Dear Ones,
Hope you had a good weekend. We have enjoyed being at Kurt’s and lots of hoopla with the Super Bowl game. What a win in the overtime and lots of celebration and fireworks going off in Kurt’s neighborhood. Today we are heading north towards home but and going to spend the night on the way and have a time of retreat. Appreciate prayers as we travel.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Death comes to all of us and until we learn to face death, we don’t really how to live. Lately we have so many funerals and it doesn’t let us forget the brevity of life. Death is something that none of us can avoid and it will happen one day to me and also to you. So how then should we live? Many try to deny death and even use other words to describe it, and such people may not choose to be with a loved one in their last days but desert them. When I was a nurse, I had to look at death in the face often, and sometimes it happened suddenly and other times, it was prolonged. Even that we don’t get to choose. If I had my way, I would like to go to bed some night and just wake in glory the next day. But none of us know exactly how it will happen.

  In seeing death, we come to know that we all have limitations and that one day our bodies will cease to function, and we will die. Just knowing that should help us live each day to its fulness and embrace what comes. Death is holy and not to be treated as a problem we need to fix but part of life that happens to all.

  Jesus experienced death and the worst kind of suffering, so whatever we go through in our last days in dying, we know that He has already entered into. He is present and will be with us through it all. And the best thing is what lies ahead of us when we know Him. We have a friend right now who is in hospice and will soon be going to glory. Her family is surrounding her and it is hard to let go as they realize that soon she will no longer be with them. But it is also glorious for she will be forever with the Lord. As Jesus told Martha after her brother died, (John 11:25), “I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?” Do we believe this! Yes! Yes! Yes!

  Challenge for today: Pray that you may have a good death and live each day as if it was your homecoming day!
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy