Devotions By Jan

Monthly Archives: April 2026


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A Forced Perception

Scripture for Today: Colossians 3:1-2 “Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”

The Leaning Tower of Piza is not the only place in Europe where tourists practice their “forced perspective” photography! This giant woman looks as if she is pinching the top of the Louvre Pyramid. This technique manipulates our human visual perception with the use of optical illusion. The result is often surprising, making an object appear larger, smaller, closer or farther away than it really is.

Today’s verse is all about perspective. Paul tells believers to set their minds on things above. Our minds and our hearts are to be changed by an eternal perspective. What we see on earth does not match up with spiritual realities. What we see, touch and feel around us is not eternal. These things are real but they will not last. When we set our minds and hearts on the realities of Heaven, it changes how we view that difficulty. It affects how we see our problems. What can loom so large in our perspective is only “light and momentary trouble.” (II Cor. 4:17)  All the hard things in this life are, “achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

This spiritual perspective is not a “forced perspective” but it is a choice and it sure makes Heaven seem a little bit closer. The things of this earth can seem much smaller with a heart set on what is above. And sometimes, I need to see the hard things as smaller than they appear in light of eternity. I need to change my perspective to what is eternal and lasting to see past the problems I face today.

Change my perspective, Lord. Help me see You today instead of my problems.


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Child of the Earth

Scripture for Today: I John 3:1  “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

credit to J. Maughn https://www.flickr.com/photos/jmaughn/8177494306

It’s a mystery how the Jerusalem Cricket got its name as it is neither from Jerusalem nor is it a true cricket! A possible origin could be the 19th century expletive, “Jerusalem,” elicited by its startling appearance! I sure wouldn’t want to be startled by this two-inch creature! Another idea is that early missionaries misunderstood the Navajo name of “skull insect” to be ‘Skull Hill.” This put in mind Golgotha outside of Jerusalem. The Spanish called this insect, “Nino de la Tierra” or “Child of the Earth.”

Today’s verse gives a different name for a child. God’s love can change one’s name from a “child of the Earth” to a “child of God.” God’s love is so great that in lavishing it on us, our identity is changed to be children of God. No longer do we belong to the world. As children of God we call Him Father and we call other believers in this worldwide family, brothers and sisters. The world often fails to recognize this family as they do not know the Father. And it is only through faith in Christ, His Son that we can belong to this family (Gal. 3:26).

I am a child of God. What an amazing humbling truth! As His child I no longer belong to the world or want to conform to it (Romans 12:2). No longer am I led by the current thinking or fad but instead I can be led by His Spirit (Romans 8:14). Because I have received Him and believed on His name, He has graciously made me His own (John 1:12). I am not always such an obedient child. There are times each day when I let down my Father. But unlike any human family relationship, I can always count on His love and forgiveness.

Thank you Lord, for making me Your child.


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The Laughing Gull

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity: she can laugh at the days to come.”

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Assateague_laughing_gull_MD1.jpg

I am no stranger to all kinds of sea gulls in our area of the California coast. But I have never seen or heard this guy! That’s because the Laughing Gull makes its home on the Atlantic Coast. His dark black hood, red bill and legs and his white eye arcs give him a recognizable look. But what is most distinctive is his hysterical raucous call resembling laughter! It begins with a stuttering ha-ha-ha-ha and follows with a longer more drawn-out hash-hash-hash! He laughs when excited by courtship or defending his territory.

There is laughter in today’s verse. It is part of the description of a woman whose qualities raise what seems to be an impossible standard for others! This picture of the perfect wife and mother was given by the Queen Mother to her son, King Lemuel. The passage describes a woman of “noble character” fit for royalty (verse 10). After an extensive list of characteristics the conclusion is that charm and beauty are less important than fearing the Lord (verse 30). Fearing the Lord makes it possible to “laugh at the days to come.” There is a light heart even when facing the unknown future.

Of all the qualities listed for this perfect woman, this ability to laugh at the days to come has got to be the most difficult! It is a litmus test of my faith in God and His plan for me. To laugh at the days to come does not mean I do not prepare for them. But it does mean that I can trust Him for the unexpected! I can trust Him for what is around that blind curve. Whatever He allows to happen, He will carry me through it. Instead of fear and anxiety, He makes possible a light heart. Whatever the challenge of the days to come, He is enough.

Thank you Lord, for the confidence I can have in You!


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Rest for the Weary

Scripture for Today: Mark 6:31 “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Walking the boardwalk of the Seaforth Marina in San Diego, we saw this squirrel sunning himself! With the warmth of the sun above and of the rock beneath, as well as the mesmerizing movement of the fish, he was having the perfect rest! Some squirrels take rest further with times of “torpor,” conserving energy by lowering their metabolism when in a cold climate. But for this fellow, his rest can be taken throughout the year with California’s generous sunshine!

Today’s verse has an invitation to rest, given by Jesus to his disciples. The constant coming and going of people with their needs was tiring. He encourages the disciples to come away with Him to a quiet place, without the people pressing in, a quiet place where they could rest. What follows is a time of intense activity; the miraculous feeding of the five thousand! (counting just the men) The disciples worked hard distributing all that food to so many and then gathering up the leftovers. Thankfully, they had that rest first!

Resting in a quiet place may not seem like such a spiritual and fruitful “activity.” Yet, that rest is with Him. His invitation to rest is not only to be refreshed physically but also to have my soul nourished and ready for whatever comes next! The disciples did not know what was coming next. But they were ready. I do not know what is next. But I need that same rest to be ready for whatever is around the corner.

Thank you Lord, for the rest you give!