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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March 18, 2021

March 18, 2021 / / 0 Comments
Devotions from Judy’s heart
There are many things we don’t understand and will find answered in eternity, if it should matter to us then. One question we may have all asked and wondered is why loving good people have to suffer and others who do such evil things seem to go scott free. But even though it seems unfair, God has a plan and one day we will understand His wisdom. We probably all know people who are full of love and serve the Lord that live with chronic illnesses. Every day they struggle with health issues. I have a friend that has numerous health concerns that others are unaware of, but she never complains and thinks of ways to serve others. I found a very old devotional book by Billy Graham that is literally falling apart, and he writes about how people with good health are often miserable and some of the world’s greatest people have huge handicaps. For example, the Messiah was composed by Handel who suffered with paralysis on his right side and arm. Catherine Booth said at the end of her life that there wasn’t a day of her life that she can remember that she was free of pain. And Helen Keller with all her challenges could say, “I thank God for my handicaps, for through them I have found myself, my work and God.” We may all have questions to ask the Lord of the whys in our own lives or of those we know. When Jesus washed his disciple’s feet, the night he was betrayed, Peter resisted at first but Jesus responded by saying, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.” John 13: 7(The Message) No, there are many things we may not know even in this life, like why certain people have to suffer so much or why a loved one was taken, but later we will know. But for now, let us have simple trust, knowing that the Lord is all-loving and all-wise.
Challenge for today: Thank the Lord for some handicap you have and ask Him to use it for His glory in your life.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

March 17, 2021

March 17, 2021 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a wonderful day. We are back from the Lake and left early this morning as I made a visit to a friend in Birchview along the way. Also had my hair done before going to Ann’s for lunch. We got to see all that they have done with Canaan and you probably wouldn’t recognize it if you had visited us there before. Just Lovely!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Don’t you love to be around gracious people? They aren’t busy tabulating our mistakes or trying to persuade us to their way of thinking but just expressing acceptance and grace. It’s freeing not to feel pressured by others to be in the same political arena or have the same views on everything but just enjoy their presence in sharing the Lord. I am in the book of Corinthians now and reading how Paul handled the people with all their problems with much grace.  I was surprised today when up popped an e-mail of what Samuel Rodriguez’s take was on the church there.  The Corinthian church had many struggles but Paul didn’t capitalize on that, realizing that sin is the enemy, not the people. Instead, he risked his life for them, taught them, visited them 3 times, and spoke truth to them. He delt with their problems and encouraged them to live holy lives. Paul himself, had received much grace from the Lord, for he persecuted Christians before he had an awakening on the Damascus road and came to faith. He said in I Cor. 15:10, “But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not (found to be) for nothing.” I wonder when we are short on grace if we have forgotten how God’s grace was poured out on us and what He saved us from. Paul reflected grace to the people of Corinth and looked beyond their faults to their deeper needs. How well do we do that for others? Like Rodriguez said, we are never more like God than when we give grace to someone. I think of my aunt who recently died as she was a gracious person to all. I spent so much time with her, especially in my teens, and I felt like she always saw the best in me, even when I failed at something. We need people like that in our lives and we also need to be like that. That’s what grace is all about—God’s kindness and favor given when we don’t deserve it. Let us become more like Jesus and let His grace pour through us to others. I think we will find our souls enlarged as well.
Challenge for today: Accept where people are at and show God’s grace in your attitude and actions.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

March 16, 2021

March 16, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Dear Ones,
Hope your day is filled with sunshine! This morning I baked Starch free blueberry cinnamon bread and S.F. cookies and went downstairs for coffee. Got done in time to have brunch at the apt of a new couple here. They also invited friends of ours that we haven’t seen for sometime. So great to catch up and a rich time of fellowship!
Devotions from Judy’s heart,
I wonder if you know the song, “This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears, all nature sings and around me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas—His hand the wonders wrought.” The writer was Pastor Babcock and he use to tell his wife when he was going for a walk, in upstate N.Y, “I’m going to see my Father’s world!” God is so present in His world and He speaks especially through nature. I asked the question when sending out my daily devotional of what we liked best about Spring?” So many responded and one friend asked me what my answer was as well. I would have to say that Spring is about my most favorite season, although summer is very close. When I see new green growth peeking up from the cold earth after the long winter, it seems so miraculous. Since I am a daily walker, it’s in the spring of the year that I notice new life happening all around, and even from one day to the next there is a change. I love the bright yellow of the daffodils that seem to pop up overnight and other flowers of purple and white that almost hug the ground. The trees that were barren over winter start to bud and show a tad of green each day until they are all leafed out. It’s so amazing! It reminds me of rebirth and what our life in the Lord is like as we grow and blossom and burst with joy. When we come to the Lord it is just the beginning and He wants us to leaf out and to radiate the glory of our Creator. We are a new creation in Christ. As it says in II Cor.5:17 (God’s word), “Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.” One person wrote that spring is a time when birds seem to sing louder in the predawn and we can awaken to their song. We are reminded that just as the Lord cares for the birds of the air, He cares for us. Another wrote of spring as a season of hope for new life as faith wakes up from winter slumber. Someone else recognized the chatter of chipmunks and other creatures and everything coming alive in newness. So many reminders of Easter and celebrating that He is alive! Others noticed the beautiful blue skies and recalling, His loving kindness extends to the heavens and his faithfulness reaches to the skies. (Psalm 36:5) Also, the longer daylight hours and the sun coming closer each day reminding them of walking in the light of His presence. Let us let open our ears to the sounds of nature and listen to what God has to say to us.
Challenge for today: Take a leisurely walk out in nature and give praise to Him who made it all, including you!
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

March 15, 2021

March 15, 2021 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you had a relaxing and renewing weekend.  Saturday, after I wrote you to pray for Nancy, I got word later in the day that she died. She is now with the Lord but please continue in prayer for her family. She just went in for knee surgery and died so shortly afterwards. This morning I did food prep, went to Aldi’s and then to my exercise class. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Jesus was a great story teller and frequently used stories to help others see from His point of view. He often spoke in parables, which is a brief story, and requires the imagination of the listener. Eugene Peterson said parables are not used to tell us something new but to get us to notice something that has been right before our eyes and we have missed; or maybe we have simply dismissed it as we didn’t think it was important. When we listen to a parable, we are often surprised as it brings up a reaction in us that we weren’t expecting. We are all probably familiar with the Prodigal Son but Peterson’s favorite parable is the Manure Story. Really?! You may remember the time Jesus was walking with his disciples on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. He tells them the story of the man who had a fig tree that had not produced figs for the past 3 years. So, the man tells the Vinedresser to just chop it down since it is simply taking up space. But in Luke 13:8-9 (ESV) he answers by saying, “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” The farmer is impatient but the vinedresser wants to give it a chance and to dig around it and put on manure. Often when Jesus tells stories He is calling us to action, but in this parable, He is trying to teach us restraint. We are to be patient and wait for God and His timing and His way to deal with things. Maybe there is someone that offends us greatly and we would just like them removed rather than taking up space. But Jesus may be saying, wait a minute, I want to give more time to work in this person’s life, just like putting the manure on. Of course, we know that is not a quick fix and will be a very slow solution which will require patience on our part especially. We would rather have instant results than to wait and suffer. But manure has lots of enzymes and nutrients and is full of resurrection power. Peterson said that silence can be the manure of resurrection.  He quotes Saul Bellow, “Silence is enriching. The more you keep your mouth shut, the more fertile you become.” Often, we must wait in silence and let things alone while God is working in another. We need to keep our hands off! It is God who acts and we who wait!
Challenge for today: Ask God to help you to be patient as He works in the lives of those around you. Remember His patience with you.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy

I Abandoned My Post

March 15, 2021 / / 0 Comments

My bride and I had a disagreement on a recent Sunday morning as we were getting ready for church.  We came to an agreement and went off to the service. But I did not let go. I shut down emotionally. We both knew the oneness of spirit was missing.  I nursed my wounds all day. Monday morning helped me see the light. I repented, knelt before Judy, and sought her forgiveness.

As I reflected on my relational “stumbling,” the words, “You abandoned your post” came to me. I was convicted of my lack of sensitivity to my wife’s emotional and spiritual needs.  I realized that in acting childishly and nursing my self-pity, I simply walked away from the emotional space I am to help provide in our marriage.  I abandoned my wife, leaving her alone and emotionally vulnerable.    

I believe, accept, and desire to live out my role to lead in our relationship (Eph. 5:23).  Part of my responsibility is to cultivate and protect her emotional space.  But what I did was abandon my post.  I have done that before; this time, however, I saw how damaging it was to my wife.  I could see it in her eyes and in her tone of voice.

In our marriage, our oneness makes me complete in the Lord.  I can say with Adam, “Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh!  Name her woman for she was made from man.” (Gen. 2:23 – Message).  I need to treat Judy as I would treat myself. “So men ought to give their wives the love they naturally have for their own bodies.  The love a man gives his wife is the extending of his love for himself to enfold her” (Eph. 5:28 – Phillips).   

After 55 years of marriage, I am becoming increasingly aware of my bride’s emotional needs and how I can take our relationship for granted.  My role is to cherish my wife, giving her space to grow in the Lord. It helps me to see her as a blooming flower. “Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens” (Song of Songs 2:2).  Praise the Lord for this newfound sensitivity.  I have missed so many cues over the years.    

For what it’s worth to men reading this blog, here is some of what I am learning.  I still fail, but I’m learning to create emotional space. 

First, put my wife’s needs first. This means to not take our relationship for granted.  “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.  It does not demand its own way” (I Cor. 13:4 NLT).    

Second, have a caring, loving attitude.  My wife can easily detect insincerity.  Only the Spirit of Christ can help me be consistent. “Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly” (Col. 3:19 NLT).

Third, use words to build up. Words can either build my wife up or subtly cause her to doubt herself and fade as a beautiful flower. “You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry” (James 1:19 NLT).

Fourth, watch your tone of voice.  I never knew how vital this is in communicating and really have to work at this. It is so easy to sound negative and condescending.  Love “is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged” (I Cor.13:5 NLT).

Last, be quick to admit failure.  “…Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed…” (James 5:16). My ego must go first. That’s what a good leader does (Matt. 20:26-27).

March 13, 2021

March 13, 2021 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. The house is full of aroma as I made a big pot of stew and other food prep. Ann’s are stopping by this afternoon so baked cookies. Please pray for our friend Nancy who had surgery this week but now in ICU on life support and organs are failing. It is still hard to believe. Her whole family needs prayers. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
It’s wonderful to have good relationships with everyone but since we are all broken people, we have quite likely have felt the sting of being betrayed by a friend. It hurts and wounds but doesn’t need to destroy us. I read an article by Jen Allee and she writes about how Jesus was wounded and actually knew who was going to betray Him and when it would happen; yet he chose to demonstrate His love for his betrayer, Judas, and didn’t distance Himself from him. I wonder if we could do that under those circumstances. It is a difficult thing and maybe even harder if you know in advance that someone is going to turn you in. Jesus had supper with the disciples and then got up from the table and began washing their feet. This was normally done by a servant of the household but Jesus humbled Himself and washed all of the disciple’s feet, including Judas. Can we imagine what that was like? After He finished John 13:21 ((God’s Word) says, “After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” Jesus knew exactly what would happen next but He just kept loving and left a powerful example for us.  Even in our vivid memories of a friend who let us down in the past, most of us have never experienced such betrayal. Wouldn’t it have been easier for Jesus to wait until Judas excused himself and then washed the other 11 disciple’s feet? But Jesus knew who He was and the mission He had been given and didn’t base His happiness on His relationships with others. That is good for us to remember also, not to let how others treat us define who we are. We are loved by God, and our happiness should not depend on warm fuzzies from others. It’s wonderful to have good friendships but because we are all broken people, we are hurt by others and we also hurt others. Allee makes the point that our pain is not permanent because this world is not our home. Our mission here is not great relationships with others but to share Christ with them. In fact, we can actually grow stronger through our wounds when we forgive others and give our brokenness to the Lord. He heals and strengths us to rise above whatever is done to us. Let us love like Jesus, forgive like Him and serve others.
Challenge for today: Don’t run from prickly people but ask God to open your heart and pour out His love to them.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

