Dear Ones,
Hope your day is full of thankfulness! Today I hope to do some baking and we are invited to friends for coffee and fellowship.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Upon waking one morning, the verse came to mind from Psalm 103:1, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is in me bless His holy name! Bless the Lord O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”  David goes on to list his thankfulness for forgiveness and healing, saving his life, and for grace and mercy. He is full of gratitude for God’s love and compassion and recalls His deeds to his people.

  Just the day before when Al and I were walking together on the Paul Bunyan trail in some fresh snow, we were sharing with one another as we usually do when we walk. We were recalling how God has always been with us, and always provided what we needed at the time. We never lacked or went without a meal; even though poor while Al was in seminary the Lord always gave us enough and even at times enough to have company. We reminisced of how one of Al’s college roommates just happened to be over at our apt at graduation time when Al’s folks were visiting. Al had been thinking we would be going to N.Y. for his seminary training and Terry said, “Have you ever thought of going to Fuller Seminary?” Well, that would be nice but something we couldn’t afford. Al’s dad must have been close enough to hear and offered to pay for his tuition. God’s provision in an unexpected way! We lived paycheck to paycheck on Al’s parttime salary and my babysitting of the pastor’s 5 kids so that I could be a stay-at-home mom. Never did we lack the basics, and we didn’t worry about the “what-ifs.” We trusted God would provide as he had in the past and He did!

  We also recalled one benefit after another of how the Lord had healed us, led us and guided us, but not always the way we thought. After seminary we hoped to go to a church in the poor part of Mpls and instead, we were sent to the rich in Edina. His plan! Yes, there were also hard times and we recalled how God saw us through and gave us His strength to overcome. As we concluded our walk, my heart was so full of gratitude and praise to the Lord.
 Let us not waste time worrying about tomorrow but remember His goodness to us in the past and trust Him for the future.
  Challenge for today: Spend some sharing with someone your story of how the Lord has poured out His goodness on you all the days of your life.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy