Devotions By Jan

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Victim or Victor?

Scripture for Today:  I Corinthians 15:55-57  “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

The enemies of Jesus thought they had won.  Satan thought he had won.  Jesus was dead and buried.  To all appearances Jesus was the victim and He had lost.  For three long sad days all seemed finished.  It was over.  But then……Jesus arose a Victor!  The power of sin and death could not hold Him.

As if this were not amazing enough, there is more!  Our verse for today explains that WE share in His victory!  God gives those who place their faith in Jesus the same victory over sin and death!  No longer are we victims but victors!  Jesus is OUR resurrection.  He is OUR life.  Because of what He accomplished, we will live eternally in a resurrected body like His!  We are looking forward to our own resurrection.

I am forever thankful to no longer be a victim.  No matter what man may do to me, my soul is kept safe and my future is secure.  What enemy can take that away from me?  No one (John 10:28).   Who could ever condemn me?  No one (Rom. 8:34).

There are times in life where we feel we are in that same three-day waiting period.  We feel like a victim.  All seems dark and sad.  There is failure and discouragement, guilt and shame.  Satan seems to have triumphed.  But then……we share in Christ’s victory!  We are on the winning side!  We are victors because He shares His victory with us!

Thank you, Lord, that You fought and won for me!


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Good Friday

IMG_20121124_145426Scripture for Today:  I Corinthians 1:18  “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

I have lived in France for so long, I am no longer surprised to see the cross just about everywhere.  France has strong cultural ties to the Catholic Church.  Some of these crosses date back hundreds of years.  They can be found in graveyards as pictured here.  But they are also found up in the vineyards, along country roadsides, and even on the busy corner down from our house!  I often wonder what the French think when they pass the cross on their way to their daily lives.

Today is Good Friday, a day of remembering the cross and the suffering of the Perfect One who hung there.  There has never been a greater injustice ever done to man.  Jesus, who knew no sin, did not deserve to die.  It should have been me.  But because of His great love, He took my place and paid the penalty for my sin.

The cross……has there ever been a more perfect symbol of sacrificial love?  And yet, for those that reject His love, it is foolishness.  For them it is a symbol of weakness and shame.  But the cross is the power of God, as it reconciles us with the Righteous Judge.

I have loved singing these lyrics with my French chorale, often through tears of gratitude:

“Thank You for the cross, Lord.  Thank You for the price You paid.  Bearing all my sin and shame, in love You came and gave amazing grace.  Thank You for this love, Lord.  Thank You for the nail pierced hands.  Wash me in Your cleansing flow, now all I know, Your forgiveness and embrace.”


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Planning

pencilindexScripture for Today: Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

This pencil is just a little bit special.  If you look closely, you will see that there is an eraser on both ends!  This must be what I am figuratively using right now, as my own plans seem to be in a constant state of change.  That is pretty normal when taking care of a fifteen month old baby.  His needs take priority over any plans I might have envisioned for the day.  I might have planned to shower.  I might have planned to sleep.  I certainly did not plan on a crying meltdown!

Today’s verse reveals the Lord’s plans for His own.  He is good, merciful, loving and compassionate.  It only follows that His plans are good as well.  He sees the beginning and He sees the end.  He knows the outcome that we cannot know.  But His plans will include hard times that grow our faith and glorify Him.  He erases our ideas of what is good and replaces them with what He knows is best.  He is the only One who has the power and the control to do that.  He is the only One I can trust to do that.

In looking back, I can see that His plans have been for the best.  I do not regret His eraser.  If left to my self and my own warped desires, I  am pretty sure I would have made a mess of things.  His way leads to a life that is richly blessed with His presence and love.  With His plans, there is always hope and an incredible future!

Lord, help me to trust Your plan for today!


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Spring is in the Air!

Scripture for Today:  John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Today is the first Monday of Spring and I am ready!  Spring is the season of rebirth.  What one thought was dead and gone, suddenly shows new signs of growth!  Spring is a time of renewed expectations and hope.

We used to have several Butterfly Bushes (Buddleja) in our yard producing white and purple flowers.  I loved watching the butterflies come and drink the nectar from its flowers in the Spring.  And to think that those lovely butterflies were once unremarkable caterpillars!  Their transformation is a beautiful image of our spiritual rebirth!

In today’s verse, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he will not see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.  It must have been a shock to hear.  Nicodemus was a respected Pharisee and ruler.  He probably thought that if anyone could enter the Kingdom, he would be a likely candidate.  He did not realize that in fact, he needed “wings” and as a caterpillar, he did not have them.  Being born again is a work of His Spirit.  A complete transformation is what Jesus offers.  It is His Spirit who gives life.  There is no profit at all in the flesh and our own effort (John 6:63)

Every Spring I am reminded of the new life He has given me.  My old life is dead and buried.  I have been changed forever!  I am not at all tempted to return to the form of that caterpillar.  He has given me wings, color, sweet nectar and new life!

Thank you Lord, for Spring and the new life found in You!


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Termites!

Scripture for Today: Matthew 19:5 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

The termite can wreak havoc in Southern California as they feast on the wood of our homes.  They seem secretive and destructive.  There are three kinds; workers, soldiers and reproductive termites.  Only the reproductive ones are able to fly.  Both the young kings and queens will fly from their home in a large swarm as they search for a mate.  Each royal pair will emerge from the swarm together and establish their new home, breaking off their wings as they settle down!

Today’s verse is the answer Jesus gave to the Pharisees seeking to trap Him with questions on marriage.  He quotes what God established in the beginning in Genesis 2:24.  The step of marriage is to be binding.  The commitment it requires is much like those termites breaking off their wings.  The original and best plan for marriage is that it be exclusive and permanent.  One new flesh is created from two.  Tearing apart the two can cause excruciating pain.  The Lord in His love and compassion gives us the best plan to avoid that kind of pain.

God’s plan for marriage can seem restrictive.  But to give love the best chance to flower and last is within that safe place of total commitment.  We endure whatever pain or inconvenience there may be by “tearing off our wings.”  It shows that we are serious to stay together.  The world says that one is somehow missing out.  But I know differently.  It is through many years of ups and downs, trials and joys that my love for my husband grows.

Thank you Lord, for giving me the strength and power to tear off my wings and stay.