Category: Sister Judy (Page 123 of 277)

Dear Ones,

Hope you wake with anticipation for what the Lord has for you today. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Our lives are in God’s hand and we don’t know the number of our days but He does. During this Covid time, many of us have lost friends and family that are no longer with us but in their eternal home. Some were old and some were young but none of them knew the exact moment they would leave this world. But for all of us each day is one day less we have remaining on this earth, and one day closer to what awaits us.

Those of us who know the Lord, what we wait for is more glorious than we can imagine. Like the simple childhood song we may have sung, “Heaven is a wonderful place/ filled with glory and grace/ I want to see my Savior’s face/ Heaven is a wonderful place!”

One day we will be with the Lord and have new bodies but in the meantime, Paul says in Romans 8:23, “Not only so but we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Everything will be made new!

Where we live in Senior independent living, we see what it is like getting older and earthly bodies wearing out. Ambulances pull up now and then, and we have been to funerals for those friends who have died, since coming here 3 years ago. Death seems more real but none of us know how many days we have left, even if we are young.

It is good to imagine what will take place when our time comes, whenever that is, for we will be with the Lord forever. No more sadness, no more pain. Whatever we go through in this life will be worth it all, when we see Him. Like the song goes:

“It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,

Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Chrst;

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.”

Challenge for today: Live this day as if it was your last day on earth

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a wonderful weekend. Ours was very low-key as we are doing what we can to get well. We studied some but also took frequent naps. Today we both feel better but not a powerhouse of energy yet. Thankful though that each day is better and healing is happening.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

All eyes seem to be on Ukraine today as we see the struggle of the people there. It stirs my heart as I see the Christians in the Metro Station of Kyer singing songs of forgiveness and love. We must not forget them but pray much for them.

As we tuck our kids into warm beds at night, let us remember those that are hiding in the cold underground to protect their children. Many of them have already lost homes, loved ones and livelihoods.

Let us pray for Vladimir Putin’s heart to be changed and that he would no longer continue in his wicked ways.A prayer I read recently by Archbishop Justin Welby and Archbishop Stephen Cottrell Is one we can all pray:

“A prayer for Ukraine:

God of peace and justice,

we pray for the people of Ukraine today.

We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.

We pray for all those who fear tomorrow,

that your spirit of comfort would draw near to them.

We pray for those with power over war and peace.

for wisdom, discernment and compassion.

to guide their decisions.

Above all we pray for all of your precious children, at risk and in fear,

that you would hold and protect them.

We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of peace. Amen.”

Challenge for today: Take some time to lift in prayer those suffering in Ukraine and for courage to be given them.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having an enjoyable weekend. Al is better now but it is going to take longer for me as I didn’t get sick right away like he did. I’m not doing a lot of work so am getting lazy! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

What is the first thing we do upon waking from a long night’s sleep? Is it to groan and quickly fill our mind with all the things we need to accomplish during the day; or is it to greet the Lord and thank Him for a night of rest and a new day before us, full of promise and of course, His presence.

I smiled when I read what my cousin e-mailed me about their dog Buddy who is a Golden Doddle and looks just like our grand-dog, Cali! Both of them are so friendly and like to greet everyone. Buddy recently returned from a month-long trip with my cousin and her husband who traveled with another couple and pulled their Teardrop camper, Every morning, right after they got up, Buddy wanted to go to their friends’ camper to greet them; he wouldn’t do anything until he had done that. When a yellow bandanna was put in their window, it meant they were ready for Buddy to come and say good morning; afterwards he came back all set for the day.

I was immediately reminded of how it pleases the Lord when our first thoughts of the day are on Him and we have his promise in Ex. 33:14 (ESV), “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Perhaps children find it easier to just trust that the Lord is with them and  not to worry about what the day holds.

We just returned from visiting our grandsons in North Carolina and our hearts were so blessed by how they are growing in the Lord. One night I had prepared slips of paper with instructions and put them inside plastic eggs. We went around the table and each one of us had to do whatever was written on the slip of paper in our egg. Lots of laughter as compliments were given to someone on their right, or a song sung by someone on their left etc. When we finished our grandsons, asked if they could write the instructions and went away to do so. I though oh boy, we are going to be running around the house or doing strenuous feats but we were so pleasantly surprised. John Mark is only 12 and one of his slips he wrote said to give 3 Bible verses by heart and tell how they impact your life. He happened to get that one and proceeded to share the importance of following the Lord etc. Tears came to my eyes to see one so young who is so wise in the ways of the Lord. A.J who is only 8 rattled off all the books of the Bible as his brother and mom did push-ups. Both have so many scriptures stored up in their hearts.

How wonderful to start the day with the Lord and then to rehearse His promises throughout the day when we need them.

Challenge for today: Before you step out of bed, greet the Lord and give your day to Him.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

It’s a sunny day and looks lovely  but was -15 this morning. I put away the Valentine decorations and made choc covered raspberries, did food prep, and  washed linens down to our mattress. Al doesn’t have much energy yet so studied a bit and is napping.We will miss our monthly birthday party today but don’t want to expose people here to any kind of a bug. So glad there are willing volunteers to take over. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I don’t think we realize how often we forget what God has done for us. We take for granted His daily blessings, His sacrifice for us, and even the miraculous things He has done for us in the past. Maybe we have been healed of cancer but fail to remember to give thanks for our present health, or God showed His love for us by providing in supernatural ways that we now take for granted. I read today from Psalm 106 where it says in verse 7, “They gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses.’ And also in verse 21, “They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt.”

How sad that is to just forget God’s mighty hand on our lives. These things we should be sharing with our children and grandchildren and friends who also may have the same struggles that the Lord took us through and often miraculously.

I have been so encouraged as I have been reading J.P. Moorland’s book Experience Miracles. I have shared a couple miracles already but I would like to include another unusual one that was verified. Tim Newell went to church one night to hear Sister Petri, a guest evangelist, speak. He had many doubts that God still performed miracles today and went with a skeptical attitude. Sister Petri started her sermon and then suddenly stopped and pointed to a section of the sanctuary and said that someone came that night questioning that God does divine healing today, and He is going to answer your question once and for all. She went on to say that this person was going to feel a drilling sensation in his mouth and teeth and God was going to remove a cavity and give a new filling in its place. When that happens the person was to go to the bathroom and look in the mirror to see the new filling and come back and share what God had done. She went on to speak and Tim thought that it was quite a joke…. that is, until he felt the drilling sensation in his mouth. He couldn’t believe it and went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. He not only one but he had two new filling on his back molars. He was overwhelmed and went back to the sanctuary to testify of what God had done. He never doubted that God still performed miracles today after that. About 15 years later a tooth in his mouth cracked and the dentist took full-mouth x-rays of his teeth. He was a teaching dentist and said whoever had done the work on those back teeth did an amazing job. He wanted to use the x-ray in a textbook he was writing!

Does God still do miracles today?! Yes! Yes! They happen to ordinary people by an extraordinary God.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes to what He is doing around you and in you today. 
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you have been having a good day. We just got home and are unpacking and soon I will go to the store to restock the frig. Thank you so much for the prayers as we had good roads and weather all the way home. We left at 5:30 a.m. and so glad to be home again after a wonderful time with family.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

There is a family crisis today in our country as we see how the family unit is being devalued. Many are choosing not to get married and settle for lives without responsibilities. There is a trend especially of men dropping out of the labor force, not going to college, and living simply for pleasure.

But when the man is out of the picture there have been many consequences that are evident today. We particularly see how crime has increased, especially by males from fatherless homes. One in ten men are experiencing depression and anxiety, and the suicide rate has spiked. There is a 35% increase in deaths from drug related causes as well.

The father problem seems to be escalating as both white and black men fail to interact with the younger generation. The highest incarceration rate is from youths that never had a father living with them. Children miss their daddies.

Fathers are meant rather to be protectors, providers and disciplinarians. They help a child feel secure and are to be an affirming influence as they impart values.  But because of absent fathers, mothers are having to take on a dual role and fill in that place.

Statistics reveal that the more opportunities a child has to interact with his or her father, the less likely they are to commit a crime.  I recently read that when a father attends church there is a 93% chance the whole household will go too. A father’s place is so important.

But many men sense the church has become feminized and they feel out of place. The Promise Keepers movement some years ago, however, emphasized the father’s role and masculinity. That is surely needed today.

Wise King Solomon said in Prov. 1:8 (NIV), “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” The apostle Paul exhorts fathers to bring up children in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph 6:4)

Fathers, know how important the role is that God has given you and take your rightful place.

Challenge for today: Encourage dads who may be floundering and be willing to help mentor those who are fatherless.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a good day. We just arrived at the Holiday Express in LeRoy, IL. It is very windy out so we are going to exercise in the weight room tonight. We left N.C. at 5 am. this morning and drove in light rain much of the way. Thank you for your prayers as we had a wonderful time at Mark’s and a safe trip through the traffic today. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We were created to have a close relationship with the Lord and to live in fellowship with our Creator. But sometimes we ignore that longing of our hearts and go our own way and seek to fill that void with accumulating earthly treasures, going on one adventure after another etc. But it will never work. Only Jesus can fill that hole in our hearts that is meant only for Him.

Today I woke with the words of a hymn going through my mind, and maybe you know it:                                                    

“Nearer, still nearer close to thy heart

Draw me, my Savior, so precious thou art

Fold me, O fold me close to thy breast

Shelter me safe in that haven of rest

 Shelter me safe in that haven of rest.”

The closer we draw to the Lord, the more joy we have in Him. When He is our focus, we find we are strengthened for whatever comes into our lives. He will take care of us for we are His beloved. David said in Psalm 31:23-24 (Message), “Love God all you saints: God takes care of all who stay close to Him. But He pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone.”

All of our needs are met in Him when we are in close relationship with the Lord and as David also says in verse 19, “What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you. Ready and waiting for all who run to you.”

God will never force us to choose Him but He will use many different ways to draw our attention to Him. Things may happen in our lives as a wake-up call for us to get us back on track of what He has for us. When we say yes to Him and listen to Him as He leads us each day, we will come to enjoy close fellowship with Him.

Let us not settle for things that don’t satisfy but find joy and contentment in knowing the Lord and saying yes to Him!

Challenge for today: Tell the Lord you are done going your own way, and seek Him with an open heart. 

Blessings on your evening and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a good weekend. We heard a great sermon yesterday at Mark and Andrea’s church and then went to an Asian restaurant for dinner. We played outdoor games and indoor games and finished the day with a good movie and popcorn and blueberry smoothies. Today we have all day to play games as the boys are out of school. Tomorrow we plan to leave for home so would again be appreciative of prayers for our health and safety. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Our culture values strength and confidence, not weakness and vulnerability.  But the worldly values are so opposite from what Jesus teaches and exemplified in His life. The Apostle Paul writes how Jesus made Himself nothing by taking the nature of a slave…and He did this willingly.

We need to be more vulnerable like Jesus, although most of us would not choose to let our weaknesses be displayed for all to see. Matthew Dickerson writes and uses the example of a winning football team who suddenly loses the game when the coach of the opposing team discovers a weakness of the team and exploits it. They are exposed!

But isn’t it hard for us to choose the Jesus way and to be exposed and vulnerable and not cover up our weaknesses? But if we hide those vulnerabilities, we will not be able to get help or connect with others who have similar ones. Jesus showed vulnerability when he came as a helpless baby, or his tears while with His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I so vividly remember the prayer over me by a friend, just before I was to speak to a large group. I didn’t like to speak but was doing so in obedience, and his prayer just touched my inner spirit. It was from I Cor. 1:27 where Paul said not many were powerful and wise according to worldly standards, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” That fit me perfectly as I felt weak and unworthy to speak. The Lord saw me through and I could only give praise and thanks to Him.

We all can benefit from those around us who share their weaknesses. I text back and forth with one who shares her vulnerabilities. I not only pray for her but I now see more clearly weak areas in my own life that are very similar to hers. How neat that we can pray for each other!

Let us be humble and vulnerable so that God can use us to shine His light through us, just like a cracked pot in a dark room…the light is seen through our cracks.

Challenge for today: Be open about your cracks and accepting of others with theirs.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy