Dear Ones,
Hope you have a beautiful day! I am going to my exercise class this morning and this afternoon we are heading to the cities to be with my cousin who recently lost her husband.  Relatives are gathering after the service and burial today at her sister’s place in Edina and we would like to be with them.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   Jesus comes to us in many ways but are our hearts open and ready to receive Him if He comes disguised as a stranger, or someone sick and hurting?  Sometimes we may be so busy and have so much on our schedule for the day that we miss Him.
  One day I was bringing suitcases up from our storage to begin packing for our trip and I met a woman in the hall who experienced the recent loss of her loved one. She was busy helping her mom move but needing someone to listen to her also and we just happened to connect. It was not a long encounter, but I told her I had been praying for some time for her loved one who had now gone home to the Lord.  We shared the joy that He is now experiencing but also told her that Al and I would be praying for her as she experiences life without her husband.
  Sometimes Jesus comes to us in the sorrowing, or those who are sick or lonely. They may be disguised as poor or rich, but it makes no difference if we do the Jesus thing by stopping to help. I confess that sometimes I quickly continue on my way as I am in a hurry to be somewhere and feel regretful later as I missed an opportunity. So many times, as Jesus ministered to others, it wasn’t necessarily convenient, for he was on His way somewhere, but He was always on His Father’s time. He paid attention to the will of His Father and was never too busy to stop and heal someone or speak a word to them.
   Whatever we do, must not be for our own glory but for the glory of God. Paul says in I Cor. 10:31, (NRSV), “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” We are not to seek our own advantage or do works to be applauded by others, but our motive for everything should be for God’s glory. Let us keep our hearts open to the Lord, and let His love be the motivating factor for whatever we do.
  Challenge for today: Be alert to help others as the Lord directs and do it in His name and for His glory.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy