Category: Sister Judy (Page 34 of 267)

 Lately I have found my shoes don’t feel very comfortable and I often vacillate over which ones I should wear. The night of Bible Study I asked Al which shoes would go with my outfit, one being a fairly new pair and the other a very old pair that had lots of room for my hurting toes. Al said the old and so we were off to church. When he let me off right at the church door, I stepped out and my feet suddenly didn’t feel level on the pavement; I looked down in horror for my right shoe had broken down and the black insides were all over the cement. I had to take off the shoe and as I limped into the church, I noticed the left shoe was also “exploding” on the church carpet. A friend at the first table saw what was happening and helped release the strap on that shoe, so that both shoes could be deposited in the garbage. Another gal said, “I can’t believe it!” and she heartily laughed and laughed! Two people quickly got a broom and cleaned up my mess, inside and outside as I snuck to the far table barefooted. I sat through Bible Study with my bare feet and as soon as it was over I snuck out the side door and tiptoed shoeless to the car and later up the elevator and to our apartment!

Hope you have a day of remembering the blessings of the Lord to you! We are going once again to church for the final day of the “Making New Disciples” retreat. Words are inadequate to express the blessings we are receiving through the many inspiring talks and the fellowship of new friends being made.

In I Chron. 16:11-12 David says, “Seek the Lord and His strength seek his presence continually! REMEMBER the wonderous works that He has done, His miracles and the judgments He uttered.” And as we remember what the Lord has done in the past, our hearts should also overflow with praise and thanksgiving to Him. We had such a time the first day of our pastor’s LEM retreat. The whole day was spent with praise songs and each pastor sharing his remembrances of how God had worked in his life and brought him to the Lord. I was so blessed as I listened to them tell of pastors and youth directors and others who had boldly spoke into their lives and helped them find salvation. I knew so many of the ones spoken of for they had also influenced my life and led me to the Lord. Those men that introduced them to the Lord weren’t timid but asked the important questions, “Do you know you are a sinner/ Do you want to know the Lord?

There is only one way through Jesus and how we get there varies and so many stories were told. But let none of us ever take for granted our salvation and remember how the Lord saved us from our willful, selfish, sinful selves to become His child, loved, cleansed and made whole. May we not keep the news to ourselves but also be bold and ask the questions to others who don’t yet know Him that they may experience His love and forgiveness.

Hope you had a great weekend. We had a dinner last night at church for Pastors and wives and a wonderful time of sharing. Today the LEM Retreat, “Making New Disciples” begins at our church with speakers from 8:30 a.m. until about 8 p.m. Al will be giving a short testimony tonight before the evening speaker. Two full days of blessings! 

How do we look at life each day? Do we complain because we have to go into work early or have sick kids to care for or maybe it’s a rainy day? How we respond to our situations is something we choose, and we will either be positive and see the bright side or we will be negative and complain. But the choice is ours and Paul says in Phil. 4:8, “Summing it all up. friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” What a wonderful outlook we would have if we practiced this verse, and we would also have more energy and joy.

Peter gives us a good word to help us get out of the rut of worry. He tells us in I Peter 5:6-7, “Therefore humble yourselves (demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation) under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, casting the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” Doesn’t that sound wonderful Instead of thinking we have to solve the problem and it is up to us, we humbly give all our concerns to the Lord and get out of the way so He can work.

Right now, I am wrestling with a physical concern and asking the Lord for His help in knowing what treatment to take, as there are options open to me that I must choose from. Al and I have prayed and discussed and know the Lord will show us but we don’t know the answer yet. It’s not something to lose sleep over it, but just a time to wait on the Lord and know He will tell us what we need to know when we need to know. Waiting is important as I thought I knew a while ago what action to take and now it isn’t even an option. But once we commit something to the Lord, we need to leave it there and wait on Him. He doesn’t need our interference but our obedience. Let us put everything into His watchful caring hands!

This week is the Prayer for Unity and Understanding of our Nation By Hopler

“Dear God, we’re concerned about the division and discord that are tearing through our nation. We repent of all the times when we haven’t treated each other with the respect you want us to always have for each other-including the times when we disagree. You direct us in James 5:16 to “…confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed” and promise in that same verse that ‘The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’

We pray for unity among all Americans, regardless of our political affiliation. Help us to see each other as fellow children of God, deserving of love and respect. Teach us to listen more and speak less, and to seek understanding rather than conflict. You urge us in Ephesians 4:3:’Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

May your Holy Spirit fill our hearts with peace and guide us toward unity. Break down the walls of mistrust and hatred between us and replace them with bridges of compassion and empathy. Please help us engage in respectful conversations, learn from each other’s experiences, and work together for the common good of our nation. Remind us regularly that we are all part of your family and that our ultimate allegiance is to you. Thank you, our loving Father. Amen.”

Challenge for today: Pray this prayer this morning and again before you go to bed.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Jesus must have given shocking words to His disciples when he said that He was leaving, and it was a good thing for them. His words in John 16:6, “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.” He goes on to say that that the Spirit of truth will come and guide them into truth and speak what things are to come. The Holy Spirit would not only be with them but in them and they would do many works in His power. What greater gift could He give them? The Spirit would not only instruct them and guide them and teach them, but He would also make the words of scripture come alive and give joy as they served others.

When we welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives, He also gives us boldness to share Jesus with others. His gifts are to be used for the Body of Christ for serving and instructing and helping us to grow in Christlikeness. He does not force Himself on us but when invited He teaches us and instructs us and helps us. In Scripture He is described as our Counselor, our Helper, our comforter, our strengthener, and even our intercessor when we don’t know how to pray. The list goes on and on. I don’t know about you, but I need Him as I am weak and not bold in myself, nor do I know what needs to be said or even how I am to pray at times. But we have the best helper ever who is our helper, our supporter and wants to be intimate with us. Let us not grieve Him bu pushing Him aside but welcome Him every day to flow through us and commune with us.