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