Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today I read in Matt. 19 about how Jesus did not want the little children hindered but to come to him as He laid his hands on them and blessed them.  We have all 7 of our grandkids with us now and our desire is to bless them. Each one is so unique and special!  We do not have favorites but love each of them in different ways for they have one-of- a kind personality. We want to treat each of them according to what is meaningful to them, although we are so imperfect at doing that.  But it gives us a sense of our Heavenly Father and how He knows exactly how to love and nurture us. I’m so glad He doesn’t have favorites but treats us as His beloved children, wanting to spend time with us to express that love. Just as our grandkids aren’t perfect angels all the time, He loves us unconditionally and sees the potential in us and what we may become. Let us be more aware of His love for us and become more rooted and grounded in that perfect love.  Eph 3:17-18.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

The other day I was making stew and I like to use spices to make if flavorful. I took many different ones out and sprinkled it into the pot of stew. But when I got to Cumin, nothing came out. I pounded the bottom on the counter thinking it could need to be loosened but still nothing. I opened the lid and there was a seal across the top that I had not opened yet, since it was new from the store.
It didn’t take me long to pull it off and the spice came sprinkling out. I thought of many of the promises in scripture that we say “ they just don’t work”, but we forget there is a condition attached to it. God may say, “If you do this…. I will do that” but we only take the last part and then blame Him for not coming through.  II Chron. 7:14 it says: “IF my people who are called by my name, humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  Or in I John 1 If we confess our sins, he will forgive and cleanse us. And If we walk in the light, we will have fellowship with other believers and be cleansed from all our sin. Let us open the seal by doing our part and then let God pour out His blessings upon us.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today we went to pick up a motor for our boat as the old one “died”.  Just yesterday Al and Mark went to look at motors and came home excited about one of them, even though the price was higher than Craig’s List. I said, maybe we could get the price down and they left it in my ball park to call the dealer. I didn’t think I had anything to lose and called him up and just asked if he would take a $100 less. He said yes, and we were all dancing with joy. He even gave us another $100 for our old motor.  I thought immediately of the verse in James 4:2 “You do not have, because you do not ask.”  Scripture is loaded with verses on asking and we are encouraged to ask Him for what we need. Sometimes it is so surprising how He answers!  In Matt. 7 we are told to Ask, seek and knock. “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”  As we come humbly before the Lord and seek His will and persist in prayer He will provide us just what we need. I wonder how many blessings we have missed out on because we don’t go to Him and ask in faith. Just like we love to give gifts to our kids and grandkids, the Lord delights to give to us.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Our credit card expired and a new one was lost somewhere in the mail. After a couple calls a new card was on the way, but in the meantime I tried to use our travel card. I had never noticed there was an expiration date on that one, since you can reload it. Even though there was money in the account we were unable to use it as it had expired. Later after several calls to the bank, the money was deposited in our checking, but not without difficulty. There are times when the Lord has a blessing in store for us and we are to act on a promise He has given us, a gift to be received. But we may delay and refuse at the time, and before we know it, this grace- filled time has expired. I suspect sometimes we have all had times like that…we have been slow to respond to His grace and we miss what He has for us. Let us be sensitive to His Spirit and welcome all that the Lord has for us each grace-filled moment..

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Today I read from Prov. 3 and 4 of a father who wants to parent his child like the Lord’s parenting.  He wants his son to accept his words and go the way of wisdom, that same wisdom that went back through many generations. “ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”  I see this being carried out with our grandson John Mark as his parents discipline him out of love. If John Mark could get by with things, I suspect he would, but he knows his parents mean it when they say he will have consequences when he doesn’t listen. He has already had spent a couple times in his bedroom when he failed to listen but afterwards he is quick to obey. The Lord must rejoice when we listen to the Spirit and obey, but like John Mark, we don’t always do that. Sometimes we have to suffer the consequences but it is for our own good, as it may save us from something more severe down the line. As it says in Prov 4 when we listen and accept His words, our steps will not be hampered and we will not stumble when we run. May we be attentive to His words for they are “life and healing to those who find them.”

Devotions from Judy’s heart

While working in the kitchen at Kurt’s I got a stain on a shirt I happen to like.  When I washed it, it came out with the stain just as prominent as before. Since it had gone in the dryer too, I felt it was futile to wash it again and would probably have to throw it away. But when I got it home, I sprayed it and then washed it a second time. I was so surprised when the stain was completely removed and I can wear the shirt again. Have you ever wondered if you can ever get over something that you did or was done to you? A big stain in your life! It may seem impossible but the Lord is able to wash us and make us 100% clean and white. We may try other ways to get over it, but when we give it to the Lord, He is able to remove it completely. After David had committed adultery and Nathan revealed his sin, he cried out to the Lord, “purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”  Let us go to the One who can cleanse and heal us and make us new.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

The other day while our relatives were gathered at the Point, I drove our car over to join them. But in the middle of the road was a pail used to get water from the well. I had no idea why it was there and had to get out of the car and remove it to the side of the road. I wondered who put it there. Later as supper was served they asked my brother what happened to the well water. He had put the pail in the middle of the road to remind himself to get water on his way back from swimming. So he had to make a trip back to the well!  Sometimes people around us do things we don’t understand and make no sense to us. We may get irritated or think it impedes our progress. But all I had to do with the pail was to simply set it aside.  Let us not get upset by the idiosyncrasies of others but be patient; go on with our lives. Sometimes we may get understanding but even if we don’t, let us not judge others. Just like my brother, there may be a perfectly logical reason for their action. When we focus on the negative we will miss the gifts God has placed inside others.  As it says in Ps. 149,  God takes pleasure in His people. Let us take pleasure in others and notice all their good qualities just as we would like them to see in us!

Devotions from Judy’s heart

One Sunday a man came up from me after church and tucked in a tag that was showing on the back of my blouse. He said it bothered him the whole service and he could hardly hear the sermon. ( I’m sure he was  kidding!) But how nice of him to let me know, and isn’t it good that in the Body of Christ others will let us know when there are obvious things in our lives that need changing?  We can grow if we are open to hear them. He was not trying to put me down but said it to help me. God sends people in our lives to speak His truth to us, but can we hear?  Sometimes we would rather reject the messenger and then we never deal with those things but keep going our own “crooked ways”.  Let us be open so that we will always be growing and becoming more like Him.
As it says in Ps.25, “Show me your ways, O lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior”.

Devotions from Judy’s heart

Change is not always welcomed, even though we may say change is good. One night I played Scrabble on Facebook before going to bed and th next day I woke up to a whole new set up that was entirely different. At first I didn’t like it, as I couldn’t even find the dictionary check. But I am getting use to it and learning to use the new features. I still like the old one better at this point, but that is because I am still adjusting to the New.  In another sense, change is what life is all about. Sometimes it may be a little scary when we go into new territory that we have not been in before. We have to be careful not to give way to worry and fear, but to just hang on tighter to the Lord. Everything that helps us become more aware of our need for Him is good. As it said in my devotional book today, “I am pleased by your tendency to turn to Me more and more frequently… As you bask in the blessing of My nearness, My life can flow through you to others. This is the abundant life.”  So yes, change is good as we hang on to Him who never changes!  He is the same loving Father who loves us always.