May 28, 2022

Dear Ones,

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! We are going to the lake this morining and stopping to see a friend at Birchview on the way. We look forward to having time with Taylor ( my niece’s daughter who you prayed for when she was on her 9 month mission trip) and her boyfriend. Later we will see Ann’s family and Kurt’s family and then more relatives for a picnic at the Point. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

 Sometimes we just need to take a break! Maybe we have had a heavy schedule and we feel weary; rather than try to fit more in, we need to take a nap, go for a walk and enjoy nature, strum some strings on the guitar, or just spend some quiet time with God. We all get worn down at times and we need to listen to our body for it is saying, “Give me a break!” That doesn’t mean just seniors but young people also may need time to regroup. People in their prime can get tired and stumble and fall.

  In Isaiah 40:30-31 (Message) it says, “Even youths grow weary and tired and vigorous young men stumble badly, but those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) will gain new strength and renew their power.” We all have times of weariness and it may not be physically so much as emotionally, It is wise to pay attention when that happens and to wait on the Lord to renew us. We can be honest with Him and tell Him how weary we are and in need of His strength and vitality. If we are married, we may tell our mate that we are spent and just need a little time to be restored. Spending time with the Lord can restore us and strengthen us and bring us encouragement. Some come away feeling like they had a new battery put in!

   It reminds me of my plants that are on a tea cart by a window. I can tell when they start looking droopy and am reminded to water them and open the blinds to let in the sunrays. In the same way we are told to “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek is face continually. (Psalm 105:4 (NASB)

  God’s strength is our source of strength and it never runs out. We all get tried and we will find that as we wait on the Lord we will be renewed and lifted above the stresses in life. When we start thanking Him and praising Him, it is like the cool water that is poured on my plants. We perk up and are refreshed. Let us take a refreshing break with the Lord!

Challenge for today: Listen to your body and give it refreshing breaks when needed.