Dear Ones,
Hope you have a sunny day, even though as I look out my window it looks like rain soon. I just fixed a new chicken dinner to put in the oven later and will be going to my exercise class, creative cuties craft time, and then Bible study tonight. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Today we don’t hear many sermons about sin as other words may be used like mistakes, errors, or wrongs. Most sin comes from the suspicion that God is not good and that we could do a better job; or maybe we blame others and circumstances, but we are responsible for ourselves. It’s not so hard to admit our superficial sins that all of a sudden peek up out of the soil of our hearts, but it is those deep-rooted sins that cause us the most trouble. We, however, don’t need to tear up our garden to find every detailed sin for which we are guilty, but we need to let the Holy Spirit reveal those sins that trip us up. 

  Perhaps we can see sin patterns in our own families, and we may feel we have some of the negative traits of addictions, avoiding conflict, controlling, lying, blaming others, distorting truth etc. It is good when we can recognize and name those sins, not to make excuses, but to see what may be in our own hearts. If we choose not to do this and to pass them on to the next generation, they will reap what we have sown.

  Once we come to the awareness of our sin, let us not try to rationalize but deal with it. Sin separates us from the Lord and the enemy tries to tell us that it isn’t a big thing…that is just a little white lie, or it won’t make any difference. But the sooner we deal with those sins that the Holy Spirit reveals to us, the sooner we can confess our sin and we experience His grace. What comes to mind as I write this is the song by Ira Stanphill who wrote his first hymn at age 17.

   “1. The cross upon which Jesus died/ Is a shelter in which we can hide/ And its grace so free is sufficient for me/ And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.

 Chorus

    There’s room at the cross for you/ There’s room at the cross for you/ Though millions have come, there’s still room for one/ Yes, there’s room at the cross for you.”

2. Though millions have found him a friend/ And have turned from the sins they have sinned/ The Savior still waits to open the gates/And welcome a sinner before it’s too late.”

  
   No matter what we have done in our lives, the Lord waits for us to come and experience His cleansing and grace.
Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden sins that hinders your relationship with Him.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy