Category: Sister Judy (Page 193 of 271)

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.

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   Devotions from Judy’s heart

No matter what we go through, the Lord can teach us and bring good things out of it, even if we don’t see it at the time.  I think being sick has not only helped me to slow down but also to have more empathy towards those who have chronic illnesses. I found that I got stronger each day when I got on meds, but some people are getting weaker each day as their disease progresses. We don’t have a choice when illness strikes but we can choose how we respond. Some people go through so much and get stronger spiritually. I am amazed at some teens that are paralyzed by spinal cord injuries but accept the challenge to go on.  Others go through less but get bitter.  Yancy said that pain is like a hearing aid- it offers a chance to tune in and listen more attentively to what matters most. This hearing aid may allow us to hear God’s promises of love and cause us to pay attention to something that needs changing. “Love and pain are prime movers for our spiritual growth! “  In fact when we do go through difficult times it can give us a larger eternal perspective.  Our times are in His hands and what that looks like we don’t know. But we do know He goes with us through everything that touches our lives. It all goes back to TRUST.  Can we trust Him even when we wouldn’t choose what is happening to us?

Devotions from Judy’s heart

It has taken me a while to feel better and I ask the Lord often what He wants me to learn through this time.  Today I read from a popular devotional book called, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. I am behind on the readings, due to our trip, but the one I read today seemed to fit me lately. Maybe it will fit you at sometime in your life.
“Thank Me for the conditions that are requiring you to be still.  Do not spoil these quiet hours by wishing them away, waiting impatiently to be active again. Some of the greatest works in My Kingdom have been done from sick beds and prison cells. Instead of resenting the limitations of a weakened body, search for My way in the midst of these very circumstances. Limitations can be liberating when your strongest desire is living close to Me.
Quietness and trust enhance your awareness of My Presence with you. Do not despise theses simple ways of serving Me. Although you feel cut off from the activity of the world, your quiet trust makes a powerful statement in spiritual realms. My Strength and Power show themselves most effective in weakness.”

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

When I was sick, I slowed down and did not rush through my work….mostly because I didn’t have the energy to do it at full speed. But I found it was more satisfying and fun to do it at a slower pace and I hope to refrain from going back to my old ways. So often when I get up in the morning it is my practice to push into high gear and I miss the joy of the moment. It is something that I have always struggled with. Every time I read a book on living in the present moment, I think Yes, I want to do that more. Some how slowing down helps me to savor the moment and enjoy His presence with me. When I was preparing for the Wildmen, I had all day on Friday to do that and so I just took my time. Sometimes we don’t have that luxury when something unexpected comes up, but much of the time we are rushing into the future and missing the present. When I am alone in the car, I often just sing and talk to the Lord and I want to do more of that as I am home in the midst of my work. Mary is such a wonderful example of not being anxious but enjoying Him and sitting at His feet.  I’m afraid I have lots of Martha in me but I know the Lord can help me to change one step at a time. May we have Mary hearts!

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

While in the hospital there were many visuals aids to help make the most of one’s stay. But I must confess I didn’t make use of that many of them. When I first got there, with no glasses on, I used the wrong clicker to try to start the T.V.! You get the picture. Lots of instruction pamphlets but I needed to make use of them…for my own good.  There is also a similar problem of trying to put things together without reading the instructions.  It doesn’t always work out, does it?  How much better to go step by step and realize the maker of the product knows more about how it is suppose to turn out.  We have been given the best manual for life but do we read it carefully?  We have been given instructions to help us know each step to take.  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you.”: Ps. 32:8.   Of course it is more than an instruction manual it is really a love letter that is to be read daily. Let us not neglect reading the wonderful gift given us to make us wise and more like Him.

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Devotions from Judy’s heart,

One thing I noticed when I was sick, was how well my hubby could read me. He could tell by my eyes when I was feverish and by my color if I was feeling better or worse. He can read me well!   It caused me to think of how the Lord knows us inside and out. He doesn’t miss a thing. He knows when we are struggling, when we are angry or afraid, when are lonely or full of self pity. He knows us down to the hairs of our head! The fact that Someone knows us that well and loves us perfectly is good reason for us to TRUST Him with our lives.  No matter how much we are loved by our spouse or another, He loves us more than anyone else ever possibly could. Our part is to surrender to that love and let Him be in control of our lives. Why is that so hard?  It means giving up our own controls and letting Him call the shots. But what a safe and peaceful place that is when He is doing the guiding and directing. He knows best, and we can enjoy being blown by the wind of the Spirit, wherever He wills. Let us give the controls to Him who loved us so much to even die for us.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

Sometimes when we seem to be getting worse it is a sign we are getting better. We may tell the Lord, “work here in this area of my life”, and when he does, things seem to get worse. That’s because He is going to the root of our problem and not just dealing with the surface symptoms. I suspect that sometimes when we are giving Him permission, we are really wanting Him to just take away the outward symptoms, but the deep thing, do we really want to deal with it?  While I have been sick, I would love to have just received a pill and be done with it. So easy!  But I had to have continuous IV’s and the antibiotic they put in my IV made me feel worse for a time. But sometimes worse is better because we are dealing with the real. Let us not fool ourselves and others by dealing with only surface things that show before others. When our hearts are changed, it is a deep change and brings real growth and freedom. Let us respond like David..“ Surely you desire truth in the inner parts, you teach me wisdom in the inmost place…..Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast Spirit within me.”

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Devotions from Judy’s heart
Today I am missing out as the Ladies of the Lake go to Dancing Fire for brunch. I would like to be with them but don’t dare because of the side affects of my last day of antibiotics. I missed Renewal Group yesterday and another group on Monday….all groups I wanted to be at. The fact that I couldn’t go makes those groups even more inviting, and I soon hope to return to them. It is so easy to take things for granted because they are familiar and routine, until they are taken from us.  Think of our weekly worship services. Do we just go through the liturgy and prayers without letting them touch our hearts?  Do we see those in the Body of Christ as our beloved brothers and sisters or do we take them for granted? Perhaps even more close to home, do we really appreciate the loved ones God has placed beside us in our families or do we just exist side by side? God can use all things in our lives to awaken us and I think he is using this time when I have pneumonia to show me in a greater way how He is so present and not to miss Him in the familiar. I know I look forward to being in church again, to being with friends again, but most of all I don’t want to miss Him in this  present moment. Let us not go along in our familiar routines without our eyes open to see Him.  May we be like the two blind men who cried out to Jesus, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” ( Matt. 20:34)

 Devotions from Judy’s heart,

It is surprising how our circumstances can quickly change our outlook on things. Last week at this time, I was in the hospital with no energy.  Today I am so excited that I can scrub the floors, bake and get ready for a Pastor coming. Before, this would have just been routine, but today I am grateful that I CAN do these things rather than having someone wait on me. Our outlook need not be dependent on our present circumstances though, but rather where our focus is. If it is on the Lord, then everything we do will flow out of love and gratitude to Him. When our eyes are on Him, we can live above our circumstances and rest in His Presence, no matter what is happening in our lives. “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Eph 2:6   Let us rest with Him in the Heavenly realm, even as we go about our work here below!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While I was in the hospital I felt too sick the first day to care about bathing for I was chilled and wanted to avoid taking off any covers.  That was fine with my nurse, and I had bathed before coming to the hospital.  But the second day I was feeling rather “stinky” and knew I needed a nice shower. My Dr. stopped my IV and Oxygen during the day so I only had to have my arm wrapped for bathing….and I had a wonderful hot shower with fresh gown and robe and slippers waiting.  I felt and “smelled” heavenly afterwards and got into fresh sheets as well. As good as I felt, it is nothing compared to being cleansed by the Lord. Now sometimes we know we are “Stinkers” but other times we may not realize just how much we need His cleansing. There was no doubt in my mind I was dirty this time, but what about when we just go out into the world each day. Don’t we need to wash off afterwards? Don’t we need to deal with our responses, our lack of love, our false ways?  “Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Ps. 13:23-24. May we know our need and ask Him to daily cleanse us, even as we have our daily shower!