Category: Whispers (Page 101 of 171)

Dear Ones,

It is a cool day and dark and raining out my window. Predictions are for rain the rest of the week and maybe snow too! Today I hope to get to Aldi’s and then to my exercise class and this afternoon to Crafts and tonight to Bible Study. Al is preaching this morning next door at Assisted Living.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

  How can we improve in our relationships with others? Even when we have a quite a good relationship with our friend or spouse, there is always room for improvement and growth to bond us even closer. Jennifer Waddle writes about ways of serving our spouse but I think it applies to everyone around us as well. I will share some of her thoughts along with my own.

   Sometimes we minister to others by just a smile or an understanding look that we give our loved one. It can say more than words and lets them know we understand and are on the same team. Al and I pick up each other’s cues across the room and usually know what we mean without words.

   Jennifer suggests giving to other what we’d like to receive. If we feel like we are lacking for attention and affection give that to them. We might be surprised by the fallout from that! Like Jesus said in Matt. 7:12 (ESV), “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”

   We can also be quick to think of ways to bless others and be a helper in areas of need. Sometimes we can relieve the pressure they are under by simply listening to them well and giving encouragement and affirmation. But as we listen, let us not have one eye on our phones but rather give eye contact and ask questions etc.

   Togetherness is so good but we also need to give one another space and breathing room. Most every day Al and I share as we walk on the trail but there are some days he needs to walk alone and comes back with new insights.

   We also need to notice one another and give compliments and acknowledge how they are a blessing to us. It is helpful to know their love language to discover how they receive love and it is not likely to be the same as ours. If theirs is words of affirmation then it is important to give compliments and words that build up. If their love language is gifts then look for tangible gifts to give spontaneously. Or if it is acts of service than do physical helps that take thought and energy. Perhaps it is quality time, then schedule dates, and meaningful times to be together. Or if it is physical touch, then give lots of hugs, hold hands etc.

  With all our loved ones let us take time to grow closer in our relationship with them and the Lord.

Challenge for today: Serve a loved one today in a special way that would be meaningful to them. 

Dear Ones,

  Hope you have a wonderful day. It is quite cool and windy out today  but hope everyone gets out to vote. Al and I are going shortly! Not sure if I will get downstairs for coffee and choc covered raspberries today as we don’t know if there will be long lines of voters. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

  Prayer is so powerful and sometimes we just have to persist in prayer as we don’t yet see the answer. It is easier to give up after spending some time to pray about a particular concern of our hearts, but we are never to give up. I distinctly remember the last month of each pregnancy and how long it seemed before each baby was birthed. I felt like it was never going to happen!  Maybe we feel that way about certain prayers we have prayed for months and even years and we begin to doubt.

  But be encouraged the Lord hears every one of our prayers and we are to persistent in expectant faith. Like the woman who wore out the judge as she kept coming to him about her case, the judge finally gave her justice simply because he was tired of her pleas.  Unlike the judge, the Lord is quick to hear our heart’s cry the first time and ready to answer.

   I must confess there have been times I thought God had forgotten about my prayer concern since I saw nothing outwardly happening. That is not a good way to determine His actions though, as He begins His work in the heart, where only He truly sees. For example, when someone comes to the Lord, it didn’t just all happen that moment but it might have begun long ago with someone’s prayers for him. Then it could have continued when a remark was made by a friend sharing about God’s intervention in his life.  What followed might have been a sense of the Holy Spirit convicting him and finally He is ready to make a decision to follow the Lord. Everyone God uses to plant seeds is important.

   I especially love when I hear those instances when God uses even a little child to bring his daddy or mommy to the Lord. It is all a work of the Holy Spirit.

   May we not give up too soon but persist and have expectant faith for what God can do. Let us heed Jesus’ word to the persistent widow in Luke 18:1, to always pray and not lose heart.

Challenge for today: Confess any lack of faith for a concern that you have, and renew your trust in the Lord to answer in His timing and His way. 

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Devotions from Judy’s heart

How judgmental are we? Do we criticize others for things we are blind to in ourselves? We need to be people of mercy rather than judgment. We have Jesus words in Matt. 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  I was reading what Greg Laurie had to say about showing mercy and sorrow over our sins and of others and being compassionate. He said, “The more righteous someone is, the more merciful they will be. The more sinful someone is, the harsher and more critical they will be.” If we are always judging and condemning, it is likely we are not walking close to God and blind to our own faults.

  I received the following response from the question I asked on Tuesday of all of you and this one is humorous and made me laugh out loud but also has a lesson for us on judging.

 “This past March when we were in the RV park in Arizona, I had something happen that made me laugh so hard and I still laugh when I think about it. I was doing our laundry at the RV park when 2 ladies came in to do their laundry. It was just the 3 of us and the one lady was visiting her friend that was actually just down the street from us in the park. I listened to the two talk back and forth. While their washers were still going she asked me if the clothes in 3 dryers were mine as the dryers had stopped. I said no and she said she just doesn’t like when people leave their clothes in the washer or dryer and don’t come back for them. So, she saw a basket by the dryers and put all of the clothes from the 3 dryers in the one basket. Her friend was saying she shouldn’t do that but she said it isn’t right to leave your clothes in the dryer when other people are waiting. Now at this point no one was waiting for the dryers. My clothes were in a couple other dryers and theirs were still washing. Well, a lady came in and all 3 dryers were hers and she said it was fine and took her basket and left. At this point the lady that was complaining about people leaving their clothes, saw one of the metal baskets that you can use to move your clothes from the washer to the dryer had some clothes in it. They were dried and she told her friend that this is just dumb for people to not come back for their clothes so she decided to fold them and put them on a table. Her friend said not to do that but she wasn’t going to listen to her. This whole time this lady had been complaining about people, her friend just kept looking at me and shaking her head.  I am not saying anything. So as the lady starts folding the clothes, she told her friend that this towel looks like hers, her friend said everyone has towels that look alike. Then she said that these pants were hers; she been looking for them for a week now. So long story short these clothes were hers and had been in the laundry room for over a week! At this point I couldn’t hold in my laughter, which isn’t like me at all. But I busted out laughing and couldn’t stop. She just had complained about other people and here she was one of those people. I was glad I was almost done folding my clothes so I could head out of the laundry room.  I still laugh at that!” 

   Challenge for today: The next time you begin judging another, ask the Holy Spirit to show you your own heart.

Dear Ones,

It was so much fun to hear your responses to yesterday’s question on the last time you had a hearty laught. Some made me laugh outloud reading them. This morning I am off to the dentist again as I need a crown on a tooth that is on borrowed time! I can’t be two places at once so will miss out on other things on schedule today. Hope to get in another beautiful walk on the trail and then to church for Bible Study.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

  When Jesus is the center of our lives, we will want to know His heart and His ways for our lives. What does it mean to really quiet ourselves and listen to His directions for each day? I want to practice what I write to you in my daily devotions so will try share how this looks in my life on a typical day.

   I woke up early Saturday and prayed I would be sensitive to know God’s will and to be obedient as to how He would lead me throughout my day. My struggle, first of all, is to just jump into my day and then all of a sudden realize I need to slow down and be quiet and listen for directions. This day I needed to especially listen as there was going to be a possible Birthday dinner here. Not knowing for sure, I felt led to proceed as if it would happen and sure enough it did. I set aside extra food as our hungry grandson surprised us and showed up earlier and I had plenty of food ready for him before he had to be on his way.

   Since I did food prep early in the day, I didn’t get my devotional written. But I was so surprised later when a friend sent me a newsletter that after reading, I felt led to write a devotional on my response to it… thank you Lord!

  As I was talking to the Lord throughout the day, he reminded me to get a card off to a friend who has many health issues. Later a young adult thanked me for my cards as it is the only mail they get. It prompted me to send cards to several others that the Lord brought to mind. 

  When we desire to go His way, I think the Lord gives more energy as we are not fighting to have our own way. I began baking and made bread and egg dishes, and packed my Shoe Box Christmas gifts. There seemed to be enough time for all that was on His schedule and I felt joy inside. It’s not about how much we get done but if we are doing what He has laid out for us. As it says in Prov. 3:6 (Message), “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.”  I went to bed sensing His favor and asking Him to help me live that way every day.

  Challenge for today: Start your day with an open heart to go God’s way in everything.

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  What a great win for the Vikings yesterday and an exciting game!! This morning I have been doing food prep and soon going to my exercise class. Hope to walk the trail as the weather has been perfect. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

 With Halloween here, we are made more aware of witchcraft and occult activity taking place in our culture. There are many shows, movies and books that deal with the supernatural and so many people are taken in by spiritual forces that are opposed to the Lord.\

  When I was a teen, we were warned not to meddle in Ouija boards, palm reading and seances as they are not harmless but open the door to the enemy. I realized this in a deep way when a gal in one of our churches, went to the cities and was involved in a séance, She saw first-hand the power of the enemy and was so scared she rushed to her car and drove many miles to our house to get prayed over.

   I read an article by the late Billy Graham who warned us of the dangers of the occult and not to involve ourselves in any practices of spiritual forces that are opposed to God. The Bible warns us and in Eph. 6:12 the apostle Paul says, ”For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

   In one study, it revealed that 73% of the youth in America have been involved in at least one type of psychic activity or witchcraft. How sad that so many gravitate to forces that are opposed to God and in league with Satan.

   We need to protect ourselves and our children and not get sucked in to the enemy’s tactics. He will make us think it is not big deal but it is when we give him entrance into our lives through occult practices. Let us pray much, read the Word and be in fellowship with other believers so we can stand against his schemes. God is far more powerful and may we stand in the strength of his might.

  Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and protect you against anything that opens the door to the enemy.