Category: Sister Judy (Page 101 of 279)

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend to you! The day started out with baking and cleaning here and when I took out a dessert from the oven, our maintenance man came to fix the dishwasher. Everything is all over the floor and so glad the baking got done. I do have a prayer request given to me to share. It is for a pastor who is at Mayo and having surgery right now for Glioblastoma of his brain. It is the same thing my brother died of years ago and please pray for this pastor and his family. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

   The first few minutes of our day are so important on how our day will go. If we grumble to ourselves of things we have to face during the day, how tired we are etc., our negative attitude goes with us and affects our outlook on everything.

  None of us are promised a carefree day without any problems or challenges, but we are promised that as we lean into the Lord, He will be present with us and will support us in whatever happens during our day. With that in mind we don’t have to fear for He will give us strength we need at the time. As it says in Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

  I awaken early and all is quiet in our whole apartment complex. After thanking the Lord for a new day etc., my prayer is that I can hear His voice to know what to write in my daily devotion to you. Since I have been doing this for many years, I sometimes think that what I get a particular day is a repeat of what I have written previously; but l am learning to just write what I sense He is giving me, no matter what. I don’t always learn my lessons the first time and I need to be reminded again and often again. For all of us it is so important that we take time to listen and then to follow with obedience. My struggle is to just sit there with the Lord, after I have read the Word, and to take time to carefully listen to Him. I often get up too quickly and begin cleaning or whatever and miss what He may want to share with me.

  The Lord wants us all to live deeply in Him and start our day allowing Him to have His way completely in whatever happens. When we confidently trust Him and know that nothing will touch us this day without His knowledge, we can relax and simply enjoy the day.

  Challenge for today: Start your day with surrendering your will to the Lord and acknowledging His presence with you in everything.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

 Hope you are having a great day. This morning I made choc chip cookies on a stick and a couple casseroles and a trip to Aldi’s. This afternoon we have Bible Study and afterwards will see if we are going to walk outside or not. Another windy cool day but nice to see the sun. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

   Waiting is not always easy but something we have to endure in life. There are so many scriptures on waiting and also examples of those who had to wait. David said in Psalm 27:14 (ESV), “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” In the Hebrew the word wait means hope, look for, and expect and that gives us a clue of how we are to wait. When we wait patiently in hope, we know that in God’s timing, we will receive what He has promised.

  There are so many examples of those in scripture that had to wait. David had to wait many years to become King after Samuel anointed him. Just think of Joshua and Caleb waiting 40 years to get to the promise land. Or how about Sarah who waited until she was 90 to have a promised baby.

  I just had a 3 month wait to celebrate my birthday but it was worth the wait. Since it was my big birthday in August Al had told me I could do whatever I wanted to celebrate; if I wanted to go on a trip, get some big gift or whatever. After a long time of consideration, I said, I would just like to go out for steak with our good friends from the lake where we use to live. I had   seen family and most of our many relatives over the summer but had not had time to be with this couple. But on my birthday both Al and I were sick and ended up having a small steak that I just happen to have in our freezer, and just the two of us. When we got well, we tried to schedule other dates to celebrate but because of trips etc. plans fell through. Finally, it happened yesterday and because of the wait it meant even more to me. We have prayed for these friends and their family every day for many years and it was wonderful to fellowship and get a catch-up on all of them. I also had my delicious steak, presents, cake etc. and savored every minute of our time together. I loved my birthday celebration and it meant much.

   There are some things we wait for, that will be answered in Glory, when we receive new bodies in exchange for our frail and often sickly ones. But in the waiting timem may we grow in faith and patience, and trust the Lord in deeper ways.

   Challenge for today: Give the Lord a concern you have and wait in hopeful trust. ( read Psalm 62:5-8)

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you have a wonderful day! This morning I am going to go to my exercise class and then out to lunch with friends whom we have been trying to get together with for almost 3 months. It will be extra sweet today. We plan to get in a brisk walk later, and then tonight is Bible Study. A rich day!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

   A couple weeks ago, I woke up in the night with the word “Walls” going through my mind. I thought that was unusual but I wrote it down in the dark and when I woke in the morning, I proceeded to think over that. What came to mind was Isaiah 62:6-7 (God’s Word), “I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night. Whoever calls on the Lord, do not give yourselves any rest, and do not give Him any rest until He establishes Jerusalem and make it an object of praise throughout the earth.” The Greek word for Watchman means to keep awake, to heed, to watch.

   Watchmen were placed on a city’s wall to watch for the safety of the city and give warning to the people if they saw the enemy coming. They monitored anyone approaching the town. They also had watchtowers that overlooked the fields to keep out thieves and critters.

   In our world today, God has his watchmen in place to give warnings to us and to show us where we are to change. He uses ordinary people and through them gives His message. I am still reading in the book of Jeremiah who was watchman for over 40 years to the nation of Judah; he warned the people to repent and to wake up and to be prepared for what is ahead. Sadly, the people didn’t pay attention to his message but he was not responsible for how they responded, only that he had to give it. Because the people didn’t heed the warnings Jeremiah gave, they suffered and many died.

   The watchmen today see the darkening of our culture, the immorality, the idols and speak out and give warnings. Many of the listeners think that life will just keep going on as it is, without consequences but one day we all will have to give account. In a sense, we all should be watchmen as we realize Jesus is coming again at a time none of us know. We are not to be lazy and make excuses for ourselves but rather to know the times and live close to the Lord. We need to sound the alarm and share whatever the Lord puts in our hearts to speak.

  Challenge for today: Be willing to be one of the Lord’s Watchmen on the wall and speak what He tells you to say to whoever He directs you.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

I am writing early today and may you wake up to a hope-filled day. The question this week is: when did the Lord change directions on where you were headed, and how did you respond? 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

  Today more than ever, we need hope, not hope based on obtaining the right circumstances but on the Lord. We are told over and over again in scripture to hope in the Lord. He is our safe place, our rock, our fortress, and we are secure in Him.

  Of course, we can’t control everything that happens in our lives and we all go through difficult times. When we complain and despair it doesn’t help the situation and it may even prolong it.

   Joyce Meyers said, “You cannot control the wind, but you can adjust the sails.” I like that! While at the lake last summer we watched from our deck, as a red and white sailboat swiftly glided over the water. It changed directions with the touch of the rudder as sails adjusted.

   In our lives it is often hard to change directions, even though we may know we are going wrong and aren’t going to end up at our intended destination. We might say that the Lord is like our rudder and when we entrust Him with our lives, He is the One that can change the direction of our lives and put us on course.

  Paul says in Romans 15:13 (God’s Word), “May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  We can brim over with hope when we allow God free reign in our lives, no matter what is happening outwardly. He can change the course any time He wants for He sees the desired destination and where He wants to take us. May we Hope in Him and then rest in peace and joy.

  Challenge for today: Commit everything to the Lord and face each day with Hope overflowing in your heart.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Devotions from Judy’s heart

 We have just entered the season of Advent and the Advent colors change from green to a deep blue or purple. It is a season of waiting and hoping, not just getting ready to celebrate Jesus’ first coming but waiting for His coming again. It is a time to quietly reflect and to listen to the Lord speak to our hearts in new ways. As King David said in Psalm 62:5 (ESV), “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him.”

   While at our son, Kurt’s, I had a vivid dream and I awakened with a fresh resolve and desire  to discern what God is saying to me, and to follow in obedience. We are surrounded by a culture that leaves God out, but He is most important and when our lives revolve around Him, we are at peace. In my dream I was going about my life and there were new rules being made that didn’t seem right in my spirit. We were all suppose to comply and many did, but I went about my life without talking about it, but also not complying.  I asked the Lord for discernment and also noticed that someone was kind of following me and watching if I would do what was expected. I tried to have a low profile but didn’t want to comply on things that I knew weren’t right. Just before I woke the man was confronting me and I don’t what words I said, but I knew I had to give a defense for my lack of action. Within me was a strong resolve that I could only do what I heard the Lord saying, and not what man was demnding. I was filleed with the most wonderful feeling of deep joy and also a holy boldness to not go man’s way but to listen to the Lord and go His way.

   In the days ahead I pray we may have holy boldness when needed to go against our culture, and to go God’s way, no matter the cost. I believe it is going to cost all of us, and now is the time to prepare and to strengthen our resolve not to compromise. When we listen to the Holy Spirit, not the world, we find our hope is only in the Lord. He is coming again and now is a season of advent to prepare for that great day.

  Challenge for today: Take some time for quiet reflection and listen to what the Lord has to say to yo.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

   I asked my friend how she knew she loved God, as I saw her shortly after Al asked me the question. We were sharing together at a table in Barnes and Noble, and she responded by answering that we know we love Him if we are have a desire for Him and a heart longing. She expressed how she doesn’t just have devotions to check it off on her to-do list for the day, but because she truly wants to know the Lord better and hear what He has to say to her. She has a longing and a passion. The Lord uses her to counsel and pray for many others as she is so open to the Holy Spirit. She is often awakened at night to pray for specific ones and later given confirmation of their need of prayer for hard circumstances they were dealing with.

  I find warmth in my love for the Lord if I spend time in worship, most often in my private time with Him; not asking for things but rather thanking Him and giving Him praise. It’s good for each of us to have a private place to do that, away from the noise of the world. It can be the corner of a room or a closet, where we shut off other things and can be alone with Him.

  I am reading a book by John Michael Talbot, who shares stories about the desert fathers and mothers, and their lives of giving all to the Lord. We were at his hermitage years ago, a quiet contemplative place where prayer takes place and there are few outer distractions. As Talbot said, many words are not needed to pray but rather an open repentant heart.

  Let us all seek to grow in our love for the Lord and as St. Francis said, “I seek not so much to pray, as to become a prayer.”

Challenge for today: Do something today for God alone, out of love for him.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Happy Holiday weekend! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had a great day with family, a big yummy feast, games, sharing, and the Viking win too. Tomorrow we will be going home again and appreciate prayers for safety. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart

  We have just celebrated Thanksgiving and sharing those blessings we are thankful for; but every day should be a day we can express thankfulness to the Lord. When we start our day with words of praise and thanks, it seems to color our whole day with a bright outlook on whatever happens during our day. I like to begin my day early and I can see dawn unfolding right out my window as I write. It is a good time to begin giving thanks to our Father who gave us a good night of rest, a warm home, food etc., but also thanks for His peace and joy, and comfort, and grace and on and on. Like the chorus goes, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Some people choose to thank the Lord with a familiar hymn or sing a song with their own words of thanks and praise.

   I don’t know about you, but I like to give gifts but am also blessed when I know they have been received and valued. But when there is no response returned, it is hard to know if they appreciated what was given and if I should give more. I wonder often if the Lord feels that way about us when we take blessings for granted and don’t bother to express thanks.

    Besides the Lord, it is good to extend thanks to others and let them know they matter and are cared for. It can be something so simple as a card or a text, but it tells the other person, that we think about them and are glad they are in our life. It could also be a stranger that we are prompted to thank. Recently when we were at our hotel, I noticed a man cleaning up after the breakfast and was so diligent and thorough. When I went to get coffee, I thanked him for keeping the place so clean and he responded 2 or 3 times by thanking me for noticing.

   It is good to be intentional in practicing thankfulness so we don’t get distracted, especially by the worldly things that are one day going to fade away. Why not start a thankful journal and record the things you are noticing today. You might put the list on your phone or computer and just keep adding to it. The Apostle Paul says in Eph 5:18 (ESV), “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” That covers it all!

 

Dear Ones,

I am sending tomorrow’s devotion out tonight as we are going to leave very early in the morning for Kansas, and my computer is getting packed now. We plan to stop in Des Moines where Al can browse at Barnes and Noble and I am going to meet with a dear friend. Then on to Kurt’s in Olathe where we will spend Thanksgiving. Appreciate prayers for our safety and health. May each of you have a grace-filled Thanksgiving! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart,

   God’s grace is something that just amazes me and I am especially cognizant of it when I am most in need of it… like when I blow it!  The truth is that we are always in great need of His grace, but sometimes we are not aware as we should be. It is a precious gift that is too often taken for granted.

  God seems to put people in our lives that exemplify His grace that is hard to miss. You can probably think of many examples of those around you. Just recently at the funeral of my aunt we had time with her grandson’s family. They have 8 children and the youngest one is 6 years old but has been sick all her life. She has Trysomy 5 a dilation of the 5^th chromosome which is rare, only 50 other known cases in the US.   Jencyn is in the hospital about as much time as she is at home. Since Chris is a youth director and has a big family, life is busy and full of challenges. But each time we see him and his wife, they don’t look stressed but calm and peaceful. The other children love Jencyn and the one who recently got married had her in the wedding, while in her stroller. There is so much love and grace evident in the whole family and it speaks to us all of God’s grace.

  Our strength is in the Lord and not in ourselves and we all need to remember our total dependency is on Him. God’s power shows up most in our weaknesses, when we truly know we can’t go in our own power. Like Paul said in II Cor. 12: 10 (Message), “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” He goes on to say that he quit focusing on his handicap and began appreciating the gift for he experienced Christ’s strength moving in on his weakness. The more we know we need Him the stronger we become and develop in His likeness. We are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves us!

   Challenge for today: Thank the Lord for His grace to you and praise Him even in your weaknesses.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy