Category: Sister Judy (Page 203 of 271)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

This morning I read in Luke 21 about the poor widow who put in 2 small coins in the temple treasury. It was all she had to live on!  What a contrast to the Biltmore Estate we toured yesterday with the enormous oak dinner table that seated 38, the 43 bathrooms, the bowling alley, the swimming pool, etc with over 1800 workers to keep the estate beautiful.  It was truly lovely and we enjoyed seeing the lavish furnishings in each of the over 200 rooms. But I must say I actually preferred the simple style of the monastery with its peaceful atmosphere. One feels so close to the Lord. When I think of the hidden life of solitude and the prayerfulness of the monks, it stirs my heart. They own nothing and yet they are so rich. One does not need an abundance of things to be happy but rather to commune with the Lord and receive His lavish love.   The words of the song came to mind that I learned as a child, “ A tent or a cottage why should I care. He’s building me a mansion over there…. He has riches untold!  Let us seek true riches that last forever!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today we were in the Blue Ridge at sunrise and there was a mist covering the mountains.  It was hard to know where the mountains ended and where the heavens began. We were literally in the clouds. I felt like shouting,  “Be exalted O God, above the heavens, let your glory be over all the earth.” (Ps. 57:10-11. ) I thought of how we must be ready for the unexpected as the temperatures went from 70 degrees when we left Charleston this morning to  25 degrees and snow in the mountains.  How  important it is  that we are ready for the unexpected. It says in Luke 21:36, “ Always be on the watch and pray.” We had to dress differently today than yesterday and had to drive slowly in the snow. But what if we had insisted on wearing our short sleeved shirts like we did yesterday when it was then in the 80’s?  We would have been freezing today!  As it says in II Tim. 4:2, “Be prepared in season and out of season.”  We had heard the forecast and were prepared today for this new season and so thankful in our winter coats. May we be prepared in the spiritual sense too and be watchful and prayerful.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I think this trip is showing me once more how to live in the present moment. On our way to Charleston, we didn’t have a rigid time schedule and we stopped along the way at places that sparked our interest.  We went to
“The Cathedral of All Souls” which was a historic Episcopal  church in Asheville, N.C>  We took time to view all the stained glass windows etc. and sat in quiet. We took in the Cultural Center of Arts too. Sometimes we are in such a hurry on our journey, that we miss the most meaningful things along the way. Faster may not be better. We took a little extra time and experienced more of the little things that add up to make us rich and full. As we start our journey homeward tomorrow we plan to do the same. Let us make each day count!

“O God, teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.” PS. 90:12

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While at Ann’s on Saturday I had a moment of intense gratefulness one noon.  I was mixing cookies and had just been melting some butter on the stove. There was soup warming up on one burner and someone had put a casserole dish on the back burner too. When I had finished mixing the butter and sugars for the cookies, I transferred the bowl to the adjacent counter.. All of a sudden there was a big explosion. The rice casserole dish exploded, sending glass all over the kitchen. Had I still been at the stove, I would have had glass in my face and maybe all over. Oh how thankful I was that I was right where I was at the time. I wonder if we know in even a small way, how often we are protected from harm. Afterwards I thought of the verse from one of my favorite Psalms, 37:7, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”  All day long I was giving thanks!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Tonight we feel the joy of the lost lamb that was found or like the woman who found her lost coin after lighting her lamp and sweeping her floor. Today we took the grandkids to the Charleston Aquarium and had such a fun day. But when we got to the car to go home, Al said he didn’t have his billfold! Oh my, the stress we all went through and prayers went up immediately.  We went back to the Aquarium and combed the place as best we could. We started thinking of the consequences since we are only on the first leg of our journey and need our credit cards, Driver’s license to get back in to the Base etc. The kids were very cooperative and felt bad for grandpa. We had planned to stop to eat on the way home but instead went right home. But to the joy of all of us, Ann met us at the door to tell us Al had left his billfold on the table and never had it in his pocket. We started cheering and thanking the Lord with all of our hearts, and went out to celebrate. I felt like the woman in Luke 15:9 who called together her friends to share her joy.  “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin. In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  What we found was important to us, but not like the joy of a lost soul who is found!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

It’s often the little things in life that mean so much and are remembered. Each morning we wake up to the smell of coffee at 5:30 am. as Leif sets it the night before. Also on Friday when we came home from the Boone Hall Plantation, we were all tired from walking for hours and being out in the cold and wind. But when we stepped inside, the house was filled with the aroma of chicken baking. Leif had a yummy supper in the oven and we didn’t have to do a thing. In fact, we all headed for a nap and still had plenty of time to get ready for the International Home School event..  When we feel prompted to do something for others, we need to heed the voice of the Spirit. Sometimes it is a word of encouragement or may be an act of kindness that seems small, but to the other person it may make all the difference in the world. So let us be sensitive to the Spirit and “Keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25) and walk in love.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today we have been at the Boone Hall Plantation and saw so many people dressed in costumes and telling stories as if they were a person that lived long ago. I thought of how often we may play a part or fill a role but are not our real self with others. We may even dress the part, trying to appear to be someone we truly aren’t. As a pastor’s wife, I’m sure I have fit into a role many times that was not truly me.   I find the more I grow in my spiritual life, the more I become my authentic self.  And to me that is freedom. For “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Gal. 5:1. Let us live in authenticity and freedom!!

 Devotions today is from our son Kurt. Hope you enjoy!

Our pastor had an interesting sermon last week and I thought I would share my notes.  The series is Called “The Legacy of Life” and the 2 big ideas of this particular series is:
        1.) My number one opportunity to leave a legacy in this world is my home
        2.) Family is God’s number one tool for helping us become more like Jesus

The big idea for this Sunday was: Every life teaches a lesson.  My greatest gift to my family is me.  The life I live is my legacy.  

My initial reaction to this was one of “Oh man, what will my story be? and how will I be remembered by my family and friends…..by those that know me best?”  I thought of a funny motivation parody poster that showed a picture of a haunting, half sunken ship in a harbor, left for years with a caption at the bottom that read “it may be that the purpose of your life is a warning to others”  :  )

Here are the 3 points:
1.) VALUE your life lesson –  The life you live will speak to your family and friends for generations after you die.  He gave several examples of this, one was what he called the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 that speaks of Abel’s gift and how it was better than Cains and “how his faith speaks even though he is dead.”  I think this is true with members of my family.  I think of my Grandmother that is now in heaven, but her example of faith, stewardship and giving still speak to me.

2.) EXAMINE your life lesson –  2 Corinthians 13: 5 says “examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine”
He said we should ask ourselves, our friends, our family and God.  He even asked if there would be one word to describe you what would it be?  I know what I would like it to be, but is it?!

3.) CHANGE your life lesson – Mark 10:27 says “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God”

He made me laugh when he said in a very matter-of-fact manner “if you could fix you, you would, but you can’t, so you won’t”.   Jesus is in the life-changing business.  What I can’t change, Jesus can change.  Repent and believe that he can change you. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature!

  How will you be remembered?   What is your legacy?
        Kurt

Devotions from Judy’s heart

 When we left home in Northern Minnesota on Sunday, the trees were almost bare. The farther south we have come the more leaves and color we have seen. By the time we got here to Charleston the leaves are at their peak.

I thought of how barren it is when we live on the surface ( north) and don’t go deep ( south) into our hearts. Life is then dull and superficial. But when we allow our minds to sink into our hearts, life becomes rich and full. We are like  the colorful leaves at their peak.  Eph 1:18 says, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.”  May our hearts be enlightened and flourish at their peak!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today I noticed how many signs we saw along the road and even ones put into the mountain sides. Some were warnings, some were informational, some were points of interest, some were invitations to eat at a restaurant etc. We were especially alert to the ones for hotels as it got dark and we were getting tired. But I thought of the spiritual signs and how aware of them are we?  One sign we saw today said “Jesus is coming again, R U ready!”  Jesus wants us prepared for His coming again and has given us signs. In Matt 24 He tells his disciples as they were sitting on the mount of Olives, what signs to look for: wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution of Christians etc. etc. Mark 13 gives more signs like the gospel being preached to all nations, being betrayed by your family, false prophets performing signs, the sun and moon darkened, stars falling from the sky etc. Let us be alert and on guard, paying attention to the signs so that when He comes we are watching and waiting and ready!