Category: Sister Judy (Page 112 of 270)

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying this day! The house is full of aroma as I made a meat loaf dinner. I also went downstairs for Donut Day Al had Men’s Bible study this morning and will be leading Bible study here afternoon. Tonight is also Women’s Bible Study at church.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We were meant to live free and freedom originates with God. It is God’s presence that establishes our freedom. Christian freedom is meant to be lived out and today we see people fighting and willing to die for their freedom. But the greatest dangers to freedom comes within our own hearts as we struggle with addictions and the gods of this world.

Peter van Breemen writes about freedom in “The God Who Won’t Let Go”, and shares how the Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, the place of slavery, and liberated them. (Exodus 20:2) God wants us all to become free, so He gave us the 10 Commandments, which Breeman calls “The Magna Carta of Freedom”.

The first commandment has to do with being free if we let God be God and we trust and worship Him. Then everything else will fall into place for our priorities will be right.

The second commandment says we will be free if trust the name of God. We can’t confine or capture God into an image but rather encounter Him as our living God.

The third commandment we are to keep the sabbath holy. The most important thing is our relationship to God for our life is not defined by our achievements.   We need to take time to enjoy a sabbath rest in the Lord and not worry about our accomplishments.

The fourth commandment to honor our father and mother, says we will have a long life if we honor our parents and are grateful for what they gave us. We cannot be totally free if we don’t accept our parents and reconcile with them.

The fifth commandment says we should not kill but accept the life of others as a gift. We are not to compare ourselves with others and try to outdo them but rather to find the treasure within them. Envy brings ruin to our spiritual life.

The sixth commandment says we should not commit adultery and that means we love people without taking advantage of them.  We are to give others respect and not use them for our own ends.

The seventh commandment says we should not steal. We walk in freedom if we appreciate the gifts and possessions of others without envy. We must be willing to let go of things and not become possessed by them.

The eighth commandment is not to bear false witness against our neighbor. That means we are truthful and sincere and transparent with them which makes for freedom.

The ninth commandment is not to covet our neighbor’s wife. We must not become preoccupied with relationships and impose ourselves on others or we destroy that gift of friendship.

The tenth commandment is not to covet our neighbor’s house or anything that is his. We are free when we are content and not obsessed to possess what others have.

We are all called to freedom but let us not become enslaved to the things of the world but live today and everyday freely serving the Lord. 

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you areas you are not yet experiencing freedom and ask for His help.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having a good day in every way. Today is a full day as I studied and went to Aldi’s and my exercise class this morning, and soon to go to Crafts, and then hair appointment and to Bible study. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

   Do we really trust the Lord and rely on Him or are we so often filled with anxious thoughts? Rather than relaxing in His presence, are we fearfully mulling over our concerns rather than confidently knowing that we can put everything into His hands? I often say to the Lord, “Nothing is too small or too big for you!” Then I proceed to tell Him what is on my heart.

   It is our pride that thinks we have to solve our problems or that we can do a better job of directing our lives; and all the while the Lord waits for us to give all our cares and concerns to Him. Maybe we are afraid that it won’t turn out like we would desire or that the Lord won’t act in time, but that is just the enemy trying to get our focus off of the Lord.

   We have the wonderful invitation in I Peter 5:6-7 (Amplified),”Therefore. humble yourselves (demote, lower yourselves in our own estimation) under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. Casting the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”

   Perhaps like me, the first verse you most likely learned as a small child was, “He cares for you.” If we really believe that we can live as the Message translation says, “Live carefree before God; He is most careful for you.” Doesn’t that sound wonderful to just live each day carefree and knowing that He has it all taken care of in His capable hands?

   We have just been through Holy week and been reminded of the horrendous price our Lord had to pay to set us free. If He cared so much to even die for us, certainly we can entrust to Him our problems and daily concerns. And if his eye is on even a sparrow, then we know He cares for us.

   We are to live by faith in the knowledge that the God we love is capable and desiring to take every concern we have and will exchange it for His peace.

Challenge for today: Heap your burdens on the Lord and by faith live carefree.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a blessed Easter weekend. He is risen!!! We enjoyed time with Ann’s family and also hearing Leif preach; and later a feast and a hot game of scrabble! Today it is snowing off and on and the ground is white again. I made Al’s favorite cookies, put Easter decorations away, and went to my exercise class this morning. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Sometimes we are in great need of deep cleansing. We may go along in life taking for granted God’s mercy and forgiveness; perhaps not even feeling we are as sinful as someone else. But I think if God showed us our hearts totally, we could not handle it. How about those thoughts of envy, anger that is simmering towards the boss, complaining about life’s woes, gossiping about another believer, failing to do what the Lord has directed us etc. etc. One day the Lord may say, that’s enough and we need to deal with some of those things that are keeping us at a distance from Him.

I got a vivid picture the other day of what that would be like. I was vacuuming our apartment and my vacuum literally fell apart on the rug. When we moved in 3 ½ years ago, I found a light weight vacuum in the free room by the elevator. I was simply delighted as I didn’t need a big vacuum for the apartment and this one was perfect and it was free! I used in often and regularly cleaned off the filter and thought it was cleaning the rug fine. But I was in for a surprise. After it broke, Al and I went to Menard’s and got a new one. We charged it and I was ready to vacuum the carpet, although I had vacuumed the day before. But I was in for a shock as I saw all that was going in the dirt cup; even the roller on the bottom of the vacuum was full of fine hair. I was excited about the good job my new vacuum was doing but I was also taken back by all that it was picking up that had been hidden from my sight before…just like sin.  We may see only the obvious sins but so much is hidden in attitudes and motives etc. We need daily confession for it is good for our soul since we sin daily.

It’s true that God forgives us our sins forever when we accept Him into our lives, but that does not mean it just gives us a license to sin. 

 I was reading what Dr. Charles Stanley said today, “Salvation makes a way for us to enter God’s presence while regular confession and repentance keep the pathway well maintained and free of obstruction.”

Let us confess our sins daily and as my dad often quoted from Isaiah 1:18 (ESV), “Come now, let us reason together says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Confession keeps our pathway to the Lord open and draws us closer.

Challenge for today: When you become aware of your sins throughout the day, confess them to the Lord and ask forgiveness.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I often sing the resurrection song, He arose, while driving somewhere, even though it may not be even close to Easter. I like the reminder, “Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with the saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah Christ arose.”

The cross is at the center of our faith and when Jesus extended his arms on the cross, He embraced each of us in His death for our sins. But there is more, for he arose the victor. As Paul said in Phil 3:10-11, “(I want) to know (Christ) and the power of his resurrection and (the) sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”  In faith we look at Jesus death in light of his resurrection. If Jesus was not resurrected then our faith would be in vain. But He arose and tomorrow we celebrate Easter and His glorious resurrection.

Peter van Beemen writes about what happened that resurrection morning. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, who was one to seek Him and the first to find Him. The other disciples went home but Mary Magdalene didn’t leave but stayed at the empty tomb. There are two angels there who ask her why she is weeping and she says she doesn’t know where they have taken her Lord. She turns her back on the angels and weeps as she is approached by the One who she thinks is the gardener. But Jesus asks her, “Whom are you seeking?” Jesus shows concern for her grief and when He calls her by name, she recognizes him. What joy must have flooded her whole being and her grief disappeared.

Beemen shares how we are to be like Mary and to seek Him with all our hearts, and live in a close relationship with Him. Jesus knows each of us intimately and calls us by name. As like Mary, when Jesus told her not to cling to Him but go tell his disciples the news; that is also what we are called to do. As we have received the Lord, we are sent out to tell others. Mary went quickly and told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”  Our mission is to tell others and let us not keep the good news to ourselves. Like Jesus said to His followers, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 

Challenge for today: Ask for a Mary heart that seeks the Lord and shares the news.
Blessings on our Easter weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you have a blessed Good Friday. We have a choir cantata tonight and are looking forward to that. Many new members to our church have come with beautiful voices and we have a great choir! 
More snow came last night and now the ground is white again. Hoping for a green Easter though! This morning I made raspberry g.f. muffins, cauliflower potatoes, and a very chocolatey cake!… Most going to Ann’s for Easter.  We look forward to going to the lake and hear that the ice is still on. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I have been pondering the words of Jesus on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:24) Jesus asks His Father to forgive the very ones that were responsible for crucifying him, and what does that say for us? Do we have an out on forgiveness? No!

Sometimes we can feel justified for wanting to get even with someone and withholding forgiveness, but with Jesus’ example we are left without an excuse. It makes no difference if they purposely betrayed us or if they unknowingly hurt us, as we still must forgive, even as we have been forgiven.

At our Bible study group some shared how they had been broadsided and hurt by others and the struggle they had to forgive. We have all been wounded by others but must remember we have also caused pain to others.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean we make excuses for others’ wrong actions or that we try to simply repress what they did. It doesn’t mean that we will just forget it but rather that we give up our right to resentment and anger and let go of our bitterness. If we choose not to forgive our wound will only get bigger and we will feel cold and imprisoned. Not forgiving is very costly!

Forgiveness doesn’t necessarily occur all at once, but is a process. We may initially forgive, but then when the memory comes up again and again, we may have to forgive many times.

  Forgiveness is a process and begins with a consent to forgive, and then then we will to forgive, but finally we come to know forgiveness from the heart. We find that we can actually pray a blessing on the person and give up the right to get even and just let our bitterness melt away.

We can’t do this on our own and sometimes we just have to start at the very beginning and ask the Lord to touch our heart to want to be willing.

But on this Good Friday when we think that Jesus forgave the ones who spit at him, scourged him, mocked him and crucified him, will He not give us the grace to forgive those who have wounded us?

Challenge for today: Sit in quietness and thank the Lord for all that He has forgiven you and open your heart to forgive all others.

Blessings as you remember the significance of this Good Friday and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on this Maundy Thursday and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying this day. We are getting rain here but not snow. This morning I did food prep, went to Aldi’s and exercise class. This afternoon I have crafts and Al and I have an appointment after that. No time to get in trouble! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Pray, Pray, Pray! There are so many ways to pray and it’s wonderful that we can find the way that reflects our own personality or what we may experiencing at the moment. There is not one way to pray but many ways. The Lord loves diversity!

Recently I read what Dr. Brian and Candice Simmons had to say about prayer as they quoted Ephesians 6:18 (TPT), “Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all believers.” Every form of prayer leaves the door wide open to pray in whatever way that we feel impressed to call on Him. Sometimes it may just be silently and other times we might literally shout. There are so many prayer models in the Bible and we may use several throughout the day.

The Simmons mentioned praise and thank you prayer model that is like the password allowing us access to heaven. I think we find as we start praising him, we sense we are right in His presence. We might move on to asking in prayer and give the Lord requests we have. Often, we intercede and plead before God in behalf of others. Or we may have devotional prayer when we are alone with the Lord and pouring out our heart to Him. There is also corporate prayer when we connect with others in prayer like as a family, or church body. But it’s important to pray consistently and in in faith and right motives. It is likely that we are using all of these forms of prayer and more throughout our day.

Then Simmons closed with the following prayer: “Lord Jesus, I want You to become my  prayer life. I want You to empower me and set me apart for You today. I come with my heart before You. I long to be one with You in prayer and to reflect Your glory on earth. I trust in You, and I trust the Holy Spirit to pray through me today. I will walk in the Spirit and I will pray in the Spirit. My life will be Your love offering today. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.”

Challenge for today: Pray the prayer above and also pray throughout your day as led by the Spirit.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you wake with anticipation of a new day.  Your question this week is: When have you gotten a specific word and felt like God was speaking to you? It could be a word spoken from your pastor or even a stranger but you felt like it was God speaking through them to you. 

How will you be spending Easter?

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Have you ever been awakened in the night and heard a word that seems to come out of the clear blue? One night I woke up out of a sound sleep and heard the word shelf life and self-life. It was so clear that I wrote it down in the dark so I would not forget it, and went back to sleep. Then about an hour later I awakened again as I heard my name called and thought it was Al but he was still asleep. I wondered what the Lord was trying to say to me but returned to sleep.

In the morning I read my devotions from several Bibles, each a different translation. When I read from the Message translation, I was in Psalm 105 and verse 4 said, “Keep your eyes open for God. Watch for His work; be alert for signs of His presence.” We are all called to seek the Lord with openness of heart and become aware what He is up to. We are to have alertness to signs He gives of His presence. The Psalmist also went on to say that we are to recall what He has done for us in the past and share with others of His goodness to us.

So, what was the Lord saying by those strange words to waken me? What came to me initially was that food has a shelf life and an expiration date usually marked on the package. If we don’t eat the food before that date, much of the nutritional value may be lost and certain expired foods may result in us getting very sick. It is important that whatever the Lord is saying and calls us to do today, must be done on His time schedule or later may be too late. He has a work for each of us every day but the self-life often blocks the way. We want to do our own thing and be in control which can result in missing what God has for us. His way is so much better and He promises us in Psalm 32:8 (NLT), “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” None of us have to fear for whatever God has for us is the best for us, and He has also promised to be there all the while carefully guarding us. Let us not delay in doing His will but act before the expiration date!

(Later in the day, David, our walking companion, used the word shelf life in describing something Al wrote from the book of Amos. We are continually amazed at how the Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways.)

Challenge for today: Respond to the Lord’s promptings and say Yes to however He is directing you.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy