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 81 of 270)

April 18, 2s023

April 18, 2023 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying the sunshine and watching the snow melt! I am doing some food prep and soon going to the Dollar Store, and doing some packing.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   We never know what each day holds when we awaken in the morning. But one thing we can be assured, there will be grace enough for whatever happens in our lives. There isn’t a problem that we will have in our day, that is too big for God. He has promised to meet all our needs according to His riches, so no matter what happens we can sink our faith and trust in Him. Paul said in Phil. 4:19, “My God will richly fill your every need in a glorious way through Christ Jesus.” Often times it is the unexpected things that rattle us and we need to quickly shift our focus upward and ask for His help.
   One of the things that seems to get to me is when my computer fails to function right and I know it’s going to take time and help to correct. There have been some minor things wrong with my computer for some time, like the “e” key that sticks and makes me go back and correct all the sentences I write. We have had good virus protection since I got my computer but yesterday a false virus protection tried to block my computer. I was not able to get to the programs I needed in order to write and we ended up going to the Geeks. After some time, a kind young man fixed it and even tried to repair the sticky key but was not able; they have to mail the whole computer in for such problems. Instead, he sent me a few blocks away to a “Computer Doctor” who took the key off and cleaned my whole keyboard and remedied the situation. I was so grateful and along the way Al got his questions answered as well.
   When God meets our needs, he uses all kinds of people and we need to receive help whoever He sends our way. I didn’t care how the Geek was dressed or if he had a good personality, but just appreciated that he could fix my computer. When we pray over a problem in our lives, we can’t be picky of who God will use. It may not be anyone we would choose but He knows best and has a desired outcome for what He wants to accomplish in our lives. He can do far more than we can imagine and whether a small problem like mine or a big problem going on in your life, nothing is too difficult for Him.
Challenge for today: When you waken, give the Lord your day and thank Him that He has everything under control.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 17, 2023

April 17, 2023 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you had a good weekend. Everything out my window is snowladen again! It snowed most of the day yesterday and we are hoping for warm sunshine to see the grass soon again. This morning I am going to Aldi’s and to my exercise class and later to do a little packing.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  In a few days we are going on a journey to Kansas to see our younger son’s family and next month we are going to North Carolina to see our eldest son’s family. The trips are long, especially to N.C., but we like road trips as we anticipate our time together with family. Likewise, We are all on a spiritual journey through life, and there are many choices we make along the way. Often there are delays and obstacles but we have to keep our eye on our destination. Since this is the most important journey we will ever make, hopefully we make the Lord our top priority and don’t come to the end of our journey with regrets. 
  When I was reading Michael Mangis’ book, Signature Sins, he shared an exercise he does to help him keep focused on the destination. He tries to picture himself as an old man near the end of his life. He asks himself what will be important to him then, and what will he regret? What will he be known for? We might ask ourselves the same questions for if we want to be remembered for our love or our faith in the Lord etc., some things will need to be let go of now. There might be new actions we can to put into practice if we want to deepen our relationship with the Lord and not get attached to the things of this world. We may need to be open to the new things He has for us and welcome changes in our usual routines. Our concern might also be for those we leave behind that we would make the Lord known to them. Our desire may be heightened to worship more, confess our sins quickly, and obey Him out of love, not duty.
  As I thought more about Mangis’ questions, I know there are things I need to change and other things I need to put into practice. Each of us will have a different list but it is important to let the Holy Spirit guide us and bring us into a deeper relationship with the Lord and keep our eternal destination before us. Jesus said in John 10:10, that He came to give us life abundantly that begins now and lasts for all eternity.
Challenge for today: Describe the person you hope to be someday and the person you are now.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you become that person. 
Blessings on  your week and prayers and love, Judy

   

