Category: Sister Judy (Page 186 of 271)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

The other day I took a prayer walk to the Point and I was surrounded by dragonflies the whole time. I felt like “Pigpen” in the Peanuts column that had a film of dirt around him. But Dragonflies are not bad for they eat mosquitoes, and I didn’t have one bite the whole time I was at the Point. Instead of visualizing them as an irritation, I saw them as an army going before me and freeing the way. Sometimes there are“intrusions”  in our lives and we immediately think it is a bad thing. But if we look deeper, maybe they are really things God is using to do a work in our lives and give protection from other things. He has a plan and purpose for each of us and uses many things to get us where we need to be. As it says in Ps. 138:8: “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”   May God finish his work in each of our lives!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

On Friday I made a call to Linnea as I had wanted to bring over a meal after her surgery but got their answering machine. I thought she hadn’t come home from the hospital yet, so later in the day I walked over to her house to water her plants. And much to my surprise, there she was outside watering. She was not only home but had invited me over for coffee, but I had not gotten her message. Later I heard it on our answering machine, and had never checked it. It doesn’t have a beep like the old one, so we often miss a message at the time. But as it ended up she and I connected and had a time to catch up as we sat outside in the sun. I wonder how many messages we miss that God sends but we don’t check with Him as we are so busy.  Maybe we don’t want to hear what He has to tell us for we want to do our own thing. Sometimes we may just forget. But whatever the reason, we may be missing out on great things He has in store for us. I just happened to show up at the time Linnea had suggested, but if I had come sooner, I would have awakened her from a much needed nap.  It pays to “listen” to Him so we are in the right place at the right time.  As it says in Prov. 16 it says that “the Lord has made everything for its purpose,” and  we may have plans but the answer is from Him.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday I took a prayer walk to the Point and sat on the dock. It was a beautiful sunny day and as I sat there with my feet in the water, I was reminded of how I use to do that as a child.  I could see the beginnings of the lilies forming in the water, ducks near by and even a baby Heron who looked at me for some time from a short distance away. I thought of the changes in me since then and for I am no longer  a child anymore but an adult….. hopefully, have grown spiritually since those days too. In Hebrews 12 the author tells his Christian brothers and sisters that they should be on solid food, not just milk. “for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”  Even though we are grown up, we still at times have childish responses and fleshly reactions…and maybe some “temper tantrums” too. But may we “grow up in every way into Him who is the head.” ( Eph. 4) and feed on solid food.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday the sun was shining as I took my prayer walk and decided to walk the labyrinth at my cousins. Since the snow has gone, I have not done that, and it felt right to slow down and just take some moments to be quiet and pray. As I walked the labyrinth I noticed again all the variety of stones: .all sizes, shapes and colors. It was a reminder to me of the many people that have had an impact on my life. They are so varied with many colored gifts.  I felt grateful as they are truly gifts from above and are sent into my life to keep me on the right path. As I walked slowly, I saw 2 green raspberry stalks growing in the middle of the path. They didn’t belong there and I pulled them out to clear the path. Sometimes there are even good things in our lives but they are not in the right place and timing, and tend to block what we are to do in the now.  We need to remove them so we are free to do what the Lord has for us in the present. When I got to the middle there was a large stone and I sat on it and spent some time in quiet. I thought of Jesus as my rock and I want to just rest in Him. “ The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. Ps. 18:2  I leisurely walked back out from the center with all it’s turns.. into the world and hopefully to share what I received with others.  It is good to just slow down in our lives and take the time to enjoy the Lord and listen with our hearts.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday at our Renewal group we were in Romans 8 and talked about living the Spirit filled life.   “It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God”.  We shared instances when we just knew that it was the Lord and felt led by the Spirit.  Later in the day Kurt called asking for wisdom and prayer to help someone who had was severely depressed. We talked about things that may help, including giving scriptures of hope and encouragement, starting a men’s group to have an “army of men” to stand with the troubled man etc.  When we got off the phone he asked the Lord what scriptures to give and just then a car passed him on I-435 in K.C. with a license plate that read Psalm 91.  Wow! That was also the very scripture that God used in my life when we were going through a difficult time in our church. I memorized it and would quote it over and over in my mind as I was driving places, swimming laps in the pool etc. It gave me strength and courage. When you think of it, we might say it is our 911 number. Ps. 91:1 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the almighty.”   Later Kurt also shared that he is beginning a new men’s group that will start this Friday night!  The Spirit is at work and He wants to lead and guide us even in the smallest details, keeping us closely connected to Him.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

This morning I read from Ps. 112 about how the godly man who fears the Lord is generous, righteous, trusting, gracious, merciful, just, etc. It says that his offspring will be blessed and mighty in the land!  As I read this Psalm I thought of my dad and mom who have given us a wonderful godly inheritance. They have exemplified great generosity, integrity, faith, love etc, Over the weekend we have been discussing with our extended family, the future of the Point ( land with lake on 3 sides) that was given to us kids. How can we preserve it for our future generations?  But we were also reminded of not only our physical inheritance but the godly inheritance that is ours. Al wrote on our blog about it at www.canaansrest.net.   It has been entrusted to us at a cost and now our part is to pass it on to our children. This cannot be bought and we need to fight to maintain our heritage with weapons of love and humility. ( Ps. 37:11)  I am so grateful for what we have been given and think of our eternal inheritance “that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven” for us. I Peter 1:4-5

Devotions from Judy’s heart

 One day a friend was sharing about a vegetarian employee that was always telling others around her how they should eat…what was good and what was not. But one day she had to be taken to the hospital, only to be told that she was malnourished and dehydrated herself.  Sometimes we are quick to tell others what is good for them, but don’t discern for ourselves. God has so much to feed us, through many means and sources if we are open to receive. He wants to have balanced children so won’t feed us all sweet things, all acid things etc.  We have the promise in Ps. 81:16, “But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock, I would satisfy you.”  Let us not think we know , but put ourselves into His care to give us just what we need.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Often we may think we are in control and try to make our plans work. But it says in Prov.16:9:  “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”  On this holiday weekend we have been making plans but we can’t carry them all out, as we are dependent on the weather. We wanted to have an outdoor wiener roast but had to gage it according to the weather map which isn’t definite either. We hoped to have it after church but had to stay flexible as we didn’t know if it was going to rain and storm.  But also in our daily spiritual  life we need to stay open and flexible to catch the wind of the Spirit and go whatever way He leads us.  That takes discernment and willingness on our part and an openness to His way verses our way.  But He knows the beginning and the end and we see only partially and not far into the future….. and isn’t  the bottom line that His ways are so much higher and better than our ways?

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Before we left on our trip, I walked to our garden and saw that a few of the veggies were peeking out of the soil. Not in every row but I was delighted to see growth in several rows. When we first planted, we had to wait in faith that our work was not in vain. And just seeing some seeds producing is encouraging to believe more is going to happen. I garden with a man who grew up on a farm so he is more expectant of the results than I am. I am always quite amazed when the garden produces a lot. When we sow seeds spiritually, we may get discouraged and think it was in vain if we don’t see results quickly. As we sow, we really don’t know which ones will produce. Some will “produce a crop, multiplying 30, 60, or even 100 times” (Mark 4:8) But let us sow seeds in faith and trust Him for the results. This morning I read a prayer from Mount Carmel ministries which made me think of my own heart: “Gardener God, thank you for tilling the soil of my soul and planting your Word within me. You refresh me with life-giving waters and warm me with the light of your Son. Forgive my fruitlessness. Help me to sow your Word in the soil surrounding me and to trust that your Word will take root. Amen.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today I read from Ps. 107: “Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good…He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul, He fills with good things,”  Do we believe He is good and gifts us with good things, even when we go through a loss?  

When I was getting ready for company, I put on my favorite earrings that match a couple necklaces. I couldn’t find those little white beadlike backs and didn’t think it mattered since I was only going to be in the house. But later I discovered I had only one earring, and we looked around the house and it was no where to be found. Why didn’t I take time to put on the  backs to secure it?  While in the mountains at Breckenridge  I looked for the same kind of earrings to replace them. I went into a jewelry shop that was overflowing with every kind of earring, except what I wanted. I asked the clerk and he said the only place he may have this kind was in the $1.99 box at the front of the store, which I had overlooked. And what to my surprise, I found the exact earrings that go with my necklaces, and also two other sets for the same price. I came out of the store smiling and so thankful. It was my fault for not securing my earrings, and we can get disappointed and down when we lose something that we love.  But hold on….. God may have something even better for us ahead. I’m so glad He doesn’t give us what we deserve but is so merciful and good!