Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Holiness


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Churning Butter

Scripture for Today:  Proverbs 30:33  “For the churning of milk produces butter, and the pressing of the nose brings forth blood; so the churning of anger produces strife.”

It was fun to look up the process of churning butter.  The cream is shaken or agitated until it ruptures the fragile membranes surrounding milk fat.  Then the fat droplets join with each other to form clumps.  Further along in the process foam is formed (buttermilk) and drained off.  Churning butter takes time and requires repetitive movement.

There were several words in this description that seem to go with along with the concept of anger: shaken, agitated, rupture, fragile, and foam.  When angry, I am definitely agitated and shaken.  There is damage done to fragile relationships and they can rupture.  It can seem like “foaming at the mouth” when one is so angry one loses all control.  Strife with colleagues, friends, or family is the very natural result.

What is so interesting about the image used in our verse is the time element.  Anger, whether justified or not, can become sin when allowed to churn in our hearts over time (Eph.4:26).  Going over and over an offense in our minds is that repetitive movement.  Eventually, strife and division are produced making everything worse.

My anger often hurts me more than anyone else.  It certainly hurts me more than my offender.  Sometimes there are even physical consequences to my anger.  That churning inside me can lead to heartburn, tension, or sleeplessness.  How much better to stop the churning and let it go.

Lord, keep me as “sweet cream!”  Do not let my hurt pride or my trampled rights churn away inside!  Help me let it go.


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Sweet and Sour

Scripture for Today:  Proverbs 16:23-24  “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.  Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

There is a Chinese restaurant at the entrance to the long alleyway leading to our house.  When the wind is just right, we smell all their wonderful cooking!  Those aromas probably influence me to cook Chinese food more than I realize!  My Chinese cooking will never rival theirs, or especially that of my Chinese Mother-in-law.  But my husband always appreciates my efforts.

One thing I never cook is sweet and sour as my husband does not care for it much.  In fact, mixing sweet and sour is something that is not done too often in French cooking.  Our verse for today describes the mouth of the wise as speaking pleasant sweet words.  Those words are sweetness to the soul and have a healing effect, not only for the listeners but perhaps even for those whose who speak them.

More often than not, my words end up being sweet and sour.  James 3:10-11 tells me this ought not to be!  How is it that the same mouth can speak blessing and cursing?  A fountain does not normally give fresh and bitter water at the same time.  And yet, that is exactly my problem.

I do not seem to have too much of a problem with my mouth on a Sunday morning at church.  However, behind the wheel can be another story!  My words become sour.  This also seems to happen when I am overly tired or when frustrations mount!  Sweet becomes polluted with sour.  Instead of sweetness and healing, this mix produces bitterness and hurt.

Lord, keep me from becoming sour.   Make my words persuasive, pleasant and sweet.


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Weighed Down

IMG_20130417_163303Scripture for Today: Hebrews 12:1  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,”

I do not want to sound like an advertisement, but I sure love my cross-country shoes!  They do not look like much but they are broken in and comfortable.  More than that, they are light weight!  The little holes allow the shoe to “breathe” and feel lighter.  For me it makes a difference.  As I am not very athletic I need all the help I can get!

Our verse for today talks about being weighed down in a race.  The race is metaphor for the Christian life.  It is to be run with our eyes on Jesus, who is the Leader and Source of our faith.  The cloud of witnesses is a reference to all the great women and men of faith in the previous chapter.  They are our examples and our goal is to run in faith as they did.

Being slowed down by sin is something I can understand.  What the “weight” might represent can be any number of things that are neither good nor bad in themselves.  What might be a weight for me may not be a weight for someone else.  The point is not so much what it is, but what it has the potential to do….slow us down.

What is slowing me down?  Am I distracted looking at the other runners?  Am I bothered by guilt for my past?  Am I plagued by doubts?  The following verse tells me I am to keep my eyes ahead on Jesus.  Lord, help me run unencumbered and focused on You!


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Soaps

Scripture for Today:  Ephesians 5:25-26  “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the Word,”

I love going to our open market in Guebwiller and smelling the homemade soaps for sale!  There is such variety it is difficult to choose!  My favorite is lavender because I like to think its fragrance is soothing.  But there are all kinds available, including lemon verbena, almond, honey and so many more.  Some are made with olive oil, others with shea butter.  There are soaps that have crushed flowers or herbs in them.  But one thing they all have in common is that they make one clean, even the black soap!

Our verse for today describes how Christ sets apart and cleanses those who are part of His church.  His goal is to create in us glorious splendor!  One day we will be holy and faultless, without spot or wrinkle!

This soapy cleaning process starts with His sacrifice on the cross!  I am washed in His blood and my sins are forgiven forever!  He washes me whiter than snow and it is ALL His doing.  But because I still sin, my “feet get dirty” (John 13:1-10)  That is when I need “spiritual soap.”  And it comes from God’s Word.

The Lord uses His Word to signal to me what needs to be put right in my life.  It does not happen every time, but often.  When I am in His Word I am motivated to to obey Him.  He uses the written Word to speak to me and our relationship becomes closer.  I come away from these encounters squeaky clean and smelling good!

As lovely as soaps are, one day they will no longer be needed!


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High Road or Low Road?

IMG_20130319_164837Scripture for Today: Colossians 1:10  “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

There is a very old Scottish melody that comes to mind when I see one path climb higher than another.  The lyrics from The Bonnie Banks O’Loch Lomond say; “Oh, ye’ll tak’ the high road and I’ll tak’ the low road.”  I more often than not find myself taking the low easier road.  Although, these particular paths are deceiving in the vineyards behind the house.  The lower road is actually the more difficult one as it becomes much steeper around the bend!

“Taking the high road” is also a saying that can mean walking the higher moral ground, exhibiting honesty and selflessness.  It signifies a choice that is harder and takes more consecrated effort.

Our verse for today is part of Paul’s prayer for the Colossians.  As believers we are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.  In doing so we will be pleasing to Him.  Our good work will have fruit and our knowledge of Him will increase.  This is walking the high road.  It is a road that takes much more effort.

The low road is easy.  There is no effort involved.  In walking it, there is no thought about pleasing Him, only ourselves.  But the good works done will bear no fruit.  Our knowledge of Him does not grow.  No pain, no gain.

Everyday these two roads present themselves in the choices of the day.  Do I strive to please Him and walk in obedience?  Or am I being lazy and enjoying a leisurely stroll on the low road.  Today, may I enjoy His pleasure on that high road!