Category: Sister Judy (Page 56 of 267)

A glorious New Year to you! We didn’t make it to midnight and not even to the end of the Viking game as it was quite lopsided!  Today I plan to go to my exercise class, do food prep and put our Christmas tree away etc.

It is so important to spend time in the Word so we can live prayerfully throughout our day and to grow in intimacy with the Lord. There are so many ways to approach God’s Word and recently I read Cindi McMenamin’s suggestions on Crosswalk.com of possible ways. It helps to vary the ways so the Word is fresh and touches our spirit. Some like a Bible plan that goes through the Bible in a year. We may want to read a Psalm a day as I like to do, and the writers seem to cover most every emotion that we can identify with. I also read from 5 different translations which helps me to get fresh insight. Some people like to do a Proverb a day or a topical study, word study, questions Jesus asked of others etc. There is not just one right way and one way that Al and I experienced with a group was called Lectio Divina. We read the gospel lesson from the particular Sunday and asked ourselves what stood out to us. We read it again and asked how it convicted our heart? The third time read we asked what in our lives needed to be corrected in light of the Word and lastly how we could live more righteously in light of what we read. It was an eye opener to reveal what was in our own hearts.

We can also get a Bible App and not only read a specific portion but have it read to us. It is important to wait in silence with the Lord after we have read the Word so we can let the Spirit touch our hearts. As it says in Psalm 62:5-6 (Message), “God, the One and only—I’ll wait as long as He says. Everything I hope for comes from Him so why not? He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul. An impregnable castle; I’m set for life.”

May we tune in to new ways of relating to the Lord and be open and listen as he individually speaks to us..

Our goals should be doable and not so big that we will get discouraged when we don’t meet them. Instead of writing down that we will have devotions every morning for 1 hour, write that we will take ½ hour twice this week to devote; if successful, after that we can increase it. Or instead of setting the goal to go to the gym every day, simply programing that we will exercise by taking a brisk walk a couple times a week.

It may be helpful to write down some negative habits we have that want we want to replace with good ones, like eating healthily, more sleep, a set time with the Lord etc. We might even put in some rewards if we reach our goal. We need to seek the Lord as we make all our decisions for what is right for others may not be right for us at this time. As we ring in 2024 let us remember II Cor. 5:17 for we are in the transformational process: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone the new is here!” May we release the old and welcome the new!

Join me in the prayer by Hope Bolinger: “Lord, I want to dedicate this year to you. I know it hasn’t begun yet, but I want it to have a wonderful start. Let your will be done, not mine. I would be lying if I said I haven’t already paved some plans for myself this next year. But if they do not align with your will, I ask that you do not allow them to happen. You know what is best for me. You know me far better than I know even myself. I ask that this be your year. I surrender myself as an empty vessel. Fill me with your joy and love, so that I may outpour it onto others. Amen.”

   Smedes goes on to say that forgiveness gives the power to move us away from the past pain, and to free us from the endless chain of reactions, thereby creating a new situation where both the wrong doer and the one wronged can begin a new way. They have an opportunity to be reconciled and end the cycle of hate. Yes, forgiveness seems unfair to the people doing the forgiving, but we lose when we play the “get even” game, the game that will only cause the hurt to stay with us longer. Redemptive remembering is a healing way. We keep a clear picture in our mind of the past, but it then shifts our focus on love emerging from the ashes and hope for the future. Jesus said in Luke 6:37, Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

  A prayer I read recently from writer Ashley Moor as she wrote about joy as she shared from Psalm 16:11, which is one of my favorite Psalms. “You make the path of life known to me. Complete joy is in your presence. Pleasures are by your side forever.”

  Dear Lord,

I was reading a devotional by Rick Renner on crosswalk.com., who reminds us of the real meaning of Christmas. We first think of the manger and celebrate Jesus coming as a baby…but there is much more. We need to include the cross, for Jesus’ purpose in coming was to die for each of us that we might have salvation. Paul writes in Philippians 2 how Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to the cross for that is why the Father sent him. Paul also says that Jesus was found in fashion as a man and Renner goes on to tell us that the Greek word for fashion is used to describe a king who for a brief time exchanged kingly robes for the clothing of a beggar. It was part of God’s plan for Jesus to do this and He willingly obeyed His Father and stepped down to earth and suffered the most excruciating death for us.

After reading this devotional I was left with a new awareness of Christmas and the tremendous gift given to me and all of mankind who will receive. Yes, Jesus came as a baby but ultimately to die for me and each of you reading this. I will close with the prayer by Renner:

“Lord, I thank You for coming to earth so You could redeem me. When I think of the extent to which You were willing to go in order to save me, it makes me want to shout, to celebrate, and to cry with thankfulness. You love me so much, and I am so grateful for that love. Without You, I would still be lost and in sin. But because of everything You have done for me, today I am free; my life is blessed; Jesus is my Lord; Heaven is my home; and Satan has no right to control me. I will be eternally thankful to You for everything You did to save me                                                     I pray this in Jesus’ name!”

Challenge for today: Put a cross somewhere near the nativity as a reminder of the cost of Jesus coming to earth.

   Well, that says it pretty plainly. We don’t have to play Holy Spirit for others, but carefully listen to what the Lord may be speaking to us. Paul says to welcome even those who we don’t agree with and not to refuse our association with them. As in verse 4 he says, “If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.” (Message translation)

  It is so sad to see families split over differences of opinions, and it is a win for the enemy who loves to see Christians divided. We need to respect one another enough to let each one have their own opinions and not insist they see things the same way we do. One day Paul says, we are going to kneel side by side in the place of judgment, facing God and give account for our critical and condescending ways.
I like to read up on things from sources I trust, and ask the Lord for direction. Of course, the best source is the Word, but we may not always see the exact solution to the situation we are involved in; but we can pray and see that we have the right kind of attitude and respond in love, no matter what. So let us all tend to our own knitting!