Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a wonderful day! Another day of sunshine but not warm enough to melt the snow. This morning I made individual egg dishes and then did more Christmas cards. I am reminded of so many people who have enriched our lives through the years as I am writing cards. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
There is so much evil and chaos in our world today and seems like things are keep getting worse. Some time ago I remember pastors saying this would happen as the darkness would get darker and the light would get brighter….and that Christians would stand out as lights against the darkness of the world. It is happening now and Paul said to the Christians in Ephesians 5:8-10 (NRSV), “For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.” He goes on to say that we must be careful how we live and make the most of the time for the days are evil. When Al and I pray together every morning we often pray that we can be lights right where the Lord has put us; our desire is to make a difference and that our actions would reflect that we belong to the Lord. All around each of us are opportunities to let our lights shine and we must guard against hiding our lights under a bushel and becoming just like the world. Paul writes to tell us we are to be different for we don’t have to go to great lengths to find pleasure since we have found the One who gives full life that satisfies our deepest hunger. We have found the pearl of great price and don’t have to go searching in all the wrong places. Sadly, our lives don’t always express that, and at times our lights may seem to dim. But we were never meant to blend in to the world but rather to stand out as His lights in a dark world that needs the Lord.  It is usually dark when I begin my devotions each morning; but I still open the blinds so I can see the sun rise gradually and splash its light on the trees outside my window. Let us have our blinds open to His light and then go out into the dark world and shine brightly for Him.
Challenge for today: Put aside those things that dim your light, and then go forth and shine, shine, shine!  
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy