Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Hope


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A Time for Beauty

Scripture for Today: Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphyllum_oxypetalum

This amazing flower, Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum Oxypetalum) can only be seen blooming at night. By dawn the flowers have wilted. Native from Mexico as far south as Nicaragua, they are not only nocturnal but very fragrant. Unlike the Night-Blooming Cereus, they grow on the surface of other plants rather than in the ground. This “extra-terrestrial” gets its moisture and nutrients from its environment instead of from the ground. Her beauty has its own special prescribed time, designated by its Creator.

Today’s verse teaches that the Source of beauty is God Himself. King David exclaimed that all he wanted was to gaze on the beauty of the Lord.(Psalm 27:4) Not only is God Himself beautiful but He creates beauty as a prompt to turn our eyes towards Him. All of His intricate amazing creation points to His beauty. And part of that creation is the desire for eternity, placed in the human heart by God Himself.

There is so much beauty in my life and I am thankful. But unfortunately sin and its consequences create what is ugly as well. How amazing to know that our Creator continues to create, redeeming and making what was unsightly into something beautiful! He exchanges beauty for ashes and joy for sorrow. (Isaiah 61:3). I can count on His promise and His timing. He will make all things beautiful in His time and I can look forward to an eternity where that beauty will never fade and last forever!

Thank you Lord, for this beautiful hope!


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Morning is Coming

Psalm 49:14a “They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd but the upright will prevail over them in the morning…”

There is something so hopeful about watching the sunrise! These sheep seem to be drawn to that big golden orb in the sky. The darkest part of the night appears to be just before that magical moment of sunrise. The darkness lightens in almost imperceptible degrees. And soon, the sun peeking over the horizon, colors the sky with warmth. The sunrise represents a new day with new beginnings. The new morning represents a new start and the stirrings of hope.

Today’s verse talks about a particular morning that is coming for the upright. Those who place their trust in God can look forward to the time when He will redeem them from the dead and take them to Himself. (verse 15) But for those who trust in themselves, the outlook is not so good. (verse 13) If they have depended on their own wealth and splendor, it does not serve them well in the life to come as they cannot take it with them. (verse 17) The upright have no reason to fear evil days ahead when surrounded by the wicked. (verse 5) With the arrival of the morning, those in right standing with God will prevail!

When I gaze at that beautiful sunrise, I have hope. The wicked will not prevail. God has promised that because He has redeemed me I will prevail. My fate is determined not by my status in the world (thankfully) but by God’s amazing grace. As a silly sheep I cannot trust in myself. Doing so would have me following the wrong shepherd. Instead I trust in the Good Shepherd who has laid down His life for me. And because of His saving grace, I will prevail in the morning!

Thank you Lord, for the new day coming!


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Wishing on a Star!

Scripture for Today: Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“Star light, star bright, The first star I see tonight; I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight.”  This nursery rhyme from the late 1800’s still comes to mind when I see a bright star or planet shining on a clear night. But I am sure those Magi from the east were not thinking of wishing on His star. (Matt. 2:1)  Instead, they faithfully followed the star in order to worship the One born King of the Jews.

“Wishing on a star” pretty much describes the thinking of those who place their confidence in anyone but Jesus. It is a poor flimsy substitute for real hope. Hope for the believer is faith in what is sure. Our hope is only as good as its object and that makes our hope in Jesus unshakable! A star will not save. A star cannot fulfill promises and save souls. But a star can and often does move us to worship the Creator, as it did in a unique sense for the Magi. God’s own hands stretched out the heavens including that unique star of Bethlehem. (Isaiah 45:12)

Because of Christ’s birth, I have hope. I not only have hope, I am overflowing with it as I trust Him! And in this broken world, I lean more and more on the hope He gives me. He promises to fill me with all joy and peace as I live in that hope and trust. The coming of Jesus is hope realized as He made a way for me to live eternally with Him. There is a bright future ahead because of that hope. The darkness of my despair is dispelled by the heavenly light of His presence!

Thank you Lord, for Christmas and for being my hope.


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Trees That Weep?

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

Despite living almost three decades in France I had never seen a European Weeping Beech tree. But 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!” Several species of trees including the Weeping Willow are called, “Weeping,” if they grow pendulous branches. I am not sure I would want such a weepy 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 I too can look forward to a time when my 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 today that is sad and awful will seem light compared to the weight of glory that I will one day enjoy! (II Cor. 4:17) God’s promise of life without end keeps me looking forward. Weeping only stays for the night but joy WILL COME in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

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


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A Disappointed Dog

Scripture for Today: Psalm 25:3 “No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.”

The day was full of promise and the sunshine beckoned. This dog, full of pent-up energy, bounds outside with his ball, hoping for a game of catch. Barking and jumping he approaches who he thinks is a likely playmate. The video of what happened next shows him repeatedly offering the ball and barking with excitement. But of course, nothing happens except for the dog losing hope and eventually walking away disappointed.

Today’s verse validates the hope the believer places in the God of the Bible. No one who hopes in the Lord Almighty will be put to shame. Our confident expectation in His promises will never be disappointed as He is always true to His Word. To place our hope in anything or anyone else is to set ourselves up for potential disappointment. Shame and disappointment do come to the “treacherous” who mistakenly think they will not be held accountable.

It is God’s love for me that motivates me to keep my hope firmly fixed on Him. (Rom. 5:5) My family, my friends, my government, or my circumstances can all disappoint. I do not want to be like that silly dog, trusting in what will not come through. The Lord God has all the power, all the resources and all the control to come through in any difficulty I face. So why would I turn to anything else? I will trust in His “unfailing love.” (Psalm 13:5)

Lord, keep my hope firmly fixed on You.