Devotions By Jan


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Care Packages

Scripture for Today: I Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

I remember when I was single, living in France just after college.  Although I lived with a wonderful family, I missed my own.  It was easy to feel bereft, lonely, and well outside my comfort zone.  The daily mail was my lifeline.  My brother and his wife lifted my spirits by sending a care package.  I remember it had my favorite cereal that I ate every morning in the States.  It was a little bit of home, but more than that, it reminded me that I was not forgotten.  My family cared about me.

Our verse for today is a reminder of God’s care as well.  He shows His care in so many ways that sometimes go unnoticed.  But one very impressive way He cares is by shouldering all of our anxieties.  He sees when we are bowed down with anxious thoughts and worries.  He invites us to give them all to Him.  We are to be “anxious for nothing” (Phil. 4:6) and we “cast” those worries on Him by prayer.  He exchanges those anxieties and worries for His peace (verse 7).

It is amazing to me that God cares about how I feel.  He knows my physical needs, He knows all of my thoughts, but even more, He knows exactly what I am feeling.  And He cares.  He is moved to compassion when He sees me stewing in my own worries.  He offers peace but instead I keep hanging on to my anxiety.  Somehow, my worries become a habitual thought pattern and it can be difficult to let them go!  Why do I continue to worry when He is there to relieve me?

Thank you Lord, that You care enough to take away every anxious thought.


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My Comfort

Scripture for Today:  II Corinthians 1:3  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.”

I noticed on Facebook a comment that made me stop and think.  It was a condolence message saying, “May your memories be your comfort.”  It is a beautiful sentiment.  Our memories help us through the intense loss of a loved one.  Keeping those memories alive is a tribute to the one gone and a way to help us cope.

There is another source of comfort that can help lighten the burden of grief.  That source is our Heavenly Father, God of all mercy and comfort.  There is no loss to which He cannot relate as He gave up His own Son.  When one is experiencing the pain of loss, no one else can possibly feel that same pain, regardless of how similar the circumstances may be.  But our God of comfort knows and understands.  Jesus, as our High Priest, is touched by our grief and all we are feeling (Heb. 4:15).

This verse has been put to the test by my own grief having just lost my Dad.  I do know He is faithful and true.  At the very moment of Dad’s passing, it was the middle of the night in France.  The Lord woke me up for almost two hours and during that time, an old hymn ran through my mind over and over again.  “Does Jesus care?  I know He cares.  His heart is touched with my grief.  When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.”  He has been my source of comfort in times of loss, and He will be again.

Thank you Lord, for being my constant comfort.

 


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Teeter-Totter

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 75:6-7 “No one from the east or from the west or from the desert can exalt themselves.  It is God who judges.  He brings one down.  He exalts another.”

It has been a long time since I have seen one of these teeter-totters in a public park.  I remember playing on them as a child and coordinating my movements with a friend so we could enjoy the up and down motion.  More often than not, there were some rough landings.  Not all of them were accidental!  I managed to survive this now outdated playground equipment.  Being that it is considered a safety hazard there are very few still seen today.

Our verse for today teaches that it is our sovereign God who brings down one person and lifts up another.  Regardless of our origin we can not exalt ourselves.  This psalm of Asaph declares that God puts down the wicked and lifts up the righteous.  He has the right to do so and He does it with justice.

When we try to exalt ourselves we can make a mess of things.  That is because all who exalt themselves will be humbled (Luke 14:11).  There is nothing better than hearing compliments and praise from someone else for a job well done.  When one sings their own praises all that is heard is pride.  How much better it is to leave the matter of recognition to the Lord.

God does promise to exalt us in due time.  We are to hope in Him and faithfully keep His way as we wait to see that happen.  Not only will we see ourselves exalted but we will see the wicked destroyed (Psalm 37:34)  It is a comfort to know this.  He is just and I can trust Him.

 

 


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Longevity

IMG_20140319_172509Scripture for Today: Mark 13:31  “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”

My dear friend just lost her husband.  He was 94 when he died, but no matter the age, it always seems too soon.  This sweet French lady is 90 and likely to soon be knocking on the door of eternity herself.  These advanced ages always impress me.  But what is even more amazing is the Bible she is showing me in this picture!  She received it as a young girl from her godmother.  That precious volume is at least 75 years old!  Yes, it is completely falling apart from years of use, but she still reads from it.  The leather is cracked and soft.  So many of the pages are torn and crinkled.  But what memories it holds for her of God’s faithfulness!  In her deep sadness and loneliness, she continues to turn to the source of comfort (Rom. 15:4).

Our verse for today talks about what will last and what will not.  Everything is temporal in this life but God’s Word stands forever.  It is eternal.  Some have tried to eradicate it.   But it is the Word of God and it will never pass away.

On the inside cover of one of our Bibles is the saying, “Either this Book will keep you from Satan, or Satan will keep you from this Book!”  Satan tries his best to keep people from reading God’s truth.  Its words reveal God’s character and plan of salvation.  It teaches us how to defeat Satan and his lies!  The Bible gives comfort and courage to persevere in my faith.  God’s Word changes my heart and mind.  There is blessing and renewed closeness to my Lord every time I open its pages!

Keep me in Your Word, Lord.  Keep me close to You!


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Swaddled

swaddled1526120_10153719035020254_1173403927_nScripture for Today:  Isaiah 40:11  “He tends His flock like a shepherd.  He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart.  He gently leads those that have young.”

My new grandson at four days old loves to be swaddled.  Especially after the trauma of a bath, the swaddling of a blanket calms him down.  He is no longer agitated flailing his little arms and legs.  The tightness of the blanket seems not only to hold him steady, but hold his unhappiness in check as well!  The change from crisis to peace is almost immediate!

Who does not relate to the need to be tightly held!  At times of great sorrow or crisis, a strong long hug seems to have such a calming effect.  Tension leaves the body, and often the emotional stress as well.

Our verse for today describes our Lord as an attentive Shepherd.  He picks up and carries the lambs close to His heart.  What a loving image!  He does not carry them under His arm like a football, but against His strong chest close to the beat of a loving heart.  Those lambs are pinned down by strong arms, much like a swaddled infant.  No more struggling is possible.  There is nothing to do but relax in those arms and be carried.

When someone suffers the loss of a loved one, I often think about those arms of His that are so loving and tender.  Hugs from friends are readily available in the early days of grief.  But later, the need to be held continues well after they have gone.  We have a Shepherd who is always available to hold us through whatever loss we are feeling.

Thank you Lord, that You are there to hold me tightly in Your loving arms.