Dear Ones,
Hope you had a lovely weekend and enjoyed the springlike weather. Loved walking the Paul Bunyan trail yesterday as it is clear now. Today I plan to make spaghetti pies and egg dishes and go to Aldi’s and Exercise class.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How many of us would say we love change? I suspect most of us find change hard and there are times when we are in difficult circumstances, change happens without our permission, and we become frustrated. But for the most part the only thing we can change is ourselves and no one can do that for us. If others put pressure on us to change, it most likely won’t work. Much better to love each person for who they are, including the things we wish they would change. Otherwise, people may change momentarily to please someone else but isn’t lasting because it is not happening internally. Maybe the real question is Do we want to change?

When couples have marital problems, the relationship may change when just one of the spouses begins to change. Old unhealthy patterns are broken along with power struggles and things are not the same enabling trust to gradually begin to build again. But all of us have choices as to how we handle troubling situations if we are willing to change our attitude and deal with things. It is best to ask ourselves, how am I going to change myself and respond more maturely? Most teens are controlled by peer pressure and the expectations of others. But as we mature, we need to take responsibility for our own lives and not blame others. We ask ourselves, how am I going to deal with the other person and will it be on a high level that Christ would want? In the process we still are to be ourselves and love ourselves and choose to respond to others in a loving way. All our responses are to be filtered through Jesus words to us in John 13:34 to love one another as He loves us.

Let us all be it touch with ourselves and discern what is the best thing to do in each situation we find ourselves. We can change even when the circumstances don’t change. The Lord can give us the power to cope and will help us not to be dragged down but live with hope. It is important to let go of fear and to be open to a new way the Lord may put before us. Rather than blaming the other person, we can pray and ask the Lord how to handle the situation and to grow through it. We have to first love and accept ourselves before we can love others unconditionally.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord, what is one way you need to change and then pray for His help.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy