Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Love


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Beautiful Hands

Scripture for Today:  John 10:28-29  “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from My Father’s hand.”

Young hands are beautiful hands.  As we get older, spots and raised veins appear.  Arthritis can swell the knuckles and hands do not look as beautiful as they once did.  Hands have a way of giving away our age.  Too bad gloves are not in style!

The Scriptures tell us that God is Spirit (John 4:24).  Even so, the Bible is full of references to God’s eyes or arms or hands to help us understand Him.  And I love to think of His hands and the fact that as His child, I am held there, safe and secure.

Our verses for today describe His hands as being more powerful than any others.  There can be no sudden sneaky move on the part of the enemy that can snatch me out of His hand.  I, myself, can not cause Him to let go.  My faith in Him put me there.  His power and love keep me there.

His are the hands that formed the universe.  The hand that holds me is the same hand that stilled the waters and calmed the seas.  Those hands touch and heal.  And His hands are scarred with the proof of His love.  They are hands that I can trust.  He will not let me go.

My life is in His hands, but more than that my eternity is in His hands!  If life is suddenly cut short, that does not change the pressure of His hand as He walks me into His very presence.  His hands are beautiful.


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Friendship

IMG_20130212_154420Scripture for Today:  John 15:14-15  “You are My friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.”

My tea kettle always sits out on my stove.  With the convenience of our microwave, I do not use it much anymore.  The other day, my husband helpfully moved it to a cupboard to give me more room to work.  I immediately rescued it and put it back on the stove.

I think my husband was surprised as my reaction seemed illogical.  But for me, the tea kettle represents warmth and hospitality.  I like the idea of always being ready to serve tea should a friend come by unannounced.

Our verse for today contains a revolutionary idea, the idea of Jesus being a friend!  Friendship is viewed so differently from culture to culture.  Each country has its own expectations and rules about it.  But one idea remains constant; the idea of open sharing.  One can tell a true friend anything and still be accepted.  True friends can honestly share their feelings, their hopes and their dreams.

Jesus calls us His friends because He has openly shared with us His business.  God’s plan and will are clearly spelled out in His Word.  We wish we knew more details, but it is amazing that He lets us know anything at all!  He daily communicates His love to us and we have the freedom to tell Him absolutely anything.

Sometimes my friendship with Jesus seems one-sided.  By that I mean that I do lots and lots of talking but maybe not so much listening!  Thankfully, He is a patient faithful Friend!


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Here Comes the Bride!

Scripture for Today:  Revelation 19:7  “Let us rejoice and shout for joy!  Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb at last has come and His bride has prepared herself.”

I do not even know this couple.  We were in Colmar the other day and just happened on these newlyweds posing for their photographer.  I could not resist taking a picture too as they were so striking.  Whose head doesn’t turn at the sight of a beautifully adorned bride!

We as the Church are called the Bride of Christ.  I love this image as it speaks of the most loving intimate relationship possible.  One day, I will be wearing the pure white linen of righteousness and I will enjoy a love relationship uninterrupted by sin.

Stories of love on this earth are often tainted with skepticism.  There is so much hurt and betrayal destroying the ideal.  But in heaven the One who created this relationship has reserved for us its fullest expression in a relationship with Himself.  He is our perfect and faithful groom.  He cherishes us and has been preparing for this coming marriage since time began.

That kind of love is life-changing.  It means that I am actually worth something, that I have value.  His love for me makes me beautiful, warts and all.  My deepest need for unconditional love and acceptance is met in Him.  The love He offers is eternal and never fails.  It is only because of my human limitations that I do not fully experience it here.  But one day.  One day I will be a bride again, without spot or wrinkle.  On that day, there will be wild celebrations and shouts of joy from all of us who belong to Him!  Here comes the Bride!!