Category: Whispers (Page 80 of 164)

Dear Ones,

Happy weekend to you! Hope you have a time to get refreshed. Today is Birthday Day here at Northern Lakes so Al and I will be going to Costco when it opens to get the cake. I hope to get the apt. cleaned and soup made and some packing done too. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

    If we are honest, we all long for deep relationships where we feel unconditionally loved and understood. Yet within each of us there will always be a certain sense of loneliness when we realize that no one else is exactly like us, or will fully understand us for we are one of a kind. I am reading a book called True Companions by Kelly Flanagan who is a clinical Psychologist, and he writes how we were created with loneliness and in many ways, we are to befriend that sense for it is part of our humanity and helps us to desire to connect. In fact, it is unhuman to be unlonely for then we would have no need for companionship with others.

    But it does not matter if we have numerous friends, there is still a lone place in each of us that is unknowable to others. Flanagan writes that even though we share 99.9% of our DNA with others we have 3 million different ways we are unique. No other person sees the world around us exactly like we do and we are in essence alone on the inside. When we befriend that loneliness, we go below the surface and become who we were meant to be. In fact, our capacity for love grows when we go to a quiet place below the surface and become present to ourselves and to the Lord. We can be real with Him and rest in the quiet of His presence. Only He can completely relate to our uniqueness for He created us. When we open ourselves to the Lord, whether others are around us or if we are isolated, we know that He is with us as our constant companion.

  I was reading from Psalm 89 today and verses 15-17 (God’s Word) spoke to me. “Blessed are the people who know how to praise you. They walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They find joy in your name all day long. They are joyful in your righteousness because you are the glory of their strength.” In those times we are alone, we are not really alone, for they can be the richest times; for the Lord is our constant companion and our joy and strength is in Him who knows us in completeness.

Challenge for today: Spend some alone time with the Lord and share your heart with Him.  

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you will have a joy-filled day! It is very foggy out my window today and can hardly see the trees and service road. I am doing food prep and right now the house is full of bacon aroma. Al went to Men’s group and later will lead Bible Study. It’s Donut day too!! 

Devotions from Judy’s hear

   How do we wake up each morning? Do we anticipate a busy stressful day or one that is full of joy for all the Lord has waiting for us? I read this morning from Isaiah 61:10(NKJV), “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” What caught attention was that even ahead of time in our day, we can choose to be joyful. Rather than focus on possible problems in our busy day, we can embrace the day with joy, for we know the Lord has things under His control, and we are clothed in His righteousness.

   Where we put our focus is so important. When we think negative thoughts, it is like we get wrapped in a dark cloud and we miss that sweet fellowship with the Lord. But when we wake up with anticipation of the good things the Lord has for us, our hearts are joyful and full of light. The Message translation of Isaiah 61:10a says, “I will sing for joy in God; explode in praise from deep in my soul!”

   Don’t we all want to live life fully, embracing what the Lord has for us? We have only to think of Psalm 23 what David prayed, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..” The Lord is so gracious and good to us, and He pours out His mercy on us. If we want to live fully, let us have grateful hearts and think on what is true, honorable, gracious, good, lovely and worthy of praise. Let us not waste our time on negative, stressful thoughts that cause us to shrink back, but enter each day with anticipation and explode with joy in the Lord. 

Challenge for today: Spend a few moments just thanking the Lord and give Him your day.

Dear Ones,

Hope your day is filled with peace and joy. It looks to be a beautiful sunny day! The house is filled with aroma as I just finished baking choc chip cookies. Soon I am going to my exercise class and then to crafts and tonight to Bible Study.
Devotions from Judy’s hart

  We are told in scripture to be watchful and to be aware for we are all in danger of backsliding in our faith if we do not stay alert spiritually. Most of the time it happens gradually and then one day we realize that we have grown cold in our love for the Lord and we feel distant. When did that happen? Not all at once but slowly we compromised, we spent less time in the Word and shortened our time listening to Him; we got spiritually sleepy.

  We are exhorted to be watchful and Paul says in I Cor. 16:13 (Message), “Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.” That doesn’t sound like someone that is falling asleep spiritually.

   Recently, I had a sinus problem and gradually felt worse, especially after being outdoors with so much blowing in the air. I did my usual work but was lagging in energy as my head hurt, and I couldn’t wait to take a nap each day. But after what seemed like a long time of many days doing healthful things etc., I woke up yesterday and my sinuses didn’t hurt and I had no headache! I couldn’t believe it and felt like it was too good to be true. I told Al and all day long I kept thanking the Lord. I realized I had forgotten what it was like to feel good, and the head pain had been my new normal. But now I felt great and it was wonderful!  

  My thoughts went to our spiritual lives for we can be out of sorts with the Lord and slowly move farther away from him. It seems to happen gradually and all of a sudden, we realize we aren’t experiencing the joy of His presence any more. We go through the motions, as I did my usual work, but we lack love and passion for Him. But then when we repent and ask for His forgiveness and grace, it’s like everything changes. We are filled with joy and love and our outlook on our day changes. I think I went around the apartment smiling as I felt so good and was so grateful that my head no longer hurt.

  Let us be watchful and resolute, and as Paul warns us, be alert and not fall sleep spiritually!

Challenge for today: Note when your joy and love wane and spend some time with the Lord!

Dear Ones,

 Hope you have an exciting day! I woke up without a sinus headache and it feels wonderful as it has been almost 3 weeks. I just keep thanking the Lord. The house is full of aroma as I made Al cookies, a veggie stir fry. and sweet potatoe rounds. Soon I am going to Aldi’s!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

  Would we say of our life that it is routine and boring or is it rather exciting and full of adventure? Or it could be that we think it is somewhere in between. We can probably remember as children telling our parents we were bored and needed something to do and have fun. Where we live, I have also had a few adults say that they are bored in their apartments but one way they can remedy that is by socializing in our community room.

  John Michael Talbot lives much of his life in routine of the monastery or quietness of his hermitage but that doesn’t mean it is boring. Even if we are people of routine, that can in many ways give us comfortable form to rest in, so that we can then go forth and discover new things. The choice is ours. Maybe you are reading this and feel bored with your job, tired of your mate, or even sleepy much of the time, lacking direction. John Michael may say to you, It could be God is calling you to go deeper with Him or maybe He has a new ministry in store for you.

  We need to break out of boredom and not be overcome by sleepiness or try to fill our spiritual hunger with food. If we give in to boredom, we may be tempted by things that are distractions and catch us in the snare of what the world offers.

  What can we do? Sometimes we just need to get physically busy and produce something. I might bake something new or help someone in need. Other times we may study scripture or pray in a new way, like while walking in the woods and taking in the fresh wonder of creation around us. We might sing as we go about our work or sit by a lake and write our deepest thoughts. It could be we find that we discover God is leading us into a new way of serving Him..

    Let us not get apathetic or lose our zest for life in the Lord. His mercies are new every day and we can be expectant for what He has for us, if our hearts are open and we are not stuck in the quicksand of boredom. Paul said in II Cor. 5:17 (God’s Word), “Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.”

Challenge for today: Do something new today that you have not done before to express your love for God.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having a great weekend.  We are packing up to leave for home tomorrow and had a wonderful time celebrating Lily’s graduation. We had a scrumptious meal and games and prizes and gifts. I am sending this early as we will be leaving at 6:30 am. tomorrow and Kurt is riding with us as far as Ames, Iowa, where he is looking at a truck for Grant. Appreciate prayers for a safe trip.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

   How many things do we do, maybe even subconsciously, to be noticed by others? Our ego loves to have others think that we are sacrificially serving and showing kindnesses to others and somehow it will make our lives feel more validated. That only shows our pride has gotten the better of us when we need to be praised all the time, and neglect to give the glory to God.

   When we make a show of what we do for others, we already have our reward for Jesus said in his sermon on the Mount that we are not do our deeds to be seen by men, but rather in secret for then our Father will reward us. (Matt.6:1-4)

   What do we do when others praise us for something we have done? We need to give the glory to the Lord, even though we may not say it out loud. That doesn’t mean we should shun words of affirmation but when we are humble we don’t feel the need to be praised….we feel free to just be… be whatever we need to be for others. Our well-being doesn’t depend on their affirmations to us, for we are already at peace as we experience God’s hand of blessings on us. We can also rejoice when others are honored and not have hard feelings.

   Our personhood is found in the Lord and we need to see ourselves as God sees us. We don’t need constant praise from others when we are secure in His love. We are worth a lot to God that He should give His son to die for us. How could we be more greatly loved?! The more we are dead to self, the more we are free to live for Him.  And with that in mind, we can desire to live fully for him each day of our lives, just as if it is our last day.  Like Paul said in Eph. 3:19-20, “I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.”

   Challenge for today: Live fully for the Lord and others as if it was your last day on earth.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy 

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Dear Ones,
I am sending this out for tomorrow’s devotion since we will be leaving very early in the morning for Kansas. We want to get to our granddaughter’s soccer game and a week after she graduates she will be leaving for Kansas State to play soccer. Appreciate prayers for our travels and good weather.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

  If someone asked you what you liked about your church, what would your answer be? Would you relate the popularity of the pastor, or the exciting worship with many instruments, or that children’s church is at the same hour etc? Or would you say that it is a place that you hear truth and sense the presence of the Spirit moving and have opportunity to serve and fellowship with others?

  There are ways that many churches have become like our culture today, trying to sell a consumer product rather than what really matters. It shows up that if worship isn’t just the way we like it with singing the newest songs, or the pastor doesn’t give super motivating sermons, we are off to another church and then maybe another and never find a place to get planted.

   Matthew Dickerson writes that church is not a consumer product that is to satisfy us and make us feel good. He shares how even Jesus had those followers who said His teaching was hard and difficult and they turned back from following Him. (John 6:60). Jesus didn’t change his message to be popular with the people but spoke truth. Jesus asked Peter if he was also going to go away as the many others but he responded in verse 68, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life.” Jesus words are not always easy, and does not go along with our culture but they are spirit and life. It really doesn’t matter much about the trappings of the service, for it has to do with the openness of our hearts. Do we want to hear truth, grow in our faith, and worship the Lord in spirit? Instead of wondering if the service will be to our liking, let us ask what we can give to the Lord in worship and how we might serve others.

  Challenge for today: Go to church with an open heart to worship the King and learn more what it is to be His servant. 
Blessings on your day tomorrow and prayers and love, Judy  

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy