Canaan's Rest

Canaan’s Rest represents a quiet place “set apart” for the purpose of hearing God's voice, growing in intimacy with the Lord, and being renewed in soul and spirit.

Month: April 2025 (Page 3 of 4)

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you wake to a peace-filled day! Al will be going to the men’s group early this morning and awaits donuts when he comes home. I plan to do food prep, some cleaning, bake a dessert and attend Bible study.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
The line between right and wrong in today’s world is blurred, and people are choosing for themselves what they think is truth and what is false. But if it is not based on what is in the Word and leaves God out of the equation, we will have grave results.
I am presently reading the book of Isaiah where God had commissioned Isaiah to be a prophet to speak His message to the people who had wandered off on their own. They were getting drunk, exploiting others, perverting justice, being prideful and conceited, accepting confusing moral standards, etc. Sounds a lot like our present culture. Isaiah was chosen by God to be His mouthpiece to warn the people of what He would do if they didn’t change their ways. He calls them out and says in Isaiah 5:20-21, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent and shrewd in their own sight!” Isaiah told them doom was coming if they refused to listen, and he gives the picture of them dragging a full cartload of sins behind them that they refuse to give up (verse 18). That gets to be a heavy load and will wear people out.
But what a different outcome if the people listened and obeyed! They would be blessed, encouraged, comforted, and given direction and assurance, etc. Let us not make excuses for our sins and go along with the culture, neglecting to call out sin for what it is. Rather let us live our lives based on God’s word and desire to please the Lord.
Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and show you if there are areas of compromise in your life that you need to give over to Him.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 9, 2025

April 9, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you wake to a wonderful day. Al will be going to preach at Assisted Living today after a month or more off because of lockdown there. Hopefully they are well now. I have Exercise class, Crafts, and later Lenten supper and service. It is quite different from last week’s snow when it was canceled.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Haven’t we all had times of shaking when things rattle and change? I was reading an article by Kim Potter and she describes the shaking going on today, even in and our own lives. We have only to watch the news to see changes taking place in our world, church, and family as things are shaken and exposed. God will shake everything that can be shaken, not to rattle us but to uncover and remove the negative things so we can be fruitful.

Now we probably won’s say it is a pleasant thing to be shaken but it is necessary so we can lay aside those things that weigh us down and keep us encumbered. I love the illustration Potter gives of a man in Florida who has his garden professionally landscaped with gorgeous azalea bushes. They were beautiful, all except one that wouldn’t bloom no matter what the gardener did. But one day a terrible storm hit and shook everything violently and afterwards that azalea bush began blooming like all the rest. The gardener said that there some bushes that just need to be shaken in order to bloom!

Maybe we feel like we are being shaken but it is good to know it is for our own good. It says in Psalm 75:3 that “The earth and all its people may shake, but I am the One who holds it steady.” Or like the Message translation says, “When the earth goes topsy-turvy and nobody knows which end is up, I nail it all down, I put everything in place again.” We can trust that whatever shaking goes on in our lives, God will give us grace to help us let go of the things that need to change and will hold us steady as we learn to trust Him in a deeper way. May He shake and awaken each of us to let go of anything that distracts or encumbers us and hold on to Him

Challenge for today: When shaken, ask the Lord what needs to go and release it to Him.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 8, 2025

April 8, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a wonderful day and live in freedom. The snow is all gone and seems like spring again and the trees are budding outside my window. We are getting excited and making preparations to go to North Carolina for Easter. We leave early Monday morning.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
When I hear the word freedom, my heart resonates as I have been reading more about freedom from our ego for the sake of others. Today most people are obsessed with self and what will make them happy but that is not a life of freedom for it is losing our life for His sake that we find life that is truly free. Jesus said in Mark 8:34-35, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” And what if we gained the world but forfeited our soul, how tragic that would be.

How do we lose our lives for the sake of others and become free from our selfishness to serve them? Our focus must be on Jesus and live in the present moment by faith and not worry or fear. When we know the Lord, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit within us and our part is to respond to His leading in our life. That takes surrender and I have to admit that many times I fail in responding to His lead and go my own way. Afterwards I feel sorrow and ask forgiveness and pray that I will continually die to self and respond to the Spirit’s leading.

