Devotions By Jan

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Swaddled Babies

Scripture for Today: Psalm 94:18a-19 “Your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

What an unusual orchid! At a certain stage of opening, this flower looks a lot like a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth! The Swaddled Babies orchid is found in the Andes region around Ecuador, Columbia and Venezuela. It is also referred to as Tulip Orchid and Baby in the Cradle. Perhaps growing this orchid would have a calming effect. I know swaddling did with our second grandson. From flailing arms and distress to instant calm, swaddling brought immediate relief to his anxiety.

Today’s verse speaks of God’s consolation in the face of great anxiety. The psalmist felt that his foot was slipping and he was about to fall (verse 18). His anxiety was a direct result of wicked men and he acknowledged God’s help (verse 17). He felt supported and held up by God’s unfailing love. It was this consolation that turned his anxiety into joy. Like the swaddling, the psalmist was wrapped up and supported in God’s faithful love.

I may not have the same kind of enemies, but I often feel anxiety as the pace of life is so rapid I can feel unstable. I need to feel the arms of the Lord wrapped tightly around me, loving and supporting me. When I feel His love to that extent, then I can calm down and even feel joy! Whatever changes I am experiencing or am likely to experience, I can have joyful confidence in God’s swaddling comfort. His love and presence is the consolation I so desperately need. Like a swaddled baby, I can stop fussing!

Thank you Lord, for consoling me.


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Hot Lips

Scripture for Today: Ecclesiastes 10:12 “Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.”

When I hear the term, “Hot Lips’ I think of the character, Margaret, on the television show MASH. But in fact, Hot Lips is the name of this two-lipped tubular flower. It can be bright red, white, or a combination of the two. This perennial loves the sun and is drought resistant, needing little water. It can grow quickly and give the yard a cottage garden look. Their nectar is irresistible to hummingbirds and butterflies and the flowers are edible to humans.

Today’s verse is one of many in Scripture that teach regarding our lips and what they reveal about us. This verse was written by King Solomon, known for his God-given wisdom. A wise person and a fool are distinguishable from one another by what comes out of their mouths. The words from a wise person are gracious and win him favor. But what comes from the lips of a fool destroys him. He starts out speaking foolishness but as he keeps babbling, his words become wicked madness.

In our image-conscious culture I am often surprised by classy well-dressed people who destroy that perfect picture by what comes out of their mouths. But I know I can sound the same way. My words are not always gracious, especially when responding to hurt or injustice. I can look the fool when I jump to a wrong conclusion and I react instead of thoughtfully responding. Speaking like a fool comes easy. It is a much more difficult challenge to speak wise gracious words. Thankfully, God offers His wisdom when I ask Him (James 1:5). And the control of my tongue can come through His Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

Lord, make my words gracious today!


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Mother Nature

Scripture for Today: Colossians 1:16 “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”

The term, Mother Nature or Mother Earth was first recorded in 1266 during the Middle Ages. The prevailing thought then was simply personifying nature. But the idea that the earth was created through a goddess can be traced back to ancient Greek mythology. However, it was during the age of “Enlightenment” that the term, “Mother Nature” became popular. Leaders of this movement felt that nature needed to be feminized and degraded to allow people to exploit and study it!

Today’s verse leaves no room for a Mother Nature. Through Christ ALL things were made (John 1:3). Our earth, the heavens and everything in it was created by Christ Himself! He personally created everything seen and unseen, including all powers, rulers and authorities. It was all created through Him. He cannot be taken out of the equation! And ultimately, what was created was created FOR Him! It turns out that man is not the center of the universe!

It must hurt the Lord’s heart to see mankind ignoring His incredible creativity and dismissing this world as some kind of cosmic chance. His creation, including man himself, has been made for His pleasure. And when I understand my purpose in pleasing Him, He allows me to appreciate His creation on a much deeper level! Through His creation I see His attention to detail and His sense of humor! How wonderful to see in creation illustrations not only of His power but so much else about Him! And what He reveals always agrees with and complements the revelation given in His Word!

Lord, may I always give You the praise for Your creative power!


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Variegation

Scripture for Today: Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Photo Credit: Haroon Mughal https://www.flickr.com/photos/mughal113/35151517152/in/photostream/

The Persian Carpet Flower is a beautiful example of “variegation” meaning a variety of color on the same plant. This flower can bloom anywhere from white to pale yellow. It is overlaid with different shades of burgundy, sprinkled with red and brown spots. These colors call to mind a Persian carpet, thus its name! This flower needs to be handled with care because of its bristly trailing stems full of small spiky thorns.

Today’s verse tells us that God created mankind in His own image. God is not one-sided and simplistic. Eternity will not be long enough to know Him completely! But the fact that He created us to resemble Him in some small way means there will be “variegation.” We all share the capacity to worship Him. We all share the ability to reason, feel emotion and exercise our wills. But we also acknowledge our differences, whether it be race, color, language or culture. This variation within mankind is meant to bring glory to our Creator!

Just as the Persian Carpet Flower needs to be handled with care because of its thorns, we too need to handle our differences with care. The problem is that our sin has marred God’s image in us. Rather than celebrating our differences, they are used to divide. Thankfully, the Lord can change my heart in how I see others. In a world so divided, I need to listen carefully to Him; to what He says about me and what He says about those who are around me. It is only then that I can hope to love others as He does.

Lord, help me to love others as You do.


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The Grandala

Scripture for Today: Job 12:7 and 9 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you…Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” 

Photo by Nick Athanas at https://www.flickr.com/photos/antpitta/42774409555

Could this bird be any bluer? The Grandala lives across Northeastern India and its scientific name means, “sky-colored grand wing.” But I have never seen a sky the color of this electric cobalt blue! They gather in large flocks and fly at high elevations. But they can be seen up close at lower elevations when they feed on berries. And if they could talk, what might they say?

Today’s verse suggests what birds and animals might say if they had the power of speech. They would proclaim who their Creator is! They would all acknowledge who it is that gives and sustains their lives and the lives of all mankind (verse 10). Unlike some people who would rather believe that creation results from a formula of time and chance, they would acknowledge the hand that brought them into being. It is through God’s creation that He makes plain His power and divine nature (Rom. 1:20).

The hand of the Lord has done this! So often, I do not recognize that the hand of the Lord has done so many wonderful things in my life! I am quick to think that life is good because of my own choices or that my hand brought it about. But when I see the wonders of nature I am reminded of His incredible power and creativity! Mankind had nothing to do with it! And the work of His hands far exceeds any of my puny efforts without Him. This bird knows it. And I need to be reminded too!

Thank you Lord, for nature’s reminders of You!