Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Heaven


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Counting Blessings

IMG_20151222_105135Scripture for Today: Ephesians 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

I was the lucky one!  During an ornament exchange I felt that I was the big winner taking home this royal vial.  The crown on top reminded me that I am a child of the King.  And the word, “blessed,” is such a good reminder to me of all that I have received.  I especially needed to keep that truth in mind when surrounded by the glitz and glamour of store displays and the draw of the next new thing.  I loved this ornament so much I made it into a necklace!

Today is the last day of the year and a good time to reflect on all His blessings.  Today’s verse is full of praise for blessings already given to those who know and love the Lord.  These blessings are not material but spiritual.  That means they will last into eternity!  He has blessed His own by choosing them, adopting them, granting redemption and forgiveness, marking them with the Holy Spirit, and giving them an inheritance!  What an incredible list of blessings!

I sometimes get distracted by what I consider “blessing” here on this earth.  But whatever I think I am lacking is of no importance when compared to the riches of His grace and the blessing of an eternal home with Him.  If He never blessed me with another material blessing, I would still be unbelievably blessed by what He has already done for me!  My heart is so blessed that the only way to respond is to praise Him!

Lord, make my heart grateful today for all Your incredible blessings!


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Attack!

Scripture for Today: II Timothy 4:18 “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

This dog attack looks pretty frightening.  I would not want to be the one at the receiving end of those sharp teeth!  He could do real damage and even take a life.  But as one can see from the photo, this dog has not run amok.  He may have that urge to bite but there are some restraints and protections in place.

Recently, evil seems to have run amok in our world.  When we see senseless murderous attacks on innocents we wonder where our world is headed.  Laws, governments and any security measure known to man cannot guarantee personal safety.  Those intent on evil will always find a way.  And next time there is an attack, I might be in the very path of that evil.  But regardless of what flaming arrows the Enemy might launch my way, I have the shield of faith to protect me. (Eph. 6:16)  My soul cannot be touched by evil.  It belongs to the Almighty God who is sovereign over all.  As today’s verse says, the Lord will bring me safely into His Kingdom.

How could I sleep at night without the beautiful assurance this verse gives me!  Without His promises it would be too easy to succumb to depression and pessimism when I see the terror and fear around me.  But I know He has placed His restraint on evil in the world through His Holy Spirit and His people.  And one incredible day, the Lord will establish justice and peace when He establishes His Kingdom.

Come, Lord Jesus.  Come quickly!


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Punctuation

Scripture for Today: I John 5:11 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

I had no idea that there is a National Punctuation Day!  It was established in 2004 and since then has been celebrated every September 24th.  The idea is to promote correct usage of punctuation.  The founder encourages people to send in pictures of everyday errors they encounter.  A rich source is maybe the Facebook news feed!  Without strategically placed commas, one can say some pretty outrageous things!

I recently heard a pastor use punctuation marks to describe life.  Because of eternal life in Christ, the believer does not end his life with a period.  It is not over.  There is more.  The life of the believer ends with a comma.  It is just a brief pause as he crosses over to his eternal home.  His life continues on and in fact, the period never even makes an appearance!

Eternity is the only way to make sense of life.  God has set eternity in the human heart. (Eccl.3:11)  We long for it to be true and there is something deep inside us that hopes that it is.  When we see a life cut short, when we grieve over the early death of an innocent child, we know that cannot be all there is.  And we are right!

Today’s verse tells us that we can know we have eternal life.  God does not keep us wondering.  He assures us that this life is found in His Son, Jesus.  We can know because He said it.  We can know because He promised.  What Christ did on that cross made possible a relationship that continues on into eternity!

Thank you Lord, that death is not the end.

 


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Feeling Down

IMG_20151015_130732-1Scripture for Today: Psalm 126:6 “Those who go out weeping carrying seeds to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”

In all my years living in Europe, I had never seen a European Weeping Beech tree.  But recently in Rhode Island, on the grounds of the Château sur Mer in Newport I saw this incredible sight!  The drooping branches were so thick, the trunk was not even visible.  The English call it the “upside down tree!”  I am familiar with the Weeping Willow, but apparently there are several species of trees that are called, “Weeping,” if they grow pendulous branches.  That sad weepy look is so strange looking.  I am not sure I would want such a sad looking tree in my yard.

Today’s verse describes a weeping that ends in joy!  What an amazing reversal promised to the Israelites!  The Lord would bring back their captives and restore their fortunes causing all the neighboring nations to sit up and take notice.  The Lord will be known as having done great things for them.  All those tears are replaced with laughter and songs of joy!

This promise has many layers as we too can look forward to a time when our weeping and sorrow will be transformed!  Laughter and joy will echo in the halls of Heaven as I enjoy a hope that is realized forever!  Weeping will be a distant memory.  Everything sad and awful will seem light compared to the weight of glory that I will one day enjoy! (II Cor. 4:17)

So much sadness in this life now, but before long, “One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase!”  Better than anything I can dream, His joy and recompense will exceed every expectation!

Thank you Lord, for the songs of joy yet to be sung!

 


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Birds of Paradise

Scripture for Today: Luke 23:42-43 “….’Jesus, remember me when You come in Your Kingdom.’  Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.'”

These beautiful flowers are everywhere in southern California.  Their vivid orange petals grow vertically and the deep blue ones horizontally, giving them a peculiar bird-like appearance.  Their blooms do not appear until three to five years after planting the seeds.  Florists like to use them to mark a ninth wedding anniversary, suggesting that they represent faithfulness.  However, these flowers are also said to symbolize a clear perspective on life!

Today’s verse is a request to Jesus from one of the thieves hanging on a cross next to Him.  Jesus promises him that because of his faith, he will be in Paradise that very day.  The word, “paradise” is the Persian word for “garden.”  One very important tree grows there; the tree of life (Rev. 2:7).  There, in Paradise, we will live life as it was meant to be.  There will be no pain, sickness or death.  There will be no sin, guilt or ugliness.  There will only be unending joy in His presence!

It is so hard to imagine Paradise.  But one thing is sure.  It will be so much better than my imagination!  And thinking about Paradise gives me a clear perspective on life here and now.  I can face the hard times with hope because of Paradise.  I can look past the failures and dashed expectations when I think about that future place of indescribable beauty!  I can even endure those painful separations when I know with certainty that one day there will be no more goodbyes.

Thank you Lord, for the promise of Paradise!