Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Christmas Season


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Cable Car Caroling

Scripture for Today: Psalm 147:1 “Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him.”

It was 1969 and our church youth choir had to get special permission from the city of San Francisco to reserve two cable cars.  I have sung in choirs at lots of different venues over the years including; street corners, European cathedrals, grottos, and the Rose Bowl.  But I will never forget singing my heart out up and down those steep streets!  Today, there are many different fundraisers and community groups who carol on these cars.  But in the 60’s it was not so common.  We got lots of funny looks, but we also got passerby’s joining in!

Today’s verse encourages us to praise the Lord through song.  It is fitting because it is His due and He deserves it.  But in addition, it is a good and pleasant experience.  Christmas time is the perfect opportunity to praise Him as so many of the older carols spell out who He is and why He came!  Thankfully, there are no restrictions in this verse that the singing needs to be on key or pleasant to hear!

I sing to and for Him.  But what is so incredible is that it does me so much good as well.  Praising God in prayer and listening to sacred music turns my heart toward Him.  But nothing lifts my spirits more than singing His praise!  It brings me closer to Him as I know He always listens.  Not only is my spirit involved but so is His Spirit as songs prompted by Him help me make music from the heart (Eph. 5:18-19)

Today Lord, “tune my heart to sing Thy grace.”


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Let Us Adore Him!

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 45:23 “By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear.”

J’Adore perfume by Christian Dior was first launched in 1999 and had incredible success, even legendary status.  In English we use the word, “adore” to indicate strong passion.  But the meaning of  “adore” in French is not as strong as the word for “love,” and it is used lightly to mean a strong preference.  One can just as easily say that they adore chocolate.  But for French language purists, the word “adore” is used exclusively for God and means to worship.

Today’s verse is a declaration or vow of the Lord.  His word will never change or be revoked.  Everything He says is entirely true and will never change just as He will never change.  And what He says is that every knee will one day bow before Him.  The doubters and the mockers, the arrogant and the rebellious will one day kneel in absolute humility before Him, verbally acknowledging the truth of who He is! (Phil. 2:10-11).  The shepherds understood.  And when seeing the baby Jesus, even in humble circumstances, they adored Him and worshipped Him.

I love the carol that says, “O come let us adore Him.”  Adoring Him can be lost in all the activity and busyness of the Christmas season.  Everything, although good and happy, can distract me from the adoration and worship that is His due!  And there is enough going on every day to distract me from adoring Him!  But adoring Him is not only the best part of Christmas, it is the best part of any day!

Lord, You are worthy of all my worship and adoration.

 


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Poinsettia

Scripture for Today: Psalm 112:4 “Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and  compassionate and righteous.” 

I love seeing the red and green of the poinsettia at Christmas time!  This native flower to Mexico is referred to as, “Flower of the Good Night.”  The reason for this term is the way the poinsettia becomes so colorful.  It is only after twelve to fifteen hours of darkness a day for a period of three months that the leaves (or bracts) become a vibrant red.

Today’s verse is a wonderful reassurance that the darkness the believer experiences will not be indefinite.  Those who belong to the Lord are upright because of Christ’s righteousness.  And we are assured that eventually there will be a dawn.  Often in Scripture darkness represents calamity and light represents well being.  No one is exempt from dark times.  Regardless of education, wealth, health or status, we all face some kind of crisis or suffering.  But for the believer, there is a dawn coming!  For the one made righteous through Christ, there is hope.

What is amazing to me is that even in the darkness, there is blessing.  The Lord is actively at work in that darkness.  He is using all the negative in my life to test and refine my faith.  Every hurt and disappointment, He uses to grow me more like Him.  He does not waste any pain or difficulty but He utilizes it all to change me.  What a comfort to know He is in control!  When I finally exit that time of darkness, I am different.  Because of His work and grace I can emerge more colorful.  Perseverance, endurance and stronger faith are the colors He produces through that dark time.

Thank you Lord, that you know what You are doing and I can trust You.

 

 


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Steamroller

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

It’s coming.  In fact, even though it is still November, I hear the Christmas music and see the lights and trees set up in the anticipation of Christmas.  I may be alone in this, but it does not make my heart feel happy to see this so soon.  I almost feel that a steamroller is coming at me, and will soon flatten all my enthusiasm.  I cannot keep it at a fever pitch for over a month.  In my house at least, I can keep Christmas at bay a little longer.

Today’s verse tells us that we do not have to follow the pattern the world has of doing things.  We have the choice and the freedom to do things differently, to do things God’s way.  And His way is far better.  It is good, pleasing and perfect.  In belonging to Him, our minds can be renewed through His Word to know and appreciate what His way is.

I want to be intentional this Christmas.  I do not want to overcommit and get stressed out.  I do not want to feel the pressure to have everything decorated Pinterest style or impress people with my cookie baking skills.  I want to slow down enough to ponder and reflect like Mary did at the birth of her Son.  I want to turn my thoughts toward Him of whom the angels sang, and sing to Him myself!  And I want to love sacrificially as He did in coming to this earth.

Lord, help me celebrate Your birth in a way that pleases You.


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No Longer New

wrapping-paper-messScripture for Today: Lamentations 3:22-23  “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are NEW every morning: great is Your faithfulness.”

I am not sure that any Christmas present can live up to the hype we give it.  The surprise and thrill of something new is great!  The problem is that newness can quickly wear off and become mundane, leaving us dissatisfied and bored.  Old news, old hat, been there, done that.  We feel compelled to search again for the next new thing!  How long until the next Christmas or birthday?

Our Creator God understands our need for the new!  His promises of new are not found “under the sun” where King Solomon searched.  Rather they are found in the spiritual realm.  Today’s verse tells us that His compassions are new every morning.  He continually reveals something new about Himself.  His compassion today is not leftovers from yesterday.  His relationship with me is new and fresh and timely every morning.  In fact, His renewed compassion for me is the reason I get up in the morning!

Perhaps you are like me.  Even as a child of God I can sometimes be bored.  Desiring something new in my day is fine.  But when I look for satisfaction in the new, I find it a quick but temporary fix as the new eventually becomes old.  However, experiencing His compassions never gets old!   Discovering something new in His nature is a discovery that begins now and lasts for all eternity!  Every morning I can look forward to something NEW!  And this “new” will never grow old!

Thank you Lord, for renewing Your love for me this morning.