Category: Sister Judy (Page 182 of 279)

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”!!!

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.