Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Cat Images


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Hiding

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 32:7 “You are my hiding place.  You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

What is it about cats and bags?  Every time I put away groceries I throw the empty bags on the floor, much to our Tiger’s delight.  He runs so quickly to hide in one of them that he and the bag slide across the floor!  Inside that bag he feels secure and invincible!  In his little cat brain he probably thinks no one can see him.  But when that bag starts moving across the tiles it is a dead give-away!

Our verse for today describes a different hiding place; the Lord Himself.  David has been hiding from God, unwilling to acknowledge his sin.  As with Adam and Eve, our first instinct with unconfessed sin is to hide from God.  Now that David has confessed everything, he is hiding in God.  He is hiding in His sure love and forgiveness.  He describes God’s love in verse 10 as a love that surrounds him.  There are songs and praise as those seeing and hearing of David’s deliverance celebrate the victory with him.

Hiding from God does not work.  Hiding behind a false sense of self sufficiency does not either.  But hiding in Him means protection and sure deliverance!  In Him is found such security.  His love is my retreat.  In His presence there is no fear of what man can do to me.  Whatever “mighty waters” (verse 6) may be in my future, they will not overwhelm me when I am hiding in Him.  He will fill my heart with song and praise as He proves Himself trustworthy yet again.

Thank you Lord, for hiding me in Your love.  It is such a good place to be!


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Fearless!

Scripture for Today:  I John 4:18  “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

My sister had a cat named, Angel.  With a name like that, she must have thought she could fly!  She would chase birds on the apartment balcony risking life and limb by running along the railings.  One day, the inevitable happened.  She lunged for a pigeon and lost her balance, falling seven stories!  Thankfully, she fell on a patch of grass.  Her tummy and knees were grass stained.  She was sore and grumpy for a few days but that was all.  Most surprising was Angel’s quick return to her favorite past time; chasing pigeons on the balcony!  She was fearless!

In our verse for today is a description of love for God.  It is fearless.  Perfect or complete love for God will have no fear of punishment for the believer who understands God’s grace.  Those who are “in Christ” are under no condemnation (Rom. 8:1).  I John 4:17 says our love is made complete so that we can have confidence on the day of judgement!  Our confidence has nothing to do with our own good works but everything to do with Christ taking the punishment for our sin.

Imagine loving someone only to avoid punishment.  That is coercion, not love.  “We love because He first loved us.”  I love Him in gratitude for all He did on that cross!  With no fear of punishment, I can sincerely love Him and serve Him!  Knowing that He has paid the debt owed for sin allows me to enjoy His love and love Him in return!

Lord, Your love is my security!  Thank you that I do not have to live in fear!


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Pet ID

Tiger 996640_10152030118915115_1578389347_nScripture for Today:  Psalm 139:1-3  “O Lord, You have searched me and known me.  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar, You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.”

Our Tiger loves the outdoors.  As there are no fences between our neighbors, he freely roams where he likes.  I suppose Tiger cuddles up to our artificial Christmas tree because it reminds him of the tree out front.  I never said he was smart!

For years now, Tiger has had a computer chip in his neck.  We had the vet insert it with all the information needed in case he is lost.  It does not hurt Tiger and will last as long as 25 years!

Our verse for today is a beautiful description of God’s perfect and intimate knowledge.  Much better than a computer chip that tracks movement, He is aware of every movement and every thought!  Such knowledge is hard to imagine!  Not only is our God all-knowing, but He cares to take note of our smallest gesture.  He not only knows our thoughts but He understands why we think them!

Why would He care when I get up from this computer?  Why would He care when I worry about getting everything done in a day?  Because I belong to Him.  Because He loves me.  There is never a time when God is not thinking about me.  I know this is true from the number of thoughts He has toward me (verse 17 and 18).  They are as innumerable as all the grains of sand in the world.  In response, my soul echos the words of the hymn, “What wondrous love is this?”

Thank you Lord, for your detailed intimate knowledge and love for me!  Help me believe it today.


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Weary

IMG_20130319_102100Scripture for Today:  Matt. 11:28-30  “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

I am not sure our Tiger could be any more relaxed!  If he were, he would fall off.  Ah, the life of a cat!  I can not imagine why he needs twenty hours of sleep a day!  From what is he resting?  Maybe he is weary from his dreams.

Our verse for today promises rest for those that are weary and feel burdened.  I can often feel that way with a schedule that is too full.  I can feel burdened with impossible demands that I put on myself.  I know there is weariness in me when I find myself continually sighing.  I love that my Jesus does not want me to feel that way!

Even so, my first inclination is to fix my own problems rather than coming to Him.  But in taking matters into my own hands, I am not really at rest where it counts, in my soul.  Finding rest in Him is so much more than just changing the “to-do list” or getting more sleep.  I look at “soul rest” as quiet unruffled confidence in His control.  There is peace in handing everything over to Him.  There is rest.

These verses do not say that I necessarily stop working.  But in taking on His yoke, I have Someone who shares the weight of it.  The burden of work is no longer heavy but light.  In the midst of work and activity, my soul can be at rest.

Lord, I need Your rest today.