glioblastoma of his brain. It is the same thing my brother died of years ago and please pray for this pastor and his family. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   The first few minutes of our day are so important on how our day will go. If we grumble to ourselves of things we have to face during the day, how tired we are etc., our negative attitude goes with us and affects our outlook on everything.
  None of us are promised a carefree day without any problems or challenges, but we are promised that as we lean into the Lord, He will be present with us and will support us in whatever happens during our day. With that in mind we don’t have to fear for He will give us strength we need at the time. As it says in Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
  I awaken early and all is quiet in our whole apartment complex. After thanking the Lord for a new day etc., my prayer is that I can hear His voice to know what to write in my daily devotion to you. Since I have been doing this for many years, I sometimes think that what I get a particular day is a repeat of what I have written previously; but l am learning to just write what I sense He is giving me, no matter what. I don’t always learn my lessons the first time and I need to be reminded again and often again. For all of us it is so important that we take time to listen and then to follow with obedience. My struggle is to just sit there with the Lord, after I have read the Word, and to take time to carefully listen to Him. I often get up too quickly and begin cleaning or whatever and miss what He may want to share with me.
  The Lord wants us all to live deeply in Him and start our day allowing Him to have His way completely in whatever happens. When we confidently trust Him and know that nothing will touch us this day without His knowledge, we can relax and simply enjoy the day.
  Challenge for today: Start your day with surrendering your will to the Lord and acknowledging His presence with you in everything.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy