Devotions By Jan

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Mystery Leak

leaky-pipesScripture for Today:  Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

We have had our share of leaks recently.  But this last one was a mystery.  The water was continually beading up through the slats of our newly-laid floor and quickly deforming it.  There was no way to find the problem except to remove the sink and toilet.  Unfortunately, the floor had to be replaced, all because of a small, hidden and persistent leak.

Our verse for today talks about being filled with joy and peace.  Our God is a God of hope.  Because of His love and plan for His children, we can wait with confidence for all that is ahead.  Because of hope, He fills us with joy and peace.  We can experience that sense of joy and peace when we are in a place of trust.  In being filled with these sometimes elusive qualities, we overflow with hope!

Unfortunately, there are leaks when levels of joy and peace slowly diminish.  It can be a slow leak that can go unnoticed for a time.  But eventually, we no longer overflow with hope.  The pressures of life work on us and we struggle through, but without that joy and peace we had.  Before long, we find ourselves questioning God’s goodness and becoming cynical.

Those leaks happen when I do not trust Him.  When I try living life by my own strength and resources, without depending on Him, my joy and peace slowly leak away.  It is no mystery that I am not living by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thank you Lord, for being trustworthy and filling me with hope!  Keep me leak free!

 


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Patio Furniture

Scripture for Today: James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

We have been shopping for patio furniture and it is amazing the array of choices out there.  Many of the pieces look as good or better than what I have inside the house.  Between the cushions and the outdoor heaters, one can be as comfortable outdoors as indoors.  In the right setting and with all these creature comforts, I don’t even realize I am outside.

Our verse for today helps us distinguish between worthless religion (verse 26) and what God will accept.  They can seem so similar.  One can be sitting comfortably on the outside, not even realizing that it is not the inside.  The vocabulary can be the same.  The form of worship can be quite similar.  The trappings and tradition of religion might be studiously followed.  But there is one thing that can let us know we are on the outside; it is too comfortable.

Religion that God accepts will not be comfortable.  The book of James makes very clear that true faith in Christ will express itself in self-sacrificing acts of kindness and love.  The giving and support we give to those who cannot reciprocate is a hallmark of true Christianity.

Religion that God accepts will not be comfortable as it takes effort to avoid being polluted.  Following the standards of the world is easy.  Obeying God takes so much more effort and can only be accomplished with the help of His Spirit.  No, it is not comfortable, but how worth it to be inside, in an intimate meaningful relationship with Jesus.

Thank you Lord, that it is Your grace and forgiveness that brings me inside!


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Seashells

shellsunnamedScripture for Today: John 17:15 “My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one.”

This shell collection of my Father’s was a surprise. He was always an avid rock collector but I did not realize he was collecting shells as well.   He kept them in a large tin canister, each one wrapped meticulously.  He saw beauty in the myriad of colors and in the shapes of each seashell.  The variety and detail of God’s creation is amazing!

Of course, the seashell is about more than beauty.  It is there to protect that living creature inside!  Our verse for today is a prayer of Jesus specifically for the protection of His disciples.  There would be persecution ahead as each one takes a stand for Him.  This prayer is equally applicable to believers today (verse 20) as Jesus includes all who will believe the message of His disciples.

It may seem as if God did not answer this prayer of Jesus.  Most of the original twelve disciples died a martyr’s death.  Were they not protected?  Today, we see horrible scenes of Christians being killed for their faith in Christ.  Is this prayer invalid?

From what does God protects us?  In His grace He protects us repeatedly from bodily harm.  So often, we are not even aware of His protective hand.  But this prayer of protection concerns the evil one.  Our souls are protected.  Though the body is destroyed, no evil can touch the soul and its sure destination (Matt. 10:28-29).

As the world becomes increasingly hostile to true Christ followers, I can live without fear.  My soul belongs to Christ (II Tim. 1:12) and I am persuaded that He will keep what I have committed to Him.

Thank you Lord, for Your beautiful protection.


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Care Packages

Scripture for Today: I Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

I remember when I was single, living in France just after college.  Although I lived with a wonderful family, I missed my own.  It was easy to feel bereft, lonely, and well outside my comfort zone.  The daily mail was my lifeline.  My brother and his wife lifted my spirits by sending a care package.  I remember it had my favorite cereal that I ate every morning in the States.  It was a little bit of home, but more than that, it reminded me that I was not forgotten.  My family cared about me.

Our verse for today is a reminder of God’s care as well.  He shows His care in so many ways that sometimes go unnoticed.  But one very impressive way He cares is by shouldering all of our anxieties.  He sees when we are bowed down with anxious thoughts and worries.  He invites us to give them all to Him.  We are to be “anxious for nothing” (Phil. 4:6) and we “cast” those worries on Him by prayer.  He exchanges those anxieties and worries for His peace (verse 7).

It is amazing to me that God cares about how I feel.  He knows my physical needs, He knows all of my thoughts, but even more, He knows exactly what I am feeling.  And He cares.  He is moved to compassion when He sees me stewing in my own worries.  He offers peace but instead I keep hanging on to my anxiety.  Somehow, my worries become a habitual thought pattern and it can be difficult to let them go!  Why do I continue to worry when He is there to relieve me?

Thank you Lord, that You care enough to take away every anxious thought.


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Tiger Care

Scripture for Today: I Peter 5:6-7  “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.”

Meet Tiger, our spoiled cat.  He looks like he does not have a care in the world!  And with the way we look after him he really doesn’t!  It is to Tiger’s advantage to be an “indoor cat.”  There are plenty of feral cats that multiply in the vineyards behind the house.  They are not very pleasant being big, mean and riddled with disease.  Our ferocious Tiger is a real pussy cat.  He does not have to worry where his next meal is coming from or if he can find shelter from the rain.  But in some strange way he has to “be humbled.”  He has to be dependent on us rather than hang with the big cats!  But by doing so, all his needs are met.

Our verse for today talks about humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God.  It means being indoors under His care.  His hand is mighty and powerful to take care of each and every need.  In being humble and submissive to Him I am in a place of receiving His care.  I am indoors.  I am sheltered, well fed and my needs are met.

What is so strange is that sometimes I want to hang with the big cats too.  The world has such a pull on me.  Like Eve, I can be deceived into thinking that God is somehow holding out on me, when in fact all my needs are met in Him.  To venture out into the world is to turn my back on His care.  Why ever do I do that?  He cares for me.

Thank you Lord, for Your perfect care.