Category: Sister Judy (Page 177 of 277)

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!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

On Tuesday evening as we rounded the bend in the road  after being gone over 2 weeks, home looked so good!  We traveled over 1000 miles one day through several busy cities and more miles the next day, so the sight of quiet home was like heaven. I thought of how life is really like a journey, and from our birth to our last day, we are preparing for our “True Home” in glory forever with the Lord.  P.D. James writes ” I  go to old age with the conpanionship of loving friends even though we all know that we can’t expect to travel the whole way together.” It’s wonderful to have sweet fellowship along the way, but the end of the journey is ours alone.  Each of us has a homing instinct but we need to live each day deeply, with a sense of joy and purpose until that final day. In Psalm 104 it says: I will sing to the Lord all my life;  I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.”  When our time comes, God welcomes us home where we belong and for which we were created. No more in the far country of noise and hurry and push and shove. Richard Foster writes of how God welcomes us home to peace, serenity and joy “We need not be afraid. God’s arms are stretched out wide to take us in. God’s heart is large enough to recieve us.”

 
Devotions from Judy’s heart

While we were at our daughter’s, our 15 year old grandson took me aside and told me he wanted to spend more time with me.  When we left for home, he didn’t want to have regrets that he missed out on times to do things with me. I was blessed and had fun playing many games together etc!  I wonder how many opportunities we miss of spending time in intimacy with the Lord and with our loved ones. Are we left with regrets of opportunities we passed over? What is really important in life for life is short? 

In Emilie Griffins book, “Green Leaves for Later Years” she writes of Bill Voswig and how his illness brought him closer to the Lord in more awareness of His presence. A few lines from  a poem he wrote:

Help me to use what is left to me of life

wisely and well;

for time is short now,

and I dare not waste any of it.

Long as my life shall last,

Teach me Thy way!
Where’re my lots be cast,

Teach me Thy way!
Until the race is run,

Until the journey done,

Until the crown is won,
Teach my Thy Way!”

Let us all finish well and not waste time but express our love for Him and for others. As St. John of the cross said, “In the evening of life we will be judged by love alone.”

My computer crashed and it will be about a week before I can get a new one as we are in South Carolina. Will resume writing when I am able. Blessings to you.