Category: Sister Judy (Page 173 of 271)

Devotions from Judy’s  heart

Yesterday a crew of us lefse makers got to church before 9, full of energy and eager to get started. We looked fresh, energetic, and ready to meet the challenge. But 6 hours later this same crew was dragging as we tried to clean up the floury mess in the kitchen and fellowship hall after making 70 dozen lefse. You might say we looked rather haggard…like coming through a war. I think sometimes in the Body of Christ, there are those that are presently going through a spiritual war and are worn down. It’s so easy to give them a quick word to “Hang in there!” …”Things will get better!”….Rejoice in the Lord always!” . We are not understanding where they are coming from as we may be fresh on the scene just like the fresh lefse makers. But when we have come through a war ourselves, we can relate and be there for them.  We know what it is like to feel worn down and attacked so can give words that will bring them comfort, strength and courage. Like it says in Prov. 15:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

 Devotions from Judy’s heart Today I got the picture of Kurt’s family going out for Trick and Treating each dressed in the jersey of their favorite player in Basketball, soccer, volleyball and football. We all have favorite teams and players and that may differ even in the same family. I remember Al’s mom was a big Lion fan and his dad was a Packer fan so some game days it could get intense. But I thought about the Lord and how He loves us all equally and each of us is #No.1 with Him. A relative once told me how she always thought her mom favored her and she was No.#1. When she got together with her sisters, each one felt the same, that they were their mom’s favorite child. I applauded their mom that she made each one of them feel so special and loved and favored. Let us remember that we are loved with the same love that the Father has for His Son. ( John 15:9), which can’t get any better than that. Sometimes it may appear that He favors another more than us when we feel things are not going well and we being exercised in our faith….but the truth is that He loves us All with an everlasting love. ( Jer. 31:3) Let us live in the awareness of being so loved!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I have had a virus this week and am trying to be so careful not to share the bug with Al. He needs to be in Duluth at Shalom this weekend so we are trying to keep some distance between us. I don’t like this and am reminded of what a blessing it is to be in close relationship. But in a spiritual sense, when we become frustrated, afraid, disillusioned, or confused we may put distance between us and the Lord and even blame him at times?  That is the opposite of what we need to do, for He is the very one who wants to help us through each situation and give us the power to overcome.  Instead of running away from Him, we need to run to Him. Even as I look forward to closeness with Al again, I believe the Lord is always waiting for us to come to Him and to seek Him and to find rest, comfort and healing. He tells us to come in Matt. 11, “Come to me. Get away with me and you will recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest….Keep company with me and you will learn to live freely and lightly.”  I won’t forget the time  Al was preaching and was saying, “The Lord says, ‘Come to me! Come to me!!’”  As he did this a little boy ran up the aisle and stood there with his hands raised until Al took him up in his arms and held him. What a living demonstration of what He wants to do with us!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Last Saturday we stopped at Sam’s Club in St. Cloud on our way home to stock up. We went to get in a line and the cashier was casually visiting with a friend who she had just checked out. I asked if the line was open and she said “Yes”, but she continued to just visit with her friend. So we moved to a different line and watched as the cashier continued to talk and the line at her register grew long. She was so unaware and unconcerned for others. I thought of the contrast of little grandson Grant. He was sick with 103.6 fever but told his mom he would be just fine and she should go to Colorado and enjoy herself. So unselfish and not thinking of himself. I’m sure we are not always aware when we are self concerned and cause others great frustration. The more we are filled with Jesus though the more we can think of others and not ourselves. “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:26-28. As we put others before ourselves we will find we are truly happy too.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While babysitting at Kurt’s, 8 year old Lily’s chief concern was that grandpa would find her soccer field for her practice and that she would get there in time. You see she has a dream and it is to become a Great Soccer player. She loves the game and makes most of the goals on her team.  We also enjoy going to her games as she plays with all her heart and energy plus. Dreams are born in the heart and mind and may demand sacrifice so that the dream becomes reality.  For her that means lots of practices in all kinds of weather, from cold rain to 103 temperatures at times.  But that doesn’t hinder the dream within her to become a great player.   Dreams must be our own and fit us. They grow and develop slowly but the fruit of them can be enjoyed by the world. Paul’s dream was to spread the gospel and to finish the course as he said in Act 20:24 “If only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”  What is your dream? Are you pursuing it and willing to sacrifice that it may become a reality and bring glory to God.

 
Devotions from Judy’s heart

While we were at Kurt’s we played the Twister game and the 3 grandkids were all in contorted shapes as they tried to do what the spinner told them. Sometimes their hands were behind the one next to them or feet in between someone else’s etc and they looked like pretzels all mixed up. I thought about how messy it gets when we try to fit into the crowd and be and do like everyone else. We lose our individuality and miss out on what God intended for us.  I like what author Jan Hagberg said, “God gives each life worth, even when we don’t see it” And there are” beams of light that shine from each life, no matter how these lives appear on the surface.” Every life is precious and individual and we aren’t created to be just like someone else. He delights in how He made us and desires the beams of His love to shine out from us to others.   As David said, “You created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”  Let us be all that He created us to be!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Last night the grandkids put on a program for us and were dressed up in adult clothes. Ten year old Paige had on her mom’s dress and 4” heels so she had to be careful how she walked. Eight year old Lily had on her mom’s blouse and scarf and a frilly skirt. Four year old Grant had on a Bat Man outfit and all three of them performed for us. They were also interviewed with such simple questions as their favorite color to deeper ones as to the meaning of life. We laughed until we ached at their antics as we know they are just children and not the adults they are portraying. Sometimes perhaps we think we are more spiritually mature than we actually are. We want God to give us a meat (a big steak) when we are ready only for milk. Sometimes we show our immaturity by our carelessness with our words. Or we refuse to persevere in trials and want to get out of them as quickly as possible. James 1:4 says, “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  We may fool others but the Lord sees us as we really are and knows what we are ready for. He is always desirous that we grow in His grace and mature, becoming more like Him.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Our grandson, Grant, is quite a little schmoozer and is able to share his feelings well for a little boy almost 5. Lately he has been sick and is hoping to get a special helicopter earlier than for his December birthday. He said to Brenda,” “Mom you’re beautiful but I just really wish you could have gotten me that helicopter. It’s too long until my birthday.”  We laughed but I wonder if we often treat God that way. “God you are so wonderful, so good. Would you give me this new vehicle I have been wanting, or this new position that I want”. It is not about His will but what I want!! God’s ways are perfect and He knows best what is good for us. When we pray according to His will we can be assured it is His desire to do just that.  In Ps. 84:11 it says, “No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”  We won’t necessarily get what we ask for, but we get what is best for us in the long run. Praying in His will help us live in freedom for He will decide what is ultimately good for us as He knows us best!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Ann and the boys just got back from Germany and traveled 10 hours on a military plane with the temperature of only 40 degrees. ( I would have  froze!!!) They “sacrificed” by going on a military plane in order to go to a far away land to take in the beauty and sights. Their trip was simply for learning and pleasure, but I think of the missionaries that leave everything behind and go to a foreign country to share the gospel.  The have sacrificed everything for the kingdom. As I read today from Mark 10:29-30, “No one who has left mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel will fail to receive a 100 times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields- and with them persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.” Are we willing to sacrifice for Him for whatever He may call us to do?  When we are in His will there is a deep joy. I remember being at a missionary camp and seeing the missionaries light up like a candle when they talked about “their country”. God had put His plan and purpose for them in their hearts and it seemed like no sacrifice for them. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for us, and may we be so open that whatever He asks of us, we are willing to say YES!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

As we traveled to Kansas we went through Pequot and drove by the Bank drive- through canopy where we found shelter one summer night . At that time we were returning home and there were tornadoes around us and predictions of hail. When we saw the bank it brought back memories, but today there were no storm warnings out and we were safe. I have been reading Conversations magazine and this whole issue is devoted to healing.  Sometimes we overreact in areas of hurt and wounding in our lives and need inner healing. Jacci Turner said, “Inner healing is inviting Jesus into the past to see where He was and what He wants to say to us about a painful experience.” We all get stuck in areas of our lives and Jesus wants to free and heal us. Sometimes in healing prayer the results are immediate but often it takes place over time, as in soaking prayers.  Let us care for our wounds and bring all our hurts to the Chief Physician for He has the remedy to heal us. Our wounds can become an instrument of God’s grace.