Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Bird Images


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Suddenly Sightless!

Scripture for Today: Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.”

I can just imagine the surprise this pigeon must have felt! He’s minding his own business when all of a sudden he can’t see a thing. As I am not a fan of pigeons I can’t feel too sorry for him. But he must have felt a bit lost and disorientated. With his little bird brain I wonder how long it took for him to figure it all out. Maybe he panicked and just waited for the next gust of wind to clear his vision.

Today’s verse is a prayer that God would open the eyes to see what is wonderful in God’s law. Our eyes can miss what is positive in God’s commandments. Those wonders can easily escape us. We need God’s Spirit to clear our vision to see God’s law differently. This entire psalm goes on to extol and praise His law. The author’s eyes have been opened to see a long list of wonderful things: blessing, purity, delight, strength, understanding, knowledge, good judgement, freedom and comfort, to name just a few! God answered the author’s prayer.

I do not often feel this way about God’s law. Instead of seeing “wonderful things,” in His law, I sometimes see it as negative and restrictive. There is a rebel inside of me that doesn’t like to be told what to do and what not to do. My eyes need to be opened! I want to see those same wonders in His law, especially the comfort and blessing! God’s law is given with love and with a desire to make life work for me. I need my eyes open to explore and discover how God wants me to live and to see it as wonderful!

Open my eyes today, Lord.


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Proud as a Peacock

Scripture for Today: Psalm 10:4 “In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”

The plumage of the peacock is breathtaking! That gorgeous tail  exhibited for the benefit of the peahen measures over five feet! Because of the wing size, the peacock cannot stay airborne for long. Instead he will run, hop and flutter a bit. But the peacock has every reason to be proud with his magnificent tail on display. In this image the sign says, “no entry.” The very reason for his pride is what will keep him out. With his large awkward tail there would just be no room.

Today’s verse is part of a passage describing the wicked. In the thinking and in the pride of the wicked there is no room for any thought of God. He does not seek the Lord as he feels he has no need of Him.  His life is easy and prosperous (verse 5). He lives his life his own way, scorning God’s laws. He feels he can get away with it believing God never sees (verse 11). What this man does not realize is that his pride tops the list of sins that are detestable to the Lord (Prov. 6:16-17).

It is only because of the grace and salvation of Christ that I am not counted among the “wicked.”  However, that does not mean that I do not struggle with pride. Every time I disobey what God has clearly commanded, my pride is showing in thinking I know better! Pride has crept in when I neglect to seek Him with my whole heart. When there is room for every thought except thoughts of Him, then pride has kept me from realizing His presence.

Lord, fill my mind and heart today with thoughts of You.

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2019)


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Roadrunner Tracks

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 20:24 “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?”

The roadrunner is in the cuckoo family but he doesn’t say, “cuckoo” or “beep beep.”  This long-legged bird is built for speed and can even outrun humans!  The roadrunner is believed to have special powers to make the listener feel tired when hearing his call!  Some Indian tribes believe he can protect against evil spirits.  Their distinctive “X” tracks supposedly confuse the spirits as to which direction they are taking!  I wonder if the roadrunner is himself confused when seeing his own tracks?

Today’s verse acknowledges that the Lord directs the steps of those who belong to Him.  But often, the one directed has no idea of His direction!  The question expresses what is often felt:  How can anyone understand their own way?  It often is puzzling.  We do not have the same vantage point and we can never understand it all.  We are told in any case not to lean on our own understanding but to acknowledge Him so that He can direct us (Prov. 3:5-6).

Because I cannot see what lies ahead, I need to trust the One who is already there and knows the way.  If I were to wait until I understood the reasons behind every directive, I would be at a standstill and make no progress!  But I can be confident of my direction even without full understanding.  That is because I trust Him.  His eyes are always on me and the twists and turns are not random.  He has a loving purpose for me in every change of course.  And His direction is always towards a more loving relationship with Himself!

Lord, help me to trust You completely!

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2020)


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The Grackle

Scripture for Today: Psalm 73:9 “Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.”

Photo Credit: Kenneth Cole Schneider https://www.flickr.com/photos/rosyfinch/5619454311/in/photostream/

One either loves or hates the Great Tailed Grackle. Mexican legend has it that this bird stole seven songs from the sea turtle, leaving it silent. Their chatter is less like song and more like the tones of tearing sheet metal or cars crashing! This is an urbanized bird with attitude, stalking the streets as if they belonged to them. They are clever foragers, carefully combing the grilles of parked cars for dead insects. They are also nest robbers and the females will even steal nesting material from each other!

Today’s verse describes the arrogance of the wicked. They are noisy with their claims to special privilege and feel that whatever the earth has is theirs to take. With their wealth and power comes privilege to treat others with contempt. Rules are for others of less importance, leaving them “free of care.” (vs 12) In many cases the wicked do prosper, negating the old adage that, “cheaters never prosper.” The psalmist is discouraged, until he understands their final destiny and judgement. (vs 17)

I can be just as discouraged when I see others seemingly get away with thumbing their nose at God. I too can feel that it is not worth the effort to keep my heart pure (vs 13) when I have no earthly advantages for it. But this is the short view! The Lord does not promise me riches here but He does promise me Paradise that rivals anything earth has to offer! I can say with the psalmist, “as for me, it is good to be near God.” His presence is my joy, His peace my comfort and His love is the strength of my heart! (vs 26)

Thank you Lord, that being faithful to You is worth it!


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Where Are You Looking?

Scripture for Today: Psalm 147:5 “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hedera_baltica/29107323717/in/photostream/

This Long Eared Owl can turn his head every which way. Because his head is connected with just one socket pivot instead of our two, he can turn his head almost 360 degrees. It may be that many of us are turning our heads to look behind us, being that this is the last week of the year. The excitement of Christmas day is passed and the hoopla of the New Year’s celebration is ahead of us. What a perfect time to slow it down and reflect on this last year and the changes it has brought. We remember both the good and not so good. And hopefully, in looking back we gain wisdom.

Today’s verse reveals that God never needs to look back to gain wisdom. He is great and mighty in power. And there are no limits to His understanding. He does not need to look back over 2022 to make plans for 2023! He never wishes He could change an action taken in the past as all His ways are perfect. (Deut. 32:4) He would never regret His own perfect decisions nor would He be surprised at their outcomes. There is no need for God to look back to improve His understanding of events. He is all-knowing and eternal, seeing all from outside the confines of time.

What a mighty God I serve! There is nothing He does not understand. He is aware of every thought, every motive and every circumstance. How deep are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge! (Rom. 11:33) And this is why I can trust Him for 2023. He not only completely understands what I cannot about the past but He already sees what is ahead. There is a plan already in place, globally and personally. (Jer. 29:11) My understanding will always be limited. But I can trust my All-Knowing Father, looking back with gratitude and facing the future with confidence.

Thank you Lord, for understanding my past and my future.