Category: Sister Judy (Page 178 of 271)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday  when I was at the garden I went down the 2 rows of beans and thought I had picked most all of them. But as I went back the opposite way down the row, there were so many beans I missed. They were seen better from the other direction and I would have missed them. Sometimes we see things only from our point of view and don’t want to turn and look at things through another person’s eyes. When we do this and hang on only to our way of seeing, we may miss many valuable things the Lord has for us. Our way is not the only way!  We need to be open and seeking and searching so that we glean what He has for us. It may mean lifting the leaves and looking way down under, it may mean pushing aside what we have always known. And when we do, we may be surprised at what the Lord has for us. As it says in Prov. 15:14, “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday I went to the garden to weed and pick the veggies but soon found out my gardening-partner had the sprinkler on there and I had to postpone my plan.  Had I forced my way, that wouldn’t have been very wise and, I would have gotten dirty and muddy. Sometimes we can try to make things happen that are not part of God’s plan and it messes things up. Hopefully we learn from those times and are content to wait for His perfect timing and way the next time.  Just yesterday I was amazed at how He orchestrated the timing of the relatives coming over, as one left others came etc and was like clock work.  I would have had a hard time to arrange that so perfectly but He had it all on His time table. As it says in Prov. 3:5-6 as we trust and acknowledge Him and don’t depend on our own understanding, He will make our path straight….In other words, He will put us on the right course so we progress to the goal. Let us not push our own way but trust His ways area best.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today I washed the rugs for the bathrooms and hung them on our deck railing to dry while I went about my day. Later when I checked on them they were totally dry and I could put them back on the floors. It made me think of things that happen to us that may just need to rest and let time do the healing. We know it would not do any good to speak up and may do more harm than good. Sometimes it is best to confront but there are other times, we need to just lay it to rest. Just like the rugs, I hung them out in the sunshine, and let them lay all day.  During that time the Lord can work on it, and in the sunshine of His love, healing takes place.  Our part is just to surrender it into His hands and let Him bring the healing to our hearts.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

When Kurt came with his kids on Friday, they were so keyed up to see the new boat that they went from their vehicle directly down to the lake… after hugging us of course. They delayed supper and unpacking to get right to the water and spent the next couple hours tubing and riding around the lake. They were focused and excited and everything else was on hold. We could hear their squeals of laughter as they rode the big waves Kurt created for them with the boat. I had a sneaking suspicion that they would want to be boating before eating, so I held off on supper until they had fun on the lake. Now if I insisted on eating first and having them unpack, they would have been disappointed for their enthusiasm was very high for being on the Lake. I wonder sometimes with new Christians if we try to direct them as to what they should do and know, and give lots of rules. Maybe even steer them away from what the Lord is teaching them at the time, in order to get this teaching or that teaching that we think is more important. God has each of us on a journey that is exciting and individual. We need to respect and reinforce His ways in each other’s lives and not put on them our ways. We might even find ourselves rejoicing and renewed as we hear their laughter and joy in the excitement of the new!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

The other day Al took me for a boat ride around the Lake. When we got near to our Point the depth finder said it was 6 feet deep. Just a short distance from there it went down to 91 feet. Hard to believe!   It made me think of the deep things of the Lord and how careful we need to be to listen to His word for our lives. Sometimes we are going along in our ordinary life and reading the Word or listening to someone speak when suddenly we know we have just received a deep nugget. It could have come through a new Christian or a seasoned preacher but it doesn’t matter as it hits us deeply in our soul.  We feel we want to hang on to it, to savor it, and to reflect upon what the Lord is saying to us. How we hear and the attention we give is important as the Lord wants to impart His words to our hearts. I read today from Mark 4:24 where He said, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, It will be measured to you, and still more will be added.”  If we embrace what we hear, He will add yet more.  Let us not miss the deep things He sends our way but “pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”  Heb 2:1

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Our grandkids are coming tomorrow and I am making preparations for them. The toy bins from the storage are now out, little chairs on the deck washed, daily prizes wrapped, food prepared etc. As I do these things there is anticipation for the fun we will have together when they come. Making the preparations also lets them know we love them and are eager for their coming. That is so minor compared to the preparations that the Lord is making for us in glory. Can you even imagine what that day will look like?  In John 14:1 He says, “In my Father’s house are many rooms…I go to prepare a place for you.” He is getting things ready for us right now. I think it is pleasing to Him that we make Him our highest priority and to draw closer and closer to Him in trust and love. One day the reunion will be beyond words for we have been enjoying His presence all along and are now “Home”!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Lately we have had some rich times around the table. It is a place where belonging happens!  As Henri Nouwen says, “The table is a place we invite our friends to be part of our lives. We want them to be nurtured by this same food and drink that nurtures us.”  It is a place where we are joined in heart and soul and each of us has a place.  Steve Smith relates how Jesus used the table as a pulpit or meeting place of the heart too. He engaged those around Him at meal time and the talk was nourishing as much as the food.  It is too bad in our day that so many of our meals may be fast food and we rush on with the rest of our busy lives. Lately I have sat with friends several times around the table as we celebrated my birthday…. Even though the food was good, it was the nourishing of my heart that filled me up. May we use mealtimes as a gathering time to unite us with others and share His love.

  Devotions from Judy’s heart

God is so generous with us and always giving and giving.  As our spiritual eyes are open more and more, we will see that He is pouring out numerous blessings throughout our day.
As you know I have been celebrating my Big birthday in many special ways these past days. Our house is adorned with flowers, there are gifts piled on the hearth, I have been taken out for lunch, supper etc etc.

Now these expressions are lovely for my birthday but what if I thought I deserve this special treatment every day. Hummm!  What if I demanded it? Not good!  But isn’t that what we often do with the Lord?  He is sooo good to us in ways we see and also so many ways that we don’t recognize. And yet when a spiritual gift comes wrapped in something we don’t really like… a trial, a loss, a sickness…we rebel. God where are you and why is this happening? But often we grow the most through these gifts that test our faith. He knows just what we need to draw us closer to Him.  May we receive His gifts with hearts of gratitude and faith, as we trust Him who loves us most of all!

Devotions from Judy’s  heart

Steve Smith says in his book, Jesus Life: “To discover our true identity as the beloved of God is one of the most fundamental rocks we can build our lives on.” Everyone has a need to love and be loved, to care and be cared for, to know and be known, to celebrate and be celebrated. Last night Al and I went to see a movie about sex trafficking at a church in Remer, and it was so sad to see the millions of girls who do not know they are the beloved of God. Most all were abused in their early years and then loathed their lives as prostitutes later. But inside they felt they had no worth until they came to know Jesus and could receive healing and forgiveness.  The difference it made could be seen in their very countenance and miraculous changes in their lives. In Him we find a Mother, Father, sister and brother. We aren’t orphans but belong to a Father who absolutely delights in us. So many need to hear this message.  Prisoners of Hope, out of IHOP, is helping so many come to healing and wholeness.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I was touched by a video I saw on www.FFHM.org, (Foundation For His Ministry), which is a mission for orphans and the poorest of the poor in Mexico. I remember meeting the woman who started this mission when Al was in Seminary in California, and she is now 80 years old. On her web site is the story of a young girl named Isabelle was diagnosed  in 2010 with NLP Hodgkins Lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. Her parents had a hard time to give her up into the Lord’s hands to do what He wanted for Isabelle.  She was offered a wish by Make-A–Wish foundation and her wish was to volunteer at an orphanage and hold babies. For a young girl that is quite unusual in the first place as most may want a trip to Disney World or something else. Her wish caught national attention and people gave money so she could take with several large hockey bags full of clothes to the poor. When she got there ( Aug 8,2012)  it must have been a culture shock for her but she played with the kids, fed them peanut butter and milk, visited a migrant camp, and spent time holding lots of orphans. One that especially touched her heart was the littlest orphan that came with no name, and she called him “Little Man”.  She played with and showed love to the children, and her family was even granted permission to take some to the ocean. I don’t suppose she or her family will ever be the same after this experience and they already want to go back. Sometimes surgery cures this type of cancer and so far after Isabelle’s surgery she is CA free.   But no matter what happens she didn’t let this difficult time go wasted. God has a purpose for everything.  “You can’t choose the life you were given but you can choose what to do with it.”  If you want to watch the video go to FFHM Praise Reports & Prayer Requests 8/24/12 and click “Watch” on Isabelle. I know you will be blessed