Dear Ones,

Hope you have time for refreshment this weekend. Thank you for prayers for Jack. Yesterday afternoon he started bleeding again and had to have an emergency surgery. The Dr thinks he was able to save the artery supplying blood to the bowel and he is optimistic. Hopefully Jack will heal now and will wait to hear how his night went.

 Devotions from Judy’s heart
What is our experience like when we go to church? The wise King Solomon said in Eccl. 5:2-3, “Watch your step when you enter God’s house. Enter to learn. That’s far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice. Doing more harm than good. Don’t shoot off your mouth or speak before you think. Don’t be quick to tell God what you think He wants you to hear. God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better.” I read Eugene Peterson’s book, Every Step an Arrival, and he writes about being on guard and careful when we go to church.

May each of us question our motives as we prepare to go to church. Are we excited to see others in the Body of Christ and to catch up with them. Do we talk about our week and what is happening around us etc. or are we more interested to know what the Lord has to say to us. Sometimes we may get so busy with the other things going on that we fail to hear the most important voice of the Lord. We are told to focus on what we are doing and to let our words be few. As we go to church, we should have an open heart to be ready to listen to what is God’s now word to us on that day. We are told to limit what we say and pay attention to what the Lord is saying to us.

We are not to be rash and jump to conclusions of what we think God is saying or maybe decisions we need to make; but instead, we are to spend time in quiet and waiting so we can know God’s will from our own wills. Our emotions can cause us to quickly think something is God’s will, but it is wise to be quiet and wait before deciding. Let us remember who is in charge and be quiet enough to hear His will.

Challenge for today:  As you go to church, let your words be few and have an openness to let His words get through to your heart.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy