Today I preached on the gospel lesson for this Sunday. The text was from Matthew 16:13-20. Again I was struck with an application for men as they follow Jesus. In the text Peter makes his confession of who Jesus is by saying, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (v 16). This…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
“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!…
In the mid 80’s, I began to read Thomas Keating’s books on centering prayer. They became foundational in my journey with the Lord. One quote from Keating on the silence of God stuck with me, yet for some time just did not make sense to me. In these last years, however, it has become more…
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…
. 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…