Devotions By Jan

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Calculator

IMG_20130423_164037Scripture for Today:  Luke 14:28  “But do not begin until you count the cost.  For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it.”

I find I need a calculator quite often when dealing with two systems of measurement.  Especially in the kitchen I am always figuring the equivalents between grams and kilos versus ounces and pounds.

I am flattered when a French friend asks for a recipe but usually annoyed to have to change it all to the metric system.  How easier things would be if we were all using the same measurements!  Maybe then I could move this calculator to a desk drawer.

Our verse for today talks about calculating the cost of constructing a building.  How foolish to begin such a project without evaluating the cost before beginning!  In the same way, we are to evaluate the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Jesus spoke these words at a time when His popularity was at its peak.  Multitudes were following Him.  The world would call that success.  But Jesus was not interested in the number of followers, but rather those who were truly committed to Him.

What are the costs of following Jesus?  The context names one in particular; putting Christ above all family members (verse 26).  My love for Jesus is to far outweigh the love I have for my husband, my children and grandchildren, and my extended family.  My relationship with Him is to take precedence.

Loving any family member more than Christ can lessen my commitment to follow Him.  He wants all of my heart.  My love for my family is strong, fierce and all-consuming.  Is my love for Him much more than this?  His love for me cost Him everything.


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Sponges

Scripture for Today:  II Corinthians 1:3-4  “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves  are comforted by God.”

We go through sponges quite often in our home.  That is because Tiger, our cat, thinks of them as his personal property!  He loves to rip them apart.  Greeting me as I come into the kitchen are little pieces of yellow sponge all over the kitchen floor.  We have tried putting on the sponge a number of different cleaning products to discourage him.  But we do not always remember.  We would be rich by now if we had invested in whatever stock company sells those sponges!

Like sponges, we soak up the comfort God gives us.  Our verse for today reassures us of His mercy and comfort when we are experiencing trouble.  He is the God of all comfort.  His Spirit is called the “Comforter.”  His heart is touched by all our weaknesses and infirmities.   We can approach Him with confidence and receive His mercy (Hebrews 4:15-16).

There is a second purpose to the comfort He gives.  We experience His comfort so that we can share that same comfort with others.  There is credibility to comfort given out of a shared experience.  I can relate to those whose parents are experiencing failing health.  I am experiencing that same sadness.  He wants me to share His comfort with others experiencing this same heartache.

My sponge should not remain saturated.  I do not want to keep all His comfort for my own troubles.  Thank you, Lord for Your precious comfort and use me to share it with others.


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Sweet and Sour

Scripture for Today:  Proverbs 16:23-24  “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.  Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

There is a Chinese restaurant at the entrance to the long alleyway leading to our house.  When the wind is just right, we smell all their wonderful cooking!  Those aromas probably influence me to cook Chinese food more than I realize!  My Chinese cooking will never rival theirs, or especially that of my Chinese Mother-in-law.  But my husband always appreciates my efforts.

One thing I never cook is sweet and sour as my husband does not care for it much.  In fact, mixing sweet and sour is something that is not done too often in French cooking.  Our verse for today describes the mouth of the wise as speaking pleasant sweet words.  Those words are sweetness to the soul and have a healing effect, not only for the listeners but perhaps even for those whose who speak them.

More often than not, my words end up being sweet and sour.  James 3:10-11 tells me this ought not to be!  How is it that the same mouth can speak blessing and cursing?  A fountain does not normally give fresh and bitter water at the same time.  And yet, that is exactly my problem.

I do not seem to have too much of a problem with my mouth on a Sunday morning at church.  However, behind the wheel can be another story!  My words become sour.  This also seems to happen when I am overly tired or when frustrations mount!  Sweet becomes polluted with sour.  Instead of sweetness and healing, this mix produces bitterness and hurt.

Lord, keep me from becoming sour.   Make my words persuasive, pleasant and sweet.


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Goal

Scripture for Today:  I Timothy 6:20-21  “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you.  Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards to the faith.  Grace be with you.”

Archery seems to be a more common pastime here in France than in California.  When our kids were growing up, archery was a part of physical education in the schools and part of camps in the summer.  A young man in our church is a serious competitor in a club just down the street.  Something that used to be essential in hunting and combat is now mainly recreational.

I am sure many things are important in this sport, but I would think the most important skill would be aim.  One could have the correct stance, the perfect positioning of the arrow, but if the aim is off, the goal is missed!  I read that there are several methods to aiming including something called, “instinctive shooting.”  Rather than using a mechanical sight attached to the bow, one relies on the subconscious mind plus motor and muscle memory.

Our verse for today is sobering.  There are those who have missed the mark when it comes to faith.  Instead of using the objective truth of God’s Word for aim, they have used their own subjective ideas.  They profess to have knowledge and spiritual illumination apart from the Scriptures.  Paul calls it, “irreverent babble and godless chatter.”  It may sound smart, but its results are disastrous!

“Faith comes by what is heard and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)  We miss the mark of faith if we aim for it through man’s ideas and knowledge.  Lord, increase my faith by keeping Your Word in my sights!


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Weighed Down

IMG_20130417_163303Scripture for Today: Hebrews 12:1  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,”

I do not want to sound like an advertisement, but I sure love my cross-country shoes!  They do not look like much but they are broken in and comfortable.  More than that, they are light weight!  The little holes allow the shoe to “breathe” and feel lighter.  For me it makes a difference.  As I am not very athletic I need all the help I can get!

Our verse for today talks about being weighed down in a race.  The race is metaphor for the Christian life.  It is to be run with our eyes on Jesus, who is the Leader and Source of our faith.  The cloud of witnesses is a reference to all the great women and men of faith in the previous chapter.  They are our examples and our goal is to run in faith as they did.

Being slowed down by sin is something I can understand.  What the “weight” might represent can be any number of things that are neither good nor bad in themselves.  What might be a weight for me may not be a weight for someone else.  The point is not so much what it is, but what it has the potential to do….slow us down.

What is slowing me down?  Am I distracted looking at the other runners?  Am I bothered by guilt for my past?  Am I plagued by doubts?  The following verse tells me I am to keep my eyes ahead on Jesus.  Lord, help me run unencumbered and focused on You!