Devotions By Jan

Monthly Archives: April 2013


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Soaps

Scripture for Today:  Ephesians 5:25-26  “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the Word,”

I love going to our open market in Guebwiller and smelling the homemade soaps for sale!  There is such variety it is difficult to choose!  My favorite is lavender because I like to think its fragrance is soothing.  But there are all kinds available, including lemon verbena, almond, honey and so many more.  Some are made with olive oil, others with shea butter.  There are soaps that have crushed flowers or herbs in them.  But one thing they all have in common is that they make one clean, even the black soap!

Our verse for today describes how Christ sets apart and cleanses those who are part of His church.  His goal is to create in us glorious splendor!  One day we will be holy and faultless, without spot or wrinkle!

This soapy cleaning process starts with His sacrifice on the cross!  I am washed in His blood and my sins are forgiven forever!  He washes me whiter than snow and it is ALL His doing.  But because I still sin, my “feet get dirty” (John 13:1-10)  That is when I need “spiritual soap.”  And it comes from God’s Word.

The Lord uses His Word to signal to me what needs to be put right in my life.  It does not happen every time, but often.  When I am in His Word I am motivated to to obey Him.  He uses the written Word to speak to me and our relationship becomes closer.  I come away from these encounters squeaky clean and smelling good!

As lovely as soaps are, one day they will no longer be needed!


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Instant Results

Scripture for Today:  Isaiah 30:18  “For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy; He sits on His throne, ready to have compassion on you.  Indeed, the Lord is a just God; all who wait for Him in faith will be blessed.”

Waiting for anything is not our strong point.  We want instant everything.  These instant noodles are not only cheap and versatile but so quickly prepared that very little waiting is required!  We certainly do not put up with a slow computer.  All it takes is a few minute’s wait to make us go ballistic!  We want everything ready when we want it.  We all want and expect instant results.

The Israelites in today’s Scripture passage wanted to see results instantly.  They were not willing to wait for God to deliver them from their enemies.  He had invited them to return to Him and rest in Him and be saved.  But they would not.  Instead, they trusted in their own plan using very swift horses, with disastrous results.  The result was quicker but not what they wanted!

How often I find myself unwilling to wait!  Taking things into my own hands usually seems more effective, even more logical.  But part of trusting is waiting, and for me, it is the most difficult part.  I do not like to wait.  I want to know something is happening, that the Lord is “on task.”  And rather than believing that He is, I feel compelled to fix things myself.  And like the Israelites, I may have a quicker result, but not what is best.

I love that the Lord is ready and willing to act on my behalf.  It seems incredible that He wants to bless me.  What mercy!  What compassion!  Help me Lord, to wait on You in faith.


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Ripples

Scripture for Today:   Romans 1:8  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

One little drop of water is all it takes to make ever-widening ripples.  So many times we are unaware of the influence we have on those around us.  My husband and I were so surprised to hear of a most unusual meeting.  It took place in China.  A good friend of ours (American) was there for a conference.  He got to talking with a French man who spoke English.  Just to make conversation, he asked this French man if he knew Randy Kent, his only contact in France.  Lo and behold, this French man was a very good friend of ours that we have known for years!

There is a theory called, “the six degrees of separation.”  It suggests that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world.  We have seen all kinds of crisscrossing of our acquaintances on Facebook.  This theory looks more and more likely!

Our verse for today is a call to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus in the power of His Holy Spirit.  Our influence for Him does not stop at our home town.  We live in an age where our influence can be felt world wide.  Our world is becoming smaller and smaller.  We can speak of Him and see the ripples spread out and touch lives even on the other side of the world!

God uses even my little drop of a life to make ripples of influence for Him.  Please Lord, use me today to speak of You.


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Don’t Look Down!

Scripture for Today:  II Corinthians 5:7  “…for we walk by faith and not by sight.”

I can just imagine how frightening it would be to walk across the bridge pictured here.  Perhaps, if I could avoid looking down, I could make it across much more easily.

I am at a point in my life where I can say that most of my life has already been lived!  In looking back, I am amazed at some of the scary crossings through which God has led me.  In retrospect I can see the dangers He led me through and the ways He has kept me from falling.  I could not see it at the time.

The Lord does not always give us too much information about what He is doing.  If He did, then faith would not be necessary.  But sometimes He does not let us see how He is leading for our own good!  Crossing this bridge without looking down has got to be easier!

There are more scary crossings in my future.  I am sure of it.  But I do not have to have all the details in advance.  Nor do I need all the details during the actual crossing.  I only need to keep my eyes ahead, and not look down!  My eyes are to be fixed on Jesus, who not only started me on this journey of faith, but will bring it to completion (Heb.12:2).

I often think that walking by faith is something pretty difficult.  But in fact, it can be much more difficult to be focusing on the impossible circumstances surrounding me.  Trusting and acknowledging Him, allowing Him to direct my paths means safety and security.  It means peace and confidence because He is trustworthy.

Lord, keep me from looking down!


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The Cricket

Scripture for Today:  Psalms 150:6  “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!”

I am amazed to learn that there are about nine hundred different species of crickets……none of which are welcome in my home!  I know there are those that say they bring good luck, but that is a luck I can do without!  In some parts of China crickets are treated as pets, caged and fed.  Even though my husband is half Chinese, this is not an option!

It is rumored that crickets can tell you the outside temperature!  If one counts the number of chirps made in one minute, divides by four and then adds the number forty, the result is the current outside temperature (in Fahrenheit).  No thanks, I prefer reading a temperature gauge!

But what comes to mind when thinking about crickets is the chirping song the males make when they rub their wings together.  I do enjoy their song outside on a warm evening, as long as I do not see them!  Their sound can even be calming.  As disgusting as they look, they make a beautiful music!

Our verse for today is a call to praise the Lord.  In this short psalm, instruments are listed that can praise the Lord.  But so can this cricket.  He has breath too and his chirping is praise to his Creator.  Psalm 148:10 calls on all creeping things to praise the Lord as well, and the cricket most definitely qualifies!

I want His praise to continually be in my mouth!  Life and breath were given to me for this very purpose.  He is worthy of all my praise all the time.  May every breath of my life be a praise to Him for all He has done for me!