Dear Ones,
Hope you awake to an amazing day! We are going to the cabin early this morning  and stopping on the way to see a friend. I plan to work a bit at Share and Care and then spend some time by the water to clean up the beach. Hope to have some hot games of scrabble with the grandsons too. Joe and Paul will be moving into their apt in Richfield so won’t see them for a while.
    Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Don’t we wish others viewed us as the Lord sees us? When we receive Jesus into our lives and ask forgiveness for all our sins and failures, He sees us as perfect, beautiful, radiant and a reflector of His glory. Can we truly believe it?
   Too often we believe what man says about us which isn’t always complimentary to say the least. Man may tell us we are a disgrace, a failure, and will never amount to anything. It’s true that we may fail at some things we try, but God sees us differently when our hearts are open to Him. We are not worthless, and any hopeless words from the enemy are not a match for God’s words of promise. We must decide whose perspective we want to believe…the negative words others may say about us or the positive, praise worthy words the God of the universe says about us.
  I was reading today from Sarah Young’s book, Jesus Always, and she writes of the Lord’s delight in us and His love for us as if we were already perfect. He rejoices with us as it says in Zephaniah 3:17 (Amplified), “The Lord your God is in your midst of you, a mighty Savior (Who saves)! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest (in silent satisfaction) and in His love He will be silent and make no mention (of past sins, or even recall them); He will exult over you with singing.”
   When we know God is for us, we don’t need to listen and fume over the negative words others may say. Even when we feel fearful in challenging situations, we can have confidence that God is cheering us on, giving us the power to do what is needed and go in His strength.
    Let us see ourselves through the lens of His love and grace, and not through the microscope of others that may have given up on us. As Sarah Young says, God sees us as we are now and as we will be in heaven. He knows where we need to change and will help us work on those things now; but He also sees us from the heavenly perspective as He loves us as if we were already perfect. That is the best news and may we celebrate His love for us and be reflectors of His glory, even as we are in the midst of being transformed.
   Challenge for today: Spend some time meditating on Zephaniah 3:17
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy