Devotions By Jan

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The Sea Plane

Scripture for Today: II Thessalonians 1: 3b-4  “…your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.  Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.”

We were boating with friends on Lake Minnetonka when our peaceful reverie was abruptly interrupted by the landing of a sea plane near us! I had seen them at a distance but never one so close! The water was smooth and the landing seemed effortless. We were not there for his departure but I learned that smooth water can create drag and make lift off more challenging. Some pilots will create artificial waves by circling before take off to create some turbulence!

Today’s verse describes the spiritual health of the Thessalonian church. Paul is proud of their growing faith and love for one another. Their faith has been growing as a result of persecutions and trials. Like the turbulence of the water, the process can be hard but the results can be seen in a growing and healthy faith. It is not in the smooth unruffled times that perseverance is needed. It is when faith is challenged that it grows. It is when life is hard that brothers and sisters love and support one another.

I wish it were not so. I would love for life to be calm, unruffled and peaceful. But the waters need stirring up. The turbulence is needed for new heights to be gained. It is in the challenge of the hard times that my faith is challenged and I grow closer to my Creator. He calls me to higher and higher altitudes where I can see Him more clearly. He uses the turbulence of testing to grow me more like Him. This is my confidence. This is my hope in whatever difficulty I face. Every time, He is there.

Thank you Lord, that I can trust You.


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Keeping Score!

Scripture for Today: Psalm 103:10 “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”

One little mistake on the part of the scorekeeper could change the whole game. I have done score keeping for my husband’s French basketball team and it was stressful. I could not look away or be distracted. Every call and change had to be correctly noted with careful attention. I would much rather sit back and enjoy the match, especially one as close as this. The score keeping equipment was dated and there was plenty of potential for error. Thankfully, a mistake I did made was quickly caught and corrected.

Today’s verse shows what love in action looks like on God’s part. He does not keep a record of wrongs when sin is confessed and forgiven. His love as described in I Corinthians 13 “keeps no record of wrongs.” (verse 5) Because of His love and grace, He does not treat us as our sins deserve. We are not repaid as we should be for our wrongdoing. We do not deserve His wonderful forgiveness! What we deserve is judgement. But Christ took that punishment on Himself in our stead.

If the Lord gave me what I deserve, I would be in big trouble! I am so grateful for His complete forgiveness. There is no record of my wrongs. He does not bring up my past. Unlike me He doesn’t say, “remember when…”  Rather, He has removed my sins “as far as the east is from the west” (verse 12). The Lord asks me to extend that same grace I enjoy from Him to those who have wronged me! The past is the past and I do not want to bring it up. A loving healthy relationship does not keep score.

Thank you Lord, that You do not keep score.  Help me not to either.

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2015)


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All Directions?

Scripture for Today: Joshua 1:7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law My servant Moses gave you.; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”

These signs are common in France. Apparently, everywhere I want to go is to the left! “All Directions” is actually a helpful indication when trying to change course. It helps to know how to change direction when confused. Details come later. This sign at least points toward major streets from which one can exit the area. By following it, one can avoid going around in circles and getting tied up in a maze of one-way streets.

Today’s verse calls for strength and courage. This is the charge the Lord gave directly to Joshua as he took over as leader of the Israelites. The law came through Moses but was not to be considered invalid at his death. Obedience to the law was to continue. And following it would bring blessing and success.  But there was plenty of temptation to turn away from it. A few steps to the left or to the right would be detrimental. The verse warns us to be careful not to turn away from what God had said.

There are signs everywhere encouraging me to turn off with promises of an easier route. The sign, “All Directions” is everywhere. Surely, there is more than one way. Try this route, or maybe that one is just as valid with less trouble. There are roads that are narrow that lead to life or there are roads that are wide that lead to destruction (Matt 7:13-14). All directions? No, only one way leads to the destination I want. How important it is for me to choose God’s way!

Give me strength and courage Lord, to carefully follow Your way!

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2015)


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Book Signing!

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

I highly recommend my friends’ book, Strangers Like Angels! This saga, written by Alec and Jan Forman, follows the first-hand account of their Land-Rover travels in the 70’s. Their year-long adventures took them through the Sahara Desert, tropical rainforests in Africa, Europe, then Nepal and Afghanistan. My book copy is especially valuable as it is signed by the authors!

In today’s verse Jesus is described as an author, the Author of our faith. He is the One who creates and initiates. He is the One who makes faith possible. He is also the perfecter or finisher of our faith, carrying the story through to the very end. He has written the conclusion and I already know the ending to my story. It is not shrouded in mystery but revealed in His Word. It is a triumphal ending where faith becomes sight and I will be with Him forever!

As the Author of my faith, He wrote the introduction. He planned exactly who I am, the family He wanted me to have, and the way I would come to Him in faith for salvation. But right now, I am living the unknown part, the chapters in between. This is the part that can seem so uncertain. Not only that, I want to tell Him what to write! But as the Author of my faith, He is also its perfecter and there is no need to edit anything! I can trust that He knows what He is doing with my life.

Thank you Lord, for authoring my story and my future.

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2019)


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The German Baths

Scripture for Today:  I Corinthians 9:27 “But I buffet my body and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit.”

The German baths are “wunderbar!” These aquatic centers are in France as well but the closest to our area and the nicest is just over the border into Germany. The indoor pool has strategically placed jets along the walls. Each one is at a different height to pummel a different part of the body. One special jet of water targeted the neck from above and felt like being under a waterfall! Their force is so strong it took the polish right off my toe nails! I felt a bit beat up but in a good way!

As the water buffeted my body, it reminded me of today’s verse. Paul was using an image of something much less pleasant. He likened the self discipline he wanted to beating his body into submission. The context is one of strict training for a race. Without self discipline one can easily disqualify oneself. Paul does not want to run aimlessly but with purpose. He runs in such a way as to win the prize; a crown that will last forever. To do that he must make his body his slave, rather that be enslaved by his body. Paul understood his own weaknesses and the potential to become unfit.

If I am honest with myself, I see that I too could become unfit. So many times I do the very thing I do not want to do! (Rom. 7:15) The struggle never stops to be obedient and submissive to God’s will. The flesh is so strong. Buffeting my body is simply to tell it, “no!”  So much easier said than done!

Lord, help me say “no” to what does not please You.