Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a good day and keeping warm! We got more snow last night! Emoji I love to cook and bake to warm up the house and fill it with aroma. I made a veggie stir fry, egg dishes, and meat loaf and went to my exercise class this morning. I suspect we will have to walk inside today. We have Bible Study tonight and taking down the Christmas decorations at church. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
It is important to listen carefully to how the Lord would direct us each day. The Holy Spirit wants us to quiet down and to listen so we can know the way we are to go under each circumstance that occurs. Otherwise, we can get off and maybe do what God is asking of us, but not in the right timing.
On New Year’s Day I took out a partially opened cream cheese to make a snack dip for Al and I was almost overcome by the terrible odor. I had waited too long to use it and it was no longer good at all. Fortunately, I had a fresh package of cream cheese to use. My timing was off!
Also, that night I had a very vivid dream in which I remembered many details. Our faith was on the line and I had to flee along with some other Christians and go into hiding. We hid in the woods and in the fields and places by a lake. We would at times encounter other church people and we weren’t sure if they would turn us in or not.  In each instance though they helped us and we were able to keep going. But I remember how it took constant listening to know how the Holy Spirit was directing, as our very lives were at stake.
It is important for each of us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and to wait and listen to His promptings. David says in Psalm 27:14, “Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.” On our own we don’t know what is best and we need to dial down, and wait for instructions; this is not passive waiting, but waiting expectantly that we will be shown what we need to know. We are confident that He will answer and show us the way.
Our friend David, who we meet with on the Paul Bunyan trail, wrote in his latest poem that we should treasure how God whispers to us and to be still and quiet so we can hear Him. His last verse goes:
“As the new year begins, each moment is a fresh start.
Let us listen to Jesus’s whispers doing our part.
God helps us live with purpose in the new year, understanding You are my guide.
Help us to find the precious love that you provide.”
Challenge for today: Spend some time in stillness just listening to what the Lord is saying to you.
Blessings on  your day and prayers and love, Judy