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.

Page 28 of 364

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a wonderful weekend and time to regroup and get refreshed. We will be setting up for the Birthday Party this morning and going to Costco for the cake. Only 4 birthdays this month but the community room will be filled.
Dear Ones,
Anger is one emotion that all of us, including Christians, may have a hard time to admit feeling. We think we are more spiritual if we block out anger and don’t admit to it, but there is such a thing as appropriate anger. It’s good and healthy to allow ourself to feel anger and take responsibility for it, for then anger can actually become useful. As we learn to share anger in an appropriate way and deal with it, we show that we are honest and genuine and seeking to live a healthy life.
We all need to admit to our anger rather than cover it up. We can ask ourselves what we are so angry about and with whom, then express that anger appropriately in the right manner. We needn’t be ashamed of being angry, for Jesus was angry at times with his own group of followers as well as the scribes, the Pharisees and others. Appropriate anger is healthy and we always need to guard against either overreacting or underreacting. When we overreact everyone around us realizes we are angry but when we underreact, we suppress our anger and are not honest with ourselves or others. People who cover up their anger often have physical ailments like headaches, depression, ulcers, colitis, chest pains, etc. Repressed anger will come out somehow when it is not addressed. We may have outbursts or overreactions and explode. But anger can also be expressed in silence and coldness towards the other, and this is not healthy or being honest in our relationships. It may also show up spiritually, with us feeling weighted down by the meaninglessness of life and we end up feeling distant from God.
It’s important we understand that its all right to be angry, then get over it and let go. We don’t want to stay angry or it will take its toll on our body and on our relationships with others. Perhaps we are afraid to tell someone we are angry, fearing they will get angry with us. Anger doesn’t mean violence either, for that is anger out of control. But anger says that you care to be real with me and it’s an act of concern. Sometimes we get angry at God, but He is able to take it. When we are honest, genuine and express appropriate anger, it helps us live a genuine, vibrant life and we learn to trust and love one another and the Lord.
Challenge for today: The next time you are angry, speak up in the appropriate way, not to change the person but to live in openness with them. Psalm 4:4 Be angry and do not sin.”
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have a blessed day! Thank you so much for your prayers as we are grateful to be safely home after making it through pouring rain and lots of traffic and now tucked into our apartment again. We enjoyed our time so much with Mark’s family and got spoiled with wonderful meals and fun times together. I was able to get unpacked, wash clothes, go to Aldi’s and put way the Easter decorations. This morning I have an appointment and later Bible Study.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How good is your hearing? Do things have to be repeated or do you catch what is being said and respond quickly. Some of us have to have devices to help us hear well, but spiritual hearing is even more important than physical hearing. Jesus spoke of that when he was strolling in the Temple and the Jews were questioning Him if he was the Messiah. He said actions speak louder than words and since they didn’t believe in Him they couldn’t recognize His voice. When we belong to Him, Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life.”

One of the marks of knowing our Shepherd is that we hear His voice as He calls our name, instructs us, tells us which way to go etc. But hearing is only the first part, for we are also to follow with action. Young children often pretend they don’t hear what their parent is saying because they don’t want to do what is asked of them. The parent’s voice may then get louder until finally action takes place, for It is no longer questionable that the children have actually heard.

Of course, the Lord knows our hearts and if we are being stubborn, double-minded, or disobedient, He knows. The sad thing is that when we don’t obey, we miss what He has for us. There may be something He asks of us and as we do it we often experience a big surprise later. When our kids were young, we worked in the morning which on certain days meant cleaning their rooms, doing dishes, cutting the grass etc. and most afternoons I took them to the pool as their reward. The rule was no work, no play!

We all need to listen carefully to the Lord and follow in obedience. There is only one way to be happy and that is to TRUST and OBEY!

Challenge for today: Make up your mind ahead of time, “What You say we will do. Where you send we will go. Never fear, only trust and obey!”
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Jud

April 23, 2025

April 22, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
 May you make a difference for the Lord each day. This is our last hotel night and we are at the Drury in Iowa City enjoying a little time to retreat. Tomorrow night we hope to be home in our own bed with thankful hearts for your prayers. I am sending this out early tonight as we will leave right after breakfast in the morning.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Does our life honor the Lord or does it give a different message than what we speak with our lips? I think we have all been disillusioned when someone we highly respect behaves in a manner that is not even Christian. Perhaps we have heard a great speaker and read his book, and then discover he treats those under him badly and even having a love affair. It’s so important to live what we believe if we are to make a difference in this world to influence others for the Lord.

None of us is perfect, for sure, and we have so many examples in scripture of people that have royally blown it, but when they repented and changed their ways they were forgiven and restored. That doesn’t mean we should go out and live a life of sin because we know the Lord will forgive us, but rather that we should live like Jesus and repent when we go astray. The apostle Paul said in II Thess 1:11, “If your life honors the name of Jesus, He will honor you.” He encourages the followers of Jesus to live worthy of His calling so that He is glorified in them.

Our conversation should also be different when we know the Creator of the Universe. If He put the world in place, can’t He take care of things? As Christians we see the horrendous violence that is taking place all over the world as seen on the news, but we must not be without hope. Do we talk as if the Lord is absent or are we prompted to pray and even share what the Lord is doing. In the midst of all the chaos there is also revival happening, especially amongst young people. We just celebrated Easter and were reminded of the power that raised Jesus from the dead is also in us. In Romans 6 Paul shares how we were baptized into His death and now walk in newness of life like Jesus who was raised from the dead.

Let us live as those who have been freed from the power of the enemy and become more like Jesus each day.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to show you ways that your life is not honoring Him and pray for His power to change you.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

The Rising Waters & Our Hiding Place

April 22, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Having grown up near Lake Superior, I am familiar with the sound and fury of the waves breaking on the shores of the great lake.  Ps. 93 reminds us that God is “robed in majesty and is armed with strength.  The world stands firm and cannot be shaken” (v.1).  The Psalmist seems to describe his experience, “The floods have risen up, O Lord.  The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves” v.2).  But he can confidently declares, “But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore – the Lord above is mightier than these!” (v. 4).

One way to describe the state of our nation is that of flood waters breaking in all upon us.  It can be typified by the chaos and confusion that is felt due to the completing voices speaking loudly for our attention and allegiance.  The sheer noise of conflicting opinions will only increase. It seems that the storm of discontent, misfortune, and misinformation has suddenly crashed in upon our shores.  The storm has been a long time in coming. It causes fear, anger and resignation in the hearts of many.  It almost seems like there is a spiritual component orchestrating the chaos and confusion.  I am afraid that social media will only keep creating even more of a storm.  

What are followers of Jesus to do?  We certainly cannot go and hide from the sounds of “bad news.”  We must keep engaged by announcing in both word and deed the “good news” of Jesus and his kingdom.  While staying engaged we also have a hiding place from the storm. We read in Psalm 32:6 -7, “Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.  For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble.  You surround me with songs of victory.”

Men, the floodwaters of judgment could very well be ever increasing amidst the continual negative rhetoric being voiced by opposing voices.  Where in the chaos can one possibly hear “good news? Could it be in our present cultural condition, we are drifting further from the Lord, while worshiping the gods of our own making?  The confusion and uncertainty could be God’s warning,  allowing us to experience our own rebellion.  The Psalmist encourages us to “pray while there is still time.”  In other words, turn our hearts to the Lord and cry out for mercy.  The focus on the noise should not be our first concern.

In the midst of the present storm bearing down on our nation, the Psalmist offers us a lifeline.  The Lord is a “hiding place” able to protect us from trouble.  Not only a safe place, but also the assurance that we are surrounded with “songs of victory.”  The NET puts it this way:  “You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance.”  The Message is rather blunt.  “When all hell breaks loose and the dam burst, we’ll be on high ground, untouched.”  Men, we need to run for higher ground to be with others celebrating God’s victory in spite of the raising waters.

Later in the Psalm, the Message puts the advice of the Psalmist in blunt words. “Let me give you some good advice; I’m looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight: Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on the track” (vs. 8-9).  Our loving Father is heaven looks us straight in the eye, warning us not to respond like an ornery horse or mule.  

 

 

 

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
May you wake to a day of sunshine! We are again at Shelbyville, Kentucky at the same Fairfield that we were at on our way to Mark’s. We are on our way home now and got in a lot of rain and wind yesterday. We hope to make it to Iowa City tomorrow night and then home by Wed. evening. We thank the Lord for the wonderful time with Mark’s family and also thank you for prayers for our trip home.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
It is beneficial to count our blessings, for instead of thinking of losses in our lives we think of the treasures we have been given. Perhaps you have sung the song, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” It is important to live our lives fully, remember how we have been blessed and give thanks.
Sometimes we may count our regrets instead of blessings, but we can’t alter our past for it only blocks us from living a bright future. However, we can change our attitude toward what has been, giving thanks that the Lord has rescued us from our past and is present with us every moment. There are times we are not aware of His closeness and that is the perfect time to start praising Him and thanking Him. I find as I do this, it seems like the clouds part and I see deeper into His love for me. Maybe praising also helps us surrender on a deeper level to the Lord as we put Him first above all other things. He is to be our Center, not on the periphery and we were meant to live deeply in Him. May we keep a sense of joy and purpose for each day.
Let us be like the one leper who was healed and came back to Jesus to give Him thanks, unlike the other nine who never gave thanks for the One who changed their lives. Every day we are recipients of God’s mercy and grace. Are we grateful and do we use the gifts He has placed in us? Also, do we trust the Lord and not let anxiety dominate our lives. The Lord doesn’t want us to worry for He is on our side, loves us and His love is enough. We can love others because of how deeply the Lord loves us. Let us read the Sermon on the Mount often (Matthew 5-7) and be thankful and free as the birds of the air, giving thanks in all things.
Challenge for today: Spend 5-10 minutes just thanking the Lord for His gifts to you without asking for anything, but just expressing gratitude.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

April 21, 2025

April 21, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you had a wonderful Easter! We went to Easter breakfast at Mark’s church and then to the Easter service to worship and hear a great sermon. Andrea’s mom joined us for a T-bone steak dinner that was scrumptious! We spent the day with games, sharing, popcorn and a movie etc. We have been shown such wonderful hospitality!! Today we start our long trip home and appreciate prayers for a safe journey.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Isn’t wonderful that Jesus has promised to always, always be with us? Before He left our world to go back to the Father, He told His disciples to go and make disciples, baptize them and teach them. And then promised in Matt. 28:20, “And look: I am with you, every single day, to the very end of the age.” These words are especially comforting when others speak against us and even hate us because we are Christ followers. But we shouldn’t be surprised for they hated Jesus. He said in John 15:18-19, “If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms the world is going to hate you.”
One day a friend told me she had invited her daughter-in-law over to spend some time together. Her answer surprised my friend as she answered, “As long as there is no Jesus talk!” Up to this time, my friend had not known that talk of Jesus was offensive to her, and she said she rarely mentioned the name of Jesus when she was with her. But her life must have been a witness in itself, for her daughter-in-law was aware that she was a Jesus person and must have caused her heart’s conviction.
We might think what have I done to cause a negative reaction from others and how have I offended them? If there is something specific that we did that was wrong or unkind, we need to be humble and ask their forgiveness. But if we have done nothing wrong and simply lived out our life with Jesus, then it could be for those that don’t know Him yet it becomes an offense. No need to be apologetic but simply continue to show His love, even when spoken against. But all the while let us not forget that Jesus is with us and understands fully what that is like as He endured so much, even to the point of death although He never once sinned. Maybe we should rejoice when others hate us and not react but draw closer to the Lord.
Challenge for today: Thank the Lord that He counts you worthy to suffer for Him.
Blessing on your week and prayers and love, Judy

