February 4, 2021

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying the day and burr the weekend looks to be very cold! This morning I cleaned the apt and went downstairs for rhubarb muffins and cookies on a stick. This afternoon Al has someone coming to see him and I hope to do a little fun shopping. Tomorrow we leave very early in the morning for Olathe Kansas so your devotion will get to you later. Appreciate prayers for a safe trip and staying well! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

When I sent out my daily devotional yesterday, I asked the question, “What has been the hardest for you in this year of COVID?” I have never before had so many responses as I did to that question. For most of you, the most difficult thing was the lack of being able to physically see your loved ones and to actually hug them. Grandparents expressed missing this growing up time with their grandkids and not being present to see their birthdays and accomplishments. Care workers were most saddened in seeing their patients isolated from loved ones and suffering alone. But with that said, there were many of you that saw this time as a time to draw closer to the Lord, to reflect, and not have as many distractions and meetings to go to. Time with family was cherished and spending more time in the Word was definitely a blessing. We have all had radical changes take place this past year, and what do we do when faced with them? We can complain and get depressed, or we can ask God what He wants us of us; what can we learn and what is His plan for us during this time? I was reading from an old worn book by Billy Graham and he said we can become embittered or we can grow through adversity. He gave an example of George Handel who wrote the Hallelujah chorus. At the time Handel lived in poverty and was suffering from his paralyzed right side and arm and yet the music he wrote has blessed all of us and brings much glory to the Lord. He also told of George Matheson who was the oldest of 8 children and very bright, graduating with honors. When he was 19 years old, he began going blind as he had an incurable condition. While he was at the University, he fell in love but when his girl found out of his blindness, she said she did not want to be married to a blind man. When Matheson’s sister got married, he was reminded of his own painful feelings of rejection and he wrote the song, “O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be.” He wrote it in a place of suffering but committed himself to the Lord, becoming a wonderful pastor, got his doctorate, and wrote many books. Perhaps COVID and other harsh things that happen in our lives are meant as opportunities to grow stronger and deeper and to share the Lord with others. And we have the promise that he will sustain us until the end. ( I Cor. 1:8)

Challenge for today: Write down what you think you have learned through this time of COVID