Dear Ones,
Hope you have a grace-filled day! Al will be off to men’s group this morning and when he gets back, I have an appointment to go to. We also have Bible study today and I have food prep etc as we are catching up after being gone.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
While attending the Pastors and Wives Conference, I was made more aware of the precious gift of grace, God’s undeserved favor. Many Pastors shared their lives and over and over again it was not what they did to deserve salvation but totally a gift of grace. Some lived in rebellion for many years before their hearts were softened and opened up to God’s grace and went on to become a pastor.

When they arrived at the conference most of the pastors and wives were strangers to me but not strangers for long. Sitting with different ones over coffee and hearing their stories and desire to serve the Lord, I felt like we were family. And of course we are together the family of God, making us brothers and sisters. We are all in the process of becoming more like Jesus, and it doesn’t happen overnight. But we could encourage one another, pray for one another, and cheer one another on. The grace of God is so big and so marvelous that there is no need it cannot meet. It covers the concern for children who have gone astray, for those who are experiencing sorrow over the death of loved ones, and every possible situation.

I loved the worship times, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing and sometimes kneeling, but all focused on the Lord. The Psalmist said in Psalm 89: 1-2, “I will sing forever about the evidence of your mercy, O Lord. I will tell about your faithfulness to every generation. I said, ‘Your mercy will last forever, Your faithfulness stands firm in the heavens.”  I read further on and in verses 15-17 the Psalmist says, “Blessed are the people who know how to praise you. They walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They find joy in your name all day long. They are joyful in your righteousness because you are the glory of their strength.”

Let us learn to rest in God’s grace and mercy. When we feel tired, and frustrated and out of sorts, let us stop and ask for His grace to keep going, to love others, and to become more like Him.

Challenge for today: Share the Lord with others, every chance you get, that they may know the grace of God and find joy in Him.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy