Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying the weekend! I just made egg dishes for Al and soon going to do more food prep and clean the frig etc. Happy news! Our granddaughter got engaged last night and we are so thrilled for them both!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   When we know the Lord in a close relationship, He reveals God’s love to others by our words, prayers, and acts of kindness. It’s not out love, but His love that flows through us and enables us to love what some may call the “unlovable” and even our enemies. Many people we meet may not be interested in hearing a sermon about God, but some kindness done to them, grabs their heart and it begins to open.                                              But we all need to guard against our own attitudes and actions that can nullify people receiving God’s love. One thing that kills love is envy and Paul wrote to the Corinthians (I Cor.18:4) that, “Love does not envy.” The Corinth church must have had that problem for some envied even the spiritual gifts of others. But we all have to beware since envy causes conflict and resentment. People compare themselves with others and think of them as the competition, rather than brothers and sisters in Christ. When we do that, we will come up feeling deficient and unhappy as there is always someone who we feel is better or more talented than we are. Envy can start early in life if parents compare their children with others and leave them wanting. It happens in the church also, if we forget who we are in Christ. Maybe another person is chosen over us to take a position we wanted, and we are envious and make sure others know that person has weaknesses!                                     
  Each of us is unique and not to be compared with anyone else. Our motive for wanting to do well, should not be to compete with others but to do our best for the Lord and to enter into all that He has for us. When we envy others, it shows we are not sure in our hearts of our worth to God, although we may know with our minds. I love the verse in Ps. 149:4, “For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory.” The Lord accepts us, rejoices over us, and even sings over us; our response should be praise and deep joy! If that is hard to believe, it is good to spend time in the Word and to let the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts. When we spend time in His presence, we won’t have to feel insecure by someone outshining us for our lives are secure in His love. God has a place for each of us to fill, let it not remain empty but rejoice as we fill that position.
Challenge for today: Confess any envy that you hold for others, and thank God for who he made you to be.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy