Sweet Surrender

Living well requires sweet surrender.

 

Surrender - one little word sums up our entire response to God. It’s the key, the heart. We find out when trouble tracks us down if we’re totally surrendered to the will of God for our lives.

 

My "surrender” I spoke well the first decades of my life although it was more my way, and may it match God’s. I found out obedience to God is radical and doesn’t always make sense to me. Like my life as a widow now.

 

Actually why would I ever want to surrender my will? Certainly only if I have complete confidence in the person I’m surrendering to.

 

Definitely not to earn heaven, Christ has taken care of that, if we’re His, we’re heaven-bound, but God has so much more for us than the minimum. Being surrendered can and will change your life in good, even wonderful ways. You can live a rich, exciting life. Surrender has everything to do with being all God calls us to be.

 

God says surrender is a walk into total freedom - the only way we can ever achieve complete freedom in our lives. Gone is fear of loss, reputation, insufficiency, death. Surrender is trusting the verse “All things work together for good, for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”

 

“Follow Me” is Jesus’ command to His apostles and us, often involving using the gifts we’ve received. The Our Father prayer reminds us, "Thy will be done." 

 

Surrender is where our greatest good and deepest joy are. Sweet surrender means letting God have control over everything we experience, think, do and say. It’s my daily prayer. 

 

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God…” Romans 12:1

 

 The plaque on the wall to the right of my son reads: Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly, And Leave The Rest to God.

 

Mother's Day 2025

 Happy Mom’s Day from My Family to Yours

 

Truth is being a mom is a mysterious, sacred undertaking. I thank God for helping me through each stage of parenting four precious lives and now grandparenting seven more world-changing creations and great-grandparenting too.

 

I think often of Mary, mother of Jesus, my role model. Living holy and passionate for God she nurtured Jesus and ravished Him with love. How many times did her hands touch Him, soothe Him to sleep? Did she marvel that God’s son was placed in her care? That’s how I feel about each child’s birth. God, You chose to trust me with motherhood! Amazing!

 

Was Mary overcome with wonder as Jesus matured, as I am when I look at my grown children? Mary was a human momma so she may have had times of trembling like me. She stood with Jesus at the cross and showed me to do the same for my children through both good and hard times, loving them all the way.

 

I honor too those birth moms who placed their baby in the hands of another woman for the child’s benefit. And I celebrate those who never physically gave birth but guided the fruit from other wombs as aunts, teachers, nurses, neighborhood moms.

 

Happy, Happy Momma's Day!

To mothers the whole world over who daily take up the challenge to parent well and aim to glorify God through every exciting or humdrum moment. As an imperfect mom, I know some days can be glorious, and others tough, but we moms try our best!

 

 

To touch the life of any child is to shape the universe itself.

 

Mary, Mom of Jesus

Holiness undefinable,

Sweetness personified,

Instigator of miracles,

Model of dignity,

Inspiration worthy of honor.

Spiritual mother to the masses,

And holy Mother to me.

From Minute Meditations©Judith Rolfs

 

MOMS, IF YOU LIKE READING MYSTERIES YOU ‘LL ENJOY

 Mystery At Wycham Manor

Come see me at the Angelus Gift shop in Walworth, Wi between 11 and 1 on Saturday, May 17^th for the launch of this new novel.

 

Easter 2025

 

Truth is fascinating and totally unchangeable.

Truth is independent of what observers think or say about it.

Truth simply IS today, tomorrow and always.

 

The most dramatic world-changing event in history is what we celebrate this Easter Sunday. Truth is that many, many, many years ago a Man who was fully Man and fully God, suffered a painful, public death and then rose from the dead! Over 500 people saw him alive after he was killed.

 

It’s not just the fact of this amazing happening that matters, but the WHY behind it.

 

WHY involves the true story of sin. We might like to think otherwise, but no one is without sin. Sin is ugly and has consequences that are inevitable. Someone had redeem us from this state of sin and Jesus, the Son of God, with His Father’s permission, chose to be our Rescuer.

 

If you or I say we’ve never sinned, the truth is not in us. Sin is not just a wrong action, but bad attitude, wrong motive. 

 

Gloriously at Easter we celebrate that Jesus is risen, and so will we be also! Through Jesus’ sacrificial death we become holy enough to be heaven-dweller forever. Believing this truth about Jesus is all that matters. 

Matthew 28:5-6 "The angel said to the women do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who is crucified. He is not here, he has risen, just as he said.

I’m comforted by the sweet thought of my husband Wayne enjoying heaven.

Happy Easter Celebration Dear Friends and Family!

 

WRITING UPDATE:

 

Readers tell me they’re enjoying my recent Mystery of Wycham Manor and never guess the ending which I love. Libraries can order through Ingram. Discussion questions are available for book clubs. (E-mail me a request for any of my five mysteries.)

 

I’m beyond excited to announce that all my previous books are now being made into Audible books! Many of you have asked for this.

 

As of this writing, A Widow’s Love Story and Jesus Time are available through Amazon Audible. Directive 99 is almost ready. My in-depth book on modern parenting titled Soaring As A Parent until now has only been an e-book and I’m thrilled it soon can be heard through Audible.

 

God is so good to make this transition happen at no expense to me.

 

May 18^th I’ll be at Angelus Gift & Home in Walworth from 11 to 1 P.M. for the official launch of Mystery at Wycham Manor. Come see me.

Happy Valentine's Day

I miss my husband Wayne on Valentine’s Day, one of our favorite holidays, but my LOVE for family, friends and God remains huge. 

 

My love affair with God has deepened since I depend on Him totally to husband me. God has proved  so faithful. I sense His blessing in the fascinating people in my life, the beauty and intricacy of natural life around me, and the excitement of always finding new things to learn.

 

God is so real! Thoughts of love and gratitude mingle together. May you experience His love for you more this year than ever before.

 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

 

 

How can we best respond to His amazing love?

“…Only to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

 

Fun day with my daughters at Sweetie's Tea Shop in Florida 

Writing News

This link will take you you my book A Widow's Love Story. Readers tell me it's beautiful and inspirational.

A Widow's Love Story I'm humbled to be a blessing to others on this journey.

About my new mystery, Mystery atWycham Manor, a reader messaged me this week: "It was great and holy cow do you know how to throw in  a twist at the end!" 

If your marriage isn't all you'd like it to be, check out the helpful tips on my Youtube channel: Judith Rolfs eapecially the ones about adding more zip to your relationship and the Intimacy Reviver.

Prayer and Mystery

Dear Family and Friends, 

I’ve been pondering the process of prayer. Wondering what your thoughts are?

 

My initial experience with prayer was as a teenager. I prayed for my mom to be healed from alcoholism - eventually she was in her 60s. Years later, during childbirth complications I prayed a prayer to help me through surgery and a near fatal disease, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13. It was the only Scripture I knew by heart at age 25. 

 

More recently, I prayed for my husband Wayne’s healing during his final illness. Wayne was 84 and his life had been full and rich. He’d used his gifts in amazing ways. I wavered between accepting the reality of the cycle of life and longing for Wayne’s healing from lung issues and heart issues and Covid. In some ways it didn’t seem right to ask for more of him. But I prayed Psalms 103 and Psalm 91 and I asked for his healing even though I knew that would block Wayne from the rewards of heaven he so clearly was ready for. My prayer wasn’t answered in my way, but God gave me peace knowing my husband is with Jesus now.

 

This doesn’t mean I believe any less in the power of prayer. Here are some principles I know are true. 

 

First of all, prayer works!  I have seen God do the miraculous. My book Love Always, Mom is about the miraculous healing of our son. Even his doctors stated that was a miracle. When you read about the workings of God I think you’ll believe prayer works too. And there have been other miracles I witnessed during my years of counseling. I watched God heal marriages that looked unsalvageable. So I shall always testify that prayer works well, but just not always according to our timetable or specific plan.

 

Secondly, prayer doesn’t have to be long or complicated. It can be short and simple -  but it does have to be heartfelt. My most common prayer these days is oh Jesus help and He does. 

 

Third, prayer has surprising offshoots. It not only draws us closer in our relationship with God but often the people around us benefit from knowing we’re praying for them. Prayer has no timetable - it’s a supernatural act and the working out of answers to prayer often happens in the supernatural realm before we see them actively on earth. 

 

Fourth,  prayer is a pleasure, not an obligation –I consider it a privilege as matriarch of our family. Prayer gives me the confidence to pull back from trying to do what I cannot do for my loved ones and trust God to do what only He can accomplish. In this way prayer becomes a pathway to peace. I cannot impose my time frame on God but I can make requests and then submit to His perfect plan in everything.

 

Fifth,  prayer language is a real option between me and God. Some people think praying in tongues is weird, but it’s an intense and awesome private way to pray when you find it difficult to put prayer into words. You may want to ask God to give you this simple, practical gift.

 

Probably the most important conclusion is pray as much as you can, whenever you can, because the results are amazing! I pray these thoughts bless you.

 

EXCITING WRITING UPDATE:

 

MYSTERY OF WYCHAM MANOR IS  available for early readers!

If you love a good mystery I guarantee you’ll find this intriguing!

 It’s definitely my favorite book thus far. 

By the way, I’d be grateful if you’d leave a review on amazon or Goodreads.

One thing I ask: please do not give away the unique plot.

AND GREAT NEWS! 

The price on Amazon pre-official release is $10 

After April 12 it’s $15.95.

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DV3Z3LS5