Devotions By Jan


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A Time for Beauty

Scripture for Today: Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphyllum_oxypetalum

This amazing flower, Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum Oxypetalum) can only be seen blooming at night. By dawn the flowers have wilted. Native from Mexico as far south as Nicaragua, they are not only nocturnal but very fragrant. Unlike the Night-Blooming Cereus, they grow on the surface of other plants rather than in the ground. This “extra-terrestrial” gets its moisture and nutrients from its environment instead of from the ground. Her beauty has its own special prescribed time, designated by its Creator.

Today’s verse teaches that the Source of beauty is God Himself. King David exclaimed that all he wanted was to gaze on the beauty of the Lord.(Psalm 27:4) Not only is God Himself beautiful but He creates beauty as a prompt to turn our eyes towards Him. All of His intricate amazing creation points to His beauty. And part of that creation is the desire for eternity, placed in the human heart by God Himself.

There is so much beauty in my life and I am thankful. But unfortunately sin and its consequences create what is ugly as well. How amazing to know that our Creator continues to create, redeeming and making what was unsightly into something beautiful! He exchanges beauty for ashes and joy for sorrow. (Isaiah 61:3). I can count on His promise and His timing. He will make all things beautiful in His time and I can look forward to an eternity where that beauty will never fade and last forever!

Thank you Lord, for this beautiful hope!


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Sword Knot

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

https://samlingar.shm.se/object/BAD276E0-AA74-4558-B595-E99CEEF82A15

I don’t imagine that this sword was quite so pretty when worn in the Revolution of 1772 by Gustave lll of Sweden! Besides the fact that it is so ornamental, it has a very practical feature; the sword knot. This lanyard attaches to the hilt of the sword and is worn around the wrist, giving the soldier a firmer grip. The sword knot prevents the weapon from being dropped in the heat of battle and frees the hands. Its only function today is purely for ceremonial use.

In today’s verse the writer of Hebrews used the image of the sword to describe the piercing convicting nature of God’s Word. His Word is like no other book as it is living and active. God’s Spirit uses it to show us what we cannot see on our own; our secret motives and deepest desires. Dividing soul from spirit and joints from marrow is a graphic image. And yet, it is the kind of action needed to get through to our deceitful hearts. (Jer.17:9). The Word exposes what to us is comfortably hidden. But His Word does not leave us bruised and bleeding. His Word gives endurance, encouragement and hope! (Rom. 15:4) 

I need that sword knot to keep God’s Word at the ready. Its truth does not change with the times. His promises never fail. His Word gives clarity on what is right and what is not. The revelation of who God is and who I am DAILY reassures my heart! I am encouraged to endure opposition and temptation in the ongoing conflict. But I know when my grip on His Word has weakened. Thankfully, the Author reveals the problem and invites me back to Himself and a place of strength and hope.

Lord, keep me holding fast to Your Word today.


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Don’t Upset the Apple Cart!

Scripture for Today: Psalm 16:8 “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Don%27t_upset_the_apple_cart_%2813037759755%29.jpg

This gentleman looks intent on keeping all his apples stable as he transports them to market with no chance of upset. The phrase, “don’t upset the apple cart” is thought to originate in the 18th century and according to an English professor, Anne Curzan, has a surprising meaning; the human body! At that time a ‘bread basket’ was your stomach, a ‘potato trap’ was your mouth, and the ‘apple cart’ was your body,” she said. To physically knock someone down was to upset the apple cart! Today’s meaning is advice not to disrupt a stable situation.

Today’s verse acknowledges that life can be unstable, full of changes and disruptive to the comfortable status quo. King David declares that he will not be shaken. He understood that it was the Lord who made his lot secure and not his armies nor his wealth and position. (verse 5) Rather than look to his circumstances, he keeps his eyes on the Lord for that sense of security and stability.

There may be some apples out of alignment on my cart. There may be a whole row of them about to fall! With the news being so volatile on the world stage, or when changes in my personal life blindside me I can certainly feel “shaken.” But I am reassured when I tear my eyes away from circumstances out of my control and redirect my attention to the One who has all the control! That sense of well-being, peace and security returns when I steadfastly look to Jesus. (Heb. 12:2)

Thank you Lord, for Your calming reassurance.


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Living in a Bubble

Scripture for Today: Psalm 17:7 “Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.”

photo credit Wikimedia Commons-Wikimedia.org

There is a larva hiding in those bubbles that will one day become a “Spittlebug.” The bubbles actually do not come from his spit but from a bubbly secretion out of his abdomen! What a clever way to be protected from predators! Those bubbles also keep him from drying out in extreme heat. A Latin phrase written in the first century BC described man as a “bubble” to picture the fragility of life. Today, “living in a bubble” refers to being sheltered and oblivious to the difficulties of the outside world.

Today’s verse talks about taking refuge in the Lord. It is because of His great love that He comes to the rescue of those who take refuge in Him. King David, the author of this Psalm, had his share of enemies. But even guarded by his best warriors and surrounded by his loyal armies, he knew to take refuge in the Lord. David could have doubted God’s love in having to face enemies at all. But he was convinced that he was loved and that in making the Lord his refuge, would be protected.

I am sure the Spittlebug feels no shame for hiding from his predators in those bubbles! And my Creator has provided me the refuge of Himself. My enemies can present themselves as anyone who will try to scam me, take unfair advantage of me or try to infringe on the religious liberties I thankfully enjoy. But His great love means I can count on hiding in Him. His presence and power provide refuge and I can feel safe.

Thank you Lord, that Your love is my refuge and hiding place.


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Timber!!

Scripture for today: Proverbs 1:33 “but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease without fear of harm.”

The beaver is quite skillful in felling a tree. His sharp teeth chew two cuts on opposite sides of the tree creating an hourglass- shaped notch. This clever shape controls the direction of the fall. That gnawing keeps his teeth from getting too long as he feeds on the soft underside bark. And he uses the bark to build his dam or lodge. He pauses frequently to listen for cracking sounds in the wood. Those sounds warn him that the tree is about to fall and gives him the time to avoid being crushed!

Today’s verse talks about listening. The “me” in the verse is the voice of wisdom. Listening to wisdom means a life of safety, ease and living without fear of harm. This chapter in Proverbs draws a sharp contrast between those who fear the Lord and those who do not (vs.29). Wisdom is available to all, and even calls out in public (vs.20-21). But those who refuse to listen put themselves exactly in the path of that falling tree! (vs.32)

There are plenty of differing sounds to which I could listen. The culture around me is incessant with its messages. But the voice I want to hear is the voice of wisdom. The fear, awe and reverence I have for my Creator is the only starting point to gaining wisdom. (Psalm 111:10) And as believers in Christ, we are in Him and He has become for us wisdom from God.(I Cor. 1:30) That does not mean I won’t make mistakes and blunders. But it does mean that skillful Godly wisdom found in His Word will help me avoid the complications that sin and disobedience can bring!

Lord, keep me listening to Your voice today.