Devotions By Jan

Monthly Archives: August 2021


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Pennies

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

I am one of those rare people who still bend down to pick up a lost penny, bad or not! The phrase, “a bad penny always turns up,” was coined in the mid eighteenth century. Pennies used to be more valuable and because they were easily counterfeited, the “bad ones” would continually circulate, turning up in a pocket or purse. “Turning up like a bad penny,” came to mean someone or something unwanted, turning up repeatedly and unexpectedly.

Today’s verse reassures the believer that God’s forgiveness of sin is complete. He chooses to no longer remember our sins. Because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice for sin, the penalty has been paid and God’s justice is satisfied.  Those sins are blotted out forever. When He forgives, He does not bring it up again. But like a bad penny, the thought of them for the believer can turn up at the most unwanted and inopportune times. Thankfully, that is never the case for the Lord. Of course, He is all knowing and so forgets nothing. But the idea is that He does not call it to mind with censor and judgement.

I would love to be able to “remember my sins no longer.” But the memories remain. Thankfully, God’s Word is full of reassurances of unconditional love and complete pardon. The Lord graciously softens and blurs memories of past failures. If guilty memories occasionally do reappear, He is there to build me back up. If nothing else, those remembrances can serve to remind me that I am not perfect, but His forgiveness is!

Thank you Lord, that Your grace chooses not to remember what is forgiven!

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2018)


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Sand Dollar Invasion!

Scripture for Today: John 17:15 “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”

Rachel Hathaway https://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelhathaway/4945569932

If you want to get rich quick, thousands of sand dollars are right now littering the southern edges of Seaside Beach on the Oregon coast! They are washing up alive on the afternoon high tides and getting stranded. If thrown back in, the ocean just plops them back up on the sand. And the longer they are outside their intertidal zone, the more unlikely their survival. That zone is found above the water level at low tide and underwater at high tide.

Today’s verse is part of the prayer Jesus prays for His disciples and for all those who will believe their message (verse 20). He asks that they be protected from the evil one even though they are in a world where he is active (John 12:31). Believers are part of this world but not of this world (verses 14 & 16). We are part of God’s Kingdom and are no longer in a kingdom of darkness (Col. 1:13). Loving the world and adopting its values is incompatible with loving the Father (I John 2:15).

When I identify too closely with the world’s ideas of what is important, it is as if I am no longer in those intertidal waters where I can thrive. Yes, I am part of this world but I need to be nourished by the environment He has chosen to strengthen me. His Word keeps my values unworldly. Being encouraged by His people keeps me on track. I do not belong up on the sand where I dry out and shrivel. I do not want the world to pull me away from my love for Him.

Lord, keep me close to You.


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A Flintstone House

Scripture for Today: Matthew 7:26 “But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Flintstone_House.jpg/800px-Flintstone_House.jpg

This bizarre-looking structure is part of the Radwaniyah Presidential Complex in Baghdad, Iraq. For years it was shrouded in mystery behind stone walls until the US occupation of the site in 2003. It was dubbed the “Flintstone House” by the soldiers, not realizing that it was in fact a playhouse built for the children associated with Saddam Hussein. At one time, it had running water, a real kitchen and elevators. It may have been solidly built with stone, but its foundation was shifting sand and the end of the Iraqian leader is well known.

Today’s verse describes a fool as someone who builds his house on sand. Hearing God’s Word but not applying it makes the foundation of our lives as precarious as sand. Jesus assures the listeners that the crash of that house is inevitable. In contrast, those that DO put into practice God’s Word will enjoy stability as their foundation is solid Rock.

That sand can represent our own ideas of what is right and what is wrong. They are easier to follow but the result is ruin. God’s Word is true and eternal, unaffected by what is modern or popular (Ps. 119:160). Building my life on the objective truth of His Word does not happen just by knowing and quoting it. I can study those words for a lifetime but if I do not obey them as authoritative, then that next storm may just bring me down. His words are practical and speak to every area of my life. Applying them is a question of humility to do things His way and not my own.

Lord, keep me off that sand!


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The Toucan

Scripture for Today: Psalm 71:15 “My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long – though I know not how to relate them all.”

Photo Credit: Michael Gwyther-Jones at https://www.flickr.com/photos/12587661@N06/8558971831

The Toco Toucan is a feast for the eyes with its large colorful beak! Its beak is so large it accounts for one third of its body. With that impressive beak he plucks and peels fruit and through it regulates his body temperature. A noisy creature, he makes croaking frog and rattling sounds and he will cluck with his bill. The Toco Toucan is said to be one of the noisiest birds in the world.

In today’s verse, David is using his mouth to praise God for His righteous deeds and for his saving acts. To speak of every one of them he would have to use his mouth all day long! They are without measure or too numerous to count. David’s mouth is filled with praise (verse 8) from his birth (verse 6) and since his youth (verse 17). Even when he is old and gray, David sees himself declaring God’s power to the next generation (verse 18). David is noisy with praise to God all through his life.

I can be just as noisy as this bird but perhaps not always with praise to God! I can easily be like the Israelites in the desert, grumbling and complaining about what I do not have. My noise can be all about the need for attention and recognition. I can get real noisy about “my rights” when I feel they are being ignored. But when my “noise” is about God’s goodness and grace, His power and glory, my noise becomes like a beautiful melody that gives Him praise!

Lord, make my life a litany of praise.


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Naked Coral Tree

Scripture for Today:  Revelation 3:17 “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”

Did you know that the Coral Tree is the city tree of Los Angeles? Neither did I! This tree grows all over Southern California and its bright blossoms are breathtaking! The name of its genus is Erythrina, a word derived from Greek meaning, “red.” There are 130 species in its family with many shades of red flowers ranging from orangey-tomato to deep scarlet. The Naked Coral Tree is the one whose flowers blossom well before the leaves appear, thus the name!

Today’s verse talks about a nakedness that is spiritual. What is so sad is that the person described does not realize his nakedness, nor his poverty or blindness. Being wealthy has caused this person to feel self-sufficient and not in need of anything. But Christ proposes a remedy. Along with salve for the eyes to restore spiritual sight and true eternal riches, Christ gives us white clothes to cover our nakedness (verse 18). Those white clothes are a symbol of His righteousness obtained for us.

How does the Lord see me? I may stand proud and colorful like the naked coral tree, but in fact, I am poor, blind and naked without the Lord. My pride keeps me from realizing my need. And instead of answering His knock (verse 20) I mistakenly think I am just fine on my own. I need to let go of of my pride and denial so I can open the door to His knock. I am so grateful that He waits there, ready to forgive and begin anew an amazing love relationship!

Lord, may I always realize my need and open the door to You.