Dear Ones,
Hope you had a good weekend and are preparing for Christmas. Very exciting game last night and the Vikings just barely won.Emoji Today I am going to the Aldi’s and Exercise class and do some prep for Christmas.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Often in scripture we are told if we love the Lord, we will love and share with others and do acts of kindness. Even if we give a simple cup of cold water in Jesus’ name, He notices, and we will be rewarded by Him. I was reminded recently as I read from James 1:27 how God views things. James writes, “Pure unstained religion according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer and to remain uncorrupted by this world.” .As The Message says if our religion is real, that passes muster before God we will reach out to the homeless and the loveless, meaning all those that are powerless.

How many of us do that? It’s wonderful to worship with others on Sunday morning but what happens the rest of the week when we are in the world of needy people. Do we reach out to those who are hurting. I want to give a recent example of someone who was responded to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to help a widow. The night before we were going an hour North to celebrate our grandson’s birthday, I got a call from Susan who you have prayed for in the past. She said she was having a biopsy the next day in Brainerd and was going to be transported by a small bus that has a lift for wheelchairs. I told her I had planned to visit her that next morning on our way to the lake. The timing worked out perfectly as I could pray for her before the surgery and listen to the concerns she had, and also bring her lots of baked goodies etc. But I did feel badly that I wouldn’t be there during the time she had to wait in Brainerd, since she would be alone. Meanwhile a gal from our former church who has helped Susan in the past, felt the Lord prompting her to drive from Hackensack to Brainerd to just sit with Susan before and after her surgery. Later Susan described it as the most wonderful gift from the Lord and she felt so loved and cared for. That friend was God’s angel to Susan and I’m sure she felt the Lord’s blessing as she traveled home again in her car.

We can all do things to help others and when we minister to anyone in His name, we are serving the Lord and putting into practice what He has told us to do!
It turns out Susan has breast Cancer and would like prayers for her as she decides what treatment to take etc.
Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to open your eyes to needs around you and to respond as the Holy Spirit prompts you.
Blessings on your Christmas week and prayers and love, Judy