Category: Sister Judy (Page 210 of 279)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While Kurt and his buddies were up here we had a mishap on the night of the feast they prepared. There was a hot bubbling carrot soufflé that was being carried to the table along with the Beef Wellington etc. All of a sudden I heard a big splat and the soufflé was upside down on the floor, still bubbling.  We were able to salvage the part not touching the floor and Kurt helped me clean up the rest of it. Now the one who dropped it didn’t even say how it happened and that it wasn’t his fault or rationalize it away. But the handle on the dish carrier broke and it would have happened to whoever carried it to the table. In the routine of our daily lives we all have mishaps. Some are messier than others but it just happens. Why are we surprised when it happens to us or others around us? Why do we spend so much time defending or rationalizing?  Let us instead ask God to help us see even the good He can work out of it. In this instance I was filled with gratitude as I was aware that the hot soufflé could have spilled on Gary who was sitting only inches away and he would have been severely burned.  You are probably  familiar with the verse from Rom 8:28 that says, ”for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Let us accept those things that happen in our lives and not be hard on ourselves. The enemy wants to send us into a tail spin and get down on ourselves, but God wants to weave it all together and bring good out of even our mishaps!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

When I went for a prayer walk the other day and saw many deer tracks in the snow, it made me aware that there is a lot of activity going on that is often unseen by our eyes. When I walked a little farther, 3 deer ran across the road right in front of me.  Often in our spiritual lives we know the Lord is in something but is rather hidden. We see His print, like the deer tracks, but it is not obvious and we must trust our discernment. But when the deer showed up and pranced across the road in front of me, it was like Yes! I saw clearly what I only had a hunch of before.  Of course, I would rather see the actual deer than just prints in the snow. I can identify with the disciples (as I read in John 21 today) when Jesus revealed himself to them on the shore after catching 153 fish. John said, “It is the Lord!”, and there was no doubt. But may we also rejoice when we see signs of Him and know He is there, even when it isn’t so obvious.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Lately I have been doing Christmas baking and sometimes the counter is full of dirty dishes in the process. I love making cookies etc but wish someone else would be present to do up all the dishes.  There are times that friends drop in unexpectedly while I am cooking and baking and find me in my kitchen mess.  Isn’t it that way in our lives too… they are always filled with messes? Spiritually, we need someone to come along side of us and do heart cleaning? We have such a loving Father who wants to do that for us as we ask Him. He waits and is so ready and willing.  Others may see our “messes” too and may offer to pitch in and help us through those times but only He can cleanse our hearts. We need continual help in this area for our hearts are always needing cleansing as we have no good apart from Him. Ps 16:2

Devotions from Judy’s heart

This past week Kurt has had buddies here at the cabin and they are enjoying some snow and lots of bonfires etc. When Bo first came he drove his minivan down the steep hill to the cabin and unloaded everything.  He does not have 4 wheel drive so we were aware that he needed to watch the weather so he wouldn’t have to be rescued!  It snowed some and the guys were almost done napping when Al went down the hill to warn him he may need to move his SUV up. He made 4 or 5 attempts and had to back down and take a fast drive up with 2 of them pushing before finally he got to the top. Had he waited any longer, he may not have made it. Timing is important in our lives. God has a time table and we need to be in sync with it. Otherwise we may be spinning our wheels and not getting any where or backsliding. Sometimes God gives us warnings, like the warning Al gave the guys, and we need to pay attention. It is easier to stay put than to move out like Abraham when he was asked to leave his country, not knowing where God would lead him. It takes faith and obedience but the safest place to be is in His will and on His time table. Jesus gave us a wonderful example for He paid close attention to His Father’s timing. One thing we know for sure that it is always “time to seek the Lord”!  Hosea 10:12

