Category: Sister Judy (Page 197 of 279)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

In our veggie garden the rows are marked with the specific kind of seeds that were planted. When we read the onion marker, we expect onions to grow there and carrots to grow in the row marked carrots etc.  Each row is different because of what was planted. It’s almost like the Body of Christ, as we are individually members of one another. If we are an onion, so to speak, we will not act like a carrot or beet. We were not meant to. As we read in Rom 12, we all have gifts that differ from one another and there are 7 mentioned there.( Prophet, server , teacher, exhorter, giver, leader, and mercy).  People with the same giftings have similarities much  like the same kind of seeds in the rows that are marked. But just like the different kind of seed in another row, the prophet does not come across in a group in the same way as the mercy person. We were meant to be just what He created us to be to add flavor and color to the Body, similar to the veggies in a soup or stew.  The danger is that we try to become what we were never meant to be. An onion does not taste or look like a carrot and should be used for just the purpose it was grown for. Let us celebrate what He planted us to be and allow others to be what they were created to be!

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday a friend and I planted seeds of carrots, lettuce, radishes, spinach, Kohlrabi, onions, and beets in our joint garden. By faith I believe these seeds will produce, but for now, they are in good soil and being exposed to the sun and rain as we patiently wait.  Each seed has the potential to become something very specific and good but takes time to develop and grow. We need patience with others as they grow and become more of what He intended, but we also need patience with ourselves.  Don’t we wish we were spiritual giants with great faith all the time?  But we seem to grow little by little as we are exposed to the Sonshine of His presence, the daily reading of His Word, openness to His Spirit etc. I marvel at His patience with our slow progress. I read this morning from II Peter 39 “the Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you….”  May we be patient with others and ourselves as He is patient with us… but at the same time  let us live with expectation of what we will become.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

It is the little things that we are given to enjoy that we often overlook and take for granted.

I wanted to share what I received about Lisa Beamer – If you remember, she’s the wife of Todd Beamer who said ‘Let’s Roll!’ and helped take down the plane over Pennsylvania that was 
heading for Washington, DC back on 9/11. 
She said it’s the little things that she misses most about Todd, such as hearing the garage door open as he came home, and her children running to meet him. 
Lisa recalled a special high school teacher she had whose hubby died of a sudden heart attack.  One day the teacher shared with the class that each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves.None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end.  It can be taken away at any moment.  So it’s important to make the most out of every single day. She asked them from now on, as they went to and from school, that they find something beautiful to notice. It didn’t have to be something they saw, it could be a scent, perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone’s house,  or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one colorful  leaf as it falls gently to the ground. But they were to look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it may sound trite, these things are the “stuff” of life.   After that Lisa noticed more things on her way home from school and she never forgot the message of that teacher.  As we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn’t do.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” 

May we enjoy the things the Lord has put before and savor and enjoy them.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart,

We all make mistakes and I made one the other day that was so disappointing. I was excited as I wrote several devotionals after I came back from a prayer walk and felt “inspired.”  But I’m not sure where in the process of copying, pasting and printing it happened, but the next day there were all gone! I couldn’t believe the boo-boo I made. I was in too big of a hurry. Sometimes in our rush through life, we make mistakes or miss what is before us. I know I need to slow down at times and focus on what is happening right now. It is easy to miss something important or even things that the Lord has spoken that we need to just ponder.  As I was reading from Deut. 4:9 and 15, Moses says to the people,  “Only take care, and keep  your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life…  Therefore watch yourselves very carefully.”   Let us purpose to slow down and absorb into our hearts, those things that He speaks to us.

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!