Devotions By Jan

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Green Bean Tree?

Scripture for Today: Job 34:3-4 “For the ear tests words as the tongue tests food. Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.”

It looked so odd.  I had to get a closer look at this strange tree growing in Epinal, France.  No, of course these are not green beans but I bet I could have convinced my young grandsons that they were!  It is called a Catalpa Tree and is sometimes referred to as an Indian Bean Tree or Cigar Tree.  The burning question is always whether these pods can be eaten.  I am glad I did not try as the answer is, no!

Today’s verse records the advice of one of Job’s three friends.  Elihu was eager to help Job discover the reason for his troubles.  He had a lot to say but it was off the mark.  Certainly, we are to test what we hear and listen with discernment.  Just as we taste food to see if it has a pleasing flavor, so we “taste” what we hear to decide if it rings true.  The problem is that we all have differing taste buds.  What seems right and good to one can seem wrong and sour to another.  Our subjectivity can get in the way of finding absolute truth.

There was absolute truth in the answer to the question, “Are these pods edible?”  And God’s absolute truth does not depend on our subjective senses or how I feel on a given day.  Jesus calls Himself, “Truth.” (John 14:6)  Absolute unchanging truth is found in the Person of Jesus Christ, and is not affected by my perception or belief.  What a comfort in a world where truth is relative and up for grabs!

Thank you Lord, for the truth I find in You.


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Message in a Bottle

message12.05.17-mjs_ft_message-in-a-bottle_27865657_582_388Scripture for Today: Jeremiah 31:3 “The Lord appeared to us in the past saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.'”

The idea of putting an important message in a bottle is nothing new.  There are records of it being done as far back as 310 BC!  But the story of a British WWI soldier, sending a message in 1914 was especially touching.  It did not discuss enemy movements, or a shipwreck story nor was it an experiment to test the movements of the currents.  It was a love note addressed to his wife.  This soldier died two days later and although the wife had since died by the time it was discovered in 1999, his daughter at the age of 86 was thrilled to have it!

Today’s verse describes the Lord’s love for us as everlasting.  Much more dependable than a floating bottle, He has written His message of love in the Bible that dates back centuries.  It is a timeless message of a love that is kind and unconditional.  The everlasting nature of His love draws the receptive and searching heart.  But like the passerby pictured, too many walk by that message, never stopping to investigate.  He has been faithful to communicate His love clearly, but the message is not always received.  Or the message is misheard to be, “I will love you if…”

His love for me changes how I look at myself.  I am important enough for Him to actually write down how He feels about me!  Of course my husband’s love and my family’s love is important.  But nothing is as wide, long, high or deep as His love (Eph.3:18).  It is always kind.  It will never fail.  And He loves me in spite of who I am!

Thank you Lord, for Your everlasting love!

Look familiar?  This is a repost due to summer ministry.


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Dormant

mount-edgecumbeScripture for Today: James 1:19b-20 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

The residents of Kruzof Island got quite a scare when seeing this black plume rise out Edgecumbe mountain.  The volcano on this Alaskan island was thought to be dormant as it had not erupted for four thousand years.  (A volcano is classed as “dormant” when it has not erupted in the last ten thousand years.)  When a helicopter flew over to investigate, they found it to be an elaborate prank by a resident who had set fire to tires!

Today’s verse encourages us to be inclined to listen rather than to speak, and to be slow in becoming angry.  Our anger, even in the face of injustice usually does more harm than good.  Our anger does not always result in righteousness.  More often than not, even justified anger ends up being something for which we ask forgiveness.  God’s anger, vengeance, and justice however always produces righteousness.  When we are slow to anger, allowing it to lie dormant, we give ourselves the opportunity to see God work!

There is always some level of anger underneath the surface.  There are times I have been wronged personally.  I get especially angry when I see family members hurt.  Rather than lash out, I need to wait and see the Lord take care of it, in His way and in His timing.  Allowing my anger to spill out serves no purpose at all.  Burying it below the surface is not ideal either, but better than erupting!  I need to trust in His perfect justice!  God’s Spirit gives me the control to slow down the anger and not erupt!

Lord, I need your control today.

Look familiar?  This is a repost due to summer ministry.


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That Pothole

Pothole_1911993bScripture for Today: Isaiah 26:7 “The path of the righteous is level; You, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.”

There is nothing worse than seeing that pothole too late!  The resulting thud and bounce matches what my heart does!  Unfortunately, this scenario is quite common in California.  One would not think so as California does not deal with lots of snow as do other states.  But even so it is a problem and one that can result in some expensive repairs.  Insurance companies often have claims involving pothole damage to the tires and suspension.

Today’s verse describes a path that is level and smooth.  It is not that way as a result of our own efforts.  It is level and smooth because of what the Lord does for the righteous.  Without His intervention, life is full of ups and downs and unwelcome jolts to our progress.  On our own, the path we take not only becomes rough and uncomfortable but also takes us in the wrong direction! (Isaiah 53:6).  But in living out the righteousness that He gives us through Jesus Christ, we can have a totally different ride!

I wish this verse meant that there would never be any problems for the believer.  However, we are told we will have troubles in this world (John 16:33).  But in choosing to follow His Word, we at least avoid additional and unnecessary problems of our own making.  Sin just hurts and complicates life, whether our sin or that of someone else.  But in His grace the Lord will sometimes smooth over even those rough patches.  When He allows the jolts, He brings us through with new dependence on Him.

Lord, I need You to smooth out what looks like rough road ahead.  Thank you that I can trust You.

Look familiar?  This is a repost due to summer ministry.


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Complaint Department

complaintdear-customer-please--note--that--our--complaint--department--haScripture for Today: Psalm 142:2 “I pour out my complaint before Him; I show before Him my trouble.”

I cannot remember the last time I saw a sign for a “Complaint Department.”  And I can understand why they would not want to be too visible.  Making this department as inaccessible as possible seems smart!   Inviting a disgruntled customer to express his frustration seems like inviting trouble.  To be the person handling the complaints would require enormous patience.  I would not be the best qualified for this position!  Perhaps the complaint department has been replaced by expressing poor reviews on social media.

The verse for today was written by David while hiding out from Saul in a cave.  He had plenty of reason to complain.  Saul was intent on killing David without cause.  His complaints were voiced out loud and he cried out for God to deliver him.  David did not try to sugar coat his emotions.  He complained of his troubles.  But like so many of David’s psalms, he ends it on a positive note with confidence that God will work in his favor.

I take heart when I read this psalm.  The Lord knows exactly what I am thinking and feeling.  I might as well voice it and get it all out in front of Him.  Nothing shocks the Lord and He can take it.  Unlike the person handling customer complaints, His patience with me is infinite!  Not only does He patiently listen, He has all the power to do something about it.  And like David, voicing my complaints and troubles to Him puts me back on my knees in prayer.  Before long, He reassures me that He is on it.  I can look at my troubles differently after handing them over to Him.

Thank you Lord, for patiently listening.

Look familiar?  This is a repost due to summer ministry.