Category: Sister Judy (Page 25 of 289)

There are only two roads or kingdoms, and it is often hard to leave the wide road when our friends and family choose not to walk with us. But they are two different worlds. One is our own little kingdom under our control but with eternal consequences, and the other kingdom is under the Lord’s control and has everlasting blessings. We choose!

I wonder if we really know how poor and blind we are without Christ. The enemy lies to us and does not speak truth about our pitiful condition. We all need rescuing and a safe place of love. It is good to learn some scripture verses to refute the accusations of the enemy’s lies and stand firm in the Lord. I daily also pray to put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6) to stand against Satan’s attacks. Let us make a decisive choice to go down the narrow road to life with Jesus and invite others to walk with us.

Maybe we all have wondered if what we do each day matters and has purpose and makes a difference. Why work? God was the first worker, creating the world in six days, including us, then resting on the seventh day. When He created us, He told us to have dominion over every living thing. Gen 2:15 says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” When Adam and Eve sinned, God said it would be by the sweat of their brow that they would do this.

No question that we are to work and our work belongs to God. We are to use the resources He gives us and know that no job is too small or too big if we are doing what He calls us to do. He puts within us the gifts needed to accomplish whatever work He gives us. Some jobs we may feel are more significant than others, but the most important job is the one God has planned for us. I read recently what St. Theresa said to the sisters: “If your task is in the kitchen, the Lord walks among the pots and pans, helping you in all things spiritual and temporal.”

Let us remember to do our work for His glory, whether it is acknowledged by others or not. God sees not only what we are doing, but the attitude of our hearts in our work. May we do our work heartily as unto Him.

Challenge for today: Thank the Lord for the work He has given you to do and reflect Jesus in your all of it.

I often pray, “Lord, you are the potter, I am the clay, mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting yielded and still.” No we won’t always get our own way, and it is a good thing we don’t, for we how would we grow? He wants to shape us into the most beautiful vessels for His glory. When we are centered on self, our world is very small. Paul says in Phil. 2:3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourself.” If we are honest, we may admit we feel light and joy-filled when we are helping others and giving of ourselves, for there is less of us and more of Him.

Let us not be like spoiled children who demand all the attention, wanting their own way, but rather ones who express gratitude and value others as highly as themselves.

I don’t know about you, but I would like to be fruitful and flourish just like a cedar tree that grows about a foot each year. If we are planted in the house of the Lord, we will be rubbing shoulders with other like-minded believers who also want to grow. We can connect and stimulate faith in one another and share together. We were never meant to go it alone but together we become knit with the Body of Christ.

Today we hear people say they don’t need to go to church and can catch a service when they want online. That is saying they don’t need fellowship and their spiritual gifts that I also read about in Romans 12 today will not get used. (prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving leading, and showing mercy)

Spiritual gifts are meant for the Body of Christ and when we are not gathered with others, those gifts get neglected and unused. We might say it is robbery. But I like how the Psalmist closes Psalm 92 by saying that the those who are planted in the Lord’s house will blossom, “grow tall in the presence of God, lithe and green, virile still in old age.”

Samuel came from an Amish family and was only nine years old when he almost lost his arms and legs in a farm accident. It took 29 operations to save his life and three of his limbs, so you can imagine the medical bills that resulted in six figures. The family found a solution to this huge financial problem by opening their home to strangers each weekend. They served nourishing meals and guests were touched by their simple Amish way of life. When the meal ended, guests left them a donation and also saw the joy they experienced. Many people desired to help, and also sent encouraging letters and cards.  Half of their medical bill had been paid off in the first five years, for they gave of themselves and their home and touched the lives of others.

The Lord wants all of us to practice hospitality and let His love shine through us to others. In Romans 12:13 it says, “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” The Message translation says, “Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.” We are to use all of ourselves to serve Him in whatever way we can. The more of our life we release to Him, the more joy we will experience. Let us not hold back, but give and serve freely.

We are meant to view our life in light of eternity. Maybe others who are so invested in the world seem to be getting ahead, but then what is the end of it all. Eternity without the Lord is not worth going the way of the world. In fact, the Lord may even use our trials and temptations to help us grow in faith and love and not get attached to the pleasures of the world. When we cling to Him our empty lives are filled with His love and joy and purpose.

The enemy likes to mess with our thinking and speak lies to us, so we must be on guard. Maybe right now our times with the Lord seem rather dry when we wish for warm fuzzy feelings as we spend time in the word and prayer. But our lives with the Lord are more than feelings and it is about uniting our will with His, wanting what He wants, loving what He loves and living for His glory. Just like in marriage we aren’t always left breathless with loving thoughts but we love our mates and work hard together to be in unity.  We also refrain from putting ourselves in situations that lead to temptation.

All our lives the enemy will try to tempt us in various ways, but may we resist and resolve to go God’s way with His strength to say NO! We can run to the cross and ask for Christ’s help to resist the temptations to anger, jealousy, envy, evil thoughts etc. We have the promise of His help in Psalm 49:15, “Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”