March 12, 2021

March 12, 2021 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! I started the day with my annual  Doctor visit and am thankful to be healthy. I am doing some baking now, as Ann’s may stop in tomorrow and want some goodies for the grandkids!Emoji 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I think we would all agree that the church today needs to be renewed. We have strayed from the mission of the church and in some ways are more like a social club that has absorbed the culture’s values. The early church had true community and welcomed everyone, including the Gentiles, strangers, women, foreigners, the poor, sick etc. In a sense they had a massive social welfare system as they cared for widows, orphans, and all who came with needs, including those who were struck by plagues. Christians believed they were undeserving but because they had received God’s love, they were to love and serve others. Besides the temple, churches were formed in homes, down by riversides, and wherever Christians gathered. When Al pastored in Des Moines, we took mission trips to Mexico where a simple church was being built.  Al preached inside an enclosure of brick walls, no roof and one lightbulb hanging for him to see his notes. But God was there and hearts were drawn to the Lord. Today here in the U.S. we are spoiled and some choose churches by their massiveness, their beauty, or history. or the organ, etc. But the church is not a building but a gathering of people who have found salvation, care for one another and want to proclaim Jesus to the world. Sadly, Pastors are so busy with preparing sermons to be given on TV, writing books, fixing sound systems etc. they hardly have time to visit the sick or help those who need spiritual council. When my friend was dying at home and wanted a visit from her pastor, he told her he didn’t do visits. Sad! But all who know the Lord are the church and called to serve others and open our hearts to whoever the Lord sends into our lives. Professor Sittser tells of a particular church that was on the front page of the newspaper concerning their ministry. An example was shared about a poor homeless gal that was addicted to meth and went to their church as a last resort. The first person who greeted her was the senior pastor and he asked what she needed and gave her assistance. She started coming to church and found community and that they cared for her. She was later diagnosed with cancer and members of her “life Group” brought her meals and encouraged her and provided for her needs. They were the church! Today, we have so many ways to respond with compassion, especially for those hit hard in this pandemic. We have only to ask the Lord, “what would you have me do?” Let us become the church that Jesus loves and gave His life for.
Challenge for today: The next time you come across someone in need, ask the Lord if you are to fill that need.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

March 11, 2021

March 11, 2021 / / 0 Comments
 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
True success is knowing God and doing His will. Even if we reach the top of the corporate ladder, become famous and well known in high circles, we fail when we don’t live our lives for the Lord. Jesus asks His disciples an important question in Matt. 16:26 (ESV), “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits His soul? Or what shall a man give in return for His soul?” Nothing is more important than knowing Him and serving Him but how do we come to know Him more intimately? Spending time in prayer is so important and we can share anything with the Lord. Sometimes we may feel like giving up when distractions come and we find our mind wandering all over. But distractions are normal for us all and we can even ask the Lord what they are telling us about ourselves. Then after we acknowledge them and discern their message, we can let them go. If it seems like God is far away, some find it helpful to picture the Lord sitting across from them and like our best friend, we begin to tell Him our thoughts and feelings and whatever is going on in our lives. Of course, we should be silent after and give Him room to speak to us as well, as we listen. It’s also important to read the Word as it is God’s love letter to us. We don’t have to read a lot at one sitting bur rather take a few verses at a time and ponder what God is saying to us personally in our relationship to Him. We can ask ourselves what seemed to touch us and how do we need to change? Spending time also praising Him is so good for our souls and we can sing and dance before Him. I use to put praise music on while I held one of our grandchildren; we just danced around the room as they rang little bells. As we grow in the Lord, we will take more seriously doing His will above our own. It’s not always easy to discern as we may not get a bright blinding light as the Apostle had with a message from God. But He speaks in many ways through the Holy Spirit. We may hear Him as we are out in nature, like watching the birds and remembering that he takes care of the birds of the air, He will take care of whatever our problems are. Or maybe Pastor preaches a word that is exactly what we have been pondering; or the same verse is given from several different people in our lives. We might journal and as we look back over the pages, it becomes obvious how God is leading us. Knowing the Lord is not boring or burdensome but exciting for He always has new surprises for us. I know you know all these things but sometimes we have to remind ourselves to keep seeking Him, to keep growing, and to be open to His will.
Challenge for today: Spend a few moments just quietly enjoying the Lord’s presence in silence and listen to His whispers.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

March 10, 2021

March 10, 2021 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying this day. This morning I cleaned our apartment and did food prep and went to my exercise class. Al had  Band of Brothers which meets early. We hope to go to Lenten service tonight but heard we may get up to 4″ of snow!Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Everything has a beginning and an end and most of our enthusiasm is at the beginning and then jubilation at the end. But what about the middle? That is where we need the greatest patience and endurance to keep on and to not give up. Maybe we can think of times we didn’t persevere and never got the degree we wanted, or were unwilling to do the hard work to save our marriage etc. It’s in that between time that we need strength and wisdom to see it through all the way. I have especially been mindful of this as my cousin Linnea and her daughter Erin and son-in-law Chris are walking across America from Delaware to California. This has been a dream and their enthusiasm has been building over years to do this. Finally, the day has come and they began carrying out this dream last week; perhaps you are following the Minnesota Crossers. But even though it is exciting now they are beginning the middle time in walking out their dream. They have experienced people’s kindness in giving them food and shelter at times but also have experienced sleeping in the cold and being hungry as they search for a place to eat. They never know what each day will bring. They have slept on boards at a shelter built for American Discovery Trail people, as well as, a nice hotel, extremes from freezing cold to basking in a hot tub. Their trip will be full of beautiful scenery, new friendships, surprise discoveries, and times of plenty and times of scarcity. But one thing is certain, they need to place their dependency on the Lord at all times. For now, they need lots of endurance and to keep their eye on the end goal. Even more importantly is the eternal goal of life with God forever and Gal. 6:9 (Amplified) says, “And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.” We are all in the between season of our lives right now and we need to hang on and not grow faint or give up. God is using whatever we go through to make us complete and give us character and hope. Let us all finish strong and weather our circumstances with grace and courage. As we say to the Minnesota Crosses and to ourselves, “Don’t give up, keep strong, walk with your eye on the goal, and one day you will reap a sure reward.”
Challenge for today: Think of a dream God has given you in the past, and ask Him to help you walk it out with courage and His strength
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

March 9, 2021

March 9, 2021 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope your day is filled with good things. Al left early this morning to go see our friend about our taxes and another friend for lunch. I did some studying, made G.F. muffins  and took rice krispie bars down for coffee time. My walk today will be alone with the Lord and all of nature since Al will be on the road.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How often do we label people and put them in categories? I think we all do that at times but it isn’t fair to the person, for each one is a unique creation of God. There is no one quite like us anywhere through all of time and that seems totally amazing when you think of the billions and billions of people.  We are told to judge not and it is especially important not to label people on first impressions because it tells only a small portion of who they are. Each person is unique and irreplaceable. Why do we want to act and dress like someone else when it may not be who we really are? My sister-in-law is a seamstress and loves that fact that she can create clothes that are not like anyone else, but simply reflect who she really is. Wouldn’t it be great if teen agers did the same instead of having to have a certain style and brand of clothes? Living at Northern Lakes we meet new people all the time and our first impression is not necessarily the same as when we sit and have coffee with them and get to know them. We should not label others quickly but let it evolve who they are and appreciate their uniqueness. We have only to reflect on how wonderful it feels when others do that for us, and appreciate our unique qualities. One day when our grandson was here alone with us, we had time for a long conversation with him. He was seeking to know exactly what sort of job he is cut out for and we asked lots of questions for him to think about. His two brothers are very different from him and will not choose a similar field of interest. Isn’t it wonderful that God created us all so different? David said in Psalm 138:14 (The Word), “I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Our works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.” May each of us know in our hearts how marvelously we are made and also appreciate His creation in others without lumping them into categories and labeling them!
Challenge for today: Tell another person in your life at least one unique quality you see and appreciate in them.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy
 
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