Category: Whispers (Page 151 of 165)

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying the weekend. No more snow here for now. This morning I wrote letters, made egg dishes and went  went to church  for our Women’s Bible study. We had a good turnout and good discussion and study. We are getting 2 free meals today and should be arriving any minute! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

As a child, I memorized, along with my siblings, the scripture verse from Heb. 4:12, only I will quote it to you from the Message translation. “God means what He says. What He says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.” My mom, by example, taught us how important it is to be in the Word and let it speak to us. Like most of you reading my daily devotionals, we have many Bibles in our house of various translations. I use several different ones each day so that what is old and familiar will make new to me what the Lord is saying to me now. It is important to not just read scripture but make it our own. They are not just words but a true story of our sinful condition and God’s remedy. We find stories of so many heroes that had flaws and yet God used them to bring healing or even save a nation. It gives us all hope of what God can do through us if we are open and willing and how He forgives our past. I think of the apostle Paul and how he persecuted Christians and put them to death; and then when receiving the Lord, he was used of God to bring so many into His kingdom. It is most important not only that we just read the Word but that we apply it to our lives. It is a really more like learning to listen to what the Word is saying to us and asking how it impacts our lives. How do I need to change? It is also important to hear the Word preached as we go to church and along with others, listen to what is being said. We shouldn’t be ho-hum about this but expect that God has a specific word for us. Maybe not every Sunday, but there are times that God’s word seems to hit our exact need and it’s like He is directly speaking to our hearts. Some people have accused Al of preaching about them, as if he knows some secret in their lives. We may not have a fiery profound preacher but if he is basing his sermon on the Word, we can expect that God will have something to say to us. We should take that word given us and apply it to our everyday life. It is also good to memorize scripture as it seems to become part of us and to feed us, especially in situations when we need a word from God right then. One young dating couple we know are memorizing scriptures together and what a wonderful way to be drawn together in the Spirit. This week our pastor asked us to read the book of Judges and I wonder what God will have to say to me through it.

Challenge for today: Read a portion of scripture and really listen to what God is saying personally to you

Dear Ones,

Happy Weekend to you! The snow has quit and left us with a beautiful white landscape. This morning I cleaned our apartment and made a pot of stew and cinnamon raisin bread. The house is full of wonderful aroma!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Sound the alarm! I still remember in grade school when a teacher asked me what I would do if there was a fire. I responded with saying I would go in the hall and break the glass and push the alarm button and he said, “Do it now!” I did what I was told and fortunately it was just a drill but if it had been a fire, it would have been the quickest way to evacuate the school. We also have alarms that go off in our Apartment complex and make a great deal of noise, like early one morning. Al and I were awake but most people here were sleeping in. We dressed and went downstairs where some others were gathered until we got the all clear. Today the alarm is sounding for the church to wake up from our spiritual slumber. It seems that the enemy wants to hush the voice of the church who stands for God’s truth and love. The church has compromised in a variety of ways to the culture and many have chosen to just sit on the sidelines and be silent. Sadly, we have become lukewarm and passive and neglected the calling God has given us. But can you now hear the alarm sounding for the church to wake up from its slumber and complacency and become bold witnesses and warriors?  I believe that this time of unrest and chaos can be used to strengthen the church if we heed the alarm. We are being called together which may take the form of small groups meeting in homes where we discern with others what God is saying. Just like it was comforting to gather with others in the early morning hour here at our apt, we can be strengthened as we gather to hear what God is calling us to do and not waver. But we can’t just play church but we must rise up and be the church that Jesus loves and gave His life for. I think it is time for us to be on our knees and to seek His forgiveness for how we have strayed, compromised and become lukewarm. We have to decide and choose who we really want to serve and then point others to the way. As the apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian church in Eph. 1 (The Message), may it also be a prayer for us, “to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is He is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for His followers, oh, the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him—endless energy, boundless strength!..,at the center of all this, Christ rules the church!” May we refuse to be silent and let our voices be heard and actions express our love for the Lord. Let us wake up and become the church!

Challenge for today: Join with others and discerningly pray for the church to become focused and strong.

 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Forgiveness is not always easy and we sometimes need reminders of Jesus words to forgive others as we have been forgiven. Perhaps one of the hardest things to forgive may be the betrayal of a secret affair of a mate who is later found out. I was reading an article in Just Between Us magazine by Lysa Terkeurst, who has experienced that pain and shares about how forgiveness is like a double-edged word, and often seems impossible. Her heart was shattered and yet she has lived out forgiveness over time and warns us to never refuse to give forgiveness. If we harbor hurt and hang on, a hardness forms in our own hearts. She said it isn’t that forgiveness hinges on our efforts as we grit our teeth, but rather something to participate in so that His grace can actually flow through us. That means we have to lean into what Jesus has already done and cooperate with His work of forgiveness in both giving it and receiving it. Of course, it is much easier to experience God’s forgiveness to us but it doesn’t stop there, we need to forgive others.  Yes, we have all been hurt and we have hurt others also.  If we don’t forgive, our hearts get calloused and bitter. In Eph. 4:32 (The Message), Paul says, “Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” When we pray the Lord’s prayer we pray, “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” God forgives us because of His great mercy and we are to pass it on to others. Just think that Jesus forgave those who spit on him, betrayed him, whipped him, crucified him etc. + We are to forgive freely as we have been forgiven. Let us not make excuses, but quickly ask forgiveness of the Lord and also of one another.  I read about Lysa at the close of her article, and she is the mother of 5, NY Times bestselling author, head of Proverbs 31 Ministries etc.; it leads me to believe God has healed her heart.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord if there are people in your life you haven’t forgiven and forgive from your heart.

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a peace-filled weekend. This morning I made a Starch free cake and went to Aldi’s and then to my exercise class. This afternoon we are going to Costco and other errands before our walk in this gorgeous weather. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Perhaps more than ever before we long for peace, not just in our world but peace within ourselves. Jesus has promised His peace that is not dependent on circumstances but found by trusting Him. He said in John 14:27 (God’s Word), “I’m leaving you peace. I don’t give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don’t be troubled or cowardly.” The peace Jesus gives is a gift the world cannot give us. The Message says, “This is my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re use to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.” No, real  peace is from above and available to us as His followers. I was reading from Ann Spangler’s one year devotional and she writes of the Hebrew word for peace, Shalom. It has the meaning of calm, wholeness, wellness, harmony, perfection, safety, completeness, soundness etc. Doesn’t that sound beautiful, especially in our chaotic world right now? How we need shalom and we can have that within, even when the world is full of so much evil. God sent Jesus who sacrificed His life so that we can come to know real peace. He is our peace and when we know Him we can experience peace that is not dependent on what is happening around us. We can ask Him to help us show others as well, the things that make for true peace. Ann quotes Etty Hillesum, who I have written about before; she is the woman who died in a Nazi death camp during World War II. She wrote, “Ultimately, we have just one moral duty; to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will be in our troubled world.” Think of Ann in a death camp and yet had peace in the most adverse circumstance because she had His peace within. In this time of chaos, God’s children should be not be anxious and go about the day full of fear, but rather be lights showing the way to claim His peace in the darkness. We don’t know what is going to happen next, but we do know that God is in control and He is certainly worthy of our trust. The Lord is our light and salvation, we have nothing to fear.

Challenge for today: Memorize Psalm 27:1and carry it in your heart in fearful times. 

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having a good weekend. This morning I cleaned our apartment and made Beef Stroganoff  and took a friend here to the Dollar Store. Another mild day and lovely for a walk. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

How many of us accept suffering as a gift? Really a gift? I’m sure we don’t seek suffering but when it comes our way, do we embrace what it has to teach us or do we quickly try to escape. Most of us would say we like comfort and we are being manipulated today by our love for pleasure and fear of discomfort. It is one of the enemies lies to promise us a life without suffering or any kind of discomfort. Jesus never said that His followers would not suffer and says in Matt. 5:11-12a (ESV), “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for our reward is great in heaven.” God can teach us many things through times of suffering if we are open to its lessons. In Rod Dreher’s book, he said that Jesus doesn’t want admirers but followers. Admirers play it safe and don’t want to make sacrifices but followers want to be like Him and willing to pay the cost, no matter what. It is almost hard to read the accounts of those who have paid the ultimate price. When we think of life under communism, people sent to prison were never returned, children were taken away from parents because of their faith, others endured terrible torture.  Maria Wittner is a national hero for fighting the Soviets when they invaded Hungary. She was a teenager and was arrested and sentenced to death row. Every day there were hangings and miraculously God spared her life. She tells us that if our soul is free there is nothing they can do to us. In the end those who are afraid end up worse than the courageous. Our suffering can have purpose even if we are not aware at the time. It can deepen our love for God and for others, teach us patience and kindness, and help us sense true meaning in life. Suffering refines us and also helps us join with others who have grief, for we understand and know that God is enough.  But we must refuse hatred and leave vengeance up to the Lord. We will live most freely when we bear suffering and pain for Jesus, and do not run from it but accept it as God’s severe mercy. Let us live in truth no matter what the cost.

Challenge for today: Embrace suffering as a friend and as a gift that has things to teach you.

Dear Ones,

Hope you have a good weekend wrapped in His peace! This morning I made egg dishes and went downstairs for coffee. It’s been a while. Ann came and we had a good visit before she went shopping.  I am a little sore today from my strength building class yesterday but I aim to go again! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Are we known as great lovers…lovers of God, lovers of others and even lovers of ourselves in the Lord? Jesus told us in I John 13:34-35 (God’s Word), “I’m giving you a new commandment; Love each other in the same way that I have loved you. Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other.” Jesus didn’t say just love those that agree with you, those that bless you and are kind to you and speak well of you. No, He includes those that persecute us, speak evil of us, and hate us. That is a tall order and we can only do this with the same love He loves us. Today it is so sad to see hate messages on Facebook from Christians who are the very ones called to love and bless others. The enemy rejoices when he sees churches divided, friends separated and families split. Satan has already won if we base our love for others on how well they treat us or if we are in agreement. No, we are told, “Let all be done in love.” That means feeding our enemy, not rejoicing when they fall, repaying evil with good, and blessing our enemies and praying for them. What would happen in our families and our country if we did this… a revival may break out! It is not our place to destroy others. Jesus didn’t retaliate in return for the evil done to Him but He entrusted himself to God who judges rightly. Whatever happens we can give it over to the Lord and let Him right the wrongs. One friend told me recently she almost quit going to church because of the hateful bashing by one of the members. That is a dangerous place to be as the enemy gets a foothold in our lives and evil takes over. So sad as we should be examples of those who love as Jesus did. Do we dare pray that the Lord would convict us of times we have wanted to get back at our enemies and wanted to even the score? Let us humble our hearts and ask Him to remove hateful thoughts and fill us with His unconditional love that brings blessings to others.

Challenge for today: Spend some time letting the Holy Spirit search your heart, repent and fill you to overflowing with His love. 

 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

How does God’s presence manifest in our lives each day? Do we pray and then do as we please, or do we live our prayers and bring His presence to others? Sometimes just a smile or word of encouragement can change the day for someone when we respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. I was reading about Thomas Edison who was the greatest inventor of all with 1,093 patents including electric light and power, phonographs, telegraph and telephone etc. He didn’t question if something could be done but always sought to see how it was done. One would have thought he excelled in school and was in a gifted class. But that is not the case. He was the 7^th child in the family and had a hearing problem, which made it difficult for him in school. In fact, when he was 12 years old, his teacher sent home a note for his mom that said, “Your son is addled (mentally ill) and we will not let him attend our institution any longer.” Young Thomas was told not to look at the note but to give it to his mom. When she opened it up, she began weeping and told her son that the school felt he was so smart that there weren’t teachers good enough to teach him and he should learn at home. And that is what his mom did; she began teaching him and encouraging him each day. Thomas felt she was so sure of Him that he didn’t want to disappoint her. Rather than his mom seeing him as one who was dumb and psychotic, she chose to see him as a gifted child and he was. Later in life when she died Thomas found the teacher’s note buried in her closet and read what it really said. He sobbed as he realized what his mom had done for him. Now that is an extraordinary example of how our lives affect others, but each of us can express God’s love to others each day in numerous ways when we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading. The beloved disciple said in I John 4:12 & 16 (God’s Word), “If we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us… We have known and believed that God loves us. God is love. Those who live in God’s love live in God, and God lives in them.”  Love is a choice and an action, and not just a feeling we get. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to love and display God’s love to others. May we live out His love in our lives and reflect it to the world around us. The choice is ours!

Challenge for today: Thank the Lord for His love for you, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you share  that love with others.

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having a peace filled day. This morning I made our favorite bars and some veggie dishes and went to my exercise class. Al has his computer back already and is up and running.  We got just the right Geek as he went right to work on it and had it done in 3 hours. PTL! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Know the times! We are in a new time in our culture and we have not experienced anything like this before. We need the Holy Spirit to help us discern the times and to know what the Lord is saying to us.  The other morning, I woke up and saw that the bedroom clock showed it was 4 o’clock, the time I usually get up. So, I began having my devotions and after an hour, I went to the kitchen to put Al’s egg dish in the oven etc. Before long Al got up and asked me what I was doing making noise at 4 am in the kitchen! I thought it was 5, but then remembered our bedroom clock had been unplugged for a while the night before and not set right. I couldn’t believe I got up at 3 a.m. and was all ready for the day. I was not aware of the correct time!  More importantly we need to know God’s time, how to interpret the spiritual signs of our time and to have discernment. Jesus told the Pharisees and Sadducees that came to test Him that they knew the physical signs of the weather by the color of the sky, but they didn’t know how to interpret the signs of the times. Apart from the Lord we cannot really know either. In the Old Testament Daniel knew he needed God’s wisdom, and when he prayed, he was given wisdom to know the times that saved not only his life but that of all the wise men. He said in Daniel 2:20-22 (God’s Word), “Praise God’s name from everlasting to everlasting because He is wise and powerful. He changes times and periods of history. He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who have insight. He reveals deeply hidden things. He knows what is in the dark, and light lives with Him.”  We need to be awakened and to get discernment as to the times of our day. Only the Holy Spirit can interpret for us what is really going on behind the scenes and how we are to react and respond. May our prayer be as Paul prayed in Phil. 1:9-11, “I pray that your love will keep on growing because of your knowledge and insight. That way you will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. Jesus Christ will fill your lives with everything that God’s approval produces. Your lives will then bring glory and praise to God.”

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord for discernment to know the times!