Category: Whispers (Page 134 of 171)

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having a good day full of sunshine, even though outwardly it’s suppose to rain here soon. This morning I made Al’s favorite cookies while he was at his men’s group. I did other food prep and went to exercise class; this afternoon is Crafts and then tonight is Bible Study. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Perhaps we all have times when we pray the Lord’s prayer in haste and after the “Amen” realize we have not been focused on what we were praying. But if we slow down and pray the words meaningfully, our hearts will be drawn closer to the Lord. What a powerful prayer it is that Jesus taught His disciples when they asked the simple question, “teach us to pray.” Jesus could have given a whole series of talks on prayer but he simply prays a prayer that teaches them and all of us how to pray. 

 Richard Foster shares some reflective thoughts that Simone Weil wrote about the Lord’s prayer, as she experienced hard times under the Nazi occupation of her French homeland. For her it must have been most difficult to pray forgiveness of her debtors after all she saw and experienced.

Simone reminds us that God is our Father and all we have and are comes from Him. We belong to Him and don’t have to search for Him for He searches for us. His name is holy and holiness itself, and we can’t increase or diminish it but only acknowledge it.

When we pray that His kingdom, we are really asking our souls be completely filled with the Holy Spirit, as we invite Him to quench our spiritual longing.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven is really saying that everything that has happened is in conformity with God’s will and also all that will happen in the future. We do this not because everything has been good in our eyes but God has permitted it and He is good. Then we put aside all other desires for the sake of our greater desire for eternal life.

When we pray Give us this day our daily bread, we acknowledge that Jesus is our bread of life and we must consent to let Him enter in. He will not force His way and we have to daily choose, even as we ask for daily food.

Praying, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, is not always easy for we are renouncing our claim to anything owed to us or wrongs done to us; it includes all our expectations and rights, but also asking Him to wipe out the evil in us.

When we pray lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil we are humbly admitting that we need His help so that we do not yield to the temptations before us. We ask for deliverance at such times when we are weak.

Let us often pray this powerful prayer that Jesus taught us with meaning and sincerity. I often sing it to Him when I am alone in the car.

Challenge for today: Pause as you pray after each petition of the Lord’s prayer and listen for His response.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and are enjoying the beauty of Fall. This morning I did food prep and made a  casserole to share and  also went to my exercise class. 
Wasn’t that a great win yesterday by the Vikings in overtime?! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

A close friend sent me a newsy e-mail to catch me up on her life and family; she ended it with a remark that my daily devotionals were upbeat but asked the question, “Do you ever have a down day?” It started me thinking of what makes for a good outlook on the day in contrast to one that is dark and negative. I’m sure all of us approach each day differently, depending on our background, personality, gifting, present circumstances and walk with the Lord; but it’s important how we start our day.

I wake up quite early each day, and view it as a new day of grace, acknowledging that the Lord is in control. I often talk with the Lord before I get out of bed and ask what is on His agenda. (Also, what he would have me write about) I usually have a mental list of what I would like to accomplish but I also know His list is far more important. I love to have my own quiet time with the Lord before I rouse Al and I try to pay attention if there is a special word for me for that day. The Lord knows what is coming and it is amazing to me how a scripture may be exactly what I need. Al and I have a prayer time together and then more time alone with the Lord before jumping into our day. If you have young children your day will look different but God is listening to those hurried prayers that are prayed while getting the kids off to school and settling disputes etc.

Of course, with any of us, our day may not be all roses, and things come up that test us and challenge us.  It is most important that we keep our focus on the Lord throughout the day, and share with Him, especially when we hit those speed bumps! My confession to you is that when I hit computer problems and need tech help I can get frustrated. Al will confirm that!

If our day seems dreary, we might put on praise music. If it is bleak rainy day, we may bake something and enjoy the wonderful aroma that fills the house. If we seem caught up in negative thoughts, it helps to think of others and find a way to serve someone else.

Paul wrote in I Cor. 16:13 (The Message), “Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.” Let us seize the day, hold fast to the Lord, and express love to Him and to others; then even on dark trying days, we can have expectations of good.

Challenge for today: Explore what helps you to be upbeat and view your day on a positive note.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying this weekend and all the fall colors. The temperature is cooler but so nice to see the sun again.  Soon I must get busy and get out our winter clothes. This morning I am getting ready for a special friend coming shortly and can’t wait!  

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Are we prepared for Jesus coming again? Are we eagerly waiting and readying ourselves? Each day we are a day closer to His coming, whether it be by His Second Coming or whether it is our time and He takes us home to be with Him forever.

As I write this I am very excited as I got a call last night from a dear sister in the Lord who is coming today. I haven’t seen her for some time and although we e-mail frequently, it’s nothing like seeing her in person. She is driving with her nieces all the way from Des Moines, IO to Baxter, MN ! She doesn’t know the exact time they will arrive but I want to be home and ready with table set to dine together and have sweet fellowship.

It makes me aware of how we need to be spiritually getting ready for the Lord’s coming. We begin by opening our hearts each day to have fellowship with Him, reading the Word, listening to His voice, and making room in our schedules for doing what He asks of us.

We must guard against growing lukewarm and getting so busy with other things that our desire becomes no longer for Him. Every day the Lord comes knocking as it says in Rev. 3:20 (NRSV), “Listen, I’m standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” He doesn’t force His way but waits for us.  Will we respond with anticipation and joy and quickly open the door? If we do, He comes in and fills our empty places with a beautiful fragrance. He brings healing and wholeness to us and fills us with His love.

Let us not hold back and ignore the ways the Lord comes knocking, but open wide to Him with a receptive heart. Who knows, if today is the day He comes again or if it is our last day on earth?

Challenge for today: Tell the Lord He is welcome in the home of your heart and open wide to Him. 

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend to you! It seems more like fall now with the crisp temperatures. This morning I cleaned our apartment and took a friend to the Dollar Store to start buying things for Operation Christmas. This afternoon I am going shopping with Al as we got only as far as Culver’s yesterday!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

It’s easy to quit when the going gets rough, but it takes courage and perseverance to keep on and not give up. We live in a culture that says to do whatever makes us happy and if our needs aren’t met, to just quit! I’m sure we have all been guilty of being a quitter and not carrying through with something that was difficult. Children often quit in the middle of the game if they know they are losing. Teens may quit simply because the job is not very exciting but hard work and would rather have a cushy one. Or adults quit when they think they can’t stand one more day of a demanding boss or just bored with their spouse. 

Perhaps all of us think more of our own needs and feeling good, rather than contributing and serving others. But I read the scripture today from Galatians 6:9-10 (The Message) where Paul says, “So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get a chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.”

I  read an article recently by Tiffany Thibault, an author and Bible Study leader, who writes about not growing weary.  In whatever situation we are in, we are not to give up but keep doing good to everyone God puts in our path. For all of us that will look different and maybe today it is something simple as making a meal, sending a card, praying for a person, giving a compliment, or just listening to another.

God wants to work through us and we may not always feel like giving out, but often our own concerns are lightened even as we do good. I liked Tiffany’s prayer that we may want to pray before starting our day.

“Dear Lord,

Thank you that you are in my life, that you are working in all my situations today. Please give me the strength that I need to be able to do good to everyone that I will encounter today. Help me to reflect your goodness to those around me. Help me to see opportunities where I can be the good today to whoever needs it. Help me to not focus on what I think I need, but to see that you have placed me right where I am today so that I can do good to someone. Help me to trust you as I encounter those difficult people, and show me how to do good to them. Lord, give me strength to not grow weary in doing good. In your name I pray, Amen.”

Let us be willing to let God use us to bring good to others!

Challenge for today: Ask God to work through you to do good to someone in your path today.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Devotions from Judy’s heart

There are many people today that have heavy work schedules and live very busy active lives that often leave them exhausted. But everyone needs some time of leisure, a time of recuperation and to find ourselves. I was reading the chapter on leisure in Michael Casey’s book, Grace on the Journey to God, and leisure seems like something we all should have in our schedules. Some think of it only as downtime and may get involved in so much activity that it is more tiring than their work. But I read today from Mark 6:31 (ESV) Jesus words to his disciples, “And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”  We also need to have leisure time to lose ourselves in activities that give us space and unhurried time to quiet down and simply be ourselves. It could be we turn to music, or poetry, art, writing, sports etc.  When we become fully involved in what we are focused on, we will find fulfillment and enjoyment; it often leaves us feeling refreshed as we express ourselves in creative ways and our hearts get renewed.

As I read about Leisure time, I recognize that I like to cook and make up recipes and I have such a willing hubby that loves to sample them. But I also like to paint and make greeting cards to send and yet I haven’t taken out my paints since we moved here to Northern Lakes. Maybe we think we are wasting time when we take time out to do enjoyable creative leisure things, but there is more to life than making money or hurrying about.

Casey wrote, “Leisure is purposeful and personal activity that aspires to be marked by flow… It is, above all, being attentive to the present moment, open to all its implications, living it to the full.” Perhaps it is more important to do a few things well, and being fully present with time left over to be reflective. When we visit a monastery gift store, their handmade items seem special to us as the monks put their whole self and concentration into the quality of their work. It is quite different from when we multitask and settle for so much less. When we are fully engaged, we will find that time seems to fly and we discover more of our true selves. It also helps us be open more to others, to listen, and make space to grow. Let us not neglect leisure in our lives!

Challenge for today: Make room in your life for some leisure time this week.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy