Devotions By Jan

Monthly Archives: April 2014


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Playgrounds

Scripture for Today:  Zechariah 8:4-5  “….Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with a cane in hand because of their age.  The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

Probably if my Mother ever knew she would be horrified!  When I was very little, I used to play marbles in the middle of the street.  There was a manhole with grooves perfect for all kinds of creative play with marbles.  My friend and I lost a few, but it seemed a fun past time for two bored kids.  We did lots of looking over our shoulders for on-coming cars, but managed to survive the experience.  Thankfully, ours was the last street of a neighborhood so there was not much traffic.  Even so, the issue of safety did not concern us much.

Our verse for today is one of ten promises of blessing for the Jerusalem of the Messianic Age.  The description of peace and safety is beautiful and even idyllic.  There will be no more threats from invading enemies.  No longer will lives be cut short.  Children can once again play safely in the streets.  I love that the Lord concerns Himself with children and their quality of life.  Isaiah 11:6-9 also describes our future peace and safety with the image of children playing.  A little child will lead a lion, children will play near cobras and even a hand stuck in a viper’s nest will not come to any harm.  What a beautiful future belongs to children in a world without attack or disaster!

Imagine sending the children or grandchildren out to play without any worries!  I am so thankful for our loving Lord who does more than we can ever ask or imagine.


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Stairs

IMG_20140408_174226Scripture for Today:  Gen.28:16 “When Jacob awoke from his sleep he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.'”

In every European home we have lived in, there have been stairs.  In our current home there are three sets and climbing them continually throughout the day gives a great unintentional workout!  I try not to go up or down these stairs without something in my hand that needs moving.  Inevitably, something needed is forgotten upstairs or down that means another trip.

Our verse for today comes after Jacob’s vision of stairs ascending into Heaven.  Jacob was on the run from his brother’s murderous rage.  He was far from home and in need of reassurance.  God was gracious to Jacob in sending this vision of stairs.  It symbolized the direct communication possible between God and humanity.  God repeated His promise of blessing to Jacob.  He promised Jacob that He would be with him and watch over him.  Jacob awoke from this vision with a new certainty of the Lord’s presence!

We do not normally have visions of stairs but we do have these same promises from God’s Word.  He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5) and will be with us even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20).  The Lord is surely in the place where I am as He is omnipresent.  I would not want to flee His presence even if it were possible! (Psalm 139)

Jesus is like that stairway as He bridges the gap between man and God.  Because of His great love for me, He descended from Heaven in search of a relationship with me!  What an amazing and humbling thought!  Each time I climb those stairs, remind me Lord, of your reassuring presence in this place!

 

 


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Half and Half

creamer1Scripture for Today:  Psalm 119:113  “I hate double-minded people, but I love Your law.”

The myriad of choices having to do with coffee preferences can completely confuse me.  In a specialty coffee shop, no one would want to be behind me, waiting for me to make up my mind.  Just when I think I have it figured out, I am directed toward the cream counter.  There again I am faced with choices.  There are often three different possibilities; whole milk, non-fat milk or half and half.  I do not want my coffee too rich or too watery, so I usually end up with the half and half.  My thinking is that it has to be a good compromise.

Compromise can be a good thing in many areas of life, but certainly not in our obedience to the Lord.  Our verse for today contrasts loving God’s law with a double-minded approach.  The double-minded individual will sometimes obey God’s law, but not always.  There is a lack of true commitment.  If obedience costs something or is inconvenient, then the double-minded person will do what is easy and convenient.  James 1:17 describes this person as unstable in all his ways.  There is no constancy.  Their commitment to God is as variable as the ocean waves.

I do not want to be that person.  Loving God’s law does not mean I will always keep it.  David failed and so do I.  Thankfully, I am under grace and not law because of Jesus.  But it is always my desire to follow what God wants, even when it is difficult.  There is blessing in my life as a result of obedience.  There is nothing but pain and heartache when I do not obey.

Lord, keep me from being half and half in my obedience to You!


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Freedom

the 2nd plate unnamedScripture for Today:  Ephesians 3:12  “In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

Lately, I have been finding limited edition collector plates in thrift stores.  The French and Germans do not always understand pricing on these items and at only one euro, I am not too willing to tell them!  This plate has been prominently displayed in our dining room for years.  I am proud of the part that America played in WWII.  Liberating France was one of our finer moments.  The celebration of freedom pictured here warms my heart.  There is confident joy as this parade makes its way down the boulevard  unimpeded.

Our verse for today speaks of a new freedom we have with God.  There is a new and living Way to enter God’s presence; through His Son, Jesus.  No longer is the system of animal sacrifice needed as Jesus was our perfect sacrifice once and for all (Hebrews 10:19-20).  Because of what Christ did on that cross, I have freedom and confidence to approach the God of the universe in His very throne room!

For the French to spill out on to the street with confidence and celebrate their new freedom, they had to believe the war was really over.  Imagine if they had not believed it but continued hiding in their homes!  Our victory has been secured by Christ, but there is no celebration, freedom, or confidence to approach God without believing in what He accomplished for us!

Because of Christ and my faith in Him, I have daily access to God.  He liberated me at a huge price to make it possible!  No longer do I have to cower in fear and shame for sin.  He invited me close in and lifts up my head.  What freedom!  What confidence!  Thank you, Lord.

 


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Claustrophobic

claustrophobic-elevatorScripture for Today: Psalm 118:5  “In my distress I cried out to the Lord.  The Lord answered me and put me in a wide open place.”

Thankfully, I have never experienced claustrophobia firsthand.  In reading about it, this phobia sounds awful.  People who suffer from this irrational fear of confined spaces can get the shakes, sweat, and have heart palpitations.  They may yell or cry, feeling as if the walls are closing in on them.  Their panic drives them to get out by any means possible.  For self-help, people use visualization or do their best to avoid small closed spaces.  Perhaps what these sufferers visualize is a wide open place.

Our verse for today comes from a psalm of thanksgiving.  God has proven Himself faithful yet again.  Enemies have been vanquished and the people are celebrating!  The king had cried out in the distress of the enemies’ attacks and the Lord answered and put him in a wide open place.  This feeling of distress may well have resembled what the claustrophobic experiences.  Being surrounded by the enemy and seeing them close in must have been terrifying.

I may not have the distress of enemies attacking, but I do feel surrounded on all sides by different pressures.  The distress of finances, health issues, coming changes or family issues can feel like the walls are closing in on me.  If I allow my imagination to join in I can easily slip into a state of panic!  The only and best thing to do is to cry out to the Lord.  In His lovingkindness, He pushes back the walls.  He leads me to wide open places where there are green pastures and quiet waters. (Psalm 23:2)

Lord, help me to stay in that wide open place of trusting You.