Dear Ones,
I am sending tomorrow’s devotion out tonight as we are going to leave very early in the morning for Kansas, and my computer is getting packed now. We plan to stop in Des Moines where Al can browse at Barnes and Noble and I am going to meet with a dear friend. Then on to Kurt’s in Olathe where we will spend Thanksgiving. Appreciate prayers for our safety and health. May each of you have a grace-filled Thanksgiving! 
Devotions from Judy’s heart,
   God’s grace is something that just amazes me and I am especially cognizant of it when I am most in need of it… like when I blow it!  The truth is that we are always in great need of His grace, but sometimes we are not aware as we should be. It is a precious gift that is too often taken for granted.
  God seems to put people in our lives that exemplify His grace that is hard to miss. You can probably think of many examples of those around you. Just recently at the funeral of my aunt we had time with her grandson’s family. They have 8 children and the youngest one is 6 years old but has been sick all her life. She has Trysomy 5 a dilation of the 5th chromosome which is rare, only 50 other known cases in the US.   Jencyn is in the hospital about as much time as she is at home. Since Chris is a youth director and has a big family, life is busy and full of challenges. But each time we see him and his wife, they don’t look stressed but calm and peaceful. The other children love Jencyn and the one who recently got married had her in the wedding, while in her stroller. There is so much love and grace evident in the whole family and it speaks to us all of God’s grace.
  Our strength is in the Lord and not in ourselves and we all need to remember our total dependency is on Him. God’s power shows up most in our weaknesses, when we truly know we can’t go in our own power. Like Paul said in II Cor. 12: 10 (Message), “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” He goes on to say that he quit focusing on his handicap and began appreciating the gift for he experienced Christ’s strength moving in on his weakness. The more we know we need Him the stronger we become and develop in His likeness. We are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves us!
   Challenge for today: Thank the Lord for His grace to you and praise Him even in your weaknesses.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy