Recently I was eating lunch at a local food court and was drawn to a woman and a little girl at a nearby table. The little girl's age I guessed to be four, maybe five. She was very animated as she talked with the woman and ate her chicken nuggets. It was a very sweet sight and reminded me of my own daughter when she was that age.
While devouring my chicken sandwich I looked up and observed the most wonderful scene. The little girl had turned her head into the mall corridor and her face was alight with joy at whatever or whoever she glimpsed in that direction.
I was captivated by the joy so evident on her face and which was now affecting her entire body..she was bouncing in her chair! She finally couldn't contain herself and jumped down from her chair and began running..I turned my head toward the direction of her run and then one tall man in jeans, a red shirt and baseball cap upon his head appeared and two long arms reached out and scooped this little darling up and into an embrace only a daddy can give!
By this time the twosome had moved directly in front of my table. The man's back was toward me and the only expression I could see was that of that little girl, head buried into the crook of his neck ...pure love is what I saw.
It made me think of our heavenly Daddy, and how He reaches out to me with His powerful arms with an embrace like no other when I run to Him.
It reminded me that as Paul exhorted the Philippian believers , that when I "Rejoice always...I can let my forebearing spirit be known to all, for He, the Lord, is near. I can be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let my requests be made known to Him. And His peace, which surpasses all understanding will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus." (verses 4:4-7 paraphrased)
The little girl at the Food Court was content and secure in her daddy's arms...savoring just being held in his loving embrace.
When I'm tempted in the future to be discontent and fearful in my circumstances...this scene in my memory will remind me where my contentment lies....and I will run as fast as I can into my Savior's arms!
Will you? It's my prayer
Judy
Monday, October 26, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
When we're broken
A new day is on the horizon and my thoughts wander to a small town in the Northeast where a woman I know has gone for rest, refreshment and healing.
I can't stop thinking about her and how I know that God is ready to bring Ephesians 3:20 to reality in her life.."..to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that she can ask or think, according to the power that works within her..."
She, like all of us at one time or another, has had difficulty giving her ALL to the Lord. Old tapes and old hurts along with much assistance from the enemy of our souls have kept her bound for too long and God has whispered to her heart that NOW is the time ..time to say - "enough is enough...I won't listen to the lies anymore....I want to listen only to the TRUTH..I believe it will set me free".
I remember a time, not so long ago, when the Lord whispered to my heart something similar. I was smack dab in the middle of serving Him and one morning He revealed some idols in my life that I was relying upon rather than Him alone! That morning revelation, while sitting in my comfy chair surrounded by resource after resource to keep me focused on Him, sent me running to His Word. I began in the Psalms and as I wept and read and reached for tissue after tissue, the God of the universe reached down out of heaven and applied His balm to my broken heart.
How I praise my Savior for rescuing me from myself and repositioning me in the lane He designed just for me.
This morning as I pray for my sister in Christ I'm personalizing Psalm 18 for her and thanking our God for His grace and mercy poured out upon us, for even one more day. Would you join me in storming heaven on her behalf? It's my prayer.
I want to hear from you dear ones. What is God doing in your life today? Are you struggling to find time for Him? Let's have a conversation.
In Christ alone,
Judy
I can't stop thinking about her and how I know that God is ready to bring Ephesians 3:20 to reality in her life.."..to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that she can ask or think, according to the power that works within her..."
She, like all of us at one time or another, has had difficulty giving her ALL to the Lord. Old tapes and old hurts along with much assistance from the enemy of our souls have kept her bound for too long and God has whispered to her heart that NOW is the time ..time to say - "enough is enough...I won't listen to the lies anymore....I want to listen only to the TRUTH..I believe it will set me free".
I remember a time, not so long ago, when the Lord whispered to my heart something similar. I was smack dab in the middle of serving Him and one morning He revealed some idols in my life that I was relying upon rather than Him alone! That morning revelation, while sitting in my comfy chair surrounded by resource after resource to keep me focused on Him, sent me running to His Word. I began in the Psalms and as I wept and read and reached for tissue after tissue, the God of the universe reached down out of heaven and applied His balm to my broken heart.
How I praise my Savior for rescuing me from myself and repositioning me in the lane He designed just for me.
This morning as I pray for my sister in Christ I'm personalizing Psalm 18 for her and thanking our God for His grace and mercy poured out upon us, for even one more day. Would you join me in storming heaven on her behalf? It's my prayer.
I want to hear from you dear ones. What is God doing in your life today? Are you struggling to find time for Him? Let's have a conversation.
In Christ alone,
Judy
Monday, October 12, 2009
Time
Monday morning. As I look around my study with "stacks of books and papers" accumulating, I'm reminded that good intentions are not worth much without follow through.
The Lord has given me some clear instructions of WHAT he wants me to do for this season which have forced me to re-evaluate my schedule. Over the weekend I deliberately added some rest and refreshment and in the clear light of this new day am wondering .. what was I thinking?? I have to clear the clutter....from the floor, from the desk from the tops of the bookshelves and from my mind.
To adjust my schedule and thinking I run to God's Word. Ummnn!!
In the book of Nehemiah, we read how Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the King, when hearing of Jerusalem's wall no longer standing couldn't hide the sadness in his heart for his people, not even to the king. Upon the king asking Nehemiah what his request was, Nehemiah prayed to God and answered the king. In his answer he requested the king to allow him to go to the city where his ancestors were buried so that he could rebuild the wall. When asked how long the journey would take and when would he return, the scriptures state that Nehemiah gave the king a definite time.
I note that before saying anything to the king about rebuilding the wall or how long it would take and when he would return, Nehemiah prayed to the God of heaven.
Going forward through the bible I come to Ecclesiastes 3. Verse 1 There is an appointed time for everything and a time for every activity under heaven. In verse 6b I'm stopped by - "a time to keep and a time to throw away"!
And now I see the task before me more clearly.
Oh Lord, I ask for your appointed time to accomplish this purging of files and piles of papers and books...aided by your discernment in deciding which to keep and which to throw or give away! Thank you, my King for showing me, one more time, the sufficiency of your Word!!
How about you dear reader, how has His Word been sufficient in your life??
Standing on His promises,
Judy
The Lord has given me some clear instructions of WHAT he wants me to do for this season which have forced me to re-evaluate my schedule. Over the weekend I deliberately added some rest and refreshment and in the clear light of this new day am wondering .. what was I thinking?? I have to clear the clutter....from the floor, from the desk from the tops of the bookshelves and from my mind.
To adjust my schedule and thinking I run to God's Word. Ummnn!!
In the book of Nehemiah, we read how Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the King, when hearing of Jerusalem's wall no longer standing couldn't hide the sadness in his heart for his people, not even to the king. Upon the king asking Nehemiah what his request was, Nehemiah prayed to God and answered the king. In his answer he requested the king to allow him to go to the city where his ancestors were buried so that he could rebuild the wall. When asked how long the journey would take and when would he return, the scriptures state that Nehemiah gave the king a definite time.
I note that before saying anything to the king about rebuilding the wall or how long it would take and when he would return, Nehemiah prayed to the God of heaven.
Going forward through the bible I come to Ecclesiastes 3. Verse 1 There is an appointed time for everything and a time for every activity under heaven. In verse 6b I'm stopped by - "a time to keep and a time to throw away"!
And now I see the task before me more clearly.
Oh Lord, I ask for your appointed time to accomplish this purging of files and piles of papers and books...aided by your discernment in deciding which to keep and which to throw or give away! Thank you, my King for showing me, one more time, the sufficiency of your Word!!
How about you dear reader, how has His Word been sufficient in your life??
Standing on His promises,
Judy
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sunday in Tampa
I so love Sundays at home with my guy, Ron. Thank you, Lord for the blessing of my wonderful husband.
Today it's very warm with a gorgeous blue sky and much sunshine. I'm comfy here in my study with the AC keeping me cool and I'm reminded of years gone by without air conditioning. Many changes as I travel through these seasons of life.
As I write, the sounds of the play by play of the Bucs game is drifting up the stairs and with 4 minutes left in the game our team is behind by 3 pts. Frustration reigns in living rooms all over this city as the citizenry is hungry for a win!!
We mortals hunger and thirst for many things to satisfy our heart's desires don't we?
Our bible lesson at church today "zeros in" on the human dilemma -
"So they said to Him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written. 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread of heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the True bread of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. They said to Him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:30-35)
As I pondered the "sermon within a sermon" I thought of how I wandered around "tasting" and sometimes "devouring" what the World had to offer me only to discover when I had finished gorging myself that I was :"hungrier" than ever.
And then there was "Light". Yes, the light of Jesus broke through my darkness and filled up my empty tank. He IS the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE and I will ever serve Him!! Hallelujah!
How about you friend? Has His light illuminated your world?
It's my prayer.
Judy
Today it's very warm with a gorgeous blue sky and much sunshine. I'm comfy here in my study with the AC keeping me cool and I'm reminded of years gone by without air conditioning. Many changes as I travel through these seasons of life.
As I write, the sounds of the play by play of the Bucs game is drifting up the stairs and with 4 minutes left in the game our team is behind by 3 pts. Frustration reigns in living rooms all over this city as the citizenry is hungry for a win!!
We mortals hunger and thirst for many things to satisfy our heart's desires don't we?
Our bible lesson at church today "zeros in" on the human dilemma -
"So they said to Him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written. 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread of heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the True bread of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. They said to Him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:30-35)
As I pondered the "sermon within a sermon" I thought of how I wandered around "tasting" and sometimes "devouring" what the World had to offer me only to discover when I had finished gorging myself that I was :"hungrier" than ever.
And then there was "Light". Yes, the light of Jesus broke through my darkness and filled up my empty tank. He IS the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE and I will ever serve Him!! Hallelujah!
How about you friend? Has His light illuminated your world?
It's my prayer.
Judy
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