Dear Ones,
Happy weekend! We loved our time at the lake yesterday and were awed at the beauty of the brilliant-colored leaves all along the way. We enjoyed time with family, and it was a delightful day. Today I am going to clean and then shop for the Samaritan Purse shoeboxes. I love to watch the joy in the faces of the precious children receiving them.  
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  When I was a young girl, I remember how my mom would have devotions for us after the meal. We all memorized scriptures that she put on recipe cards, and in some way, they became indelibly imprinted in our minds and hearts. Often in my adult life those scriptures have spoken to me at a time that I have needed them. The Word is inspired and living and active and can bring change to our lives. Most of all our hearts can draw closer to the Lord as He speaks His Word to us.

  One of the most important things we can do in our families is to teach God’s word to our children.  I read today how Timothy was taught the scriptures from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice.  Paul tells Timothy to “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (II Tim. 3:14-15)

  There are times we may be going through a spell when the Word of God does not seem to light up in our hearts and it may seem rather dry. Recently I read what Kristine Brown had to say to help us in such times. First of all, before we even open our Bibles, we can ask the Holy Spirit soften our hearts and to reveal things to us as we read the Word. He has so much He wants us to say to us if our hearts are open. She suggests reading a Psalm a day which seems to cover all the varied experiences we have and emotions that we deal with. I like to read one each day along with the other chapters in the Word.  I also use a devotional book or two as I often learn from other person’s writings and experiences. Kristine also writes that it is good to listen to the Bible read aloud. Like it says in Rom. 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God.” It is quite easy to hear the Bible read today as we can get Apps on our phones and listen to it when we go to work.  We can also read the Bible aloud to ourselves out as it is God’s love letter to us.  
 May we not neglect the Word of God but read with openness of heart.
Challenge for today:  Memorize or write down a meaningful verse of scripture and carry it with  you today.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy