Dear Ones,
Hope you have a peacefilled day! The house is filled with aroma as I just made beef Straganoff. We got home from Des Moines yesterday afternoon in the rain the entire way, after a wonderful time away
We are catching up now and I will soon be going to my exercise class, then crafts this afternoon and Bible Study tonight. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  God knows best and obeying Him brings freedom! Often we think we know what is right for us but we can be dead wrong and have to suffer consequences. While at our son’s house, Callie their golden doddle dog, was begging for some leftovers from my luncheon plate of yummy food. First, she started licking her chops to let me know she was interested in sampling my food. When she didn’t get a response, she put her paw on my knee and looked at me with yearning eyes. But I had to say no and continued eating.
   Callie is an obedient dog and listens and does what she is told. Her family’s motto is “Discipline equals freedom.” Callie has lots of freedom as she doesn’t need a leash when going for walks with any of the family. They only need to tell her to come back closer if she gets too far ahead and she obeys. She is able to be out in their yard to just roam as she doesn’t go too far away. Other dogs they meet along the walk are pulling against their leashes as they are still learning to obey.
  How about us? Have we learned the secret of freedom that comes from obeying the Lord? Paul has lots to say about freedom in Galatians 5. A few of his words from the Message translation: “Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you….It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure you don’t make this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows…Live freely , animated and motivated by God’s Spirit.”
   In Kurt’s family their kids have a great deal of freedom as they are disciplined to do their homework first and then have time for fun, they earn and save up $ before they spend it, etc. Our lives would all go better and freer if we obeyed. Callie didn’t realize what was best for her when she ate a few grains of my rice that accidently dropped on the floor. She got sick later and upchucked her meal. We may think that going our own way in small things doesn’t matter but when we fail to go God’s way we get robbed of freedom. Let us live disciplined lives in freedom.
  Challenge for today: Take time to listen to the Lord and submit to what He has in store for you.
Blessings on  your day and prayers and love, Judy