Canaan's Rest

Canaan’s Rest represents a quiet place “set apart” for the purpose of hearing God's voice, growing in intimacy with the Lord, and being renewed in soul and spirit.

Category: Whispers (Page 47 of 161)

April 13, 2024

April 13, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a wonderful weekend and use the opportunities the Lord sends your way! I plan to clean the apartment and go to a baby shower at church for 3 gals who chose to keep their babies. PTL!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I don’t like waste and it is hard for me to throw away things that others can use. I love that where we live, if we don’t need an item, we simply put it on a give-away table where others may claim it as a treasure. Or if I have too much fruit or veggies that are ripening, I just hang a bag of them on a doorknob of someone who I know is glad to receive them. Even Jesus when He fed the 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish, didn’t waste the 12 baskets of leftovers, but had them collected.

But more importantly than physical waste is a wasted life of time, talents, health, energy, etc. that God has given us. He has put gifts in each of us but if we just let them lay dormant and fail to use them, they are wasted. Many people get to the end of their lives and wish they had made better decisions and didn’t base their careers on money but rather followed what they really found joy in doing. Other people wasted their physical bodies by taking drugs and doing many harmful things to their body. Then one day, they reap and are sorry but have to live with the consequences. Something we may all be guilty of is wasting time as we go to Facebook and scroll down or play one game after another, and soon realize how much time has passed. We also have all wasted money on things we buy and never use, or things we can’t wait to get so end up paying additional interest.

Let us not get preoccupied with lesser things than what God has for us. The enemy wants to get us distracted and lose sight of what is most important. We need to be focused and pay attention to how the Lord is leading us. It means often saying no to other things that eat up our time rather than pursuing the Lord. God can do great things through ordinary people if we put Him first; just like the disciples who were simple fishermen, tax collector, etc. but did extraordinary things. Let us use the opportunities the Lord gives us and not waste the gifts He has given.

Challenge for today: Say no to waste and instead seek what is most important and use what God has given you.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

April 12, 2024

April 12, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! The weeks go so fast and here it is Friday already! Today I plan to study, shop and to work in the kitchen; Al has been enjoying my new recipes but not all will be made again.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I was fortunate to be raised in a church that helped in the support of many missionaries. When they were home on furlough they spoke at church and Bible camp and showed us a whole world that was not like ours.  Growing up we had a big map of the world on our dining room wall, with markers on various countries of missionaries we were familiar with and prayed for daily. At one point when I was quite young, we had 2 missionaries from China stay with us for 6 months in our two-bedroom home with already 5 people living.

 At an early age I learned that Jesus was for all people of the world and all colors, and not just those who were like me. They didn’t all speak the same or look like us and some taught us Swahili words as we tried singing in another language. It was similar when I got married and our parsonage was often frequented by missionaries who had exciting stories to tell our kids as well. I think the  Bible smuggler that stayed with us was their all-time favorites!

But through our experiences we came to understand that the Body of Christ is rich and made up of many different kinds of people whose common denominator is Jesus. Even when we can’t understand their language we still seem to communicate in the spirit. God’s mercy is so vast and extends to all the corners of the earth. While reading the book of Jeremiah, I noted Jeremiah gave messages from the Lord to 10 different nations. It doesn’t matter where we come from, we are all in need of the Lord and once we receive Him, we are to share Him with whoever He leads us to for “God so loved the whole world.” (John 3:16) Let us not just huddle with people similar to us, but open our hearts and let them be stretched to include all.

Challenge for today: When noticing someone who seems on the fringes, invite them in and share your common need of the Lord.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

April 11, 2024

April 11, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you say yes to all that the Lord has for you in this day. Al is off to Men’s group and later we have Bible study. I am making a new recipe again today, and hope it is good. It is also Donut Day here!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Do we live each day by faith? That doesn’t mean just believing in Christ as our Savior but also times He may ask us to take a step forward into something new He has for us, even though we don’t know what will happen. Today I read from Hebrews 11:8 of Abraham who it says, “by an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going.” He took a risk but obeyed and went in obedience. Sometimes God gives us a special sense that we are to do something, and it may not make sense to us. We will find that we will experience joy if we act in obedience and live life with a sense of excitement, because we don’t know yet what God has in His plans. It’s somewhat like walking in just enough light to see a path, but not knowing where it is taking us. But we know we can trust the One who is the Light.

