Dear Ones,
Happy Weekend! We are enjoying our time with Kurt’s family; yesterday we went to see where our granddaughter works and Kurt grilled steak for us. Today Paige is coming over and will be helping me with our annual Christmas project! Tomorrow morning we will leave early for home and plan to stop in D.M. for church service at Redeemer.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We were all made for relationship with God and until we find that union with Him, we are unfulfilled and restless. Foolishly, we may think we are in control of our lives, but that is not reality, for there are so many circumstances every day that happen without our awareness or consent. But we don’t have to live in anxiety and fear of what may happen, for Jesus calls to us, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) His rest is for our souls when we place our dependency on Him and give up our control.

Our lives were made for intimacy with the Lord, and we need faith to trust Him as we give up our own ego-driven lives to respond to a God-directed life. I think as we do this we will find that it often results that we are led to serve others, even when it is not easy or convenient. But when we obey and love God in loving others, our hearts are enlarged and changed. One day, Al and I spent much of the day with someone who has experienced loss, and the hours of listening were ones of great peace and blessings. I felt such an awareness of God’s presence and pleasure that stayed with me for some time. I wonder, why we don’t quickly respond to the Holy Spirit’s promptings all the time, for so much grace awaits to be poured out on us!

I have much to learn as I read what author Ruth Burrows has to say about allowing the Lord to transform our natural self-seeking into trusting self-abandonment. Maybe some days we sing with deep meaning, “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all….” Sadly, there may be other days when we go our own way and we miss out on His peace and rest.

Challenge for today: Make the last verse of the song your prayer today. “All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee. Fill me with Thy love and power, let Thy blessing fall on me.”
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy