Devotions By Jan

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Toy Gyroscope

Scripture for Today: I Peter 5:9  “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

One of the joys of being a grandparent is shopping in toy stores.  I have ignored them for years.  Now, I have new interest in anything that may interest my grandsons!  The other day I saw an old fashioned toy gyroscope.  Never one to be too enthused about physics, I still managed to enjoy the whirling action of this toy when I was young.  I am not sure I understand much more about it as an adult!  But I do understand that the middle (rotor) will maintain its spin axis regardless of the crazy movements of that outer frame.

Our verse for today is about resisting the devil and standing firm in the faith.  Like the gyroscope center that resists the movement of the outer rings, we are to stay the course and keep turning in the direction of truth.  Resisting the devil is resisting the “Father of Lies.”  Using the suffering in our lives, he whispers that we are unloved and abandoned by God.  Suffering can surprise us if we somehow thought that as believers we were exempt.  But holding tight to faith in God’s Word and His promises keeps us standing firm and turning in the right direction.

One of the temptations when moving through suffering is to believe that no one else suffers as we do.  It is true that each of us is unique, but suffering is “common to man.”  God has His good purposes in allowing us to suffer different tests and trials.  He will always give us the ability to bear it (I Cor 10:13).

He is faithful.  Thank you, Lord, that with You I can resist and stand firm!


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Baking Disasters

cakePhoto1190Scripture for Today:  Hosea 7:8 “Ephraim, he has mixed himself among the people.  Ephraim is a cake not turned.”

I can relate to the baking disaster pictured here!  Apparently, the baker added maple syrup to the middle of the muffin and the batter spread all over the place!  There have been times I have undercooked or overcooked something with similar results!  I end up with too much or too little of some ingredient.  Maybe I have added something I should not have.  Perhaps the heat was unevenly distributed.  In any case, my family has usually been good sports about eating my mistakes!

In our verse for today is another baking disaster!  The cake that is not turned for even cooking represents the lack of commitment to follow God’s laws.  Ephraim has shown itself to be “half baked” or not in complete obedience to God.  This tribe of Israel was dominant among the ten who made up the tribes of the Northern Kingdom.  Unfortunately, because it mixed itself with the surrounding nations and influenced the other tribes to do the same, God scattered them.  The foreigners were sapping their strength and they did not even realize it!

Being “half-baked” is still a temptation today.  The pull of the world is so strong.  It is easy to compromise.  But having one foot in the world and one foot in the church does not work.  To love the world and mix myself up in it is contrary to a sincere love for my Lord (I John 2:15-17).  Loving the world weakens my faith, slowly sapping my strength without me even realizing it!

I do not want to compromise as Ephraim did with dire consequences.  I want my faith to stay strong.  Lord, keep me from conforming to the world around me.


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Underwater

Scripture for Today: Psalm 77:19  “Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footsteps were not seen.”

We live in an age of amazing technology!  Underwater robots, or “Remote Operating Vehicles” plunge the depths of the oceans and bring up all kinds of new information.  Their unmanned exploration has been used in a variety of ways.  Some are able to do repairs on oil rigs.  Some can predict the magnitude of an approaching hurricane.  Others can locate, map and sometimes raise the wreckage of a downed airplane!  Their discoveries have increased our appreciation of God’s creation!  But there is one thing these underwater robots will never find on the ocean floor; God’s footprints!

We do not see His footsteps but we see the evidence of His creative work and His mighty deeds.  The verse for today uses the images of the sea and the mighty waters to represent the unseen reasons for the hard times in life.  The author begins this psalm feeling rejected and forgotten by God.  He decides to meditate on all God’s miracles of the past.  He reaffirms God’s mighty power and ends with trust.  Even though he does not see God’s “footprints” he responds with faith.

I sometimes feel that I am “out of my depth” with why God allows hard things to happen.  But it is true that He leads us into deep waters.  It feels so deep that we cannot find our footing.  We do not see His footsteps or any evidence at all of His being there in that moment of distress.  But He is.  We are not walking on that ocean floor by sight, but by faith (II Cor. 5:7).

Thank you Lord, that You will deliver me from deep waters and will not allow them to engulf me!


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Heart’s Desire

Scripture for Today:  Isaiah 26:8 “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

I am amazed to see the variety and quantity of heart shaped boxes of chocolate displayed on the shelves for Valentine’s day!  I am a recovering “chocoholic” so I dare not linger long in front of those tempting displays!  If addiction means intense craving, loss of control, or continued use despite negative consequences, than that could be me if I am not careful!  According to the Nielson consumer study group, in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, 58 million pounds of chocolate are sold!  There is something about that “dark master…the cocoa bean” that creates strong desire!

Our verse for today mentions a desire of the heart.  It is much deeper than any other desire.  A desire for God’s glory completely changes a life.  Wanting His name to be known means saying,”Yes, Lord” to what He asks of us.  Wanting His name to be more prominent than our own means we will follow Him.  His glory in our lives will be evident by the way we walk, following His commandments.

The best way my husband loves me is when he praises me to others!  In turn, I honor him at every opportunity.  I want him to be recognized for all his hard work and sacrifice.  It is the same principle with our Lord.  We show Him that we love Him when we praise Him to others!  We show we are jealous for His name and glory when we walk in a way that honors Him.  It is the best way I can love my Lord.

Lord, You are the desire of my heart!  Help me to live that truth today!


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Royal Tombs

tombs3735304055_31f7be270d_zScripture for Today: Psalm 49:16-17  “Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.”

My husband and I were able to tour these royal tombs in Macedonia with my French chorale.  They were only discovered in 1977 but date back to the beginning of the third century!  They were able to escape detection for so long as they are so well camouflaged with dirt reaching 13 meters high and 110 meters across!  They seem to blend in with the surrounding topography!

The tombs here contain not only the remains of Alexander IV, son of Alexander the Great, but much of his wealth as well.  On display are articles made of silver, gold and ivory found in these tombs.  There are also marble structures, paintings and weapons.  It almost seemed as if Alexander wanted to take these items with him into his next life.

Our verse for today points out the absurdity of the idea that at death we can take our riches with us!  A man may grow rich in this life and his house be a marvel, but he cannot take any of that hard earned splendor with him.  He descends into the grave without it.  Death is the great equalizer when it comes to riches.  But there are riches that are eternal!

Those that are rich in faith will inherit the kingdom promised to those who love Him (James 2:5).  I may be poor in the eyes of the world.  But my rich inheritance is waiting for me and it will not perish, spoil or fade! (I Peter 1:4)

So, I am not overawed at the rich!  Instead, I am awed by God’s grace and generosity!