Canaan's Rest

Canaan’s Rest represents a quiet place “set apart” for the purpose of hearing God's voice, growing in intimacy with the Lord, and being renewed in soul and spirit.

Category: Sister Judy (Page 104 of 270)

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you had a wonderful weekend. It’s another beautiful day and cooler so is perfect for our walks on the trail. I did food prep and made a fresh peach pie this morning and went to Aldi’s and my exercise class. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   Recently my cousin sent me a quote from St. John Paul ll that had touched her and also spoke to me. He said, “What really matters in life is that we are loved by Christ and that we love Him in return. In comparison to the love of Jesus, everything else is secondary. And without the love of Jesus, everything is useless.”
   Once we experience Christ’s love ourselves, we want to share Him with others that they may also come to know the love of the One who brings meaning to life. That may take place when having coffee with a colleague as an opening comes in the conversation, or we might share about Him with a stranger we meet. It is important not to pass up opportunities to share the most important life changing news.
   Sometimes we express our love for Him by going on short term mission trips as we did in Des Moines which resulted in several becoming fulltime missionaries. A team of adults from our present church recently returned from Alaska and one of them shared about their experience yesterday at our Sunday service. Another friend wrote that teens from her church also went on a mission to Alaska and what impressed me was that they wanted to give back to the congregation that helped made it possible. This team did the entire church service yesterday and related their experiences; I was able to watch it on online last night and was so blessed. Eight youth went and one gave the sermon, another shared about their work experience, two gave the children’s sermon, some led in the liturgy and 6 of them helped give communion. They also did a meal for the church as a thank you for praying for them and giving them financial support. I was so impressed with that response of gratitude.
    Jesus wants to use all of us, from the youngest to the oldest to share His love. There are times He even uses the voice of a little child singing Jesus Loves Me to touch the heart of someone who has never experienced God’s love. May our hearts be open and ready to share the Lord wherever we are and as Paul said in Romans 1:16 (Message), “It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts Him…”
   Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to open doors for you to share Jesus with others.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

 

July 23, 2022

July 23, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Happy weekend! It’s a rainy day but we need the moisture. This morning I cleaned the apartment and made brownies and did food prep. This afternoon I hope to get to Kohls as I never got there yesterday; Al had other things planned, including Culver’s ice cream!Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   Sometimes we say trendy expressions without really thinking through what they mean and if they are entirely true. I was reading an article on Crosswalk.that Cindi McMenamen (Pastors wife, teacher and author of many books} wrote about trendy phrases that may mislead more than help others.
   Take the expression of “Make space for God,” In our busy lives, that sounds good at first that we carve out a place for him but does God want just a corner or small space in our lives?  Or is the Lord wanting the whole of our lives? He gave us life and breath and died for us, and He wants all of us, not just a small space in our lives.
   Take the expression, “Lean into the Lord”, and it gives us the impression of a half of an embrace. If we lean into someone, the other person does the hugging or puts his arm around us. Just leaning means we are not fully committed and the Lord wants us to jump in all the way. In Jeremiah 29:13(ESV), “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” The Lord wants all of us with full dependency on Him.
   Another expression we hear all the time is, “Love yourself!”. It is true we need to love ourselves but when Jesus gives the command to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, He said we are to love others as much as ourselves. We have no trouble thinking of ourselves first, as seen even in small children who want their own way, but He wants us to first let Him love us and then we will have love for ourselves and others.
   The other phrase that Cindi mentions is “Let’s dive deeper into scripture.” Often the preacher or speaker just means he is looking deeper into another translation or commentary, and that leaves us often still wading in shallow water. When we go deeper, we are willing to go beyond the basics and are challenged to wrestle with deeper truths. It may mean changing our thinking of what we learned as children but we are open to the meat that the Lord has waiting for us.
   Let us keep our hearts open to the Lord, giving Him full control of our lives, and hunger to go deeper with Him!
Challenge for today: Give the Lord your all and surrender any parts of your life that you have held back.
Blessings on  your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

 

July 22, 2022

July 22, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
    Happy weekend to you! Hope you can enjoy some leisure time. This morning I made cinnamon raisen bread and went to the Dollar store. This afternoon I hope to get to Kohl’s before our walk. It is another beautiful sunny day. Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
    What do we do when our hearts are so full of gratitude and thanks? Hopefully we pause and give praise to the One who made it all possible! I’m sure all of us have given a gift to family members and friends and never received an acknowledgment that they got it, much less a thank you. (Likely we are guilty ourselves) But we are left wondering if we should keep giving when there is no sign of appreciation. If we are honest, how often do we pray for something and when the answer comes, we are filled with joy but neglect to first give thanks to the Lord who has brought all things together for the answer.
   Recently, I have been noticing how many specific prayers have been answered and often in record time. One day when I went to visit a friend in Assisted Living, she shared several special needs she had and we held hands and prayed over them. The very next time I came to see her, I asked her about those requests; as she shared, we realized that the Lord had responded to every single need and answered above what we imagined. We were filled with awe and thanks.
   Lately, I personally have prayed more specifically over situations and I am amazed by His answers that has left me with the awareness that it is truly all the Lord. Sometimes it is going into a situation where it is a matter of timing; when I leave I am aware that the Lord orchestrated it all so everything was accomplished in the exact amount of time. I praise Him with my heart full of thanksgiving! Other times I am not even aware of a need, and yet the answer comes before He lets me know the need.
    I want to encourage all of us to pray about specific things throughout our day If you are a doctor or nurse, pray before seeing each patient; if you are in business and making a presentation, ask God to speak boldly and clearly through you; or if you are a mom with an impossible looking schedule, ask Him to take charge and direct you. Praying also with our children teaches them that God is concerned about everything in our lives and then remember to give thanks when the answers come. One of our loved ones often e-mails early in the morning with requests for prayers and later we hear how the Lord answered and praise comes from all of us back to the Lord.
   As it says in I Thess. 5:18 (NKJV), “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Challenge for today: Pray for something specific that is on your heart and be sure to give thanks when the answer arrives.
May you have a wonderful weekend and prayers and love, Judy

  

July 21, 2022

July 21, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying this beautiful day. This morning I made more cookies on as stick for Sunday morning coffee time and went downstairs for donuts. I went for a much needed trip to Aldi’s and this afternoon we have Bible here.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  There it popped up again and this time by Chelsey De Matteis on Crosswalk. I don’t know how many times as we walk the Paul Bunyan with David and Vickie, that we have all shared about the verse from John 3:30, “He must increase and we must decrease.” Although it was the words of John the Baptist, it words we are called to live by every day.
   We probably can’t say we jump up and down with joy when we are in the process of decreasing; maybe we were passed over for a job that we feel we were more qualified for, or our efforts were ignored while someone else gets the credit. You can add many scenarios but it still may sting at the time. That is a sign we are not dead in that area of dying to self and we need to surrender it. That is not easy to decrease and be humbled but it is the Jesus way.
  Chelsey writes that because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we are offered the gift of grace and mercy and an eternity with Him. But we are also called to pick up our cross and follow Him and that involves being emptied of self so there is more room for the Lord; as we decrease in our lives, we soak up His goodness and love and all the many blessings He has for us. He calls us to love Him more than anyone or anything and to point others to Him. Like the song goes:
        “I have been crucified with Christ
         It is no longer I who lives
         But Christ lives in me
         I have a second chance at life
         My future’s open wide
         I know Christ lives in me.”
  Perhaps we need reminders often of decreasing so that we can experience increase in the Lord as we await an eternity with Him.
  Challenge for today: Thank the Lord when you are decreasing and open yourself up to all that He wants to fill you with.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

July 20, 2022

July 20, 2022 / / 0 Comments
 Dear Ones,
  Hope you are enjoying the day. This morning I made a big pot of stew and went downstairs to sample yummy bars made by one of the men. Soon I will go to my exercise class and this afternoon we are expecting a couple from our first church in Edina that were in our youth group there in the 1990’s. They have since married and this is the first time we will have seen them after all these years! 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Each of us is created in the image of God and endowed with gifts that may differ from one another. All of His gifts are good, but not the same, for they reflect different aspects of God. When we view others, it is not good to compare but simply to appreciate their unique qualities that resemble the One who also created us.
   Al and I live in an independent living complex with 60 apartments of married and single people. You have to be 55 to get in and one man is only 54 but able to live here since his wife is a year older and qualifies. We can gather in the community room every day or evening if we choose, and converse and have coffee with others who show up,There are also planned parties and events and we can participate in the ones that interest us but no pressure. Some may be introverts that prefer more alone time, and others seem to meet together every morning and afternoon, sometimes out in the courtyard on sunny days.
   Lately, I have asked the Lord to show me His unique gifts in the people around me that display His nature. I could fill pages but will only tell you of a couple. I think of my neighbor and friend who is 63 and came from our former church. In Lynn I see God’s generosity and gracious hospitality and joy. She is constantly on the go, helping at her church and on worship team etc. She doesn’t miss her grandchildren’s games which is often nearly an hour away. She helps with classes here on card making and daily fills a candy dish outside her door for all who walk by to take. She is full of joy and wears a warm smile and welcomes others, no matter who they are.
    Next, I think of a man who also lives down the hall and his life speaks volumes to me on how to grow old gracefully. Dan just turned 91 and has many health concerns. He doesn’t let those issues deter him from coming to Bible Study and at times he shares stories of faith from his own life. What impresses me most is that he never gives up. Sometimes he has to go to the hospital to have fluid removed so he can breathe better, and when he returns, he is out slowly walking the halls again with his walker trying to regain strength. He likes to do things for himself and is always eager to talk about the Lord. He and his wife are invited out often by loving family and they never say they are too tired to go. Dan is like an energizing bunny that just keeps going in the strength of the Lord.
  Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to appreciate and teach you through those people He has in your life.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

July 19, 2022

July 19, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you awakened to a faith-filled day! Your question this week is simply, “Do you think you are growing in your faith or do you feel stuck?”
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   If we were asked whether or not we are growing in our faith what would our answer be?  Would we say we are actively pursuing the Lord and His will, or would we have to admit that we are rather complacent and no longer moving forward
   We have been given the Holy Spirit to help us in our faith journey and He is our counselor and guide, but we must listen to Him as He speaks into our lives. Often, he brings conviction to our hearts and we need to respond and not just hang on to our guilt but rather agree with Him and repent. On the other hand, the enemy wants us to go around discouraged and ashamed and stay stuck in our guilt instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to free us and make us new. 
   We listened to the most beautiful and powerful testimony of a close friend as he spoke at the Lighthouse last Sunday. We heard he was going to speak and we were greatly blessed as we went to hear him. When he went up front, he had his Bible and notes, a bottle of water, and a box of Kleenex, and I think we all needed the Kleenex before he was through. What impressed me, is that he didn’t sugarcoat his life and say that he was a new man overnight and has followed the Lord ever since; but he told of the many ways he had failed and couldn’t fix himself but had to surrender to the Lord each time and ask forgiveness and His mercy. There were times when he strayed and the Holy Spirit would call him back in different ways, and He experienced God’s grace over and over.  
   We read in scripture how men and women of God fell, just like us, and did many things they were not proud of but asked forgiveness. King David cried out for mercy after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and in Psalm 51 asks forgiveness as he knew he had really sinned against God. He wanted to be cleansed and restored and given a renewed spirit. Let us not keep graveling over things we have done in the past but go right to God and ask forgiveness and be made right before Him. Then we can continue to grow in our love for the Lord and not get stuck or go backwards.
  Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to make you  sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He brings conviction and create in you a clean heart.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

July 18, 2022

July 18, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed our time at the cabin with family and weather was lovely for a swim, sauna, and Pontoon ride. We heard an inspiring message at The Lighthouse yesterday and then  dinner at Ann’s with my sister and hubby too.  So many blessings!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  How is our joy barometer? Do we wake in the morning with joy in our hearts that says, “This is the day you have made, Lord, and I am rejoicing in it?!”  Or do we wake saying, “Another day with so much to do, I wonder how I am going to trudge through it?!” Quite a difference in how our day will unfold.
   If we have a joy-filled attitude, we find it will affect our whole day for good. It can help us get through the rough spots and still maintain peace and a positive outlook. If we are lagging in such an attitude, there are some things that will help us get an attitude change and on the path way of joy.
   We can begin to thank the Lord for the many ways He has poured out blessing upon blessing on us and how He has been with us in the past. Like it says in Isaiah 61:10 a (God’s Word), “I will find joy in the Lord, I will delight in my God. He has dressed me in the clothes of salvation. He has wrapped me in the robe of righteousness.” The fact that we have received Him and have salvation is greatest cause for rejoicing. For we not only have joy in this life, we will have it forever more.
  We also can read the Psalms and let the words of the Psalmist be our words to the Lord. I like to read at least Psalm every day and they cover every mood we may have and help us get our focus on the Lord. David so often told the Lord his woes of his enemies breathing down on him but then he remembers the Lord is with Him and gives praise.
   At times we may want to sing songs of praise to the Lord or recite hymns or even dance before the Lord. Or if we have a rebounder, we can bounce and praise and sing at the same time.
  We can journal and write down the many things we are grateful for and keep adding to the list.
  The Lord wants to put a song in our hearts and let His joy fill us to overflowing each day.
 Challenge for today: Write down 10 things you are thankful for and rejoice in the Lord.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

 

 

 

July 16, 2022

July 16, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
  Happy weekend to you! We are going to the lake this morning and stopping on the way to see a friend. Weather looks warm and we plan to stay overnight. We love waking to a view of the lake through the glass doors at the foot of our bed, and it is camping in nature with comfort! Emoji
 Devotions from Judy’s heart
   How are our churches faring today in our culture where everything goes? Sadly, to say, many churches are aligning with our culture rather than with the Word of God. Chad Napier writes and asks the question, “Is your church losing its convictions?” He states that “a conviction is a concrete belief or stance that the church or individual believer will not sway away from despite the repercussion or change in the world’s social climate.”
  Al and I are so thankful to find a church where the pastor refuses to compromise but preaches the Word rather than a self-help talk or self-empowerment message. Our membership has increased because other spiritually hungry people are looking for such a church as well.
  Many churches however, seek to have enthusiastic worship with drums and strobe lights and have messages that are based on stories, contemporary books, movies etc. but no mention of sin and the need to receive the Lord. Today people are confused as the church seems to have the same standards as the world. That should not be.
  Jesus said in Matt. 5:13 (ESV), “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” That is very sobering when we think of what has happened to so many churches.
  Our churches need to hold on to convictions and be true to the Word. Jesus should be the primary focus and sermons preached to not only reach the lost but also for the Holy Spirit to do a work in all of us: to shine in our hearts and show us areas we need to change that are hindering our walk with the Lord and to give us power to live for Him each day.
 Let us all be on guard that we not let the world squeeze us into its mold.
  Challenge for today: Hang on to your convictions and ask for courage not to compromise.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

 

July 15, 2022

July 15, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

  Happy Weekend! Looks to be sunny and beautiful weather. This morning I made cookies on a stick and did food prep for the weekend and cleaned the apartment. We are going to the cabin tomorrow morning and coming back Sunday afternoon. Hope to get a swim and sauna in and maybe a hot game or two of Scrabble! 
Devotions from Judy’s heart

   We are all one day going to run out of days! For some that may come in their youth, and others in old age but it will come to all of us! We may have dreams that will not happen, and projects that will go unfinished, and prayers that we will not see the answers in our life time; but the question is, did we make the most of our days and did we finish well?

   It is comforting to know God will care for us all our days, whether they be few or many. I read this morning from Isaiah 46:3b and 4(God’s Word), “I’ve taken care of you from the time you were born. Even when you’re old, I’ll take care of you. Even when your hair turns gray, I’ll support you. I made you and will continue to care for you. I’ll support you and save you.”

   God will care for us all our days. If we are young, we are to enjoy our youth while we have vigor (Eccl 12) but also know that one day life will be over. Make use of the opportunities God gives. And if we are old, know that we can’t change things from our past but we can change ourselves in the present and make use of the rest of our days.

   Maybe we need to make things right with others in our family or let those around us know how much they mean to us. When my brother had brain cancer and knew the end was near, he did this before he died. We don’t know if our lives will be suddenly taken and those opportunities will be gone.

   We may also ask ourselves if we have been a channel of God’s presence to others and if we have passed on the faith to the next generation. Such questions can help us use the time we have left.

  Life is soon over and death is the doorway to something so indescribable that there are not words. May we set our eyes on eternity with the Lord and lean harder into Him each day before they run out.

  Challenge for today: Do something today that will last for eternityBlessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

July 14, 2022

July 14, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear  Ones,
Hope you  are enjoying this beautiful day. This morning I made egg dishes, cookies and a casserole and then went to a hot sale in the courtyard next door. Fun! Next we have Bible Study, a walk and then I have Women’s Bible Study…not much time to get in trouble today!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  I love to know what inspires people when they write songs and poetry and what the circumstances in their life was like at the time. Often there was a loss of some kind and yet songs of praise erupt from their hearts. On Crosswalk.com recently, Dolores Smyth writes about the inspiring stories behind a few worship songs and I wonder if you know the background to the very familiar one, “Jesus Loves Me.” Maybe like me, you learned the song by the time you were 3 years old and could sing: 
                                   Jesus loves me! This I know,
                                   For the Bible tells me so.
                                   Little ones to Him belong;
                                  They are weak, but He is strong.
   Children all over the world sing this song that was written in 1859 by Ann Bartlett Warner. Her sister was writing a novel, Say and Seal, and needed a poem for her book to be read to a dying child. She asked Ann to write one and it turned out to be the most beloved children’s hymn of all time for it gives assurance to children of God’s unconditional love. Later in 1861 Willian Bradbury, a musician added the refrain, “Yes, Jesus loves me” and composed music for the song.
   I wonder if Ann realized when she wrote this simple poem that it would touch the hearts of children and adults all over the world. She and her sister went on to teach Bible study classes for 40 years to cadets at West Point, one of the students being Dwight D. Eisenhower. When Ann and her sister died, they were buried at West Point’s military cemetery with military honors, the only, civilians to be buried there; their family home is also a museum on the US. Military Academy grounds.
  We never know what a small act of obedience will reap and the fallout to others in the years to come. Let us act when the Holy Spirit prompts us and leave the results up to the Lord.
  Challenge for today: Sing or hum the song, Jesus Loves Me, and let the words fall deep into your soul. 
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy
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