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I’m sure we have all said, “He is so nice and doesn’t deserve that!”  I have thought many times what if God gave us what we deserved. Oh my! It would not be all the wonderful blessings we have been given but rather our due for every unkind thought and action etc. Today Kurt was telling us about his trip up here yesterday and how he got on the road at 3;30 am. . He was praying as he drove along and asking the Lord to just bless his time.. He was so excited to get here that he was speeding as he went through Kansas City. He was stopped by a patrol man and quickly admitted that he was guilty. He told the officer  that he was so excited about his fishing trip to MN. that he was going much faster than he should have been going. The officer asked him where in MN and Kurt showed him pictures on his i-phone of the cabin, sauna, big fish etc. Fortunately the officer was also a fisherman and has fished in Walker, only 25 minutes away from here. Kurt never got a ticket or a warning, even though he deserved it. I’m sure he is full of gratitude. What about us? Do we realize all the grace given us?   I’m so glad God doesn’t give us what we deserve.  It brings to mind the song about “Marvelous grace of our living Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt…..God’s grace that is greater than all our sin.” Let us walk in gratitude and grace.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While on our last trip we saw a gorgeous home set up against the mountains. In front of it was an old weather beaten building that was about to fall down. I wondered why they didn’t just demolish it as it blocked the view of the new house. Did this old building become an attachment for the owners of the new house? Were they unable to let go of it?  It spoiled the beauty of their present house and limited their vision. Do we hang on to things in our own lives so that they become idols that we don’t want to let go of? Is our vision for Him and His kingdom limited?  How important it is to let go of anything that hinders us in relation to the Lord. In I Thess. 1:9 Paul is commending the people for their faith and turning from their idols to serve the Lord. We need to let go of anything that hinders us from our relationship with Him…what we gain far exceeds hanging on to those idols!!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

“In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.” Gen. 15:13 The Lord has promised to lead and guide us and our part is to follow.  I have been reading about the children of Israel lately and how frustrating it must have been for Moses as they so often didn’t follow the instructions given. Plus he had to put up with all their grumbling too!!
We have done a lot of traveling these past 2 weeks and there were times when we were headed in the wrong direction and had to turn around and go back where we got off. Sometimes we weren’t paying enough attention and other times the road wasn’t clearly marked. Spiritually, we have been given the Bible as our road map and when we aren’t in the Word we sometimes have to go back to the place we got off and begin again. We loved going on back roads less traveled on our trip and often that meant steep upgrades and hairpin turns. As I looked over the side, it was often straight down with no shoulder space. Sometimes it seems like we are living on the edge and we have to hang on tightly. Then when the Lord brings us out into a spacious place again, it is appreciated even more. But the journey is exciting if we let the Lord lead us. “You have made known to me the path of life. You will flood me with joy in your presence. Ps. 16:18   There are so many promises and instructions for our life if we will follow

Devotions from Judy’s heart

 While we were on our way home Friday, we stopped at a Culvers for lunch. A family came in with 4 adorable little children ( probably around 2, 4, 6 years old and a baby) and we never heard one word from their booth. The parents were deaf and the children were using sign language. They were so well behaved and their actions spoke louder than any words. The love between them all was so evident. Al gave them the high sign when we left to show them how impressed we were with their family. What about us? What kind of a witness would we have if we couldn’t speak?James 1:19 says we should be quick to hear but slow to speak!  Would our actions be enough to cause others to see Christ? Do we live what we speak? Mother Teresa said that we should witness to others but use words only when necessary. A prayer from my morning devotions yesterday says it well. “Let my gratitude be shown in gentleness and loving kindness to others. May they see in my actions the love and compassion of Jesus. I regret that I have not always reflected this love. Make me your loving witness to those I met today. Amen.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

As we came home today from our trip, my knees were a little sore from running up and down stairs as I played many games of “Fire” with the grandkids. My chins and elbow were scraped from tripping on the cement while playing basketball and HORSE.  Am I sorry I did those things? No! It’s part of entering into their world rather than being a spectator.  These bumps and bruises happen to be my own fault. But in our spiritual lives we have a choice of sitting on the sidelines or entering in and living boldly. We may also get hurts and bumps along the way, but how much better to live life fully.  In Rom. 12:11 it says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”  Let us enter into all of life with zeal.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We have been enjoying so much beauty as we have traveled a lot lately, especially last week in the mountains.  I read from Ps. 98: 4 & 8  “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music…let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.”  What a picture of His marvelous creation before our eyes! We haven’t wanted to do a lot of traveling before sunrise or after dark, as we were afraid we would miss something. ( Today was an exception) I thought of how important it is to walk in the light or we miss so much in the spiritual sense. It says in I Peter 2:9 that we were ” called out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  When we choose to stay in the dark, we miss the closeness and intimacy of His presence, His guidance in our daily walk, and close fellowship with other Christians. One of my favorite verses that was also my confirmation verse is from I John 1:7, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. And the blood of Jesus, His son, cleanses us from all sin.”  Let us come out of the dark and walk in the light and enjoy fellowship with Him and with others, rejoicing in all He has made.