May 5, 2021

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying this day. Al had men’s group and two new men came this morning. I studied and made bars and soon going to my exercise class. Kurt is stopping by on his way to the Silver Chateau at noon and then I have a creative craft class downstairs. Tomorrow we have Bible Study and Bingo so you can tell our place is opening up.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Things are changing rapidly in our country, and so many live with worry and fear of the future. We read of how the suicide rate is increasing many times over and more homes are filled with conflict and unrest. People are robbed of sleep after watching the news and often reach for sleep aids because of worry. But when we know the Lord, it can be a time of greater dependency on Him and a time of growth. Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow, He has it! He holds all our tomorrows safely in His hands. Recently I got a newsletter from Pacem in Terris. a hermitage retreat center in MN. We have been there ourselves and it has many individual cabins in the woods for people to go apart to be with the Lord. Since Covid hit so many have wanted to come that they have had to turn people away and are now constructing 3 more hermitages. Retreatants purpose to get away from the noise and pressures of the world and come to spend time alone with the Lord; they desire to seek to hear what God is saying to them in the quietness of beautiful surroundings. Pacem in Terris is like a cathedral in the woods and there are many trails to walk as they pray. I’m sure many of us wish for such a time, but even if we can’t have a weekend in nature, alone in a cabin, we can ask the Lord to create space for us to just go apart and be alone with Him. We may find the pressures lifted, our worries disappearing and our faith in Him strengthened. As David says in Psalm 62:6-8 (The Message), “He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for the soul. An impregnable castle; I’m set for life. My help and glory are in God, granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—So trust Him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for Him. God is a safe place to be.” God can speak to us anywhere and He desires that we set our focus on Him and not on the changes in our world. He promises to take our cares and worries and let us relax in His peace and rest.

Challenge for today: Find some time to be alone with the Lord and give Him all your concerns.