Devotions By Jan

Monthly Archives: May 2014


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Cymbals

Scripture for Today:  I Corinthians 13:1 “If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love. I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

I am one of the lucky ones.  None of my children ever expressed interest in playing percussion instruments!  Perhaps with the arrival of grandchildren I will not be so lucky!  For a year, we did have a young man live with us who played his drums and cymbals with gusto in the basement.  But he was considerate to choose his practice times with care.  It was never fun to jump in my chair with the sound of crashing cymbals!

Our verse for today describes spectacular feats as meaning nothing without love.  Speaking in tongues or even in an angelic language may cause a stir and even impress.  But without love, it is nothing more than the clashing noise of a cymbal or gong.  It will cause people to sit up and take notice, but that is all.  I was interested to learn that the religious ceremonies of Buddhist monks use cymbals and hand held-gongs during their chants and hymns.

The context of our verse is the spiritual gifts in the church.  Very often, it is the visible spectacular gifts that are eagerly sought.  Here, Paul explains that no gift or service to God is as important as showing love.  That love is something available to all believers through the fruit of His Spirit (Gal. 5:22).  Any service to the Lord done without love for Him and love for others is just annoying noise.

I sometimes feel my service to the Lord is not of the very best quality.  There are always those with more talent.  But God sees the heart and to Him what is done with love makes beautiful music!


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Dust Bunnies

dustbunniesScripture for Today:  Psalm 103:14 “for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.”

We have a scene just like this one in our future.  As soon as we move out our very heavy bookcases, there is sure to be  some “dust bunnies” hiding out.  Between bird dander, cat hair and dust from the yard, our dust bunnies continue to grow each year we are here!  I sneeze just thinking about it!  But it is nothing in the face of a little vacuuming and water.

I have no compassion for this dust, but our verse for today is written in the context of God the Father’s compassion for His children.  He is not only compassionate but gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love (verse 8).  For those who fear Him, He forgives rather than accuses and does not treat us as our sins deserve (verses 9-10).  He calls to mind how very weak we are.  We are formed from some weak material; dust.

There are times I need to remember how I was formed as well.  Prideful thoughts can have me believing I am really something and without a real need for God.  But in fact I am nothing without Him.  I am weak and as inconsequential as a dust bunny blowing around under the bed.  It is in the hands of my Creator that I can become something of value.  He works in me to give the desire and the strength to please Him (Phil. 2:13).  I may be as weak as dust, but in Him I can be strong.

God invites me to “Look to the Lord and His strength and seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4.  His strength is equal to anything He asks of me.

Thank you Lord, for your gracious patient compassion for me!

 


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Flowering Weeds

???????????????????????????????Scripture for Today: Psalm 37:20  “But the wicked will perish:  Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.”

Spring is a wonderful time of new growth.  It is exciting to see the first iris and roses of the season.  But unfortunately, there are other kinds of new growth as well; weeds.  It seems a constant battle to pull them out.  Sometimes I am unsure as to which plants are actually weeds.  Some of them sprout little flowers and can look pretty nice.   The dictionary defines a weed as, “a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants.”  Sure enough, if left alone, that weed will start taking over and choking out what I have planted.

Our verse for today describes the enemies of the Lord as flowers springing up unwanted in a field.  The wicked are like that weed that can produce flowers, but if left alone will choke out what has been planted.  Unlike my work in my garden, it is not up to me to decide which is a cultivated plant and which is a flowering weed.  The Lord is the only One who can see the heart and know who are truly His own.

For now, the Lord is showing patience towards the wicked.  He is not willing that any one of His enemies perish but that all come to repentance (II Peter 3:9).  Weeds are left to grow along with the wheat.  But one day there will be judgement and He will separate out the weeds from the wheat (Matt. 13:30).

Until that day, I want to grow and bear fruit, unconcerned about fast growing weeds alongside.  I can trust the Divine Gardener to take care of me in His garden!


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Retail Therapy

window-shoppingScripture for Today: Psalm 73:25  “Whom have I in heaven but You?  And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You.”

We have all done it at some point in our lives; “retail therapy,” that activity that somehow provides a pick-me-up and makes us feel better!  Shopping provides a change of scene, gets one moving and often includes interaction with friends.  Even window shopping can provide this distraction.  The French call it, “window licking!”  There is a real sense of accomplishment to come home with some treasure at an incredible bargain.  Most often that happens when I shop at a thrift store like the one pictured.  The French have a saying when asking if you have found something; “Have you found your happiness?”

Well, if I am honest with myself, the answer will always be “no, not really.”  Our verse for today puts everything in perspective.  When compared to the treasure of knowing Christ, everything else pales.  That new item can bring a sense of well being and happiness for a time but eventually it will lose its shine and become mundane.  Purchases can only go so far when it comes to lasting joy.  That is because they themselves will not last.

The context of our verse talks about God being our portion forever.  He does not grow old with use or even outdated.  The delight that is found in knowing Him need never wear off.  No desire on earth has the potential of bringing true fulfillment like the desire for Him.  He fits that empty yawning space inside of us just right.  We are created for this relationship with Him.  Trying to fill ourselves up with anything else leaves holes and empty spaces.

Thank you Lord, for being my everything!


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Backpacks

Scripture for Today: Psalm 38:4  “My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.”

I remember when our children were young and carrying backpacks.  The French schools they attended did not have lockers.  Everyday was a challenge to walk to school with that load of books on their backs.  Recently a study on French news reported that 80% of the French suffer from some kind of back pain.  Perhaps the numbers are high because of those backpacks.  Of course, much more is known today about design and the best way to carry that load.

I wonder if John Bunyan was thinking of our verse for today when he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress.  In his allegory, Christian, the main character, makes his way to the “place of deliverance.”  There, the straps holding the burden to his back are broken and his burden rolls away.   That burden on his back represents all his sin and guilt.  That place was a picture of the cross and the forgiveness we find in the sacrifice of Jesus.

Guilt for sin can feel like a heavy burden.  It weighs us down and makes life miserable.  The only solution for relieving ourselves of that burden is what David found, asking God for His forgiveness.  David described himself as bowed down with his sin (verse 6) and he describes his back as “filled with searing pain.” (verse 7)

As a child I sang the song, “Roll Away.”  I did not understand then what “every burden of my heart roll away” meant.  I just enjoyed doing the hand motions!  Unconfessed sin had not yet built up on my young back as a child.  But I understand now that there is no relief from the heaviness of guilt without His loving forgiveness.

Thank you Lord, for removing that heavy burden of guilt.