What we must not do is to remain passive and refuse to respond to His promptings. We have all met Christians who were saved years ago but have not grown spiritually through the years. They are asleep and miss maturing in their spiritual lives. I believe in our day, that is an especially dangerous place to be as our culture gets darker as it resists God’s ways. We are told to be alert, active, give attention, and be persistent.  We are going to have to choose if we go along with the world, or if we will take our stand for the Lord. Will we be complacent or will we be passionate and progress in our walk with the Lord.

We need to exercise our faith as Abraham did and respond without knowing what the purpose of our circumstances my be at the time. But we can pray, seek His will, and choose now what will turn out for our good later. I just think back on all the moves we have made as a pastor’s family. We never knew when the Lord was going to move us on to another church, but knew He would take care of us and bless us. If we had stayed put, we would have missed so much, and never known the special people He has brought into our lives etc. Let us live with faith and openness to what the Lord has for us next.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to help you move forward into all He has planned for you.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 10, 2024

April 10, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a “practical day”, doing what God directs you to do! I plan to go to exercise class, crafts and Bible study and also try out new recipes. Al is only too happy to be the taster! Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Would you say you are a practical person… efficient and quick and know how to get things done? Eugene Peterson writes about how what is biblical and practical are essentially synonymous. If it is Biblical, it is practical and if it is practical, it is biblical. I had never thought about it before but even though we may be super-efficient, if it is not Biblical, we waste much time in things that are not lasting and lead us away from God.

When I read about Jeremiah, I see that he was very practical but if seen from the world’s perspective, it may seem he was very impractical. God told him to buy a field on land that was going to be taken over by the enemy and he and others of his people were going to go into exile. Those looking on must have thought Jeremiah was crazy and totally impractical to buy that field, but he was following what God told him to do. God was using his life as an outward picture of hope to the people that they would one day come back to their land. Judgement was coming to them for they had forgotten God, but He was calling them back.

   God is the most important reality, and our lives were made to live in relationship with Him. If God tells us to do something, then the most practical thing is to do it. If we live apart from God, we wander about and waste our lives.  Sometimes what God asks us to do seems impractical and foolish to those looking on, but if we obey Him when we feel He is the one directing us, then we are doing the most practical thing of all. In Jer. 32:27, God confirms His direction to Jeremiah and says, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?”  Jeremiah is filled with hope that the people will one day come back to their land. There are times I also ask God to confirm what I think I am supposed to do, and I love when He lets me know in the most unusual ways at times. Let us all live practically for Him and never lose hope.

Challenge for today: Listen to the Lord for direction and go His way and watch Him act.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 9, 2024

April 9, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you wake to a day of openness to the Lord and seeing ways change may be needed. A question for you today, “Has the Lord been trying to get your attention on something in your life that you have been blind to but now needs to be delt with?”
Later today we are invited to friends for a time of fellowship.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  How many times do we mistakenly think that we are responsible for our spiritual growth and we often try by our will power to change in areas that we see the need.   We may read lots of books of how to grow spiritually and try to follow steps that are often simply self-help, leaving us still in charge. But it doesn’t work that way when we take control, and we will end in frustration. The secret is that our spiritual formation is a work of the Spirit, and we need to get out of the way so the Spirit can do His work in us. Jesus says we must become like children and as we do that, we hear the stories in scripture and let the Spirit work on us.
  I was recently reading the World Mission Prayer League’s newsletter and the Director writes about his experience when an Executive Coach came to assess how he was doing his job. He writes he was partially looking forward to hearing how well he was doing but also areas he needed to improve. We all have blind spots where we are not seeing ourselves realistically. He saw things that needed to be corrected, like judgmental attitudes and making assumptions etc. We all need to be open to our blind areas if we want to grow in the Lord and get along well with others in community. As we see these areas that limit our freedom, we can humbly ask The Lord to work the changes in us.
  It’s important that we don’t reject the work of the Holy Spirit but let Him have free reign. Can we be brave enough to pray as Mary spoke to the angel after receiving the news about bearing the Son of God, “Let it be done unto me according to your word.” Often the Holy Spirit’s work is underground, and we may not be aware of what He is doing at the time and how He is changing us. But God is in the details and will bring the needed change in us if we are open. He will also help us to love others where they are at, and we will open our hearts to them without judgment. Let us cooperate with the Spirit and not reject what He will do in us.
  Challenge for today: Quit trying so hard to grow and simply drink in the Word and let the Holy Spirit do a work in you.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 8, 2024

April 8, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you had a wonderful weekend. Everything got a good soaking rain and wiped out any traces of snow. This morning, I plan to make Oh Henry bars and go to my exercise class etc.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Have you experienced a time of renewal in your life when you were filled with the joy of the Lord that seemed to just overflow and sensed His love in a deep way? I am reading in II Chronicles lately and I felt joyful just reading about what happened to the people when Hezekiah became king of Israel after they had endured years of cruel King Ahaz who had even shut up the house of the Lord. In chapter 29 King Hezekiah comes on the scene and everything changed for he opened the doors of the temple, had it cleansed and repaired and resumed the sacrifices. He offered bulls and rams and lambs and goats for the priests to sacrifice and called the people to come and celebrate the Passover. The Levites had cymbals, harps, and lyres and the singers sang praises and trumpets sounded as people bowed down in worship. What a glorious praise service! People’s hearts were touched and they brought offerings with glad and willing hearts. They didn’t want it to end and the Passover was resumed for another week as they feasted and made confessions and gave thanks to the Lord for another 7 days. While on their way to their homes again they must have had so much to share about their renewing time of worship of the Lord.
  Do we expose ourselves to times of going apart and seeking the Lord? We may have all read of the revival that took place at Asbury College as the Holy Spirit was poured out on those present in chapel and went on for days and days. Even when the revival services were later shut down and school life resumed, revival broke out at Baylor University and Louisiana State University, Texas A&M University etc.  Revival is a sovereign move of God and brings repentance and change to hearts and a passion for the Lord. Jesus is front-center and believers have a hunger for the Word and a passion to see others won to the kingdom. Joy is found in meeting together in worship and praise and it is evident God is moving by His Spirit.
  Let us pray for revival for our country as it is in a mess and needs God; even the church needs renewing and lives that aren’t compromised to the world.
  Challenge for today: Pray for revival in America and that your own heart would be renewed.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

April 6, 2024

April 6, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
May you wake to a day of intentionally giving your attention to the Lord.
Grandson Paul came for supper last night and good to catch up with him. I hope to make stroganoff and cookies and clean etc. today. We’ve had such beautiful days for spring walks.
  As I read through the book of Jeremiah, I see what a prophet of prayer he was. He didn’t just preach to the people about God, he himself, prayed and poured out his heart to God. He tells God what is going on inside of him and listens to God speak. I read Eugene Peterson’s book on Jeremiah, “Run with the Horses”, and he says, “Prayer is the act in which we approach God as a living person, a thou to whom we speak, not an it that we talk about… Prayer is the desire to listen to God firsthand, to speak to God firsthand, and then setting aside the time and making arrangements to do it.”
  How important is the Lord in our life? Does He get our full attention or is he only on the periphery? We have only to observe two people having lunch together at a restaurant and one is continually reading the texts on their phone while the other person, sits there wishing for some heart-to-heart conversation. One time Al and I made a scheduled visit to a couple in our church and when we got there, she was in the middle of baking cookies for us and gave attention not to burn them. When finally done the phone rang and her husband spent the majority of the time casually talking to the person on the other end. We said, since you’re so busy why don’t we come back another time, but they responded that their life was always like that. We wondered did they ever have some face-to-face talk with one another. I think we have probably all done that with the Lord where we are so pre-occupied that He gets only our partial attention.
  Jeremiah was so real with the Lord and he talks to him when he was hurt and lonely, terrified and angry, His life was often at stake as people who didn’t like his message plotted to kill him. I imagine he had some desperate prayers and wanted God’s full attention. I think we could all admit that often our prayers are one-sided with only partial attention on our part but the Lord not only listening to our words but reading our hearts. Let us be honest and authentic with the Lord and give Him our best.
  Challenge for today: Spend 10 minutes in quiet today, just focused on the Lord and sharing your heart.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

April 5, 2024

April 5, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Happy Weekend! Hope you enjoy some time to get refreshed. I plan to do some, studying, baking and maybe a movie.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  How free do we live? Do we speak freely, act freely and enjoy a rich life? Instead of trying to fit into the culture and speaking their lingo and buying what things are “in”, are we enjoying life lived by faith in the One who loves us most? That may involve suffering and death to our own ego but when we submit to the Lord, we are set free from trying to please others and being controlled by their opinions.
  I memorized a verse from Gal.2:20 when I was a young girl, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me. And the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of Man who loved me and gave His life for me.” When we are crucified with Christ, it means we die to our own way, and choose to go God’s way. Paul said that he gloried in the cross by which the world has been crucified to him, and him to the world. God does for us, what we cannot do, and we willingly respond. What results is a life well lived in freedom.
   We need to be willing to die to our own selves and all our earning attempts of keeping the rules, and instead receive what God does which will bring freedom. For after death is resurrection life that is free and beautiful and lived by faith. We can respond with living deeply and freely for Him and for others as we embrace the cross. Our life becomes one of joy in the Holy Spirit, liberty, and enjoyment of the Lord, as we live freely forever In Him.
  Challenge for today: Be willing to die daily and then live in freedom with resurrection power.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

April 4, 2024

April 4, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a good day with a heart of thankfulness for how God made you. Al has men’s group and I plan to cook and make up my own recipe, so hope it turns out.Emoji  Later we have our Bible study and then a few places to go.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  We can all make plans, and it is good to be organized and make plans each day, but we have to hold them loosely and make sure they are what God has planned for us. Our desire is to be for His purposes to be fulfilled each day in our lives. Sometimes He surprises us and our day doesn’t turn out anything like we expected or anticipated. He may add things or remove things but it’s good when we welcome whatever He sends. Psalm 16 has some things to say about our plans and we are told in verse 3 to “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” When we put everything into His hands, He will establish our steps, (Verse 9) and His purposes will be fulfilled.
  Tuesday, I had my day planned out for me and after Women’s Bible Study at church, my plans went out the window. I got a call from the dentist that they had a sudden opening in an hour and a half later and it was mine if I wanted it. Yes, I was to get my implants and loved that I didn’t have to wait any longer and I was at there with bells on! Of course, there are other days when our fine laid plans are interrupted in a negative way, like when we may be about to go home, and the boss puts a pile of papers on our desk that we have to take care of first. We have to adjust, and we need to expect the unexpected things that may happen in our day. Even when we have a tight schedule it is good to schedule in some time for some breathing room and not have to break the speed limit to get somewhere on time.
   We are all different and designed by the Lord. Some of us like to be quick to get to our work and others tend to procrastinate. If we do things right away and not last minute, we will have greater peace and actually more time to accomplish our work. Being organized and not cluttered will also help us accomplish more. Decluttering our homes gives us more space and with it, greater peace. May we trust the Lord to guide us to be and do what He wants us to and accomplish His purposes.
   Challenge for today: Thank the Lord for how He has created you and ask Him to guide you into His plans for your life.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 3, 2024

April 3, 2024 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a day filled with peace and hope. My day is chuck full of activities of shopping, exercise, crafts, Bible study etc.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We’ve all probably heard someone say, “He’s blind as a bat!” and it could mean he physically can’t see without glasses, or he is unable to recognize problems that may be clear to others. Many have to live with physical blindness and yet go through life with great spiritual sight; and there are those who see but are blind spiritually, which is far worse.

 Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:17-18) is, “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Him, so that, the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance among the saints.”. We can make this be our prayer as well, that our spiritual eyes would be open, and we would understand and discern the things of the Lord. The world walks in darkness and is blind to the things of the Lord and doesn’t accept them. They seem foolish to them and how can we expect them to understand if they are blinded.

Paul Baloche had his eye on the priesthood but for a time wanted to be a rock musician. But while at a conference the Lord spoke to his heart by the message, “It’s not about money, it’s about Jesus!” He was converted and would journal and then wrote many songs from the prayers he had written in his journal. One such song that was playing in my mind today is, ”Open the eyes of my heart, Lord/ Open the eyes of my heart/ I want to see You/ I want to see You/ to see you high and lifted up/ Shinin’ in the light of your glory/ pour out your power and love/ as we sing holy, holy, holy/ Open the eyes of my heart, Lord” etc.

When the eyes of our heart are flooded with light, we see clearly what He calls us to do, we can understand more the greatness of His power and have hope.

Challenge for today: Put Eph. 1:17-18 in your own words and pray it with meaning.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

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