April 19, 2025

April 19, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying a wonderful meaningful Easter weekend. We have been having a great time at Mark’s as we spend lots of time sharing, many games inside and out, a movie we all enjoyed and scrumptious meals. Yesterday each of us acted out a Biblical story too. We will be going to their church tomorrow and they have a great pastor who is vulnerable and preaches powerful sermons.
I am sending you a prayer today so if you like you can pray the following prayer tomorrow whether alone or gathered with family and friends. May each of us live with joy and purpose and love.
“Heavenly Father,
On this blessed Easter Sunday, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude and joy. We rejoice in the resurrection of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we gather with loved ones and fellow believers, we are reminded of the glorious victory over sin and death that He accomplished on the cross.

Lord, we thank you for the promise of new life and the hope that Easter brings. Your mercy and grace shine brightly on this day, illuminating our lives with the warmth of your love. May we never forget the incredible sacrifice of Jesus and the profound significance of His triumph over the grave.

On this sacred day, fill our hearts with the joy of the resurrection. Help us to experience the transformative power of your love, renewing our spirits and strengthening our faith. As we celebrate together, may the message of Easter resonate deeply within us, inspiring us to live as reflections of your grace and compassion.

As we rejoice in the miracle of Easter, we lift our prayers for those who may be struggling, lonely, or in despair. May your comforting presence be with them, bringing healing and hope. Use us, Lord, as instruments of your peace and vessels of your love in the world.

We dedicate this Easter Sunday to you, grateful for the promise of redemption and the assurance of your unfailing love. May our lives be a testament to the power of your resurrection as we seek to follow you faithfully.
In the precious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.”
Challenge for today: Don’t just celebrate Easter, live it!
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

 

April 18, 2025

April 17, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
A blessed Good Friday to you! We are at Mark and Andrea’s now and thank you for prayers for the long journey here. What a joy to see family after so long and to hug and play games and catch up.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
My favorite magazine, Just Between Us, is celebrating a 35-year anniversary and many of the articles are focused on the subject of celebration. As the word celebration implies, we give praise to the Lord and are mindful of His goodness to us. I personally like celebrations, especially when we can honor our family members on their birthdays with parties presents, and perhaps a special meal. I have always believed that every person needs to have one day when they are honored and appreciated as they experience God’s love flowing to them through others. Here at Northern Lakes, we celebrate birthdays every month of the year.

In scripture we read of special times the Israelites were told to celebrate, and soon we will celebrate Good Friday and Easter. We want to never forget but rather to celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice for us. Pastor Sharon Miller writes about how everyone needs to celebrate and it can become one of the spiritual disciplines in our lives. She mentions how God created everything in 6 days and then celebrated on the 7th day by resting. His first miracle was at a wedding celebration when the wine had run out and he turned the water into wine. Jesus also celebrated Passover meal with his disciples before he was crucified. Sharon also mentions the wonderful celebration we have to look forward to in the future and that is the marriage feast of the lamb. In Revelation 19 it says, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” As the church we are the bride of Christ and we can look forward to this wondrous celebration one day.

Another celebration we may not have given much thought to is our identity in Christ. We celebrate that we are chosen by God, we are adopted, forgiven, redeemed. We can fully trust everything we read in the Word about how we matter to God and He loves us unconditionally, He forgives us and even forgets our sins. We are beautiful in His eyes and every day we can celebrate who He made us to be. There is no one else like us!

Let us take time in our lives for celebrations! In June Al and I are going to celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary and we give praise for all these many years that God has given us together to love each other and to serve and love Him.

Challenge for today: Celebrate something that you are eternally grateful for!
Blessings on your Easter weekend and prayers and love, Judy

 

April 17, 2025

April 16, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a good day. I am sending out Thursday’s devotions early tonight since we will be leaving tomorrow morning. We are in Sevierville, TN at the Fairfield and just had a wonderful early supper at the Chop Block. Tomorrow we head to Statesville, N.C. to see Mark and Andrea and John Mark and A.J. We are excited as it has been way too long since our last visit got canceled because of the hurricane.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Traumatic events have happened to most all of us and when they occur in our early years, we can bear the scars even now. We may overreact and feel some of the same emotions in our present life that we felt long ago. How surprised we are when we react so strongly to something in the present that stirs up old feelings from the past. We realize then it has not been forgotten or healed yet.

But Jesus wants to heal our soul through union with Him, and He welcomes each of us to come to Him. He is always available and wants to restore us and make us whole. Only He can take the broken pieces of our lives and create beauty out of the ashes. It’s such a wondrous thing for we can end up feeling just like a new creation.

Satan on the other hand, wants to destroy us and lies against God’s love and healing power. We don’t have to live fragmented lives forever but can give the broken pieces to the Lord and let Him heal us and make something beautiful of us. He wants to re-create all things in us! John Eldredge shares that our part is to invite Him in and seek union with the Lord in the damaged parts of our souls. We give Him access and it’s an added blessing if we have a prayer partner, pastor or counselor to share our hurts with and receive healing prayer. We don’t’ have to understand everything but simply ask Jesus to meet us in the place of our need and be open to His loving presence and healing power. No one knows us better than Jesus and when we turn to Him with all our heart, He will bring us into oneness and heal our fragmented parts. He came to bind up the broken hearted and to proclaim freedom for the captives. (Isaiah 61:1)

When we have fears, compulsions and struggles that surface needing healing, Jesus knows how to access them and restore us. We can ask the Holy Spirit to shine His light into those dark areas and invite Jesus to be with us in that place in our past. He will cleanse our wounds and His blood brings healing and integration. Why continue to live with the hurtful wounds when Jesus is waiting to hear our cry for healing.

Challenge for today: When a painful memory comes to mind spend some time with Jesus and ask Him into that place to heal you.
Blessings on your evening and day tomorrow and prayers and love, Judy

April 16, 2025

April 15, 2025 / / 0 Comments
Dear Ones,
Hope you have been enjoying a lovely day. I am sending out tomorrow’s devotional tonight as we leave  after breakfast tomorrow to travel. We are in Shelbyville, Kentucky tonight at a new Fairfield. We have gone about 900 miles since yesterday morning and have wind again today and lots of traffic….but also some beautiful blossoms on the trees and fields.
Devotional from Judy’s heart
I love to go on trips but even more I like coming home. I love to settle into my quiet sanctuary at my desk that overlooks the trees and soon blooming flowers; it is a place of rest and peace and home to me. But perhaps everyone is really looking for home. Ever since Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden of Eden there has been a seeking after a place of refuge. That place is the presence of God but many seek instead to find safety in the world and end up with anxiety and frustration. I recently read that 45.3% of young adults have anxiety disorders today. Wow!

We all need a safe place, an emotional, psychological and spiritual place of refuge. When our kids were young we lived on the Iron Range in the parsonage that bordered on the woods.  Bears were not uncommon. Al built an igloo with three kids helping and it was big enough for us to all sit inside. One night he lit a candle and we had our family devotions there together. The igloo gave us protection from the elements and we all huddled together and talked to the Lord.

Jesus is our perfect habitat and we live in Him and He in us. We get nourished as we spend time in His presence for we were made for Him. He is our home and our safe place. He breathed life into us and He wants us to not be anxious but to rest in Him. We might know many scriptures and facts about the Bible and still miss knowing Him in an intimate way as our heart’s longing. When we come to Him with all our heart and hear His voice to our heart, we have found home.  Psalm 91:3 says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” When we trust in Him we are safe!

Challenge for today: Find your home in the Lord and spend some time just enjoying His presence.
Blessings to you and prayers and love, Judy

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