Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Devotions


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Timber!!

Scripture for today: Proverbs 1:33 “but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease without fear of harm.”

The beaver is quite skillful in felling a tree. His sharp teeth chew two cuts on opposite sides of the tree creating an hourglass- shaped notch. This clever shape controls the direction of the fall. That gnawing keeps his teeth from getting too long as he feeds on the soft underside bark. And he uses the bark to build his dam or lodge. He pauses frequently to listen for cracking sounds in the wood. Those sounds warn him that the tree is about to fall and gives him the time to avoid being crushed!

Today’s verse talks about listening. The “me” in the verse is the voice of wisdom. Listening to wisdom means a life of safety, ease and living without fear of harm. This chapter in Proverbs draws a sharp contrast between those who fear the Lord and those who do not (vs.29). Wisdom is available to all, and even calls out in public (vs.20-21). But those who refuse to listen put themselves exactly in the path of that falling tree! (vs.32)

There are plenty of differing sounds to which I could listen. The culture around me is incessant with its messages. But the voice I want to hear is the voice of wisdom. The fear, awe and reverence I have for my Creator is the only starting point to gaining wisdom. (Psalm 111:10) And as believers in Christ, we are in Him and He has become for us wisdom from God.(I Cor. 1:30) That does not mean I won’t make mistakes and blunders. But it does mean that skillful Godly wisdom found in His Word will help me avoid the complications that sin and disobedience can bring!

Lord, keep me listening to Your voice today.


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The Rockhound

Scripture for Today: Luke 19:40 “I tell you,” he replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Photo Credit to AdventuresWithRocks

Somehow, there must be a rockhounding gene in my DNA! My Father and eldest brother both share a fascination with rocks and I am the happy recipient of their beautiful lapidary work in the form of rings, brooches and necklaces. But somehow the gene jumped to extended family members too, showing up in my brother-in-law and my son-in-law. Okay, so I don’t know my biology too well but I do know how to identify many of these beautiful stones and I marvel at God’s creativity!

Today’s verse is a quote from Jesus in response to the Pharisees. They were unhappy that a crowd of His disciples had erupted in joyful praise as He entered Jerusalem on the back of a colt. The crowd cried out, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” Rather than rebuke the crowd as the Pharisees wanted, He explained that this acclamation would come from the very rocks themselves if not voiced by the people! Why? Because it was foretold in Psalm 118:26-27 and God will always keep His Word!

Rocks talking? Really? It is not as if God cannot use both the animate and the inanimate to praise Him. From Balaam’s donkey speaking in Numbers 22:28 to the heavens declaring God’s glory in Psalm 19:1, God is praised by His creation. But what a privilege it is to give glory to God as my King! Acknowledging His power and goodness, giving Him the glory and the honor that is due Him is a role that gives rich meaning to my life. All creation gives Him glory but I don’t want the rocks to cry out in my place!

Lord, may today be a day filled with joyful praise to You!


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Morning is Coming

Psalm 49:14a “They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd but the upright will prevail over them in the morning…”

There is something so hopeful about watching the sunrise! These sheep seem to be drawn to that big golden orb in the sky. The darkest part of the night appears to be just before that magical moment of sunrise. The darkness lightens in almost imperceptible degrees. And soon, the sun peeking over the horizon, colors the sky with warmth. The sunrise represents a new day with new beginnings. The new morning represents a new start and the stirrings of hope.

Today’s verse talks about a particular morning that is coming for the upright. Those who place their trust in God can look forward to the time when He will redeem them from the dead and take them to Himself. (verse 15) But for those who trust in themselves, the outlook is not so good. (verse 13) If they have depended on their own wealth and splendor, it does not serve them well in the life to come as they cannot take it with them. (verse 17) The upright have no reason to fear evil days ahead when surrounded by the wicked. (verse 5) With the arrival of the morning, those in right standing with God will prevail!

When I gaze at that beautiful sunrise, I have hope. The wicked will not prevail. God has promised that because He has redeemed me I will prevail. My fate is determined not by my status in the world (thankfully) but by God’s amazing grace. As a silly sheep I cannot trust in myself. Doing so would have me following the wrong shepherd. Instead I trust in the Good Shepherd who has laid down His life for me. And because of His saving grace, I will prevail in the morning!

Thank you Lord, for the new day coming!


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Does It Get Any Sweeter?

Scripture for Today: Psalm 19:10 “They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.”

Photo by J. Pellgen https://www.flickr.com/photos/jpellgen/30666337884/in/photostream/

I will admit to having a weakness for ice cream. But this “ogon” or golden ice cream in Kanazawa, Japan elevates this vanilla soft serve to a whole new level! The gold draped over it is edible gold leaf. I have never visited Japan, but my interest has suddenly been piqued! This area of the country is known for its gold leaf. In fact, they produce ninety-nine percent of it for their country, using it in arts, crafts and yes, for decorating their food.

Today’s verse describes the incredible worth of God’s precepts for living. They are more precious than pure gold. Not only that, these words of God are sweeter than honey from the honeycomb. God’s words are both golden and sweet. In a vision, the prophet Ezekiel was commanded to eat God’s word and he found it sweet as honey in his mouth (Ezekiel 3:3). This image of God’s word being edible helps us relate what is spiritual to the physical world. His word is sweet for so many reasons but for Ezekiel it was because of the warnings that save lives! When He warns us about the consequences of going our own way, it is done with love.

How do I view the Bible? Do I see His commandments as negative and restrictive, or do I recognize the love behind the warnings? The sweetness of His love for me is there in its pages. The assurance of His care and control is pure gold and a reminder that is sweet to taste. Psalms 34:8 says to taste and see that the Lord, He is good! I sometimes complain that I have too much of a “sweet tooth” but when it comes to reading God’s Word, that’s a good thing!

Thank you Lord, for the incredible worth of Your Word!


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Let’s Talk Turkey!

Scripture for Today: Colossians 3:1 “Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your heart on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”

This cartoon turkey looks a bit worried, as he should be during this Thanksgiving week! For years I have heard the myth circulated as fact that turkeys are so dumb, they will drown while looking up at the rain! It is true that the turkey will look up at the sky during a rain storm. And some have a neurological condition where they tilt their heads back and are unable to move for a time. But it is unrelated to the rain. So perhaps a turkey or any human being glancing up to the sky poses no fatal risk!

Today’s verse has us looking up and consciously setting our hearts and desires on what is above. As believers who were once dead to spiritual things, we are now raised up to be alive to Him! Instead of setting our hearts on what is fleeting and temporal, we now have a different perspective! We look up to what is above, our eternal Home where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. And having this mind set changes how we live our lives.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. said, “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good.” How untrue! When pleasing my Creator is my heart’s desire, it is then that I can do the most good! Living with eternity in mind motivates me to reach out to those who have no hope. Obeying God’s command to love Him with my whole being enables me to love my neighbor as myself! Rather than living selfishly, I can, with eternity in view, do those good works that He has planned for me!

Lord, keep me looking up to my eternal Home!