Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: House


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Shutters

Scripture for Today: Psalm 139:5 “You have enclosed me behind and before, And You have placed Your hand upon me.”

I loved living with shutters in both Germany and France.  They completely blocked out noise and light, making it easy to sleep in!  When a storm came through, it was great to protect the newly washed windows from rain splatters.  During a hot spell, closed shutters kept the house cooler.  And for security reasons shutters were especially helpful.  In fact, some insurance plans would refuse to cover for theft if the shutters were open!  But the best thing about shutters was the sense of privacy they afforded.  I often felt a sense of peace with those shutters closing out the world.

Today’s verse describes just how well God’s Spirit knows me.  He knows when I am sitting, standing, when I go out and when I return.  He knows me so well that He knows what I am going to say before I say it.  Rather than this being an uncomfortable thought, it is a truth that is wonderful.  His thoughts to me are too numerous to count and they are precious (verse 17).  He lays His hand on me in a loving and protective gesture.  Like those shutters, He encloses and surrounds me with His presence and His love.

The world often needs to be blocked out.  Being enclosed in the Lord’s presence is only possible when I retreat from all the noise and activity around me.  To be still and listen to His voice often means turning off all the other clamoring distractions.  It is shutting the door to the room or closet to pray in private (Matt. 6:6).  When I make that effort, He is there, ready to meet me.

Lord, help me to shut out the world today and enjoy Your presence.

 


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The Leaning House

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 3:5-6  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is perhaps not so unique!  This house, used as a hotel, is found on the Blau river in Ulm, Germany.  The Guinness Book of Records named it the most leaning hotel in the world in 1997.  It was built around the 15th century in the Fisherman’s Quarter of the city.  I cannot imagine staying there.  I would be afraid that I would roll out of bed!

Today’s verse is a loving warning against leaning on one’s own understanding.  When a believer counts on his own reasoning rather than trusting in God’s unveiled plans, he leans as precariously as this house.  Our own understanding is flawed and limited.  We never see the big picture.  Leaning and trusting in only what we can understand makes us lean away from the sure foundation that He is!  In limiting ourselves to what we can surmise or figure out, we become unstable.  We teeter and sway rather than standing firm with a wholehearted trust in His direction.  He has promised to lead the way and make our paths straight.

My own understanding sure gets me in trouble.  I assume the wrong thing.  I read a situation incorrectly without even knowing it.  I think I know, and I do not.  There is only One who knows the future, who knows what is best for me.  The Lord not only knows, but He has the power to bring it about!  If I lean at all, I want to lean into Him and His strong arms.

Lord, keep me trusting in You with all my heart.


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My Father’s House

Scripture for Today: John 14:2 “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”

We had the privilege of living in the Loire Valley of France for three years.  It is an area known for its fabulous châteaux.  The Chambord is probably the most recognizable as it is six times the size of most.  What is so amazing is the number of rooms.  Although only eighty are open to public viewing, there are 440 in what started out as just a hunting lodge!  I cannot even imagine having so many rooms!

In our verse for today, rooms are being readied in preparation for the arrival of God’s children.  Each is being especially prepared by our loving Father.  The number of rooms in His house are too numerous to even be counted!  Yet, I imagine that each one is stamped with the personality of the one who is to live there.  The rooms will be perfect.  The style will suit us.  The comforts will be exactly right.  But the best part is that there will be uninterrupted time with the Owner of the house.

I love that the Lord uses this image of a house.  It will feel more like home than anything we have ever experienced on earth.  The idea of a perfect home is not the size or the number of rooms but the love and warmth that this place can encompass.  Just because it is perfect does not mean that it is cold or impersonal.  It will be filled with love and laughter and eternal joy in His presence!  There will be music and running and skipping on those golden sidewalks!

Thank you Lord, for the room You are preparing for me!

 

 


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Cracked!

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 11:10 “He (Abraham) was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

In the midst of renovations, we discovered a nasty surprise.  In pulling up all the carpet, a crack much like this one was revealed, extending almost wall to wall in the living room.  We were told by our contractor that ours was a minor one and nothing to worry about as in our part of California the ground does shift.  These cracks are sometimes a result of settling on a site with poor soil preparation.  It is a bit unnerving to know about that crack and to just cover it up again!

Our verse for today describes the faith of Abraham, looking forward to the Celestial City with sure foundations.  He does not have to worry about cracks in his life due to “settling” as he is living as a stranger in a foreign country (verse 9).  The foundation where he eventually settles will be built by a Master Architect and Builder with no chance of cracks.

I can see that the more I settle into the world and its way of thinking, the more I risk living with “cracks.”  The foundation this world offers is never a sure one.  It continually moves and shifts.  Trying to settle on it is like trying to nail jello to a wall!  When there are no absolute truths there can be nothing sure and certain on which to build one’s life.

I am feeling very unsettled right now being between two homes.  But it is OK not to feel settled as my true foundation is in my future anyway!  Looking forward to that sure foundation makes living with uncertainties possible.  The Lord is my Builder and Architect and He is preparing a future home with no cracks!

 


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Renovation

3563583617_df2bbee613Scripture for Today: Psalm 122:1 “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

Our small condo is slowly being renovated.  Each time we visit to see how the work is progressing, I try to be realistic.  It all takes longer than I had anticipated.  Thankfully, we do not need to live there during the work.  With each visit, new things are seen that should be changed or upgraded.  I will be very glad when all the work is finally finished.

Our verse for today speaks about being glad to enter the house of the Lord.  To be with other believers and worship our Lord together is a glad event.  However, we are all in the process of some serious renovation in that house.  There may be some rough edges on people that need sanding down to make smooth.  There may be a hanging hinge on a door which makes opening up difficult to do.  Perhaps, there are “damaged” people in that house that need repair.  Can I really be glad to enter a house like that?  Wouldn’t it be better to come in after all the renovations were complete?

I can be glad to enter the Lord’s house knowing that God is working in others just as He is working in me.  He promises to continue working right up to the day of His return (Phil. 1:6).  The on-going changes He is producing in others are the same kinds of renovations He is doing in me.  As believers, we are all in the process of change and growth into the very image of His Son.  It is a renovation that we live with, knowing that the outcome is worth it!

Lord, help me to be patient with Your work in me, and in others!