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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January 8, 2026

January 8, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a day with your heart wide open to His love.  Al will soon be off to Men’s group and I will be doing food prep and studying and writing. Later we have Bible study.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Do we sometimes doubt that we are loved for who we are? Maybe we feel we don’t measure up and are a disappointment to our family. How sad that is! Over Christmas time, I was able to see Taylor who many of you have prayed for in the past and her husband Ethan and their new three-month-old baby Eden. If ever a baby was loved! Eden is showered with so much love by her parents and grandparents, etc. She is not loved for what she does, for she only smiles and coos, and in fact needs attention from others to be held, rocked, fed, changed, etc. and not always at convenient times.
It hit me, that we are much like little Eden, for we can’t do much for the Lord. He cares for the whole universe and we are each only one little peon, and yet He cares for us enough to give His life for us. We are not eloquent of speech, we often want our own way, we often think more of our needs than others. But our Father loves us, even when we make messes and He cleans them up. He carries us when we are weak. He holds us tight, rocks us when we are anxious, and He feeds the hunger of our souls. There is no way we can care for ourselves and we need Him more than we will ever know. May we recognize His voice in our ears as He comforts and strengthens us. Let us receive His love, fully depend on Him and receive all the ways He cares and loves us.
I think of the chorus I learned in Sunday School as a little girl and did the motions as well:
“Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heavens above;
Deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Saviour’s love.
I, though so unworthy, still am a child of His care;
For His Word teaches me that His love reaches me everywhere.”
May each of us open our hearts to let the Lord love us just as we are, care for us, lead us, guide us and speak His words that lets us know we are not a disappointment but we are cherished.
Challenge for today: Thank your Father in heaven several times today for how much you are loved by Him, and live in the truth of those words.

January 7, 2026

January 7, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a purposeful day. I am going to Exercise class and then to Crafts which is more like a coffee clutch. Later we go to church for Bible Study.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I hope that we will all honor God first in the coming year and will live with purpose. Our life is brief and not to be wasted, and we might ask ourselves what we will leave behind. When our friend Susan died recently, she didn’t have a lot of the world’s goods to leave behind. But she had a profound effect on others as she rejoiced in what she was given, didn’t complain, and wanted to be a light where she lived. She was thankful for God providing for all her needs and reminds me of the verse I read recently from Rom. 11:36, “Everything comes from Him; Everything happens through Him; Everything ends up in Him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes.”

We may want to ask the Lord for some specific ways we might put Him first and draw closer to Him. Many of you responded with a specific word for the year such as Quiet, Stillness, Silence, Authenticity, Truth, Focus, Study, Restoration, Deep, Trust, Reorganization, Rekindle etc. Each one of us can ask the Lord to show us how we can grow and keep on track. King Solomon says in Proverbs 3 to take to heart what God has told us so we can live a long full life well. Then goes on to say, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go… Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!…Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best.”

One of the ways I believe the Lord is prompting me is to fast at certain times. Years ago, Al and I fasted every Tuesday but it’s been a long while since I have done that. Maybe the Lord is suggesting to you to give more, to show hospitality, to memorize scripture, to have a sabbath rest, etc. Let us be open to whatever He shows us so we may live well, with purpose and with eternity in mind!

Challenge for today:  Spend time listening to the Lord and be obedient to His promptings. He doesn’t force His way.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

January 6, 2026

January 6, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a wonderful day. Al and I have an appointment this morning and then I have Women’s Bible study and this afternoon we have friends coming for fellowship and Nova Scotia Cream cake. I hope it is as good as it sounds!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I hope that we will all honor God first in the coming year and will live with purpose. Our life is brief and not to be wasted, and we might ask ourselves what we will leave behind. When our friend Susan died recently, she didn’t have a lot of the world’s goods to leave behind. But she had a profound effect on others as she rejoiced in what she was given, didn’t complain, and wanted to be a light where she lived. She was thankful for God providing for all her needs and reminds me of the verse I read recently from Rom. 11:36, “Everything comes from Him; Everything happens through Him; Everything ends up in Him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes.”

We may want to ask the Lord for some specific ways we might put Him first and draw closer to Him. Many of you responded with a specific word for the year such as Quiet, Stillness, Silence, Authenticity, Restoration, Deep, Trust, Reorganization, Gratitude, etc. Each one of us can ask the Lord to show us how we can grow and keep on track. King Solomon says in Proverbs 3 to take to heart what God has told us so we can live a long full life well. Then goes on to say, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go… Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!…Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best.”

One of the ways I believe the Lord is prompting me is to fast at certain times. Years ago, Al and I fasted every Tuesday but it’s been a long while since I have done that. Maybe the Lord is suggesting to you to give more, to show hospitality, to memorize scripture, to have a sabbath rest, etc. Let us be open to whatever He shows us so we may live well, with purpose and with eternity in mind!

Challenge for today:  Spend time listening to the Lord and be obedient to His promptings. He doesn’t force His way.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

The Attack on Men

January 5, 2026 / / 0 Comments

I have found  Anthony Bradley to have keen insights on the struggle of men in our culture.   He has recently published a study in Exodus.  In a recent blog he notes, “In the grand spiritual war against God’s people, the enemy’s strategy is both ancient and terrifyingly consistent: to dismantle the Church, and attacks its men.  This is a demonic tactic, aimed at severing covenant confidence, breaking the chain of leadership, and leaving God’s people exposed and defenseless.”  Bradley goes on to argues, “the life of Moses, detailed in Exodus, serves as the ultimate case study, revealing the mechanics of this demonic assault  and more importantly God’s powerful counter-strategy for forging the kind of faithful manhood that can withstand it.” 

His use of Exodus has been informative.  “The assault begins with Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Hebrew male infants, an act of political brutality that is at its core a spiritual objective,” observes Bradley. “The devil, seeking to prevent the rise of a prophesied deliverer, finds a willing partner in a ruler consumed by what psychoanalyst Karen Horney identified as ‘neurotic pride.'”   Neurotic pride exposes Pharoah as being vulnerable, causing him to response in rage.  This psychological fragility is called by scholar R.J. Rummel, “democide:” the murder of a people by their own  government. 

Bradley maintains, “centuries later, the devil’s playbook is run again with chilling precision. When King Herod hears of the birth of a rival ‘king of the Jews,’ the same neurotic pride is wounded.  His response is the identical demonic strategy: kill the boys of Bethlehem to eliminate the infant Christ ( Matt 1:18-2:23).  This recurring pattern confirms a demonic agenda, not a historical anomaly.”

Desiring to take my place in our culture, as a man committed to the Lord, I need to be forewarned that as a nation we are under spiritual attack.  Being under spiritual attack is often overlooked, when we consider the breakup of the family.  Patriarchy – the leadership and headship of men is under attack.  Various radical movements, according to Mary  Eberstadt exposes “the threefold crisis of filial attachment that has beset the Western world for more than a half a century.  Deprived of father, Father, and partria, a critical mass of humanity has become socially dysfunctional on a scale not seen before.” Young men, today, “have been left alone in the cosmos with nothing to guide them, not even a firm grasp of what constitutes their basic humanity, and no means of finding the way home.”

 I look back with some regret at the first hears of my marriage (marriage -1965).  I did not  comprehend my role as husband and father, while wanting to follow and serve Jesus.  I was  ordained as a pastor, before scripture helped me see my place as man of God in my family.  The turning point  was the reading of Larry Christianson’s book “The Christian Family” (1970).  I read Larry’s explanation of Eph. 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” I have never read anything as convicting since those days in the early 70’s.

As a result, only by the grace of God and my continually crying out for his mercy, I have remained faithful in my role as husband and father since reading Larry’s book over 60 years ago.  For me, it has meant the following.  First, I have not abandoned my post, even though I have wanting to give up responsibility.  Secondly, I have kept at my post in the continual battle with the enemy.  And thirdly, I am thankful that God has carried me this far.  I want to help others to stay at their post. 

 

  

 

January 5, 2026

January 5, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend! We had a good Viking win and Kurt’s family was able to go to the game.
Today I plan to make Nova Scotia Blueberry Cream Cake. I hope it tastes as well as it sounds. I plan to go
to Aldi’s and my Exercise class etc.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I believe that it is the Lord who brings friends into our lives and has a purpose for them in our relationships. In every church we have been, I was always surprised by those He chose to be good friends for me. He knew the areas in which I needed growth and who would help form me in some special way. They were often quite different than me, and I learned so much through my relationship with them as we shared the Lord together.

I recently got a phone call with the news that my dear friend Susan, who so many of you have prayed for over the years, died suddenly. We went to see her three days before Christmas as she was in the hospital in Brainerd with a broken leg and had been recovering from Covid. She was still upbeat and thankful that all her needs were met, for she had many physical needs. She hasn’t walked for many years and was wheelchair bound; she was hard of hearing, legally blind and had a special cup for her coffee since her hands were so gnarled by arthritis. She listened to tapes each day and didn’t feel sorry for herself when there were things she couldn’t do. Susan was a light shining just where the Lord put her as she witnessed to those around her.

I learned a lot from Susan, for she was so thankful and appreciative even though she had so little in worldly goods. Her son and grandson lived far away and rarely came to see her, but she still wanted to buy them a gift each Christmas and we would look for that special something at the Art Fair. She thought she had the best room in Birchwood and often remarked, “How could it be any better?” Each time I visited, she shared any concerns and we prayed over them. She loved when I brought chocolate cake with lots of frosting and cookies on a stick, and she spared some for her closest friends. She loved to give to others, even though she had so little.

I could go on and on, for God brought Susan into my life to help me rejoice in all circumstances, to trust in deeper ways, to not focus on material things or even on one’s health, but to be thankful, to give and that even the smallest gifts can bring joy to others. It’s not to say I haven’t shed tears as I miss her, but I rejoice for her that she is now with Jesus and can walk and leap and hear and see and know how much she is loved.

Challenge for today: Use the opportunities each day to share Jesus with others and learn along the way from those whom He sends into your life.

January 3, 2025

January 3, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a good weekend. I received sad news yesterday afternoon as my friend Susan who many of
you have prayed for in the past years died. I will be sharing more about her in my devotions on Monday. She
is now with the Lord and no more pain. One of my last visits with her we talked about how wonderful it will
be in glory when she can walk and leap and praise the Lord! God’s timing!
Devotions from Judys heart
When we know and love the Lord, we are to let our lights shine and point others to Him. This is done in so many ways and it is important to be led by the Spirit, for He knows the hearts of all. Our lives themselves should be a witness and express joy and love, although we are far from perfect in ourselves. Jesus said in Matt. 5:16 (Amplified), “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.”

During Christmas our son, Kurt, felt led to invite a neighbor family to church for the Christmas Eve service. The mom was raised as a Buddhist. They not only went to church, but Kurt made them a steak dinner and they stayed and talked until 10:30 p.m. I’m sure they will have more interactions with them in the future, but what a perfect time to share Jesus.

Our hearts need to be always open to share Him with others. It could be just a simple comment to the cashier when shopping, praying at a restaurant, bringing soup to a sick neighbor, or giving someone a ride to a medical appointment. Our actions should shed light on the fact that we know and love Jesus. He also said we are to be like salt in our world. “You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, now will people taste godliness?” (Matt.5:13) Let us live with passion that others would want to taste and see that the Lord is good!

When we know the Lord we are no longer to live for ourselves, but for Him. We have purpose and a we have an eternal destiny. Let us not miss the opportunities the Lord sends.

 Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to make you aware of openings in your conversations to share Jesus.

Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

January 2, 2026

January 2, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you rang in the New Year with anticipation of what 2026 holds. We had a fun New Years with lots of
football games and treats and also projects getting done. Today I plan to do food prep and bake cookies
and also some more projects.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
It is wonderful that we can leave things up to God and not worry when we place things in His hands; but He also may ask us to take responsibility for some things we need to do or a change we need to make. We are partners with Him: He does the directing and we are to obey in however He leads us. Sometimes we complicate things as we fail to follow through doing His will and do our own instead.

But how do we put Him first? I memorized Psalm 27 where David is saying that he will seek after the Lord all the days of his life and with his heart He will seek His face. He asks God to teach him His way and lead him. It is a good recipe for our lives as well. We are to pursue God and seek to know Him more and more. Each day spend time talking to Him, thinking about Him, reading the Word and letting Him be in first place.

We don’t need more things, we need God’s presence. It’s so wonderful we don’t have to earn His love, but rather receive His love and find our value in Him and not what we do. Some of us might feel we have to perform well for Him to love us, but that is not the case. He loves us even when we blow it and He gives us a clean slate when we ask forgiveness. None of us deserve His love, but by faith we receive it and let Him change us to be the person He created us to be. Let us walk in His love and put Him in first place in our lives daily.

Challenge for today: Let the Lord change you from the inside out as you cooperate with the Holy Spirit and put everything in His hands.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

January 1, 2026

January 1, 2026 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Happy Happy New Year! Did you stay up to ring in the New year? We never made it to midnight but did some celebrating last night and today will celebrate more. Al loves to watch football and I make his favorite snacks and it is his one day of the year to vegetate in front of the TV.
Your question for this week is what word would you choose for the coming year to especially focus on in your relationship with the Lord?
Devotions from Judy’s heart
 Today I would like to confess something that I need to definitely improve upon in the New Year, that I failed to accomplish well in the past year. A friend and I both choose a word at the beginning of each New Year that we would like to uncover, spending some time focusing on and discovering more about it. My word in 2024 was “Deep” as I desired to go deeper with the Lord.
 Then at the beginning of 2025, I chose the word “Quiet,” intending to practice being quiet before the Lord, just sitting and enjoying His presence each day. No words, just listening to Him and being with Him. Even though I taught this in the past and wrote about it, I failed to do it many days and just began writing a devotional after having my personal devotions. More times than I would like to admit, I began my work without taking those quiet moments to just be with the Lord in quietness.
  My friend recently asked me what my word was for this past year, I missed it and said, “Deep” which was my word for the year before. I had to look up in my notebook and discovered my word was “Quiet.” Right then I knew I deserved a D or an F for missing days when I skipped that special time in quiet listening that is far more important than what I had to do during that day. Sitting before the Lord and listening is honoring Him, paying attention and giving Him the floor so to speak. The days I did sit in quiet with Him, were days that everything went better and seemed to flow along. He knows what my day holds and can prepare me for whatever is ahead.
 Perhaps we have all had people in our lives that give us only partial attention. It seems like they are listening, but by the questions they ask later, we know they missed what we said. Or it could be they were interrupted by their phone and had one eye on it and only partial attention to us. I feel regretful for the times I have done that to the Lord and not given Him my full attention. It helps me to keep a notebook nearby during quiet moments with Him, as I write down something that needs attention later or special words He speaks to my heart.
 I want to encourage you to pick a word that describes something you need to focus on in the New Year and ask the Lord to help you be faithful.
Challenge for today: After picking a word for the year, ask the Lord to teach you and be a better student than I have been.
Blessings in your new year and prayers and love, Judy

December 31, 2025

December 31, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are making preparations to celebrate the new year! I plan to go to my exercise class this morning and crafts this afternoon and then make preparations for Al’s special treats for New Year’s Day.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Soon we will embark on a New Year and I like to sit quietly on New Year’s Eve, thinking over the past year and asking the Lord to give me a new word for the coming year. I received a text message a few days ago from a dear friend whose pastor gave them a Guided Prayer Guide for 2026 and hope that you will want do it also. First of all, spend time thanking the Lord for things you are grateful God did in 2025, then go on to pray through the following questions and journal what you hear from the Lord.

1.     What do you need to leave behind in 2025? (Toxic mindsets, sin patterns, addictions, toxic relationships, etc.)

2.     What word or phrase is going to define 2026 for me? (Spend a great amount of time on this one.)

3.     Jesus, what do you want my spiritual life to look like in 2026? (Time in the Word, prayers and church)

4.     Jesus, how can I better steward my soul this year? (Emotional health and hobbies)

5.     Jesus, how can I be a better steward of the body you have given me this year? (Health and fitness)

6.     Jesus, what does relational health look like for me this year? Who do I need to invite in and where do I need to put up boundaries? How can I better steward my marriage?

7.     Jesus, how can I be more generous with what you have blessed me with this year? (Commit to tithe, give to missions, serve, etc.)

8.     Jesus, how do you want to use me this year at work and in my sphere of influence?

I hope you will spend some time with these questions and begin the New Year with anticipation for what the Lord will do in you and through you.

Challenge for today: Go apart and spend some time before the Lord and write down your answers to the questions.
Blessings on your New Year’s Eve and prayers and love, Judy

December 30, 2025

December 30, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a prayerful day! I plan to clean the apartment as I took down our Christmas decorations yesterday. I have fish to
fry for dinner that were a gift we so appreciate. Al is happy there are more pumpkin pancakes for supper tonight! Such a small
thing but he has thanked me numerous times!Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Many of us start our day with prayer, asking the Lord to bless our day, to help us in our work, protect us, etc. But what about the end of the day? Do we remember to give Him thanks for how He was with us giving us guidance and creative ways to do our best work? It’s like in my husband’s study: he has two very heavy bookends, and both are needed to hold the books upright and keep them from falling over. Our day is incomplete, in a sense, like having only one bookend if we neglect to thank the Lord who was led and guided us in making our decisions, given us stamina to complete our tasks and helped us in our relationships, etc.  We might just want to give praise aloud to the Lord on our drive home from work and rehearse His goodness to us throughout our whole workday.

Then it is good to leave behind the work and have a little playtime and unstructured time to relax and enjoy life. All work and no play is not good for our souls, and each of us may find different ways to find balance. Just like children who are in school all day and hear the bell to go home: they switch gears and begin enjoying some fun free time. Some people even write “Play Time” into their datebook to be sure to rest from their work. I often refer to free time as my reward time when I sit down and play a Scrabble game online after cleaning or working a long while in the kitchen. A time away from work actually makes us more productive and frees our mind to think more creatively.

We need to acknowledge the Lord in all we do, and as it says in Proverbs 3:6 & 8: “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track…Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!” Throughout our day let us acknowledge the Lord and at the end of the day, let us give thanks.

Challenge for today: Take time to do something relaxing and fun and give thanks to the Lord.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy
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