Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Flower Images


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“Breath of Life” Roses

Scripture for Today: Job 33:4 “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

These beautiful apricot-colored roses turn pink with age and bloom multiple times. It is a climber and can reach up to ten feet. The long-lasting blooms make for a good vase life and it has a pleasing fragrance. Its unusual name comes from Britain’s Royal College of Midwives. They chose the name, “Breath of Life,” to signify the Creator in Genesis and everyone’s first vital act on entering this world. There is great anticipation at a baby’s birth for that first gasp of breath announcing life!

Today’s verse comes from Elihu’s counsel to Job, who though well-meaning, was wrong in his conclusions regarding the reason for Job’s trials. However, this statement was absolutely true as the breath of the Almighty is what gives life to each individual. In Genesis, we are told that after creating Adam, it wasn’t until God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life that Adam became a living being. (Gen 2:7)

This week will end with a memorial to that momentous moment when Christ on the cross “breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46, Mark 15:37) Although this was (and is) a common saying to signify death, what happens next demonstrates that this was not his last breath! In three short days, the breath of the Almighty will bring Jesus back to life! Christ’s next breath not only announced life for Himself but for all who will trust in Him as God’s Son. (I John 5:11-12)

Lord, I am forever grateful that You conquered death and gave me new life in You.


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A Time for Beauty

Scripture for Today: Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphyllum_oxypetalum

This amazing flower, Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum Oxypetalum) can only be seen blooming at night. By dawn the flowers have wilted. Native from Mexico as far south as Nicaragua, they are not only nocturnal but very fragrant. Unlike the Night-Blooming Cereus, they grow on the surface of other plants rather than in the ground. This “extra-terrestrial” gets its moisture and nutrients from its environment instead of from the ground. Her beauty has its own special prescribed time, designated by its Creator.

Today’s verse teaches that the Source of beauty is God Himself. King David exclaimed that all he wanted was to gaze on the beauty of the Lord.(Psalm 27:4) Not only is God Himself beautiful but He creates beauty as a prompt to turn our eyes towards Him. All of His intricate amazing creation points to His beauty. And part of that creation is the desire for eternity, placed in the human heart by God Himself.

There is so much beauty in my life and I am thankful. But unfortunately sin and its consequences create what is ugly as well. How amazing to know that our Creator continues to create, redeeming and making what was unsightly into something beautiful! He exchanges beauty for ashes and joy for sorrow. (Isaiah 61:3). I can count on His promise and His timing. He will make all things beautiful in His time and I can look forward to an eternity where that beauty will never fade and last forever!

Thank you Lord, for this beautiful hope!


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A Rose Says LOVE!

Scripture for Today: Song of Solomon 2:1 “I am a Rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.”

The red rose has long symbolized romance and true love. We are at that time of year when large bouquets of roses are available for the upcoming Valentines Day. But even a single red rose says “love.” At my wedding each bridesmaid carried a simple long-stemmed red rose, coordinating with my own bouquet. Roses communicate not only love but also beauty, passion and purity. The image above marries that single red rose with the lily of the valley, a white delicate flower. The lily symbolizes purity and humility, sweetness and beauty.

Today’s verse comes from a book of poetry filled with metaphors and allegory. The literature is erotic and a surprise to read in the Bible! Though its verses refer to human love, its deeper meaning refers to Christ and His tremendous love for His own. There are different ideas about which flowers are referred to in the original Hebrew. But the point is to picture the potential depth of feeling there can be in a personal relationship with Christ.

What a contrast this picture presents to the widespread feelings about “religion!” My relationship to Christ has very little to do with a list of do’s and don’t’s. I am not living under a heavy burden of obligation, ritual or man-made tradition. My relationship to Jesus is a love-relationship, not only individually but as part of the Church, His Bride! There is not another human relationship that comes even close to the intimacy I can have with Him! He knows my heart and He loves me anyway. He loved me enough to die in my place so that we could share this incredible love!

Lord, Your love, like Your grace is amazing!


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Dead Head

Scripture for Today: John 15:2 “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

My beautiful blue flowers (Felicia Amelloides) lining the walk to the front door are being crowded out by their predecessors! What a long meticulous process it is to dead head them. But in making the effort, there can be new growth of that dainty blue flower. For awhile, the flowers look a bit sparse. But in no time at all the flowers will have room to blossom and fill in. You can clearly see where I stopped my work. I try to be careful but often I inadvertently snip off the healthy flowers or buds.

Today’s verse refers to the pruning of vines to produce more and better grapes. But the idea is the same; that old growth needs to be removed before new growth can happen. The one who does the pruning is God, our Vinedresser. As believers, we are branches connected to Jesus, our Vine, and that connection produces a fruitful God-honoring life. We are not to be content with the fruit He has already produced. His precise life-long pruning produces more fruit that is richer and more plentiful.

God wants to take away anything that holds me back from growing and bearing fruit. It could be a success or a failure. Am I so content with past good works for Him that I feel I don’t need to do more or do better? Or perhaps it is the guilt of that personal failure I keep hidden from view. Or maybe it is holding on to a behavior I know does not please Him. It all needs to be cut back to allow new fresh growth. It does not always feel so good. But God is continually at work in me, changing me to want to bear fruit for Him. (Phil. 2:13)

Thank you Lord, for what You produce in me.


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Butterflies or Hummingbirds?

Scripture for Today: Romans 3:29-30 “Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.”

When our landscaper planted our Buddleia flowering plants, I referred to them as “butterfly bushes.” He however referred to them as “hummingbird bushes.” Regardless of the name, I was happy that both were true. Both butterflies and hummingbirds swarm those flowers so rich in nectar and honey scented! Flying through the yard flashing their beautiful colors, they land on those bushes, taking turns and being nourished at the same source.

Today’s verse affirms that there is only one God. He is not God of only one group of people and not another. Both the Jew and the Gentile (or non-Jew) are justified through their faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. As different as the circumcised and the uncircumcised may be, there is only one Source of forgiveness and redemption for both groups. And it is not found in following Law or in our own good works, but only by faith in Christ’s perfect sacrifice for sin.

The truth that there is only One Source of salvation brings a unique unity among believers that is found nowhere else. We are called together to one hope (Eph. 4:4). My differences with a people group on the other side of the world will be of no consequence as we kneel together at the feet of Christ. One day when He rules this world, sin and pride will no longer divide us. In the meantime, I am to strive to keep the unity that He makes possible through His Spirit.

Lord, help me to see others as You do.