Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Hope


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The Colors of Hope

Scripture for Today:  Colossians 3:3-4  “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

I love the seasonal changes in Alsace.  The colors of fall are remarkable, especially in the sunlight.  The hillsides can look like they are on fire with the reds.  I wants to imprint these colors on my memory as winter is just around the corner.  The trees will be barren and everything will seem drab and grey.  These leaves face their demise with a burst of color, as if trying to make the most of the little time left to them.

I have the privilege of teaching the Bible to a group of women in their 80’s.  They are each at a point of their lives where they are knocking on the door of Eternity.  They have fought the good fight.  They have run the race.  The fact that these women stand firm in their faith, if not on their legs, is a vibrant color to me!  Their courage is a beautiful sight to see.  Their bust of color is their testimony to others before leaving this earth.

Our real lives are not here.  We have already died and our real lives are hidden with Christ.  One day when Christ is revealed, our real redeemed selves will be revealed as well.  The color of our lives will then be permanent.   No more waiting and hoping.  No more suffering or death.  Hope will be realized in Him.  A  color-filled season awaits us and it is an eternal one.  What a season that will be!

Thank you Lord, for the vibrant color of Your future glory in me!  You are my hope.


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Letting Go

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.”

I am not ready to let my Dad go.  Even though he has enjoyed a long life of ninety-two years and suffers from severe dementia, I still want him around.  Regardless of the circumstances and age of a loved one, it always seems too soon to let them go.

I know I am being selfish.  Everything wonderful awaits him in Heaven.  This butterfly reminds me of the new life and new body he is enjoying.  He is now experiencing “astonished joy!”

Our verse for today promises joy and peace for the one who puts their trust in Jesus.  Instead of experiencing despair, God fills the heart with hope.  Even when anticipating death, there is hope.  It is not natural.  It is supernatural and it is the Holy Spirit who produces this hope.  It can only happen through His power.  And it can only happen as we trust in Him.  The more I can trust Him and His plan, the more I can experience the joy and peace coming from this hope.  How can anyone face suffering and death without the sure hope we have in Jesus and the eternal home He has planned?

I am sad.  But there is peace and joy as I think of where my Dad is now, and that one day we will be reunited.  It is never the end.  I thank my wonderful Heavenly Father for this living hope that sustains me.  May this same hope sustain you, the reader, in whatever you are facing today.

 


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Anchored

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 16:8  “I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

(A re-post during a time of troubled water)

I have always loved the movement of the ocean.  In my college years I took sailing as an elective class.  The more waves there were the more I enjoyed the ride and the challenge.  Thankfully, I have never had a problem with sea-sickness, unlike some members of my family!  During those classes I always had the teacher with me and we would only go out in fair weather.  There was no need for an anchor to ride out a storm or keep us immobile.

Would that my life would be the same kind of smooth sailing!  Instead, the water is often choppy and the skies threatening.  The ride is not always so pleasant.  With disturbing news comes all kinds of movement.  Everything seems to spin out of control and one’s only thought at a time like that is to hold on tight.

The problem comes when I hold on tight to something that moves.  God does not.  My own “can do” attitude or my own positive thoughts are not stable.  My emotions are all over the place!  Support and understanding from friends can disappoint.  They are well meaning but not consistent.  There is only one true source of stability in my life; my Heavenly Father.  Our verse for today reminds me that with His presence at my right hand, I will not be moved.

He is my hope and the anchor of my soul (Hebrews 6:19).  He does not lie and He will do what He has promised to do.  My Anchor is sure and steadfast.  The water may continue to be choppy and the skies threatening, but my Anchor will hold me steady.  Lord, keep me holding on!


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Goodbyes

Tante Lily1Scripture for Today: I Thes. 4:13 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”

I do not like to say goodbye.  I am sad to think that on this earth I will not see Lily again.  Ten years ago she passed on to me the leadership of her Bible study group.  As each member is roughly the same age, I am losing these dear women one by one.  Each year our numbers shrink and we must say goodbye.  Yes, I grieve but I grieve with hope.

The verse for today is beautiful as it reminds us of our hope.  Saying goodbye between believers is never forever.  The separation is painful and hard but there is a tomorrow.  Death has been swallowed up in victory!  Death is just a passage where the perishable is clothed with imperishable and the mortal with immortality! (I Cor. 15:53-54)  One day there will be an incredible reunion of laughing and singing and dancing!  The sting of death will be forever removed.  This is my sure hope.  It makes our temporary separation bearable.

“When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart and hope to meet again.”  And that hope is not just wishful thinking!  Hope in Scripture has a much stronger meaning of certainty.  My hope is built on Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for me.  It is on that cross that He insured eternal life for those who place their trust in Him.  It is this hope that changes my grief.

Thank you Lord, that grief does not crush me.  Thank you Lord, that Your hope is my comfort.

 

 


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Blind Trust

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.”

These tiny newborn birds have their mouths open wide in anticipation of the next morsel of food from their mother.  These little birds are so new that their eyes have not yet opened.  They cannot see their mother but they sense she is there.  They have no choice in the menu but seem confident enough to eat and swallow without question what the mother provides.  Theirs is a blind trust.

Our verse for today describes the joy and peace that is ours when we trust the One who is totally trustworthy!  When we trust His provision we overflow with hope.  This hope comes through the power of His Holy Spirit.  It may sometimes seem like a “blind trust” as we cannot understand the work of God completely (Eccl. 11:5).  We do not see the path of the wind or how the bones are formed in the mother’s womb.  There is so much we do not understand.  Like these newborn fledglings, we trust our Heavenly Father without knowing all the details.

What is reassuring about our trust is that it is not really blind.  We know the One in whom we place our trust and that makes all the difference!  When I cannot understand what He is doing, I can still trust that He will be true to His character; loving, good, faithful and true.  I can trust that He will be true to His Word.  He is never random or capricious.  I can open my mouth wide to receive whatever it is He has in store for me.

Thank you Lord, for the joy and peace that comes from trusting You.