Category: Sister Judy (Page 176 of 271)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Our grandson John Mark knows he is loved so much by his parents as he receives their care, attention, hugs, and words of love and affirmation. His parents also know he is not “perfect” but still love him for who he is. We all need people in our lives who see us as we are and mirror goodness in us. We are rich if we have even one true honest friend to ground us, and who responds to the real person we are.  Some people who have not dealt with their own issues will try to mirror their own confused life onto us. But how wonderful when we have a true friend who helps us see even our warts but loves us all the same. We know the Lord perfectly receives us exactly as we are and it is transforming to our lives. It is also a great gift when we are received by another…. for “being totally received as we truly are is what we wait and long for all our lives.”  ( Richard Rhor)

Devotions from Judy’s heart
We are enjoying all the special amenities this hotel in the mountains offers and feel “spoiled”!  It’s almost like home with dishwasher, sofa, recliner etc.  This is a treat as we don’t usually get such a luxurious room and so many services. Now this is fine for this time, but what if we think we NEED to have this every time we travel?  It doesn’t take long to get use to comfort and ease!   Today I read from Col 3 about setting our hearts on things above and not on early things. It would be so easy to get caught up in all the earthly comforts of life but the apostle Paul adjusted to both plenty and want. “I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”  Phil 4:12 Can we be thankful when we have much and when we have little?

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today as we were in the mountains, we noticed how quickly the weather changes.  Al had on shorts and was comfortable when the sun was out, but it wasn’t long before it clouded up and it got quite cool. Then before we knew it, there were raindrops and we had to go for cover. I thought of how we need to be prepared spiritually for the “weather”.  We can be enjoying wonderful fellowship and all of a sudden the spiritual climate changes and we need to put on protective “armor”. I’m sure we have all walked into a hornet’s nest unexpectedly and we had to act quickly.  Let us be alert and aware of what is happening in the spiritual realm and call out when we are in need of His help. As it says in I Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Did you read the news where a man in N.C.  gave out $5 bills on his birthday as he was so grateful he had a home, job etc. No strings attached, just giving money to strangers from a full heart. Do we bargain with the Lord and tell Him, if you do this or that for me, then I will give more in the offering etc?  Or do we tell him if you heal my loved one, I will go on a Missions trip? Or do we acknowledge with gratitude the myriad of blessings he sends our way every day?  God loves to give to us and often uses others as His instruments to give us gifts.  We see this first hand as tomorrow we are heading for two nights in the mountains, as a gift from our kids. What a wonderful and generous gift! Just as we want to thank our kids, I’m sure God loves to hear our thanks, and also to see our desire to in turn give to others. I read this morning from Ps.. 112, “Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday afternoon we arrived in Colorado Springs, after much anticipation and hours of traveling. We came with birthday gifts for John Mark and had a celebration last night. What 3 year old doesn’t like gifts and he is no exception. He tore open each gift and ohhhed  and ahhhhed , even about the clothes. Now it makes sense that a 3 year old would rather have toys than clothes but he did so well in expressing thanks.  I wonder about us. When the Lord gives us gifts that are wrapped in trials or hardships, do we put them aside and express disappointment and anger?  Or do we open them up and try to see the value of the gift, even if it wasn’t what we were expecting or wishing for. Some of the best gifts for growth come in packages we would not choose. But maybe they are just what we need and will carry us in the days ahead and bring growth. Let us receive each gift from Him who knows us so well and loves us beyond measure.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

When I packed for our trip last week, I was not anticipating the weather turning so cold as we traveled south. While we were at Lily’s soccer game, I was freezing and couldn’t wait to get home to warm up.

We have no control over the weather and have to deal with what is at the time. We are the ones that have to change and dress accordingly. No amount of complaining and wishing for it to be different will do any good so we may as well just accept what is.  That is the way with things that happen in our lives that are out of our control. We can waste all kinds of energy trying to change things, complain to others, and even ignore what is happening. But why not rather go to the One who has promised to walk with us through the difficult times and receive His grace?  He will give us the “covering” we need and shelter us under His wing. The first game we went to caught us by surprise by the cold wind. but the second game, we dressed much warmer and were ready for it!  Let us move with the flow of the Spirit and not be caught unaware!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While at Kurt’s we have observed how different each of the grandkids are and their involvement in various activities that befit them. Paige is Miss Clean so likes volleyball that is indoors and not too hot or sticky.Lily is very competitive and doesn’t mind at all in getting dirty and hot if they are winning. Grant is very social and a free spirit. He likes to be teamed up with a special friend at soccer and can be out in the field giggling and dancing around. Each one is doing what they enjoy and they seem happy to watch their siblings in their events too. Why do we often want others in the Body to just like us rather than different and able to bring a new perspective into our lives?  Can we rejoice when others are succeeding in their lives and we may not be doing as well at the time? We are told to rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those who weep. ( Rom. 12:15)  We are not to compare ourselves for it says in Rom. 6:4 “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Last night we went to Grant’s soccer game and it was fun to watch as they were all around 4 years old.  Now as you can imagine, the game was not played to perfection as they are young and just learning the rules. They had a very tall big coach with a very patient heart. The kids fell down a lot but got up and continued, and enjoyed the time. They didn’t expect perfection from themselves, nor did their coach or most of the parents. (Only one dad on steroids hollered at his son and expected him to do well on his first time of.playing.)  Why do we think we should live a perfect Christian life and not make mistakes?  Of course we will!  I am reading Richard Rohr’s book, “Falling Upward”, and he said, “We grow spiritually much more by doing it wrong than by doing it right.”  That’s because we can’t hide our imperfection and know we need His grace. It causes us to be more forgiving of others too. When we fall or fail, we need not fall apart.  The Pharisees had a hard time to grasp that as they were all about doing it right, especially before the eyes of man. Let us be like Grant falling down and getting up and enjoying the game, without pointing blaming others!  “It is when I am weak that I am strong.” II Cor 12:10

Devotions from Judy’s heart

For some time my laptop computer has not been very bright when it was running on battery, and our TDS man said he had fixed that when he came out last week. But when I was showing Kurt some pictures last night, it was still so much darker than it should be. It took Kurt only a couple minutes to fix the problem as he pressed two keys and it lightened it all up. Wow! It made so much difference and I don’t know how long it would have taken me to figure it out, if ever!  Isn’t that the way it is with the Lord?  Things in our lives can seem dark and complicated and we really can’t figure out what to do. We get frustrated and even get use to living in dimness. But as we call out to Him, His answers can come in so many different ways… often through just the right person who connects with us at just the right time. Or could be something we read. I remember a gal saying she had been plagued with headaches and lack of energy etc. and thought she may have brain cancer.   While waiting for a plane, she picked up a magazine and happened to read all the symptoms of Lyme’s. She went to her Dr. and sure enough, after suffering for months, she got the medication and felt great again. God is so awesome, and we just need to bring everything to Him and wait for His answers in whatever form they come.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Have you ever noticed how the Lord just seems to “show up” at the most unexpected times?  I read today from Luke 24 how Jesus walked with the 2 men on the road to Emmaus and it wasn’t until He broke bread with them that they recognized who He truly was. . And when He appeared to His disciples after the resurrection they were startled and a bit frightened until He spoke a word of peace. I think it is amazing all the ways that Jesus appears to us or speaks to our hearts… sometimes it is in the voice of a stranger, or in the beauty of a sunset, the sound of the loon, the smell of fresh baked bread, a phrase of scripture that just stands out etc   Some time ago I was asking the Lord to just let me know He was there during a difficult time…All of a sudden a mama duck swam by carefully watching over her ducklings. It was as if the Lord was saying to me He was very aware of me and watching over me.  Just recently a retreatant shared how the Lord spoke a message to his heart as he  observed a fish trying to swim upstream against the currant.   As Sarah Young says in Jesus Calling, “there is no limit to the variety of ways I can communicate with you. Your part is to be attentive to My messages, in whatever form they come. When you set out to find Me in a day, you discover the world is vibrantly alive with My Presence.” May we not miss Him as He reveals Himself throughout our day!