Devotions By Jan

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Deer Leaping

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 35:6 “Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”

How often I have heard of a deer jumping out in front of a car!  They don’t just run, they jump and leap.  The deer is so fast and agile.  Some species can run 45 miles per hour for a short time on level ground.  But the height of their jump is impressive!  Research shows the deer can cover 30 feet between bounds!  That is as long as a school bus!  Because they can leap so high, it is difficult to find the right fencing to keep them out.  The standard  “deer proof” fence is often 9 feet high.

The deer leaping in our verse for today are not doing so to escape a predator.  They are leaping for joy!  The mute tongue is not just finding its voice but shouting for joy!  Water does not just trickle out in the wilderness but gushes out, forming streams in the desert.  This imagery is a beautiful depiction of what Christ’s return will do for His own.  There is already a partial fulfillment in the re-peopling of Zion or Jerusalem, but the complete fulfillment is larger and still to come.

When Jesus returns there will be a righting of all wrongs (II Thes. 1:6-7)  Creation itself will share in our completed redemption (Rom. 8:19-21).  There will be healings and miracles and hope realized!  There will be endless and astonished joy!  A deer leaping high in the air gives just an inkling of what we will be feeling on that day!  What a thought that “sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

Thank you Lord, for the sure hope You give me!  Help me to see past today.

 

 


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Fake Flowers

fake flowersunnamedScripture for Today: I Timothy 6:20b-21 “…Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.”

I wonder if I am fooling anyone with these flowers.  I know they fool the poor humming birds flying over to check them out.  I bought these fake geraniums to stay fresh and bright looking without having to water or care for them.  There are never any leaves to pick off and it is always perfect looking.  But it is just not the same.  There is no fragrance.  Even with aphids or dying leaves, the real thing is so much nicer.

Our verse for today tells us to turn away from what is falsely called “knowledge.”  It might look like knowledge but is not the real thing.  If what we are hearing is discounting completely God’s existence, then it is “godless.”  It can sound really intelligent but if these ideas oppose the absolute truth of Scripture, then it is not true knowledge.  Those who adopt what opposes Scripture will eventually leave the true faith.

Turning away from these ideas that pretend to be true knowledge is not done in pride and censure.  It does not mean that we “write off” those who hold to these ideas.  We turn away so as to not be enticed ourselves nor to align ourselves with what contradicts that which God has made clear in His Word.  It is the Lord that gives wisdom, from His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Prov. 2:6).

We all possess some degree of knowledge (I Cor. 8-1-2) but with love and humility I can avoid allowing that knowledge to puff me up!  Lord, keep me turned away from false knowledge but loving the one who is deceived!

 


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Sourdough Bread

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 30:8 “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.”

There must have been five million different kinds of bread in France! There were different grain combinations, different densities, and different shapes.  Each region had their own specialties with recipes going back generations.  There were differences between baguettes in our own town depending on the bakery.  But one bread I could never find was sourdough bread.  For whatever reason, the French did not sell this variety.  Perhaps they felt the flavor would fight with the cheese.  And of course, because I could not get it I craved it more than all the others!

Our verse for today is about contentment.  The author of this proverb realized that too many riches did not make for a happy life.  And having nothing at all can create all kinds of discontent.  Somewhere in the middle there is a contentment possible with only the basic needs provided.  Having our daily bread is a luxury for some and yet in our affluent society, it is so easy to take it for granted.  Having so many choices of bread in France turned out not to be enough for me.  What a picture of discontentment!

Having too much or too little can lead to lies and falsehood to get what we want.  Having much somehow leads to craving more.  Staying in this frame of mind can make it easy to bend the rules, cheat a bit or defraud others.  Having too little can lead to lies and falsehoods in a desperate attempt to get ahead.

Where is my middle ground?  Could I honestly repeat this prayer?  Lord, “give us this day our daily bread” and with it may I find contentment in You.


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Sparkling Water

753444421-sparkling-water-sparkling-drink-water-glass-carbonic-acidScripture for Today: Isaiah 12:3 “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

I was never much interested in drinking sparkling water before living in France.  But it quickly became my drink of choice.  Now, I not only prefer it to flat water but I have my favorite brands.  I can taste the differing amounts of salt and the varying levels of carbonation.  Perhaps it is an acquired taste as so many of my friends want nothing to do with it!  For me, it looks pretty in a tall footed glass. The bubbles catch the light and seem to make the water more refreshing.  I especially appreciate that it has no calories!

Our verse for today is also about a different kind of water.  It is different because its source is a different kind of well.  Water is essential to life and this water is essential to eternal life.  We draw from the Source of salvation and He will never disappoint.  His water quenches the deepest longing of our souls.  When drawing from this well, we do so with joy and anticipation.

Jesus points out this “well of salvation” in John 4.  He calls Himself the “living water” that becomes a spring of water welling up inside to eternal life (verse 14).  We draw from this water with joy, knowing that His provision of salvation is all grace.  It is a gift.  And it is a gift that is for all time and completely satisfies.  There is no more thirst or striving for something more.  Nothing else in life can compare to the joy that is found in His presence.  He fills me up with that joy! (Psalm 16:11)

Perhaps the bubbles can represent the joy in this different water!  Thank you Lord, that You are my unending Source of refreshment and life!


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The Vineyards

Summer 2009 040Scripture for Today: Philippians 1:11 …“filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.”

My husband and I loved living in an area surrounded by vineyards.  Each season brought beautiful changes and the anticipated fruit was celebrated with festivals at its arrival.  Our landlords were vinedressers themselves and taught us much about the different varieties.  Alsace boasts 7 different grapes; Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sylvaner, and Pinot Noir.  Not only were these varieties distinctly different but the climate, the soil and the sun exposure all contributed to more subtle differences.  All it took was a difference of 100 meters in location to completely change the fruit.

Our verse for today is a prayer of Paul for the believers in Philippi.  He prays that they will  be filled with love (verse 10) in order to produce the fruit of righteousness.  That fruit cannot be produced except through Jesus Christ.  There is no fruit of righteousness without being connected to the Vine (John 15:5)  But connected to Him we can be filled with that fruit!

Just as there is so much variety among the grapes of Alsace, so there are varieties among the spiritual fruit of believers.  Each season of life is different.  Each person’s spiritual gifting is different.  Each believer’s circumstances are different.  I can get distracted from my own “fruit production” by comparing myself to others.  The fruit God is producing in me is supposed to be different than what He is producing in someone else.  I am a different variety!

I thank God for different varieties!  I thank Him that He is the One who produces the fruit in me.  It is all about Him and His glory and praise.

Lord, thank you that You use even my variety of fruit for Your glory!