Devotions By Jan

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Cuckoo Clocks

Scripture for Today: Colossians 4:5  “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”

We live near the cuckoo clock capital of the world!  Black Forest, Germany is just over the border and they are known for their wood carving and clock making.  The variety is impressive.  Some are quite ornate and detailed.  We have  a simple one with just the cuckoo but I have always enjoyed those with figurines that dance on the hour.

Once I saw a very unique cuckoo clock that was difficult to leave behind.  On the hour a man seated in his chair would appear and behind him stood his wife with a rolling pin poised over her head.  With each cuckoo that rolling pin would come down on this poor man’s head!  I guess my husband would not want me getting any ideas!

Our verse for today is about redeeming the time.  It is said in a very specific context; that of our relationship with nonbelievers.  Paul, in the preceding verses, is asking for prayer.  He wants to make the Gospel clear to others.  But to do so, he wants God to open the door of opportunity to him.

Walking in this wisdom is knowing how to communicate with grace (verse 6).  Our speech is to be “seasoned with salt” so that we know how to answer anyone asking a question.  There is a certain urgency involved as doors of opportunity not only open but close.  That cuckoo sounding reminds me that time is fleeting and limited.  Am I praying for opportunities to share His Good News?  Do I have the wisdom described in Proverbs 11:30, that of winning souls?  Quite frankly, there are times I am too self-absorbed.

Lord, make me aware of fleeting time, open doors and sensitivity to people’s questions.  I need Your wisdom!


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Missed Rendez-Vous

front-of-rendezvousScripture for Today: Rom. 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

My husband and I were to have a rendez-vous at a particular “salon de thé”.  We arranged to meet there after doing our shopping.  As planned, I arrived at the appointed hour.  I then waited close to two hours for my husband, not knowing whether to be angry or worried!  As this was before owning cell phones, I had no choice but to wait.  Randy, on the other hand, was having much the same experience in a salon de thé across the way!  We laugh about it now, but a missed rendez-vous is no fun at all!

One of the Bible studies I lead is called, “Rendez-Vous Avec La Bible.”  Normally in French, a “rendez-vous” is a term used only with meeting people.  But in a sense, when studying God’s Word, one meets with its Author!  Unlike any other book in the world, there is a meeting or rendez-vous with the One who spoke through the writers.  No other book is “God breathed” like the Word of God.

In our verse for today we are reminded that the Scriptures are written for our learning.  Through reading His Word, we are encouraged to persevere and to have hope.  The next verse goes on to say that it is God who is the source of endurance and the One who supplies that hope.

There are many ways God encourages me to persevere and to hope.  He uses the testimonies of others.  He uses a beautiful hymn.  He uses the prayers of others.  But the biggest source of hope and encouragement is God’s Word.  That is one rendez-vous I do not want to miss!


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Saint Nicolas

st nic unnamedScripture for Today: Matthew 19:14  “But Jesus said, ‘Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'”

Today is a special day for French children in Alsace; Saint Nicolas Day!  If they have been good, their shoe, placed the previous night outside their door, will be filled with small presents and goodies!  I was unaware of this custom before living in this region of France.  Saint Nicolas is the patron saint of this department.  Our neighbors; the Germans and the Belgians, also celebrate this day.

I saw him wandering around the mall the other day.  He is dressed much like a Bishop and children are drawn to his pockets full of candy.  Our own Santa Claus and Britain’s Father Christmas are derived from legends surrounding this saint.  The children here learn songs and poems about his protection and generosity to little ones.

In our verse for today, Jesus is explaining to the disciples that children are important to Him.  I love the depictions of Jesus seated with children climbing all over Him.  He was not some distant adult that could not be bothered.  He loved and welcomed them!  The kingdom of heaven belongs to those with child-like faith.

Jesus went on to say in Luke 18:17 that we are to receive the kingdom of God like a child.  We are to let go of our pretensions and pride.  We are to humble ourselves before Him in complete humility and dependence.  There is with children a trusting and open heart that somehow we lose as an adult.  Pride invades the soul and keeps us from admitting our need.

Lord, keep me from vain human philosophies that set themselves up against You!  Keep me humble with the wide-eyed belief You reward!


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Gold!

greedunnamedScripture for Today:  Ecclesiastes 5:10  “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.  This too is meaningless.”

The name of this store in Freiburg, Germany caught my attention!  It seems as if the owners are inviting me to “grab” their gold!  Because I do not speak German, I looked up “grabisch” and found that it was simply a family name.  However, the word “grab” in German means “tomb” or “grave.”  Hmm.

The promise of happiness through wealth is an empty one.  Certainly, there will be extra creature comforts and enviable ease in a wealthy life, but it will not satisfy.  The  emptiness and futility of life remains.  Rather than look elsewhere, the tendency is to think that satisfaction will come with just a little more.  Perhaps happiness will come with just one more purchase.  But we find that it does not.  It is meaningless.

In reaction to the “gluttony of consumerism” is the minimalist lifestyle.  It promotes individuality and self reliance in one’s pursuit of happiness.  Believing that “less is more” is to somehow provide meaning to our world.  I can just hear King Solomon saying, “this too is meaningless.”

The only source of meaning and satisfaction is not found in wealth.  Nor is it not found in a philosophy.  It is found in a Person.  We are made for this particular relationship.  When it is lacking, we feel empty and life seems futile.  Meaning and significance elude us.  Jesus Christ has promised true life that begins now and continues into eternity.  He satisfies that indefinable longing of the soul.

It is so easy to be distracted and duped by the empty promise of riches.  May I recognize my discontentment and run to Him!  With Jesus, the deepest longings of my soul are satisfied!


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Watershed

Scripture for Today: Deuteronomy 30:18  “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants. “

I never get tired of gazing at the Swiss Alps!  Their towering peaks and gorgeous glaciers are impressive.  The Swiss Alps directly or indirectly feed Europe’s four largest rivers; the Danube, draining into the Black Sea, the Po into the Adriatic Sea, the Rhone into the Mediterranean Sea, and the Rhine near us, draining into the North Sea.  One could say that these glaciers are the “watershed” of Europe.

A watershed is an area that separates waters flowing to different river basins or seas.  We often use this word to describe a turning point in life that decides the future.  Our verse today is some of Moses’ last words to the Israelites.  This is a watershed moment for them as they choose.  The choice is expressed so clearly; life or death? blessing or curse?  The passage goes on to say that loving and obeying the Lord is life and length of days.

The Lord gives us watershed moments as well.  He gives opportunities to make a clear decision that will affect the rest of one’s life.  It happened to me and I chose Him.  In doing so I chose life!  Since making that decision for Him I have been incredibly blessed.  I shudder to think how my life would have “flowed” had I not chosen Him.  My life is no bed of roses or “vie en rose” but it is blessed by His presence, His care and His love.  I have never regretted my choice, not once, not ever.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me such a clear choice!