Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a great weekend. I enjoyed shopping yesterday, especially getting things for the shoe box gifts for children. Love seeing the pictures of the kids opening their gifts and the joy on their faces.  Today I will be making cookies and doing food prep and cleaning the apartment etc.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Oh, how important our words are, and we shouldn’t take them lightly! When I was reading an article by Steve Porter, it caused me to think of my own words and ask if they are critical and judgmental at times rather than uplifting and encouraging. Jesus said in Matt. 12:36-37, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by it your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” We certainly need to guard what we say and not be careless with our words, for they are heard in heaven.

Porter makes it clear that when we know the Lord and have asked forgiveness, we are made righteous and not condemned. Our past is forgiven and we are not going to being judged as sinners before the great white throne, but we do face a time when we will be judged to receive eternal rewards. Paul says in II Cor. 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment set of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” That is a time when our true motives will be revealed, for all that is not of Him will be burned away by fire. If it is of Him, we will receive rewards. (I Cor. 3:14-15).

Let us take care how we speak and guard our lips. May we not judge others and speak against what we may not understand, for perhaps it is new move of God and He is blessing it. God is the judge and we are not. How hurtful it is for a Christian to be attacked by a fellow Christian who speaks disparagingly of his ministry bringing discouragement. We need to ask the Lord for clean lips and a pure heart, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34).

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to put a guard on your lips so that you speak life-giving words rather than critical words of judgment.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy