Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Contentment


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Happiest Place on Earth

Scripture for Today: Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”

It is quite a claim Disneyland makes; to be the happiest place on earth.  Being from Southern California, I have had ample opportunity to check out this claim.  In general, my experiences have been positive despite crowds, rainy days or high prices.  There is something sweet and magical about the park.  One can temporarily escape the harsh realities of life and enjoy a different make-believe world.  But I am not sure it is my happiest place.

Our verse for today describes a different place; God’s presence.  There one can be filled with joy and experience eternal pleasures!  Unlike Disneyland, it is not a make-believe place, but a reality.  In His presence I can truly take a break from all that is harsh and ugly in life.  The pleasures I find in sweet communion with my Creator are not temporary fixes but eternal and a foretaste of what is to come.

The best thing about this place of joy is that it is not limited to one locale.  It is perhaps easier to focus on His presence with other believers on a Sunday morning, but in fact there are no parameters to His presence.  I can be in this “happy place” no matter where I am and regardless of my circumstances.  His joy is a deep-seated calm and confidence of His control despite what is happening around me.  Remaining and abiding in His presence means I can feel complete joy (John 15:11) as opposed to any other kind!

Thank you Lord, for the joy of Your sweet presence.  Help me to stay there all day long!


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Garbage Dumps

069_ThreeGoatsInGarbagePile_19_02_10_IRQScripture for Today: Philippians 3:8 “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

Goats are picky eaters.  They are frequently seen in garbage dumps, so one would not think so.  It is a common belief that goats eat tin cans.  But in fact, they are pealing off the label to get to that tasty glue underneath!  Garbage dumps, even for goats, are not such a great dining experience!  No one wants this eye sore around their home, nor the odors.  There is very little that is positive to say about garbage.

This is just the point that Paul is making in our verse for today.  Paul’s background was stellar as a righteous, educated and privileged pharisee.  He was full of religious zeal and entrusted with a mission.  He had the admiration and respect of the world of his day.  At one point, his reputation and the social standing he had gained became for him a garbage dump.  What changed?

The surpassing value of knowing and loving Jesus has given Paul a different perspective.  This beautiful and satisfying relationship with Christ has made all his past accomplishments seem as worthless garbage.  The only redeeming factor remaining may be the tasty glue on can labels!

Paul had the most worthy goal in life; to gain Christ.  But it was something that could not happen as long as he valued his accomplishments, past or present, more than the Lord.  Caring too much about the world’s approbation somehow keeps us from having more of Christ.

He is worth far more than all else.  “You can have all this world.  Just give me Jesus.”  This is my prayer today.


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What’s New?

Scripture 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.”

One spring evening at a Bible study in France, our hostess allowed us to cuddle their new baby geese! (goslings)  There is something special about what is brand new.  Aren’t we all naturally drawn to what is new, whether it be new tastes, new clothes, new sights or new experiences?

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!

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.  Our 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.  But 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!

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


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Rocking Horse Collection

horse6Scripture for Today: Ecclesiastes 1:8 “All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing not the ear its fill of hearing.”

During a move, one realizes just how many of something has been accumulated over the years!  I have been collecting rocking horses for decades, most of which only come out at Christmas.  After taking inventory, I have come to realize that I really do not need to add anymore.  At some point there comes a point of saturation, and I was sure I had reached that point.  However, in checking for just the right photo for this post, I am starting to re-think whether I could not add one or two more!  This Victorian beauty especially caught my eye!

Our verse for today came from King Solomon.  He was able to lay his hands on and enjoy just about anything he could wish.  His wealth was staggering.  Whatever collection intrigued him, he could add to it to his heart’s content.  He was so rich he denied himself nothing his eyes desired (Ecclesiastes 2:10).  And yet, he concluded that it was all wearisome beyond description.  The eye never sees enough.  The ear never hears enough.

The point of saturation never really comes. Whether it is experiences or objects, there is always longing for more and more.  It is never enough.  Solomon concluded that more was meaningless, chasing after the wind.  The world is just not enough.  That is because we were created for something more.  That something more is Someone.  It is in my relationship with the Jesus Christ that I find meaning and satisfaction.  Regardless of how many beautiful things surround me or how many adventures I have lived, it is the Lord who makes my life worthwhile!

Thank you Lord, that You are infinitely more than enough!


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Jolly Green Giant

Scripture for Today: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”

I can still remember the days when canned and frozen foods were not so prevalent in France twenty-five years ago.  Most everything had to be made from scratch.  Now, the Jolly Green Giant is everywhere.  What is lost in taste is compensated for in convenience.

I have always wondered why this giant was jolly.  In most fairy tales giants are depicted as mean and angry.  In God’s Word, the giant, Goliath, was a mighty warrior that defied the Lord Almighty and His people.  The other four giants mentioned in II Samuel 21 were not so jolly either.  Each one vehemently opposed the God of the universe.  None of these giants finished well having been defeated by God’s people.  In each victory God gave amazing strength to square off against these impossibly large warriors.  Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Our verse for today is a declaration by Paul of the strength God gives.  Because of this strength, Paul was able to face a particular giant; the giant of discontent.  The context speaks of learning to be content in any and every situation.  Paul could live a contented life only through the strength God gives.  His circumstances never held him back from being all that God wanted him to be.

Discontent can loom like a giant.  Overcoming feelings of dissatisfaction can seem nearly impossible.  The size of my longings for a different set of circumstances can blot out the joy of following the path the Lord has chosen for me.  But with the strength God offers, I can vanquish feelings of deprivation and dissatisfaction.

Thank you Lord, for Your strength to cut down to size any discontent I may feel today!