Dear Ones,
Happy weekend! May you enjoy the beautiful day before you. I plan to clean the apartment and shop and maybe bake. I am excited as two weeks from today we will be on our way to see friends and family in Iowa, N.C. and WI. Emoji Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I think we would be surprised at how often our thoughts focus on ourselves and what is good for us. We are basically more selfish and self-centered than we would like to admit. But the Jesus way of loving Him first and putting others before self is really the way to a rich and wonderful fulfilling life. How do we get to the place where we can love more like Jesus and follow His example of loving and serving others?

We might have to start by admitting we cannot love others by extending to them our own selfish love that wants something in return but ask to be filled with God’s love and to let it overflow in our lives. It is only with His love that we truly love those around us, and we can ask the Lord to help us be willing to serve and express His love to them. Real love is action and meets needs and is willing to sacrifice. A friend with whom I often pray and I, committed to do one thing every day for 2 weeks for someone else. We were to choose it purposefully and prayerfully and put love for Jesus into action.

One way we can perhaps all do is to make space to show hospitality to others and we don’t need much in order to do it. Sitting around a table with a simple meal brings people together and the first day of our exercise, two of our grandson’s stopped in to see us. I quickly made them a chef salad like we were having, and homemade bread and a fresh dessert. Most importantly around the table they shared about their lives, and we listened.

Jesus was no respecter of persons, and He ate with prostitutes, Gentiles and the unclean. It was a way of inviting them into the Kingdom and welcoming them. Let us not think that we have to have a perfect setting to show hospitality but let us forget ourselves and show Jesus’ love every chance we get. Paul writes to the in Romans 13:1-2, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you one way that you can express His love to someone else today.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy