Category: Sister Judy (Page 190 of 277)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Sometimes in our walk with the Lord we may back slide into old ways, may grieve the Spirit, and lose our power. It is not a good place to be and things are not right.  Maybe there has been a storm in our lives, something devastating, and we blame God.  We were without power after a wind storm hit Canaan on Monday night.  Only 24 hours without power but it changed everything. Dishes sat dirty in the sink, clothes couldn’t be washed, no e-mails, no hot food etc. But when the power came on, everything in the house started going again, including the Air Conditioning.  Things were right! , I think we felt like dancing and shouting.
We were made for the Lord, and when we choose to blame God or go our own way, we miss out on the abundant life that He has for us.  But He is so ready to receive us and forgive us when we recognize our plight and cry out to Him. It is like a new beginning….like the lights are turned on again. Yes, we will all have storms in our lives and things that want to knock us off balance. But let us hold on tightly to the Lord and He will take us through

Devotions from Judy’s heart

“I trust in you O Lord; I say ‘You are my God.’ My times are times are in your hands.” ( Ps. 31:14-15) This was so true yesterday as we felt His presence when we came from the cities in a storm. While at the Dermatologist, it took so long first to get into my Dr. and then extra time teaching a resident how to stitch me up etc. We got on the road late but later found out the delay was good.  If we had been sooner we would have been in the midst of the storm that hit here shortly before we arrived.  We had to also wait about an hour as lines were down on our road and an ambulance had to get through. But we did get home and we were so thankful.  I thought of how I had been impatient in my spirit at the Dr. but it was actually good as it prevented us from being caught in the brunt of the storm. Sometimes what we think are delays are God’s way of protecting us. Over and over again in scripture we read about time and how Jesus was always on God’s time. Let us also be on His time for He knows best!

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday one of our Board members said that he was rejoicing that he found out he had diabetes. Now you may think that is really strange!  But he was happy to know that there was a reason for feeling awful,  his lack of energy, his thirst and many other symptoms.  It was a relief that he knew what was wrong and could do something about it. He is careful of his diet now and eats 6 meals a day, and no more diet cokes or things that are not good for him etc.  As he shared (this is with his permission) I thought of how we were before we came to the Lord. We were feeling bad and we knew something was wrong as we lacked deep peace. But the good news is that we are guilty and can go to the Great Physician for the remedy. He already paid the price for our salvation and wholeness and He wants us to agree with Him that we are sinful and in need of His grace and forgiveness. Then as we receive His diagnosis and treatment he puts us on the road to health and healing for our souls. So it is good news and it is news we need to share with others for He came for All! He came to give life and life abundant.( John 10:10)

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday I took a prayer walk and it was my first one for a while since I have been sick. Everything looked so lovely to me, especially all the white daisies and yellow road-side flowers. I felt like the Lord had prepared a beautiful walk-way for me and even had colorful butterflies accompany me. The birds provided music too.  I noticed everything more clearly and thought every day should be like this. Isn’t it good to start each day seeking the Lord’s presence and recognizing that He has already prepared a path for us to walk on?  There are surprises along the way, much beauty, and often some trials too. But He is with us so let us not miss Him in all that touches our lives.  May He give us a new awareness of His presence and with that comes a gentle peace.  I read from Ps. 141 today, “But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I was reminded how important it is to welcome the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  He gives life and freedom and counsel, and as I read today in Romans 8, He intercedes for us. But we are also warned not to quench the Spirit and sometimes we may do that little by little until we lose our spiritual power. Last night I was all set to do things around the house and work on my computer, and all of sudden our lights flickered and went out. There was no storm but in one moment, we had no power at all. Everything changed and we were in the shadows. When we keep resisting the Spirit and going our own way, He may not feel welcome and our spiritual power diminishes. We may do things over and over again that we know are not in alignment of His will, and He is grieved. But what a difference when the power came on again and there was light in our house!. I felt like dancing! Everything was right again!   May we not resist the Spirit but allow Him to lead us and guide us into the fullness of all that God has planned for our lives!   From the song of Bill Gaither, “Come, Holy Spirit, I need You, Come sweet Spirit, I pray; Come in Your strength and Your power, come in Your own gentle way!”

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!