Dear Ones,
Hope you have been having a wonderful Labor Day weekend. You can get a glimpse of our weekend from the devotion today. I did some food prep and made a quick trip to Aldi’s and then took some  choc covered raspberries downstairs again for our coffee time this morning. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
When we came home from a day at the lake with all the relatives, I felt so filled up with love. We gathered by the lake shore Saturday morning, on two docks and some in their boats, to be socially distanced while we spent time to catch up with one another. Because of COVID it had been months since we had seen some of them and we had time to ask questions and to find out what it was like to live close to the riots; what was it like to work from home, or what it was like to no longer  even have a job etc. Later there was time to swim and sauna, pray together, fish, and eat together as we roasted wieners and had smores. This is the family God put me in and I am grateful, especially that they know Him. And as wonderful as that is, I was reminded the debt of love we owe not just to our family but all those God puts in our lives. Romans 13:8a & 10(The Message) says, “Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along…Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.” Jesus loved us with such great love that He was willing to take our place and die for us.  We can never finish the debt of love we owe Him. The only way to begin is to love others and help meet their needs. There are so many around us that can use help and our eyes need to be to open to see their physical and emotional and spiritual needs. Sometimes it just means beaming a smile or speaking an encouraging word to someone who feels down; or asking someone if they would want you to pray for them. Maybe it would mean providing a meal for someone just returning from the hospital or mowing the lawn for a widow. It could be giving child care so a busy mom can have a breather. Then there is also our finances; they can be used to help support missions, dig new wells, rescue children sold in trafficking etc. Love is shown in many forms and we have only to ask the Lord how He would have us express His love. Let us love not only in word but in our actions.
Challenge for today: Find a new creative way to show God’s love and just keep it between Him and you.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy