Category: Sister Judy (Page 182 of 277)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

The other day we unexpectedly received a gift certificate to eat at The Chase in Walker. What a wonderful gift! We are looking forward to going there and using it in the near future. But what if we said thank you and then just left the gift card on the shelf, never to cash in on it? But isn’t that what we do with so many gifts God gives us?  Of course the most important gift is salvation but there are numerous other gifts as well….peace, rest, joy, wisdom, mercy, grace, hope, love etc. We could have a very long list for the Giver never runs out. But the problem is with our receiving and sometimes we don’t recognize that we even  “need” the gift at the time. Or maybe we just put off  taking the gift until another time, and that time never comes. Like the gift of wisdom…we may think we know best and don’t need His wisdom. Or the gift of mercy…we may think we are fine the way we are and don’t need forgiveness and mercy. How rich we would be if we were better receivers and were open to the many gifts He giving to us without measure..

Devotions from Judy’s heart

 I read from “Jesus Calling”  that we need to enjoy life more, relax, walk through the day with childlike delight in Him, savor every blessing, etc. I thought of last night and how we received hospitality in our own home as Kurt, Bo and Jeff prepared a gourmet dinner for us. They came with arms full of food and spread everything out on our counters and set to work to give us a fabulous meal.   We started out with Emeril’s Tortilla soup with browned tortilla strips on top that could have been the meal in itself. Then we had Pork Roulades ( pork loin stuffed with walnuts etc) that was just out of this world, a corn casserole smothered with cheddar, and Dirty Risotto ( rice dish with Italian sausage, pancetta, wine, mushrooms etc.), and Spelt bread from Linnea’s outdoor brick oven.  Doesn’t your mouth just water? We are still savoring the evening of feasting and have left- overs for several meals.  In scripture we see Jesus enjoying meals with his friends and disciples and engaging those around the table. I’m sure the talk was more nourishing than the food!  The table can be a place that we can experience fellowship and belonging. Just like the guys shared experiences from their past and present, we can share how we see the Lord working around and in us.  Let us use our homes to be a meeting place of the heart and bring glory to Him.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

When I was swimming in the pool of our hotel in the mountains, I was glad to be all alone as I like to pray while I swim. But in the pool were several floating noodles that would keep drifting into my path and impeding my progress. Finally I removed them all and could swim freely. In our lives there can be even good things that inhibit our freedom and progress if they distract us from the best.  Just like the noodles that are good since they can help keep children afloat, but they can also become distractions if we have to keep changing our course of action.  Each of us may be distracted by different things but whatever gets our focus rather than the Lord, is a hindrance in our walk with Him. We are told many times in scripture to pay attention, listen, hear, etc, and it is important that we are not distracted by many things and other voices that want our attention. As it says in I Peter 1:19, “You will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

While at Kurt’s we had quite a laugh as our 4 year old grandson, Grant, all of a sudden walked down the sidelines at the soccer game all humped over and knees bent wide apart. When we asked him about it, he said he was pretending to walk like grandpa! Now he is 4 and grandpa is 71 and he looked so funny and ridiculous pretending to be grandpa. But do we see this in our every day life…people not being truly themselves but trying to be like someone else?  It may not appear so obvious and so humorous, but is sad that the real person is not being seen.  So often we settle for our false self that is mostly a creation of our own minds and attachments. But our true self is objectively who we are from the beginning in the mind and heart of God.  Thomas Merton said, “If you find God you will find yourself and if you find yourself you will know God.” Let us find our true selves and give up acting and playing a role that is not real.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Wouldn’t it be great if life was all forward and upward?  This past week we walked on mountain trails that wound around, went up and down, and were anything but straight. And isn’t that really what life is like? Certainly not a straight line!  Richard Rohr (Falling Upward) talks about how failure and humiliation help us to look where we never would otherwise.  We need to get out of the driver’s seat and learn how to give the controls to God. I’m sure all of us have had situations in our lives that we cannot control or understand. But those times of falling and undergoing suffering can open up new spaces within us in which we learn and love in new ways. . Often people with addictions thank God for their former patterns as it broke down their false self and opened them up to grace and love. As we grow spiritually may we come to the place where we see down as up, for it teaches us things we would not know otherwise. When we fall and when we recover from the fall, we experience His mercy!  Sadly, W.H. Auden said, “We would rather be ruined than changed. We would rather die in our dread than climb the cross of the present and let our illusions die.”  Let us leave our comfort zones in life and be willing to be open and to admit and learn from our failures.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Our grandson John Mark knows he is loved so much by his parents as he receives their care, attention, hugs, and words of love and affirmation. His parents also know he is not “perfect” but still love him for who he is. We all need people in our lives who see us as we are and mirror goodness in us. We are rich if we have even one true honest friend to ground us, and who responds to the real person we are.  Some people who have not dealt with their own issues will try to mirror their own confused life onto us. But how wonderful when we have a true friend who helps us see even our warts but loves us all the same. We know the Lord perfectly receives us exactly as we are and it is transforming to our lives. It is also a great gift when we are received by another…. for “being totally received as we truly are is what we wait and long for all our lives.”  ( Richard Rhor)

Devotions from Judy’s heart
We are enjoying all the special amenities this hotel in the mountains offers and feel “spoiled”!  It’s almost like home with dishwasher, sofa, recliner etc.  This is a treat as we don’t usually get such a luxurious room and so many services. Now this is fine for this time, but what if we think we NEED to have this every time we travel?  It doesn’t take long to get use to comfort and ease!   Today I read from Col 3 about setting our hearts on things above and not on early things. It would be so easy to get caught up in all the earthly comforts of life but the apostle Paul adjusted to both plenty and want. “I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”  Phil 4:12 Can we be thankful when we have much and when we have little?

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today as we were in the mountains, we noticed how quickly the weather changes.  Al had on shorts and was comfortable when the sun was out, but it wasn’t long before it clouded up and it got quite cool. Then before we knew it, there were raindrops and we had to go for cover. I thought of how we need to be prepared spiritually for the “weather”.  We can be enjoying wonderful fellowship and all of a sudden the spiritual climate changes and we need to put on protective “armor”. I’m sure we have all walked into a hornet’s nest unexpectedly and we had to act quickly.  Let us be alert and aware of what is happening in the spiritual realm and call out when we are in need of His help. As it says in I Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Did you read the news where a man in N.C.  gave out $5 bills on his birthday as he was so grateful he had a home, job etc. No strings attached, just giving money to strangers from a full heart. Do we bargain with the Lord and tell Him, if you do this or that for me, then I will give more in the offering etc?  Or do we tell him if you heal my loved one, I will go on a Missions trip? Or do we acknowledge with gratitude the myriad of blessings he sends our way every day?  God loves to give to us and often uses others as His instruments to give us gifts.  We see this first hand as tomorrow we are heading for two nights in the mountains, as a gift from our kids. What a wonderful and generous gift! Just as we want to thank our kids, I’m sure God loves to hear our thanks, and also to see our desire to in turn give to others. I read this morning from Ps.. 112, “Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday afternoon we arrived in Colorado Springs, after much anticipation and hours of traveling. We came with birthday gifts for John Mark and had a celebration last night. What 3 year old doesn’t like gifts and he is no exception. He tore open each gift and ohhhed  and ahhhhed , even about the clothes. Now it makes sense that a 3 year old would rather have toys than clothes but he did so well in expressing thanks.  I wonder about us. When the Lord gives us gifts that are wrapped in trials or hardships, do we put them aside and express disappointment and anger?  Or do we open them up and try to see the value of the gift, even if it wasn’t what we were expecting or wishing for. Some of the best gifts for growth come in packages we would not choose. But maybe they are just what we need and will carry us in the days ahead and bring growth. Let us receive each gift from Him who knows us so well and loves us beyond measure.