Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Flower Images


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Morning Dew

Scripture for Today:  Hosea 6:4  “What can I do with you, Ephraim?  What can I do with you, Judah?  Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.”

Is there anything prettier than dew kissing the fragile petals of a rose?   We enjoy our rose bushes but I do not always know the best way to care for them.  My landlord kindly helps me with pruning and gives me tips.  I love cutting them and bringing them into the house!  They are so fragrant and add a touch of class.  But of course, I do not bring them inside if they are still wet with dew.

Today’s verse is addressed to two tribes of Israel.  They knew to make sacrifices and burnt offerings but they did not show mercy to others nor did they acknowledge God.  It was just routine and tradition.  Their love for the Lord was as transient as morning dew which quickly disappears.  The book of Hosea is the story of the Israelites’ unfaithfulness to God, just like a wayward wife.

I can identify with a love that disappears like morning dew.  In the morning when I read His Word and talk with Him, I can be satisfied with His unfailing love (Psalm 90:14).  But as I go throughout my day, that closeness can seem to evaporate in the distractions of a busy day.  His love is constant, but mine…not so much.  Sometimes it is easy to look at my time with the Lord as an obligation to be crossed off a list.  But He is not interested in empty ritual but in meaningful relationship.  Thankfully, despite  how fickle I am, He continues to tap my shoulder with His love.  He reminds me He is there.

Thank you Lord, that I can count on Your love all day.


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Cactus Flower

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 43:19  “See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

We have friends who are “desert rats!”  They are drawn to the remote immense spaces.  No matter that it is often dry and uninhabitable.  There is something about its harsh beauty that allows one to breathe after the congestion of the city.

It is always surprising to see flowers bloom on a cactus in the desert.  Its spiny surface seems incongruent with the fragile beauty of a flower petal.  Our God is so creative to plant something so delicate where we least expect it!

Our verse for today encourages us to look and see what God is doing.  We could miss it.  Because the cactus flower often opens with the sunlight but closes with dusk, passing by its beauty is easy to do!  In the same way, we can pass by unaware of what new thing God is creating.  He makes a way in the wilderness and streams in the wastelands.  He makes something beautiful in a dry barren place.

It is too easy to see only the negative.  I need to watch for what new thing God may be creating in me or in my circumstances.  Am I looking for that good He promises in Romans 8:28 or have I become accustomed to seeing only the trial?  Have I settled for something less than what God had intended for me?

Open the eyes of my heart Lord, so I can see the bigger picture of what You want to accomplish!  If it is good and beautiful I know it is Your doing!  Thank you, Lord, that no trial or pain is beyond Your reach to produce something positive and wonderful!


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Thirsty

IMG_20130227_110838Scripture for Today:  Nehemiah 9:20  “You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth, And You gave them water for their thirst.”

My poor poor tulips!  They died an early death.  From just one day to the next they gave it up.  When I threw them out, I saw that the vase was bone dry, not that there was any doubt as to cause of death.

It is true that I do not have a green thumb for potted plants.  But what possible excuse do I have here?  All I had to do was check the water level and add some when needed.  If I let this happen too often, my husband will not be so motivated to bring me flowers!

From our verse for today we see that our God is a God who provides for us both spiritually and physically.  This passage speaks of His compassion for the Israelites.  In the wilderness there was no bread and there was no water.  Yet He supernaturally provided both.  He took care of both their hunger and their thirst.

I am very aware when I am hungry or when I am thirsty.  He is so good to meet those needs daily.  But there is another provision in this verse, that of the instruction of His Spirit.  I am not always aware of this need.

His Spirit teaches me and His instruction is just as needed as my daily provisions.  I often do not see it that way.  Either I am too distracted by my physical needs, or I feel I am doing fine without His Spirit.  But without His instruction and guidance I find myself resembling those tulips!

Lord, keep me aware today of my need for You.


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Sunflowers

Scripture for Today:  Psalms 119:36-37a  “Turn my heart toward your statues and not toward selfish gain.  Turn my eyes away from worthless things…”

Sunflowers are amazing!  Especially when one comes upon a whole field of them!  This field is located in the Loire Valley of France.  And I’ll go ahead and say it, “we are outstanding in our field!”

It is commonly thought that this flower turns its head to follow the sun’s trek across the sky.  In fact the word for “sunflower” in French is “tournesol.”  The idea of turning to the sun is right there contained in the word.  The spiritual truth is obvious.  Like the sunflower, we as believers want to be gazing at the Son, following Him.  David in Psalms 27:4 asked the Lord for just one thing, to be able to gaze upon His beauty.

I am so often distracted from having the same priority as that of David.  There are plenty of things and activities in my life that are important and to me have lots of worth.  But I am basically a selfish and headstrong person.  My head and heart quickly get turned around to be all about me, me, me.  Deep down I agree with Paul in Phil. 2:8 that everything is rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.  So why then  do I turn my gaze away from His beauty?  When I do, I cease to grow and thrive.  Like the sunflower, my head becomes bowed down when turned away from the Son.  Not only do I miss His beauty but I become less beautiful myself.

I love this old hymn,  “Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face.  And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”  Turn me, Lord, to You.