Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a great weekend and time to get refreshed.  I just finished doing food prep and cleaning the apartment. It is a beautiful sunny day and perfect for a walk on the trail. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Lately I have been proofreading the book that a good friend is putting together of Al’s weekly blogs for men (canaansrest.org/wildmanjourney). I find myself saying “Amen” to what Al has written about Maleness, Toxic Masculinity, Fatherhood, Manhood, Marriage etc.
  I am glad that someone is calling attention to what is happening in our culture to manhood as many males are prolonging their adolescence and failing to launch and grow up. They don’t want to accept responsibility and frown at working hard or many hours and seem not to have purpose or know what it is to be a man. Many are made to feel like they are the problem, especially if they are white males and beaten by the message of “toxic masculinity.” The virtues of courage, truth, assertiveness, independence, responsibility, direction etc. are downplayed and more feminine qualities being emphasized.
  I am married to a man, who is not feminized, and has taken his God given role as my protector, provider, leader, and spiritual shepherd. I want him to flourish as a man, and not be just like me. The enemy has broken down the family, and created a negative image of manhood that is toxic and anti-male. An article in World magazine was entitled “The War on Men” and the common consensus was that masculinity “is harmful both to those who express it and those affected by it.” We can see how the male role has been devalued and discouraged and is detrimental for living life as God ordained. Of course, we are all sinful, and don’t live out life perfectly but we when we know the Lord, He takes away our sin and failures and clothes us in righteousness.
  God wants to raise up godly masculine men as well as godly feminine women. As it says in Genesis 2:27 (God’s Word), “So God created humans in His image. In the image of God He created them. He created them male and female.” Let us encourage one another to fill the role God has placed on us and not fall prey to our culture that leads us away from God’s best plan.   
  Challenge for today: Encourage men you know to step into their God given masculine role.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy