Dear Ones,
Happy Weekend to you! Some of you may be starting to celebrate the holiday this weekend and some next weekend. Since the 4th comes in the middle of the week, we plan to go to the cabin next Thursday and Friday and spend both nights at the lake. Kurt and Grant are stopping by today on their way to the cabin to celebrate this weekend. EmojiEmoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I love to eat, and I love to grocery shop, and I love to cook and bake. Especially on rainy days, I find that filling the house with aromas makes my heart sing. The wonderful smells linger in the apartment and maybe in the long halls too! I baked a zucchini chocolate cake before going to bed last night, and the aroma still so present.
  I read about what Whitney Hopler, author and editor, had to say about her daughter’s girl scout troop. To earn a badge the girls prepared a stew with every imaginable vegetable and also many varied spices. The result was a tasty stew that was also full of nutrition. They were surprised at how wonderful it tasted as they probably had not be exposed to that many spices and veggies before.
   As I read, it brought to mind about the many different foods and flavors the Lord has for us if we were willing to taste. Maybe we prefer mostly scriptures on His blessings and love, and we avoid anything that has to do with suffering or developing patience. We might be unwilling to hear new teachings of things we have never been exposed to before even though they line up with what Jesus said.

Maybe we quickly pass over scriptures that are familiar and wonder if there is anything new that the Lord has to teach us through them. But that is much like eating too fast and not savoring the taste. I am guilty of that and need reminders to slow down, meditate and just sit with certain portions of scriptures.  The Lord has a banquet for us each day, if we pause and savor what He is giving us. David prayed in Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the person who takes refuge in Him.” He was in a tough place when he prayed that and surrounded by the enemy; but he wanted the Lord to open his eyes to the Lord’s goodness and his mouth to taste of Him. That is also an invitation to us to try the Lord, experience His goodness, and taste of the new things He has for us. Let us remember to bow in prayer before we eat and ask for an open heart and a willing spirit to taste all that He has for us.

 

Challenge for today: Be open and try the new things the Lord has for you today and give thanks.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy