Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend. We enjoyed having Al’s sister here and time to share together. Today I made bars, went to Aldi’s and my exercise class. We are walking on these hot afternoons even though some days we are the only ones on the trail. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Do we live our daily lives in gratitude for our salvation and all the blessings God has poured out on us?  When we wake in the morning, do we welcome the day as another opportunity to love and serve Him? I wonder if our prayers are more about asking for things rather than seeking ways to give back and thanking Him.  Some give to the Lord out of the motivation of “giving to get” for the Lord has promised if we sow bountifully, we will reap bountifully! An English teacher, Keith Gogan, writes that our motivation for giving should be selfless and pro bono. (Latin, “for the good”) In fact as Christians, shouldn’t all our giving be pro bono?! Recently a friend responded to one of my prior devotions on speaking the truth, and not holding back, like Samuel when he had to tell Eli what God was going to do to his sons. She told of the struggle in her own life to speak up as she was afraid to hurt other people’s feelings. She wrote, “Many years ago after attending both of our church services and Sunday School I was feeling hungry.  I wanted to eat something, but I knew our cupboards were bare.  It was like that after Dad died.  I found myself walking to Nymans Grocery store.  My idea was to ask Mr.  Nyman if I could charge some groceries.  I was shy and did not want to ask him, but I did walk around the store and planned what I would get if he said yes.  It was hard and I felt so embarrassed even to ask him.  The store closed at 1:00 pm and church had gotten over at Twelve noon.  I walked around this little store a number of times and waited for whatever customers were in the store to leave.  I knew that if the owner said no I would be unable to ever go back there. With five minutes until closing with all of the other customers gone it was time to go. I could not move and then standing at the back of the store I heard the words, “Helen go.” I looked around me thinking it was my Dad, but I knew it wasn’t.  I forged ahead, asked Mr. Nyman and he said yes. I ran and picked out some bread, apple sauce, coffee for my Mom and cream for her also.  On the way home I wondered what my Mom would think.  I charged the food and now Mom would have to pay for it.  When she came home later that night she smiled and wrapped her arms around me.  I am thankful that I responded to Gods prompting and need to listen carefully and then act.” I read this with tears in my eyes as she was a friend and we even double dated as we became teens; but I didn’t know the extent of her poverty. My dad often gave her and I a ride to school but I know my folks and I would have been over to her house in an instant if we thought she was in need and pro bono for sure! We missed an opportunity to give back to the Lord but may all of our hearts be open to the joy of giving to others in whatever ways we can and out of gratitude.
Challenge for today: Look for opportunities to share your love for the Lord Pro Bono!
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy