Category: Sister Judy (Page 184 of 271)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

There are many scriptures about hearing and how important it to hear and to understand.  While at Kurt’s Lily got an IPOD for her birthday and she was thrilled. She had it on in the kitchen while she was cutting up veggies and as we were making teddy bears. But there was a problem for us.  She no longer was conversing with us as she only heard her own music and not our voices speaking to her. Kurt used the IPOD too and we couldn’t get his attention until we touched him. What about us? What keeps us from hearing the Lord? Are our spirits dull so we don’t get the message He speaks to us?   Like little toddlers do we cover our ears with our hands not wanting to hear what is being spoken ?  We are told to be quick to hear ( James 1:19), and to incline our ear and hear and apply our hearts to His knowledge. ( Prov. 22:17). Let us be better listeners even as He speaks in a still small voice.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Devotions from Judy’s heart Have you ever had company that seemed to just flood your house with joy and delight? Yesterday we had a visit from gracious friends who filled our house with rays of “Sonshine.”  We met them while at the Nevis church and it seemed like the Lord connected us right away. Jan introduced me to Sarah Young’s devotional book but also asked to get my daily devotional that both her and her mom ( Elaine)  discuss  daily. They wanted to see the places I write about so they had a tour of where the retreatants spend time, and then went to the outdoor brick oven, to the labyrinth and to the Point. They had such enthusiasm and questions and it gave both Al and I deep joy. It made me think of how the heart of the Lord rejoices when we get excited about His words and ask lots of questions because we are interested to know more.,,, when we want to experience the things we have read about in the Word…..when we want to give back to Him, even as Jan and Elaine came bearing gifts…….when we want to discuss with others what we read in His word and it gives new ways of seeing things….when we just enjoy the present moment with Him. Elaine could have said, I am 89 years old and I’m tired so I will just look from my easy chair. Or Jan could have said, it is too far to take my mom there. But No, they wanted to see it all. Because of their visit, Al and I were so blessed and we can still savor the sweet aroma of Christ they left behind at Canaan. ( II Cor. 2:14-15).

Devotions from Judy’s heart
Often when we see the whole picture, even some negative things can be seen in a more positive way. I have such gratitude that I didn’t come down with Anaplamosis and Lymes while babysitting at Kurt’s.  Al would have had to take care of the grandkids alone, as well as, get me to the Dr. etc. And I’m sure Kurt and Brenda would not have enjoyed their vacation as much. And what if the Nevis group now coming for retreat had not changed their date by one week?  I would have been spiking a fever when they were here. Just one week made a big difference. I’m sure we have all wondered why certain things happen to us at the time, but He is sovereign over every aspect in our lives. Nothing escapes His notice. As Sarah Young writes,” Trust Me enough to let Me guide you through this day, accomplishing My purposes in My timing…The challenge before you is to trust Me and search for My way through each day. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” ( Psalm 55:9)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Being sick this past week, Al took me to the Dr, and I hoped for a quick miracle pill. The Dr. diagnosed Anaplasmosis and Lymes from my symptoms and tests, and gave me that miracle antibiotic. She told me I would feel better the next day and that was hard to believe since I felt so crummy then. But I did feel amazingly so much better in 24 hours.  It made me think of what is like before we really know the Lord. We are all “sin sick” and need the Great Physician.  People might even say, “Come to the Lord and He will take care of All your problems!”  The step of inviting Him into our hearts may seem small ( like the little pill) and yet it is powerful, for He comes into our lives and changes everything. Our whole outlook is different. But all those changes don’t happen overnight. Just like I am on the mend, but my headaches, nausea and  liver tests etc will show I am still recovering. It takes time for our bodies to be healed, just as it takes time for changes to happen in our spiritual lives. We need to follow the advice of the Great Physician and trust He knows  us best.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Saturday after our grandson’s soccer game we stopped on the way home to buy balloons as it was Lily’s birthday the next day.  When we got to the store, there was a balloon that had the number 8 on( her age), but was pricey at $8.95.  We decided to get a plain ones and afterwards we were so glad we did as all the grandkids  had so much fun decorating their own balloons. One was painted with the face of Jonah on for their skit. Now if we would have bought the pricey one, it would not have worked out for their play. Sometimes we are hoping for something in our lives that we think will make us so happy, but it doesn’t happen. We can even blame God and others. But maybe, just maybe, God has something better in mind for us down the road and we can’t visualize it yet. Grant broke his balloon on a sharp object but we decided to extend grace to him since he is only 4 1/2. So on the way home from church we bought him another balloon and warned him about being careful. How often do we blow it and yet are extended grace. We couldn’t even count the times. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” II Cor 9:8 Let us trust our Grace-giving God!

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

While at Kurt’s the girls asked questions and we got on sins etc. Paige said, “But grandma, when did you ever sin!?” Oh my, I had to tell her I sinned every day and even my thoughts were not always loving and that is sin too. God looks at our hearts and sees everything and how we need His mercy!  We can outwardly do the right thing but if our attitude is wrong and our thoughts are not loving…it is all wrong!

I memorized Ps. 103 and love the promises of his forgiveness for ALL my sins, and that he has removed my sins as far as the east is from the west. He knows that we are dust and so has compassion on us.
May we also be compassionate towards others and as we see their sin, know that we are so in need of His mercy and forgiveness as well.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

While at Kurt’s I had my devotions early in the morning in his office. I noticed on his desk was a Bible, his printer and work items, and a figure of a muscle man bench pressing a great deal of weights.I thought of how our lives have many facets but need balance. Any one of those things that is out of order can cause us trouble. If Kurt only read his Bible and neglected his work and taking care of his body, he would run into problems. Or if just focused on work, he would soon burn out, without the spiritual dimension. Or if he gave all his time to just working out he could look good on the outside but be deficient on the inside. We need all 3 and in proper balance. I think the monks have a good rhythm of the 3 dimensions and we try to do that at Canaan too…our day starts with devotional time , then  work and we also try to get in time for  exercise and play. We can’t separate them all as they blend together but hopefully we strive for balance.  As we care for our bodies we recognize they are temples of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19), and we are also told to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind. (Matt. 22:37)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

As we traveled from Kansas yesterday, we got behind some slow vehicles and sometimes there was a string of cars behind, causing everyone to slow up. I wondered if they knew how they were causing potential accident conditions and holding people up. Sometimes we think that what we do only affects us, but it really affects everyone around us. Our bad habits, our negative attitudes, and our sin patterns affect us foremost but they also have a ripple affect on our families and friends and even strangers. We are all responsible for our own selves, and like on the highway, we can go around people that are slow. But wouldn’t you like to say to them, “Let’s get going!  Join us! Pick up the pace! “?
Sometimes our part is to encourage those who have slowed down and other times we are the ones that need to quit lagging behind and speed up. In II Tim. 4:2, we are told to “encourage- with great patience and careful instruction.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While at Kurt’s the 3 grandkids did a very creative skit about Jonah.  They made the face of Jonah on a balloon and out of paper created a big fish. From second floor they lowered them on long ribbons to the first floor sea.  Even Grant was involved and had “a baby whale” that he put in the story. But before the program, they were not in agreement, as Lily wanted to do a skit about the ocean and Paige wanted to do a Bible story about David and Goliath. There were a few tears and  I tried to negotiate and told them they could do 2 stories, one of the ocean and one from the Bible. It wasn’t long until there was joy and excitement as they decided on their own to do Jonah which would include both the sea and the Bible. It made me think of disagreements in the Body of Christ and how we may want “our way”, because it is the best!!! Hummm! We can do separate things but how much better to come to agreement and to be in harmony and oneness. What pleasure it gives the Lord when we are in unity. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity…for there the Lord bestows His blessing and life forever more.” Ps. 133.  Let us not be so quick to insist on “our thing” but to be in harmony with the Body.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

This is the first Father’s Day that I am “fatherless”, as my 100 year old dad went home to the Lord at Christmas time. But because of his unconditional love and care for me throughout the years, I am left with a positive picture of my Heavenly Father whose love is not based on my performance.  There are so many scriptures of how He is a Father to the fatherless ( Ps. 68:5)  and how He willingly receives us as His sons and daughters. ( II Cor 6:18). Even when He disciplines us it is for our good that we can share in His holiness. ( Heb 12:10).  Yes, I miss my dad, but I know my Heavenly Father is with me always and loves me perfectly and completely. Someday my dad and I will united again and together worship our Heavenly Father together around the thrown.