Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a good day. I made a chicken dish and then went downstairs this morning for coffee and choc covered raspberries. This afternoon we have several errands to run and also do our walk even though it seems to be mighty hot each day.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I made it! A month ago I started putting fluorouracil ointment on my face every night to treat precancer areas on my face; it resulted in my face being red in many spots and blisters on my lips. Not a pretty sight! It has taken patience not to quit in the middle of this month-long chore, but only the knowledge that it has been killing the atypical cells and allowing the healthy skin to survive has kept me continuing. Quitting would have sabotaged the results and would have wasted all this time and effort for nothing. Patience is not an easy gift to receive and one which the Lord teaches all of us on a continual basis. We can learn from the butterfly as it goes through its stages of egg, larva, pupa and to finally reach the adult stage and come forth as a beautiful butterfly. As we hold the vision of the result, we patiently endure the various stages. We can’t just jump from A to Z! One gal in my exercise class said she was praying for patience and another gal quickly told her she better mean what she said as difficulties and trying times are ahead when you pray that! But if we endure the hard things patiently, we will come forth with treasures, just as the children of Israel who left Egypt after so many hard years were laden down with silver and gold etc. If we endure and practice patience, we will be given treasures of wisdom and faith. David said in Psalm 37:7a(ESV), “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” We need to slow down and walk patiently as we wait for God’s timing. Apostle Paul also tells us in Rom. 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” He went through so many trying times and didn’t give up. We don’t get to choose the circumstance to learn patience but the Lord knows what will help us grow and cause us to draw close to Him.
 Challenge for today: When trying times come, pray and be patient to learn what God is teaching you. 
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy