Category: Whispers (Page 165 of 171)

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a good weekend. Our Church Women’s event went well on Saturday and I think everyone enjoyed the teachings, food, and the whole day. Yesterday we went to the cities to see my aunt and it was truly a holy time. You can read more in the devotion today. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

How we live our lives is important to God and to those we leave behind. We can ask ourselves if we will leave footprints of caring and mercy that our loved ones can follow, or are our words simply empty when we don’t live what we profess? My favorite aunt will soon be with the Lord and she is one that has left so many footprints that have influenced my life. I have spent a lot of time with her family as I became a nanny that started when I was only 10 years old; there were only two children then and eventually they had eight. I learned so much from her as we worked side by side and she didn’t seem to get rattled or raise her voice with the kids (both of which I have done!), but seemed to just flow with what was at the time. She loved so well and saw the potential in each of her children as individuals with special gifts. That love spilled out to others old and young, friends and strangers, and whoever God put in her life. We went to see her yesterday and had a precious time sharing with her how much she has meant to us; we also sang How Great Thou Art and I Am the Resurrection and Life, prayed for her and said good bye. I am richer because of my relationship with Marcia and whenever the Lord takes her, she is ready to go to her heavenly home. The way she is facing her death is also a gift as she is not afraid but looking forward to eternity with the Lord and seeing her loved ones. The beloved Disciple, John, tells us in I John 2:5-6 (NRSV), “But whoever obeys His word, truly, in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in Him; whoever says, ‘I abide in Him,’ ought to walk just as He walked.” Let us walk in love as Jesus did and leave footprints behind for those that follow.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to fill you with His love and be an example for others to follow.

Dear Ones,

Hope you will have a good day and aware of God’s presence with you. I am sending this out early today as I will be gone all day to help serve at our  women’s district gathering at church. Al is going to come at the end to help us clean up. Tomorrow we are going to the cities to see my favorite aunt who is slipping away and soon to be with the Lord. Her family is gathering around her and would appreciate prayers as we say our good byes. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

So often when we read the Word, we are given the invitation to go deeper and to give ourselves away. If we respond to the invitation, we find our eyes are opened and our minds and hearts get stretched, and we come to experience a deeper compassion for others. When I was reading Ronald Rolheiser’s book, Sacred Fire, he takes several stories from the Bible where Jesus extends the invitation to us; if we say Yes to it, He will bring us into a deeper maturity. The first story he uses is in Luke 24 when Jesus is on the road to Emmaus with two disciples and they were quite discouraged at the time. Jesus had been crucified, but they didn’t recognize Him after He had been resurrected. They felt downcast and had lost hope as they walked 7 miles away from Jerusalem towards Emmaus. Rolheiser says Jerusalem represents for Luke the faith dream of the disciples, the place where Jesus died, and the church. Emmaus is like the escape, a place of worldly consolation. When the disciples tell their sad story of the crucifixion, Jesus plays naïve and listens to their explanation. Then he takes them from where they are at and helps them integrate their way of seeing things into a vision of faith. Humiliation of the cross is hard for all of us to grasp, and many times we go through the process of crucifixion and resurrection when our hopes seem dashed. How we see God and the church at such times turns many to walk away from the church and lose faith. But when we walk towards the place of consolation, Jesus comes to us in a new deeper way and will help us turn around and go back to Jerusalem. Just like the disciples who said to each other in Luke 24:32 ( God’s Word), “Weren’t we excited when He talked with us on the road and opened up the meaning of the Scriptures for us?” They hurried back to tell the news after Jesus broke the bread and offered it to them and their eyes were opened. It’s important how we recognize Jesus when He comes to us in new ways. We need to have our eyes opened and not have a closed mind set. Jesus doesn’t come to us in only one way that we may have perceived Him as a child. But sometimes we have to let go of our set ways and then receive Him in a deeper way.

Challenge for today: Be open to the new ways the Lord comes to you and go deeper.  

Dear Ones,
Only 45 degrees out today but nice and sunny. I cleaned the apt. and made bars this morning and went to my dermatologist. I had lots of zapping and a biopsy on my nose. I look like Bozo right now and am glad to wear a mask! I will find out in a couple weeks if I need to have surgery on it and would have to go to Bemidji if so. Praying it is not cancer though. I have the Fall Women’s Gathering tomorrow and will try to hide behind a mask. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

If someone were to describe our lives, would they say we are perfect? Probably not! We all have so far to go as we struggle to love other, especially our enemies, or to respond with kindness when someone is cruel to us. Jesus tells us in Matt. 5:48 (EXV), “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Ronald Rolheiser in his book, Sacred Fire, notes that perfect here, is not the Greek word that means flawless or without blemish for none of us could measure up. But it is more like the Hebrew word identified with compassion. We are to be compassionate like our Heavenly Father. His love and compassion are not selective but loves all; and He loves not just when we do things right but even when we are in the wrong. The Father in the story loved the prodigal son who returned, as well as, the older son who was bitter. He wants us to also be “perfect” and show compassion as He does for all. He will help us embrace our differences even in our culture that is so divided right now, and show love. We don’t have to think alike, we don’t all have to be alike, but we are all to be valued. Jesus gave us an example of how to shoe compassion as He humbly took off His outer clothes and picked up a basin and towel and washed His disciple’s feet at the Last supper. Just like Jesus, we must take off our outer clothes and things that divide us and reach across the painful divide. Jesus washed even the feet of Judas who was going to betray Him. Let us not write off our enemies or others who are not like us but rather take up the basin and towel and embrace them with compassion. We can only do that with His power and love.

Challenge for today: Express compassion for someone who is very different from you.

Blessings on your weekend and  prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having a good day. This morning I wrapped prizes and went to church to help set up tables, decorations etc. for our district gathering on Saturday. More are coming than we originally expected and I love the theme: “Contentment in a restless world”.

Devotions from Judy’s heart.

Lord, I am keeping my eyes on you!” I woke up with the words to this song going through my mind. Al and I had watched the presidential debate last night, and as we went to bed I said, “Our only hope is in the Lord!” We have to keep our eyes on Him, our thoughts on Him, and our focus on Him. If we depend on the strength of man, we will certainly come up short; we need God and a heart that seeks Him. One elderly friend told me that a few weeks ago, she ended up in the Emergency room after watching the news. She began hyperventilating and thought she may be having heart problems; she felt awful, and had trouble breathing. After having being checked out by a doctor and having many tests, the Dr. told her that her body was fine but that she needed to quit watching the news. (or only watching ½ hour in the morning) It had caused her so much stress that it was affecting her health. She knows the Lord and it was a reminder to her to get her focus on Him. I have a feeling she is not alone and many others are feeling the stress on their bodies. We need to shift the focus on any man solving our problems and get our eyes on the Lord. David cried out to the Lord and in Psalm 141:8 (The Message) prayed, “But God, dear Lord, I only have eyes for you. Since I’ve run for dear life to you, take good care of me.” David knew where to go with his problems and when we also look to the Lord, we will discover that He is already looking at us. I Peter 3:12 (NRSV) says so, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer.” Let us not worry and stress, but keep our eyes on Him.

Challenge for today: When you begin to worry, turn your eyes to the Lord and ask for His help.

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having a beautiful day. The sun has decided to come out here after a fresh rain. This morning I studied, did food prep and made some chocolate covered raspberries and brought downstairs for coffee time. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart

Isn’t it great when the lost is found? It could be something we have treasured and one day we discover it again in a place we had not thought to look before; or it could be a lost child happily   united with parents again. Recently we met a friend on the Paul Bunyan trail who is from our apartment complex. She was sitting on a bench next to another woman and both of them with big smiles and bearer of good news. They were long- time friends, living near one another and doing things together as families when their kids were young. Over the years they moved and went on with life and lost contact. But on this day, both of them were out for a walk and they came upon each other on the trail. They couldn’t believe it and had to sit down to visit and catch up. What they discovered was that they live close to one another now with only one apartment complex in between that is connected by the trail. They are united again! In a spiritual sense, I was reminded of what can happen to any of us. Though we may start out strong, knowing the Lord as a child, we may gradually fall away in the busyness of life. We get so attached to the things of the world that we forget God and do life on our own. But all the while God is not far away, and may use circumstances in our lives to remind us that He is near and wants a relationship with us. When a sheep is lost, the shepherd will go to great lengths to find the lost one, just as the Lord pursues us. When He finds us, He doesn’t chide us for we know we are the one that has strayed. Jesus said in Luke 15: 5-6 (God’s Word), “When he finds it, He’s happy. He puts the sheep on his shoulders and goes home. Then He calls His friends and neighbors together and says to then, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep!” Just as Jesus finds us and puts us back in the fold again, we are restored into fellowship with Him and others in the sheepfold. Our friend who discovered her friend on the trail was so happy but even more so is the joy in heaven when someone comes back to the Lord.

Challenge for today: Reach out and show God’s love to lost sheep.

Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend! Today I am writing early so I can do some individual e-mails and also get to Aldi’s and my exercise class. Not sure yet if our grandson is stopping by this afternoon too. Have you had time to just enjoy this beautiful Fall? 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Pray, pray, pray! God is calling His people to humble ourselves and pray and return to Him. As a nation we have strayed so far from God and need to become a Christian nation once again under God. I hope many of you that are reading this were able to watch thousands upon thousands of believers gathered in Washington D.C. on Saturday to pray for our nation. Some joined Franklin Graham and made the 1.8 mile prayer walk from the Lincoln Memorial to the steps of the Capital and prayed for spiritual healing. This was not about politics but an outpouring of prayers for our nation to repent and turn back to God. As was said, the best way to battle is not with rocks and stones but on our knees. During the day, we also watched thousands more involved in The Return which similarly was a time of repentance and prayers for our nation. There were many humble and powerful speakers, songs sung, and prayers offered up for all those in government to have wisdom and knowledge. People called on God to be merciful to our nation. turn us back to Him. and heal our land. The apostle Paul says in I Tim. 2:1-3 (The Word), “First of all, I encourage you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions and prayers of thanks for all people, for rulers, and for everyone who has authority over us. Pray for these people so that we can have a quiet and peaceful life always lived in a godly and reverent way. This is good and pleases God our Savior.” A message like this must have been almost shocking to the readers at that time for Nero was emperor and persecution was growing against Christians. But it was a time to pray and there is great power in prayer. Let us remember that it is also a time for us to pray and seek God, for His ear is open to His children and only He can bring the healing.

Challenge for today: Spend some time praying for all those in authority and for God to direct their decisions.

Dear Ones,

Hope you are enjoying your weekend and the beautiful colors of the changing leaves. I cleaned the apartment this morning and we are going out for lunch with friends and to celebrate a birthday. Right now you can go to The return.org and to get in on what is happening in Washington D.C right now.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

I woke early this morning and when I went to my desk to write, I read the words in my notebook. “The time is short!” I take notes as I read from the Word and from other books and sources, and try to discern what God is saying to me each day. Underneath were the words to put God first and let Him dominate my thoughts. He is a living loving presence and deserves all glory. It is not time to be asleep but time to be alert and awake and praying. As we see what is happening all over the world, we are brought to our knees and know how much we need to turn to God, to humble ourselves and to seek Him.  Yesterday we had such a wonderful afternoon, sharing the Lord together with friends and today we will have another chance with other praying friends. I think God is calling us together as His followers to be aware of the times, and to encourage one another to stand together in His power against all the evil that is being unleashed. Our only hope is in the Lord. We are not to be fighting one another as Christians but to join together and to pray and stand against the enemy’s tactics. Today is the Prayer March in Washington D.C. with Franklin Graham and it will be live streamed from the National Mall. It is time to unite as never before and pray, pray, pray. As it says in James 5:16 (NESV), “Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” The results of our prayers are greater than we can imagine because God’s power is infinite.  Let us join with others and be passionate about prayer for the time is short.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to awaken you  and pray for God to turn the hearts of others to Him before it is too late.

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend to you! Seems like the weeks fly past so quickly. Today I studied and made bars and went downstairs for coffee and treats. This afternoon we are invited to friends who live in the woods. We met them on the Paul Bunyan trail some time ago. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Since I sent out yesterday part of a letter to Al when we were young, with his permission I will give you a few of his written words when he was about 21 and writing to me. He was on a team called the “Ambassadors” and over the summer the team went to many Free Lutheran churches from MN all the way out to Washington. Al preached, sang in a quartet, played his accordion and grew a lot spiritually during that time. We only got to see each other one time all summer and that was near Alexandrea so we both wrote letters nearly every day. It was a good way to share our hearts and faith and love for God and each other. He wrote, “’And without faith it is impossible to please Him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. (Heb 11:6)’ I thought this was a very good verse on faith. For everything we receive from God and even the nearness that we have to Him depends upon our relationship to Him. Many times, I feel that I can’t get to God because I sin too greatly. But this is not the way that it should be. No, we should be able to come near to God at all times and it must always be by faith. Also, it is only how much I expect from God that I will actually receive from Him. Oh, how I limit God so often in my Christian life and my close walk with the Lord Jesus.” A couple nights later he wrote “For the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” (I Cor 4:20) Oh how true this is. How we need to have the power of God in our life before we can really be effective for Him. Jesus cannot speak through us until we are in a right relationship to Him. We can do all the talking that we want to, but if we don’t have the power of the Holy Spirit we may as well be talking to the wall.” He closes and asks for prayers for his own life and that he could preach with more freedom and power. I think his summer on the team also prepared him to become a fulltime pastor.

Challenge for today: Refer back to how God has guided your life and give Him thanks.

Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a peace filled day. I baked cookies and Al and I went through old pictures, letters etc. and threw lots out.  You will get a devotional about that today and maybe tomorrow you will something Al wrote to me so long ago. This afternoon I am going to make cards with several others here in our building. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Yesterday Al and I brought home a trunk load of memories from the days before we were even married. Some years ago, we put all our love letters, announcements, pictures etc. in a big old trunk and stored it in the garage at the lake but now it was time to deal with the contents since we have moved. Al and I met at a Bible School in CA and had a four-year courtship before we could get married. (during nurses training we weren’t allowed to get married or it meant getting kicked out.) We wrote lots of letters to one another as we were often separated and I must have been about 19 or so when I wrote the following to him. “For the Spirit that God gave us is no craven spirit, but one to inspired strength, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, but take your share of suffering for the sake of the gospel in the strength that comes from God. It is he who brought us salvation and called us to a dedicated life, not for any merit of ours but of his own purpose and His own grace.” (II Tim 1:7-9) As I was reading Paul’s words to Timothy, I saw the strength that is ours in the Lord. He has given us His Spirit that inspires us to strength, love, and self-discipline, for this power is not in ourselves but only through Him who is so great and far above us. And when I came to the word dedicated, I always have to stop and examine my own life and heart. We are to be dedicated to Christ for a purpose that doesn’t lie in ourselves but to glorify God. I pray that God’s purpose and will may be fulfilled in my life and that I may not fail my Savior.” I go on to say how I thanked the Lord for such a wonderful godly guy whose love in the Lord we shared. We have stacks of letters and most of them are 6 or more pages long, but in the sharing of the Lord, our relationship was built on a solid foundation and just keeps getting better. We pray that for young people today to base their relationship on the Lord!

Challenge for today: Share your love for the Lord with a younger person who God puts in your life.