Category: Sister Judy (Page 208 of 279)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today is the day we celebrate my dad’s life and I feel so blessed to have had such a wonderful dad. I never wondered how he would receive me as I felt his arms were always open with unconditional love. The last time I was with him, I tucked a prayer shawl around him to keep him warm.  His speech was getting hard to understand but he mentioned the picture of Hackensack on his wall, and we talked about the wonderful memories there. Oh how he loved nature and the beauty of the woods. His bed was low so I just knelt by his bed and prayed for him. The last words I said to him were that I loved him and those were his last words to me. I didn’t know at the time that it would be the last time I would see dad here on earth. But even if I did know, that would be the message I would want him to know. Dad you did good. You were the best dad! I love you!  How important it is to let the people around us know how we feel about them, and not just take for granted they know.  God can use our words to bring encouragement, comfort, love, peace, hope, joy, etc. Let us be led by His Spirit to speak words of love and life to others. In Col 4:6 Paul encourages us to “let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” When I think of it I don’t remember my dad ever putting me down by his words. Sorry to say I’m sure our kids can’t say the same about me.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday we were all together as family to celebrate Christmas and I passed around a dish of blueberries .. I bought them Tuesday at Sam’s club and had hoped to bring them to dad on Christmas. But he is in a better place and may have all the blueberries he wants now. Blueberries are so tasty and bursting with antioxidants, vit. C  etc. They are so small and yet you put them together and they make a big bowl of scrumptious eating. I think dad’s life was made up many, many acts of kindness and generosity. He loved to give in hidden ways that may seem small, but to the recipient they were big. All of us will remember how he would give each family $20 for gas when we came to visit, missionaries were remembered monthly, ice cream cones for all of us when we went to watch him pitch ball, always paid when we went to a restaurant, gave rides to us and all our friends, etc etc. They add up to a wonderful life of giving to others without expecting in return. I will probably never eat a blueberry without thinking of my dad and with that comes memories of his love and generosity, which has eternal rewards.

Thank you,
scandalous God,

for giving yourself to the world
not in the powerful and extraordinary,
but in weakness and the familiar:
in a baby: in bread and wine.

Thank you

for offering, at journey’s end, a new beginning;
for setting, in the poverty of a stable,
the richest jewel of your love;
for revealing, in a particular place,
your light for all nations.

Thank you

for bringing us to Bethlehem, House of Bread,
where the empty are filled,
and the filled are emptied;
where the poor find riches,
and the rich recognize their poverty;
where all who kneel and hold out their hands
are unstintingly fed.

Kate Compston, Bread for Tomorrow

A prayer for you as we celebrate the wondrous birth of our Savior

Saint  Theresa’s Prayer
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and  love.
It is there for each and every one of us.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

A few days ago I woke up early and going through my mind was my dad’s favorite song. I thought of how much he liked this one and how he trusted God’s hand to guide him Home. His earthly toil has ended

and he is now in his true home with the Lord with mom, grandma and so many others….O glad reunion!! 

Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning,
When with our Savior, heaven is begun;
Earth’s toiling ended, O glorious dawning,
Beyond the sunset when day is done.

Beyond the sunset, no clouds will gather,
No storms will threaten, no fears annoy;
O day of gladness, O day unending,
Beyond the sunset eternal joy!

Beyond the sunset, a hand will guide me
To God the Father whom I adore;
His glorious presence, His words of welcome,
Will be my portion on that fair shore.

Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion,
With our dear loved ones who’ve gone before;
In that fair homeland we’ll know no parting,
Beyond the sunset forever more!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

This morning when I was going to start the fire in the woodstove, the window of it was black with soot. I couldn’t see if there were any coals inside or rather couldn’t see inside at all. But after I cleaned the window, everything was clear and I could see the live coals. I thought of how there is a veil between our life here on earth and our eternal home. Our home above is very real but not seen because of the veil that separates us, like the blackened glass.  One day the veil will be removed and we will see clearly His glory.  II Cor 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”  I think of my dad and how thin the veil seems between his life here on earth and heaven that awaits him. When the veil is lifted he will be at Home at last!  I wonder if he will spend Christmas with mom.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We have been given so many promises that the Lord will never leave us and is always present, waiting and listening to our cry. Heb. 13:5 says “for He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Tuesday on our way home from seeing my dad, Al stopped for a haircut and I sat in the car. A man next to me went into a store and left his poodle dog (with red bows in her fur) in his vehicle. His dog was frantic and she barked and jumped up and down the whole time. She was so anxious and it was as if she thought her owner would never return.  She carried on until her owner returned when she finally quieted down. Are we also like that at times…so anxious and wondering where God is in our circumstances? Do we trust and believe the Lord is near even though we may not “see” him. Let us quiet ourselves and rest in Him. He is so worthy of our trust.  “In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”  Isaiah 30:!5

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Have you ever prayed that God would help you to see another person through His eyes and not yours?  How God sees things is often so different from our short-sighted vision.
I just read this morning of how Jesus saw Simon ( who often put his foot in his mouth), and gave him a new name which meant, Rock. Even though Peter would deny Him, He became the leader and head of the apostles. Jesus saw in Peter what others may not have seen at the time.

Yesterday as my dad was brought to the nursing home from the hospital, the Hospice nurse came ahead of him and talked with us.  She asked us many questions about my dad. We told her of how content he is with things, and so undemanding.  He accepts what is and doesn’t complain etc. etc.  Then we took her to his room so she could meet him. I wondered what others see…is he just a 100 year old man that demands a lot of care?  Perhaps that is what some of the staff may think. But I believe she saw him more as the Lord sees him as she treated him with such compassion and care. She knelt on the floor beside him and spoke into his ear and listened, as his speech was hard to understand. She made him comfortable and gave him reassurance. I pray that I may see others as the Lord sees and show His compassion and His love.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We just got home from seeing my dad in the cities after leaving yesterday morning at 5 a.m.  I had prayed in the night if we should go and it just seemed like yes, we should. Our times are truly in His hands as David  says in Ps.  32:14-15.  “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God’. My times are in your hands.”  When we got to the hospital, tears came to my eyes as I saw how frail and poorly dad looked.  I brought him a prayer shawl I had just crocheted and wrapped him up as he was cold. We so wanted to talk to the Dr. and everything went like clock work. The Dr. came early enough so he could give an order for blood work etc and we got to talk with everyone after that; the, social worker, two more Drs. Hospice, technician, etc etc. One after another was available. We spent a long time signing papers and getting  Hospice started. Dad was able to go back to his own room at Augustana by evening and the hospice nurse was there and got him all settled. This  morning I went to his room early and had a nice chat with him, got him to take fluids, and then to share how much I love him. He could talk enough to say he loved me too. My brother just called and dad is bleeding again and his blood pressure has dropped some so we would appreciate continued prayers. We don’t know how long he has left on this earth, but we are sooooo thankful  for the time with  him yesterday. We could feel the prayers. Our times are in His hands!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

One day I had just listened to Carrie Underwood’s amazing song of “How Great Thou Art” on YouTube. It just gave me goose bumps and the verse spoke to me, “When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation and take me home what joy shall fill my heart.”  Shortly afterwards I went for a prayer walk  and it was very cold out. When I reached the half way mark and started home again I was battling a strong wind and longed to get home. Even the smell of the smoke from our chimney was drawing me. I thought of my eternal home and how I am over the ½ mark too and going homeward. I had such great joy thinking about my “real home” and asking the Lord to bless the rest of my journey here on earth.  I had just read from Ps. 31:19, “Oh how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you.”  Let us keep our eyes on things above even as we live in the now. He has so much stored up for us and whatever we have to go through on earth is nothing compared to what awaits us.