Devotions By Jan

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Proud as a Peacock

Scripture for Today:  II Corinthians 10:17  “But let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

It seems that the peacock has a right to pride!  His plumage is gorgeous and of course he knows it!  After all, he knows instinctively to strut his stuff in attracting the pea hen!

We once stayed at Casa De Fruta near San Jose, CA. and the peacocks had the run of the grounds.  They were beautiful but the cry they made was like a cat being strangled!  They would have been more attractive to me had they kept their beaks shut.  But then, I am not a pea hen.

Boasting according to Scripture is allowed, but only in a very limited way; only in the Lord.  The only boasting that makes any sense is to boast in the Lord.  HE is the source of anything we have to boast about.  I Cor. 4:7 says, “…What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not.”

It is easy for me to slip into an attitude of boasting.  Anytime I take credit for something, whether in my thoughts or in front of others, then I am boasting in myself.  Paul preferred to boast in his weaknesses so that others would recognize that any and all strength in his life came from the Lord.

God has gifted me with different talents.  I am often in front of groups of people and it is important to do and be the best I can.  Just as the peacock should not hide his feathers, neither does Christ want me to hide my God-given gifts.  But I never want to be guilty of boasting for something He has given.

May ALL glory and praise go to You, Lord!


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Smell

Scripture for Today:  I Corinthians 12:17-18  “If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?  If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?  But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”

I am not such a big fan of onions, although my husband is.  I do understand their health benefits and even how they can spice up a dish.  But I am annoyed when their odor makes me tear up or when my hands smell.

When we lived in Germany we helped our German friend cut pounds and pounds of onions for the “flammkuchen” or onion pizza sold at the village fair (Budenfest)  We found that after several hours of cutting, there is no more smell and no more tears!

Our verse for today talks about the sense of smell being important for the body.  In this chapter the Church is likened to a body made of differing parts.  All parts are needed for good health.  Each member of the body has an important role to play.  God is the One who decides what member we are and what role we are to play.

Some members of the body seem to get more recognition than others.  We look at each other and feel it unfair that the role of someone else is more visible.  But in fact, if we all had the same function in the church there would be chaos.  We need each other.

If I am a nose rather than the eye or the hand, than I need to be satisfied with that.  I want to serve Him faithfully in the role He has given.  Lord, keep me from an attitude that would “cut off the nose to spite the face!”


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Wrinkled

Scripture for Today:  Ephesians 5:27  “That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things (that she might be holy and faultless).”

I found another wrinkle this morning.  I guess it is inevitable.  It is not like I do not try to avoid them.  I stay out of the sun and use sun screen.  I do not smoke and avoid too much caffeine (I write as I sip on coffee).  I try as much as possible to get enough rest and avoid too much stress in my life.  But, time marches on.

In France as in the States, there are all kinds of skin products that promise to remove or diminish wrinkles.  Women spend millions every year on such products with high hopes that they will do as they promise.  I remain skeptical.

Our verse today says that one day I will be wrinkle-free!  There will be no age spots either.  It is true that I will have a whole new glorified body for eternity.  But of course, this verse is speaking of the spots and wrinkles as sin.  Because of what Jesus did on the cross, I can look forward to being without sin in heaven.  As part of the church, I will be presented to God without spot or wrinkle.

Christ’s love and sacrifice sets me apart and makes me clean.  Being washed by the water of His Word is a life-long process, but with a promised result of being one day holy and faultless before Him.  What a day that will be!  No more guilt or shame.  No more self-condemnation.

I am tired of my own sin.  Those spots and wrinkles are plenty ugly.  But the future is all glorious splendor.  Thank you, Jesus!


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True Beauty

IMG_20130110_090518Scripture for Today:  I Peter 3:3-4  “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

In my family there was always a lot of interest in jewelry.  My Father and eldest brother loved working with stones and making beautiful pieces for the women in the family to wear.  Pictured here are a few of those pieces.

I can feel beautiful or I can feel grungy depending on what I wear.  I think that is true for most women.  Who has not lived through changing outfits five times in a morning and still not feeling satisfied!  Whether it is a piece of jewelry, a fresh haircut or a new outfit, what is worn on the outside can make us feel beautiful.

In our verse today, there is no injunction against these beauty aids.  However, there is a beauty spoken of that has nothing to do with what is worn on the outside.  This is a beauty that does not fade and is precious in God’s sight; a gentle and quiet spirit.

A gentle and quiet spirit does not mean that one cannot be loud, boisterous and outgoing.  What it does mean is that one is not anxious or wrought up.  Those who have a gentle and quiet spirit are those whose faith and confidence in the Lord is strong and unshakeable.  It is the absence of worrying or fretting.

Women with these qualities have a calming influence on others.  They are truly beautiful.  May I be one of them today!


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Old and New Together

Scripture for Today:  Colossians 3:9-10  “Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him –“

I love living in France and seeing the old next to the new.  Side by side the old looks older and the new looks newer.  Pictured here is the beautiful Louvre in Paris, built in the late 12th century.  But as you can see the Louvre’s newest addition, the pyramid, looks much more modern and new having been built in 1989.  For me the contrast is striking!

Our verse for today talks about the old and the new for the believer.  Although we are a new creature in Christ (II Cor. 5:17) the old self is still hanging around.  As long as we live on this earth in the flesh, we will always need the reminder in these verses to “lay aside” or “put off” that old self.

We have a new self.  Someday, the pyramid of the Louvre will begin to show signs of age.  One day, it will no longer look so new.  Already, the French press were talking about renovations needed at the occasion of its twenty-year celebration.  But our new spiritual selves are continually being renewed by Christ Himself though His Word.

Every time I lay aside that old self, I am cooperating with Christ’s renewal in me.  Every time I choose to obey Him rather than having my own way, He is bringing me closer to His image.

My prayer today is that I will clearly see the contrast between the old and the new in myself.  I pray that in my communion with Him, my new self will be renewed!