Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend! We had a good Viking win and Kurt’s family was able to go to the game.
Today I plan to make Nova Scotia Blueberry Cream Cake. I hope it tastes as well as it sounds. I plan to go
to Aldi’s and my Exercise class etc.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I believe that it is the Lord who brings friends into our lives and has a purpose for them in our relationships. In every church we have been, I was always surprised by those He chose to be good friends for me. He knew the areas in which I needed growth and who would help form me in some special way. They were often quite different than me, and I learned so much through my relationship with them as we shared the Lord together.

I recently got a phone call with the news that my dear friend Susan, who so many of you have prayed for over the years, died suddenly. We went to see her three days before Christmas as she was in the hospital in Brainerd with a broken leg and had been recovering from Covid. She was still upbeat and thankful that all her needs were met, for she had many physical needs. She hasn’t walked for many years and was wheelchair bound; she was hard of hearing, legally blind and had a special cup for her coffee since her hands were so gnarled by arthritis. She listened to tapes each day and didn’t feel sorry for herself when there were things she couldn’t do. Susan was a light shining just where the Lord put her as she witnessed to those around her.

I learned a lot from Susan, for she was so thankful and appreciative even though she had so little in worldly goods. Her son and grandson lived far away and rarely came to see her, but she still wanted to buy them a gift each Christmas and we would look for that special something at the Art Fair. She thought she had the best room in Birchwood and often remarked, “How could it be any better?” Each time I visited, she shared any concerns and we prayed over them. She loved when I brought chocolate cake with lots of frosting and cookies on a stick, and she spared some for her closest friends. She loved to give to others, even though she had so little.

I could go on and on, for God brought Susan into my life to help me rejoice in all circumstances, to trust in deeper ways, to not focus on material things or even on one’s health, but to be thankful, to give and that even the smallest gifts can bring joy to others. It’s not to say I haven’t shed tears as I miss her, but I rejoice for her that she is now with Jesus and can walk and leap and hear and see and know how much she is loved.

Challenge for today: Use the opportunities each day to share Jesus with others and learn along the way from those whom He sends into your life.