Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying the weekend. I worked at church all morning as we are having Teen Challenge choir coming tomorrow and then feeding them and their families and our own congregation.Emoji Now I am busy in my own kitchen baking  chicken and making soup etc. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I’m sure we’ve all been around bitter people and it’s not uplifting to sit in their negative atmosphere that seems to fill the space around them. But all of us are challenged in our own lives when people do hurtful things to us or say untruths about us, and how we respond. We have a choice whether we ruminate over it and grow bitter, or whether we are able to let it go and move forward.
Even at weddings, I love to hear a couple say they have found their soul friend and they pledge their lives to love one another until death due them part; but I also wonder how long it will be before their soul friend irritates them and they get hurt and angry. We all will have conflicts and how we deal with them is so important.
Early in our marriage, Al and I had times when we were rather silent with each other; you know, those times of hurt or anger. We didn’t have shouting matches but we tried to carry on life without addressing each other and giving the silent treatment. Gradually, we resolved the issues but if left undone, it could turn into bitterness and resentments. Through the years we have found it is best to admit our failures, ask forgiveness for our part in it, and pray together as we resume life together again.
Paul says to the church in Ephesians 4:31-32 (God’s Word), “Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred. Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ.”
We may not feel like we harbor bitterness but what if we act cold towards another and secretly wish to get even with him. What about hoping they experience pain the same way they have caused us pain. Or maybe every time we think of what they have done to us our own joy disappears. Those are signs that let us know we need to forgive.
No matter what is done to us, or who is most at fault, let us not grow bitter but with God’s help forgive and move forward.
Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to any person in your life that you need to forgive, and then forgive from your heart.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy