Category: Whispers (Page 123 of 171)

Dear Ones,

It’s a sunny day and looks lovely  but was -15 this morning. I put away the Valentine decorations and made choc covered raspberries, did food prep, and  washed linens down to our mattress. Al doesn’t have much energy yet so studied a bit and is napping.We will miss our monthly birthday party today but don’t want to expose people here to any kind of a bug. So glad there are willing volunteers to take over. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I don’t think we realize how often we forget what God has done for us. We take for granted His daily blessings, His sacrifice for us, and even the miraculous things He has done for us in the past. Maybe we have been healed of cancer but fail to remember to give thanks for our present health, or God showed His love for us by providing in supernatural ways that we now take for granted. I read today from Psalm 106 where it says in verse 7, “They gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses.’ And also in verse 21, “They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt.”

How sad that is to just forget God’s mighty hand on our lives. These things we should be sharing with our children and grandchildren and friends who also may have the same struggles that the Lord took us through and often miraculously.

I have been so encouraged as I have been reading J.P. Moorland’s book Experience Miracles. I have shared a couple miracles already but I would like to include another unusual one that was verified. Tim Newell went to church one night to hear Sister Petri, a guest evangelist, speak. He had many doubts that God still performed miracles today and went with a skeptical attitude. Sister Petri started her sermon and then suddenly stopped and pointed to a section of the sanctuary and said that someone came that night questioning that God does divine healing today, and He is going to answer your question once and for all. She went on to say that this person was going to feel a drilling sensation in his mouth and teeth and God was going to remove a cavity and give a new filling in its place. When that happens the person was to go to the bathroom and look in the mirror to see the new filling and come back and share what God had done. She went on to speak and Tim thought that it was quite a joke…. that is, until he felt the drilling sensation in his mouth. He couldn’t believe it and went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. He not only one but he had two new filling on his back molars. He was overwhelmed and went back to the sanctuary to testify of what God had done. He never doubted that God still performed miracles today after that. About 15 years later a tooth in his mouth cracked and the dentist took full-mouth x-rays of his teeth. He was a teaching dentist and said whoever had done the work on those back teeth did an amazing job. He wanted to use the x-ray in a textbook he was writing!

Does God still do miracles today?! Yes! Yes! They happen to ordinary people by an extraordinary God.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes to what He is doing around you and in you today. 
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you have been having a good day. We just got home and are unpacking and soon I will go to the store to restock the frig. Thank you so much for the prayers as we had good roads and weather all the way home. We left at 5:30 a.m. and so glad to be home again after a wonderful time with family.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

There is a family crisis today in our country as we see how the family unit is being devalued. Many are choosing not to get married and settle for lives without responsibilities. There is a trend especially of men dropping out of the labor force, not going to college, and living simply for pleasure.

But when the man is out of the picture there have been many consequences that are evident today. We particularly see how crime has increased, especially by males from fatherless homes. One in ten men are experiencing depression and anxiety, and the suicide rate has spiked. There is a 35% increase in deaths from drug related causes as well.

The father problem seems to be escalating as both white and black men fail to interact with the younger generation. The highest incarceration rate is from youths that never had a father living with them. Children miss their daddies.

Fathers are meant rather to be protectors, providers and disciplinarians. They help a child feel secure and are to be an affirming influence as they impart values.  But because of absent fathers, mothers are having to take on a dual role and fill in that place.

Statistics reveal that the more opportunities a child has to interact with his or her father, the less likely they are to commit a crime.  I recently read that when a father attends church there is a 93% chance the whole household will go too. A father’s place is so important.

But many men sense the church has become feminized and they feel out of place. The Promise Keepers movement some years ago, however, emphasized the father’s role and masculinity. That is surely needed today.

Wise King Solomon said in Prov. 1:8 (NIV), “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” The apostle Paul exhorts fathers to bring up children in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph 6:4)

Fathers, know how important the role is that God has given you and take your rightful place.

Challenge for today: Encourage dads who may be floundering and be willing to help mentor those who are fatherless.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a good day. We just arrived at the Holiday Express in LeRoy, IL. It is very windy out so we are going to exercise in the weight room tonight. We left N.C. at 5 am. this morning and drove in light rain much of the way. Thank you for your prayers as we had a wonderful time at Mark’s and a safe trip through the traffic today. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We were created to have a close relationship with the Lord and to live in fellowship with our Creator. But sometimes we ignore that longing of our hearts and go our own way and seek to fill that void with accumulating earthly treasures, going on one adventure after another etc. But it will never work. Only Jesus can fill that hole in our hearts that is meant only for Him.

Today I woke with the words of a hymn going through my mind, and maybe you know it:                                                    

“Nearer, still nearer close to thy heart

Draw me, my Savior, so precious thou art

Fold me, O fold me close to thy breast

Shelter me safe in that haven of rest

 Shelter me safe in that haven of rest.”

The closer we draw to the Lord, the more joy we have in Him. When He is our focus, we find we are strengthened for whatever comes into our lives. He will take care of us for we are His beloved. David said in Psalm 31:23-24 (Message), “Love God all you saints: God takes care of all who stay close to Him. But He pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone.”

All of our needs are met in Him when we are in close relationship with the Lord and as David also says in verse 19, “What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you. Ready and waiting for all who run to you.”

God will never force us to choose Him but He will use many different ways to draw our attention to Him. Things may happen in our lives as a wake-up call for us to get us back on track of what He has for us. When we say yes to Him and listen to Him as He leads us each day, we will come to enjoy close fellowship with Him.

Let us not settle for things that don’t satisfy but find joy and contentment in knowing the Lord and saying yes to Him!

Challenge for today: Tell the Lord you are done going your own way, and seek Him with an open heart. 

Blessings on your evening and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a good weekend. We heard a great sermon yesterday at Mark and Andrea’s church and then went to an Asian restaurant for dinner. We played outdoor games and indoor games and finished the day with a good movie and popcorn and blueberry smoothies. Today we have all day to play games as the boys are out of school. Tomorrow we plan to leave for home so would again be appreciative of prayers for our health and safety. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Our culture values strength and confidence, not weakness and vulnerability.  But the worldly values are so opposite from what Jesus teaches and exemplified in His life. The Apostle Paul writes how Jesus made Himself nothing by taking the nature of a slave…and He did this willingly.

We need to be more vulnerable like Jesus, although most of us would not choose to let our weaknesses be displayed for all to see. Matthew Dickerson writes and uses the example of a winning football team who suddenly loses the game when the coach of the opposing team discovers a weakness of the team and exploits it. They are exposed!

But isn’t it hard for us to choose the Jesus way and to be exposed and vulnerable and not cover up our weaknesses? But if we hide those vulnerabilities, we will not be able to get help or connect with others who have similar ones. Jesus showed vulnerability when he came as a helpless baby, or his tears while with His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I so vividly remember the prayer over me by a friend, just before I was to speak to a large group. I didn’t like to speak but was doing so in obedience, and his prayer just touched my inner spirit. It was from I Cor. 1:27 where Paul said not many were powerful and wise according to worldly standards, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” That fit me perfectly as I felt weak and unworthy to speak. The Lord saw me through and I could only give praise and thanks to Him.

We all can benefit from those around us who share their weaknesses. I text back and forth with one who shares her vulnerabilities. I not only pray for her but I now see more clearly weak areas in my own life that are very similar to hers. How neat that we can pray for each other!

Let us be humble and vulnerable so that God can use us to shine His light through us, just like a cracked pot in a dark room…the light is seen through our cracks.

Challenge for today: Be open about your cracks and accepting of others with theirs.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

We have arrived safely in Statesville, N.C. at our son’s home after driving 1700 miles. Thank you for your prayers! We have been looking forward to good times together and soon our grandsons will be home from school and games etc will begin! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today we are reading of mama bears and now papa bears as well, who are standing up for their children and saying enough to a culture that seems to be stealing them away. They want to protect them physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually but sometimes it may feel like the battle is being lost. The statistics are so high for children who are depressed and anxious and suicide rates have soared. So many parents today feel overwhelmed.

I read an article on Crosswalk.com by Victoria Riollano, an author, professor and pastor’s wife, who tells of her desire to protect her daughter who had a physical struggle. At age 4 her daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy and for many years Victoria lived with anxiety and depression, wondering if her daughter would die during a grand mal seizure or if she would be treated normally. She spent many sleepless nights worrying but of course, none of us parents can protect our children 24/7 and we have to get to the place where we fully entrust them to the Lord. He loves them more than we ever can. Victoria felt like God was saying to her that He knew her daughter while in her womb and loved her more than she did. Finally, she was able to release her daughter and her prayer was:

“Dear Lord, 

In Jesus Name, Amen.”

Then came a surprise after 10 years, God healed her daughter completely!

It could be our children, grandchildren, close friends, or even parents that we are concerned about and we want to protect them; but the truth is we can’t control their circumstances or be there to meet their every need. Our part is to pray and to surrender them to the Lord, the One who loves them more than we do and knows best.

Challenge for today: If you are full of worry over a loved one, pray for them and release them to the Lord in faith.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying your day. We left Chattanooga this morning and had a fun day as we hit a large Christian Book Store that is connected to the seminary. We both had a prosperous time!  We went through some beautiful winding roads this afternoon looking out on mountainous peeks and rushing waters and ended up tonight  in Sylva (western Carolina). I just had another wonderful swim in the hotel pool and Al is out walking. Tomorrow we head to our son’s family in Statesville, N.C. and we are so eager to see all of them. Thank you for your prayers. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Traveling is fun and enjoyable and gets us out of our regular routine to see our family, enjoy beautiful scenery, and meet new people. And as wonderful as that is, I find that at times I feel lonesome for the Body of Christ where we are planted. Since we left home, a member there who we have come to know and love, has died and we will miss his funeral. We also have church at our apartment complex and miss gathering of fellowship that meets each Thursday. 

I read what Rev Mark Roberts from Fuller Seminary had to say about how important it is to flourish where we are planted and to be in fellowship with others. If we just go to church but not actively engaged and in fellowship with other believers, then we are missing out on a huge blessing that God has for us. As Paul said in I Cor 3:16 (NIV) “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”

Like one pastor said, we are living stones in God’s temple and we are bound together with other stones. We don’t just roll in on Sunday morning and then roll out again; but we are living stones strategically placed next to others as God would have.

Last Sunday we were at Life Church, which is just one of the Satellite gatherings of the largest church in America. We heard a great sermon that Pastor wove into the Super Bowl theme. It was also stressed at the end of the service by one of the pastors that we need to be involved in serving and in loving fellowship together. It can be too easy to just come to the service and leave without talking to anyone or serving in any way.

Digital connections have been important during Covid and zoom helped us keep in touch remotely, but we also need intentional relationships with other believers, We are not meant to be loners but planted in the sacred soil of Christian community as God’s temple. God is present among us and wants to bless us through Christian brothers and sisters who help us grow.

Let us not miss out on one of God’s great blessings by holding back from being tightly knit together with other believers and serving one another.

Challenge for today: Intentionally talk to someone at church who seems on the fringe and include them in your fellowship

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your evening and prayers and love, Judy