Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: For Foodies


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Good Oil

Scripture for Today:  Hebrews 1:9  “You have loved righteousness and You have hated lawlessness.  Therefore God, even Your God has anointed You with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above and beyond Your companions.”

There can be lots of confusion about oils; which ones are beneficial and which ones to avoid.  Saturated or unsaturated, polyunsaturated or monounsaturated.  Olive oil is especially lauded for its health benefits.  I only recently learned I should not keep my olive oil near a heat source, and all this time it has been next to the stove top!

Groves of olive trees are a common sight in Israel as they grow so well in a warm arid climate.  In biblical times the olive oil was used for lighting, cooking, personal grooming, sacred offerings, and for medical use.  But what really interests me is its use for anointing prophets and kings.  Oil was poured on the head to set one apart.

Our verse for today refers to Jesus Christ.  In fact, the name, “Christ” in Greek means, “anointed.”  God set apart Jesus and gave Him a position that is above any other.  He not only is worthy of this distinction, but this anointing oil comes with joy and gladness.

I, too, am anointed with oil!  Psalm 23:5 says that the Lord does this for His own.  I am set apart for Him.  The oil also represents His Holy Spirit, who testifies with my spirit that I belong to Him (Romans 8:16)  What a cause for rejoicing!  This oil is surely the “good oil!”

Rather than think about elevated cholesterol levels the next time I pick up that bottle of olive oil, I want to instead remember this image.  I am one of His anointed ones, set apart for Him.  What joy and gladness to belong to Him!


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Turkish Delight

Scripture for Today: Psalm 111:2  “Great are the works of the Lord.  They are studied by all who delight in them.”

I find the name of this mid-eastern candy intriguing.  Its other name is “Lokum.”  Turkish Delight is quite common here in France and easily found in the special foods section of the stores.

This is the candy of choice for Edmund, one of C. S. Lewis’ characters in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.  Edmund not only took delight in this candy, he became addicted to it.  The wicked white Witch was able  to manipulate Edmund with promises of more.  But no matter how much Edmund ate, he still longed for it again, never satisfied.

Our verse for today speaks about a delight found in studying God’s wondrous works.  I am more familiar with another verse that tells us to “delight yourself in the Lord…” (Psalm 37:4)  The source of delight is found in our relationship with Him, but it is also found in studying His great works.

I am no academic and I do not normally put the words, “study” and “delight” in the same phrase.  There are many who find delight in studying math equations or Greek.  But I am not one of them!  However, with God’s wondrous doings as the subject of study, I do find delight.  I am to seek out what He has done, both in the Scripture and in my life.

Studying His work in Scripture is in fact a means of knowing Him better.  All the works of the Lord reveal who He is.  Every miracle of creation, every changed heart, and every evidence of care gives insight into His character.

True delight is found in Him and His works.  He is a delightful study!  And unlike Turkish Delight, He satisfies!


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Sweet Indulgence

Scripture for Today:  I Corinthians 9:25  “Each competitor must exercise self control in everything.  They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.”

Can one ever have too much chocolate in life?  It is a wonderful source of magnesium.  It certainly boosts my mood.  And it is said that chocolate is an aphrodisiac.  I always say that chocolate is good for my health as it comes from the cacao bean.  Doesn’t that make it a vegetable?  It seems that there are many good things in life, that taken to an extreme become harmful.  Too much work.  Too much sleep.  Too much confidence.  Too much free time.  Too much talking.  Self control is all about avoiding overindulgence.

Today’s verse talks about the athlete who exhibits self control.  He restricts himself in all things with the goal of winning a temporary prize.  I always felt sorry for the young person in training who could not eat certain foods.  But I would admire his focus.

For the believer, our motivation to show self control and live temperately is for a much higher purpose than a prize that does not last.  We live our lives to please Him.  We strive for His approbation and approval.  Like Paul, we do not want to ever disqualify ourselves by losing control and becoming unfit!

I have no self control on my own.  Self control is really Spirit control.  It is part of the fruit or evidence of His work in me (Galatians 5:23).  I need Him to help me tell myself “no.”  Living with dependence on Him gives me that power to restrict myself.  Usually in saying “no” to something, I am saying “yes” to something better!

Thank you Lord, for helping me control myself!


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Eating Light?

IMG_20121117_190433Scripture for Today:  Hebrews 5:13-14  “For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.  But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

The other day we went out to dinner with another couple.  Ignoring the inviting aromas of pizza and pasta, I decided I would eat “light.”  The holidays are coming and there will be too many occasions to overindulge.  I honestly thought I was being “good” to order a salad.  My mistake was to not have asked more questions of our waitress!  Between the toasts, the cheese and the lardons fumés, there was nothing light about my salad.  And yes, I thoroughly enjoyed it anyway!

There are times in approaching God’s Word that I just want something “light.”  Maybe I feel rushed.  Or maybe I am feeling pretty good about myself.  No conviction today, please.  Perhaps I just want a message for someone else but not for myself.  A promise would make me feel good.  I am sometimes not sure I want to look up any cross references or dig at all.  A little light reading of something I am already familiar with would be just the thing.

Our verse today is in no way discounting “milk.”  It is necessary and foundational for the new christian.  There are times when even a mature believer will go “light” and only have what is basic or a reminder in Scripture reading.  The problem comes when one has ONLY milk and does not progress to “solid food.”  Always eating “light” does not allow for good spiritual growth.  Too much light eating will result in a failure to distinguish between good and evil.

Lord, help me not to go “light” on Your Word today.


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Pass the Salt

Scripture for Today:  Matthew 5:13                               

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

It may seem like I have a lot of salt shakers but in fact, compared to the collection my sister used to have, this is nothing!  I do not always put them on the table though.  I like to think that the food I have prepared for my guests is already perfectly seasoned.  In fact, one of my pet peeves is when guests salt their food before even tasting it.

Before refrigeration salt was necessary for preserving food.  But there are so many other uses for salt.  It can set colors or brighten them.  It can prevent fruit from browning.  Salt keeps the ants away; they do not like to walk on it.  Salt can “de-ice” the roads.  It keeps flowers fresh.  Salt even calms down a BBQ fire, reducing the flames and smoke.  And salt has numerous cleaning properties.

As believers we are called the salt of the earth.  We are to have an influence in our world.  But we can lose our saltiness by conforming to our world.  When we adopt the values of those around us, we lose our influence.

For me to be salt and an influence for Christ, I need to be out there in the world.   Salt does no good sitting on the shelf with all the other salt shakers.  But there is always the risk of losing my saltiness.  The pull of this world’s system is strong.  I am faced everyday with the temptation to compromise my standards.  My prayer today is that my testimony stays strong and yes, salty!