Canaan's Rest

Canaan’s Rest represents a quiet place “set apart” for the purpose of hearing God's voice, growing in intimacy with the Lord, and being renewed in soul and spirit.

Category: Sister Judy (Page 43 of 276)

September 17, 2024

September 17, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Sorry this is so late today. It was ready at 4 am but I forgot to send it.
Dear Ones,
Hope you wake to a wonderful day and enjoy these nice Fall days. I have Bible Study this morning and then we are having good friends over for pie and fellowship and prayer. Your question for this week is what do you find most difficult for you as you strive to live in unity?
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Don’t we all love to see unity, whether it be amongst family or church members or community. In this day of cancel culture, when we are ostracized for not agreeing with what is most popular but against what is in the Word, unity is lacking, and people are easily offended. But the church should stand out as a light and demonstration of unity if we allow the Holy Spirit to work in and amongst us.

Taylor who many of you have prayed for in the past, along with her husband, live in a Christian community where unity is so important and practiced. They live it out for the world to observe and in all the years this community has been in operation there hasn’t been one divorce. Does unity come easy, probably not, for we are all selfish by nature and need help to not get offended and to forgive others. We need to regard others better than ourselves. Unity is a gift and one we need to live out and takes lots of humility.

I read today from Jesus words to his disciples as they were on the mountain (Matt 6:14), “If you forgive people their trespasses (their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment), our heavenly Father will forgive you. “These are important words if we are to live in harmony with others and it means letting go of being offended and extending grace, just as we have received God’s grace when we offend. We have so few days on this earth and why live them full of resentment and attempts to get even when we can live in peacefulness of a life of forgiveness. No offense is worth hanging on to and as we let go and extend grace, we will live in unity with others and be a beacon light to the world out there that needs forgiveness.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to reveal any resentments you are holding onto and then to forgive.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

September 16, 2024

September 16, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend! We were blessed through the missionary couple that came from Brazil and shared about their work at our Sunday service. Their joy in serving the Lord was so evident. This morning I am going to Aldi’s and to Exercise class and bake Al’s favorite pie!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
As I had my time with the Lord recently, I was impressed of the importance that we keep moving forward with the Lord. Sometimes we get comfortable and are satisfied to plateau rather than pursuing Him every day and drawing closer to Him. The Lord always has more for us and He desires that we keep growing and experience his fullness.
I read a dream by a Pastor that I thought was insightful for today especially, and it makes me realize how important it is not to remain in neutral and just trudging along in our Christian lives but rather to move on and enter into all that the Lord has for us. In the dream Dawson was walking on a wide dirt road with thousands of believers, most of whom seemed bored and lacking joy. There was a bridge to the right that had a sign (Kingdome of God) and only a few people headed towards it when he did as the rest kept walking aimlessly. At the end of the bridge there was a gravel road that later became a grassy pathway but if people stopped, they started to sink. It was imperative to keep moving. Those that did noticed the grass became greener and more lush, and they ran with joy. There were fruit trees with beautiful fruit, but they still had to keep going if they were not to sink. Dawson’s interpretation was that God is looking for those who are seekers of Him and want to go on in their life with Him; too many believers are missing out and just settling for what the culture offers and are empty of joy. Let us remember there is no limit to God and His kingdom and as Dawson said, “The harder you run after God the easier and more joyful your life will be.”
  I believe that as things continue to get worse in our culture, more and more Christians are going to need to choose if they will settle or will they pursue the Lord. May we run after the things of God and not ever stop until He takes us home to glory. Like Paul’s prayer in Eph.3:19, may it also be true for us, “(That you may really come) to know (practically, through experience for yourselves) the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge (without experience) that you may be filled (through all your being) unto all the fullness of God (may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself)!
Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to fill you with His power and resolve to never quite pursuing Him, but keep running.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

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September 14, 2024

September 14, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
May you enjoy this beautiful weekend. I plan to clean the apartment this morning and do food prep and write letters etc. Hope you will get a good chuckle from the devotion today!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
If you have gotten my devotionals for some time, you are aware that God often speaks to me in my daily circumstances, and my heart’s desire is to know what He is saying to me. The other night was such a time as I got ready to go to church for Bible study. Since I recently discovered I have neuropathy, I have been asking the Lord to help me know what I am to learn through it. In times past I have thought of my feet as a sign of obedience and walking out God’s will, so they are important.

 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!

Afterwards I thought of the message God may be speaking to me through this experience. What first came to mind was to let go of the old that is familiar and go with the new that the Lord has for me. The fairly new shoes I could have chosen are specific for people with neuropathy and conforms more to the shape of my foot; why didn’t I choose those? Maybe it is more comfortable to stick with what we know but it says in Isaiah 43:18-19, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Perhaps the Lord is telling me that the old shoes were good years ago, but I am to let go of them and wear the ones that are conformed to my feet now. He has new things to teach me, and the old things were good for that time, but He wants me not to miss the new that He has for me. Shoes are important if I am to walk out in obedience what He shows me to do. May I humbly receive what He has for me right now.
Challenge for today: Let go of anything you are hanging onto from your past that is hindering your growth in the present.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

September 13, 2024

September 13, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
The weekend is here and may you have a restful, peace-filled time as you give all your concerns to the Lord. I plan to do some baking and shopping and writing. As I shared previously, one day each week before the election I will include a prayer.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
As you know we are in a stressful and polarizing time in our nation right now as we prepare to vote for our next president.  There are many political views causing deep divisions in families and some are split apart because of differing views. We need God’s help and prayers for peace that can unify us. I would like to share the second of Whitney Hopler’s prayers as she writes a Prayer for Peace for our nation.

“Dear God, in the turmoil of this election season, we seek your powerful peace. We ask that you calm the fears that are running rampant across our nation.  Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’

As we pray about our concerns and bring those requests to you. Please fight anxiety for us. God, guard our hearts and minds with your peace. Bring us a sense of calm and help us to trust in your sovereign plan. Let your peace wash over our nation, soothing the anger and hostility that have taken root among us. May your presence be felt in every place where people gather throughout America. Help us to be peacemakers as Jesus calls us to be in Matthew 5:9. Help us to live out the truth of what you tell us in James 3:16-18: ‘For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.’

As we rely on you to help us be peacemakers, we look forward to the positive change that will happen around us. Thank you, our wonderful source of peace. Amen.”
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

September 12, 2024

September 12, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a grace-filled day! Al will be off to men’s group this morning and when he gets back, I have an appointment to go to. We also have Bible study today and I have food prep etc as we are catching up after being gone.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
While attending the Pastors and Wives Conference, I was made more aware of the precious gift of grace, God’s undeserved favor. Many Pastors shared their lives and over and over again it was not what they did to deserve salvation but totally a gift of grace. Some lived in rebellion for many years before their hearts were softened and opened up to God’s grace and went on to become a pastor.

When they arrived at the conference most of the pastors and wives were strangers to me but not strangers for long. Sitting with different ones over coffee and hearing their stories and desire to serve the Lord, I felt like we were family. And of course we are together the family of God, making us brothers and sisters. We are all in the process of becoming more like Jesus, and it doesn’t happen overnight. But we could encourage one another, pray for one another, and cheer one another on. The grace of God is so big and so marvelous that there is no need it cannot meet. It covers the concern for children who have gone astray, for those who are experiencing sorrow over the death of loved ones, and every possible situation.

I loved the worship times, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing and sometimes kneeling, but all focused on the Lord. The Psalmist said in Psalm 89: 1-2, “I will sing forever about the evidence of your mercy, O Lord. I will tell about your faithfulness to every generation. I said, ‘Your mercy will last forever, Your faithfulness stands firm in the heavens.”  I read further on and in verses 15-17 the Psalmist says, “Blessed are the people who know how to praise you. They walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They find joy in your name all day long. They are joyful in your righteousness because you are the glory of their strength.”

Let us learn to rest in God’s grace and mercy. When we feel tired, and frustrated and out of sorts, let us stop and ask for His grace to keep going, to love others, and to become more like Him.

Challenge for today: Share the Lord with others, every chance you get, that they may know the grace of God and find joy in Him.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

September 11, 2024

September 11, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are experiencing more of the Lord and being strengthened as you go through His purifying fires. Al and I were blessed in a big way through the Pastor’s Conference and so thankful for all the Pastors who are standing strong for the Lord. A beautiful closure time last night as we sang and prayed for one another. Today Al is doing a service next door, and I need do catch up and wash, do food prep, go to Aldi’s and my exercise class and later Bible Study.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Sometimes I find myself thinking how the Lord must grieve for the evil that is going on today in the world and even within the church. In scripture we read of how His fire is sent to cause us to repent and to refine us and purify us. His fire is meant to bring cleansing and transformation in us, and it also says in I Peter 417 “Judgment must begin at the household of God.”  We can’t expect the world to change if we who know the Lord resist the cleansing fire of God.

When God’s refining fire comes into our lives, it is a transforming fire so we can be more useful to the Lord. Just like the blacksmith who knows if a metal will take the fire, He also knows if we will have to be set aside or if we will be willing to go through the fire so the dross in our lives will be purged. Apostle Paul certainly knew and wrote in Phil. 3:8, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

The Lord wants us to be free from our doubts, despair, addictions, etc. and this happens when we respond rightly to His purifying fire. When we go through difficult times it reveals our weak areas and where we need to change; sometimes it is a surprise to us as we were not aware.  It’s hard initially to go through those times but it works out for our good and strengthens us for the future. I wonder if that is why many Christians now are experiencing struggles of all kinds for the Lord may be preparing us for the rough times ahead. May we respond to the refining fire, dying to ourselves and willing to be used of God!

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord for His strength and grace as He takes you through fire and to be strengthened for whatever is ahead.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

September 10, 2024

September 10, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
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. Emoji
Blessings on
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We are told often in scripture to REMEMBER and sometimes the Lord gives us a sign also, so we won’t forget. I just finished reading from Joshua 4 when the children of Israel were passing through the Jordon. The ones carrying the Ark of the covenant went first and when their feet touched the water, it stopped flowing and the people walked through. Joshua appointed a man from each of the 12 tribes to take up a stone from where the priests stood in the Jordon and bear it on his shoulder and carry it to the place they would camp. Joshua set the stones up, and in the future when their children asked for the meaning of the stones, they would be told of the miracle of the cutting off of the water that they could pass through. They were never to forget!

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.

Challenge for today: Use every opportunity the Lord sends you each day to share Him with others.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

September 9, 2024

September 9, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
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! Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart

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.

When we are negative, we find our energy sapped and our joy diminished. Sometimes it seems negative thoughts seem to come out of nowhere, but we don’t have to dwell on them but rather switch gears and choose to find the positive in our situations. Paul tells us that we have spiritual weapons, and they are strong enough “to destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (II Cor. 10:5) We have weapons of prayer, faith, hope, the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit to break down the enemy’s walls.

We all have disappointments, bad things happen to us, but in the midst of it all, we can learn to trust the Lord, rehearse His promises, and ask the Lord what He is teaching us through it all. As I write this, I am going to church looking not-so-good with an infected swollen eyelid, neuropathy in my feet, and a skin cancer spot on my leg that I am waiting to get taken care of and I am choosing to praise Him that He has it all under control.

Can we trust that God will bring good out of even our present circumstances? Let us be patient with ourselves, even when we fail and know that God is interested in our heart’s desire, not that we do everything perfectly.

Challenge for today: When you are thinking negative things about yourself, be patient, and ask the Lord to show you how He sees you.

September 7, 2024

September 7, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! What gorgeous weather we have been having and love walking the trail. Today I am going to clean and do food prep and tomorrow night Al and I will be going to church for a dinner for Pastors and wives. Then Monday and Tuesday we will be at church all day and evening for the LEM Retreat. The following devotion was written yesterday and the answer to my question came later in the day. PTL!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
There are many things that drain our energy, and the biggest culprit just might be worry. It makes me think of the children’s song, “Why worry when you can pray? Trust Jesus, He will show you the way. Don’t be a doubting Thomas. Put your faith and trust in Jesus. Why worry, worry, worry, when you can pray.” Why do we live with anxiety and worry that robs us of our peace and joy and leaves us feeling anxious and afraid? We don’t need to live that way when we can cast all our cares and worries on the Lord.

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!

 Challenge for today: When you feel something weighing on your mind, just cast it on the Lord and wait in faith for what He will do.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

September 6, 2024

September 6, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Happy weekend and may it be mixed with some free time as well as work. This morning I plan to do food prep and have an appointment, and later I hope to get to a sale at the Senior Center to find some Viking and Packer things.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How many of us live balanced lives that have a reasonable schedule with time for work but also time for enjoyment and relaxing. Some of us err on being too busy working and others on playing so much that work doesn’t get done. We need to live our lives with purpose and have goals for the future, but also to be balanced and healthy by having time for both.

I have always wanted to accomplish a lot each day. I like to do the hardest work first but all my life I have left room for a short nap after lunch. My mom began that practice with us growing up and I carried it on with our kids too. Many retired people where we live have leisurely mornings sleeping in and starting the day with reading the paper and coffee. However, when you work all day at an office, you can’t afford such a luxury; but when you come home at night, it’s time to play ball with the kids etc. but not continue doing work all evening.

 My day starts at 4 a.m. with prayer and devotions and writing devotionals and answering e-mails, then on to baking, cleaning and going places etc. We all have to do what works for us but it should include both work and some time for play and to be with others.  How we spend our time, determines much of our future. When we choose unwisely, we have to live with the consequences. When we choose wisely with God’s leading, it will have a positive impact on our life. Not everything in life is easy or goes how we would like but we also have a choice on how we respond. Like David prayed in Psalm 31:14-15a, “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand;”

Let us live our lives for the Lord and ask Him for His plan for us each day that our life will count for His kingdom. We have only one life to live here on earth, so let us live each day as a gift in preparation for what is ahead.

Challenge for today: Live purposefully and wisely and make the most of each day.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

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