As we live more and more in the Spirit, there will be evidence of fruit of unselfishness in our lives like love and joy and peace and patience and gentleness. We don’t have to get our own way but instead put everything in God’s hands. I often pray when I tell the Lord I would like something specific to happen but then follow with, “But Lord if that isn’t your will that is fine too.”  I find that if it is postponed, I later experience even more joy. Let us get free of the obstacles of our own ego and go God’s way in God’s timing and experience true freedom.

Challenge for today: When you lack peace and freedom, ask the Lord to show you if you are pushing your will and not letting the Holy Spirit lead you.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Carried By Jesus

April 7, 2025 / / 0 Comments

The journey through my 80’s in retirement, I have found my main spiritual work has become the formation of my  own soul, that is, giving attention to the formation of my life in Christ.  I have become more comfortable resting in the mystery of my inner life, not depending on my understanding or experience.  The words of Paul in Colossians 3:3 have taken on new meaning for me.  “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”  As an evangelical protestant I have found both “soul food and spiritual nourishment” in the Christian spirituality of the Catholic Church, which is part of the “Great Tradition” going back to the earliest centuries of the Christian story.  I have discovered and tasted this rich spiritual vineyard, having been nourished by its rich spiritual fruit.  I thank God for this discovery. 

In these days of spiritual awareness and growth, Carmelite nun, Ruth Burrows has been a spiritual guide on my journey.  Some years ago I read her book, “Essence of Prayer.” Chapter four, “Prayer that is Jesus” made an impression in my spiritual awareness.  I found in Burrows, someone who was totally focused on Jesus.  This spoke to my Lutheran pietistic roots, with its focus on a warm hearted experience of Jesus.  She stated, “Only One has attained the Father and we can attain him only insofar as we allow ourselves to be caught up in Jesus, carried along by him.”  

She went on to say, “….we must die with Jesus: not of ourselves, or by ourselves, but ‘in him.’ I must enter into his death.  This death is a death to my self-centeredness and self-possession.  It is an ecstasy: a going right out of myself to belong to God.  This is the essence of faith.  I cannot achieve it myself; it is wrought by God and is the effect of mystical contact.  God reveals himself to the inmost depths of the self, but ‘no one can see God and live.'” Speaking of contemplation she plainly explains, “Ultimately, to be a contemplative means to  be holy, to be transformed into Jesus…..This profound communication of God cannot be known by our natural  faculties.”  Further she notes, “God’s direct communication and his transforming action must remain secret.  Only by their fruits will they be known: by a quality of life.”

One of the images from Burrows’ writing, that has been most helpful for me has been Paul’s words in Philippians 2:6-11, where the “Kenosis,” the emptying of Jesus, is described. “Who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave” (Phil 2:6-7).  Burrows encourages us to enter into Jesus’ experience as Jesus expresses his “yes” to the Father’s outpouring of love in and through his frail humanity.    

By faith, I find myself taking my place with Jesus on the cross.  I  continually release into Jesus all of my old nature.  As I enter into his death, I find my life being enfolded into Jesus, as He takes me to the Father.  I stand empty handed before the Father’s love.  Burrows has helped me see that I my identification with Jesus on the cross in the presence of the Father allows me to release unto him all my nothingness, poverty and emptiness.  I can experience God loving me, so that I might be able to love him, with the love I have received.    In Burrows words, “We come to Jesus with empty hands so we are able to let ourselves be loved.”   

April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend. I want to give you an update on Jack, who you prayed for recently. He is out of ICU and in rehab at the very place his wife has happened to be for a while. We got a picture of them both in wheelchairs as they hugged and kissed each other after God’s miracle of healing on Jack’s life. What a reunion for them!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Most of us don’t choose struggles in life, but they happen to us and we must deal with them. The fourth and fifth-century desert fathers had a different outlook on struggles, seeing them as healthy and necessary to drive us to the Lord. Al and I recently struggled with minor health issues and I had not thought to thank the Lord for them, but thought more to pray that they may soon disappear. Instead, I should have been praying that the Lord would teach me through them, develop my character and lead me into greater intimacy.
Our goal in life should not be to live a comfortable life and to be successful in the eyes of the world, but rather to draw closer to the Lord and develop mature character that we can have an influence on others to know Him. Struggles that fight against our flesh are good for our souls as they help us realize how much we need the Lord. One who exemplified this was St. Antony of Egypt, who grew up in a rich home and who after his parents died managed the responsibilities of the home and his younger sister. But while going to church one day, he wondered what it would be like for him to forsake everything to follow the Lord. The sermon text at church was from Matt 19:21, about if you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor. That is exactly what he did and then entrusted the care of his sister to friends. He withdrew and lived in an abandoned fortress for 20 years in isolation where he did battle with the enemy and came through the testing with humility, peace and great love for the Lord. Others sought him, and eventually he left his desired solitude and spent the last part of his life healing the sick, mentoring disciples, and serving those who had suffered for their faith. He especially encouraged others to prefer nothing in the world above the love of Christ.
When Constantine assumed the throne, he issued the Edict of Milan (A.D. 313) giving Christianity legal status in the Roman empire. Church attendance grew, but it wasn’t long before Christianity became almost fashionable. What resulted was a worldly church; not persecution but privilege. The enemy they fought was now within. It sounds like the church today. We all have to face the darkness of our own souls. Let us not seek a life of comfort, but rather victory over our struggles that draw us closer to the Lord.
Challenge for today: Thank the Lord for the very struggles that help you realize how much you need Him.

May 5, 2025

April 5, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a blessed weekend. Today I plan to clean the apartment and then Al and I are going to go to the celebration of life for a special person in our lives from here at Northern Living. She is someone we will never forget and I hope you will get a picture of what she was like as you read the devotion today.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Haven’t we all met people that are unforgettable and have an impact on our life in a deep way? I think many of us at Northern Lakes will never forget Ivy, a small bent over woman who buzzed around in a motorized wheelchair and came to Bible Study each Thursday. We reserved a place for her next to Al so she could hear better and so others could hear her. What she had to say seemed to be just what we needed to hear and often it was a scripture that fit whatever we were discussing.

Al and I met Ivy when she first came to Northern Lakes several years ago. She had many questions and had a difficult time making decisions. She lived in the handicapped apartment and we often took her to church with us. Her son and wife invited her to live with them for a time but it wasn’t long until she came back to her same apartment and we had all missed her.

Ivy shared with our Bible study group about her early years growing up in a dysfunctional family that had left her wavering with many questions. She wanted to believe in her Heavenly Father and His love for her, but it wasn’t connecting to her heart. One day while driving she was calling out to the Lord and saying she wanted to believe and please help her. Suddenly she was overcome with a sense of God’s presence and that He loved her. It left her changed.  After that Ivy seemed to just glow and there was a holy boldness about her. Al and I noticed a great difference in her and from then on, we spent time with her rejoicing, for she had found the Pearl of Great Price.

Ivy’s life was not easy as she lived in pain all the time. She had a hard time breathing as she was very bent over as her spine was collapsing and breathing became more difficult. But she never wanted to miss Bible Study where the Lord used her words to speak to all of us. Even when hard things were shared by others, she had a positive word of how the Lord was sovereign and would handle it. She certainly knew that from experience.

Ivy went home to the Lord and as I write this there is such joy in my heart that she is now with the Lord. No more pain but only delight to see Him face to face. Her only sorrow was loved ones who have not yet received the Lord. We will carry that burden and pray. No, none of us will forget Ivy, for she challenged us spiritually with her strong faith and words spoken in love.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to give you holy boldness to share Him with others and live your life for His glory.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! The snow has been beautiful out our window but hope it will be disappearing soon so spring will come! Today I am going to spend time in the closet as I got some free containers that stack and want to use them for a less cluttered look.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Jesus’ way is so opposite of the world’s and as His followers our responses to others should show who we belong to. Our natural way is often opposite of what Jesus would do. I was reading in Luke 6 and Jesus is telling the crowd to do for other people everything we want them to do for us. He specifically mentions those who do not treat us well that we would respond His way. “Love your enemies. Be kind to those who hate you. Pray for those who insult you…Love your enemies, help them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back…Stop judging and you will never be judged. Stop condemning, and you will never be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven…Give and you will receive.”

