Canaan's Rest

Canaan’s Rest represents a quiet place “set apart” for the purpose of hearing God's voice, growing in intimacy with the Lord, and being renewed in soul and spirit.

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September 7, 2022

September 7, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
  Hope you are having a great day. This morning I studied, made meat loaf, and went to Aldi’s and my exercise class. Tonight we begin our fall schedule at church and start a new Bible Study. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   How we see ourselves is important to how we see the world around us. Too often if something bad has happened to us in the past we can think it defines us and we have a negative picture of ourselves. Of course the enemy loves to play that card and tries to cause us to see ourselves as damaged and ruined for life. But that gives too much power to our story and our story is really God’s story.
    As those made in God’s image, we are far more than our story for we are spiritual beings. The Lord wants us to view our story in the right light. When we think about it, God planned we would come to live in this time, with a certain family etc and we are His story to write as He sees best. Even when the worst has happened God can weave our story into something so much bigger and bring beauty out of it.
   As I am reading James Smith’s book, he shares about his daughter getting raped and how she kept this a secret for so long and felt depressed. But when she got counseling and therapy, she was later able to share her story with trusted friends and the Holy Spirit created a new story in which she is helping others. When we have courage to share our stories, the Lord lets us help write the ending. That may mean giving up some false beliefs we have had about ourselves, especially those things that have resulted from how others have viewed us.   
    I memorized Psalm 103 and you might want to memorize a few of those verses also, to be able to meditate on them when you feel like your story needs some rewriting. Psalm 103:2-4 (ESV). “ Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget now all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” 
   Like Smith says, the Lord wants to redeem our stories and restore us, so He is writing our story with us. He is not through yet. But let us not get stuck but embrace the true narrative of how much we are loved.
 Challenge for today: Invite the Lord into your story, and ask Him to heal any of your false narratives.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

September 6, 2022

September 6, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
  Hope you had a wonderful long holiday weekend! We enjoyed celebrating our friend David’s birthday yesterday and we marvel at how the Lord brought our two couples together over 1/1/2 years ago on the Paul Bunyan trail. This morning  I made Al’s favorite cookies and a veggie stir-fry and went downstairs for choc covered raspberries. This afternoon we are invited to friends for coffee and fellowship. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  God disciplines those who He loves, or He would not really love us. We can be comforted that it is always for our own good and to help us to go the right way. I read today from Heb. 12:6 &11 (ESV), “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives…For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
   While at the lake over the weekend two of my niece’s little girls were playing In the lake, on the dock, and in the woods. I noticed how their parents always kept a careful eye out for them, not to damper their fun but to be sure they were safe.  If they got out of their parent’s sight, they  would immediately be called back that no harm would happen. If they didn’t respond the parent would have to discipline them to help them learn to listen and obey. That is easy to understand for our children but we may not always appreciate when the Lord has to discipline us.
   Our discipline may be painful at times when we are wandering off on our own, and the Lord tries to get our attention. He may use various simple ways at first of calling us back, like a word of scripture that seems to be in neon lights, or a constructive word given by a friend who sees us going on the wrong path. But if those things don’t work and we continue going our own way, He may have to use more costly measures like letting us suffer the consequences of our bad choices. I noticed Gloria’s mom cautioning her as she neared the edge of the steep slope. She listened and obeyed and she turned and went happily on her way exploring. But if she had insisted of her own way, she could have fallen down the steep hill and gotten bruised by the stumps and prickly branches and landed in poison ivy. 
  When we go through painful times, we might ask ourselves if the Lord is getting our attention because we have not responded to His messages of warning. Let us rather be like children who hear the voice of our Father and thank Him for His warning and quickly obey.
Challenge for today: Listen to God’s voice and respond in obedience, knowing He speaks out of love for you.  
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

Sept 5, 2022

September 5, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones
Happy Labor Day! Hope you are enjoying the holiday. This morning I baked cookies and did food prep, took out a few fall decorations, and am getting ready for a Birthday party we will have later this afternoon. It’s David’s birthday, the friend we walk with each day, and glad we can calebrate with him on the day.  We had a wonderful weekend and saw all the relatives at the lake and swam and sauned and had a picnic. My brother and sister-in-law surprised at church and we had them for coffee and scrabble too. Fun times! 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Work, work, work! Do we ever feel our work is done so we can just relax and rest?  God has given us 6 days to work, but then he wants us to rest and we need to honor that. Rick Batzig, church planter, writes about the rhythm of work and rest and is a good reminder to us of God’s command as He says in Deut.5:15, ”Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”
   Since the fall of man in the garden of Eden, labor has become more difficult and we eat by the sweat of our brow. It seems since that time that man has an unbalanced view of work and rest, and work is often done for our own glory rather than God’s. Rick writes how we have lost the idea of calling and jump from job to job and work to gain more things, rather than to support a family we love. It used to be that work had meaning but often today work is used to define ourselves. 
   Jobs today tend to be more demanding and if you want to reach the top, it seems you must consent to overwork. There are plenty of people under us that are willing to work the long hours and want to take our place.  Rick said that it used to be that the boss made about 10 to 20 times more than those under him but today he may make 100 to 200 times more. Job security is not good as jobs are quickly eliminated today if they don’t produce a big profit.
   Since many jobs can be done from anywhere because of our technology now, it is even harder to take time to rest. If we are working from home, it may be difficult to know when to quit for the day.
   God calls us to work but He also calls us to rest and He is our Sabbath Rest. As He said in Matt. 11:28-30 (ESV), “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
  Our souls need rest and we need to do our work for His glory and then enter into His rest of God. Let us ask Him to help us be in His rhythm know when to rest from our work.
   Challenge for today: Make it a habit to take a Sabbath rest and cease from work for a day.
Blessings on your Holiday and prayers and love, Judy

 

I Speak Jesus

September 5, 2022 / / 0 Comments

In this blog I want to call attention to a contemporary worship song.  It is by Charity Gayle.  I have watched the video and  it made an deep impression on this “old soul.” First the words are theological sound; second, the young lady sings with sincerity and passion.  Third, the young people in worship seem to be caught up in the words as they worship their Lord and Savior.

I find Ms. Gayle’s worship authentic, able to connect with the soul.   My spirit resonated with her spirit.  I was moved to want to stand and fight.  Yes, her audience is young, having much to learn on the  spiritual journey.  I personally would not be able to enter into their worship style for an extended period of time.  But I do believe God is both anointing and raising up a new style of passionate worship to equip a whole new generation of young people who want to take back our nation from the forces of darkness.  

I encourage you to go to youtube and enter into the worship (Charity Gayle – I Speak Jesus).  I identify with her declaring in worship, the name of Jesus, in the present day of coming darkness.  The chorus goes like this: “‘Cause Your name is power/Your name is healing/Your name is life/Break every stronghold/Shine through the shadows/Burn like a fire.” With passion she sings: “I just wanna speak the name of Jesus/’Til every dark addiction starts to break/Declaring there is hope and there is freedom/I speak Jesus.“

I don’t know if all young people realize the magnitude of the fight they are facing.  But, praise God, they are speaking the name of Jesus.  Paul tells us, “So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials.  And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.  This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours.  This is for keeps, and life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels” (Eph. 6:11-13 MSG).  

We know that at the name of Jesus, “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:10-11).  In the book of Revelation, before the end, we read of the song sung in heaven, “Who will not fear you, Lord. and bring glory to your name?  For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed” (Rev. 15:4).     

So yes, we need to speak the name of Jesus.  What will this mean for men in the coming days.  First, be sure you are sold out to Jesus.  The enemy can easily identify and take out an imposter.   Second, believe with all your heart and mind that the name of Jesus means power.  Jesus prayed, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name” (John 17:11)

Thirdly, let Jesus into your very center, giving you confident that the Lord has put his words in your mouth.  God told Jeremiah, “I have put my words in your mouth (Jer. 1:9).  Later Jeremiah testified, “his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones” (Jer. 20:9). 

Fourthly, praise God in all circumstances, even as you speak to name of Jesus.  Leave the results to him.  Paul said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances’ (Phil 4:11). 

 

 

September 3, 2022

September 3, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying the weekend and have time to relax. We are leaving  this morning for the lake, and it seems to be a cooler day. We look forward to seeing  family and to swim and sauna and also to hear Leif preach tomorrow morning. 
Devotions for today
  Doesn’t it make you feel well loved when you are offered hospitality without any thought of being a burden? It’s like being received in a welcoming way that says, “All that I have is yours!”
   I am reading Juliet Canha’s book, “Life Lessons in Transformation and Rest,” and she has a chapter on hospitality that caused me to see more how self-giving hospitality is like a beautiful extension of God’s grace. She reminds us of the wonderful example of God’s gracious hospitality in the story of the Prodigal son and the Father’s warm reception of him. The Father welcomed home his son who had squandered all his inheritance and yet He poured out His unconditional love and acceptance. We are called to be like that with a welcoming heart to others and as it says in Philippians 2 to have tenderness and compassion and in humility to consider others better than ourselves.
   That means we aren’t looking to serve others who can pay us back, but to see them as the Lord sees them with acceptance and unconditional love; that is to honor them above ourselves, not to judge them but to serve them, to show kindness, and to offer hospitality. That takes humility and as it says I I Peter 5:5, “Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another. “
   How open are our hearts to receive others like that? If we were like the father in the story of the Prodigal, would we welcome our wayward son with open arms, no explanations needed if he was sorry or not? Or would we be like the elder son that closed his heart towards his brother in judgment.?It doesn’t take a mind reader to know when someone has closed their heart to us and that is painful.
   The Lord is calling all of us to open our hearts wide to Him first of all, and then to open them up to others with hospitality that says, “All that I have is yours!”
   Challenge for today: Confess any selfishness to the Lord and ask Him to help you express grace-filled hospitality to others.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

 

 

Sept. 2, 2022

September 2, 2022 / / 0 Comments
 Dear Ones,
 Happy Holiday weekend! Do you have plans? We are preparing to go to the lake tomorrow morning and stay until Sunday evening, along with many relatives. It looks to be good weather for a wiener roast and swimming and sauna and we enjoy just being by the water. I cleaned the Apt this morning and am doing food prep etc.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   I surmise that we have all been in a bad storm at one time in our lives, where we wondered if we were going to survive. I remember as I child being at the cabin when a storm hit with 100 mph winds and nowhere to go. There was no basement and our once thought-out plan to go down the narrow well, did not seem so favorable to escape to in the rain and wind. So many trees went down but we were safe in the cabin and I’m sure my parents were praying. For some time, I had a great fear of storms but as I grew in my walk with the Lord the fear for storms left and I have peace even when the sky grows black.
    In our Bible Study class, we are studyied Max Lacado’s book, Never Alone, and one of the stories that he writes of is the disciples in the storm. Jesus told them to go across the lake to Capernaum but they encountered a storm on the way that was so fierce that they thought they were going to sink. They rowed 3 or 4 miles in the wind and big waves and must have thought this is it…we aren’t going to survive. But in the midst of it all, Jesus came walking on the water and stilled the storm and said, “It is I: don’t be afraid.” (John 6:20)
   I’m sure none of us would choose the storms that come into our lives and we may even question where is God. We wish they would be over quick or to be spared them all together. However, that is not up to us and they come to us unannounced.
   But instead, we need to welcome the Lord into our storm and let the Lord complete His work in us and strengthen us. He loves us and has given us so many promises to assure us of His presence with us in all situations. Like it says in Isaiah 43:1-3, (Message), “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down…I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior.”
    Let us always, always remember we are not on our own but we have the One who is with us in every storm of life. He waits to hear our cry and comes to enter our situation and speak His words of love and hope. Storms are meant to help develop our character, to teach us, to prepare us for even greater works. May we know we are not alone and respond to His voice. 
   Challenge for today: When the next storm comes into your life, call on the Lord first and listen for His voice.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

Sept. 1, 2022

September 1, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you wake to a day full of promise and joy.  Your question for this week is, How do you handle gossip when spoken in your presence?
Today I am going downstairs for donuts and this afternoon we have Bible Study. So thankful Al is well and can lead it today! 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Our words are so important, for out of our mouths come words that can heal but also words that can destroy others. We must guard what we say for death and life are in the power of the tongue and one day we will have to give account for every careless word we have spoken. What comes out of our mouths shows what is really in our hearts.
   We are warned not to let any corrupt talk come out of our mouths bur rather words that build up others and give grace to those who hear. It is better to remain silent than to speak harsh words that only stirs up anger.
   When we gossip, we sin against the person for we can destroy their reputation and it may or not be factual. This person has no chance to redeem himself for he doesn’t know what is said or what conclusions others have arrived at. It can affect others in the Body of Christ of which he is a member, for the listeners may choose to believe the gossiper without giving him a chance.
   Even St. Bernard of Clairvaux was a target of gossip at his monastery and he said, “The slandering tongue strikes a blow against charity in all who listen to it and, as far as possible, wounds and destroys (charity) utterly. Not only that, but it strikes even those who are absent, to whom the word comes, flying forth from those who were present.”  He goes on to say that such words are able to infect a whole multitude of people.
    That can happen in our churches and groups today when negative words are spoken as prayer requests or under the guise of how much it pains them to say this morsel of gossip. James warns us not to speak evil against one another and to bridle our tongues.
  Rather than words that destroy let it be said of our words as in Prov. 25:11(ESV), “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” May our words be gracious and spoken in love that will bring healing.
  Challenge for today: Guard your tongue and when given the chance stop gossip that you may hear.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

August 31, 2022

August 31, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying this sunny day. I studied and did food prep and went to my expercise class this morning and it felt good to exercise again. Al is well now and we are both thankful to feel healthy again. PTL!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  When we are given a gift or experience that we value but don’t have the opportunity to respond with appreciation, it seems like something is missing and incomplete. We are meant to respond with gratitude and give thanks. There are times when there is a beautiful song sung by the choir, and it just seems it is so right to clap in response at the conclusion. Or there are times when something is so awesome that we give a standing ovation before it feels complete.
    Before my birthday I received a bouquet of lovely flowers that Al had to go rescue from Assisted Living next door as the delivery went to the wrong building. But when he brought me the beautiful flowers, we both searched to find out who they were from but no name. I asked our son who sends flowers on Mother’s Day if he had given them but he hadn’t. I didn’t want to ask anyone else as they may think I am assuming that I should get flowers from them!
   It was a mystery until the last call of the day on my birthday when a dear friend called and during the conversation he asked if I had gotten the flowers. Of course, I was thrilled to now know who had given them to me so I had someone to thank…to complete the cycle of expressing gratitude.
    I think we are doing a disservice to our children when we don’t teach them to thank others and acknowledge gifts given them with gratitude. They grow up missing that completed feeling and maybe feeling a little entitled too. They have it easier today as they can respond online in a few seconds and give thanks where it is due, without even writing a thank you card if they choose. 
    My flowers are still very beautiful on the table and they are a reminder to me of the need of my heart to give thanks to the Lord daily for Himself and His gifts, Scripture is filled with thanksgiving and the Psalmist says in Ps. 118:1 (ESV), “Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” Every day we have so much to give Him thanks, and always for His love. But let our hearts not shrink from ingratitude but be more like the one grateful leper that came back and fell on his face before Jesus to give Him thanks.
   Challenge for today: Start your day with thanksgiving to the Lord and end your day in praise.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

August 30, 2022

August 30, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Dear  Ones

Hope you wake to a lovely day. Today I plan to go downstairs with choc covered raspberries as I have been out of town the last 2 Tuesdays so they will be doubly appreicated today. its so wonderful to feel well again and Al is going to stay in the apt one more day so he is sure not to pass anything on to others. Thank you so much for your prayers for us and cards etc! 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

   God is always desiring to teach us through the everyday happenings in our life, for we have so many lessons to learn. Some are learned the hard way and some relatively easy, depending on our receptivity.

   Recently both Al and I have been sick as we were hit probably by a virus of some sort. I went from feeling just fine when I went to a luncheon at Ann’s, and by evening feeling extremely tired. I started running a fever which lasted for a few days and my energy was suddenly zapped. I spent most of my time in bed and along the way asked the Lord what He had to teach me through this and I will share a few things with you.

   The most immediate revelation was the need to show empathy towards those with chronic conditions who rarely know what it is like to feel good. Because of their discomfort and pain, everything tests their energy level. I know the first couple days I was sick, I thought of only what I really had to do, like to cook heathy meals, and anything else would be extra. I managed the meals between my many naps but not much else. In our spiritual lives, we are to remember what is most important in our lives and give our energy to those things; we are not meant to sacrifice what is best for that which is good. Our priorities need to be straight!

    I was made aware of how wise it is to have extra on hand for those unexpected times of need. I had chicken soup in the freezer for just such a time as sickness and it tasted wonderful and nourishing to us. We are also to prepare spiritually by storing up God’s word in our hearts. There are times we need to call out a verse to settle our fears, or calm our hearts, or give assurance to someone else; and it is right there because we have put it to memory. 

   Another thing is to realize we can’t do it all. There are times that Lord just wants us to rest and get refreshed and that is what we need to do. After a few days of being mostly in bed I stripped our bed and washed everything and after putting it all back together, I just laid down and went to sleep and it felt heavenly for I was out of steam! God knows, even in those times we are not aware, that we need rest!

   We can’t ignore hard things and refuse to deal with them, just like the garbage that was piling up in our apartment.  Since we were isolating ourselves, we were waiting for a time when others weren’t around to go to the dumpster.  In our lives if we keep letting things go, they will pile up on us, and one day we will feel overwhelmed. God knows when the time is right to deal with things and it works best to be on His time schedule.

   A big lesson for me to learn is just to receive and not put up a fuss about it. Before Al got sick, for two days in a row he insisted on giving me the Raindrop treatment of massaging oils into my feet and back. It felt so healing. These past days we both  have been receiving cards and flowers and gifts and even Birthday cake outside our door. God is saying, “I see you and I have sent others to let you know I care!”

   May each of us learn from the experiences God takes us through for truly He has them individually made for us.

Challenge for today: Be open and ask God to teach you in the circumstances you are now in.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

August 29, 2022

August 29, 2022 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
   Hope you had a wonderful weekend! The sun trying to peek out and it felt good to get out this morning and go to Aldi’s;  I definitely needed to restock our shelves and frig as we have been confined due to being sick. I am feeling healthy again and Al is almost there but needs another day or so, as we don’t want to pass anything on. We thank the Lord for meeting all of our needs as we had what was important these past days to help us get well
Devotions from Judy’s heart
   On my birthday yesterday, I was reading a devotion for the day from Sarah Young’s book, Jesus Always, and I smiled at the Lord’s humor… maybe even laughed out loud. Sometimes God speaks in simple ways that make sense only to us. Sarah writes first of all about how the Lord is always with us wherever we go, and we don’t need to fear even when we step into new adventures, for He will take care of us. Then she asks us to visualize ourselves holding on to the Lord’s hand as He says, “Trust Me—your Guide—to show you the way forward as you go step by step. I have a perfect sense of direction, so don’t worry about getting lost. Relax in my Presence and rejoice in the wonder of sharing your whole life with Me.”
   If you know me well at all, you would know that I have no sense of direction and never have had; so, all of my life I have had to make allowances for that. It is helpful now that we can have navigation devices but if there is construction etc. I get thrown off. I have had many dreams of being lost and waking up before I reach my desired destination. I also vividly remember a time in Mexico, as I was dressed as a clown with children following me down the street, but I had no idea which way it was back to the church. Fortunately, our youth director came along at the right time and led our procession to the church!     
   Jesus has us all on a journey and we don’t have to be afraid of where He is taking us or what will happen to us. He wants us to trust Him and listen to Him and let Him guide us.  As it says in the Prov. 1:33 (ESV),” But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” It’s true we don’t always know where He is taking us but we know He won’t leave us but will constantly be with us, even with the promise of holding our hand.
   So let us go step by step with Him and be at ease and let Him guide us on our journey until one day we slip into heaven and know that our journey is over and we are truly home forever.
Challenge for today: Spend some time listening to the Lord with the intent to obey.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

 

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