Devotions By Jan

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Aerated Soil

Scripture for Today:  II Thessalonians 1: 3b-4  “…your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.  Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.”

When I first saw this picture I wondered why on earth someone would poke holes in a lawn.  Obviously, I am no gardener or I would know all about aerating soil.  What looks like destroying a patch of lawn is actually good for its health!  Aerating soil allows oxygen to reach plant roots.  Water and nutrients can be absorbed more easily.  Without aerating the soil, toxins increase, plant disease develops and plant growth slows down.  This process looks brutal but not only is it good for plants, it encourages roots to grow even deeper.

Our verse for today describes the spiritual health of the Thessalonian church.  Paul is proud of their growing faith and love for one another.  Their faith has been growing as a result of persecutions and trials.  Like aerating soil, the process is hard, but the results can be seen in a growing and healthy faith.  Because of the hard times, their roots have grown deeper and they are able to endure.

The seed of God’s Word has fallen on good soil (Matt. 13:23) and I am thankful.  But for my faith to continue to grow and be healthy, God allows hard times to come and test that faith.  He is aerating the soil to keep me growing.  It certainly does not feel good, but all those difficulties in my life are causing my roots to grow deeper into Him and His Word.

Thank you Lord, that You know what You are doing in my life.  Help me to trust You.

 


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Pottery Seconds

IMG_20140324_150035Scripture for Today: Proverbs 3:9  “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.”

One of the great things about living in Europe is being fairly close to Poland and their wonderful pottery!  I have visited their pottery factories on two occasions.  Their hand stamped blue patterns are my favorites.  Most all of my purchases have been seconds, as they are so much cheaper.  But this particular bowl is technically a “fifth!”  It cannot go in the microwave, the dishwasher, or the oven.  It has one small place where the glazing is not even and one very unnoticeable flaw in the pattern.  Even though it is not of the best quality, at only five dollars it has been worth every penny!

Our verse for today teaches that we honor the Lord by giving Him the best.  Seconds or substandard quality does not honor Him.  He is worthy of the very best we can offer Him.  In the Old Testament, sacrifices were offered of the best of the fruit, the vegetables, the grain and the animals.

James 1:8 teaches that we ourselves are a kind of firstfruit of all He has created!  In Him we are the best of His creation!  We are not only to honor Him with the best of what we possess but the best of our very lives.  Leftovers are not worthy of Him.  Giving the Lord a few moments of consideration at the end of a long day, or what we feel we can spare of our money does not honor Him.  He is worthy of our absolute best service!  No seconds for Him!

“Give of your best to the Master, Give Him first place in your heart, Give Him first place in your service, Consecrate every part.”  Lord, help me to honor You with the best!


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Hiding

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 32:7 “You are my hiding place.  You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

What is it about cats and bags?  Every time I put away groceries I throw the empty bags on the floor, much to our Tiger’s delight.  He runs so quickly to hide in one of them that he and the bag slide across the floor!  Inside that bag he feels secure and invincible!  In his little cat brain he probably thinks no one can see him.  But when that bag starts moving across the tiles it is a dead give-away!

Our verse for today describes a different hiding place; the Lord Himself.  David has been hiding from God, unwilling to acknowledge his sin.  As with Adam and Eve, our first instinct with unconfessed sin is to hide from God.  Now that David has confessed everything, he is hiding in God.  He is hiding in His sure love and forgiveness.  He describes God’s love in verse 10 as a love that surrounds him.  There are songs and praise as those seeing and hearing of David’s deliverance celebrate the victory with him.

Hiding from God does not work.  Hiding behind a false sense of self sufficiency does not either.  But hiding in Him means protection and sure deliverance!  In Him is found such security.  His love is my retreat.  In His presence there is no fear of what man can do to me.  Whatever “mighty waters” (verse 6) may be in my future, they will not overwhelm me when I am hiding in Him.  He will fill my heart with song and praise as He proves Himself trustworthy yet again.

Thank you Lord, for hiding me in Your love.  It is such a good place to be!


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Rewarding Myself!

Scripture for Today: Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

The only thing that kept me weeding today was the thought that I would reward myself when I was done with a particular patch.  There was ice cream in the freezer calling my name!  So, I kept pushing myself to reach my goal.  Somehow, making that ice cream serve as a reward made it all the sweeter and more satisfying!

The concept of reward for hard work is basic to our motivation.  The Lord understands this as He created us this way!  Our verse for today talks about the reward of our heavenly inheritance.  We are working for the Lord.  He is the One we are really serving.  And we are to work with all our heart.  Part of our motivation is knowing that we will be rewarded.

It seems somehow “unspiritual” to be motivated by reward.  It is fine in any other area of our lives, but it seems less than worthy of a pure selfless service to God.  And yet, the Lord is the One who in His grace has offered rewards.  Paul did not apologize for pressing on to win that prize (Phil. 3:14).  Looking forward to reward kept him self disciplined.  Thoughts of being recompensed helped Paul get through the hard times.

God’s rewards are a grace.  He does not owe it to me.  I certainly do not deserve reward.  How loving He is to want to recompense me!  I hope there are rewards awaiting me in heaven.  Why?  They will be for His glory as I humbly give them back to Him in worship.


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Guest Room

unnamedScripture for Today:  I Peter 4:9-10 “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

One of the reasons I enjoy our century-old Alsacian home is for its guest room.  It is not the largest room but it is the nicest with a balcony that overlooks the Vosges mountains.  I have so often been a guest in the homes of others that it only makes sense to offer hospitality as often as I can.  The bed is actually two singles together so we have different options for our guests.  We have a guest book to sign and I enjoy looking back over the years, reading comments and remembering visits.

Hosting others is not always a positive experience.  Routines are interrupted.  There are new unexplained noises in the night.  The utility bill will probably increase and there will certainly be more cleaning before and after a visit.  That is why our verse for today mentions grumbling.  Hospitality is a service to others but more importantly, it is part of our stewardship to the Lord.

It is a gift to have the space and means to offer hospitality.  It is a gift to serve others in any number of ways with whatever the Lord has given us.  But the ultimate reason for hospitality or any service to others is “so that in all things the Lord is praised” (verse 11).  It is not about me.  It is not about how clean my home is or what my guests may think of the decor.  The idea is not to impress.  The idea is that the Lord is praised and glorified!

Thank you Lord, that opening my home is another way to love and praise You!