Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying this beautiful day. This morning I made more cookies on as stick for Sunday morning coffee time and went downstairs for donuts. I went for a much needed trip to Aldi’s and this afternoon we have Bible here.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  There it popped up again and this time by Chelsey De Matteis on Crosswalk. I don’t know how many times as we walk the Paul Bunyan with David and Vickie, that we have all shared about the verse from John 3:30, “He must increase and we must decrease.” Although it was the words of John the Baptist, it words we are called to live by every day.
   We probably can’t say we jump up and down with joy when we are in the process of decreasing; maybe we were passed over for a job that we feel we were more qualified for, or our efforts were ignored while someone else gets the credit. You can add many scenarios but it still may sting at the time. That is a sign we are not dead in that area of dying to self and we need to surrender it. That is not easy to decrease and be humbled but it is the Jesus way.
  Chelsey writes that because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we are offered the gift of grace and mercy and an eternity with Him. But we are also called to pick up our cross and follow Him and that involves being emptied of self so there is more room for the Lord; as we decrease in our lives, we soak up His goodness and love and all the many blessings He has for us. He calls us to love Him more than anyone or anything and to point others to Him. Like the song goes:
        “I have been crucified with Christ
         It is no longer I who lives
         But Christ lives in me
         I have a second chance at life
         My future’s open wide
         I know Christ lives in me.”
  Perhaps we need reminders often of decreasing so that we can experience increase in the Lord as we await an eternity with Him.
  Challenge for today: Thank the Lord when you are decreasing and open yourself up to all that He wants to fill you with.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy