Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Love


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Lizards

Scripture for Today: Numbers 6:25-26 “The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”

Living in a warm dry climate I see lots of these little guys.  They never bother me much as I know they eat those nasty insects I do not want around.  They scurry and hurry and escape quite easily the little hands that try to catch them.  But they slow down when they get to that patch of sunlight.  They love to soak up the sun directly and from the warm surface of rock.  They seem to be quite content sunning themselves for hours without moving.

Our verse for today talks about the Lord shining His face on the ones who belong to Him.  When He turns His face towards us, we feel His grace and His peace.  When we recognize that patch of “Sonlight,” we want to slow down and enjoy the warmth.  It takes time to soak in His presence and love.  It means we are still and quiet.  “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

So often the list of activities and obligations in a day keep me from enjoying His presence.  I know He is there.  But it requires that I take time for Him to really soak in His favor and light.  The warmth of His love is not a place I want to quit.  Sometimes I want life to just stop, so that I can bask in that wonderful light of His countenance without interruption.  It gets a bit uncomfortable and chilly when I am away from Him too long.

He gives amazing peace in the midst of frenzied activity.  He communicates His grace throughout the day.  But how wonderful to stop and soak it all in!


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Care Packages

Scripture for Today: I Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

I remember when I was single, living in France just after college.  Although I lived with a wonderful family, I missed my own.  It was easy to feel bereft, lonely, and well outside my comfort zone.  The daily mail was my lifeline.  My brother and his wife lifted my spirits by sending a care package.  I remember it had my favorite cereal that I ate every morning in the States.  It was a little bit of home, but more than that, it reminded me that I was not forgotten.  My family cared about me.

Our verse for today is a reminder of God’s care as well.  He shows His care in so many ways that sometimes go unnoticed.  But one very impressive way He cares is by shouldering all of our anxieties.  He sees when we are bowed down with anxious thoughts and worries.  He invites us to give them all to Him.  We are to be “anxious for nothing” (Phil. 4:6) and we “cast” those worries on Him by prayer.  He exchanges those anxieties and worries for His peace (verse 7).

It is amazing to me that God cares about how I feel.  He knows my physical needs, He knows all of my thoughts, but even more, He knows exactly what I am feeling.  And He cares.  He is moved to compassion when He sees me stewing in my own worries.  He offers peace but instead I keep hanging on to my anxiety.  Somehow, my worries become a habitual thought pattern and it can be difficult to let them go!  Why do I continue to worry when He is there to relieve me?

Thank you Lord, that You care enough to take away every anxious thought.


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Tiger Care

Scripture for Today: I Peter 5:6-7  “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.”

Meet Tiger, our spoiled cat.  He looks like he does not have a care in the world!  And with the way we look after him he really doesn’t!  It is to Tiger’s advantage to be an “indoor cat.”  There are plenty of feral cats that multiply in the vineyards behind the house.  They are not very pleasant being big, mean and riddled with disease.  Our ferocious Tiger is a real pussy cat.  He does not have to worry where his next meal is coming from or if he can find shelter from the rain.  But in some strange way he has to “be humbled.”  He has to be dependent on us rather than hang with the big cats!  But by doing so, all his needs are met.

Our verse for today talks about humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God.  It means being indoors under His care.  His hand is mighty and powerful to take care of each and every need.  In being humble and submissive to Him I am in a place of receiving His care.  I am indoors.  I am sheltered, well fed and my needs are met.

What is so strange is that sometimes I want to hang with the big cats too.  The world has such a pull on me.  Like Eve, I can be deceived into thinking that God is somehow holding out on me, when in fact all my needs are met in Him.  To venture out into the world is to turn my back on His care.  Why ever do I do that?  He cares for me.

Thank you Lord, for Your perfect care.


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Just Deserts

dessertunnamedScripture for Today: Psalm 103:10 “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”

I really thought I deserved this dessert.  I had ordered only fish and vegetables and so I figured I could indulge just a little.  After all, it was just dessert!  I had no idea it would be quite this big.  However, with three others helping, it was no problem!

The phrase, “getting your just desert” dates back to the 13th century, and its meaning was “a thing deserved” whether good or bad.  The original spelling used only one “s” referring to the obsolete meaning of  the word, “desert” or that which is deserved.  Today one sees this phrase with the two “s” spelling.  It makes more sense to me as I sometimes think dessert is my due!

Our verse for today is a wonderful reassurance that I do not get my just desert from the Lord.  If I were to insist on the justice I deserve, I would be in big trouble.  Certainly, God is just.  His justice was satisfied by Christ’s sacrifice for sin on the cross.  Because  Christ paid the penalty for sin, I am not repaid for my own.

I am so thankful that God does not give me what I deserve!  I am spared His wrath and punishment.  His grace is amazing!  This psalm tells me of His compassion.  He is gracious and slow to anger.  His love for me is as great as the distance to the heavens! (verse 11)  His love is so wide, so long, so high and so deep that it is immeasurable! (Eph. 3:18)  I absolutely do not deserve that kind of love!

Thank you Lord, that You do not give me my just desert.  Thank you for Your incredible mercy and love!


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The Foreigner

Scripture for Today: Deuteronomy 10:18 “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and He loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.”

It is not a comfortable experience being a foreigner.  In fact for many, the thought of being classed as a foreigner in another culture keeps people happily and comfortably cocooned in their own worlds.  I completely understand this preference.  It is not easy to stand out from the crowd, going against the current.  Living twenty-five years in France, I learned how to blend in to the culture and lifestyle.  However, early in our marriage we spent a summer in Taiwan.  There was no chance of blending in there.  I was constantly regarded as the foreigner and I had to deal with it!  I was orange and everyone else was blue!

Our verse for today reveals the loving heart of the Lord.  He is especially attentive to the needs of the orphans and widows.  But in addition to that care, He has a special place in His heart reserved for the foreigner and his hapless predicament.  I wonder if it was because His Son would one day descend from Heaven and be Himself a foreigner on earth!

The Lord shows special love to the lost, lonely and displaced person.  The foreigner is often in a humbled position having to depend on the kindness of others in his host country.  Not only does God offer His love and help, but the context urges us to do the same (verse 19).  Those who have been foreigners themselves can have a special empathy, having experienced this turmoil personally.

I have the privilege of reaching out with God’s love to the foreigner residing among us.  Help me Lord, to have the same heart for him as You do.