Category: Sister Judy (Page 85 of 270)

March 3, 2023

March 3, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Happy Weekend to you! The snow seems to have stopped for now and we are left to look out on a beautiful landscape. This morning I baked cookies on a stick and bars to put in the freezer for events coming up. Al is glad to sample them for me too!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday our Bible Study here at Northern Lakes left me in awe of the Holy Spirit’s work and even His timing. I always go downstairs ahead of time to set up for Bible study and to be there if people come early. One gal came and was excited of what the Lord was showing her in scripture of the importance of doing the works of Jesus in helping the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting those imprison etc.(Matt. 25) Also, how one day there would be a separation of those who did His works and those who refused and would not taste of heaven but eternal punishment.

While waiting for people to show up I had just been reading a newsletter from WMPL (World Mission Prayer League) of how people in remote parts of India and other places were responding to the Lord because of the Christians meeting their needs in practical ways along with their spiritual needs. The lost may not be looking first for a church but rather looking for help and for hope and and peace and forgiveness; and isn’t it the mission that the Lord left us to share His love and meet needs, and tell of His sacrifice for all?

To get more personal in Bible study we talked about how we are the Body of Christ and what we can do, even in our apartment complex to meet the needs of others and to share Christ. One gal told of her own loneliness and how she was walking in the halls the night before and went past the door of a gal who was recovering from a stroke. She wondered if the Lord was prompting her to knock on her door and make a visit. She responded and the woman was so thankful for her coming and also for her willingness to take her to her next doctor appointment. That is the church in action, and as we do those things led by the Spirit, one day the Lord will say, “Come you, who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”(verse 34) For I was hungry and you gave me food etc…

Let us be doing the works of Jesus as we wait for that day.

Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to ways you can be His hands in the world and share His love.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

March 2, 2023

March 2, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you have a wonderful day. We were able to have our soup supper and service last night as the weather cleared. Further north they got about a foot of snow. Al has already left for the men’s group this morning and later we will have Bible Study here. For the devotion today I mostly used the words that Dan wrote before his death about the angelic encounter he had one night.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Recently, we went to the funeral of a Christian friend who had lived down the hall from us and came regularly to our weekly Bible Study. His life was lived for the Lord and he at times shared experiences from the past. We knew he loved the song “Trust and Obey” and the week after his funeral we sang that song in our Bible study group. Later Al and I read his life story knew why that song was meaningful to him.

In 1993 Dan was sent to St. Cloud Hospital because of pressure on his heart and shortness of breath. The Doctor had an angiogram taken on him and asked if he was a smoker, and Dan answered no. The Dr. rather surprised him and went on to say that he had him scheduled for a triple bypass the next morning. What a shock! Dan’s wife left to go home to get clothes and he was left alone and scared; but the song Trust and Obey kept coming to his mind each time he felt nervous. The operation went well and he went to ICU to recover. Then later one night he was up walking and felt very hot. A nurse came in the room all dressed in white and had white hair. She asked Dan if she could help him and he said yes, if she could turn the air conditioner on as he was so hot. She went to the wall and fiddled there and said she turned the air conditioning on, after which she rubbed a cool washcloth all over his body. He felt cooled down and she left. But later he had sharp pains in his chest every time he took a breath. He must have collapsed as he woke up the next morning in a different room and felt like he had been run over by a truck. The nurse got him walking down the hall when he met a doctor who said he wanted to check Dan’s ribs, thinking he may have broken one rib in the crisis the night before. The Dr. told Dan he gave him quite a scare during the night and that his lungs had collapsed but he was now okay. When the nurse helped Dan back to bed, he asked her who the older nurse was that helped him last night as he wanted to thank her. She said they had no older nurse and no one there wears white. It is quite likely the Lord sent an angel to minister to him. Then the song came to his mind again, “When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He shed on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.” Dan’s trust was in the Lord and later he told his wife, I saw an angel and all I could do was keep saying, ”Trust and obey!” Dan is now in the very presence of the Lord! Let us all put our trust in the Lord and walk in obedience and His love.

Challenge for today: Be open to new ways the Lord may make His presence known to you.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

March 1, 2023

March 1, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you are keeping warm and toasty. It is a blustery and snowy outside but inside is warm and full of aroma of fresh baked cookies. My plans changed and I just visited a friend who recently lost her hubby and have crafts this afternoon. Tonight if the roads are good we will go to the Lenten supper and service.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

How often do we judge others and send out a message of condemnation? We may not actually say negative comments aloud but we may be thinking them and they block our relationship and communication with them.

Jesus told us in Matt 7:1-2 (ESV), “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” ” What we criticize others of is often the very thing that is found in our own hearts, but we are unaware. We may think we aren’t enough and are quick to find blame in others, rather than seeing our own selves. It may cause us to turn away from others and hide our true selves. But we are told not to judge others or even ourselves for that is the Lord’s job as He only sees what is in our hearts.

I am reading a book by Curt Thompson M.D. who is a psychiatrist and writes about The Soul of Shame. He shares how people who experience shame, shame others. Most of us need healing of wounds from our past or we will not flourish. We may believe rejection is coming from others and that they are trying to hurt us, but that may not be so at all. It could be an indicator that we need healing and what we are judging in them is stuck in our own hearts.

Instead of hiding or judging others, we can turn to the Lord and let Him heal our brokenness and shame. We can also share with trusted others who can pray for us and help us on the journey to wholeness. The enemy would have us isolate ourselves and not connect with others but God would have us open ourselves up so we can get healed.

It was a little scary for me at first when others prayed for my healing, but then when we experience the newfound freedom and joy, we know it is worth it. And of course, there is always more healing needed in all of our lives for we live in an imperfect world.

Challenge for today: When time seems right, share with a trusted friend something you would like prayer for in your life.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

February 28, 2023

February 28, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you have a peacefilled day. The sun is shining and hoping that it will melt the ice on the walks! I just finished making 2 spaghett pies and did food prep. This afternoon we are invited to new friends for coffee and fellowship.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

When we know the Lord, we become His ambassadors to share Him with others so they may also come to faith in Him. There are many people who have never heard about Jesus, not just in foreign countries, but here in the United States. I remember when Al was an intern in CA and we had Vacation Bible School. There was a little boy in my class that had no idea who Jesus was, as he came from a Buddhist family. Such a privilege it was to share with him, Jesus. Jesus last command before leaving this world was that we go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.(Matt. 28:19)

Recently I read the true story on Facebook that brought tears to my eyes of a little 9year old boy. He lived in Tennessee and had never been to church and had not heard about Jesus. The Bus Pastor of a large church, 3 miles from his house, stopped by one Sunday morning to see if he wanted to go to S.S. When the young boy came to the door the pastor asked to talk with his parents; but the boy responded by telling him that each weekend his parents went away and left him alone with his little brother. The pastor then asked him if he would like to hear the greatest love story and he shared with him about Jesus. At the end, he asked the boy if he wanted to receive the Lord, and he said, “Well sure!” He got down on his knees and invited Jesus into his heart. When asked if he wanted to go to church the next Sunday, he was more than willing. Church was puzzling to him as he had no idea what was going on. When the offering plate was passed around, he didn’t know what people were doing. When he saw that they were putting in money, he searched his pockets but had nothing to give. He tried to hold on to the plate but had to pass it on. He kept his eye on the plate and when it got to the very back of the church he went to the usher and asked for the plate. He proceeded to put the plate on the carpet and then stood in the plate and prayed, “Jesus, I don’t have anything to give you. Just me!”

Of course, that is what Jesus is after from all of us; He wants us and not just a small part of our lives. Let us be like the little boy and give Him our whole heart. Like the song goes, “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give

Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything that you are holding back from God, and give Him all.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

February 27, 2023

February 27, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a great weekend. I enjoyed going to the baby shower for the mommy who is soon going to have her baby and then can start treatment for her own cancer.Please pray! Today I am doing food prep, making a trip to Aldi’s and then to my exercise class.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I was so joyful when my favorite Christian magazine, Just Between Us, came in the mail and I read they had chosen the word Joy as their word for the year. Joy is meant for all of us to experience for it doesn’t depend on our circumstances but is found in the person of Jesus. Joy is different than happiness that depends more on right circumstances and pleasureful things. David said in Psalm 16:11 (God’s Word), “You make the path of life known to me. Complete joy is in your presence. Pleasures are by your side forever.” Because our joy resides in His presence, no matter what happens, we can still experience deep down joy.

We also know that joy is something we choose and have to keep choosing each day of our lives. As we do, it is acknowledging that we trust Him, even when we don’t know the outcome, for He is in control. Paul was such an example as he was joyful even when in prison and facing trials of many kinds. He tells us also to be joyful always, to never stop praying, and to be thankful. (I Thess. 5) It helps for us to spend time in His presence as we read the word, listen to praise music, worship, and obey Him.

To me Joy is like a perfume that draws others to the Lord. When they observe our joy, it is like a pleasing fragrance that they want to experience too. One thing that stands out to me, is that joyful Christians love to serve others around them. They can make work look like fun, for as they are helping others, they experience more of Jesus. Their faith grows and their own souls are fed at the same time. We have a friend who doesn’t make a big deal about serving but she is often found working in the kitchen at church, or teaching Sunday School, or filling in the gaps and doing what may be overlooked by others. She doesn’t call attention to herself but quietly serves and does it for the Lord. Serving is good for all of us and our hearts are enlarged to overflow with more joy in the process. Let us choose joy!

Challenge for today: Serve the Lord in a new way today, and let His joy effervesce in your soul.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

February 25, 2023

February 25, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend and may you take time to get refreshed. This morning I plan to clean and then go to a baby shower at church for the mom who is battling cancer and soon to deliver her baby girl. Please keep her in your prayers. Last night Al and I enjoyed the movie, Jesus Revelution, and hope you have a chance to see it too. It brought back many memories of the 1970’s and all that God was doing in the hearts of the youth.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We must all be watchful for we can fall into the mindset of setting personal comfort above knowing God and making Him known to others. When we know the Lord, we believe that God has something far better than anything in this world waiting for us some day. We however must be patient and not demand that we have a comfortable and prosperous life now. As I read Larry Crabb’s book, “Waiting for Heaven”, he said, “Wait for tomorrow. Demand nothing today. But enjoy God’s blessings today. And yet, whether in blessings or trials, live to love well today.”

God never promised us an easy life in this world. In my daily devotions I have been reading about Moses and his life was not a piece of cake. Yes, he might have started out having everything he could wish for as a Prince of Egypt, but he gave it all up because of his faith that believed God had something better for him. Leading the children of Israel was not an easy task but he didn’t turn away from what God had for him to do; he was waiting for God’s best one day rather than pleasure in the now!

But isn’t that what the enemy likes to tempt us to do as well, to indulge in the fleeting pleasures of today rather than waiting for what God has for us some day? We must say no to temporary pleasures and snares the enemy puts before us and embrace what God has for us. We need to each ask, what is God’s call on my life? Can I say no to the other choices and embrace what God has for me? Crabb wrote that Moses left behind wealth and power and pleasure for mistreatment, the company of broken and despised people, and humiliating suffering.

No matter what we suffer in this life, “wonderful joy is ahead even though we must endure many trials for a little while.” (I Peter 1:6)

Let us live in faith today because we eagerly wait for what is ahead!

Challenge for today: Resolve to wait for what God has for you rather than trying to satisfy yourself with fleeting pleasures.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

February 24, 2023

February 24, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend! Hope you are not buried in snow! We are thankful we did not get what was predicted yesterday and had a normal day. This morning Al and I will be going to Costco for the Birthday cake and then preparing for the monthly party this afternoon.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Do we feel good about ourself on days when we accomplished a lot but less about ourself when we didn’t get much done? Maybe we had a long list of things we felt needed attention but we didn’t make much of a dent in it because of the many interruptions. At the end of the day, we may go to bed feeling poorly about ourselves, but judging ourselves on that basis is not wise.

I read a devotional by Sarah Young and she makes a point of how we shouldn’t push ourselves so hard that we feel good about ourselves only when we have been productive.Yes, it is good to work and to use the gifts that the Lord has given us but our identity is not based on that premise but rather that we are His child. Even if we are severely handicapped and couldn’t accomplish anything, we can still feel cherished and loved and valued.

There are times the Lord would say to us that we need to slow down and just relax and rest. After all, He is the one that rested on the 7^th day after finishing the work of creation. We also need to keep the Sabbath and take time to rest. Sometimes that is the most spiritual thing we can do after a hard day or work week. As King David said in Psalm 23:2-3 (ESV), “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

I felt His pleasure one busy day after shopping and serving at a party, being on my feet for several hours and then busy in the kitchen. I told Al that night that I am not going to study or do any more work but just watch a good movie and relax. It was just what I needed and I felt like my soul was restored as well.

Let us not push ourselves beyond what the Lord has for us to do, for the bottom line is that we will actually be more effective when we are refreshed. And whether we accomplish a little or a lot in our day, we are His beloved child.

Challenge for today: Listen to the Holy Spirit and rest when He directs you.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

February 23, 2023

February 23, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you are keeping warm and safe. It continues to snow here but Al got to his dentist appointment at 7:30 this morning . We wonder iif people will be canceling appointments today. I baked and did food prep this morning and this afternoon we have Bible Study here as noone has to go out.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Are we living to please God or to please people? If we get focused on what others think of us, we will end up not doing what God calls us to do and He is the One we need to please. When we come to know the Lord, He doesn’t erase our weaknesses. Some of us would like to hide our frailties and certainly not accentuate them; but rather the Jesus way is letting His power be seen in the very areas we are weak.

The apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh, which we are not privy to know what it was, but told that God’s grace was enough. In I Corinthians 12 he is told that God’s power is most effective in his weakness and that His strength and power would rest on him. He could actually glory in his weakness.

Jesus took on a human body when He came to earth so He can identify with us and knows all our frailties and can understand our weaknesses. He knew what it felt like it to be rejected, accused of things that He didn’t do, but He was so careful to do the will of His Father. If we are His children then it is His approval that we need to seek!

We can ask ourselves if we want Jesus’ approval or are more concerned with that of others? The Pharisees big concern was what others thought of them and they did many things to be seen of men. It says in John 12:44 (Message), “When push came to shove, they cared more for human approval than for God’s glory.” Sadly, there were those that came to believe in Jesus but were not open about it, for they feare they would be excommunicated from the synagogue.

Are we afraid to let others see our weaknesses or are we desiring that they would see Jesus in us and His power to strengthen us? May we choose His way of humility and experience His grace.

Challenge for today: Give your weak areas to God and ask Him to display His power in you.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

February 21, 2023

February 22, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Sorry I neglected to put this devotion on our blog site yesterday.

May you wake to a day of joy and awareness of God’s presenThe question for this week is:Have you ever been part of a an awakening movement in your life and what affect did it have on your life?

Devotions from Judy’s heart

As I watch what is happening at Asbury University, it is so obvious the hunger that young people have today. There is so much depression, loneliness, and emptiness as the search goes on to find fullness and purpose. Many try to fill that hunger with busyness, accumulating more things, and getting to the top of the ladder but it will never fill the void within.

God wants to pour His love into us and fill us with His Spirit and that is what is happening not only at Asbury, but other campuses across the country. There is such an awareness of God’s presence and holiness that people don’t want to leave. In fact, there is a long line outside of those who want to get into the chapel to not miss His joy and loving presence that is being poured out.

Al and I experienced a time of revival in the 1970’s when Al was a youth pastor in Edina. When Al finished seminary, we had hoped to go to the poor in the inner city, but God sent us to the rich in the suburbs. We wondered what we could give to the affluent kids who already had everything. But God did a sovereign work in the hearts of the youth and so many lives were changed. It had nothing to do with glitzy programs and attractions but it was the work of the Holy Spirit, converting hearts of the young people. God broke through hearts as His love was poured out. We had so many hungry souls in our basement each week and many of them have become full time workers for the Lord and ministers.

More than ever before in our day of such decadence we need a move from God, we need a spirit of repentance that acknowledges our sin and turn to the Lord for forgiveness. If we have thirsty hearts, He extends His invitation to us in John 7:37(God’s Word); “Whoever is thirsty must come to me and drink. As Scripture says, “Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me’.”

May we respond and daily drink of His living water.

Challenge for today: Say no to anything that would block the springs of living water from flowing out of you.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Februaru 22, 2023

February 22, 2023 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you have a good day and are not getting buried in snow. We hear the cities may get up to 18″ the next few days and we will get a possible get 3″to 5″. I plan to go to my exercise class today and later crafts and Lenten supper and service.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We are in a new season of the church year and Sunday Al and I changed the paraments on the church altar to the color purple with a crown of thorns embroidered into the cloth. A beautiful reminder that is the Lenten season and a time to reflect on Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Lent is a very old practice and varies a great deal among Christians but this time is especially meant to help us become more aware of our need for the Lord. Some years I fast and give up something, like desserts; but the giving up of a particular enjoyable thing or action is not what is most important but rather time spent to focus more on the Lord. As it says in James 4:8 (God’s Word), “Come close to God and He will come close to you.”

Lent is a time of preparation reminding us of what Jesus went through for us on the cross to save us. Hopefully, we use this time to draw closer to Him and know Him in deeper ways and experience His grace and mercy. In many churches ashes are put on foreheads of the people in the sign of the cross symbolizing repentance and a time of cleansing and renewal.

At our particular church we have a soup supper and fellowship before a Wednesday night service. Each week Pastor or a different person will be speaking on the various aspects of Jesus journey to the cross. We can get ho hum about Jesus’ death as we have heard the story many times over our life time, but Lent is a time to refocus and remember.

Maybe this Lenten season, we need to do something new, perhaps a particular spiritual discipline; or go on a weekend retreat, or just go for a walk out in nature and reflect on what Jesus did for us. Let us not just go through the motions but ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to go deeper with the Lord and to experience Him anew and receive from Him all that He wants to pour into our hearts.

Then it won’t be long until we will be celebrating His amazing resurrection with such gratitude and joy.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord how He would have you celebrate this Easter season in a new way with a fresh awareness of His sacrifice for you.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Category: Sister Judy (Page 85 of 270)

March 3, 2023

March 2, 2023

March 1, 2023

February 28, 2023

February 27, 2023

February 25, 2023

February 24, 2023

February 23, 2023

February 21, 2023

Februaru 22, 2023

Recent Posts

Meta

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories