Dear Ones,
 Hope you are enjoying your weekend. We were blessed yesterday by having friends who we don’t get a chance to see very often. 
This morning I am going to Women’s Bible study at church and then helping set up for Teen Challenge who is coming tomorrow for our Sunday Service and a meal for them and the church following. Ann may stop over this afternoon too. Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   Recently we studied the kings in the Bible and spent quite some time on King David. He was not perfect by any means but he was referred to as a man after God’s own heart. Although he committed adultery and murder, he also experienced forgiveness and God’s grace and mercy. One of his prayers is recorded in Psalm 139:23, ‘God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through, find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through my anxious thoughts.”
  Would that all of us would pray that prayer often, asking God to sift through our hearts and motives and actions and show us where we need to repent. When we see how short we fall, and ask forgiveness, it also gives us compassion for others and to extend forgiveness for their wrongs. If we do not see our own need for grace, it’s hard to extend grace to others.
    I think of the pouring of grace and goodness of King David towards Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth and how much I often feel like Mephibosheth. He didn’t do anything to deserve the King’s attention and favors and when David sent for him, he was overcome by fear. He must have wondered why the King would want him to appear before him. And it wasn’t anything he had done, for he was crippled and unable to help protect the king etc. But because of whose son he was, (Jonathan’s son, the closest friend of Davids), he wanted to show him every kindness and gave him land, servants and provided for all his needs, including eating at the king’s table.
  In many ways we are all like Mephibosheth, for we are sinful and don’t deserve anything. Yet the King of kings wants for us to daily dine with Him, shower us with His gifts, and enjoy fellowship with Him. Yes, we are unworthy and undeserving, but we were bought with a price and when we receive His forgiveness, we have an open invitation to spend each day in His presence.
   Let us not cower in fear but rejoice in His goodness and favor to us.
Challenge for today: Spend some time letting the Lord search your heart and then go on to thank Him for His mercy on you.  
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy