Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend. The sun is brightly shining today but cooler weather after the rain. I got 2 Mexican pies made and a cherry cheese cake, and went to Aldi’s and my exercise class. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Let us not let anything hold us back from all that God has for our lives. There are times for all of us when we are asked to leave the old behind so we can embrace the new. Is that easy? Most of the time, probably not. Many of us like familiar routine that is comfortable and dislike when it gets disrupted. But often in scripture we see God’s interruptions when He has something new on the horizon for us…like when he came to Abraham and told him to pack up and go to a place where he would show him. Not much to go on but Abraham obeyed God and at age of 75 went as God directed. He left his home country and found a new nation in the land that later became Canaan.
 Sometimes what we have known has worked for a long time but is suddenly disrupted; the Lord is about to change things and we have to let go in order to step into the new that is waiting. I was reminded of that in church yesterday as we are getting blessed with lots of new people coming to check out our church and many of them joining. One couple had been in their former church actively serving for 22 years and now they are being led to leave as the Word of God is being compromised. Another couple moved to our area from a place they have lived for much of their married life and now are looking for a new church. A change is necessary or it would be a two- hour drive to go to their former church. Our son’s family is selling their house and moving in order to accommodate his in-law’s future needs. More changes!
We don’t have to fear change or become anxious when God brings an end to things but we need to trust Him and recognize His hand. It says in Isaiah 43:19 (NRSV), “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” We have to stop living in the past if we are to welcome into our present the good things the Lord is waiting to usher in. We can cooperate or we can complain.  The choice is ours but if we welcome in the new as a gift from the Lord, and don’t hold back, we will enter into a new place of rest.
 Challenge for today: When you sense God is bringing a change into your life, spend time in prayer and ask Him to release you from the old and free you for the new. 
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy