A friend from my nursing school days emailed me recently about how she was taken by surprise as she appeared in the guest pastor’s message at the small country church she attends. He had been a classmate of hers many years ago and his sermon was about living out our faith. She was a studious student and rarely talked to him but had a class or two together; but evidently, he was observing her life. The pastor lost his father at age 14 and became a very angry young man. He and his family were regular “church goers” but he hadn’t had a personal relationship with Jesus. He had seen his dad became a “changed person” at some point, and he would often ask his dad questions about God and the Bible. The Pastor said that in high school he would watch four classmates—one being my friend and her best friend and another gal and guy. He saw Jesus in them. When one of them went to summer camp at Asbury College between her junior and senior years of high school she became truly born again and witnessed to this young man. He however went off to a state school for his freshman year of college. Then he thought he had to go to Asbury to get what he saw this gal had. So, he transferred to Asbury his second year and thought all the students were crazy because they were so happy. At some point he surrendered his life to the Lord during a revival. He became a pastor and has had a lifetime of serving God in that capacity.

The point of this pastor’s sermon was how important it is live our lives so that people see Jesus in us. My friend had no idea in high school that she was being watched and having a positive influence in a classmate’s life! She was humbled and honored and gave glory to the Lord. We may not have any idea who may be watching us, but it is important that we live like a Jesus follower. A verse I learned as a young girl from Matt. 5:16 says it well, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

  “Lord God,
     We pray for the Church during this time. Lord, the Church is not just a building to be visited on Sundays, it is the Body of Believers You came to this earth to save. We pray for the Church to come together and work together in unison to be a vessel of Your Light in this dark World. May we be driven to come before You humbly for direction, guidance, and wisdom in how to navigate these times, but also how we may be the difference during this time. May we be used to encourage, uplift, and bless those around us and may we ever be pointing others to You. As You said, “As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”  May the difference in who we are be You, Lord. Please pour out Your Spirit among Your children and lead us in how to be in the world, but not of it.

In Jesus Name, Amen.”

 Let us also pray for our nation and its leaders.
 “Lord God,
     Our leaders in this nation need our prayers. Whether we voted for them or not, and whether we agree with them on every issue or not, they are still Your creation and they have been given a seat in leadership for a reason. Father, we pray for their souls individually. May they be transformed by the working of the Holy Spirit and Lord may they use their positions for Your glory. We pray for wisdom for each of them as they navigate from day to day, we pray for discernment of what is right and what is wrong, and Lord we pray that their hearts would come to know You so intimately that they are like David, men and women after Your own heart. Lord, we pray for them in this age, and we pray for the leaders to come. We know no matter who sits in Oval Offices, Congress, or Governor’s Chairs, ultimately You Lord are Sovereign, and Father we pray those in such seats will seek Your face today and in the days to come.

          In Jesus Name, Amen.”

  Even before the retreat I felt the Lord speaking to me of not settling for less than what He has for me. I had just read from Genesis 11 of Abraham’s father, Terah, who was told to pack up and go to the land of Canaan. But when he got only as far as Haran he settled there until he died. I have always thought, why didn’t he continue going? He missed out on the Promised Land! In my own life it was a word to me not to miss what the Lord has for me but to keep going into all that He has planned for me, the land of milk and honey! Not only for this retreat but for my life and to finish strong!!

  To enter that land also means keeping in step with the Spirit and to continually die to my own flesh.  More of Him and less of me! That is a daily struggle, but it is my desire and prayer. As I meditated on Galatians 5 we were to choose a fruit of the spirit that we wanted the Lord’s input on, and mine was kindness. I want to serve others and stop what I am doing to meet their needs but not always sure what the Lord is asking of me, and whether there is actually time for it. But the Lord reminded me there is always enough time to do what He calls me to do, and I need to listen carefully and stay in step with the Spirit! God initiates and I am just to respond.

  As I meditated on Psalm 16 and it being just after the assassination attempt, I took hold of verse 8, “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken.” Again, knowing that my life is in God’s hands and no matter what happens in this world, “my flesh dwells secure.” (verse 9)

We can always be honest with the Lord in our prayers for He can read our hearts and knows us better than we know ourselves. We don’t need to pretend but can be our true selves with Him, even when we seem out of sorts. He listens to us and if we are honest with Him, He can change us out of our own selfish worlds into His spacious world of love.  It can change how we think and live and help us to participate in what He has for our lives. Even when we are at the office or busy with the demands of our children, we can be communicating with the Lord.

It’s especially important to be prayerful as we read the Bible. We are to see ourselves in the stories and not just judge others who blow it, but rather asking if we are like that one that is prideful? Judgmental? Vindictive etc.? It’s important that we live what we read in the Word. If we prayerfully read the Bible and ask Him to form our life according to His Word, our lives will be lived from our true self. We can relax and live according to His promptings without trying to take over in our own strength. May we desire to live such a life and be like Mary who said, “Let it be according to your Word.

Challenge for today: Read the Bible prayerfully, listen and remember you are being spoken to and follow with obedience.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy

Hope you wake with expectancy of God speaking to you today.  We are going to be packing up to go for a retreat for 2 nights and days with good friends that did all the planning and preparation. We are leaving early so we can hit a Christian bookstore on the way which makes Al very happy! We have already been given a schedule that leaves us time to be alone with the Lord, sharing of the 4 of us, and as couples, and time alone with the Lord. Walks and free time are included and even a nap!! We feel very blessed!!!

God speaks to all mankind through the beauty of nature, and even unbelievers can see that God exists and has revealed Himself because of all that He has created. I am reading Psalm 19 and David begins saying that… “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork. Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge. There is no speech nor spoken word (from the stars); their voice is not heard. Yet their voice (in evidence) goes out through all the earth, their saying to the end of the world.”

I grew up in a home where the beauty of nature was appreciated and mom would often remark, “Come look and see the beautiful sunset over the lake tonight!” When we are with unbelievers, we can express our faith in sharing how God created so much beauty for us to enjoy etc. The evidence is right there as we might be out star gazing, and the heavens simply declare His handiwork. Let us all be aware of the reminders that God leaves for us to daily renew our faith and trust in Him. If He created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it, is He not able to take care of us!

Challenge for today: Throughout your day, thank the Lord for the reminders He leaves for you to know that He is there with you. Also share Him with others!
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy