Dear Ones,
Hope your weekend was full of the awareness of God’s presence. As you will read my devotional today, you will see that His grace and mercy was poured out and He is with us in whatever we go through. Since I wrote this devotional, the young cousin of the friend who we saw in church yesterday, was killed in the line of duty as a police officer in Burnsville along with another officer and paramedic. Please hold their families up in prayer.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  On Saturday morning I woke with a song that I haven’t sung for years and wasn’t sure at first why the words would be so meaningful throughout my day. But I usually write down the name of the song and then wait to see if Lord has something to say to me through it. Francis Crosby published the song, “All the Way my Savior Leads Me in 1875 and the words played over as I was doing my cleaning etc.

When I checked my e-mail, I found that our neighbor next door had died. I had seen her before we went on our trip and we talked about the Lord’s healing power since she had cancer. Now she was with the Lord.  Right after a friend e-mailed that she had just lost her 67 year-old brother-in-law in the night and family would now be getting plane tickets to go to Florida to help make arrangements.  Not long after that we got news that Al’s former secretary and her husband were in an accident in Mexico and her husband broke his back and they were trying to get an ambulance to transport him to the States for surgery, so insurance would cover. I remembered the words of the song:

“All the way my Savior leads me, what have I to ask beside? Can I doubt his tender mercy, who through life has been my guide? Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell! For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well; for I know whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

The song goes on to say that Jesus gives grace for every trial even when we are weary and may falter. He will give us perfect rest in Him and share with us the fulness of His love. Even when death comes and we are clothed in immortality, our song is still that Jesus leads us all the way. Whether in life or in death, we are not alone for the Lord is always with us and shows us His tender mercy and grace.

We don’t know what things may happen to us in any day, or if the Lord will take us home, but we need to be ready and to trust Him that He will lead us. Words from songs based on scripture can remind us of that and give comfort. Jesus last words to his disciples before He ascended were, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20)

Challenge for today: Thank the Lord for His grace to you and that He does all things well, even when you don’t understand at the time.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy