Category: Sister Judy (Page 192 of 271)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday I went up town to do many errands and I had to time it just right. The post office was only open for 1 ½ hours; the bank only for part of the morning, as well as, the Co-op; and the Dollar Store didn’t open until 9.  I was able to get to each store while it was open because of my timing. But if I had gone in the afternoon, I would have missed out on most all of them. God’s timing is perfect and although we say we want to do His will first, are we really on His time schedule? Some of us may jump ahead of his timing in eagerness or impatience. Others of us may lag behind as we need to decide if we are really going to do it His way. But when we are willful, our timing is not in sync with His, and we miss out.  Jesus was very aware of His Father’s timing and did not jump ahead as his disciples often wanted Him to do. And He didn’t lag behind but willingly went to the cross.  Let us do the will of God from our hearts ( Eph 6: 6) and we will be on His time table and bring delight to Him.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Often when I go walking with Linnea, I may have on a hooded jacket and long pants while she may have on shorts and a short sleeved shirt. I am always cold and she is not, but we have to be who we are. She would not want to be all wrapped up in my clothes and I would freeze if I dressed in hers. One isn’t better than the other but we are all distinct individuals. We do not need to be just like someone else for each of us is unique with specialized gifts. Just like playing in an orchestra, we need to play our notes clearly that the song may be the masterpiece God has planned and not all bleeding into one another. Let us be exactly who God has created us to be and appreciate our differences and distinctions.  Then much glory will go the “Conductor”, for we will play in harmony and unity.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While in Sanibel we heard Dr. Daryl Donavon preach, and since we were visitors we also got a gift bag with his book in it. ( “Able to Stand”). I liked what he had to say on faith as we hear so much that causes us to wonder if we have lost our faith. His definition of faith is: “Faith is hearing God and responding accordingly”. So simple! It is more than believing the right things and saying the right words.   It is not  something we produce to get God to do what we want. Sometimes our mountains aren’t moved because God might have those mountains to teach us how to climb. WE may not get a Jaguar from lack of belief but God said a Ford would do. Joni Erickson may still be in her wheelchair if God can receive greater glory with her in that position than on her feet.
Faith is something real and tangible. Through prayer we line up to God’s heart and become sensitive to what is on His heart.  As we spend time with Him and listen we will discover His will in our lives and we can walk in confidence.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

It’s important to live one day at a time and to live each moment to the fullest. We often try to live the future ahead of time because we want to get ready for what is to come.  But we can’t live beyond the moment and we need to savor each day as a gift. Recently when I was reading, The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall, the character Jason had to spend a day like he would if it were his last day on this earth. I wondered how I would spend it. I don’t think it would be spent cleaning  etc but rather wrapped in relationships, letting others know how much they mean to me etc. What would it be for you?  We can only live one day at a time and as we live it to the fullest our lives will be rich and meaningful. Let us anticipate each day trusting in Him, one moment at a time, and we will experience great peace and rich blessings.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

Things change and we change. Lately when I get up in the morning to fix breakfast, I no longer have to deal with our wood stove.  Just a short time ago when I awakened, I cleared out the ashes and started a fire in the stove before calling Al for breakfast. But with this nice weather, I no longer have to do that. A nice change! Change is happening all the time and all around us. We have to be flexible and flow with the changes. Some things we wish would stay the same and never change, but we are not in control. Other times we wish change would come rapidly but circumstances remain the same. The important thing is to live from our Center, Christ in us, and not from the periphery.

We can trust Him and let Him be central in our lives, even when we can not make sense of what is going on.  Sometimes we may brace ourselves thinking the worse may happen.  But why not live in openness and trust, surrendering ourselves into His care, even when change comes?  It is the most secure place to be. Like the song goes, “I trust in you, O Lord. I say you are my God. My times are in your hands, my times are in your hands.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Devotions from Judy’s heart

More thoughts from Conversation Magazine…If we were asked about a time we felt close to God, for most of us it would be a time of pain or difficulty. Pain contains within it many spiritual invitations. The choice is ours if we want to seek God in our pain or if we try to exert more control and avoid intimacy with God.  I think pain makes us become more aware:   aware of our attachments and ways in which we cling to things that are not of God:  aware of where we may be stuck or closed to His presence.

Letting go may be painful in itself, but we can sense it is right and good and will bring freedom. Actually there is more pain as we try to hang on or grab onto something else. “True letting go requires us to face into the emptiness for a time, rather than give into the temptation to try to fill the emptiness with something new.”  But as we quiet ourselves and stop struggling against the pain, we will find God holding us in our pain until your brokenness is healed by His love. God is bigger than us and with us and in us, even in our pain!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I have been reading Conversations Magazine as I have been recovering and it’s all about pain in this edition. It is  especially interesting for me at this time as my cousin Mary is battling cancer and in pain. I was looking for the positive aspects of pain from the many authors writing about it. A few thoughts and questions that stood out to me….Are we diminished by pain or transformed by it? Pain can teach us to listen and show us insights and a changed view of reality. Don Simpson said, ” A positive response involves allowing pain to reshape our will by daily directing our intentionalty more lovingly and trustingly to God.”  When we go through these tough times, it can make us more humble and more dependent on God. It can give us a hunger for truth and show us what lies within us. I notice it can free us from attachments and allow us to see what is really important.  I don’t think any of us would choose pain but may our capacity for God be enlarged as we go through these times.  Let us abandon ourselves to His will and know that it is the best place to be.

 
Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday there was a truck in our driveway and I told Al they must have the wrong place as we aren’t expecting any packages.  But our doorbell rang and there was a big box for me. An unexpected surprise!  In it was a lovely porcelain doll, Lizzie, who is called the tea party doll. She has fine features and has a smocked dress on and cute as can be. It was from a friend who thought Lizzie would bring me joy. Since I have a doll collection and since it was from a friend, it will be treasured and join the display of my other dolls.  Are we often surprised by the gifts the Lord sends our way and proceed to thank Him with hearts of gratitude?   Or do we try to demand that He give us what we think we need or want?  As a parent it is so much more fun to surprise our kids with something we know they desire rather than to give them a gift that they keep begging for and reminding us of constantly.  Of course, we have received the most wonderful gift of becoming His children and in Romans 8, it says that God gave us His son and “will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”  I believe the Lord loves to give to us and He knows our needs and just what to give us at the right time.  I was amazed when I came home from the hospital and He sent us food through friends, flowers through family, cards and gifts through friends….and now even a doll to bring a smile. Let us remember every good gift is from Him and worthy of our thanks….  And would you believe the door bell just rang and the Fed EX just brought me something I ordered some time ago?   But how much more fun to get the unexpected surprise gift, I never ordered!  May the Lord surprise you too!!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

When I woke up this morning I laid in bed for a few minutes just thanking the Lord for how wonderful I felt. I don’t think I realized how far from wellness I was, even when I came home from the hospital. Last week at this time, I was awake most every hour in the night coughing etc. Now I had a sustained sleep and as I looked back, I could see how far I had come. I thought of our spiritual lives and how it is good to think back on where we were when the Lord found us. We were all “dead in our sins” and in great need of Him. I don’t think any of us realize how truly “sick” (in our sin) we are.  Often we are like the Pharisees who felt no need for a Physician since they thought they were already fine by keeping the law. But our need is desperate and the Great Physician is eager to help us. Change doesn’t happen over night but He begins His work in us and we see His hand of grace.  I love to hear people share of being rescued out of darkness and being brought into the light of His healing presence. Let us press on to know Him but let us also remember where we were when He found us…. For then we will live in gratitude and grace.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

As I went to Doctor appointment yesterday I was eager to have him pronounce me healthy again and completely over my pneumonia. After he listened to my lungs, he told me the good news that there were no more rattles and both lungs were clear. I thought of the healed lepers in Jesus day that had to go to the priest to be pronounced clean. What wonderful words!  You are clean! You are whole and well again.  Spiritually, that is also the best news. When we ask the Lord to forgive and cleanse us, He is so ready to do that. We can move forward, knowing our hearts are made clean and it’s like having a clean slate. At our Sunday morning worship service after we have confession and also quiet time for reflection, my heart rejoices when Pastor says,…”by His authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  This is the greatest news of all!  At this time of Lent, may we meditate on the sacrifice He made so that we can receive His grace and forgiveness.