Category: Sister Judy (Page 198 of 279)

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)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We have just spent a few days with 3 of our grandkids. Although they have the same parents it is amazing how different they are — so individual and gifted in different ways. Their uniqueness is a gift and to be appreciated and encouraged. Paige is tall and slender and loves to write, act, play the violin etc. Lily is solid and a natural athlete who is very competitive. Grant is all-boy and very expressive and full of energy and imagination. As grandparents we rejoice over each of our grandkids and remember our Heavenly Father rejoices over us in a similar way…not for what we do or achieve, but just for whom we are. As it says in Zeph. 3:7 , “He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.” Imagine that!  As we look at others, may we also appreciate their uniqueness and not try to fit them into a mold. Ours is not the place to change them but give them space and affirmation to be who God created them to be.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Last night the grandkids had a program for us with interviews, a play etc.  Paige put the spotlight on Lily who was a dog in a fenced in yard and longing to be adopted. But Grant ( only 4 years old) could not bear to NOT be in the spotlight  so he barked and carried on to be noticed. Later on both of them were included and adopted and learned to do tricks but at that moment it was to be Lily’s turn to be in the spotlight. I thought of the Body of Christ and how this is too often the picture behind the scenes. Someone is in the “spotlight” and others try to hedge in too.  Even pastors whose churches are not growing at the moment feel left out of the spotlight by those who are growing by leaps and bounds. Or maybe the Lord is honoring a person for a hidden work they are doing, and others feel they deserve it more etc. You get the picture. But in Romans 12 it says we should not be proud or think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Also  that we are to honor one another above ourselves and rejoice with others. The Lord is the one who turns the “spotlight” on the ones he chooses!  If we are serving Him, it matters not if it is not on us for He sees even in secret. So let us serve him from a heart of love.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We are here at Kurt’s in Kansas and today we all went to see 4 year old Grant play soccer. The team of nine 4 year olds did lots of practicing before they actually played the game. Grant did his best but fell 9 times. One time mommy had to comfort him but the other times he perseveringly got up and continued playing.  His team lost but mommy and daddy and all of us cheered him and told him what a good job he did.  They were up against all 5 year olds that played all last year.  But Grant didn’t give up and he played his best. It was a living parable about how we should live.  We are going to fall again and again and we need to glance away from ourselves to the people on the sidelines cheering us on… especially our heavenly Father.  He knows we aren’t going to do it perfectly but He looks at our heart motivation. Often He sends comfort and encouragement from  those around us too.  In Phil 3 it says, But I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. .. I press on to the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Let us not give up but persevere!!

Devotions from Judy’s heart,

On the way to Des Moines yesterday at 5:30 am, I noticed a big smudge on my passenger side of the windshield. It was in my direct line of my vision so I couldn’t see accurately. We intended to wash it off the next time we stopped but we forgot. I took a snooze and when I opened my eyes again the window was clear as there had been a heavy rain. I thought of how we all have areas of damage in our lives and it distorts the way we view things. We don’t see things accurately and for real. But the Lord wants to heal us and give us clarity and to see things as they are. When He washes us and forgives us, we look out with new sight. It isn’t so important how the smudge got there, but rather our desire to have it taken care of. The Lord wasn’t to bless us and draw us close as it says in Ps. 24:3-4 “Who may stand in His holy place? He who has cleans hands and a pure heart. May we go to Him for cleansing and fresh sight!

  Devotions from Judy’s heart

The other day I defrosted and cleaned out our chest freezers in the garage. I spent part of my time almost upside down, as I had to bend over and dig deep into the bottom.  We may not remember what is even in there, and I was surprised by all the things that needed to be used up. It made me think of my heart and how so much has been put into it through out my life…teachings, my daily devotions, words from friends etc.. It is easy to forget what was put in long ago. We need that cleansing and airing out so new things can be put in. The former things were good but need to be used and put into practice and then the new can come in and build on that. If we neglect to use what was put in, it compromises the flavor and the taste. If it is too full of the old, we miss trying out the new. “ Behold, I am making all things new. Rev 21:5

Devotions from Judy’s heart
The other day I walked to the Point and along the road there were no signs of greens or bushes yet. I know that raspberry bushes will come forth but is not time yet. Even though I can’t see them now, I know they will be coming and I anticipate the muffins, pies, jam etc that I can make from them. It made me think of faith and how it is really believing before we see with our eyes.  “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” ( II Cor. 5:7)  Many things in life, we need to accept by faith and trust that one day they will come into being. As I was driving to church yesterday the sun broke through the clouds and it was as if the heavens opened up. I thought of how one day we will be ushered into glory but for now we can only anticipate by faith. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom 10:17)  May our faith be strengthened as we trust the promises in His word and wait for the time of fulfillment.  No, it won’t be long until I will be making raspberry pie!