Category: Sister Judy (Page 71 of 268)

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having a good weekend! Yesterday we enjoyed time out for lunch with two couples whose love for the Lord shines so brightly. Prayers appreciated for our friend here, for the remainder of his retreat before going back home. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

   Jesus last command to His followers was to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. (Matt. 28:19) He was leaving to go to His Father, and the work of sharing the gospel was left for them to spread the word. It’s amazing what they accomplished in their lifetime through the power of the Holy Spirit, and God used even persecution to spread the good news far and wide. But Jesus’ mandate is also for us to be His witnesses wherever we are placed.                            

  Have we considered our sphere of influence? Who has God put before us in our lives to share Him with?  Recently we had our last video from the series, Now We Live, and we discussed how each of us can engage our neighbors, our community, our coworkers for Him. We are not put on earth just to enjoy all the comforts of life but we have a bigger calling, an eternal purpose. The Lord wants us to go into the world and be His witnesses.

  We are not to live compartmentalized lives by expressing our spirituality on Sunday, but then forgetting about the Lord when we go to work. No all aspects of our lives should be an opportunity to share Him with others. At Bible study we discussed at each table the areas we could influence others for the Lord, by our actions and also by our words. Not that we force our views on others but that we look for opportunities to be a witness whether verbally or by our attitudes and actions.                                                                                                                                                                          For Al and I, since we live in an apartment complex, there are opportunities each day as we are surrounded by residents. Al leads a Bible study here, but there are so many other ways to share His love like bringing meals to those who are sick, or taking them to an appointment, or just listening to their stories or concerns. Many of us are probably in special interest groups like book clubs, working for Faith in Action, Teen Challenge, exercise classes, choir, etc. and we need to be alert for openings to share the Lord. Like Jesus said in Matt. 5:16 (God’s Word), “In the same way let you light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.”

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord for new ways to share Him and express His love to others around you.                                                                                                                                 Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

 

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend to you! Our friend who is on retreat came yesterday and it was wonderful to catch up. This morning we are going to work together on Al’s book, and then Al and I are going out for lunch with former board members and their pastor and wife.  

Devotions from Judy’s heart

  I love to observe tough men that also display tenderness. We have only to see a big muscular football player melt when holding his new baby son or tears as he thanks his mom for working two jobs to put him through school. Our own son, Kurt, works out every day and it shows with his muscular build, but he is also very tender, and there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his family. He is one that is tough, but he is tender! For all of us there needs to be the toughness of the masculine balanced with a complimentary tender feminine.                                                                         

 Today I was reading in my devotional time about Nabal (I Sam. 25) and he was one tough rich man with thousands of sheep and goats. But he was rough and proud, and his name meant folly, for he was foolish and insensitive. When David asked for food for his army after watching to see that Nabal’s men and flocks were safe, Nabal refused and was coarse and insulting. It was fortunate his beautiful wife, Abigail, intervened and met David’s army that was bent on destroying Nabal and his men, and brought food for the army. Her words turned David from killing them and God brought His judgment to Nabal, first as he became paralyzed and then dying 10 days later.  In my own estimation, David was a tough warrior but he also had a tender heart. He ended up marrying Abigail, who never let Nabal’s disposition, change her from a woman of grace. 

  I am reminded of what Kenneth of Luck of Every Man Ministries said, “Male strength is a great thing for our culture when compassion and character are guided by it for the sake of others.” The Lord will give both men and women the proper balance between toughness of the masculine and tenderness of the feminine for he is the One who created us. Although women tend to be more sensitive and nurturing and men more “tough” and competitive, we can balance one another in a healthy way. As a wife, I am blessed that my husband will stand up and protect me and takes initiative. I, on the other hand, want to be the counterpart that is sensitive and nurturing. We both want most of all, to respond to God’s voice and let Him shape us as He wills.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to help you be sensitive and caring but also tough when needed.  

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

Dear Ones,

A new week beginning and hope you had a restful weekend. This morning I will doing food prep and going to my exercise class and then we have company coming. It is the Best Man from our wedding long ago and his wife and it is always a fun time full of laughter! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

  I’m sure we have all had those times when we have experienced conflict with fellow believers and experienced hurt and disappointment. Sometimes it is those people closest in our lives and it can cause much pain. The scripture is full of examples of those who did not get along with each other and since we are all imperfect, that is a real possibility until we reach heaven. We are given scriptures to help us and stories of people who worked things out to help us.

  Pastor Mark Roberts from Fuller Seminary writes about how this happens in church leadership also and we have many examples in today’s world. Some years ago, Al and I saw how the Pastor and assistant of a large church didn’t see eye -to-eye on some things and the assistant went across town and started a new church, taking many members with him.  Some years later they reconciled but our responses can affect a whole congregation.

