Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a good day and experiencing His peace. This morning I made bars and went to my exercise class. This afternoon we are going to a party for a little 14-year-old dog, Abby, and having Birthday cake. Then we go to the Soup Kitchen to serve. Oh, just got a call that our grandson is on his way so will put some S.F. pizza in the oven for him. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How often are we like little children that saucily talk back to someone who has been hurtful, hit someone who has socked first, or stomp on something that is valued because they did it to something of ours? But it only escalates things and often mom or dad has to come and referee and give time outs. But isn’t that what grownups are doing now, returning evil for evil? That is not God’s way as His way is exactly opposite of the world’s way of handling things. Darkness can’t drive out darkness and each one of us who know the Lord are to let our lights shine wherever we are. One candle in the darkness makes a difference. But today it seems like even Christians are responding no different than how the world reacts. We are to be lights, and to fight the battle in the spiritual realm. Jesus had to help his disciples understand that in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night Judas betrayed him. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter took out his sword and cut off the ear of the High priest’s servant. Jesus healed the man but he told Peter in Matt. 26:52 (The Message), “Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords.” He goes on to tell him that if he wanted, he could ask His Father to send more than 12 legions of angels to help him. Jesus lays it out quite clearly in the sermon on the Mount of how we should respond. He said in Luke 6, “I tell you, love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person …If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff.  Live generously…Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never –I promise– regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.”  Let us pray and seek the Lord that we may respond Jesus way. It is His love that will drive out the hate and bring peace.
Challenge for today: Spend some time reading the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)  and ask God to bring change to your heart where needed.
Blessings on your day and prayers for our nation  and love, Judy