Category: Sister Judy (Page 180 of 277)

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.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

This morning I went outside for wood and also to the mailbox about 5 am. It was pitch dark but as I neared the garage the light went on and everything changed in a moment. I could see where I was going and anything ominous now seemed friendly. Sometimes when we are in situations that seem dark, we don’t know which way to go. We need light on our path so we can see the road we are to take. We may spin our wheels or get clogged by all the info coming at us on phone lines, cable lines, on line etc. But it is a time to be quiet and hear His voice to our hearts, so we know what is important and what needs to be disregarded. He wants to give us His thoughts, His direction, His plan if we will quiet ourselves and listen with openness. “God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace.” (I Cor 14:33) Our part is to be quiet and to listen and we will find He will light our way and guide us with His eye upon us! “ For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their prayer. “ I Peter 3:12

Devotions from Judy’s heart
Many things in life are not either-or but both-and.  As you know, I don’t like to stand out publicly and try to avoid being upfront as much as possible. But sometimes it is good to stand out and the other day was one of them. I went for my prayer walk and put on a neon colored jacket that made me stand out on the road. When I got a ways down the gravel road there were gun shots of someone hunting or doing target practice. I thought who ever it is would have no trouble seeing me! We are told that we need also to stand out from the worldly crowd and be different because of Whose we are. In scripture it says we are to stand out as stars, or like the sun ( Matt 13:43). We are to be a light and to shine before others that they may see and give Him glory ( Matt. 5:16) When I looked up the meaning of neon color it said, “Bold, bright, vivid, dazzling, cheerful, lively , positive, upbeat, optimistic, shining, radiant. “etc.  Just think of the light that would be shed on others if we displayed those neon colors?  Take care for what you wear for sometimes it is good to “stand out” that others may be drawn to Him.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He calls us to journey with others. Christian spirituality is not a solitary matter. To journey alone is folly. To journey with others is the joy of spiritual friendship and fellowship.” ( Gary Moon)   I thought of how true this was as yesterday we all worked together in the church kitchen making a huge amount of lefse, and fellowshipping together.  Yes, maybe one person could have made it solo but would have taken forever and he would have missed out on the fellowship. I was struck by how important it is to all work together and each do our part for the sake of the whole. One man formed all the balls of dough and we all had to wait until that was done before we could begin our part.  Made me think of the Holy Spirit and how necessary it is that He initiates what is to be done or all the effort is wasted.  We had the next group rolling out the dough into thin circles before giving it to us that were grilling. Then after being grilled another group dusted them off and bagged them to be distributed. Each one had a specific job and if they didn’t do it the whole group would have suffered. Maybe we don’t think our part is important or that others in the Body may be more prominent and do their job more perfectly. But each one of us has been called to be an integral part!  If the rollers didn’t do their job, the grillers would not be able to continue. Some that had done this many years were better and faster but even the “ lefse rejects”  that had a hole in them were just as tasty as the perfect ones. ( We enjoyed them at break time!)  Let us remember to do the part we are called to and to co-operate with the whole. Then there will be much glory to God and more people will want to join!

Devotions from Judy’s heart
Yesterday I was on my laptop computer and it said my battery was low but it was plugged into my charger so wondered why. Soon it hibernated and I looked at the other end of the cord and it had come out from the wall. All the time  I thought my computer was being charged but had not seen that the other end was loose. Sometimes we don’t realize when we have drifted away as we become so preoccupied with things around us. We can make excuses for jumping into the day without taking time to sit quietly with Him and to get our focus and direction. We begin feeling empty when we wander off from Him.  I corrected the problem right away but I did not see the problem at first.  As I read from Sarah Young’s book today, “ Waiting in My presence keeps you connected to Me, aware of all that I offer you. If you feel any deficiency you need to refocus your attention on Me. This is how you trust Me in the moments of your life.”

May He awaken our hearts to know Him more intimately and be fully “charged”!!!