Devotions By Jan

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Sunshine

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 84:11 “For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield; the Lord bestows grace and favor and glory!  No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

The sun has finally arrived in Alsace!  There were more clouds and rain than usual this year.  We even had our heat on through April!  Now, we have the windows open.  We are finally enjoying eating on the balcony.  Being so far north, we enjoy the sun all the way up to ten o’clock!

There is something about sunshine that improves my mood.  Science collaborates this idea.  Sunshine affects our brains by increasing the production of serotonin, a hormone connected with feelings of happiness.

Our verse for today describes the Lord as our Sun.  His sunshine is in the form of grace, favor and mercy.  There is no danger of getting too much of His sunshine or looking directly at Him!  His love warms us and makes us grow.  Like sunshine, He improves my mood too!

Everything He does for me is grace.  I do not deserve His kindness and favor.  His mercy is incredible when I think of my guilt.  He thankfully does not deal with me according to my sin (Psalm 103:10).  He does not withhold good from me.  In His wisdom He gives exactly what is needed.  I can trust Him with what He gives and what He does not give.

I do not always walk uprightly.  When I am living in rebellion, it is like a cloud has moved over the sun.  His love is still there, but I have blocked its warmth and I cannot enjoy His blessings.  But repentance breaks up the clouds and His grace, favor and mercy shine through once again!  Thank you, Lord, for being the sunshine of my soul!


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Standing Firm?

Scripture for Today: I Corinthians 16:13  “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

There are days like this.  There are weeks like this!  I think I am fine and then suddenly I am face down in the dirt.  What happened?  Out of nowhere something unseen trips me up and I do not even have time to break my fall.

I will never forget slipping on a crowded city street in Orlèans.  I fell squarely on my bottom, but I did not care about that.  I cared more who saw me fall!  I fell because I was inattentive and distracted, just not paying attention.

In the spiritual realm, I can be just as inattentive.  I am lulled by routine.  When things are going smoothly, I am not necessarily looking ahead.  I do not see the pitfall to my faith that is just around the corner.  But there is plenty of occasion to fall.  Our verse for today tells me to be on the alert, watching.

For what am I to be watching?  The answer would be anything that could weaken my faith.  It could be worry over a family member or a health problem.  It could be financial concerns.  It could be loss of a loved one.  Everyday has the potential to weaken faith.  We are tempted to think God does not care.  We begin to doubt His love or His goodness.  Instead of standing firm, we sway and even fall.

Today’s verse sounds like a pep talk!  Thankfully, I am not left on my own.  When I look ahead He reassures my heart about the unknown future.  When I lose courage, He is there.  When I begin to sway, He reaches out His arm to steady me.  Thank you, Lord, for helping me stand firm!


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Buffet!

Scripture for Today:  II Timothy 3:16-17  “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

I have a love/hate relationship with buffets.  I enjoy the chance to see my choice before taking it.  I love having variety and control over my portions.  But I feel that to really get my money’s worth I need to stuff myself silly!  Invariably, I leave too full!

My parents would often take my siblings and me to buffets.  I still remember their strict injunctions to stay away from the carbonated drinks!  If left to ourselves, that would be all we would take as we did not have them at home.  The other danger when young was to make straight for the desserts!

Picking and choosing can be carried over to our attitude to God’s Word.  There is a real temptation to avoid those parts that are difficult to understand.  Some sections of the Bible just do not seem to apply.  Other parts speaking of God’s judgement are just too uncomfortable.

Certainly, Thomas Jefferson took the “buffet approach” to God’s Word.  On display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, one can see his version of the New Testament.  He created it by slicing out the miracles and the texts that presented Jesus as God.

Our verse for today says that all Scripture is inspired by God.  It is not up to me to decide which passages seem credible and which do not.  Although it is less convicting to ignore some verses, all of the Bible is His inspired and powerful Word.  His Word is true and not a buffet.  It is “all or nothing” and I choose “all.”


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To Do Lists

Scripture for Today: Colossians 3:17  “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

When I married my husband thirty five years ago I was impressed to see him making daily “to do” lists.  The lists would be on 3×5 cards and he would carry them around in his shirt pocket.  I admired his organization but it was not my style.  He found that out when he tried making lists for me!!

There is a certain sense of satisfaction that comes from completing everything on our list.  It is a way of quantifying the day.  Something is either done or left undone.  A day is either productive or it is not.  There it is in black and white.  Of course, what is written on that list can be frivolous or unimportant, but at least it is a way of evaluating one’s time.

As a believer, my day belongs to the Lord.  Growing up I was challenged every Sunday at church with a banner that read, “Lord, what will You have me to do?”  Hopefully, my to do list is written with that question in mind.  Even so, some things cannot be quantified.  How can one note the deepening of friendships?  How does one evaluate the encouragement given to a struggling friend?

Our verse for today covers every word and every deed.  Whatever is noted on a list (and even those things that are not) are all to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Can I dedicate everything said and done in a day to Him?  Can I move through my day with a grateful heart?  More than a completed to do list, this makes a day worthwhile!


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Tossed

Scripture for Today: James 1:5-6  “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given him.  But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”

My husband and I had the privilege of touring the Holy Land  with a group of French pastors in the mid nineties.  Part of that tour involved crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat.  We thought it strange to experience a sudden squall much like the disciples and Jesus did in Matthiew 8:23-27.  Thankfully, our storm was small, although it did toss us about a bit.  The wind was so strong and seemed to come up out of nowhere.

Our verse for today is a promise.  God promises wisdom to those who ask Him in faith.  He never reproaches.  He is generous and gives to everyone liberally.  The condition is that one asks in faith without any doubting.

The one who doubts is described as surf or waves tossed by the wind.  There is hesitation, uncertainty, and wavering.  The one doubting is unstable, first going in one direction and then another.  Those who doubt are at the mercy of the wind.

Asking anything of Him without faith makes no sense.  Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.  Hebrews 11:6 tells us that to approach Him at all one must believe that He is there and that He will reward those who diligently seek Him.

His wisdom makes me stable and resolute.  His wisdom makes me single-minded and focused.  How much better it is to ask for His wisdom than be tossed by doubts!  Thank you, Lord, that with You there is no wavering!