Category: Sister Judy (Page 154 of 271)

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a good weekend full of thanksgiving! Another mild and sunny day! I made 2 spaghetti pies and went to Aldi’s this morning to stock up. Ann and Paul are coming over this afternoon as Paul will be on his way back to the cities and shopping too. We had a wonderful time of remembrance and honoring of my aunt last night on zoom. When we can’t physically gather it is the next best thing. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart

Perhaps we have all had a time or two when we felt our eyelids heavy while at a meeting or in church and our spouse had to elbow us. At such times we had to be jogged awake and maybe it is that time for all of us now to awaken, as we see what is happening in our world. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus and told them to wake up and make the best use of time, because the days were evil. He said in Eph. 5:14 (ESV), “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”  He was not writing to sinners but it was a message to a good church in the New Testament times. However, he still had to warn them to wake up one another. We can be awake in body and yet spiritually asleep. Sometimes the spiritual weariness comes on so gradually we don’t realize it. Whitney Hopler writes about this problem and gives some ways to help us be alert and awake by discovering God around us. She says we should pursue wonder and pay attention to how God is at work. Notice the signs of His hand moving in so many ways. She encourages us to approach prayer and meditation as an opportunity and not an obligation of something we have to do…we get to do that anytime and anywhere! If we think of it as a duty and something we have to do, it just becomes an empty ritual rather than an awesome experience to be in His presence. We must also be willing to learn every day. I think we will find that God has new things to teach us when we can move out from our old familiar ways to capture what He has waiting. We need to clear our minds and be open and even excited. It is important to ask the Holy Spirit to renew our minds and keep us spiritually alert. Whitney also tells us to use our senses to the fullest. She describes them as tools to access spiritual wonders and be alert to what God is doing. It may be taking time to view a beautiful sunset or listening to music that touches our heart, or just taking time to smell the scent of roses etc. Life is not meant to be a to-do list but to experience the joy of God’s presence. We need to not only wake up ourselves and be spiritually alert but to wake up one another. Time is short and we need to stay awake or we will miss out on the wonders of God’s work around us.

Challenge for today: Intentionally connect with the Lord in doing something new and different.

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend to you! It’s another beautifully sunny day and we are seeing quite a few people on our walks. This morning I made a big pot of chili and we saw the mass of Christian Burial from St. Michael’s for my aunt who died. It was a beautiful service and so honoring of her life lived for the Lord and others. Tomorrow we will all zoom and share our special remembrances of her as she touched so many of our lives. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

There seems to be a big shift that takes place right after Thanksgiving when our thoughts go towards Christmas. Black Friday is advertised, decorations go up, cards are being addressed and a lot of frantic activity begins. For many the real meaning of Christmas is lost and Jesus is often pushed to the periphery when He is to really be the center of our celebration. That’s one reason why we need Advent, which begins tomorrow to help us prepare for His coming. Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, that means visit or coming. We remember Jesus first coming as a baby but we also look ahead to His second coming as we anticipate that awesome day. There are things we can do to prepare our hearts and many churches help us recognize this special time in different ways. Al and I are in charge of the paraments at our church so we took down the green ones and put up deep blue paraments, the color of royalty, after the Thanksgiving service. We also set up the beautiful Advent wreath that is circular to represent God’s infinite love. The four candles set in evergreen branches are: The Prophecy candle for the prophets who predicted His coming; the Bethlehem candle for Mary and Joseph’s journey; the Shepherd’s candle for the joy of finding Jesus; and the Angels candle which represents peace. But the middle Christ candle is white for the One who brought light into our world. If we have small children at home having devotions around the Advent wreath and letting them light and extinguish the candles can help them grasp the true meaning of Christmas. Mark Roberts writes in “Welcome to Advent” suggestions of how to make Advent meaningful and shares Psalm 62:5 (God’s Word) “Wait calmly for God alone, my soul, because my hope is in Him.” We are reminded to wait and Advent is a time of preparation and reflection rather than constant activity and frantic shopping. Our world is such a mess at this time but we can wait in hope because Jesus came and because He  is coming again.

Challenge for today: Take time for quiet reflection and do preparations that help you take in the true meaning of Christmas.

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Today is another sunny beautiful day and makes it enjoyable to walk the trail. This morning I made egg dishes and cleaned the apartment and finished decorating. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I woke early Thanksgiving morning and began remembering the many blessings that have poured down upon me throughout my life and gave thanks. I rehearsed in my mind of the evening before at our Thanksgiving service when Pastor gave time for people to go to upfront and share what they were most thankful for. It was not so much for the physical gifts given us that people spoke of, but mostly for what Jesus has done. One man said he disagreed with apostle Paul who said he was chief of sinners, for he felt like he was; he was so grateful for the gift of forgiveness. It is a most precious gift for we are all in need of forgiveness daily and Jesus paid a tremendous price for all those who are willing to confess their sins and seek His forgiveness. Since that is so, why do we hang on to our sins and refuse to give them up? Today, some pastors don’t even use the word sin, but instead shortcomings and mistakes; but the truth is we all sin throughout our day and need to let go of them in confession and experience forgiveness and cleansing. I remember when I was growing up that we had a clothes chute that went from a little door in the bathroom down to the basement into a closet where they could be taken out and washed. Whatever we put in the chute, we had to let go of; but every now and then, we went downstairs and retrieved something that we wanted to wear again before it got washed. Sometimes sins are much like that for we confess something we have done or said but then hang on to it with feelings of justification that maybe others were more at fault. It doesn’t matter who is most or least at fault for we have to let it go down the chute. When we humble ourselves and ask forgiveness of the Lord and others, we sense a lightness, cleanness, and freedom. In Prov. 28:13 (The Message), it says, “You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.” Let us abandon our sins and let go of them that we may receive mercy and forgiveness.

Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any sins you are hanging onto and let them go down the chute of forgiveness.

Dear Ones,

A blessed Thanksgiving whenever you celebrate. So many plans have been canceled but our hearts still give thanks to the Lord. I heard from Taylor today who many of you have prayed for and she and her boyfriend have COVID and quite sick. This morning I made a meatloaf for our lunch and a pie for tomorrow. This afternoon we have errands to do and also ice cream treat at Culver’s drive up. Tonight is the Thanksgiving service at church but no pie afterwards like years past.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

How do we care for our soul as well as our body? I get e-mails daily about health concerns and ways to detox and to take good care of our body etc. I was fascinated when Craig Groeschel wrote about Soul Detox and how important that is for all of us. Just as we wouldn’t knowingly physically swallow poison, why would we consume hazardous poison to our soul? Everything we allow into our minds has an impact on us and will affect our souls. It’s important to identify lies that we have grabbed hold of especially from our culture that lead us away from God; then we need to replace them with the truth of what God says. Just like our bodies need detoxing, we need to clean our thoughts of what is unhealthy and focus on how God sees things. Craig tells us to choose positive words that create and heal and avoid negative words that destroy. Sometimes we need to analyze words that others have said about us and ask God if they are true. It’s important to deal with our hidden sins and confess them to the Lord and seek forgiveness. If there is bitterness and unforgiveness we need to get rid of it for it is toxic to our souls. Envy of others has to also go, and instead of comparing, thank the Lord for what He has blessed us with. When anger bubbles up, we need to listen before responding and deal with anger productively, not destructively. If we are plagued with fear, we need to break free by trusting the Lord more deeply. Or if we are surrounded by toxic influences like unhealthy people, materialism, media etc. we need to separate from such things and spend time in ways that lead us back to the Lord. Just as it is Thanksgiving tomorrow, let us start today in giving thanks with grateful hearts. Let our mindset be on His goodness to us for as we do this it is as a cleansing flow through our souls. Like wise King Solomon said in Proverbs 3 (The Message), “Trust God from the bottom of your hearts…Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go…Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! “Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal toxic influences in your life and be willing to detox.

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a wonderful weekend. The sun is shining and looks to be a beautiful day. One pastor suggested we have a Thanksgiving week and begin today making a Thanksgiving list by writing down things each day we are thankful for. I started mine and hope you will too. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I think we would all agree that the darkness is getting darker in our world right now. More than ever before we see evil blatantly parading around and not just lurking in the corners. We have read this would happen but somehow it seems to have grown darker so quickly. More than ever before, as Christ’s followers, it is time to rise and let our lights shine! Kris Vallotor writes about how light and darkness cannot cohabit. If light is increased in a room it can’t get simultaneously darker unless the light is shielded with something. Light needs to be put in the highest visible places and not hidden. Over the past weekend, our son was at the Silver Chateau with 3 friends, putting wood siding on the cabin. He has plenty of lights in the cabin but also powerful outdoor lights. My cousin e-mailed me Saturday night that Kurt’s lights were lighting up the whole lake and she took a picture. (It is attached below) Since the cabin is very close to the water and so many trees are down from the past storm, the lights shine even brighter and also reflect in the water. Everyone on the lake could see the darkness penetrated. It was such a vivid picture to me of the importance of letting our lights shine brightly without being apologetical or hiding in silence when we should speak out, or going along with the worldly crowd.  One small light can make a difference in the darkness and cause others to get their bearings and find their way. Let us not get distracted so that our lights grow dim. Also, think of the effect we can have for God’s kingdom when we combine our lights and let them shine together as Kurt with all his lights on. We can make a difference and the stakes are much higher when we think of eternity. We read in Isaiah 60:1-2 (NRSV) the promise to Israel but also to us, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.” May we arise and shine for the Lord is our everlasting light.

Challenge for today: Share the Lord in a new way today with someone who needs the light.

Dear Ones,

Happy Weekend! Hope you are staying well and at peace. This morning I studied and made Al’s favorite cookies. I can’t share them downstairs as we aren’t allowed to meet now. This afternoon may include a hop over to Kohl’s.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We may not realize the blessings we miss when we think negatively or hang on to our past.  I read an article by Lysa TerKeurst who had a painful childhood as her father left their family when she was a young girl. She lived with her aunt for almost a year when things were falling apart. She tells about her aunt’s beautiful rose garden and the rule that she was not to run through it. But one day the thought of those petals just sailing in the air with their fragrance got the best of her and she took a run through the roses. She quickly came to a halt as thorns pierced her legs and blood began pouring down. She felt like that was a picture of her life that had handed her thorns and she was having a hard time seeing the beauty of the roses. Jesus said in Luke 8:14 (God’s Word), “The seeds that were planted among thornbushes are people who hear the word, but as life goes on, the worries, riches, and pleasures of life choke them. So they don’t produce anything good.” Lysa had a choice to make in her life if she would focus on the worries and thorns in her life or the beauty of a flower that would one day be seen. She could dwell on her father’s absence and all the negatives or she could let go and know that God would work it for good in her life. She still hasn’t heard from her dad in 25 years but she is not letting the absence of her dad be her focus. Although she acknowledges the negative,  she is dwelling on the beauty of the roses and letting the word take root in her. Just before I read Lysa’s writing, a friend e-mailed of some devastating circumstances in her life. Right now, it’s hard to catch the scent of the roses and seems like the thorns are choking out the beauty of her garden, but one day she will see and smell the beautiful scent. What about us? Do we trust the Lord when we feel like we have been pricked and are bleeding? Let us let go of the negative and remember that one day we will see beauty that was all the while taking place in our transformation process.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you any area that you are focusing on the thorns and to help you smell the roses.

Dear Ones,

Hope your day is filled with peace. The house is filled with aroma as I made stew in the crockpot this morning. We enjoyed helping last night at the Soup Kitchen and each car was given a box and two big bags of food that was put in their trunks. Other workers served hot soup to them right at their car windows. So many needy people and so many opportunities for us all to be His hands and feet. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

None of us know how much time we will have here on earth and we must make the most of our days. When I sent out my devotional yesterday and shared about how we look at death, I did not know that it would be my aunt’s last day on earth. In the afternoon her daughter who has been lovingly caring for her texted me that it would be a good time to pray for her. Since my aunt had many coming to say their good-byes, we didn’t want to interrupt those times, so Terry would let me know when the time was good. I usually asked the Lord to lead me to a scripture to give to Marcia before I called and yesterday it was clear to me that I should share Psalm 23 which is often said at funerals. After giving the Psalm, both Al and I prayed for her and we were aware that her time was near. Later last night I got a call from her daughter, that her mom was now with the Lord. We talked about her life and heaven and although sadly we will no longer be with my aunt here on earth, she is in her eternal home. We are left with wonderful memories and her example that will live on. Growing up I spent a lot of time with her and always felt she believed in me and anticipated the best in me. I will remember her as one who loved well, was warm hearted and filled with kindness, accepted others where they were at, and a bringer of encouragement. She practiced what Paul wrote about in Eph. 4:32 (God’s Word),” Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.as God in Christ has forgiven you.” There was no generation gap for her as she loved the smallest to the oldest and related to them. She was around others at Assisted Living who were afraid of death but she often told us she was not afraid to die for she would be with the Lord and loved ones. My aunt’s life was lived in love and ended well and I ask the question, what will others remember of us? We have only one life to live and will it be lived in sharing God’s love with others, helping them to find the Way while there is still time, and serving in the many ways He prompts us. Let us use each day as an opportunity to love the Lord more intimately and extend His kingdom.

Challenge for today: Say YES to whatever you feel God is nudging you to do today and do it with His love!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We will not live forever! We all know we will die someday but nearly everyone tries to avoid this truth and does many activities to prolong life as long as possible. Just think of all the advertisements that tell us about a magic drug, a workout regimen, or right diet that will help us live longer. I read an article by Todd Billings who wrote, “The End of the Christian life.” He says we should stop waging war against mortality and instead learn to embrace and give thanks for our finitude. We may assume that if we don’t think about the end, we will be more content in the present. But Billings says, “As strange as it seems coming to terms with our limits as dying creatures is a life-giving path.” Right now, my 94 year old aunt is getting ready to go home and family is surrounding her and saying their good byes. It makes death more real to me as well. As we prayed for her, I could only imagine that thin veil that lies between this life and the life to come, and soon she will be with the Lord. It happens that most of us make efforts to avoid thinking about death until a loved one is dying or a pandemic happens. All of a sudden, we see clearly that we are not in control and gain a new perspective on our present life. Billings has had to also face death himself as he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at 39 that is incurable. He asks in his book if death is an enemy or a friend, and he responded by saying both. The apostle Paul wrote of death as our last enemy but it is also our friend for as we accept our death, it becomes an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord. We are in a culture that denies death but as Christians what is ahead and waiting for us, makes everything else pale. Our life doesn’t end in death but goes on for all eternity. As David prayed in Psalm 23(ESV), “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me….and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” The best is yet to come so let us not live under the fear of death but count it as a gift.

Challenge for today: Spend some time reading scriptures about heaven.