April 15, 2023

April 15, 2023 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! There is a gentle rain as I look out my window and every thing looks so fresh. I just finished cleaning the apt. washing, and made meatloaf. This afternoon we are invited to an appreciation party next door at Assisted Living for the volunteers who help there. Since Al gives services there each month we will be going and I think we will be making sundaes. Emoji  
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Today we hear often of the loneliness of our culture and how many people feel that they have no one that they can depend on or would notice their absence if they suddenly disappeared. How sad! We were all created not only to be in fellowship with the Lord but to be in relationship with others in community.
  If we grew up in a small town, it was like community for people knew us and our history and our quirks too. Mostly they were probably supportive of us and we felt accountable in many ways for they knew all about us. Most of us now live in the cities and we have to make efforts to find community where we can meet with others, appreciate and help one another and grow together.
   We have just celebrated Easter and what did the disciples do after Jesus’ resurrection but to gather together in community. They shared life together, prayed together, and probably asked questions of one another and became His church on earth. It’s wonderful when we also find a group where we can belong and grow together. We have been in several small groups over time and all of them quite different from one another; but it was a place to be honest and accountable, to share our gifts and receive the gifts of others, and to learn and grow in new ways.
  Before we even moved from the parsonage to our first home, we knew we would need community. We joined with two other Christian couples that also lived on the lake and met together every other week for many years. It was a place we could pray together, study together, could ask questions and receive discernment. When Al was considering retirement, we met one night as a clearing committee; we waited in silence and then we asked him questions. No one told Al what he should do but in the questioning, it became clear that, yes, it was time to retire. Other groups we were in we shared our spiritual journeys, our family lives, our areas of struggles etc.
  Christian small groups should b a place where we become more transformed into His image and deal with the things that hinder. It doesn’t mean we will automatically love everyone right away as God will use some of them to polish our rough edges. As it says in Prov. 27:17 (Message), “You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.”
Challenge for today: Be open to joining a small group or starting a new one with the intent to grow.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy 

Aprill 14, 2023

April 14, 2023 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Happy sunny weekend! Snow is pretty well gone! I put away our winter clothes yesterday so hope it is not too soon.This morning I just finished making cookies and veggie stirfry and this afternoon we have a short tutoring session with our Toyota dealer. She rated us a #10 for what we absorbed but I am quite she may have to change that number! 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Today it takes more courage to stand up for the truth as it may cost us our job, friendships, being ridiculed and lied against etc. It seems like there are no absolutes any more as people speak out lies if it benefits their agendas and truth becomes relative. How do we know what to believe?
   We have to remember the Devil is a liar and it says in John 8:44 there is no truth in him for He is the father of lies. It also says in Rev. 21:8 that one day all liars be thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Even if lies seem to prevail for now, it is only for a time, for truth will triumph. Jesus is spoken of as the Truth, the Way and the Life and He said He came to earth to testify to the truth. Truth is important!
   I have several friends who are truth-tellers and I love that about them. They don’t sugar-coat things but speak the truth, even when it is not what would make life comfortable and easy. But they also live close to the Lord and desire to hear what He has to say. I value their words and their outlook on things.
   When we know the Lord, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit within us and He will speak truth to us. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit when He went to be with His Father.  It says in John 16:13-14b (God’s Word), “When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into the full truth. He won’t speak on his own. He will speak what He hears and will tell you about things to come…. He will take what I say and tell it to you.”   
  Recently, I wondered if I had offended someone and wasn’t sure if I should ask them or leave it be. But I wanted to know truth and went to the person and felt relieved that no offense had been taken; that also silenced the words of the enemy that whispered words of condemnation to me.
  Truth sets us free and let us face truth that we may have power over the darkness that is so prevalent in our world today.
Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.
Blessings on  your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

 

April 13, 2023

April 13, 2023 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
It is another gorgeous sunny spring day and there are only small patches of snow left. Yes! I just finished making beef Stroganoff and soon Al will be home from men’s group and we will have coffee and donuts! Later we have Bible study and then a walk on the Paul Bunyan trail again. During the winter months we walk on Cypress that is always cleared but now the trail is open again! 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  As followers of the Lord, we are called to live a life of love and display a likeness to our Father who loves us most of all. It’s wonderful that His love for us does not depend on us doing it all right, or on our looks or accomplishments, but because He is Love. The night before Jesus’ death, He told His disciples, “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, love one another This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”  John 13:34-45 (The Message)
  Maybe at first glance we nod our heads and agree and don’t think that it is such a hard command, but putting it into practice often causes us stress. After all, Jesus didn’t say to love just those who are easy to love, who respond with gratitude when we serve them in some way; no, He asks us to love even our enemies and those who despitefully use us. Could be those who may politically be opposed to us or those whose lives are against the principles we hold as truth. That kind of love we can’t muster up on our own, and need His love first to be able to put that into practice.
   I’m sure you can probably think of someone right now who has tested your love for them and brought you to your knees to ask the Lord to give you His love for them. As I have shared in the past that we had a neighbor who never went to church, lived in a house that was so cluttered and full of junk that she had only a narrow path to get to the next room. But since we lived next door, we didn’t doubt that the Lord assigned her to us to love. She had only a sister who lived far away so she ended up spending holidays with us. The kids never fought to sit next to her for there was on odor about her, but we all took our turn. And God worked His love into us for her, and after praying for her daily, one night she went with us to a special meeting at church where the way of salvation was given. I think she received the Lord that night, but I can’t say her life style changed; but the Lord looks only at her heart.
  The Lord asks us to love others with His love, not to solve all their problems, but to point them to Him. We don’t get to pick and choose, but He does, and I have to say, He has never failed to also put His love into our hearts for them. We may wonder at first, but if we submit to His spirit, His love will be there.
Challenge for today: Seek to hear the Lord’s assignment of whose life He would have you touch.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy 

 

April 12, 2023

April 12, 2023 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
What a beautiful sunny day and snow is quickly melting and seems like spring is really here. I just finished making egg dishes and doing food prep and soon going to my exercise class. This afternoon is Crafts and then Bible Study tonight. Al is doing a communion service next door this morning. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  As I was having devotions, the last thing it said of Moses in Leviticus 16:34, “And Moses did as the Lord commanded him.” He obeyed! I must confess that it is hard for me to read the book of Leviticus, as there are so many laws and rituals that are given in great detail and if the people obeyed those instructions they were blessed; but if they disobeyed, they were not blessed as many even lost their lives, as Aaron’s 2 sons. Because of Jesus sacrifice on the cross, we no longer have to keep those rituals, but we have the commandments to guide us and other rules that we may be blessed.
    I think we have only to look at our own culture to see what happens when we disregard God’s rules and go our own way. Life gets very messy! We feel far away from God for He is holy and we are living in our sinfulness.  But when we receive His forgiveness and walk in obedience to the Lord, keeping His ways, we have a blessed life. He brings joy, even though we may go through difficult circumstances.
   When the Lord asks something of us, we may not always know the purpose of it at the time, but we are to obey rather than question. And it is to be prompt. We may know later the purpose of the action, but not always. Perhaps it is easier in a work situation to obey since it is our job on the line and a paycheck, but not as easy in a church related situation to be under someone’s leadership, especially if you are not in agreement. For example the monastery could not function without obedience, for who would otherwise show up on time for prayers, meals work etc?  We must all be humble and obey as it is His will for us. Let us not be complainers and seek to do our own will, but follow what the way of Jesus and humbly obey for the joy that that was set before Him.
Challenge for today: Live in humble obedience to the Lord and those He places over you. 
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy
 

April 11, 2023

April 11, 2023 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying this nice day full of sunshine! I have been busy in the kitchen this morning doing food prep and making Oh, Henry bars! This afternoon we are trading our car in so will have to get use to new technology too. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   Although we all sin daily, our sin patterns differ from one another and it is important to discover and admit our signature sins, as professor of psychology, Michael Mangis, calls them. We all have specific sin patterns that affect how we think, act, and relate, and they likely differ somewhat from others. But we might ask ourselves, what is the primary root of my sin? 
   The author confesses his signature sin is pride but the ways he struggles with it differ from others and is unique. Pride may come in forms like arrogance, entitlement, self-focus, self-absorption, conceit, narcissism etc.  After we name our sin, we need to take ownership for it if we hope to conquer it. We must be honest with ourselves and also seek to know how we come across to others. It is good to have a person close to us help us in acknowledging our flaws and it is great if you have a spiritual director. This person is like a spiritual guide and friend, who gives spiritual direction and carefully listens as we seek to know more of what is contained in our hearts. Their primary focus deals with a deepening relationship with the Lord.
  It still takes courage to spell out our signature sin and allow another so see deeply inside of us, often the very things we have tried to hide from others. But in naming the sin that we have clung to, half the battle is won as we desire to gain freedom.
  To help him, Mangis felt led to commit to confess his sin of pride every time he went to the Lord in prayer multiple times every day. He simply said, “Forgive my pride and teach me humility.” He was serious and God was faithful to show him more specifics of his hidden sin of pride. Of course, we have to ask ourselves is this the desire of my heart? Do I want to know and change? The Holy Spirit is very glad to show us how our sin has stolen so much from our lives and how to get freed of its power over us. Yes, we take time to mourn our sin but then we take time to heal and to praise Him for His grace and mercy to us. Gradually we become the same person inwardly that we express outwardly. No more masks!
  As I read about signature sins, I think I found mine for as I read the description I thought, that is me! That is only the first step in overcoming that sin, and I hope to journal more on this and have shared it with Al, who is my spiritual director. One day I may share with you too!
Challenge for today: Spend some quiet time with the Lord and dare to ask Him to show you your heart and changes that are needed in your life.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

April 10, 2023

April 10, 2023 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you had a beautiful Easter! We enjoyed going to hear Leif preach and to the lake to have a ham dinner with the whole family. All three grandsons were there and we had games and laughter and prizes! A beautiful sunny day. Today I am soon off to Aldi’s and my exercise class and hope to get the Easter decorations put away too. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
    We have just experienced another Easter and focused on Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross and His glorious resurrection. He paid the most astounding price ever! It’s hard to comprehend that anyone would willingly suffer and die for another as Jesus did for each one of us. I was reading today from Gal. 5:1(God’s Word), “Christ has freed us so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom. Therefore, be firm in this freedom, and don’t become slaves again.”
   When we receive Jesus, we are set free from our past, and free from the bondage that the enemy has held us in! We taste freedom in a new way as never before, for we experience His presence and power drawing us close to Him. Our part is to let go of all those things that hold us back from completely giving ourselves to the Lord. The enemy uses all his tactics to bring us back into bondage again and we must not let him or anyone else put a harness of slavery on us, like the Message translation says. Christ has set us free to live a free life!
  Let us be done with enslavement to what others think. Let us be done with putting our desires ahead of the good plans God has for us. If we use our freedom to just do whatever we selfishly want we will only become enslaved again. And truth be told, it isn’t very pleasant to be around people that are self-centered and want the world to revolve around them. We were made for the Lord and for His kingdom.
  A song comes to mind by Judson Van De Venter who gives the answer of what we need to do, “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”  Let us freely give ourselves to the Lord that He may fill us with His love and power and joy.
   Even when we fail, and we will at times, we don’t need to stay down for there is no end to His love and grace. Each time we acknowledge our sin and ask for forgiveness, there will only be more space for Him and more freedom.
Challenge for today: Freely give yourself to the Lord!
Blessings on  your week and prayers and love, Judy

 

April 8, 2023

April 8, 2023 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying this Easter weekend. I feel so very thankful as I am feeling good again and was able to clean the apt and do food dishes for tomorrow. We will  be going to the Lake to be with Ann’s family and looking forward to that time together. May each of you have a very Blessed Easter tomorrow. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   As we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, we also anticipate the glorious day when He comes back again. The song, One Day, came to mind often during this Holy Week by John Wilbur Chapman in 1910 that seems to describe the life of Jesus from His birth through the days of Holy week and then as we anticipate His coming again. 

    “One day when heaven was filled with His praises,

     One day when sin was as black as could be,

     Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin-

     Dwelt among men, my example is He!

                    Chorus

     Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;

     Buried, He carried my sins far away;

     Rising, He justified freely forever:

     One day He’s coming-O glorious day!

 

     One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,

     One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;

     Suffering anguish, despised and rejected;

     Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He.

           Chorus:

     One day they left Him alone in the garden,

     One day He rested, from suffering free;

     Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;

     Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He.

           Chorus:

     One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,

     One day the stone rolled away from the door;

     Then He arose, over death He had conquered;

     Now is ascended, my Lord evermore.

         Chorus:

     One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,

     One day the skies with His glory will shine;

     Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;

     Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!”

 

May each of us be filled with much gratitude and thanksgiving for all He went through for us and let us live each day with anticipation of what is yet to come.

Challenge for today: Spend some time in just thanking Him for what He suffered for you. 
Blessings on your Easter weekend and prayers and love, Judy

April 7, 2023

April 7, 2023 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you will have a wonderful and blessed Easter weekend!  I happen to be sick and just getting up today. Hoping for a miracle so we can spend Easter at the Lake with Ann’s family.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Today is Good Friday and somehow it seems to be misnamed at first glance for it was a dark day when Jesus died. In fact, it was physically dark from noon until 3 p.m as Jesus was on the cross dying. When Jesus said, “Father into Your hands I commit my Spirit, and died, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, the earth shook and tombs of many of the saints were opened and they were raised to life.
  I remember as a young girl being at the lake when a terrible storm hit. We barely made it to the cabin from swimming and then it got dark as night. The wind blew violently, many trees were uprooted and rain was even blown into the cabin by the window frames. We wondered if the cabin would get blown away and with us in it. I can just imagine the fear the disciples must have had during the darkness that fell when Jesus was dying. There went their hope of Jesus rescuing them; and of His followers, only the women and John were with Jesus in his last hours on earth. It seemed like the darkest time ever, and they must have wondered if their lives were also in danger. Jesus died but just as my family was saved from the terrible storm and the sun came out again, Jesus came alive again on Easter morning and that which was darkest is now the brightest light for all of us who trust in Him. We have hope and a future with Him if we believe in Him, and ask forgiveness. Yes, this is Good Friday, for He took our sin and shame and paid the penalty for our sins. Like Paul said in II Cor 5:21 (ESV), “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
  Jesus loved us that much that He was willing to die for us, let us open our hearts to receive Him and live for Him all our days.
Challenge for today: May we not only receive Him ourselves but share the wonderful news with others.
Blessings on your Easter weekend and prayers and love, Judy
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