Dear Ones,
 Happy weekend to you! Hoping for good weather for all the picnics and gatherings. This morning I cleaned the apartment and soon  Al and I are going to Costco to pick up the birthday cake for our annual Birthday party here this afternoon… celebrating  only 4 birthdays this month. Tomorrow we head to the Lake!Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  God’s presence with us changes everything. The darkest days and most difficult circumstances are somehow changed when we really know that the God of the universe is with us and He has not forgotten us.
  One day Al and I were going down the hall to get to our apartment and outside the door of our neighbor, was a card with a simple phrase, “God Has Not Forgotten You!” Both Al and I commented on how important that is for all of us to really know that God is with us, and we are not an afterthought. He remembers us and we are engraved on the palm of His hands, never to be forgotten.
   But also, let us not forget Him but open our eyes to see all the ways the Lord comes to us. It says in Psalm 105:3-4 (NIV), “Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”
   One way to seek His face is to spend some time in what is called soaking prayer. It is something I learned about many years ago but recently read an article by Steve Porter who founded Refuge Ministries. He talks about taking time to just sit in silence before the Lord and soak in the Spirit. He puts on praise music in the background and then just quietly sits and lets the Lord love on him. Often it brings him to tears. He does not sit there with a list of wants and requests but just seeks the Lord.
   Something happens to us when we do that for our weariness disappears and as it says in Isaiah 40:31 that our strength is renewed and we feel like we are soaring like an eagle.
   Even though Al and I have been married 56 years, we don’t need to talk all the time to express our love for each other. Sometimes it is enough to be in each other’s presence without words and soak in that love. 
   May we take time to linger in the Lod’s presence and come to know in a deeper way His love for us.
  Challenge for today: Take 10 minutes today to sit quietly before the Lord without words and soak in His love.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy