Category: Sister Judy (Page 72 of 268)

July 4, 2023

July 4, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Happy Fourth of July! May freedom reign in our hearts for when we know the Lord, we can walk each day in grace because we are pardoned and set free.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Are we living our life with purpose and passion for God or are we living our life for ourselves and our own comfort and pleasure? If it is for God, each day will be exciting and meaningful but if it is for ourselves, we will soon get aimless and bored.

Those who know the Lord and live for Him experience great joy as life has eternal purpose and meaning. One morning as I was reading from scripture, from Crosswalk.com and from a devotional book, they all spoke of a life of grace and how it can transform our lives. But of course, we have to receive grace, for it is a gift and we know that we didn’t earn it, or it wouldn’t be a gift.

I love the word grace and I love singing about grace for deep down I know how imperfect I am and how needy I am for His grace. Like the song goes, “Grace, Grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace that is greater than all our sin.” Our own efforts are fruitless for we can’t earn forgiveness, but it is only by grace through faith. The apostle Paul was very learned and steeped in the scriptures and the law, but he said in II Tim. 1:9, “He saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” When we receive this gift of grace, the power of the Holy Spirit is given us to change and to do the works that He has purposed for us all along. His plan for our life is exciting and like no other but we must choose if we will live for Him and accept His free gift to us.

We see people around us striving so hard to live a good life, to earn the respect of others, but none of us can measure up and we are in need His grace. We were meant to live for the Lord, to love Him and to enjoy Him and bring glory to Him. Yes, we fail every day and that is why we need grace.

Let us live for the Lord and do the works that He has planned for us each day. And for those times we fail, let us receive His grace and forgiveness and ask Him to transform our lives that we might live passionately for Him.

Challenge for today: When you sense you are striving, thank the Lord for His grace and live in new freedom.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

July 2, 2023

July 3, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having a wonderful holiday time and keeping cool. Al and I went to the lake yesterday afternoon and joined over 2 dozen of the relatives for a picnic, swim, games etc. Loved seeing everyone and was a fun time. I just finished making Al’s cookies and soon going to Aldi’s and my exercise class.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Sometimes people seem like angels in disguise. They are right there when we need them and make a difference in the outcome. God often uses others to meet a particular need we may have, and in our eyes, they seem to shine forth like angels. Such was the case for me recently. I was having a problem on my new computer, and it seemed like it should be so simple to solve and I tried but wasn’t able to do so. We called in for tech support and we got first tech who couldn’t solve it and then he gave our case to another tech who was more advanced, and he couldn’t solve the problem either. We were told to call Yahoo as it must be a result from their upgrade. So, we prayed, and Al felt like we should just go over to Best Buy and see if the Geek on hand for the weekend could solve it. We told him the same thing we told the other two techs, but he said, “I think I can solve it!” That was music to our ears, and he didn’t work long at all and he had my computer running the way it should. He also added some other things on my computer that will make life easier for me. We thanked him profusely and told him he was an angel. Al said a prayer of blessing for him, and it may be that it was the first time such a response was given the geek by a customer. I went home smiling and happy and thankful, and the Geek must have felt good that he brought so much happiness!

There are times we have no idea what some action we may do for someone else may just be an answer to their prayers. God wants our ear tuned to hear Him so if he gives us a directive, we obey and do it in His timing. Paul said in Eph. 2:10(God’s Word), “God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that He has prepared for us to do.” When we know the Lord, He gives us joy in doing good works that will bless others. We have received so much from Him, and it is natural that we want to reach out and touch others with His love and deeds of kindness. The Lord prepares us to do whatever it is that He has planned, and let us respond!

Challenge for today: When feeling prompted by the Holy Spirit, follow His leading in obedience.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

July 1, 2023

July 1, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones

Hope you are having a great Holiday weekend. I just finished doing food prep and cleaning and Kurt’s family is due here shortly on their way to the lake. Lots of relatives will be gathering this weekend and a picnic is being planned. We may get more family here tonight too.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I have written before of the gift of God’s grace, but do we notice how subtly we slip out of grace and start striving to earn that which is freely ours. We forget that it is by grace we are saved through faith, and it is not our own doing, but the gift of God, lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9) A gift is a gift, not something we work hard to earn but simply receive. In fact, we can strive all we want but we will get worn out and discouraged for we keep sinning and are in need of grace.

I was reading a devotional by Joyce Meyer today and she also writes about grace as God’s power flowing into our lives, freely helping us to do what need to do. God’s grace never runs out and it is always available but we need to receive it by faith. She describes it as the Holy Spirit’s power flowing out from the throne of God toward people to not only save them but enable us to live holy lives and do His will. Each day is a day of grace and brings us into close fellowship with Him. It allows us to cease from working up a sweat in an attempt to be worthy of salvation but rather to be joyful and live in ease as we receive His gift of grace.

We may realize all the more that we need His grace when we get stressed and disappointed with ourselves for some failure. We are not perfect but the Lord loves us just as we are right now! He wants us to be willing to receive His gift of grace and then to follow with a willingness to do His will and walk with Him. And when someone does something hurtful to us, it is a chance for us to extend that same grace to them as well. As we have freely received, we can give to others.

I remember a specific time in my life when I was so grateful to Al when He showed me grace in an area that I had no control over and just had to walk through it. But down the line, I was able to show him grace in a similar area, remembering his kindness to me. If we think of all the grace that the Lord has poured out on us, there should be no hesitation when we are called to extend grace to others.

Challenge for today: Think of a time someone showed you grace and thank that person in some way.

Have a wonderful weekend and prayers and love, Judy

June 30, 2023

June 30, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Happy Weekend! Hope you have time to enjoy this holiday weekend and have time to relax and be with family and friends. Today is party day here so we will be going to Costco to get the Birthday cake and then setting up for the party. Devotions from Judy’s heart When we come to know the Lord, that is just the beginning of our journey, for just like a baby we need to be nurtured and to grow. Too many Christians stay in the baby stage and don’t go on to become mature in the Lord. It is as we spend time with the Lord and in His word, that we will recognize His voice and be able to follow Him in obedience. But there is more! We are not to stop there but also to share our faith in the Lord with others and be witnesses and lights. There are so many broken and lonely people today that need someone to point them to the Lord. Jesus told His disciples, “Look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.” (John 4:35) We have a whole mission field right around us every day! We see so many hurting people, going about aimlessly and lonely, and in need of a the One who can give their life purpose. Before the Lord left this earth, He gave us a final charge and He said in Matt. 28:19-20, “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” What if the disciples had kept the message to themselves, where would we be today? The Lord means for all of us to not just know Him but to share Him with those in our lives and then nurture them so that they can in turn win others. We can be used to help them know how to listen to the Lord, let the Word speak to them and to become mature. Don’t you love to see new believers sharing their faith as there is an excitement, a freshness, a boldness that we all need. We are all called to be His witnesses, His lights and to share Him until our last day of our journey when we are ushered into glory with Him.

Challenge for today: Pray that the Lord will give you love and boldness to share Him with someone today.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

June 29, 2023

June 29, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having a sunny day. The rain is over, and the sun is trying to peek out. I just finished making Gluten free cookies, having donuts and coffee with Al, and cleaning the blinds in the living room. We have Bible Study this afternoon and a party tomorrow and then the Holiday weekend begins.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Are we known for having a Grumbling heart or a Grateful heart? Would others around us call us complainers or would they say we have a gracious grateful spirit? Big difference and I would rather be around someone who is the latter.

We are told to be thankful and grateful for as I read today in Psalm 136:1-2, Let everyone thank God, for He is good, and He is easy to please! His tender love for us continues on forever! Give thanks to God, our King over all gods! His tender love for us continues on forever!” God’s love for us never quits. If our hearts are full of gratitude to the Lord, it affects all aspects of our lives. We will come to have a contented spirit that is selfless and sets us free to express His love to others. Don’t you love to be around people that are focused on the Lord, and also other centered? It isn’t all about them, but they genuinely want to know about others.

If I had been Moses, I would have gotten exasperated with all the complaining he had to listen to during those years in the wilderness. “This water doesn’t taste good! I am tired of manna! I don’t want to move on just yet. Can’t we stay in this place a few more days!” But the people were given a vivid awareness of the Lord with them in the cloud by day and the pillar of fire at night. But before we judge them, let us examine our own hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to show us our own ingratitude and times we complain. We may not be so overt about our complaining but may say we are thankful for a particular item and then add that we were hoping for more or a better updated model. If we are focused on a comfortable life without any problems or accumulating wealth, we will be disappointed as the Lord never promised that. God is good whether or not He answers our prayers in the way we want or whether a problem is something we have to go through because He has a higher purpose in mind.

Let us trust that He is faithful, and He knows what is best for our lives instead of complaining. May we welcome all the opportunities He sends to draw us ever closer to Him.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord for a grateful heart and to change you rather than your circumstances.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

June 28, 2023

June 28, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope your day is full of sunshine even though it is raining outside. I just finished doing some food prep as Ann is coming for lunch when I get home from my exercise class. We also have Bible Study tonight.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

It is so important to tend our souls each day and that means dealing with our sin. Every day it is a battle to die to self which is not reforming of our sinful patterns, but rather a death of those things that hinder our relationship to the Lord. The more we die to sin, the more we come alive to God through faith. When we come to know the Lord, we are justified, which means we are made right with God and He looks on us as if we have never sinned. But then comes the sanctification process which is an ongoing process as we grow to be more like the Lord. That is a life long process and He gives us rules to live by that will help guide us, and show us when we go astray. The rules are not bad; they are really a guide and like a mirror to help us see where we go off on our own. In some ways it is like a protecting wall against doing evil and perverse things. As children we probably thought teachers that had few rules were the best ones, but when the room was full of chaos and was hard to hear and study, we may have wished for a stricter teacher. We are in a culture now that seems to think that rules don’t apply, or at least only to certain people and we see what results. It is no longer safe on the streets, and innocent people are suffering. We need laws because we have a sinful nature. Each one of us is accountable to the Lord. It is against Him that we sin and do evil. He gives us rules to help us know how to live and show us when we go astray. But He also gives us Gospel to motivate and empower us to follow Him. We need both. When we throw off restraints and choose to live any way we choose, we can end up like the prodigal son… far from home and wondering if his father would hire him even as a servant. God is a loving Father but we are not to live according to our flesh nature that does not submit to God’s laws, but rather live according to the Spirit which is llfe and peace. (Romans 8:6-8) May we choose not to neglect our souls but choose to deal with our sin and grow in grace.

Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas you have compromised and to walk instead by the Spirit.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

June 27, 2023

June 27, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope your day is full of sunshine! The house is full of aroma as I made a new chicken dish and also egg dishes. Al is such a willing and good taster for when I try new things! This afternoon we are going to friends for coffee and fellowship.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Are there times we can’t make sense of God’s ways? We may question why the bad guys get by and seem to prosper and the good guys suffer? Or maybe we pray for a wayward child that seems to get only worse? There are many things that we don’t understand as we only see dimly but one day we shall fully see. But for now, we are to trust the Lord and one day our eyes may be opened to see more what He is doing behind the scenes.

I am reading Larry Crabb’s book, When God’s Ways Make No Sense, and he gives the example of how Habakkuk responded when God did some shocking things. God told the prophet he was going to use an evil people to punish His people, who were not nearly as bad as the Babylonians were. I’m sure Habakkuk wondered what is God doing and it didn’t seem to go along with who he knew God to be. But he didn’t run away or try to change the message, he submitted to God’s way and recalled God’s character and that He would keep His covenant with Israel. Instead of complaining Habakkuk was open and waited to see and hear from God. He climbed up a tower to sit and listen to what the Lord would say.

If we are wise like Habakkuk, we will be quiet and wait for God’s timing and see how He will unfold the things we question, Even when He uses evil people to accomplish His will, He is writing the story, and we are not. He knows how it will end and we do not! The Lord works for the ultimate good and even if it makes no sense to us, God is faithful and holy and mighty and love. We can make the application today that even if the Lord doesn’t heal our sick body or bring our loved one to repentance during our life time, may we say as Habakkuk in Hab. 3:18-19, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”

The Lord has promised us grace to go through whatever happens to us in this life, and we cannot even imagine all that He has waiting for us in glory. So let us trust, even when we don’t understand.

Challenge for today: When you question what is happening, wait on the Lord in faith and trust in His ways.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

June 26, 2023

June 26, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 1 Comment

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a good weekend and got the needed rain. The sun is shining here now and I am doing food prep and going to my exercise class this morning. This afternoon we have an appointment and hope to walk the trail.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I wonder if we realize the wonderful privilege that is ours that we have been chosen by the Lord to be channels of His love; that means we can share Him with others, bring encouragement and hope, and most of all pour out His love to them. It Matt. 10:8 we find Jesus words to his disciples as he sent them out two by two, to share the good news. He said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” We are only frail human vessels and yet He wants to pour His love, power, and strength into us to reach others with His love. Hopefully that is the desire of our hearts. We must guard against getting so involved in worldly affairs that we neglect what He has called us to do. We need to keep our priorities straight. We have received so much from the Lord and with hearts full of gratitude we share with others. That means being generous with our time, our talents, our means, and to share freely with those He brings into our lives. Because we are grateful, we desire to give to others!! When Samuel was getting old, he reminded the people of all that God had done for them and his words were, “Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.” Maybe that is a word for us today, to take time to recall his blessings and focus on His goodness that was freely given to us. As the hymn goes: “God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name/ I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name/ And is Jesus’ name I come to you/ to share His love as He told me to/ He said, ‘Freely, freely you have received;/ freely, freely give./ Go in my name/ and because you believe others will know that I live” We go, not in our own power but in His power, and with gratitude and love to share Him with others. Let us be conduits of His love!

Challenge for today: Write down a dozen blessings God has freely given you and share one of those blessings with someone He puts in your path.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

June 24, 2023

June 24, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend! So glad for all the rain and we may get more today. I just cleaned the apartment and thankful to feel good today, although I may have to put up with a drippy nose for some time.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

It seems today that we have a culture that is obsessed with self and decisions are made by asking ourselves, “What is best for me?” Children in grade school are told they can be anything they want to be and when they get older the message is to follow their heart. But is that advice really true and does it agree with scripture? Probably not. It seems more is written in the Word about forgetting self and thinking of others and letting the Lord increase and we decrease! I read what Emily Rose Massey wrote about her experience of following her heart, rather than God. She made decisions based on her emotions and what the people around her thought and not necessarily what God had for her. It did not produce joy and she became depressed and never did become a famous actress like she had dreamed. One day she became aware of her selfishness and repented and discovered the importance of following what God had for her life. She was changed as she spent time with the Lord and in the Word and submitted to Him. Instead of becoming a movie star and going to Hollywood the Lord showed her His plan and led her to a godly man who became her husband. When we live for ourselves and follow our own self-centered desires, we will miss out God’s perfect plan for our lives. Our heart can be deceitful and as wise King Solomon said in Proverbs 4: 23, “Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.” God’s vision for our lives will supersede anything that we can imagine. He has the power to fulfill our destiny and we can trust Him with all our heart, rather than leaning on what we think is best. If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will direct us in His most perfect way. ( Proverbs 3:5-6). I read today that we should “Be so confident in God’s plan that you don’t even get upset anymore when things don’t go your way!” Let us follow God’s way rather than trying to control our own life or letting others control us.

Challenge for today: Open wide your heart to the Lord and seek what He has planned for your life!

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

June 23, 2023

June 23, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,
Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Our apartment is filled with aroma as I have a big pot of lentil soup on the stove. I have a sinus head cold and the taste of stew perked my taste buds.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Al and I received a poem from a friend who is choosing joy rather than focusing on his loss, as his wife is fading away from Alzheimer’s. He is choosing joy by turning everything over to the Lord instead of being a victim, that he may be a victor. He shared Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Joy is not the result of wonderful external circumstances but rather joy is found in the person of Jesus. When we give Him control of our lives, we experience deep joy and the Spirit sets us free, almost as if we were flying. In the poem our friend asks the question to a caterpillar if he would like to fly. But he responds by saying he couldn’t imagine why he would want to do that since he was content to be just crawling on the ground. He then asks the butterfly if he wanted to be a caterpillar again and he responded that when the spirit touched him he was no longer bound but free to fly and filled with joy. No, he would not want to be earth bound again. As I read the poem, I thought of how the Lord has so much for us to experience of Him and that often we settle for far less. Just like the caterpillar, we are content to stay put and not be growing and entering into all the new things the Lord has for us. In fact, sometimes life gets boring and we lack enthusiasm. It’s much like a plane circling overhead and not going anywhere. But like the butterfly, we can experience growth and fly here and there and know no bounds. We are set free for we have turned everything over to the Lord and our joy is not dependent on our present circumstances. Our friend quotes Hab. 3:17-18, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.“ Let us choose joy by giving Him our whole life for then we can praise Him no matter what!

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to help you live joy in the moment that He has given you right now.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Category: Sister Judy (Page 72 of 268)

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