These are all beautiful words but how hard they are to put into practice. We need to be filled with God’s love, need to die to self and not feed our egos, need to look at our own hearts rather than pointing out what we see in the hearts of others. God’s way is one of humility and when our hearts are right before the Lord, even the hard things can bring blessings and bear fruit. I also read from Proverbs 15 and wise King Solomon really opens our eyes to what happens when we go Jesus’ way. Instead of a sharp answer to others, “A gentle response defuses anger.”  Instead of cutting words, “Kind words heal and help.”

Our hearts are also amazingly changed as we go His way and Solomon says “The lives of God-loyal people flourish,” and “a cheerful heart fills the day with song,” also “an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.” He goes on to say we first learn humility, then we experience glory.

Challenge for today: The next time someone is angry calmly respond and use gentle words and watch God work.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
We have lots and lots of snow! EmojiSo glad our pastor postponed the service last night as it just kept snowing. Today is donut day and I am going to try a new recipe for chicken thighs. This afternoon is Bible Study and tonight is Soup supper and Lenten service.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
No matter what is going on in our lives, we can rest securely, for God is with us. Over and over again in the Word, He reminds us that we do not have to fear but trust Him in every circumstance we may go through. Isaiah 41:9-10 is one of my favorite scriptures that comes to mind when I am afraid and experiencing something difficult. ”Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah said this to the Israelites when they were experiencing the threat of the Babylonians. The Message Translation says, “Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.” He said they could always count on God’s help and He would not let go of them.

When we respond to the Lord, even that is a work of God that draws us to Him. From the very beginning, God gives us freedom to choose if we will follow Him; He doesn’t force us to believe and obey Him. Adam and Eve began right but chose to disobey God and felt fear and shame, just as we do when we sin. But the Lord seeks to draw us back. We have to decide if we will choose Him or our own way. It’s comforting that the Bible records all the many people who sinned and turned from the Lord, but then later came back and were restored. When we choose the Lord, we are set free from self-effort and earning for we can never measure up. Instead, we simply receive from the Lord even though we may sometimes have to pray, “I believe Lord, help my unbelief.”

Let us not shut ourselves off from the Lord and go our own way but choose to trust the Lord each day. Gradually we will become more like Him and our fears will give way to knowing He is with us and will uphold us with His victorious right hand.
Challenge for today: Ask for grace to trust the Lord in all things and know He is always with you.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hoping this will be the last of the snow and that Spring will soon come. Today there is Exercise class and
 Crafts but the Lenten supper and service has already been postponed until tomorrow night. Weather can quickly change things! Your question for this week is Who in your life shows you compassion? Can you think of a specific word they gave you that changed your life in a positive way?
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Are there people in your life that speak kind and loving words to you and show compassion? That is truly a gift from the Lord and we need to do that for one another. We are all on a journey and the Lord sends people to walk with us sometimes for a short time and sometimes for the long distance. They are gifts from Him when we can be vulnerable and ourselves with them and know that they won’t give up on us but supportive of us!

As good as that is, we must also remember to be supportive of ourselves and deal with those deep issues, hurts and expectations we might have of ourselves. We may show others more compassion than we would reserve for ourselves but how can we know ourselves if we hide and cover up. We end up being strangers to ourselves. One man who has blocked out emotions all his life and now getting help, shared how he is experiencing what it means to love and have joy and also pain as he becomes aware of what is going on within himself. It’s like being reborn. Also, many that are so scattered and disordered need help to get things in order in their lives. If we are honest, we all have parts of us that are disconnected from our Center and like Paul said in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” We don’t need to be defined by our actions and disorders but to turn back to God in us.

Hopefully we will find our worth in the Lord and know God’s love and acceptance in the deepest parts of our lives. He delights in us and wants to transform us and heal our broken parts. Henri Nouwen wrote, “Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the ‘Beloved.’ Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.” Let us be compassionate with ourselves and give the Holy Spirit free reign to heal us and to help us become our true selves in Him.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you what is ‘disordered’ in your life and give Him the pieces so He can weave you into the beautiful person He designed from the very beginning.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy
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