Dear Ones,

Hope you live in His love today! We are home from KS and enjoyed a wonderful time with family. Today I plan to bake cookies and go to Aldi’s and later to friends for coffee and fellowship.Devotions from Judy’s heart
We can say we love the Lord, but a good test of our love for Him is when we do what He asks us to do and that we love others with His love. It isn’t always easy and we need to lean into His help to do that. We can make all the excuses in the world, but the Lord reads our hearts and knows even our motives. So, there is no need to hide behind words that we don’t really mean but to come out and just tell Him when we are struggling with doing His will and to ask for His help.

When someone makes us angry, we may be offended and think and say unkindly words. But it helps to pray right away for help to respond with His love. There are also times when we may say nothing and just our silence gives a message from the Lord. I knew when my mom wanted to say something but remained silent it spoke to volumes to me

What does it look like in our lives to respond with God’s love to others? One thing is that when we give to them, we do it from our hearts and not to be repaid by a favor and expect something in return. It is to be a gift not a bribe and in the long run the Lord rewards us as He says in Luke 6:35-36, “I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.” As we love like Jesus, others will know that we are real and authentic Let us do His will from our hearts, even when we are asked to do things that we would not naturally like to do,

Challenge for today: Spend time reflecting God’s love for you even when you have been at your worst, and express His love and forgiveness to others.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy