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: June 2026 (Page 2 of 3)

June 10, 2026

June 10, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a blessed day. Al is going to Men’s group and then preaching next door. I have the Paramedic coming at 9 and hoping to get to Crafts this afternoon and it will be my first non-medical “outing”!!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
God can use all things in our lives to bring glory to Him if we are willing to give all to Him. The Lord doesn’t just want pieces of our lives, He wants everything! We don’t offer ourselves just once, but again and again until we go home to be with the Lord for all eternity. I can remember as if it was yesterday, giving my life to the Lord as a young girl. Then again as a senior in high school, I recommitted my life to the Lord, but the longer I live, I find it is a daily thing. Every day we need to give our all. Whatever we hold back keeps us from living an abundant life. The Lord gave His all for us that we are mindful of every time we have communion. He couldn’t give more!
Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane is one we are to make daily. “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) Many things that happen are not what we would choose, but we can pray, “Your will be done in all of this.” It doesn’t necessarily change the outcome of the circumstance, but we are open to receive His strength as we go through it and resting in the fact that He has got this. We don’t know how it will turn out, but it is in His hands. We read of many saints who went through much pain and agony, but as they did, they identified with Christ’s suffering in a deep way and experienced His love.

Surrender also leads to love for others and serving them. It might be in selfless acts towards the poor, praying and interceding for those sick and hurting. One day we may wake to the fact we are dying more to self and have more room for the Lord. Less of us and more of Him!!! Have you noticed how those who selflessly serve others have so much joy? Two missionaries we help support are such examples to Al and me, as they are continually giving to others and bubble over with joy. Let us not hold back but let us give our all.

Challenge for today: Think of a time in your life that was difficult, but later you thanked Him for the good that it produced in your life.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

June 9, 2026

June 9, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a connecting day! I wrote the following devotional before I fell and ended up spending most of the time in our apt or going for wound care. But tomorrow I hope to get downstairs and mix with friends while we do crafts. I have missed seeing others!
Devotions from Judys heart
How well do we connect with others? I am an introvert by nature and love quiet time at my desk, but I also need time to be in community. I don’t have to go far, for there are fifty-nine other apartments in our building. All we have to do is open our door to go get our mail and mix with others as much or as little as we desire. The need to connect is within each of us and we are healthier when we do, and statistics show we live longer.

God’s desire for each of us is to have deep, rich relationships with others. That means loving real people (not just texting them), sharing with others, and bringing encouragement to one another. Some people try to escape relationships, turning instead to alcohol, endless scrolling on the internet, drugs, etc., but we need communion with others. Paul says in Romans 1:11-12 (Amplified), “For I am yearning to see you, that I may impart and share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen and establish you; that is, that we may be mutually strengthened and encouraged and comforted by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”

If we want abundant life, we will need close connections. Community is a place of being lifted out of our negative mindset or times of discouragement; it will strengthen our spirits and bring hope. We can share with one another, pray for one another and stand together through thick and thin. The enemy however wants us to be isolated so we are easier to pick off.  Our son’s family has been in a small group for some time and they meet regularly together. It is strengthening to all, as they can share honestly and openly and also know it will be held in confidence.  Let us seek close relationships, that we may grow closer to the Lord and one another.

Challenge for today: Pray, asking the Lord for good connections with others, that you may grow together in Him.

Distant Thunder

June 8, 2026 / / 0 Comments

I grew up near Lake Superior.  It was always both a spectacular and foreboding experience, to watch a thunderstorm coming off the lake. The clouds rolled in, the water churned and the lightening flashed, but most of all the rumble of the thunder was rather foreboding.  The closer the storm came, the louder the thunder.  We know that we needed to “get off” the lake before it was to late.  

In Scripture the mighty voice of God is depicted in the thunder.  His voice is all powerful.  “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm” (Ps.33:9).  Psalm 29:3-4 describe the awesome power and might of God’s voice.  “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.  The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic” (Ps 29:3-4).  The Palmist pictures the voice coming from heaven.  “The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded” (Ps. 18:13)

The prophets use the image of mighty thunder, to warn their listeners of coming judgment.  Joel is clear in his message. “The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful.  Who can endure it? (Joel 2:11)  But  God will also protect his people when he roars. “The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake.  But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel” (Joel 3: 15-16). 

The prophet Jeremiah was called to prophecy to Judah.  God gave him significant authority. “See, today I appointed you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jer. 1:10).  But God warned him of the people not listening.  “But they will not listen or pay attention: instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.  They went backward and not forward” (Jer. 7:24). 

Jeremiah warned the people of their response to God’s Word.  “The Lord will roar from on high; he will thunder from his holy dwelling and roar mightily against his land.  He will shout like those who tread the grapes, shout against all who live on the earth.  The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth, for the Lord will bring charges against the nations; he will bring judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword” (Jer. 25:30-31).  

I wonder if we are not hearing a “distant thunder” during the tumult of our time.  We seem to be going backward rather than forward.  Many “people watchers” can see greater conflict in the days to come.   Instead of pessimism regarding the human condition, we should be praying for the Lord’s intervention in our affairs.  Could there be the sound of God’s thunder in the background?  I wonder!  I certainly am not making a prediction of the coming days.  But I know who hold the future.  The Lord  could be once again shaking to our world.

What would this mean for men?  Here are some of my advice.  First, keep your focus on Jesus and His kingdom.  Secondly, keep praying the way Jesus taught us to pray: “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10), Thirdly, ask the Lord for discernment regarding our times. Fourthly, find fellowship with like minded believers and fifthly,  determine with other believers to live as “overcomers” knowing that Jesus has already won and is Lord of history.   

 

June 8, 2026

June 8, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones, Hope you had a great weekend! Our day-to-day life seems much the same lately as I am recovering.  Ann and Leif stopped by yesterday on their way to his sister’s cabin but otherwise Al and I have been navigating together well. We are thankful for the paramedic that is coming today to change my dressings.
Devotions from Judys heart
How worn are our Bibles? Do we spend time each day reading the Word? The Bible is full of wisdom, and yet we often settle for lesser things rather than pursuing it. The book of Proverbs has so much to say about wisdom, and in chapter four we are told to get wisdom at all costs, to cherish it and embrace it. But wisdom costs us sacrifice, like screen time and inferior things, to spend time reading and absorbing the words that bring life. We also learn from studies that time watching too much TV lowers our IQ, reduces our ability to handle anger, and increases stress, anxiety and depression.

We can never exhaust the treasures of wisdom that we find in the Bible. Even though we have read a certain story or chapter many times, it can still instruct and challenge us, as well as encourage and inspire us. Many died to give us the Bibles that we have on our shelves and are sadly often dusty. I recently read about William Tyndale who was burned alive in 1415, and John Wyliffe in 1384 who was persecuted and imprisoned for making the Bible accessible to the lay person. There are those today from closed countries that would give anything to have a Bible, and others in remote villages to have one in their own language.

But more than simply reading the Bible or even memorizing it, we need to apply what we learn and let God transform our lives from the inside out. When we neglect reading the Word, we find the world is shaping us. Let us grow in wisdom as we meditate on the Word. Proverbs 19:8 says, “The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.”

Challenge for today: Pray before reading the Word and ask the Lord to give you wisdom to shape your life after Him.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

June 6, 2026

June 6, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones, Happy weekend to you and hope you have time to be renewed. The goal for Al and I today is to work together to get the apartment back in shape. I still want to reach the goal to get to church tomorrow but not sure if it will happen. If my wound dressing is over 70% saturated, I will have to go to Urgent Care instead but hoping that is not the case. So thankful that Monday we have a paramedic scheduled to come right to our apartment. God is so good!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
When we speak of the word humility, pictures probably come to our mind of someone who proclaims to be humble, and yet his talk is mostly about himself. I was reading what Mark Roberts of Fuller Seminary had to say about humility: it isn’t thinking poorly of ourselves, but the focus going beyond ourselves. We have all heard “humblebrag”, or read of it online as Roberts describes. It is someone who puts on a mask of modesty in order to “humble brag” about his accomplishments. You know, “I am humbled to be the new CEO of a company!” “I am humbled to be chosen out of 99 people to be…” On the other hand, we don’t need to have a low opinion of ourselves either, but rather an accurate one, to keep our accomplishments in perspective and also and have an understanding of our imperfections. My favorite description is from C.S. Lewis, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, its thinking of yourself less.”

The Bible has much to say about humility. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Jesus is our example, for He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. (Phil.2:8) Humility is more than a mask that we use to try to hide our pride. Our pride can pop up any time and sometime surprise even us, as we wonder, “Why did I say that?” Humility is a beautiful quality, especially in our narcissistic world today, as it is such a contrast to the arrogance we see. But humility will show up in our seeking the good of others, rather than self!

When we ask the Lord to make us more humble, He may change our circumstances, as He has done for me recently. I like to hurry about and get a lot done each day, but since my injury I have to go slow, especially when my leg is hurting. In fact, I am borrowing a walker until I get healed, and it is humbling me.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you your areas of pride, and humble yourself before Him and others.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

June 5, 2026

June 5, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones, Hope you have a great weekend. Al and I will be going to Urgent Care again today to get my wound cleaned. Next week we hope it can go to every other day and I have been assigned a Paramedic that will be coming to our apartment. Today we have a special treat as a friend is having pizza delivered when we get back home. Again thank you for your prayers and the Lord has provided so wonderfully nurses to give great care.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Some people are super organized and have detailed plans that they feel are under their control. But is that the way that is meant for Christians, or are we to give up control to live as Jesus directed, which is usually full of surprises? The apostle Paul said in II Cor. 5:15 “He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” I guess that answers our question, for we are not the ones in control at all for we no longer live for ourselves, and our agenda is set by the Lord.

But rather than our routine and often boring life, when the Lord is in control life becomes exciting. I am a planner and usually do things before the expected date, so not knowing what the Lord has for me stretches my faith. If we are having company, I plan and make the meal in advance and do the necessary prep. But then what if the Lord prompts me to invite someone over on the spur of the moment, am I just as open to that? My mother was a good example to me of dropping everything to invite people over, even when it wasn’t convenient. When she saw a need she was open to fill that need without complaint.

Let us not fight to stay in control, for that is our attempt to replace God’s exciting plans for our own. Dr./Pastor Gary Thomas’ words challenge us: “Dismantle your obsession with control. Learn instead to be astonished by the new things God is calling you to, things you could never plan or execute on your own.” Just think every day to ask God to use us to do spontaneous deeds and see God move through us. If we are housebound, we may be led to a prayer ministry as God puts people on our heart to pray for. We must keep our heart and eyes open so the Lord can lead us wherever He chooses. Let us put nothing else before God, not even our family. God is enough, even when none of our family may join us. Thomas’ words go on to say, “But let us remember that putting faith first helps us love our families best.” May the Lord be first and foremost in our lives, and the One in control.

Challenge for today: Memorize Matt. 6:33 if you don’t already know it. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Blessings on your weekend and healing prayers and love, Judy

 

June 4, 2026

June 4, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones, May you have a peace-filled day!! Al and I are so thankful as our family Dr. saw me yesterday and had one of his nurses change my wound dressing, and the nurse observing will do it the next two days. We are so grateful and next week we have home health coming too. What an answer to prayer. We prayed at 5 a.m. and the idea popped into our mind to call his office and were able to get an appointment before noon. The nurse assured us Al wouldn’t have to change my dressings as one of them would!!! All praise to the Lord!!!! And gratitude to your prayers as well.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I think we would all admit that people have more anger today than ever before. Some explode at the most minor things that don’t go their way and take it out on others. Anger may come from fears that they have been overlooked or mistreated, or happenings that were out of their control. Many can’t watch the news without getting angry as they view the world as a violent place. But anger doesn’t solve anything and when we know the Lord, we don’t have to fear or hate because we belong to the Prince of Peace.

Not all anger is bad, for we are told in Eph. 4:26-27, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” We all get angry, but it’s what we do with the anger that counts. When we are in the wrong, we are to humble ourselves and ask forgiveness, including times when we didn’t start the fight. But what about when we may be angry with ourselves because we have messed up? Rather than feeling ashamed, directing our anger towards ourselves or others, we first go to the Lord and ask forgiveness, and then forgive ourselves so we can go and make peace with others.

No matter who has caused us to be angry, it is good to name our anger and then let it go into the Lord’s hands. If someone has hurt us, it is up to the Lord to deal with that person. His hand is just, and we are free to go on with our life while He deals with things. But if we have repressed anger we need to deal with that, and ask the Lord to go to the root of the problem rather than just trying to continually deal with the superficial symptoms. We can’t heal if we don’t get to the root, and that takes humility as we accept the Lord’s diagnosis and ask for His help and healing.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you if you are hiding pockets of anger, agree with Him, and put it all in His hands that you may be healed.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

June 3, 2026

June 3, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones, Hope you are on God’s plan for your day. Thank you for prayers as I went to the wound specialist and she used a different dressing for my wound which seems better. Al watched carefully as he will be doing that each day this week. Hopefully we can progress to every other day next week. Thank you for prayers!! I had a painful night so especially needed those prayers.  We won’t have any internet this morning from 8 to 12 as CTC is doing some work here.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Our steps are ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37:23), but sometimes it seems like we are on a detour as we impatiently wait and wait for something that is delayed or may not happen at all. But isn’t it good to know our days are in His hands, even when we don’t understand what He is doing or where He may be taking us? I’m sure Joseph, a favored son, really wondered how His steps were ordered by God when he was enslaved and then falsely accused and imprisoned, and yet it was preparing him for the throne.

Our thoughts are not always God’s thoughts nor our ways His ways (Isaiah 55:8), but His ways always trump ours and are best in the long run. Al and I have had plans for months to go to Des Moines to see a friend and then on to see Kurt’s to celebrate Grant’s graduation, but it is not going to happen. When I fell at the Lake it changed things, and for now the trip is on hold. But I am asking the Lord, “What I am to learn from all of this?” as life has changed for me (and Al) while my leg heals. What is the Lord teaching me?

The first thing that comes to mind is my word for the year, to be still. I am limited with activity now and physically must be more still. Even as I have spent some still moments in my glider chair most every morning, this will give me more time to listen to Him. It is also helping Al and I to work as a team on things I have usually done myself. I believe I have written to you of a word the Lord spoke to me that the enemy has used on me since a child: I don’t want to be a bother…and this experience really puts me in that position right now… I am more of a bother, as I can’t do everything I used to do. What stands out even more is that this experience is helping me develop patience, as it seems to be taking so long to heal and I need a walking stick when I try to bear weight on the wounded leg. A beautiful thing the Lord is teaching me, is that He uses these things to unite us with others who are also going through similar situations, and there is an understanding and sense of oneness with them. When others have seen my bandaged leg, they have shared of their own hurt places and it opens us to pray for one another. More lessons will be coming I’m sure in the days to come.

Challenge for today: When you don’t understand why bad things happen to you, don’t complain but seek to know God’s higher way.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

June 2, 2026

June 2, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones, Hope you have a hope- filled day! i am hoping for progress in healing as we go today to the wound specialist. We had to cancel our trip to Des Moines and to Kansas, which was hard to do, but we hope to reschedule for another time.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Good thing our hope is in Jesus and not in the circumstances around us. It seems like the whole world is in flux, in an unstable place right now and change is happening from one day to the next. Even when we think things are good, something suddenly happens and lets us know we are not in control. At the lake as a child, my folks often took my siblings and I out to catch sunfish in the bay, where there were some old logs in the water and the fish liked to hide in the shade. We had some cane poles and loved bringing in the sunfish. But in order to stay in that same place by the logs, we anchored the boat so we would not drift off the spot.

In many ways our lives may be tossed about by adverse circumstances, but we have a sure anchor that will keep us from getting dragged off, discouraged or full of worry. We need to be anchored in faith and hope in the Lord, knowing that no matter what comes, we can cast every single care unto the Lord. David called on the Lord in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Then he closes the Psalm with, “But I will trust in you.”

Whenever things come against us, whatever is happening in the news, we can be at peace and still rejoice in the Lord. Maybe for now we simply anticipate what the Lord is going to do next, although we may not yet know exactly what it is. The important thing is that Lord is with us now, and we don’t have to wait until things get better, but we trust in Him in the present. (Jer. 17:7) God sees the big picture and the purpose of our trials, and we need to trust that He’s got it.

Let us expect good things from our Heavenly Father, living in hope that believes God is working. He is our anchor so we won’t be tossed about, even though storms may come. Let us put our hope in the Lord, not in perfect circumstances but in the One who is faithful and true.

Challenge for today: Meditate on Romans 5:5, “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”                                                    Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

The Sacred Canopy

June 1, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Are we in danger of losing our secure shelter in these uncertain and confused times?  I live only three hours away from the much discussed riots in Minneapolis, in the winter of 2026. I have thought often of the Lord’s protection. This is especially true for men, since the Lord has given to us a protective instinct, in caring for our families. I visualizes this as being under a “sacred canopy” (Peter Berger).

We can visualize this covering in the words of Ps 91:1. “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”  Isaiah 4:5 speaks directly to the image of a canopy.  “Then the Lord will created  all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy.” 

 During the exodus out of Egypt, the people of Israel were protected by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. “”By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light” (Ex 13:21).  The Palmist describes it as a covering and the presence of light. “He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night” ( Ps. 105:29).    

When the tabernacle was set up in the wilderness, symbolizing the presence of God among the people, a cloud covered it.  “On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it.  From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.  That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire” (Num. 9:15-16 ).  It a sign of God’s presence and protection over the people.  The people would move with the cloud.  “Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped” (Num. 9:17).  They would always follow the Lord’s presence and know he was protecting them. 

We live in a culture that has lost the Sacred Canopy.  The canopy represents God’s presence and order in  culture.  Without this order a society cannot endure.  Technology, economics and politics cannot substitute for it.  A culture cannot survive on material gains when its spiritual and moral foundations are crumbling.  Our culture will only continue to unravel into confusion and conflict.

As followers of the Lord Jesus, we have sure and certain canopy.  We reign with Jesus in his kingdom reign.  Before Jesus ascended he promised to be with us.  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded up.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20).

As men, who are called to provide spiritual protection for those in our family, the question becomes, “Are we under the covering?”  The covering provides us with the protection we  need.  Outside of the covering, we are “open game” for for the power of darkness.  A hole will develop in the canopy,  allowing for the tactics of the enemy to infiltrate our families.

Men, be sure you humble yourself under the “hand of God.”  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (I Peter 5:6).  

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