Dear Ones,
Hope you have a blessed day. Al will be off to men’s group and in home in time to go with me to the wound specialist. My wound feels better so am hoping the infection is taken care of.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Haven’t we all been guilty of presumption? We presume to know what is best, what God may do next, what puts us in the limelight, etc. Sometimes it is in jest, but sometimes it is a matter of putting ourselves first. I read today from Mark 10:35-45, where James and John presumptuously asked Jesus to sit on his right and left hand in glory. Jesus answers cuts through their less-than-humble question saying, “But whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” That was not the response they were expecting or wanting.

I have a humorous example to share as our son’s family was recently here for ten days, and we had games and fun family times. At the beginning of their stay at a rental on the lake, I told them there would be a cash prize for the one who caught the biggest fish. That got their attention, and each day they spent time out on a huge pontoon boat catching fish. When the first large fish was caught, it caused some hope to fade that others would be able to top it. For a while our grandson was leading, but then our son got a bigger one, and in a jesting pompous way bragged that he would get the prize. He teased and walked around like a king pin and as if he had already won it, but I reminded the rest that they still all had a chance to win. Well, early on the final morning I got picture on my phone of our youngest grandson, A.J., with a big smile on his face and holding up his huge northern. On his second cast he thought his lure was caught in the weeds, but instead he hooked the giant fish. I couldn’t believe it. He beat his dad and was the winner and awarded $50. The rest got smaller prizes for participating, but presumption did not win.

Pride and presumption will not win in our lives either, for Jesus calls us to a life of humility and self-sacrifice, seeking the good of others.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to help you put Him first, others second, and yourself last.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy