Devotions By Jan

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Worship

Scripture for Today:  John 4:23  “A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers.”

I love to worship with fellow believers, whether in France, America or Taiwan.  The American church pictured here was quite creative in getting their people to find their seats in a timely manner.  But as I was settled in early I had time to stare at that screen and think about that message.  When does worship start for me?  Of course, worship with other believers is a scheduled affair.  I look forward to this worship and we are exhorted to never abandon assembling together.  But there is another kind of worship that is larger than just the music and is intensely personal between my Lord and me.

This personal worship ideally does not have a start nor an end.  This worship is done not only with my mouth, but with my thoughts and with my daily actions.  Our verse today talks about worshiping Him in spirit.  This was said to the woman at the well, as she was making an issue of where worship takes place.  Jesus taught that the physical place was not the issue.  True worship takes place in our spirit wherever we are.  And our worship is to be in truth, using God’s Word, as His Word is truth, (John 17:17).

When I am reading God’s Word I am worshiping Him.  When I am remembering a verse or sharing one with someone else, it is an act of worship!  When I am talking to Him it is worship.  When I am living for Him, seeking to obey His voice, that is worship.  May my worship be daily and life-long!  He is worthy!


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Wonderfully Made

Scripture for Today:  Psalms 139:13-14  “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful.  I know that full well.”

In looking at these first pictures of my grandchild, I knew there was a wonderful work in progress!  I knew it was a boy but the rest would remain a mystery until his birth.  I fervently prayed for a normal grandson without huge physical problems.  Our daughter works with the hearing impaired and I am sure it crossed her mind  to utter those prayers as well.  God was gracious in blessing our family with a healthy boy with all his fingers and toes!  He is the most wonderful, strong, handsome baby in the world, of course!!

It is a comfort to know that every birth is a miracle and not random chance.  Our wonderful Creator has a plan for every life.  His original plan was not marred by the sin that entered our world.  In the original scheme of things there was no sin, sickness, deformity or death.  But even in our fallen state, the miracle of birth is breathtaking and points to the Almighty.  His works are full of wonder!

We are made in His image.  We are the work of His hands.  That is why each life is precious and worth preserving.  The Lord uses each and every detail of our bodies, our limitations, and our strengths for His  purposes.

We may look at our bodies or our weaknesses and think, what’s so wonderful??  But God never says, “oops!”  There is reason and purpose behind why I am made the way I am.  I can say with the Psalmist, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!!”


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Ring the Bells

Scripture for Today:  Psalms 122:1  “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

The church and bell tower pictured here is what I see from my office window everyday!  It is a beautiful structure and awe-inspiring.  But what is really fun is to hear the bells toll.  The music of the bells differs according to the purpose.  There is the hour, of course.  But a different sound is made for weddings and another for funerals.  Then there is the call, the longest, to invite people to mass.  It must ring for a good ten minutes!  For those who live closer, I cannot imagine how they could sleep through it.

David was glad to hear the invitation to “the house of the Lord.”  In this Psalm, his purpose in going was to give thanks to the Lord, pray for peace, and pray for his brothers and companions.  There was joy for David in the prospect.  He was glad to be going for reasons of praising God and praying for others.

If I am sometimes less than enthusiastic about church, it may be that my attitude is a bit backwards, thinking about what I am going to receive.  If I go to praise God for what He has done, if I go to pray for and encourage others, then I will not be disappointed!  The music may not have been to my taste.  The sermon might have seemed dry.  But in fact, it is not only about what I receive.  The biggest joy in going can be what made David glad: Praising God and praying with and for others!

There is gladness in going to the house of the Lord.  May I have the same heart as David.


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Here Comes the Bride!

Scripture for Today:  Revelation 19:7  “Let us rejoice and shout for joy!  Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb at last has come and His bride has prepared herself.”

I do not even know this couple.  We were in Colmar the other day and just happened on these newlyweds posing for their photographer.  I could not resist taking a picture too as they were so striking.  Whose head doesn’t turn at the sight of a beautifully adorned bride!

We as the Church are called the Bride of Christ.  I love this image as it speaks of the most loving intimate relationship possible.  One day, I will be wearing the pure white linen of righteousness and I will enjoy a love relationship uninterrupted by sin.

Stories of love on this earth are often tainted with skepticism.  There is so much hurt and betrayal destroying the ideal.  But in heaven the One who created this relationship has reserved for us its fullest expression in a relationship with Himself.  He is our perfect and faithful groom.  He cherishes us and has been preparing for this coming marriage since time began.

That kind of love is life-changing.  It means that I am actually worth something, that I have value.  His love for me makes me beautiful, warts and all.  My deepest need for unconditional love and acceptance is met in Him.  The love He offers is eternal and never fails.  It is only because of my human limitations that I do not fully experience it here.  But one day.  One day I will be a bride again, without spot or wrinkle.  On that day, there will be wild celebrations and shouts of joy from all of us who belong to Him!  Here comes the Bride!!


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Mushrooms

Scripture for Today:  Hebrews 5:14  “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

It is that time of year here when mushroom hunting is in full swing!  My French friends go to the local forests and gather their favorites, knowing the best areas to find them.  When you see the prices in the stores you can understand the motivation to hunt one’s own!

I would not be a good guide to the safe mushrooms.  I know nothing about it.  And even the most experienced can sometimes make a mistake, even a fatal one.  The way it works here is that if one is unsure, the mushrooms are checked by the staff of the local pharmacy.  They are trained to discern which mushrooms are poisonous.

Our verse talks about another kind of discernment that should characterize the mature believer.  Those believers who have finished with “milk” and have progressed to solid food are those who are experienced and skilled in living righteously.  Their spiritual senses are trained to know good from evil. Because they have been in the Word they know how to choose what pleases the Lord.

Those poisonous mushrooms can look so edible.  Satan is an angel of light and a liar.  He knows how to make something lethal look real good.  If we think that on our own we can tell the difference between what is good and what is evil than we are deceiving ourselves.  It is only through knowing God’s Word that we have any discernment at all.

I do not want to be deceived.  I never want to feel I have been fooled by the enemy.  I want rather to have senses sharpened by His Word.  Today, may I recognize even the smallest nuance of evil and avoid it like a bad mushroom!