Category: Sister Judy (Page 189 of 271)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We’ve all heard that laughter is good for the soul and haven’t you felt “lighter” after you have had a good laugh?  It says in Prov. 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine.”  When I was reading The Ultimate Gift, Jim Stovall said that, “It’s impossible to experience fear, hate, or defeat when we are laughing.”  Now those are things we definitely want to eliminate from our lives. He also said that a life without laughter is not worth living and it is a universal language. Potential laughter is everywhere to find and to share. We have just had a friend here at Canaan that makes laughter just roll from our very bellies. Al’s sister ( who is also here) and I greeted him, dressed as Senoritas and did a hot Tamale dance. Laughter filled our house the rest of the day.  Ecc. 3:4 says “There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh.”  I remember tne time in Des Moines, we met to pray for a friend who was in ministry. We gathered in the chapel and the Lord just filled us with holy laughter.   It was a surprise to all of us, but we went home feeling so much lighter and full of joy. It’s not that we don’t take life serious enough but rather we know that it is His hand we have placed our lives.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Here at Canaan we live in such peaceful surroundings. The other day, I woke up to the sunrise over the quiet lake that was like a mirror and birds singing. We can be in quiet places but still be stirred up inside. Peace is such a gift that is offered to us and it is not dependent on wonderful circumstances or peaceful surroundings but rather whom we put our trust in.  Anxious thoughts can quickly fill our minds and we forget that He is there for us all the time.  He is our peace!  Some days when there are white caps on the lake, I think of Jesus word to the waves of he sea: “ Peace be still.”  And it was calm. He says that to our hearts too.  As I read from Ps. 85:8 today, “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people to His saints.”  May His words strike a peaceful chord in our hearts.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Early this morning I went downstairs to get some potatoes as we were having Kurt and buddies for dinner. Much to my surprise when I opened the lid to the potato bin, an awful odor hit me. As you can guess there were a few rotten ones in the bag and they had also “infected” a few others. I quickly got rid of them and saved the rest. I wish I would have looked at them sooner and been aware of what was happening.

Sometimes there are things in our lives like habits, attitudes, relationships etc. that are not good, but we don’t realize what it is doing to our hearts. It happens gradually and we find we are no longer are exuding the fragrance of Christ, but rather an offensive odor. We need to be aware of things that cause damage to our spirit and get rid of them as I did the rotten potatoes. As Paul says to the Galatians in 5:16, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”  If we do that the aroma of the wonderful fruit of the Spirit will be evidenced in our lives…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We have new lamps in both of our upstairs bedrooms and what a difference it has made. I had a short lamp in the shape of a pump from my childhood days that gave only minimal light. With this higher lamp, it gives so much more light and I can see so much better. Light is very important in our spiritual lives too and we are to bask in the light of His presence daily.  That takes letting go and just resting in Him and enjoying Him. I read in Sarah Young’s book today  that it is gratitude that enables us to see the Light of His presence shining on all our circumstances. Again it goes back to trust and letting go of our controls. What a great place to be to just lay back in Him and trust. He will shine light on our path and show us the way to go and fill us with His light as we journey.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

In my kitchen I have a small sunflower shaped vase given me by a special friend that holds an actual sunflower. It sits by my sink and is a constant reminder of my friend, making me smile and giving me a boost in my faith. It is also prompts me to pray for her.  I thought of how the Lord fills our surroundings of reminders of Him but so often we miss them. We are so busy into our mundane lives  that these special things escape our notice and we wonder where God is in our situations. But He is always there and He is always surrounding us with evidences of His presence.  Sometimes we need to just be quiet and still and slow down to receive what He is sending to our hearts. Haven’t we at some time had a friend give us a gift that has tremendous spiritual significance but they weren’t even aware?  That is God! Or maybe someone gives us a word that 2 unrelated others have already told us? Do you think God is saying something He wants us to hear?  Or He may put before us a beautiful sunset that takes our breath away?
Let us be alert and open to all the reminders He sends our way to let us know He is right there with us every moment.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

God works good even if we are not aware at the time!  Last week I went to a meeting where two people who are in charge did not show up. So the 3 of us that came just visited a while and went home. But that day I went a little earlier, and discovering an unexpected sale I  bought a couple things before the store closed. Two days later I went back and bought 12 sweatshirts, 7 t-shirts, a man’s flannel shirt, and a bathing suit top all for $32. Can you believe? While I was in town I bumped into the head of the committee and she apologized profusely for missing the meeting. I told her how glad I was that I had gone to town that day or I never would have known about the hot sale. Sometimes when we are disappointed that something doesn’t work out, God is at work and preparing us for something else He has in mind. We can trust Him and know that He has our best in mind and will work all things out for His plan for us. TRUST!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We all have flaws and idiosyncrasies that may be evident to others but unaware to ourselves. Shortly after Easter I put away all the decorations but the one on the door that escaped me said, “The Easter Bunny Stops Here!”  Now I went through that door many many times and failed to notice that it was still up. Others that came over never mentioned it either.  I thought of all the things in our lives that need changing and may be seen by others but they are waiting for us to take notice. The Lord knows us inside and out and sees the changes He wants to bring into our lives, but waits our permission. When we acknowledge our need for Him and allow Him to do His work, we become more like Him.  As it says in the Message translation in II Cor. 3:19, “And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him.”  May we sparkle and bring glory to Him!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Have you ever had a bad dream and you wake up and feel you have worked all night long? I had a dream that others were attacking me and shunning me etc. It was a difficult time and I kept asking the Lord for help. All of sudden I spoke up to someone near by and said, “God is good all the time.  I don’t like what is happening to me right now but God is good!”  Isn’t that really the bottom line to know that our Father is good and wants the best for us. Yes, we go through hard times but it is important to let our hearts stay open in faith to know that He intends good for us. We can trust His purpose in whatever we go through.

Our part is to place ourselves in His care and be surprised at how He may minister to our deep needs. In my dream I didn’t know how I was going to get out of the situation, but He would go with me through it.
As the song goes, “My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow… Strength for today is mine always and all I need for tomorrow.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday I shampooed the carpet given to us by Kurt and Brenda that had been in their basement. As I used our carpet cleaner I saw a transformation take place. The carpet’s faded pattern became more defined as it got cleaned and layers of cat hair etc were removed. I was pleasantly surprised at how fresh it looked and blended into the house décor. I thought of our hearts and how the Lord wants to clean them and bring out the pattern He has for our lives. It says in II Cor. 3:18 “And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him.” ( Message translation).  Why do we resist His beautiful work in our lives when He wants to make us shine and reflect His glory?  Just like parents who are sad when they see their kids choose rebellious ways rather than His way, our Father must be sad when we choose our will and way above His. Let us be open and let Him work in our lives that we may shine for Him.

Devotions from  Judy’s heart

Change is good! Sometimes we get a choice about change but other times circumstances may be out of our control to bring change. But with each change brings a fresh perspective and outlook and a little adjusting. When we were at Kurt’s I was noticing all the things my creative daughter-in-law had done in their house. We started talking about Canaan and she showed me some things she no longer was uses to decorate her house. It ended up that we had more things going home that altered the look of Canaan. It feels good to have a cushy carpet in the kitchen now, more light in two of our bedrooms with taller lamps, brighter pillows on the sofa, oriental rugs in front of the sofa etc. Why do we often insist on always keeping everything the same and missing out on the new?  The Lord has so many new things for us and we don’t always receive them as we seem to resist change. He may show us a new way of looking at something, a broader picture than our narrow view, a verse that is asking for our obedience or change of direction. But one thing we know, that if the Lord initiates the change we can trust Him to see us through.  We may find ourselves “singing a new song “ ( Ps. 96:1)  for  Behold, He makes all things new. ( Rev. 21:5)