Dear Ones,
Hope you are keeping warm and toasty. It is a blustery and snowy outside but inside is warm and full of aroma of fresh baked cookies. My plans changed and I just visited a friend who recently lost her hubby and have crafts this afternoon. Tonight if the roads are good we will go to the Lenten supper and service.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  How often do we judge others and send out a message of condemnation? We may not actually say negative comments aloud but we may be thinking them and they block our relationship and communication with them.
   Jesus told us in Matt 7:1-2 (ESV), “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” ” What we criticize others of is often the very thing that is found in our own hearts, but we are unaware. We may think we aren’t enough and are quick to find blame in others, rather than seeing our own selves. It may cause us to turn away from others and hide our true selves. But we are told not to judge others or even ourselves for that is the Lord’s job as He only sees what is in our hearts.
   I am reading a book by Curt Thompson M.D. who is a psychiatrist and writes about The Soul of Shame. He shares how people who experience shame, shame others. Most of us need healing of wounds from our past or we will not flourish. We may believe rejection is coming from others and that they are trying to hurt us, but that may not be so at all. It could be an indicator that we need healing and what we are judging in them is stuck in our own hearts.
   Instead of hiding or judging others, we can turn to the Lord and let Him heal our brokenness and shame. We can also share with trusted others who can pray for us and help us on the journey to wholeness. The enemy would have us isolate ourselves and not connect with others but God would have us open ourselves up so we can get healed.
   It was a little scary for me at first when others prayed for my healing, but then when we experience the newfound freedom and joy, we know it is worth it. And of course, there is always more healing needed in all of our lives for we live in an imperfect world.
Challenge for today: When time seems right, share with a trusted friend something you would like prayer for in your life.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy