Category: Sister Judy (Page 211 of 271)

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

Who are the people we remember most in life? I think we hold to our hearts those who are servants and pour their lives out for others. I read today from Matt 23:11-12 ,“The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” There is nothing more beautiful than a person who is emptied of self and thinks how she or he can serve others. I noticed when the nuns were here how they always gave each other preference….offering the best to the other, not needing to have their own way. I remember a nursing supervisor when I was a student nurse, who poured herself out in doing things needed that would have been assigned to an aid. It elevated her in my mind as she humbled herself to do anything needed at the time. Another friend who is 80 was going to clean toilets at a Via de Cristo weekend and didn’t mind a bit. The Lord looks at our hearts and it must give Him joy when we serve others in His name and are humble enough to do whatever He puts before us. The world is watching and sometimes it is a living sermon, just as my nursing supervisor gave to me.

I think all of us have special ways the Lord speaks to us individually. I remember a pastor going down to the river near us, when we had pastoral soul care groups each month….and he laid down on the ice and looked through it and God spoke to him. I was amazed!  God can use anything to speak if we have ears to hear. One thing that is a constant to me is the clouds. They continually speak to me of infinity and of His love. Lately as I have floated on the lake, I have gazed up to the clouds and beyond them….  there seems to be no ending to their depth…..it’s as if they continue forever. I just imagine what is beyond them and think of glory and all that awaits us. (“The heavens proclaim His righteousness” as I read today from Ps. 97:6)   Now clouds may say nothing to you, but maybe something else does that just put you in touch in a deeper way with Him. Pay attention and let it be a reminder that what you see in this world is not all there is. What is unseen is more real and eternal!!

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

When Al was gone to Nevis lately, I did lots of catching up on a lot of smaller tasks that I have put off because of having retreatants etc. I was amazed at how quickly the weeds grow up, the sauna furniture gets full of cobwebs and dirt, the deck get full of pine needles etc. I had just cleaned these 3 days before. I wished I would have cleaned them again before the Nuns came as perhaps they couldn’t sit on the Adirondack chair by the lake as the eagle had left his signature behind! Maybe they wanted to sit by the sauna and take in the silence of the woods but it had cobwebs. I felt regret and wished I had taken the time for these tasks.  I thought of how the Lord must be sad too, when there is so much he wants to do through us in our lives, but we put Him off. We don’t take time to get inwardly prepared for what He has for us to do. I know I need a daily cleansing so the weeds of my failings and sins don’t pile up. Why do I put off even the small things that make a difference?  How much more we would experience of Him and would be more fruitful for His kingdom if we were on His schedule and had His priorities.

“Make new friends but keep the old”!”

Recently when I was going for a prayer walk I met a gal who was also walking and carrying her dog. She had a mini skirt on, heels, and her prissy dog had a bow in her hair.  That is not a common sight here in the woods! But as we talked a friendship was begun and I hope to visit with her again. Al and I had just been to Remer where we went to the Harvest Festival and saw many of our old friends.  What a joy that was! So many hugs and kisses and sharing of past memories …made me felt so rich and blessed.  Friendships are a gift from above and the Lord gives us all different kinds of friends that help round us out. I think each one opens our hearts in a new way so we can keep receiving more of His love. It is so sad to see people whose hearts are closed and can’t receive the love that is coming to them. I thought of my new friend and my old friends and how each one is important in my life. Some are silver, some gold, some very deep friends, and some acquaintances… all a gift to my heart. And let us press on to know more intimately the One friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Prov. 18:24)

Devotions from Judy’s heart

The Lost is Found!  Over the weekend I was going for a walk to the garden and came across a couple searching for their cell phone along the road. Both of them  were out looking and combing the roadside and ditch. I had never met them before but told them I would search  and have Al also look as he went for his walk.  I began praying that it would be found and that credit would be given to the Lord. I knew He knew where it was and also how important it was to the couple. Well after I picked some garden produce they came along in their  the car, honking and waving me down…they had found it on a high hill where it had rolled off of their car roof, having put it up there before they were going some where. I told them I had been praying as I walked and that God knew where it was and wanted to help. The gal said something to the effect, “Oh, you are right! God answered! He answered your prayers and helped us. Thank you for praying.” They were grinning from ear to ear and so happy. Maybe we will see them again and the Lord gets the glory. It reminded me of the story of the lost sheep and the joy when he was found.  Let us share Christ with others in our daily lives so there will be rejoicing in heaven over each one that is found!!

.  We have just had 3 nuns here at Canaan for retreat. They filled our house with a positive, joyful, and grateful atmosphere . They seemed to be content with whatever was before them and whatever was happening. I loved their childlike quality of wonderment as they enjoyed nature, quietness, exploring, listening, sharing etc.  They bring Christ’s presence wherever they go and as it says in II Tim 2:21 they are “A vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”. Sometimes we may forget that we are His vessels and containers too and that the Master wants to use us to bless others and bring His presence. We are also the aroma of Christ and may others catch the aroma and be drawn to Him….. I can still catch the fragrance left by the nuns!

More devotions from Judy’s heart,,,

This morning I read from Eph 5 about “giving thanks always and for everything” and truly this is exemplified in the lives of these nuns.  . They were so excited about coming to Canaan and have tried to fit it into their schedules for 4 years. They were like calves released from the stall and came so pumped.  They had enthusiasm about everything about Canaan and so appreciative. They noticed the tall trees, the sounds of the loons calling, the rooms with crosses etc.  At meal time they asked us many questions, even about how we met and fell in love etc ( remember they are nuns!) They ate everything served and so complimentary. They were thrilled with each getting a T-shirt with Canaan Logo on and I suspect we will all be wearing ours today. Sometimes it is good to be contagious and I certainly see that right before my eyes.  They are like “Joy bulbs” that just sparkle and give off light. Even one candle can give light to a room and they are just filling Canaan with their lights. Tomorrow, I may have to write more about them.

May we see the wonders of His love all around us through people and things He has placed near us.

More devotions from Judy’s heart.

I think we hear so much today about TIME and we all seem busy and pressed for time. But there is enough time to do what God has for us to do and He wants to arrange our schedules. Recently we were getting a retreatant but another person stopped over and needed prayer ministry too.  I just prayed that God would handle the time element and His timing is perfect. Al gave spiritual direction first and called me in to pray with the first person. And don’t you suppose the very moment we finished our retreatant came to the door. Exact timing!   We all had tea together which worked out good too and I just thanked the Lord for how He just orchestrates everything in His perfect timing. I have had other times where wondered how I could get things done before the next group comes and it seems like everything got done in record time. The secret for me is to give it all to Him and not try to figure it all out. I am not in control…He is and therein lies peace.

Another devotion from Judy’s heart, I hope you don’t mind.

How we respond to difficult circumstances says a lot about us and our relationship to the Lord. When things get tough do we get bitter and complain or do we know that He is with us and will see us through?

We are back from the hospital in Bemidji after seeing my aunt. She was admitted late last night after a fall and got a deep gash in her head with 8 stitches, a big black eye, and broken ribs etc.  Al and I went to see her and to pray for her and then I had time to just sit with her. She began to tell me how blessed she was… first of all that her Dr. had changed her meds and took her off blood thinners a short time ago in the event she would have a fall and bleed to death. Then she was grateful that her pain had lessened, that her kids were there with her, that she had had time with Al and me a couple days ago before the fall, that she had such a caring nurse, that her daughter-in-law put the tourniquet on just perfect to stop the bleeding etc etc. And a wonderful blessing while we were there, a priest came and gave her communion and anointed her with oil.  Well, you can get the picture of her overflowing gratitude, that the Lord was with her through in it all.  As I was reading in Phil 4, may we also rejoice in the Lord and not be anxious about what happens to us, but just give it all to Him in prayer and with thanksgiving. Then His peace will flood us and keep our hearts and minds in Him. Rest well and may we remember all His rich blessings to us today

Another devotion from Judy’s heart

Today I read from Luke 6:37 where Jesus says, “Give and it will be given you. Good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Just before this, Jesus is saying we need to not judge or condemn others but forgive them, and now He is saying we need to go beyond this and seek the best for others. The result is God will give us generously, not meagerly; PRESSED DOWN ( filling all the space in a container); SHAKEN ( so that grain will settle and fill the container even more fully); RUNNING OVER ( so that a rounded heap will form at the top ). Just recently a retreatant came to Canaan that is  poor and lives within a very tight budget. But when she came she brought gifts for her stay here… a big jar of Honey, boxes of tea, and yummy cherries. Now I know she could really use these things herself and yet she had it on her heart to give sacrificially. My heart was touched and I imagined how the Lord feels when we give to Him not out of our abundance but sacrificially. I had the joy of taking her to get clothes for her and her family at an “almost new” place and after we got home I had a knock at our door. Someone  handed me a plate of chocolates and a card with a check for Canaan inside that was much more than I just spent. Truly He gives to us “good measure, pressed down and running over.”  Listen to your heart if you are prompted to give!!!