Category: Sister Judy (Page 1 of 288)

I will tell you a humorous story on myself, as I remember back when we were moving into Northern Lakes almost eight years ago. In the process of moving out of our former house, we left some furniture for our daughter’s family and bought some for our much smaller apartment. Al’s sister, Ann Marie came from Michigan and helped us shop to find furniture, and she spotted the perfect desk for me that I love and where I usually write. We bought a sofa, and then Al spotted a big greenish colored chair that can be put in many positions, heats up, massages and reclines. I thought it was a monster for our house and said to Al, “You’re kidding!” But he was not. He wanted that chair and I couldn’t imagine where we were going to put it. Ann Marie assured me there was room, and we found the one and only possible place to put it. I have never liked that chair,  and have thought at times we should give it away to someone with a bigger house. But after almost eight years, it is the answer to my prayers. Since I fell at the lake, I must recline often during the day to give my leg a rest and guess what? That ugly chair is the answer, and Al calls it my “Sweet Spot.” When my leg gets tired and needs a rest, I go to that chair, elevate it and thank the Lord. It is perfect!

Let us learn our valuable lessons even if when we’re not sure we need the lesson now, for maybe they are meant to help us in the future. Our part is to trust the Lord with all our hearts and not lean to our own understanding, but let Him direct our path. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

This is where prayer gets so important, and we don’t need to rehearse with the Lord how He should change others. We can simply pray they will become all God wants them to be, and that healing and wholeness would happen in His timing and His way. We are in the book of Philippians in our Bible study here at Northern Lakes, where Paul tells the Philippians, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” The Amplified Bible says, “(Not in your own strength) for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you, (energizing and creating in you the power and desire), both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” (Phil. 2:13) We all need to will and to work at what is His pleasure.

We have to also show patience and grace to ourselves, for we know we also need to make many changes and it doesn’t happen over night, even though we may want to be on a fast track. He loves us right where we are now, but has more for us as we cooperate with the Spirit. In my own life, I know that is going to be a continuous process until He takes me home to glory. There will always be more changes needed in all of us, but let us accept others and ourselves as we take the journey of becoming more like Him.

I am quickly learning that I must accept that I am no longer in the care-giving role, but in the care-receiving position. I am one who needs help, and that puts me in the humble position of being a bother for others, especially Al. But the truth is we talk together more than ever, pray, and enjoy each other, even though there is more work for him.

A big thing is that I am learning to slow down and enjoy each day, and not trying to rush through and accomplish a lot. I believe I am finally learning to just enjoy the moment!!! I live a day at a time and can’t plan far ahead, as I don’t even know yet what I will be able to do by then. But of course, none of us really know!

I also am seeing the power of prayer, as so many of you prayed along with us as Al was expected to do my wound care after two times of observing the wound specialists. He was willing, but was really something for experienced nurses. After prayer, the idea came to call our family doctor, and he and his nurses were God’s answer.

I think I am also seeing how poor in faith I really am. Like Paul said in Phil 4:6, we aren’t to be anxious about anything, but to pray with thanksgiving and let Him know our concerns. That means to pray about anything and everything. Our concerns for the day might be different, but nothing is too hard for the Lord.

We can never exhaust the treasures of wisdom that we find in the Bible. Even though we have read a certain story or chapter many times, it can still instruct and challenge us, as well as encourage and inspire us. Many died to give us the Bibles that we have on our shelves and are sadly often dusty. I recently read about William Tyndale who was burned alive in 1415, and John Wyliffe in 1384 who was persecuted and imprisoned for making the Bible accessible to the lay person. There are those today from closed countries that would give anything to have a Bible, and others in remote villages to have one in their own language.

But more than simply reading the Bible or even memorizing it, we need to apply what we learn and let God transform our lives from the inside out. When we neglect reading the Word, we find the world is shaping us. Let us grow in wisdom as we meditate on the Word. Proverbs 19:8 says, “The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.”

The Bible has much to say about humility. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Jesus is our example, for He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. (Phil.2:8) Humility is more than a mask that we use to try to hide our pride. Our pride can pop up any time and sometime surprise even us, as we wonder, “Why did I say that?” Humility is a beautiful quality, especially in our narcissistic world today, as it is such a contrast to the arrogance we see. But humility will show up in our seeking the good of others, rather than self!

When we ask the Lord to make us more humble, He may change our circumstances, as He has done for me recently. I like to hurry about and get a lot done each day, but since my injury I have to go slow, especially when my leg is hurting. In fact, I am borrowing a walker until I get healed, and it is humbling me.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you your areas of pride, and humble yourself before Him and others.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

But rather than our routine and often boring life, when the Lord is in control life becomes exciting. I am a planner and usually do things before the expected date, so not knowing what the Lord has for me stretches my faith. If we are having company, I plan and make the meal in advance and do the necessary prep. But then what if the Lord prompts me to invite someone over on the spur of the moment, am I just as open to that? My mother was a good example to me of dropping everything to invite people over, even when it wasn’t convenient. When she saw a need she was open to fill that need without complaint.

Let us not fight to stay in control, for that is our attempt to replace God’s exciting plans for our own. Dr./Pastor Gary Thomas’ words challenge us: “Dismantle your obsession with control. Learn instead to be astonished by the new things God is calling you to, things you could never plan or execute on your own.” Just think every day to ask God to use us to do spontaneous deeds and see God move through us. If we are housebound, we may be led to a prayer ministry as God puts people on our heart to pray for. We must keep our heart and eyes open so the Lord can lead us wherever He chooses. Let us put nothing else before God, not even our family. God is enough, even when none of our family may join us. Thomas’ words go on to say, “But let us remember that putting faith first helps us love our families best.” May the Lord be first and foremost in our lives, and the One in control.