February 23. 2026

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a wonderful weekend! This morning I am going to Aldi’s and Exercise class and we are going to have a new recipe I made for breakfast and another new recipe for lunch.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

How often do we begin our prayer with a request for the Lord, telling Him something we feel we need right now? What would happen if we continually did that to our friends: instead of greeting them and saying how good it is to see them, we just tell them something we want them to do for us? I think not many of those relationships would be lasting. Occasionally, when there is an emergency, we might forget about the greeting and just blurt out what is needed, but that would be the exception.

Why do we assume it is different with the Lord? He already knows our needs before we even ask, so we don’t need to rehearse things in detail, forgetting to thank Him for all that He has done for us and all that He means to us. How much better to begin with praising Him and expressing gratitude from our hearts! I don’t know about you, but I find it much easier to give to others who are grateful rather those who have expectations and then lack appreciation. When we keep giving in to our children’s desires and they lack thankfulness, they only become more centered on self and want more. In Phil. 4:6, Paul tells us to let our praises shape our worries into prayers. “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.” We are to bring everything to the Lord in prayer, but to give thanks as well. It follows in verse 7, “God’s peace, which is greater than we can ever understand, will keep guard over our hearts and minds in King Jesus.”