Dear Ones,
    Happy weekend to you! Hope you can enjoy some leisure time. This morning I made cinnamon raisen bread and went to the Dollar store. This afternoon I hope to get to Kohl’s before our walk. It is another beautiful sunny day. Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
    What do we do when our hearts are so full of gratitude and thanks? Hopefully we pause and give praise to the One who made it all possible! I’m sure all of us have given a gift to family members and friends and never received an acknowledgment that they got it, much less a thank you. (Likely we are guilty ourselves) But we are left wondering if we should keep giving when there is no sign of appreciation. If we are honest, how often do we pray for something and when the answer comes, we are filled with joy but neglect to first give thanks to the Lord who has brought all things together for the answer.
   Recently, I have been noticing how many specific prayers have been answered and often in record time. One day when I went to visit a friend in Assisted Living, she shared several special needs she had and we held hands and prayed over them. The very next time I came to see her, I asked her about those requests; as she shared, we realized that the Lord had responded to every single need and answered above what we imagined. We were filled with awe and thanks.
   Lately, I personally have prayed more specifically over situations and I am amazed by His answers that has left me with the awareness that it is truly all the Lord. Sometimes it is going into a situation where it is a matter of timing; when I leave I am aware that the Lord orchestrated it all so everything was accomplished in the exact amount of time. I praise Him with my heart full of thanksgiving! Other times I am not even aware of a need, and yet the answer comes before He lets me know the need.
    I want to encourage all of us to pray about specific things throughout our day If you are a doctor or nurse, pray before seeing each patient; if you are in business and making a presentation, ask God to speak boldly and clearly through you; or if you are a mom with an impossible looking schedule, ask Him to take charge and direct you. Praying also with our children teaches them that God is concerned about everything in our lives and then remember to give thanks when the answers come. One of our loved ones often e-mails early in the morning with requests for prayers and later we hear how the Lord answered and praise comes from all of us back to the Lord.
   As it says in I Thess. 5:18 (NKJV), “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Challenge for today: Pray for something specific that is on your heart and be sure to give thanks when the answer arrives.
May you have a wonderful weekend and prayers and love, Judy