Dear Ones,
Happy Weekend to you! It’s a beautiful sunny day and we look forward to going on the trail this afternoon. I just made banana bread for the men’s group, and Al was so kind and sampled it for me!!Emoji He’s asking about the flavor of ice cream at Culver’s so I suspect we will be going there today! 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  It’s wonderful when God provides us with others who are farther along on the spiritual journey to help guide us. I’m sure we all have questions at times and wonder if we are on the right path and hearing the Lord correctly or if it is our own flesh nature that is tripping us up. The Lord may prompt someone to come along side of us and help us hear Him and bring encouragement.
  One of my friends is a spiritual director and helps others along in their spiritual lives to guide them. She has several each month that either come over to her house or that call in for a time of listening to the Lord together. She listens much and gives guidance and prays over them and they go away encouraged and strengthened. As it says in John 14:26 that the Holy spirit will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that He says.
  We can learn so much from those that have been on the journey longer than we have and know the right paths, as well as the mistaken roads to avoid. It’s too bad that in our culture today that youth is regarded more important than elders who have wisdom. We must be open to the new but we have much to learn from those that are more experienced than we are on the spiritual walk.
  If we desire spiritual direction, it should be with a respected person whom we trust and is open to the Holy Spirit. He or she is not so much full of words but willing to listen well and discern. My friend gave me spiritual direction when they came for retreat when we still lived on the lake. She lite a candle, listened to me, prayed. and what she told me was confirmed on that same day. At this time, Al is my spiritual director and I am his, which is rather unusual, but works well for us since we spend much of our days together and usually take a walk each afternoon. We share so much and often one of says that we need spiritual direction, and that means we quiet down and listen to the other. It is different than our opinion on things, but it is rather listening to what we sense God is saying. We don’t let our partner off the hook if repentance is needed but speak what is needed also.
Challenge for today: Be open and listening to the Holy Spirit in your life and also for others if they are seeking.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy