Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Christmas Season


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Angels We Have Heard on High

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 49:13 “Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones.”

This carol is close to my heart being French in origin.  French legend says that in medieval times on Christmas Eve, shepherds would sing and call to one another from one hillside to another, “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” meaning “Glory to God in the highest.”  The lyrics of this carol say the angels sing and the mountains reply, “echoing their joyous strain.”

There is reason for the heavens to shout, for the earth to rejoice and for the mountains to burst into song.  The verse for today gives the reason; the comfort and the compassion the Lord gives to His hurting people.  With His coming to earth that first Christmas, He proved His compassion for us, ushering in His salvation with the birth of His Son.  “Comfort Ye My People” from Handel’s Messiah expresses this truth from Isaiah 40:1-3.

He can comfort us because He has experienced every human emotion and struggle.  Christ’s humble birth, the horrible treatment He suffered from enemies and His betrayal by those closest to Him means He can empathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).  He is not unmoved by our pain.  He hears us in the night when we smother our tears.  He sees when the heart is hurting and we want to give up.  He offers His comfort and compassion and it is unlike any other.

What a wonderful reason for angels and mountains to burst into song!  May today be a day when I can shout, rejoice and sing, “Glory to God in the Highest” because He cares for me!


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The First Noel

Scripture for Today:  Luke 2:10-11  “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'”

The French do not have to worry about who they may offend in wishing strangers “Merry Christmas.”  Their word for this holiday is “Noel” and so the word, “Christ” is not apparent.   And yet, Noel is all about the incredible news of our Savior’s birth.

The word,”noël” was first used in the English language in the 14th century.  There are two ideas about its origin.  The first thought is that “noël” is a variant of “nael” derived in turn from the Latin word, “natalis” meaning, “birth.”  As Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus, that makes sense.  Then there is the idea that “noël” is derived from the French word, “nouvelles” meaning, “news.”  In either case, the emphasis is on the good news of our Savior’s birth.

Today’s verse is all about that good news announced by the angel to the shepherds in the fields.  It is surprising enough that first one angel and then a host of them appeared to these men, but just as surprising are the recipients of this message.  Shepherds were considered as dirty lower-classed people in this society.  Yet, God chose them to be present at a very intimate private scene.  They were part of a pivotal moment in history!  Not many wise, influential or noble were called.  But God chose the foolish to shame the wise and the weak to shame the strong (I Cor. 1:26-27).  God’s gift of salvation through His Son is for everyone.

Thank you Lord, for calling me.


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Mary Did You Know?

maryimg_20161206_111900Scripture for Today:  Luke 2:18-19  “And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

This Christmas plate stands proudly on my buffet every December.  It is a numbered limited addition but the worth for me comes from the fact that it was a gift from my parents.  The image is from “The Rest on the Flight into Egypt,” an oil painting by Gerard David in 1510.  There are plenty of santas and snowmen as part of my decor but I love having this scene and the manger scenes front and center.

The carol, “Mary Did You Know?” asks an interesting question.  Did Mary really understand who the baby Jesus was?  Of course, she did not know what specific miracles He would perform.  But she did know the Scriptures as seen by her song (Luke 1:46-55).  She may have even been familiar with the prophesies in Isaiah 35 about the healing the Messiah would do for the blind, the deaf, and the lame.  Of course she knew that this baby was miraculous having never been with a man and having been addressed by an angel.  Yet, how could she really grasp the enormity of holding in her arms the Son of God!  “And when you kiss your little baby, You’ve kissed the face of God.”

As today’s verse says, Mary pondered in her heart all that happened surrounding Christ’s birth.  She probably did not even need a baby memory book!  She kept these memories close to her heart, meditating on their meaning.  Did she know?  A more important question today is, Do I know?  Do I understand that this baby is the “Great I Am” who came to save me?

Thank you Lord, for coming down to earth for me!


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Joy to the World

Scripture for Today:  Luke 2:10-11 “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'”

Does it seem bizarre to think of an angel as smiling?  Unlike all the other angel sculptures on the facade of the cathedral in Rheims, France, this one does!  She has stood there smiling since the 13th century.  She continues to smile even though she was bombed in World War I and needed restoration.  Despite destruction and death, she remains a symbol of victory and joy.

Today’s verse was spoken by an angel to the shepherds in the field, announcing the birth of a Savior.  He announces this good news as “great joy.”  How could he not smile in delivering this message?  This is a joy that will be for all the people, in fact for all the world.  The carol, Joy To The World, captures clearly the reason for our joy; the story of our redemption.  This carol, attributed to Isaac Watts in 1719, is exuberant and victorious, ending with Christ’s triumphal return.

We sing this song as a Christmas carol but it was not written for that purpose as it is a song that celebrates the end of the story; Christ’s victory over sin and death.  He is not only a Savior, but He is my personal Savior.  Despite the turmoil of this world around me, there is hope for a brighter tomorrow because of what He has done!  He gives me a deep joy, being confident of His plan.  One day He will “rule the world with truth and grace.”

Thank you Lord, for Your first coming, and for the one to come!


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What Child is This?

Scripture for Today: John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The beautiful carol, What Child is This? is actually a remake of the song, Greensleeves, an old English folk song attributed to Henry VIII.  As my husband and I were married at Christmas time, this was also the song to which I came down the aisle.  Perhaps I chose it in the hopes that people would think I was younger than I was!  The lyrics were written by William Dix in 1865 and later three verses of his poem were merged and put to the tune of Greensleeves.  The carol asks a polarizing question!

Today’s verse gives the answer to the question of this carol.  The Word, who according to verse one is God, became flesh on that first Christmas morning.  This little baby came from the Father and as part of the Trinity, is God Himself dwelling among us.  What an incredible truth!  As the carol recounts,  “Hail hail the Word made flesh,” and “This, this is Christ the King.”

If I really believe that this little baby Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, than there is only one response; “let loving hearts enthrone Him.”  I want Him to be on the throne of my heart and rule my life.  Rather than following my own will, I strive to follow His.  He has redeemed my life and He has every right in the world to be on my throne.  He is my Savior and my King and it is a daily choice to allow Him to reign in me.

Thank you Lord, for Your definitive answer to the most important question ever asked!