Month: August 2011 (Page 2 of 4)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I don’t know how many of you noticed the lamp shade in the picture I sent you of the Nevis group I had for lunch…but it is crooked!  I cleaned the house the day before and moved the chair and lamp over as we needed more room for the group. And as many times as I served people around the table, I never noticed the lampshade. When Al came home he asked me about it as he saw it right away.  It made me think of things in my life that need attending and I am yet blind to. We all have blind spots and areas that the Lord wants to show us in our lives. Sometimes people point those things out to us and other times the Spirit reveals them to us and all of a sudden we see. But either way are we ready to let the Lord reshape us, adjust us, change us more and more into His image?   As it says in II Cor. 3:17 to 18:  “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”  We are being transformed and haven’t arrived yet, so there will always be things in our lives that need changing. May our hearts be open to let Him do His work in our lives that we may live in freedom of His Spirit.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

I think everyone wants to know they are needed and when they get the message they are not, it is hurtful. One day I found a gal  weeping as she had been told that someone else was taking her place at the table where she was going to be taking money. It was a mistake since two were scheduled to do it for the same time slot so she was told she wasn’t needed. I think it struck a cord from her past as she took it so personally that no one needed her now. But that is a lie for we all have a contribution to make and the Body is not complete without our part in it. I thought of someone making stew and putting ingredients in the pot. Each herb and spice makes a difference in the flavor of the whole. If we neglect to put in certain ones it changes the aroma and flavor.  The end product is compromised. We may feel our part is small but withholding it robs the whole. One of Kurt’s friends who is a great chef, made us a dinner one night. He had lots of spices and herbs in it, and one spice was $13 an ounce. Now he didn’t need to use a lot of it, but did it make a difference?  Yes! Maybe we don’t think our part is as important as someone else’s but that is not ours to discern.  Let us use   what God has put within us to benefit the whole.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

Who are the people we remember most in life? I think we hold to our hearts those who are servants and pour their lives out for others. I read today from Matt 23:11-12 ,“The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” There is nothing more beautiful than a person who is emptied of self and thinks how she or he can serve others. I noticed when the nuns were here how they always gave each other preference….offering the best to the other, not needing to have their own way. I remember a nursing supervisor when I was a student nurse, who poured herself out in doing things needed that would have been assigned to an aid. It elevated her in my mind as she humbled herself to do anything needed at the time. Another friend who is 80 was going to clean toilets at a Via de Cristo weekend and didn’t mind a bit. The Lord looks at our hearts and it must give Him joy when we serve others in His name and are humble enough to do whatever He puts before us. The world is watching and sometimes it is a living sermon, just as my nursing supervisor gave to me.

I think all of us have special ways the Lord speaks to us individually. I remember a pastor going down to the river near us, when we had pastoral soul care groups each month….and he laid down on the ice and looked through it and God spoke to him. I was amazed!  God can use anything to speak if we have ears to hear. One thing that is a constant to me is the clouds. They continually speak to me of infinity and of His love. Lately as I have floated on the lake, I have gazed up to the clouds and beyond them….  there seems to be no ending to their depth…..it’s as if they continue forever. I just imagine what is beyond them and think of glory and all that awaits us. (“The heavens proclaim His righteousness” as I read today from Ps. 97:6)   Now clouds may say nothing to you, but maybe something else does that just put you in touch in a deeper way with Him. Pay attention and let it be a reminder that what you see in this world is not all there is. What is unseen is more real and eternal!!

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

When Al was gone to Nevis lately, I did lots of catching up on a lot of smaller tasks that I have put off because of having retreatants etc. I was amazed at how quickly the weeds grow up, the sauna furniture gets full of cobwebs and dirt, the deck get full of pine needles etc. I had just cleaned these 3 days before. I wished I would have cleaned them again before the Nuns came as perhaps they couldn’t sit on the Adirondack chair by the lake as the eagle had left his signature behind! Maybe they wanted to sit by the sauna and take in the silence of the woods but it had cobwebs. I felt regret and wished I had taken the time for these tasks.  I thought of how the Lord must be sad too, when there is so much he wants to do through us in our lives, but we put Him off. We don’t take time to get inwardly prepared for what He has for us to do. I know I need a daily cleansing so the weeds of my failings and sins don’t pile up. Why do I put off even the small things that make a difference?  How much more we would experience of Him and would be more fruitful for His kingdom if we were on His schedule and had His priorities.

“Make new friends but keep the old”!”

Recently when I was going for a prayer walk I met a gal who was also walking and carrying her dog. She had a mini skirt on, heels, and her prissy dog had a bow in her hair.  That is not a common sight here in the woods! But as we talked a friendship was begun and I hope to visit with her again. Al and I had just been to Remer where we went to the Harvest Festival and saw many of our old friends.  What a joy that was! So many hugs and kisses and sharing of past memories …made me felt so rich and blessed.  Friendships are a gift from above and the Lord gives us all different kinds of friends that help round us out. I think each one opens our hearts in a new way so we can keep receiving more of His love. It is so sad to see people whose hearts are closed and can’t receive the love that is coming to them. I thought of my new friend and my old friends and how each one is important in my life. Some are silver, some gold, some very deep friends, and some acquaintances… all a gift to my heart. And let us press on to know more intimately the One friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Prov. 18:24)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

The Lost is Found!  Over the weekend I was going for a walk to the garden and came across a couple searching for their cell phone along the road. Both of them  were out looking and combing the roadside and ditch. I had never met them before but told them I would search  and have Al also look as he went for his walk.  I began praying that it would be found and that credit would be given to the Lord. I knew He knew where it was and also how important it was to the couple. Well after I picked some garden produce they came along in their  the car, honking and waving me down…they had found it on a high hill where it had rolled off of their car roof, having put it up there before they were going some where. I told them I had been praying as I walked and that God knew where it was and wanted to help. The gal said something to the effect, “Oh, you are right! God answered! He answered your prayers and helped us. Thank you for praying.” They were grinning from ear to ear and so happy. Maybe we will see them again and the Lord gets the glory. It reminded me of the story of the lost sheep and the joy when he was found.  Let us share Christ with others in our daily lives so there will be rejoicing in heaven over each one that is found!!

.  We have just had 3 nuns here at Canaan for retreat. They filled our house with a positive, joyful, and grateful atmosphere . They seemed to be content with whatever was before them and whatever was happening. I loved their childlike quality of wonderment as they enjoyed nature, quietness, exploring, listening, sharing etc.  They bring Christ’s presence wherever they go and as it says in II Tim 2:21 they are “A vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”. Sometimes we may forget that we are His vessels and containers too and that the Master wants to use us to bless others and bring His presence. We are also the aroma of Christ and may others catch the aroma and be drawn to Him….. I can still catch the fragrance left by the nuns!