Dear Ones,
Hope you shine brightly today!! Today is Bible study day here and we are glad for new people joining. I plan to bake and study and later we are going shopping.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We are to be lights for the Lord and to shine brightly, as Jesus said in Matt. 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” I am reading the life of James Robinson, who is head of Life Outreach International and is on TV each day as host of Life Today. I am so amazed at the brightness of his light for the Lord, as he has preached to over twenty million people, helps the homeless, digs wells, helps women and children get set free from sex trafficking, is instrumental in the healing of so many, and the list goes on and on. It wasn’t because he had a privileged life, as it is a wonder how anyone could survive with his upbringing. His mom wanted to have an abortion after she was raped, but the doctor refused. She put James in foster care after he was born, and a pastor and wife in Pasadena raised him for five years. His mom came to get him then, but was constantly moving from place to place, as they were very poor. When he turned 14, he gave his life to the Lord and was baptized. Later his drunken father returned and tried to kill his mom, and his dad ended up in the penitentiary for a few years. While later staying at his foster parent’s house, he met Betty who became his future wife. James felt called to be an evangelist and he witnessed on his job, at the schools, and special evangelistic meetings, with so many people coming to the Lord. He spent about twenty-five years moving at an unreal pace, often preaching five-seven times a day as he spoke to groups of school kids all the way to huge crusades. Over twenty million recorded commitments were made to Christ. But he also experienced a burnout, and warns fellow Christians not to lose their first love for the Lord.

James learned in ministry how compassion breaks down walls and opens hearts towards those who may not think exactly like we do; and we can rejoice in the Lord together without seeing eye-to-eye on everything. Billy Graham told him to spend time with people he had been taught to avoid. And in doing so, he has learned much. He said God can sometimes mold us better through even our enemies who may be harsh and unkind; but we must be willing to take it to the Lord, for it’s His love that can lift us above barriers. James had times when the Lord supernaturally healed him of two masses in his chest. Up until that time, he had not given thought to healing. Later he prayed for his daughter who had asthma for years and she was also healed. But years later she died of throat cancer, and he came to know how God is still all loving even when he doesn’t do what we would desire.

Let us not judge others, but love them into the kingdom. If you want to read what God’s wondrous love can do, I recommend reading Living Amazed by James Robinson.

Challenge for today: Show God’s love to those around you today, and if given the chance, tell them of Jesus.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy