Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Bird Images


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Hummingbird

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 119:103-104 “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”

I love watching hummingbirds!  They are so tiny and colorful and the speed at which they dart around fascinates me!  They flap their wings about 50 times a second so that all one sees is a blur.  Hummingbirds can fly up to 34 mph and can even fly backwards.  Pictured here is the “sword-billed” hummingbird whose bill is longer than its body!  In the higher elevations of South America, he can dig deep into the “corollas” of the flower to reach that sweet nectar.  He hovers there until he has had his fill.

Today’s verse describes God’s Word as being sweet to the taste.  What the Lord communicates to my heart is sweeter than honey or the nectar from a flower.  His Word is His love letter to me.  Even the commands and warnings are there because He cares about me and wants the best for me.  Loving His Word makes me wary of any wrong path that takes me away from Him.  Understanding and wisdom for living are found in its pages.  His companionship is felt through those promises and words of love.

Sometimes reading and studying His Word is difficult.  Time presses and the day quickly fills with obligations and distractions.  Rather than darting off to the next thing, I need to take the time and “hover” there at the source of all that sweetness.  Sometimes the meaning of a verse is not so clear.  It is at that time I need a longer bill to dig deep.  The effort is always worth the sweetness I find!

Lord, keep my mouth full of the sweetness of Your Word.

 

 

 


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The Ostrich

Scripture for Today: II Peter 1:9 “But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”

I was surprised to learn that the ostrich does not really bury his head in the sand!  It is such an accepted saying that I never questioned it!  But in fact, it just looks as if they do being that they press their long necks close to the ground.  They do this to avoid detection, and as their plumage blends in so well with the sandy soil it seems that their heads are buried.  No one is too sure where this idea originated, but the saying is well known.  Someone who exhibits this figurative behavior is one who does not face facts!

Our verse for today describes a believer who is figuratively nearsighted and blind, much like the ostrich.  Whether intentional or not, a believer who has not grasped the reality of true forgiveness is not seeing clearly.  We can easily bury ourselves in thoughts, memories and self recriminations from past sins.  When we do, we make ourselves ineffective and unproductive in our Christian walk (verse 8).

I do not need to bury my head in shame.  The Lord with His gracious forgiveness lifts my head.  He makes it possible for me to live out my faith, adding to it goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love (verses 5-7).  I continually remind myself that as far as the Lord is concerned, my sins are as far away as the east is from the west! (Psalm 103:12)  He has completely removed them.  Being convinced of this truth makes it possible to live for Him the abundant life He wants to produce in me!

Thank you Lord, for lifting my head to see Your wonderful and complete forgiveness!

 


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Half Asleep

Scripture for Today: Romans 13:11-12a “And do this, understand the present time; The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.”

I can identify with this owl!  I am not the morning person my husband is.  I stumble towards my first cup of coffee and try to convince my brain to wake up!  It is not that I retire late the previous night, but that my brain takes a little longer than some to appreciate the new day!  Living in a sunny climate helps.  But on a morning covered in a thick marine layer, being half asleep lasts a bit longer!

Spiritually, many of us go through life a bit half asleep.  The night seems long and it is easy to stay asleep and comfortable in our lifestyles and habits.  It is harder to wake up completely and see the day coming.  We have grown used to the dim light.  The bright blazing sun can be a bit disconcerting for eyes that are used to shadows.  But our verse encourages us that the night is nearly over!

Salvation is nearer than when we first started our walk with Jesus.  The black night of sin and doubt, guilt and secrecy will soon be exposed to His revealing light!  The Lord has called me out of the darkness and into His wonderful light (I Peter 2:9).  The context goes on to say that knowing the day has almost dawned, I am to put aside deeds of darkness.

I want to live with my eyes wide open, seeing His salvation draw nearer and nearer!  How encouraging to know that the night is almost over!  Lord, keep my spiritual eyes open!


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“You’re So Vain!”

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

For a good five minutes I watched this bird look at himself in the mirror.  I have never seen a bird be obsessed with his looks!  He/she did not seem to mind that I was just inches away.  Perhaps he was just attracted to the reflected light, or perhaps he was enthralled with his own reflection.  All he seemed to see was himself.

The behavior of this bird reminded me of our verse for today.  This verse is addressed to believers in the church.  Each one is given his spiritual gift by God Himself.  These gifts allow for each of us to contribute our part to the functioning of the church.  It may be a more public speaking gift or it may be a behind-the-scenes supportive gift.  Each one is important.

These spiritual gifts are just that; gifts.  We did nothing to deserve receiving them.  God distributed them according to His wisdom and plan.  That being true, we have no cause to boast.  Our purpose is to glorify Him and not ourselves.  I am not to think that I am somehow higher up in God’s favor.  My view of myself is to be sober, recognizing the role of grace in my life.

When I think of myself more highly than I ought to think, I am forfeiting the grace He promises to the humble.  I can pretty much expect to fail and fall when I get too full of myself! (Prov. 16:18)

Lord, don’t let me become so proud that I miss out on Your glory and grace!

 


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Mockingbird

Scripture for Today: Psalm 40:3 “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.”

Growing up we had many mockingbirds in our suburban yard, much to the chagrin of our cat!  He would slink across the yard, hoping to avoid the swoop and attack of these territorial birds!  I always loved their singing although my parents were not too thrilled to be awakened early by their loud song.  Their mimicking of other species means that they are not too original with their own music.  In a recording of one mockingbird in Massachusetts, thirty six songs of other species were recognized!

Our verse for today describes a song that is an original.  It is a new song of praise to the Lord.  It resembles no other but is a tribute to what the Lord has done in an individual life.  There is no need to mimic other songs as personal experience makes up the lyrics.  The Lord Himself has put this song into the mouth of the psalmist.

As believers we too have a new song!  Our song stands out from the others.  It sounds different and distinctive, unlike all the other music around us.  This new song is full of praise for what God has done for us.  Each of our songs tells a story of His love and faithfulness.  Included are some of the discordant notes or minor chords that depict the hard times.  But it always ends on a high note as we look forward to an eternity with Him.  If I sing it loud enough and often enough, others hear and are challenged to trust Him!

Lord, keep me singing Your song today!