Category: Sister Judy (Page 161 of 271)

Dear Ones,

It seems like we have entered a new season as it is only 37 degrees out today. Hard to believe family was swimming only a few days ago. Today I am doing food preparations and going to my exercise class this morning. Al is leading the Band of Brothers Soul Care group right now at church.This afternoon Al’s sister from Upper Michigan is coming for a visit and we enjoy times with her.  

Devotions from Judy’ heart

It’s exciting when God answers a need we have even before we are aware of what we lack and would be necessary for the future.  When that happens, we are so grateful and in awe of how He looks after us with the utmost care. But there are other times we pray and pray and wonder if God is really listening to us, for the answer doesn’t seem to come, at least not as quickly as we would like. I read an article from Jennifer Waddle on “Why don’t you hear God when you need Him most.” She gives several possible reasons and one is that we may not be listening. We are a very distracted culture today, especially by social media, and phones that seem almost attached to us day and night. We are left with wandering minds and interruptions even when we read the Word and pray. She suggests having a special place to go to meet in quiet with the Lord; it can be a study, a closet, a place in nature, but a place to be alone. The second reason we may feel the Lord isn’t speaking, is that He may be asking us to wait for the answer.  It was certainly that way for Job who suffered and wanted an answer long before it came. But for all of us, we are to rest and trust Him as we wait in anticipation until the time is ripe. The third reason we don’t hear God, is because the answer may already be given in the Word. There are some things that are very clear in the Bible and we don’t have to wonder about; we are not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to speak falsely etc. But for anything in question we are also told to ask Him, as it says in Matt. 21:22 (NRSV), “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” That means according to His will and timing. The last reason Jennifer gives is that God is asking us to trust Him, especially when our faith starts to waver. It helps to remember how God has been faithful in answering us in the past; or reading the lives of others who trusted God in times of testing. We can also ask for a verse to hang on to and then wait in confidence, knowing that He hears us. Let us not doubt but believe that God hears even our whispers.

Challenge for today: Carry I John 5:14 with you today. “And this is the confidence that we have towards Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

What an awesome God we have and One that we can put full confidence in, for He is in control, and we are not. Watching the news on T.V. is not the most uplifting thing, for it seems the whole world is a mess and spinning further away from what God ever intended. We have gone so far from life in the beautiful garden of Eden to this day of chaos and destruction. When God is left out, evil is rampant and causes so much heartache. We were made for God and to bring glory to Him. We need forgiveness for how we have overlooked Him in our lives and nation, and gone our own way. We must acknowledge that He is God and the One who is in control over all, and put our lives in His capable hands.  Max Lucado wrote about God’s power and control: “What controls you doesn’t control Him. What troubles you doesn’t trouble Him. What fatigues you doesn’t fatigue Him. Is an eagle disturbed by traffic? No, he rises above it. Is the whale perturbed by a hurricane? Of course not, he plunges beneath it. Is the lion flustered by the mouse standing directly in his way? No, he steps over it. How much more is God able to soar above, plunge beneath, and step over the troubles of the earth!” It’s in surrendering our lives to the One who is sovereign over us that we find all peace in this world of chaos. Let us give up our self-centered lives and place them in His capable hands. David said in Psalm 9:10 (Amplified), “And they who know Your name (who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy) will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You (on authority of God’s word and the right of their necessity).” Let us give up control over our own lives and rest confidently in His hands

Challenge for today: When you become anxious over things out of control, remember who is really in charge.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you have been having a wonderful Labor Day weekend. You can get a glimpse of our weekend from the devotion today. I did some food prep and made a quick trip to Aldi’s and then took some  choc covered raspberries downstairs again for our coffee time this morning. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

When we came home from a day at the lake with all the relatives, I felt so filled up with love. We gathered by the lake shore Saturday morning, on two docks and some in their boats, to be socially distanced while we spent time to catch up with one another. Because of COVID it had been months since we had seen some of them and we had time to ask questions and to find out what it was like to live close to the riots; what was it like to work from home, or what it was like to no longer  even have a job etc. Later there was time to swim and sauna, pray together, fish, and eat together as we roasted wieners and had smores. This is the family God put me in and I am grateful, especially that they know Him. And as wonderful as that is, I was reminded the debt of love we owe not just to our family but all those God puts in our lives. Romans 13:8a & 10(The Message) says, “Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along…Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.” Jesus loved us with such great love that He was willing to take our place and die for us.  We can never finish the debt of love we owe Him. The only way to begin is to love others and help meet their needs. There are so many around us that can use help and our eyes need to be to open to see their physical and emotional and spiritual needs. Sometimes it just means beaming a smile or speaking an encouraging word to someone who feels down; or asking someone if they would want you to pray for them. Maybe it would mean providing a meal for someone just returning from the hospital or mowing the lawn for a widow. It could be giving child care so a busy mom can have a breather. Then there is also our finances; they can be used to help support missions, dig new wells, rescue children sold in trafficking etc. Love is shown in many forms and we have only to ask the Lord how He would have us express His love. Let us love not only in word but in our actions.

Challenge for today: Find a new creative way to show God’s love and just keep it between Him and you.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

 

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend to you! I went early to the store today to avoid the many who will be getting ready for the holiday. I also made G.F. cookies and pork chops smothered with an apple topping and the house smells so good. Tomorrow we are heading to the lake and the forecast isn’t for very warm temperatures.  But thankfully it isn’t rain. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

 Loneliness is a big problem today and made worse by COVID-19. Today there are 35.7 million Americans that live alone and loneliness is only exacerbated during this time of isolation. But we don’t have to live alone to have feelings of separation from others, for many going through divorce and traumatic times are left feeling depressed and separated as well.  Our health is often affected, for our bodies feel the effects of loneliness that can result in anxiety, heart conditions, dementia, chronic health problems etc. We would think that since we have cell phones, zoom and video chats that it would help solve the problem. But if we see others enjoying fun times on Facebook, it can make us feel worse for what we feel we are missing. But we have a place to go, someone who understands and One who is there for us. Jennifer Slattery writes about how God deals with us in our anxiety and gives the example of the prophet Elijah. After his victory over the 450 prophets of Baal he was threatened by Jezebel and fled to the desert. He felt so alone and depressed that he wanted to die. But instead of rebuking him, God sent an angel to strengthen him and gave him food and water; he slept and was renewed from exhaustion and ate and was nourished. Or when Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane before his death, he agonized to the point of sweating drops of blood. God sent an angel to strengthen Him. When we feel alone and abandoned, we can look to the Lord and He will use whatever means He chooses to help us and to give us peace. We are told in Isaiah 41:10 (The Message), “I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you. Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.” Even when we may be by ourselves, we are not alone for the Lord is with us and will fill those empty places inside us.

Challenge for today: When you feel lonely, take time to spend with the Lord and hear His comforting words.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

 

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your evening and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying the weekend. We left early this morning for Mora and had a day of fellowship with our former Board members of Canaan’s Rest. It was a wonderful time as we shared our lives together and had a yummy lunch. We are going for a walk now and then having our grandson for church and dinner tomorrow. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Do others know we are Christians by our love? Or do others know us ones that need to strongly express our opinions and build walls of division?  A question we need to ask ourselves often is, what is the loving thing is to do in this situation? What will bring us closer together and not divide us? Mark Roberts writes on Crosswalk about breaking down the walls of separation. He uses Jesus example for He made the way by fulfilling the laws demands for us through His death. When he did this, it brought down the wall of hostility that divided the Jews and Gentiles. We become one in Christ when we accept Jesus and His sacrifice for us, even though we way differ in many ways. His sacrifice paved the way and made it possible to end the hostility between us and others, whether it be groups of people or even members of our own families.  When we are members of His Body, we are not to be judgmental and try to convince others to think just like we do, worship like we do, and to view situations as we see them. But we are rather called to peace and to express His love and allow the Holy Spirit direct each person’s life. It’s prideful and unwise to play Holy Spirit for others for how do we know God’s plan for them?  When we do this and it is like putting bricks in the wall between us; they feel the pressure from us and it hurts the Body of Christ. Jesus said in Matt.5:8-9 (The Message),” You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see the outside world. You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.” When we are secure in the Lord, we can accept others and let others be who they really are. We can put down our bricks that cause division and let them be at ease without being just like us or thinking like us. Let us be peace workers and build relationships, not walls.

Challenge for today: Ask God to help you dismantle any walls you have erected between you and others.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy