Category: Whispers (Page 154 of 165)

November 27,2020

November 27, 2020 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Today is another sunny beautiful day and makes it enjoyable to walk the trail. This morning I made egg dishes and cleaned the apartment and finished decorating.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I woke early Thanksgiving morning and began remembering the many blessings that have poured down upon me throughout my life and gave thanks. I rehearsed in my mind of the evening before at our Thanksgiving service when Pastor gave time for people to go to upfront and share what they were most thankful for. It was not so much for the physical gifts given us that people spoke of, but mostly for what Jesus has done. One man said he disagreed with apostle Paul who said he was chief of sinners, for he felt like he was; he was so grateful for the gift of forgiveness. It is a most precious gift for we are all in need of forgiveness daily and Jesus paid a tremendous price for all those who are willing to confess their sins and seek His forgiveness. Since that is so, why do we hang on to our sins and refuse to give them up? Today, some pastors don’t even use the word sin, but instead shortcomings and mistakes; but the truth is we all sin throughout our day and need to let go of them in confession and experience forgiveness and cleansing. I remember when I was growing up that we had a clothes chute that went from a little door in the bathroom down to the basement into a closet where they could be taken out and washed. Whatever we put in the chute, we had to let go of; but every now and then, we went downstairs and retrieved something that we wanted to wear again before it got washed. Sometimes sins are much like that for we confess something we have done or said but then hang on to it with feelings of justification that maybe others were more at fault. It doesn’t matter who is most or least at fault for we have to let it go down the chute. When we humble ourselves and ask forgiveness of the Lord and others, we sense a lightness, cleanness, and freedom. In Prov. 28:13 (The Message), it says, “You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.” Let us abandon our sins and let go of them that we may receive mercy and forgiveness.

Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any sins you are hanging onto and let them go down the chute of forgiveness.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Novemeber 25, 2020

November 25, 2020 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

A blessed Thanksgiving whenever you celebrate. So many plans have been canceled but our hearts still give thanks to the Lord. I heard from Taylor today who many of you have prayed for and she and her boyfriend have COVID and quite sick. This morning I made a meatloaf for our lunch and a pie for tomorrow. This afternoon we have errands to do and also ice cream treat at Culver’s drive up. Tonight is the Thanksgiving service at church but no pie afterwards like years past.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

How do we care for our soul as well as our body? I get e-mails daily about health concerns and ways to detox and to take good care of our body etc. I was fascinated when Craig Groeschel wrote about Soul Detox and how important that is for all of us. Just as we wouldn’t knowingly physically swallow poison, why would we consume hazardous poison to our soul? Everything we allow into our minds has an impact on us and will affect our souls. It’s important to identify lies that we have grabbed hold of especially from our culture that lead us away from God; then we need to replace them with the truth of what God says. Just like our bodies need detoxing, we need to clean our thoughts of what is unhealthy and focus on how God sees things. Craig tells us to choose positive words that create and heal and avoid negative words that destroy. Sometimes we need to analyze words that others have said about us and ask God if they are true. It’s important to deal with our hidden sins and confess them to the Lord and seek forgiveness. If there is bitterness and unforgiveness we need to get rid of it for it is toxic to our souls. Envy of others has to also go, and instead of comparing, thank the Lord for what He has blessed us with. When anger bubbles up, we need to listen before responding and deal with anger productively, not destructively. If we are plagued with fear, we need to break free by trusting the Lord more deeply. Or if we are surrounded by toxic influences like unhealthy people, materialism, media etc. we need to separate from such things and spend time in ways that lead us back to the Lord. Just as it is Thanksgiving tomorrow, let us start today in giving thanks with grateful hearts. Let our mindset be on His goodness to us for as we do this it is as a cleansing flow through our souls. Like wise King Solomon said in Proverbs 3 (The Message), “Trust God from the bottom of your hearts…Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go…Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! “Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal toxic influences in your life and be willing to detox.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

November 24, 2020

November 24, 2020 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Devotions from Judy’s heart

It seems there is so much fear in the hearts of many as we wonder if we could be next to get COVID, if our job will be eliminated, if we can pay the rent etc. Some cannot sleep at night with worry and if we allow ourselves to go down that road in our thinking, we will find it comes to a dead end. But like I read today the Psalmist asks in Psa.49, “Why should I fear in times of trouble?” If we know the Lord, we need to ask ourselves the question of why we should be afraid when the God of the universe who made us is able to care for us and see us through this crisis. In the next Psalm 50 the Psalmist begins by calling God the Mighty One, God the Lord, and in verses 14-15(ESV) says, “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” We have an abundance of promises that can help us attack fear and not let it take over in our lives. Our strength is in the Lord and not in ourselves and during this time of the virus, we are seeing how our lives are in His hands and not our control. One friend e-mailed me that she is at peace during this Covid time. She had spent some time alone with the Lord and concluded that there were two possible outcomes. One that she might get the virus and recover or the other that she would go home to Jesus. She said that either way sounded like a “win” to her. She went on to say that she looked forward to the possibility of death, not necessarily with longing or any immediate desire, but knowing that her joy in the Lord would be complete. For all of us like the Psalmist we can offer to God the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. I am reminded of a chorus I learned years ago and a pastor recently had his congregation sing it over and over. “We bring the sacrifice of praise unto the House of the Lord. (4x) And we offer up to you the sacrifices of Thanksgiving; and we offer up to you the sacrifices of joy.” When we feel down and worrisome, then it is a sacrifice to praise the Lord; but we become that sacrifice if we do it anyway. Let us not give way to fear but offer a sacrifice of praise to Him who is worthy of our worship and praise.

Challenge for today: Spend some time just worshiping and praising the Lord and release your fears to Him.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

November 23, 2020

November 23, 2020 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a wonderful weekend. The sun is shining and looks to be a beautiful day. One pastor suggested we have a Thanksgiving week and begin today making a Thanksgiving list by writing down things each day we are thankful for. I started mine and hope you will too.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I think we would all agree that the darkness is getting darker in our world right now. More than ever before we see evil blatantly parading around and not just lurking in the corners. We have read this would happen but somehow it seems to have grown darker so quickly. More than ever before, as Christ’s followers, it is time to rise and let our lights shine! Kris Vallotor writes about how light and darkness cannot cohabit. If light is increased in a room it can’t get simultaneously darker unless the light is shielded with something. Light needs to be put in the highest visible places and not hidden. Over the past weekend, our son was at the Silver Chateau with 3 friends, putting wood siding on the cabin. He has plenty of lights in the cabin but also powerful outdoor lights. My cousin e-mailed me Saturday night that Kurt’s lights were lighting up the whole lake and she took a picture. (It is attached below) Since the cabin is very close to the water and so many trees are down from the past storm, the lights shine even brighter and also reflect in the water. Everyone on the lake could see the darkness penetrated. It was such a vivid picture to me of the importance of letting our lights shine brightly without being apologetical or hiding in silence when we should speak out, or going along with the worldly crowd. One small light can make a difference in the darkness and cause others to get their bearings and find their way. Let us not get distracted so that our lights grow dim. Also, think of the effect we can have for God’s kingdom when we combine our lights and let them shine together as Kurt with all his lights on. We can make a difference and the stakes are much higher when we think of eternity. We read in Isaiah 60:1-2 (NRSV) the promise to Israel but also to us, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.” May we arise and shine for the Lord is our everlasting light.

Challenge for today: Share the Lord in a new way today with someone who needs the light.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

November 21, 2020

November 21, 2020 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Happy Weekend! Hope you are staying well and at peace. This morning I studied and made Al’s favorite cookies. I can’t share them downstairs as we aren’t allowed to meet now. This afternoon may include a hop over to Kohl’s.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We may not realize the blessings we miss when we think negatively or hang on to our past. I read an article by Lysa TerKeurst who had a painful childhood as her father left their family when she was a young girl. She lived with her aunt for almost a year when things were falling apart. She tells about her aunt’s beautiful rose garden and the rule that she was not to run through it. But one day the thought of those petals just sailing in the air with their fragrance got the best of her and she took a run through the roses. She quickly came to a halt as thorns pierced her legs and blood began pouring down. She felt like that was a picture of her life that had handed her thorns and she was having a hard time seeing the beauty of the roses. Jesus said in Luke 8:14 (God’s Word), “The seeds that were planted among thornbushes are people who hear the word, but as life goes on, the worries, riches, and pleasures of life choke them. So they don’t produce anything good.” Lysa had a choice to make in her life if she would focus on the worries and thorns in her life or the beauty of a flower that would one day be seen. She could dwell on her father’s absence and all the negatives or she could let go and know that God would work it for good in her life. She still hasn’t heard from her dad in 25 years but she is not letting the absence of her dad be her focus. Although she acknowledges the negative, she is dwelling on the beauty of the roses and letting the word take root in her. Just before I read Lysa’s writing, a friend e-mailed of some devastating circumstances in her life. Right now, it’s hard to catch the scent of the roses and seems like the thorns are choking out the beauty of her garden, but one day she will see and smell the beautiful scent. What about us? Do we trust the Lord when we feel like we have been pricked and are bleeding? Let us let go of the negative and remember that one day we will see beauty that was all the while taking place in our transformation process.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you any area that you are focusing on the thorns and to help you smell the roses.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

November 20,2020

November 20, 2020 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying the day. Waiting for the sun to show it’s face but hasn’t happened yet. This morning I made individual egg dishes and cleaned the apartment and studied. Hope to get shopping and a walk this afternoon. Sadly they closed down the community rooms so people can’t meet together as they usually do every day.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Connections are important and we are finding that out more and more, especially during this COVID time. We use to be able to call someone on the spur of the moment to meet for lunch but now we must think first if it is safe or if the restaurant has shut down. We can text and do face time, but it is not the same as getting a hug from a loved one in person. Our son came to see us on his way to the Silver Chateau this week and how much better is that than a text message. We have many inventive ways of staying connected with others but how about our connection with the Lord? We don’t need any electronic devices for we can talk to Him anytime and anywhere and can spend time in His presence at leisure. Just think of how rich our lives can be when we nurture that connection throughout the day, just speaking to the Lord as we do our best friend. We can be ourselves, with honesty and openness about anything and everything. It is so freeing to be able to share whatever is on our hearts and know He completely understands. My Bible opened to Psalm 103 today and in David’s words I was reminded of all that He has done for us….”He is the One who forgives all your sins, the one who heals all your diseases, the One who rescues your life from the pit, the One who crowns you with mercy and compassion, the One who fills your life with blessings so that you become young again like an eagle…He is compassionate, merciful, patient, and always ready to forgive.” And so much more! David concludes with a heart full of praise. How can our lives be more like that, telling the Lord everything and letting our hearts spill over with praise? When we ask the Lord to be the center of our lives, and not just on the periphery, we can speak to Him from our hearts all the time. We can be open and tell Him our frustrations, our sorrows and pains, and we can ask Him for whatever we need at the time. So often Jesus asked others before He healed them, “What would you like me to do?” We also, can be specific with the Lord and share all our needs and then trust that He will do for us what is best. Let us connect with Him all throughout our day and then not forget to praise Him from a heart of love and gratitude.

Challenge for today: Begin your day telling the Lord you love Him and want to connect throughout the day.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

November 19, 2020

November 19, 2020 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope your day is filled with peace. The house is filled with aroma as I made stew in the crockpot this morning. We enjoyed helping last night at the Soup Kitchen and each car was given a box and two big bags of food that was put in their trunks. Other workers served hot soup to them right at their car windows. So many needy people and so many opportunities for us all to be His hands and feet.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

None of us know how much time we will have here on earth and we must make the most of our days. When I sent out my devotional yesterday and shared about how we look at death, I did not know that it would be my aunt’s last day on earth. In the afternoon her daughter who has been lovingly caring for her texted me that it would be a good time to pray for her. Since my aunt had many coming to say their good-byes, we didn’t want to interrupt those times, so Terry would let me know when the time was good. I usually asked the Lord to lead me to a scripture to give to Marcia before I called and yesterday it was clear to me that I should share Psalm 23 which is often said at funerals. After giving the Psalm, both Al and I prayed for her and we were aware that her time was near. Later last night I got a call from her daughter, that her mom was now with the Lord. We talked about her life and heaven and although sadly we will no longer be with my aunt here on earth, she is in her eternal home. We are left with wonderful memories and her example that will live on. Growing up I spent a lot of time with her and always felt she believed in me and anticipated the best in me. I will remember her as one who loved well, was warm hearted and filled with kindness, accepted others where they were at, and a bringer of encouragement. She practiced what Paul wrote about in Eph. 4:32 (God’s Word),” Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.as God in Christ has forgiven you.” There was no generation gap for her as she loved the smallest to the oldest and related to them. She was around others at Assisted Living who were afraid of death but she often told us she was not afraid to die for she would be with the Lord and loved ones. My aunt’s life was lived in love and ended well and I ask the question, what will others remember of us? We have only one life to live and will it be lived in sharing God’s love with others, helping them to find the Way while there is still time, and serving in the many ways He prompts us. Let us use each day as an opportunity to love the Lord more intimately and extend His kingdom.

Challenge for today: Say YES to whatever you feel God is nudging you to do today and do it with His love!

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

November 18, 2020

November 18, 2020 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Devotions from Judy’s heart

We will not live forever! We all know we will die someday but nearly everyone tries to avoid this truth and does many activities to prolong life as long as possible. Just think of all the advertisements that tell us about a magic drug, a workout regimen, or right diet that will help us live longer. I read an article by Todd Billings who wrote, “The End of the Christian life.” He says we should stop waging war against mortality and instead learn to embrace and give thanks for our finitude. We may assume that if we don’t think about the end, we will be more content in the present. But Billings says, “As strange as it seems coming to terms with our limits as dying creatures is a life-giving path.” Right now, my 94 year old aunt is getting ready to go home and family is surrounding her and saying their good byes. It makes death more real to me as well. As we prayed for her, I could only imagine that thin veil that lies between this life and the life to come, and soon she will be with the Lord. It happens that most of us make efforts to avoid thinking about death until a loved one is dying or a pandemic happens. All of a sudden, we see clearly that we are not in control and gain a new perspective on our present life. Billings has had to also face death himself as he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at 39 that is incurable. He asks in his book if death is an enemy or a friend, and he responded by saying both. The apostle Paul wrote of death as our last enemy but it is also our friend for as we accept our death, it becomes an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord. We are in a culture that denies death but as Christians what is ahead and waiting for us, makes everything else pale. Our life doesn’t end in death but goes on for all eternity. As David prayed in Psalm 23(ESV), “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me….and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” The best is yet to come so let us not live under the fear of death but count it as a gift.

Challenge for today: Spend some time reading scriptures about heaven.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

November 17,2020

November 17, 2020 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying this beautiful sunny day. I was able to take off my bandage today and was shocked by how it looked…I have a long way to go for healing. I sent in 2 required pictures to my Dr. and she later called and said my nose is healing as expected.

will have to keep it covered for a while. This morning I baked starch free cookies and went to Aldi’s. Do pray for my aunt as she is getting nearer to the end. My cousin held the phone up to her ear last night and we prayed for her and will continue.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I just finished reading Harbinger II by Jonathan Cohn and wish you could all read it to help make sense of what is happening in our country today that lines up with scripture. We are experiencing exactly what God said would happen if we continue in our ways that violate His commands. Way back in April 30, 1789, after George Washington was inaugurated, he dedicated our nation to God and then said, “that the blessings of God would never remain on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.” As we all know our nation has disobeyed what God commands and seems to be in a similar place as the Israelites in the Old Testament. God sent judgment upon them to try to turn them back to Him from the worship of idols and sacrificing their children etc. Sadly, America has killed 60,000,000 babies which is unimaginable, and their blood does not go unrecognized by God. Just as Jeremiah prophesied the coming of pestilence and plague, it is likewise happening to us right now. Cohn describes us as a proud and defiant nation that seems to have lost all sense of right and wrong. God is calling our nation to return. Our only hope is found as it says in II Chron7:14 (ESV), “If my people who are called my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, Then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.” When our country was torn up in Civil War, President Lincoln set forth a day of prayer on April 30,1863, in hope that prayers would be heard, that God would pardon our national sins, and that restoration would begin for our divided country. The very next day on May 1, 1863 the turning point of the war took place! Doesn’t that sound like what we need now? Prayer changes things and we have been given so many warnings and signs that we need to repent and turn back to God. Our days are numbered. Let us return to Him and pray America’s lamp will burn brightly again with the fire of God.

Challenge for today: Spend some time in prayer for our nation to return to God.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

November 16, 2020

November 16, 2020 / Judy Hendrickson / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a great weekend. It is nice to be inside looking out on fresh snow we had this morning. I like to cook and bake on snowy days and made 3 G.F. spaghetti pies this morning. I also wrapping a few prizes. Tomorrow I get to take my big nose bandage off and wash my hair!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Are we really grateful or do we take things for granted and become complainers? Isn’t it easy to think of how much better life could be if…we had more money, or if someone treated us better, or if we our circumstances were different? I was reading an article by Sharon Jaynes on how gratitude changes everything! Like Paul said in I Thess. 5:18 (The Message), “Thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” We don’t need to wait until things change in our lives for us to suddenly feel thankful, but we can begin right now by simply giving thanks. It doesn’t have to do with circumstances or feelings; but one thing we will discover is that as we begin to praise Him our gratitude lenses change and we see things from a higher perspective. I love to follow the life of King David as he seemed so real with his feelings and would describe them in detail to the Lord. Often, he was fleeing for his life and even though his circumstances were less then ideal, he would switch over and begin praising the Lord. What resulted was that he begins to feel better, and he remembers God’s power and sees God’s glory shining through his situation. Today I read Psalm 42 and the Psalmist says he wonders if he will make it, and he tearfully tells God how he feels down in the dumps. But after describing his situation he switches gears and said he will fix his eyes on God and begins rehearsing God’s promises and goodness and power. Soon he has a smile on his face and he is full of praise. We also can begin praising God even before our situations get resolved, and even though we don’t know what will happen. When we praise Him for who He is and what He’s done, our picture of Him gets bigger and our problems smaller. Let us be grateful and praise the Lord from whatever place we are in at this moment, for He is worthy of praise.

Challenge for today: Spend some time just thanking God for who He is and His blessings in your life.

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

Category: Whispers (Page 154 of 165)

November 27,2020

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November 24, 2020

November 23, 2020

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