Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Love


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Abandoned

Barney165730_816338958191_650073_nScripture for Today: Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you.  He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

It was hard for my daughter and her husband to leave Barney with friends for a week in order to take a vacation.   Because they had adopted this little Jack Russel Terrier from an animal shelter, they were worried he would feel abandoned once again.  Thankfully, he fit right in with their friend’s household and loved playing with new doggie friends!

It would break my heart to enter an animal shelter.  I would probably ignore logic and come home with at least one abandoned pet.  Many people who buy puppies later decide it is an inconvenience and get rid of them.  Others do the same with their litters as they have neglected to neuter their animals.  Some breeders use the shelters to dump unsold puppies.

In our verse for today is a very comforting truth; the Lord our God will go with us.  He will never leave us or forsake us!  There is never a question of being abandoned by God.  These words were spoken by Moses to the Israelites in verse 6 and then repeated in verse 8 to Joshua and the Israelites.  His leadership was coming to an end and Moses did not want them to feel abandoned.

There are times when I am overcome with fear.  I am not facing battle with enemies, but I do face other fears.  The Lord wants to reassure me of His presence.  Having the promise that He will never leave me or forsake me helps calm those fears.  He will never look the other way and leave me on my own.

Thank you, Lord, that You will never abandon me.

(Look familiar?  This is a summer re-post due to ministry schedule)


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Bucket List

Scripture for Today: I Corinthians 2:9 “but just as it is written, ‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.'”

There is a saying that has made its way into American English; “the bucket list.”  This saying has come to represent all the wonderful things we would like to see and do before dying.  The phrase came from a movie where two men were facing terminal illness.  The story follows their friendship as they pursue most everything on their list, living out to the fullest what they thought would be their last three months of life.

There are plenty of travels and adventures I would like to experience in my lifetime.  The travel channel on television and the news feed on Facebook often create longings to explore and experience new things!  The bucket list may even include different lifestyles, past times or hobbies.  But the realities of life, the lack of resources or opportunities keep that bucket list filled to the brim!

Our verse for today gets me excited!  If I do not get to everything on my bucket list, it is not a problem!  There is an eternity in front of me!  There will be no time constraints.  There will be no lack of resources.  God is even now preparing for my arrival with incredible adventures that I cannot even imagine!  What He has planned for me makes that bucket list look pathetic!  I can imagine some pretty wonderful scenarios.  But my imagination of what is ahead does not even come close to the reality of His plans!

Thank you Lord, for Your incredible love and for all that awaits me!

(Look familiar?  This is a summer re-post due to ministry schedule)


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Steeple

steeple unnamedScripture for Today: Psalm 36:5 “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies.

I have had the privilege of living for decades with fabulous French cathedrals practically in my back yard.  I have seen so much ornate architecture in my years in Europe that the wonder and grandeur of their cathedrals almost seem commonplace.  But there is something about the simplicity of a white steeple on a New England chapel that touches my heart!  The steeple draws the eye up toward heaven as if it were a pointing finger.  Can anything rival the sky above?

Our verse for today draws our gaze upward, just like that simple steeple.  The heavens not only “declare the glory of God” but they also declare the love and faithfulness of the Lord.  Its vast expanse reminds me of how tiny and insignificant I am compared to how majestic He is!  His love and faithfulness are as big as that vast expanse of sky.

The phrase, “the sky’s the limit,” does not apply here!  God IS love and there is no limit.  He is faithful and true to His character.  His yes is always yes and His promises sure.  His eternal nature makes His attributes eternal as well.  One cannot exhaust His love or faithfulness.  Our infidelities and failures will never change who He is.  He is faithful to who He is and His love will never fail.

Looking up to the heavens reminds me.  Too often I am distracted by looking down.  All I can see sometimes is my own little world of problems and I miss the bigger picture.  The eternal perspective escapes me.  The steeple lifts my gaze to where it belongs!

Lord, may the skies be a reminder today of Your love and faithfulness to me!


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Without Dad

Dad10388582_10153076168424311_3766749023210753367_nScripture for Today: Romans 8:15 “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!'”

This is my first Father’s Day without my Dad.  He lived a full rich and lovely life, but even at age 92 it was too soon for him to go.  Knowing that he is with his beloved Savior makes the separation easier.  It is for just a short time, but I am used to having him here.  I still say, “Mom and Dad,” as if he were still with us.  It has been a bit difficult to forego the Father’s Day card for him this year.

Our verse for today describes the special relationship a believer enjoys with his Heavenly Father.  We can refer to Him as, “Dad.”  The relationship is meant to be that close and intimate.  It is not a relationship filled with mindless obligation and rules.  We do not fear Him as a slave fears a master.  There is awe, respect and obedience but because of Christ, the fear of wrath and condemnation is no longer there!  Because of Christ, we are part of the family!

How amazing that He chose me to be part of this family.  I certainly was not born into it!  None of us were.  We had to be adopted to be in this heavenly family.  Why on earth He chose me is beyond understanding.  I was an undeserving rebel.  Yet, my Father in His grace initiated the entire process.  Having a Father who is God is the best kind of Father.  His care is perfect and everlasting!  His love is unconditional and complete.  His presence and comfort never fail!

Thank you Lord, that I can celebrate You as my Father every day!

 


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Muscle Cramp

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 38:17 “Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In Your love You kept me from the pit of destruction; You have put all my sins behind Your back.”

Nothing stops a person so completely in their tracks than a muscle cramp!  When it happens to me I do not care what I look like when I hit the ground and cry out in agony!  The pain, though temporary, can be so intense and feels like it will last forever!  That involuntary contraction is incredibly strong and the only relief seems to be in massaging it.

Our suffering may stop us in our tracks.  Like King Hezekiah, sometimes all we can do is turn our head to the wall and cry.  Our verse for today was written by King Hezekiah after his illness and recovery.  He acknowledges that there was benefit in his suffering.  He learned humility (verse 15) as a result of the “anguish of his soul.”  He understood that the Lord acted out of love and not malice towards him.

Suffering in any form can shake our faith to its core.  When we do not see the outcome we want, the suffering can well transform itself into an anguish of the soul.  It is too easy to doubt God’s love and wonder if He really cares.  But God always acts out of love for His own.  He works that suffering into a benefit that is of eternal value although I may not see it.  He wants me to “walk by faith and not by sight.”

The ultimate suffering would be to spend eternity without Him.  I can never doubt His love because He spared me that suffering when He forgave my sins.

Thank you Lord, for sparing me the worse kind of suffering!