Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Testimony


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The Hope Chest

Scripture for Today:Romans 5:5 “And hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

I never owned a hope chest, although I hoped!  It was a tradition that was already obsolete by the 1950’s.  The practice of filling a hope chest with items useful in setting up house came from Europe around the 18th century.  A young girl’s “trousseau” consisted of handmade bed linens, table linens and embroidered items.  I often wondered what happened to that hope chest and its contents when it was clear that marriage had passed one by.  Perhaps giving it away signaled the end of hope.

Today speaks of a hope that never puts us to shame.  Unlike unfulfilled hope in a human love, our hope is placed in a love that has already been poured into the heart of a believer.  The Holy Spirit is our seal of ownership, guaranteeing what is to come! (II Cor. 1:22).  Hope in this sense is a sure thing with no possibility of disappointment or shame.  This hope grows stronger and stronger as we see the Lord come through for us when experiencing suffering (verse 3).  Hope grows by persevering through that impossible situation.  Our hope is obvious to everyone through the strength of character that comes from hanging in there (verse 4).

Hope that is ill-placed is wishful thinking that makes the heart sick when unfulfilled (Prov. 13:12).  My hope is sure being based on God’s faithful promises.  My longing for love is absolutely fulfilled in my relationship with my Creator.  He never disappoints and I am never put to shame.  He always comes through and someday I will see the glory of God up close and personal!

My hope will forever be in You, Lord.

 


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Neutrality

Scripture for Today: I John 5:12 “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Les Diablerets, Switzerland is one of my favorite places in the world!  This small village in the Alps looks like a scene right out the book, “Heidi.”  The air is clean and pure.  The hiking trails beckon and the surrounding tall peaks invite me to keep looking up!  Life seems simple and unspoilt here in Switzerland and its residents have worked hard to stay out of conflict on the world stage.  I find I am ambivalent about their position, or lack of it.  I see good and bad about staying neutral.

Today’s verse makes it very clear that there is no neutral stand in one’s position on Jesus Christ.  One either has the Son in their life or they do not.  One either has life in Him or one does not.  There is no middle ground.  There is no straddling of a fence.  He does not make it possible to have it both ways.  Without Him there is no true life.  We are dead spiritually without Him.  But thankfully, Christ made us alive even when we were dead in our sins (Eph. 2:5).  His forgiveness quickens our hearts and opens our eyes!

Quite frankly, the whole spiritual dimension to my life is what makes my life worth the living!  I am incredibly blessed with the love of husband, family and friends.  I have good health and am relatively comfortable financially.  But none of that satisfies me completely.  It is the intimate, unseen relationship with the Son that gives my life the meaning I so desire.  Sharing life with the Giver of life is what true life is all about!

Thank you, Lord, for giving me life in Your Son.


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The Skunk

Scripture for Today:  II Corinthians 2:15-16a “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.”

This baby skunk sure looks adorable but there is nothing cute about their smell!  That awful odor wafted into the open windows of our bus recently.  It was familiar enough for me, but for the French folks with me for two weeks in Quebec, it was baffling.  There are no skunks in France, despite the Pepé Le Pew cartoon.  Our tour guide had to explain what it was as we hurriedly raised the windows.  On a positive note, we stopped looking at each other with accusatory glances!

Our verse today speaks of differing reactions to our “smell” or influence.  To those God is calling to Himself, we have a pleasing aroma.  These people know of our relationship with Jesus and continue their contact with us.  We can and do pray that the Lord is continuing to draw them to Himself and that He will use our fragrance.  But there is another group that are in the process of rejecting the Savior.  Quite frankly, we stink to them.  We can be as friendly as humanly possible but they are continually offended by our stench!

It is not easy for me to know that I stink for some people.  No one likes to be shunned.  But the upside is that I smell wonderful to those with whom God’s Spirit is working.  And regardless of how I am perceived, what is most important to me is that I am a pleasing aroma to God when I speak of Him to others!

Lord, may today be a fragrant one for You!


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Domino Effect

Scripture for Today: Psalm 20:7-8 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.  They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.”

The art of domino toppling has become a serious competition in much of the world!  The term, “domino effect” refers to the chain reaction of their fall.  If there is too much space between the dominoes then of course, the chain is broken.  A domino show is most impressive when different colors are used and a mosaic is produced, or when there are three dimensional stacks.  According to Guinness World Records, a German group holds two records; the most mini dominoes toppled and the most dominoes toppled in a spiral in 2013.  The name of this group is interesting; “Sinners Domino Entertainment!”

Our verse for today speaks of those who fall and those who stand.  The one who puts their trust in their own strength will one day be brought to their knees.  Their fall is inevitable.  The one who puts their trust and confidence in the name and power of the Lord God is the one who ends up on their feet.  That person can rise up and stand firm as they draw on a strength that is not their own, but His!

Just as in the domino effect, correct spacing is important.  I can be influenced by the thinking of the world.  It is easy to align myself with self-sufficient thinking.  When I begin trusting in myself more than the Lord, I am too close to those falling and I end up falling too!  My prayer is to stand close enough to others to influence them for the Lord, but with enough space not to be knocked down!

Lord, keep me standing firm in my faith!

Look familiar?  This is a summer re-post due to ministry schedule.

 


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Like Father Like Son

IMG_20140519_171407Scripture for Today: Hebrews 6:12 “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”

I am so happy to have this old picture of my husband and son.  What a great rite-of-passage moment this was!  I, of course, was totally excluded from such a masculine activity.  Our son would certainly not have learned the right technique from me!  I know that some people start this learning process much earlier without inserting a razor.  But this was the real deal and all came through it unscathed.

Learning by example is so much easier than a written “how to” explanation.  The author of Hebrews understood this as did Paul in I Corinthians 4:16.  Imitating others is something we do naturally.  Whether it is cutting a candy bar on a plate with knife and fork, (Seinfeld) or taking on the habits of the father, imitating others is done almost without thought.

Imitating the faith and patience of others is something requiring not only thought but effort.  Our verse for today encourages us to make that effort and not to become lazy in our Christian walk.  The context talks of God recompensing our love and work for Him, helping His people and being diligent until the very end.

Who do I imitate?  There is quite a choice presented in the great “faith chapter” of Hebrews 11.  Some of these heroes of the faith did not even receive the things promised (verse 13).  Yet they stood firm, seeing them at a great distance with eyes of faith.  They were able to endure unthinkable hardships because of their patience and faith.

I can choose who to imitate.  Lord, help me to follow the best examples of faith.  May I be diligent and persevere in my faith until the very end!

Look familiar?  This is a summer re-post due to ministry schedule.