   Roberts shared what Apostle Paul had to say in Col. 3:12-13, “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Paul must have known that scabbles would arise and patience would be needed with lots of humility and compassion. The people in the church back then had some of the same scabbles and challenges that we have today We all have to put up with each other’s idiosyncrasies and they have to put up with ours. Forgiveness is key for it doesn’t matter who is the most at fault for we only have to deal with our own failings.

  We shouldn’t be surprised when conflicts arise, but we should be quick to offer forgiveness and accept responsibility for our part. Even if the other person never apologizes, we can be set free when we deal with our own wrong attitudes, words, and actions and receive His grace and forgiveness.

Challenge for today: The next time a conflict arises take a moment to examine your own attitude and respond in kindness, and meekness.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Happy Weekend to you! Yesterday afternoon Al and I went to see Sound of Freedom and it is worth seeing. I kept reminding myself during the movie that this actually happened, and a man sacrificed so much to rescue a young girl and many others. Today I am going to do some baking for upcoming company and serving.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

   What is most important in our lives? Is it to accumulate wealth and fame or is it to live for His glory? Jesus was very clear when he spoke to the crowd, and in Mark 8:35-36 (God’s Word), He said, “Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me and for the Good News will save them. What good does it do for people to win the whole world yet lose their lives?” Jesus is asking us to look at the long-term consequences of our lives and how we live them.

   Life is short and we only do it once so we must let it count. When we live for the Lord, and not ourselves, we gain everything plus a future in glory. I was reading today from Psalm 73:24 and it speaks of what happens at the end of our lives. The choir director, Asaph, wrote this Psalm for the choir to sing in the temple and it reminds us of what is really important. “You guide me with your counsel and afterwards you will take me into glory.” Jesus is our guide until the very end of our lives, when we breathe our last breath. How we live our lives today make all the difference if we will experience an eternity in glory. We need to make our days count and live in the hope of an eternity with the Lord. When we refuse to acknowledge Him as Lord of our lives and go the way of the world, we will lose out, lose everything.

   It is important to live life for Him now as we don’t know how many days we have left. Each day on the news we hear of people very young dying and they were probably expecting a long life ahead of them. But though we may have a short life or live long, living life with the Lord is the very best. Every day is new, and we have no idea what blessings He will pour out on us. We live freely for our past is forgiven and we have joy in the present, even when our circumstances are not ideal, for He goes with us through all that we encounter.

  Let us live this day as if it were our last one on earth and keep heaven in view as we anticipate eternity in glory with the Lord.

 Challenge for today: Ask yourself what am I going to do today that counts for eternity?

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to make you alert to weeds in your spiritual garden and root them out quickly.   

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy                                                                 

 

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a wonderful time celebrating yesterday and maybe capped it off with Fireworks too. The house is full of aroma as I just baked choc chip cookies on a stick and sampled one of them. Soon I am going to my exercise class and errands and later walk on the trail.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

  We have just celebrated Independence Day and many of us have sung our national anthem and said the pledge of allegiance as we honor our country as one nation under God. But it is sad that many Americans no longer believe in our country’s godly beginnings. They choose to believe that America was not established for religious freedom, and challenge that Christianity had anything to do with establishing our country.

  Lynette Kittle writes about how in England in 1606 the Pilgrims sought to worship Jesus in the purity of the gospel. They fled to Holland and 3 years later got permission to take the Mayflower to the New world so they could worship Jesus in peace. She said because America’s foundation was laid in Biblical truth by the Pilgrims, our Founding Fathers based our Declaration of Independence on godly principles. These truths gave us the right to worship God freely and now it seems in our day that they are for grabs and many of our freedoms are now being denied.

  I pray each day for our country to come back to God and to be humble and seek the Lord. Kittle wrote a prayer that may be saying what is also on your heart, as it is on mine.

  “Dear Father, we come now to humble ourselves before You, asking you to move upon our nation and lead Americans to hold fast to our godly heritage, a legacy of religious freedom to openly worship and serve You in our land. As II Chron. 7:14 assures us, ’If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.’ Forgive us, Father, for the ways our nation has drifted and turned away from You. Remind Americans how Christians were led by You to sail and settle this land for Your glory. Restore America’s godly foundation and heritage. Let our leaders return to Your Word and Truth in writing laws, handing down judicial decisions and ruling over the people. Help Americans to understand that true freedom is a gift from you. Like John 8:36 assures us, ‘So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’ Let our nation look to You as our hope and Salvation, and put all our trust in You.’ In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

  Challenge for today: Spend some time praying for America and for the Lord to have mercy on us.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy