Category: Sister Judy (Page 181 of 277)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Hang Loose!! Make room! Give Space! Today I got up early and took out of the freezer ribs, twice baked potatoes and peanut cake etc but a call from my uncle changed everything. He sounded terrible and is sick so was canceling the dinner at our house. There are reminders every day that we need to be flexible as one call can change everything. Instead of a big meal, I got some baking done and took out Al’s winter clothes. And yesterday we had a nice surprise as my sister unexpectedly stopped in, giving some time for us to talk together on the deck.  But what if we are so locked in that we miss what is happening right before us? The Lord wants to call the shots and direct every part of our day. But we need to be listening and open, and have space for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives. If we are open we will hear, as it says in Is. 30:21, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”  May we let the Holy Spirit be in charge of every detail of our lives and help us stay on the perfect path He has for each of us. Who knows what is in store for us today?!!!

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday I gave all our bushes and shrubs a haircut!  Some really needed it as they had branches growing rather wild and sticking up to be noticed rather than symmetrical. Others had dead leaves and branches that needed to be cut out. As I was clipping away, I thought of how necessary it is for the Lord to also prune us and cut off those things in our lives that are out of balance with the whole. At first it seems cruel to cut away but as it says in John 15 “Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit,”  When we allow Him to trim us and shape us, we will be more fruitful and blend in to the whole. When we do our own thing or stand out from the center, we ruin the shape. He should be central in our innermost being and we are meant to bring glory to Him, and not to cause the focus to be on ourselves.  He wants to bring us back when we insist on our own way and wander off on our “wild” course. How important it is to draw our nourishment from Him so we do not dry up and wither away. He is also very willing to trim off what is old and dead and no longer fruitful, even though it may have born fruit at one time.  Let us allow the Master Gardener to shape us, and the beauty of what His hand does will bring much glory to Him.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

When I went for a walk the other day, I saw a big tree that was broken off about 1/3 of the way up.  I was quite surprised to see green leafy branches growing out of the stump and looked almost like a bush that was 15’ off the ground. It struck me that sometime in our lives our hearts may get broken like the tops of those trees that came crashing down…maybe a great loss, an accident, rejection, Cancer, loneliness etc and we think life can’t go on. Each day may be so painful that we wonder if we will ever heal.   It’s true life won’t go on as before and somehow we wish we could get better faster.  We can no longer cling to what was as everything is changed. But as we reach out to God with our hearts and trust that He will take care of us, providing what we need to go on, in time we are surprised that hope starts rising in us. We can live again and it seems like a miracle, which in many ways it is. Just like the green growth on the top of the big tree stump, we have something to give again and to bear fruit. Perhaps because of our brokenness, others receive from us as never before, for we have lived what we speak. As Paul Keller prayed, “May my faith shine brightly in darkness. May God always light up the path I am to walk.  May I trust God.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Sometimes it is good to speak up!!  On Saturday when we went to Brainerd, Al was going to take me to El Tequilas for lunch. I reminded him that it was really his turn to choose so we ended up at Culver’s.  Al saw that they had his favorite pumpkin ice cream with pecans but he decided not to splurge. When we were almost done eating, the friendly Manager walked by our table and asked us how everything was. We said fine but then I thought, I will tell him about his soup as it was Chicken and Rice soup and there wasn’t one piece of chicken in mine. He apologized and told us he would be back after checking the soup. ( I think I can count on one hand of times in my life that I have complained about food in a restaurant,. but he seemed so friendly I did).   He came back and said he was sorry and it should be filled with more chicken. He proceeded to offer us coupons for 2 free desserts, which included the pumpkin pecan sundae Al had wanted and the caramel one that I love. We were impressed by the way he handled the criticism and it will cause us to go back there again. He was so gracious and looked into things to see if it was true. Do we do that when we get criticized or do we defend ourselves first?  For me, it was a lesson, also  that I should speak up when prompted and not hold back since my natural tendency is not to cause “waves”. In scripture we are told we “have not because we ask not.”  ( James 4:2)  Could it be that we are missing out on many good things the Lord has for us?  I think it is His delight to give to us, even those things that aren’t always necessary but an unexpected treat!

Devotions from Judy’s heart
A couple weeks ago we went to see our grandson, John Mark, who was adopted by Mark and Andrea. He is their son, and the adoption is final and irreversible, which gives great security to John Mark. He was chosen by them and he belongs to them now. I often hear Mark calling him, “son”.  We have also been adopted into God’s family, not because we are so good and have kept His commandments, but because He loves us. As Max Lacado writes in his new book, Grace,  “To live as God’s child is to know that this very instant that you are loved by your Maker, not because you try to please Him and succeed or fail to please Him and apologize, but because He wants to be your Father.”   We belong!  We are part of His family!  Max’s prayer is a reminder of His wondrous love for us. “My child, I want you in my new Kingdom. I have swept away your offenses like the morning clouds, your sins like the morning mist. I have redeemed you. The transaction is sealed: the matter is settled. I God, have made my choice. I choose you to be part of my forever family.” Isn’t that just the best news?  Let us live as His beloved adopted children!

Devotions from Judy’s heart
The other day I brought my computer to church to see if I could help a friend who had questions about a different program she was using. When she had asked me about it, I told her what worked on mine. But when we got together our programs were different and what worked on mine did not work on hers. Isn’t that the way life is? We are all so individual and what helps me may not help you at all. It is easy to tell someone else what should work for them, but it doesn’t always. Even medically speaking, what can be the answer for what seems like the same symptoms, may turn out to be different for others.  The Lord created each one of us and deals with us individually. As it says in Isaiah 43, “I have called you by name, you are mine….you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you.”  Wow!  There is not another person exactly like us and each of us is loved unconditionally by our Father. Let us remember that in dealing with others and ask for His wisdom before giving them advice.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Recently I read Max Lacado’s new book, Grace, and it is a good to remember how much we need to trust God’s grace. We mess up every day and so every day we are in need of His unlimited grace. Satan loves to accuse not only of what we may have done today but brings up things from our past. But like Max says, “Jesus trumps the devil’s guilt with words of grace”! Yes!  There are times I may be working around the house and a memory comes to my mind of something I flubbed and wished I would never have said or done. Instead of letting those thoughts bring me down, I can choose to ask forgiveness and receive God’s grace. As Max said, “Grace isn’t blind. It sees the heart but chooses to see Gods’ forgiveness more.”  But if our hands are full we can’t receive His gift. I will share one more quote today, and  you may get more tomorrow fro Max.  “He has enough grace to pardon every sin, solve every dilemma, wipe every tear, and answer every question. It’s more than we deserve and greater than we imagine.” Let us walk in grace!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

The other day I was going in the car and had to leave my cell phone home as it needed to be charged. I didn’t feel as comfortable driving as I couldn’t call if I needed help along the way. It made me think of how the Lord is never like that but always available for we can call on Him any time. He is our constant 911 number, and always answers!   As the familiar song goes, we have a friend in Jesus, who will bear all our sins and griefs. There is nothing we can’t bring to him in prayer! We forfeit peace and go through needless pain when we don’t carry everything to Him in prayer! We have so many promises of the Lord’s constant care over us and that He will never leave us. Why do we so often live under so much stress as if we have to do it all on our own? May we live in the comfort of His promises and the awareness that He is always there and will go with us through whatever happens throughout our day. “In His arms He will take and shield you; you will find a solace there”.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart,

Each day we are enjoying left-overs from Bo’s fantastic gourmet cooking. Although he went home, we are still partaking of what he left behind. Hopefully as we depart from this world we leave much behind spiritually for others to feed on for the remainder of their lives.  Just think of how rich we are because of all we have received by those who have touched our lives!   As we go through our day, instructive words spoken by our parents may come to mind. Or maybe thoughts by respected authors may influence us as we make decisions. The Holy Spirit may also bring to remembrance scriptures others have spoken to us in difficult times. God has called us all to be an influence and bear lasting fruit. As He said in John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last.”  May our lives be reflective of the Lord and bear fruit for all eternity.