Devotions By Jan

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Mulled Spiced Drinks

Scripture for Today: Philippians 4:8 “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” 

Some smells transport me back in time.  This is one of them.  Every outdoor Christmas Market in our area of France sold hot spiced wine or hot spiced apple juice.   The smell of it would waft up and down the rows of stands.  People would wrap their frozen fingers around that mug for warmth.  And for those indulging in the alcohol version, the warmth radiated within as well.  Those spices of allspice, cloves, cinnamon, orange zest, ginger and anise would be mulled for hours, the flavors intermingling.  The result was pure delight!

Today’s verse encourages the believer to think about a list of things that are excellent or praiseworthy.  Just as a variety of spices are mulled and mixed over time, so we too are to reflect, ponder or ruminate over the truth.  Truth is the starting point for all of our thoughts.  And when we start there, we find ourselves thinking of all the rest.  The truth is noble and right.  The truth is pure, lovely and admirable.  The Truth is Jesus Himself (John 14:6).

My thoughts can be all over the place.  So many times, it takes a conscious effort to reign them in and focus on truth.  So many things clamor for my attention.  So many things distract me and often those very things are the opposite of this list!  But there is a wonderful result when I mull over truth.  I will experience the peace of God guarding my heart and mind (verse 7) and the peace of God will be with me (verse 9).

Thank you Lord, that thinking on You is worth the effort.

 


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A Crown

Scripture for Today: I Thessalonians 2:19 “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?”

The Miss America contest winner gets to wear a crown encrusted with diamonds and worth $200,000.  She only wears it for television broadcasts.  It is too valuable and a security risk to be wearing it out in public.  It stays under lock and key and is heavily guarded.  What one sees in public is pretty but only a copy.

Today’s verse speaks of a crown which is in fact far more valuable than any literal diamond encrusted one.  This crown represents our eternal hope and the joy we will experience in the presence of the Lord.  But even more, the crown represents the people who have come to Christ through one’s testimony and influence.  The crown represents as well those who the believer has encouraged and helped to grow closer to Him, as Paul had for the believers in the church in Thessalonica.  If we “glory” or boast at all, it will not be in our own exploits of faith or our good works.  Our glory will be individuals.

What joy there will be to see in Heaven those for whom we have prayed so diligently!  What a thrill to see someone walk through those gates for whom we had given up hope!  That sacrificial gift made to help the Gospel spread will mean we will see believers from every tribe and nation!  Aspiring to this crown is a worthy goal!  I am my Mother’s crown as she led me to the Lord as a small child.  My crown is made up of individuals I have loved and prayed with over the years.

Lord, keep me faithful.


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Migration

Scripture for Today:  Jeremiah 8:7  “Even the stork in the sky knows when it is time to move on.  The turtledove, swallow and the crane recognize the normal times for their migration.  But My people pay no attention to what I, the Lord, require of them.”

This young man is going places!  Our son loves to travel and experience different cultures.  It comes, I am sure, from being raised overseas and appreciating other world views.  From time to time, like many third-culture-kids, he gets itchy feet and wants to hit the road!  He seems to have visited everywhere but there are still corners of the earth left to explore.  I am proud of who he has become and his enlarged vision of our world!

Today’s verse talks about four different kinds of birds but with one thing in common; they all migrate.  Their little bird brains know instinctively when it is time to move on so as to avoid the freezing temperatures.  Jeremiah mentions these birds as a contrast to the Israelites.  The people prided themselves in possessing the Law of God.  But they continually turned to their own individual course, rather than following God’s way.  The Law, instead of being written in their hearts, became a mere code or outward ceremony.

I wish obeying God was as instinctive for me as migration is for the birds.  But then it would not mean as much.  God wants my obedience to be an intentional choice.  Knowing what God expects of me is a good thing.  But I do not want to make the same mistake as the Israelites.  The point is not how many Bible verses I can recite by heart.  He is more interested in how many I obey!

Help me, Lord, to be obedient.


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Steamroller

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

It’s coming.  In fact, even though it is still November, I hear the Christmas music and see the lights and trees set up in the anticipation of Christmas.  I may be alone in this, but it does not make my heart feel happy to see this so soon.  I almost feel that a steamroller is coming at me, and will soon flatten all my enthusiasm.  I cannot keep it at a fever pitch for over a month.  In my house at least, I can keep Christmas at bay a little longer.

Today’s verse tells us that we do not have to follow the pattern the world has of doing things.  We have the choice and the freedom to do things differently, to do things God’s way.  And His way is far better.  It is good, pleasing and perfect.  In belonging to Him, our minds can be renewed through His Word to know and appreciate what His way is.

I want to be intentional this Christmas.  I do not want to overcommit and get stressed out.  I do not want to feel the pressure to have everything decorated Pinterest style or impress people with my cookie baking skills.  I want to slow down enough to ponder and reflect like Mary did at the birth of her Son.  I want to turn my thoughts toward Him of whom the angels sang, and sing to Him myself!  And I want to love sacrificially as He did in coming to this earth.

Lord, help me celebrate Your birth in a way that pleases You.


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The Bod Pod

Scripture for Today:  II Corinthians 4:17  “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

No, this does not come from the set of the Mork and Mindy television set, although it looks like it could have!  The Bod Pod is another way to measure body composition.  It measures the amount of fat weight as opposed to the amount of fat-free weight.   The Bod Pod  can even measure fat around organs.  It’s all about the quality of the weight, whether lean muscle mass or body fat.  I think I would rather tell myself that the weight gain after the holiday is from muscle mass!

Today mentions another kind of weight and it is all good; the weight of glory!  This is a weight one would like to see increase.  But the weight of glory in Heaven grows in direct relation to our afflictions here on earth.  The hard times are working for us.  Life’s sorrows are achieving that weight of glory!

All the trials and difficult times I experience are but for a moment  They are a temporary condition.  And as hard as they feel, they are considered  “light” in comparison to the eternal glory that awaits.  My pain is never wasted.  My sorrow is not for nothing.  This truth keeps me from “losing heart”(verse 16).  Remembering this keeps me looking forward to what is unseen and eternal.  Being convinced keeps me renewed on the inside when I am falling apart on the outside (verse 16).  One day everything will be glorious.  One day there will be only recompense and joy!

Thank you Lord, that life’s trials can seem small when compared to You and eternity!