Devotions By Jan

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Thunder!

Scripture for Today: Job 37: 3, 5 “Under the whole heaven He lets it loose, and His lightnings to the ends of the earth.  God thunders with His voice wondrously, doing great things which we cannot comprehend.”

We are experiencing some incredible summer storms here in France.  The heat builds and builds and then there is noisy relief!  The thunder can be deafening and the skies seem to split with the lightening!  The thunder is especially impressive as the sound bounces off the Vosges mountains.  From our balcony I watched the storm approach over those mountains.  But seeing all the metal of the balcony railings, I decided I had better go in!

Our verse for today likens thunder to God’s mighty voice.  The fear that a clap of thunder can evoke is the fear I ought to feel at God’s powerful Word.  The Law was given to the Israelites in the midst of thunder and lightning.  It inspired such fear in the people that they insisted that Moses approach God in their place.  It is that fear which leads to obedience and wisdom (Psalm 111:10).

There are times that I lose that sense of fear at God’s greatness.  But all it takes to remind me is a huge storm that unleashes its fury!  God is bigger than the biggest storm.  His power transcends everything!  I am so thankful that my fear of Him does not include fear of punishment!  Jesus took on Himself all the condemnation I deserve.  But my fear of Him is one that inspires knee-bending awe of His greatness and power.

One day my voice will be like thunder at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev.19:6).  With a vast multitude I will be shouting, “Hallelujah!  For now the Lord God the Omnipotent reigns!”  That will be the best kind of thunder!


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Old Faithful

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

I can still remember seeing Old Faithful, the geyser at Yellowstone National Park as a little girl with my family.  This geyser was named for its frequent and regular eruptions  The rangers can predict with amazing accuracy the next “show.”  We sat in front row seats and saw nature’s impressive display!  That boiling water can shoot in the air as high as 184 feet!

It has only been recently that scientists have understood the underground workings of a geyser.  Old Faithful has a huge egg-shaped chamber 50 feet underground.  This cavern, which never completely empties, is what feeds the conduit leading to the geyser.  As a young girl, I was more interested in what I could see above ground.

Our verse for today speaks of God’s faithfulness.  My hope is built on the certainty of His faithfulness to do as He has promised.  But to be honest, there are times when I am tempted to waver.  That is because I do not always see Him at work.  Like the hidden underground cavern that feeds a geyser, I am not always privy to what He is doing and how He is working.  But He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself (II Timothy 2:13).  What He has promised, He will do.

Contemplating His faithfulness is what makes faith stronger.  It is said of Sarah in Hebrews 11:11 that because she considered God to be faithful, she would believe that He would work the miracle He had promised.  Her faith grew when she considered His faithfulness.

My faith can grow and my hope can be unwavering when I meditate on His faithfulness.  Thank you, Lord, that because You are faithful, I can hold on tight no matter what!


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Blind

Scripture for Today:  II Peter 1:9  “For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.”

I still remember Denise, a friend from my university days.  She  was blind and I was her reader.  Although some books were available in braille, most were not and she needed people to read her textbooks to her.  I remember Denise as being a very positive “can do” person with a love of music boxes.  She had quite a collection.  She was absolutely in love with her fiance, a very sweet attentive man who was also a student there.  I learned first hand some of the obstacles she had to surmount, but she was so often full of joy for God’s goodness!

Our verse for today talks about a blindness that plagues many Christians.  God promises to supply to every believer all that is needed to live a godly life, through knowing Him.  These qualities are listed as diligence, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience and piety, kindness and Christian love.  However, any Christian can experience a lack of these qualities when he or she forgets something; that their former sins have been cleansed.  Guilty memories can be blinding.

Satan, our accuser, would like nothing better than to see Christians stumbling around with canes.  Remembering the times I fell keeps me from moving forward and pressing on.  My past failures do not have the power to immobilize me when I remember God’s complete cleansing.  I want to continually remember what He did for me on that cross.  I do not want guilty memories to keep me from realizing His liberating forgiveness!  These qualities are His gift to me.  He made living a godly life possible.

Help me, Lord, to forget the failures and remember Your incredible forgiveness!


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Guards

Scripture for Today:  Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

When our children were young we visited London and of course, topping the list of things to see was the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.  We were quite impressed with all the British pomp and ceremony!

The guarding of the Queen dates back to the 1600’s.  There are four sentries when she is in residence and only two when she is elsewhere.  Of course these guards take their job very seriously, but I cannot help but think of Mr. Bean or the I Love Lucy episode where the goal was to get the guardsman to react!

Our verse for today speaks of the peace of God that is available to guard our hearts and minds.  This 24/7 guard never needs changing!  Peace from God surpasses all comprehension because it is possible in the middle of the most worrisome circumstances.  This peace that guards us comes as a result of giving our anxieties to the Lord in prayer.

What does that peace guard against?  His peace stands guard against fear and worry.  His peace stands guard against doubt.  His peace also guards against the flight of imagination and the “what ifs.”  God’s supernatural peace speaks to our emotions and our thoughts; heart and mind.  It calms me down and helps me rest.

I sometimes think I unwittingly shoo away this guard by neglecting to pray.  These verses encourage me to bring everything to Him, not just the big worries that I think are worthy of His notice.  Thank you, Lord, for Your guarding peace that keeps me from worrying!


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Lost!

langres_portehoteldevilleScripture for Today: Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Randy and I got ourselves hopelessly lost last week. We were in Langres, a medieval village in Haute Marne with my French chorale.  The ramparts surrounding it are 3.5 kilometers long with twelve towers and nine gates.  On entering one gate we were told where to meet the bus, 500 meters to the right.  The problem was, all the gates looked so similar with the same arch.  We were panicked trying to meet up with that bus!   How could we possibly know where we were going if we had no idea where we were?  We were afraid we would have to go to each of the nine gates and check for a parking lot to the right of it!  Our bus driver very kindly circled a bit to find us!

Our verse for today is all about being lost.  It comes after three parables describing a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son.  Jesus came to this earth to seek out the lost ones.  Those lost do not understand where they are nor where they are going.  What is worse is not realizing one is lost!

Being lost in Luke’s three parables meant separation from one’s owner or one’s Father.  It is the same for us.  When we live a life separate from our Creator, we lose the sense of who we are, where we are and where we are going!  He made us to enjoy a relationship with Him.  Being found is what answers all those age-old philosophical questions.

It is amazing that Jesus loved me enough to search for me and find me!  I am no longer lost.  I am found in Him.  In His arms I am home.