Category: Sister Judy (Page 185 of 271)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I was reading in Romans 13 and 14:1 this morning of how we are to owe a debt of love to one another and to accept those who are weak in faith, without passing judgment. I thought of last night and the program the grandkids put on for us. Paige (10 years old) was the moderator and Lily ( 8 years on Sunday) was a helper. Grant who is 4 ½ did not want to be outstaged by his sisters and wanted the limelight. Paige and Lily knowing this let him give long drum rolls before each new thing on the program. ( He used long wooden spoons over many Tupperware bowls and could really drum away!) We all did freeze dances, and they played instruments, and had fun things. But even though Grant played the drums he “needed” more attention. They interviewed him and he had cute answers but because of his age, they gave him longer and longer drum rolls etc. They made allowances for him and treated him with much love, even though their program had to be altered. In the Body of Christ there are those who are new in faith or immature and we need to make allowances too, rather than judgment. As they grow, they shouldn’t need to be center stage but gradually be part of the Body and function as the Lord directs. May we show His love no matter where someone is at, just as others did for us!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We are with our grandkids these days and always a time to learn through them. We were met with lots of hugs and kisses and made so welcome. Grant ( who is 4 ½ years old) loves to tease grandpa and grandpa likes to tease him. So when Grant wants to get even with grandpa, he asks me to spank grandpa and even brings me a big wooden spoon. It is all in jest but sometimes does our heart rejoice when we see others get what they “deserve” when they have done something hurtful?…hummmmm!  And do we hope that we don’t get what we “deserve”?   Sometimes, instead of spanking grandpa I go over and give him a huge long kiss and Grant just giggles and thinks it is so funny! I am so glad that God doesn’t give us what we deserve or He would have His spanking stick out all the time. When we are dealing with others too, there are some times it is better to give the kiss ( loving acts) that can turn them around, when a “spanking” wouldn’t work!  We need wisdom to know when to do that. God may let us suffer the consequences of our hurtful actions, but there are also times He just covers us over with His merciful love and gives us what we totally don’t deserve.  As it says in Ps. 25 “ Remember , O Lord, your great mercy and love…. According to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

On our trip to Kansas today, I slept some of the way and also read, so I missed seeing many things along the way. But when I drove I was very engaged and was aware of the signs, the scenery, and even the clouds It made me think of our spiritual journeys and how we are often spectators along the sidelines and not really attentive. We miss so much! But when we enter in with our whole being, life is rich and we find Him in all of life’s happenings. King Solomon addressed the people with a loud voice and told them to fully commit their hearts to the Lord.( I Kings 8:61 ) Moses also told the people: “But if you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deut 4:29) Let us not just be passive spectators on our spiritual journeys but let us be fully engaged and take in all that the Lord has for us.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We are told often to be aware of the enemy who seeks to “steal, kill, and destroy”.  We may picture evil lurking in darkness and ugliness etc. But sometimes it is hard to discern evil and we need to always be discerning because Satan also disguises himself as and angel of light.” II Cor.11: 14.  So we need to be on guard and need protection.  When I went outside one morning, I saw that the deer had used my beautiful huge Hosta as their salad. I was disappointed as it was eaten down to just a few inches above the soil. Those little stinkers!  The one next to it is huge too but not eaten yet! I need to spray and protect it or soon it too will be gone. Now those deer that often go through our front yard look so innocent but they often “steal” from me, just as the enemy of our souls is out to rob us. We need to be on guard and also look to the Lord to protect us and as it says in II Thes. 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. “

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I had a call from a friend who made a mistake, but didn’t know it until after the fact and felt sad. She thought she was doing the loving thing but it didn’t turn out as she had anticipated and she had regret. And haven’t we all done that multiple times and wished we could “undo” those decisions we now regret?  But as I was reading from my devotional book today, we can release our mistakes to the Lord rather than getting down on ourselves.  He can use even our mistakes and weave them into something useful and good. In fact it is our pride that makes us think we will not make mistakes! As Sandy Young writes in her book, “Jesus Calling”, Your failures can be a source of blessing, humbling you and giving you empathy for other people in their weaknesses. Best of all, failure highlights your dependence on ME. I am able to bring beauty out of the morass of your mistakes. Trust Me, and watch to see what I will do.”

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

Sometimes things are not as they seem and we need to look deeper. When we go to a public pool, the water looks so great and inviting and clean. But studies show how many contaminates there are in the water and that 1 out of 4 (that were honest) said they urinate in the water.  But the lake that has weeds, lilies, fish, crabs etc is actually far cleaner. As I looked from the dock deep into the water, I thought of how this water looks more “dangerous” but actually is far safer and clean.  That is often how it is spiritually as we need to look beyond the surface things to know what things are good for our spirit and which things are not.  Too often we look at the outward appearance and make a judgment but we need to look deeper and discern. When Samuel anointed David to be king, he had to bypass all his brothers, that looked perfect to his natural eye…but he waited for God to show him as He knows the heart. ( I Sam.16:7)  “For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Let us not quickly judge a situation, but seek the Lord and ask for discernment.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Sometimes things get worse before they get better. A couple weeks ago I did some deeper cleaning. I pulled out the screens, dusted the blinds and base boards, and washed the windows.  I was hoping no one would stop over as it was a mess with all the cleaning supplies, vacuum ete.  Even in the mess good things were in process. In fact one Pastor, when asked what he liked best about the church said, “The Mess!”  The church is messy and we are all messy and need constant cleansing. I was surprised at the cobwebs, dust and dirt that seemed to form so quickly. But oh it felt so good when they were all back in place and sparkling clean. Let us remember our need for cleansing and not just notice someone else’s “dirt”!  And we have the promise in Micah 7:19 that He will “cast all our ins into the depths of the sea.”  How great is that?!!!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday we were in the cities and after our dermatology appointments I had a chance to shop. I always ask the Lord to lead me as there is a whole mall full of sales and it is like a scavenger hunt to find where they are hiding! I had a list for the grandkids of things their moms said they needed but not a lot of time, as it took longer at the dermatologist. But it is so neat to see how the Lord just guides when we ask Him. I went to one store and one thing ($25) was marked down to $1 and others that were similar were marked $4…the clerk gave them all to me for $1!  Each thing on my list was on sale and I just kept thanking the Lord and trying to use my time wisely. I was about to leave Macy’s but decided to go over to the far end of the men’s dept and there were things for  $28 that were marked down to $1.74.  I bought half the rack as they were on my list! When Al came to pick me up, I was so excited to tell him. But we always have to be on the alert as in one store the clerk “cheated” me on 3 items and I had to go back and let another clerk make it right. We need to always be alert as when we are rejoicing in the Lord, the enemy wants to sabotage us. I was so happy over the good sales that I almost missed the error. So let us keep awake for the enemy is always lurking around seeking to rob us.  As is says in I Peter 5, “Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

On Al’s way to church for the Men’s group a couple days ago, two deer were ahead of him in the middle of our gravel road. He honked at them, but they just kept running in front of the car for about 200 yards, until they finally went into the woods. They were in danger and were warned by the horn, but didn’t take heed. I thought of how we may be doing things that we have been warned against and yet we can persist. As we think back over our lives, we may all have had times that we were given a warning signal but just kept on in our own way, only to suffer the consequences. Why didn’t we pay attention right away? It would have saved us a lot of grief. But hopefully we learn, and when those “warnings” and promptings of the Spirit come, that we pay attention to go His way. As the familiar song goes, “Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with thy Spirit,” ‘Til all shall see Christ only, always, living in me!”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While reading Steve Smith’s book, “The Jesus Life”, I was again reminded how important it is to take time to be quiet and go apart as Jesus did. He would engage the crowds but then He always made time to rejuvenate with time alone with his Father. Luke describes one day in Jesus life for us to follow that involved “ first solitude; then community, where we share what happens in our solitude, and then work where we give out of full hearts to a needy world.”  We can’t give without times to receive and we cannot give what we do not have. When we are quiet and still it is easier to hear Him and our souls are nourished. We need to pay attention to what is going on in our inner and outer world. So I just sat on the dock in quiet and took in my world around me and in me. For the first time, I noticed that the lilies that had been forming underwater the day before were now showing above the water. The Lady Slippers were blooming near by that I had also missed. As we see the need for quiet, I believe the Lord wants us to give us a healthy rhythm to our lives that is life giving …where we are not stressed out but life is abundant and full. As it says in Matt. 11: “Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show your how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace….and.you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”