Category: Sister Judy (Page 170 of 271)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday I went for a prayer walk and since the leaves are gone, I was able to see the nests in the trees. There is a well known  nest of an osprey on top of a power pole on Highway #5 that is especially huge. I thought of the birds and their nests and prayed that God would lead us to a new “nest” (church home). These past months have been a time of prayer, seeking discernment, and sharing together for Al and I.  The bottom line is that we have left the  ELCA Lutheran church after a life time.  It is not an easy decision and for now we are “homeless” and we will be seeking a new church home. Often in scripture we read how God only tells so much and after we obey He gives us more. Just like Abraham who was told to leave his home country to a land that God would show him. As I was pondering just what our future will look like, I read a verse that a friend gave on Facebook from Ps. 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you the way you are to go.  I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” That is enough for He will give us what we need when we need to know.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Things are not always the way they seem outwardly. We can misjudge if we only go by outward appearances.

Each day I try to find time to go for a walk alone and spend that time praying as I walk. The other day Al and I both went for a prayer walk about the same time, only in separate directions so we wouldn’t interfere with each other’s time alone. But a neighbor saw us as he was driving by and asked if we had had a fight. That’s how it looked. I told him we were both on a prayer walk and he just laughed.  God sees what is, and the more we grow in Him the less concerned we are for what others think. What matters is our life before Him, as it says in Prov . 5:21 “For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord”.  When we are doing His will , we don’t  have to justify, but “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” I Cor. 15:58

When we were in Charleston, Al took each of the grandkids out alone and was hopeful to make a good deposit in them.

It says in Ps. 89 that we are to tell the next generation of His faithfulness. At this Christmas time it is the first anniversary of my dad’s Homecoming and I think of him often. He made many deposits  in us in so many ways by his words and even more by his life of generosity and unconditional love. The fruit of his life goes on and on as we share about him in our memory bank. What will people say about us when we are gone?  Did we love well? Did we put first things first? Did we use the gifts God gave us?  Did we change courses when necessary? Wm Penn said, “let us be careful neither to run out ahead of our bride nor loiter behind Him; since he that makes haste may miss his way, and he that stays behind may lose his guide.” Let us run the race of life well and leave behind a path for others.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

There are times in our lives when we want to so badly to be certain we are hearing God’s voice to our hearts….especially when making decisions, changes, seeking direction, desiring discernment etc.  It’s like our spirit is on tiptoe, and seeking to recognize His voice, even when it is like a faint whisper. His voice is calm, peaceful and consistent with truth. But the enemy’s voice pushes and condemns and not like God’s voice that draws us. No we don’t always hear Him correctly 100% of the time but it is important to have a teachable open spirit that wants His will most of all.  Like David prayed in Ps. 143:10 “Teach me to do your will for you are my God!  Our part is to be still, provide inner space wait patiently, and to listen. As it says in  Ps. 85:8, “I will listen to what God the Lord will say; He promises peace to His people, His Saints.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I recently read Emilie Griffin’s book, “Green Leaves for Later Years” and she writes of living freely and bearing fruit into old age. She speaks of each day as a new beginning and there are no time-outs, no free-passes. We just have to begin again and again. The author has rheumatoid arthritis but has chosen to remain as active as possible in her speaking and writing. She was encouraged by remembering people like Renoir who painted with knarled hands at the end of his life as he was determined to express the beauty of creation even with severe pain. Emilie said,”Transcending illness is not just a matter of wanting or wishing but a response to God’s grace.”  We have to choose happiness and count our blessings instead of what we have lost. All we have is the present moment, the now,. And more than that, the knowledge of God’s love and  grace opening us up to His unlimited future.”

Time is precious and let us not let is slip through our hands but live each stage of our life fully.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

At this time several of our friends are living in pain, in darkness or the unknown. But it need not be a “wasted time” or a time to “get over” quickly. Even though we also may experience a time of suffering,  it can become a time of awakening to God’s life in us.  It is not something to fight against but to let go and open to God. When we do this He becomes our source for each moment and in each relationship and in each activity.

 Let us surrender to His love and  see God is in every trial and embrace Him in whatever way He comes to us.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While I was playing Badmitten with our grandsons in Charleston 2 neighbor dogs barked nearly the whole time. It got very old and we wished we could shut them up but they just kept on barking. I thought of how anxious thoughts can be like scappy dogs that keep on yapping. As we look at our economy and world crises, we can become anxious too. We can worry about our health, providing for our families, responsibilities etc that can weigh heavy on our hearts. Small anxious thoughts can soon dominate our thinking. We are wise instead to p;ut our trust in God who calms our fears. He is on our side and really loves us and acts on that love. He wants us to lay our burdens down and open ourselves up to Him. We are reminded in scripture to  “Be anxious for nothing” ( {Phil. 4:6) and to cast all our cares on Him. ( I Peter 5:7). Richard Foster said to just picture putting all our worries and cares in a box and wrap it up and put a bow on top. Then give it up as a present to the Father. He receives it and we mustn’t take it back. Let us trust Him completely that we may walk with Him faithfully into the future.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While we were in Charleston we went to the Air Force Base court where Paul and I played tennis for a while. After a bit we  decided to join Al, Joe and Lars for a game of Horse.  I could see the look in the grandkids eyes that they thought grandma would  be no competition at all in this game! Joe is 6’3″ and Lars is very competitive etc so you get the picture.  But I told them they may be surprised! It wasn’t long before I had eliminated 3 of the guys and it was down to Lars and me. He felt confident he would be beat me. But shock of shocks, I beat him! It made me think of, in a spiritual sense, how in our weaknesses God’s power  is seen even more! Scripture is full of examples of this and we need only to think of David taking down the giant Goliath. I think it is freeing to realize how weak we are and how strong He is and wanting to shine forth in our weakness. As it says in I Cor 1 that He chose the foolish the weak, the lowly and despised so that no one can boast before Him. Our boast is in the Lord!! Let us surrender our weaknesses to Him so He may move in His power to make us strong in Him!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

You probably know the expression, “Things could be worse” and may have read the children’s book about a grandpa who always said that to his grandkids. Well in our everyday life, things could get worse but they also could get better. I thought of how my computer crashed but realized thingscould be worse as my neighbor just told me her router crashed and she can’t do anything until her new one comes. But also a couple nights ago things got better when we went to church. I had cleaned, decorated our house for Christmas, paid bills, walked etc but got an e-mail that help was needed for decorating the church for Christmas. I really didn’t feel like working more but wanted to do our part so we went. Much to our surprise, the choir people and lefse making people finished early and had the decorating all done. So we all sat down to a supper together and went into the softly lit sanctuary to go through the Holden Evening service. Wow! It was just what we needed as we could rest in His presence with His people and experience peace.   One thing we know that no matter if things get better or worse our days, our times, our situations, are in His powerful hands.He will empower us to handle every thing that comes our way. Yes!