Devotions By Jan


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Hungry Bear

Scripture for Today: I Peter 2:2-3 “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

The news recently reported on this would-be-intruder.  The voracious appetite of this bear pushed him to try all the windows and doors of this home in Avon, Connecticut.  He must have smelled the brownies baking inside, but thankfully was unable to gain entry!  While hibernating he felt no hunger or thirst, but as soon as he emerges from his den, his craving for food is all-consuming!  And no wonder after losing up to 33% of his body weight!

Today’s verse speaks of another kind of craving.  Just as newborn babies crave milk, the believer is to feel that same pressing need for God’s Word.  Before placing our faith in Christ, our souls feel no hunger or thirst for spiritual things.  But when coming to Christ we come out of that hibernation and stupor with an appetite!  We have tasted how good the Lord is and nothing else will satisfy!  The milk represents basic truths.  After growing on this the believer moves on to the solid food of teaching on righteousness (Hebrews 5:13-14).  With solid food we can better distinguish good from evil.

The less I avail myself of God’s Word, the more I feel like a hibernating bear.  It is so easy for me to slip into that comfortable non-challenging stupor.  God’s Word awakens me and keeps me sober and alert (I Thes. 5:6).  Reading His love letter to me keeps me craving more.  The more I read and study, the more I can taste His goodness in my life!  And conversely, the less I am into His Word, the less I feel His presence.

Lord, create in me a craving for Your Word today.


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Full of Prunes

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 5:18b-19 “…be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord”

People smile at the mention of prunes.  They are known especially as a laxative but they help generally with digestion as well.  In fact, prunes are high in antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties, and are good for bone health, skin and hair!  My Mother would often tell me that I was “full of prunes,” when as a child I would say or do something silly!  I guess being full of prunes was not such a bad thing after all!

Today’s verse tells the believer to be filled with God’s Spirit.  The Holy Spirit resides in each of those who have turned to Christ in faith.  God has put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit. guaranteeing what is to come (II Cor.1:22).  But being filled with Him means giving more of ourselves over to Him to work in and through us.  When we are filled with His Spirit, we overflow with praise and song with others and heartfelt music to Him!

The problem comes when I am filled with other things.  How can He fill my heart when it is full of bitterness or a refusal to forgive?  How can He have room to display His fruit when I am full of jealousy and envy?  My stubbornness and pride put Him in a tiny corner of my heart where He is barely noticed.  Then I wonder why I am just not feeling His presence and power.  Holding on to those heart-filling obstacles means that the song and praise fall silent.  But oh how wonderful the change when I confess and rid my heart of what is blocking Him!

Lord, fill me to overflowing today!


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The Earthworm

Scripture for Today: Psalm 22:6 “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.”

Earthworms are disgusting whatever their size!  But this one is small compared to the one discovered in South Africa at twenty-two feet!  There are 2,700 different kinds of this slimy creature but their role in nature is amazing.   They till and aerate the soil, making it more fertile.  They have no lungs, breathing through their moist skin.  There is no love lost for the worm on my part, but they have love to spare having no fewer than five hearts!  And of course, fish love the taste of a fat worm!

Today’s verse sees King David in a pity party.  He feels as lowly as the worm, scorned, and despised by the very people he serves.  He is insulted and mocked and the people shook their heads at him.  Like Christ would later experience on the cross, David felt abandoned and forsaken by God.  But the pity party is short-lived as David turns his troubling thoughts into a plea for strength, deliverance and rescue (verses 19-21).  David begins this psalm feeling like a worm but then realizes that God has not despised or scorned him (verse 24).

I remember singing as a child the Worm Song; “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me.  Guess I’ll go eat worms…”  I have not felt sorry enough for myself to resort to eating worms, but I can relate to what David was feeling.  When I feel misunderstood or ill treated, I can easily fall into that unhappy “poor me” state.  How gracious the Lord is to care and lift my head (Ps. 3:3).  His love for me is from everlasting to everlasting (Ps. 103:17) and remembering that changes everything!

Thank you Lord, that Your love lifts me up!


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Cripple Creek

Scripture for Today: Luke 8:14 “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they did not mature.”

What a funny name for a town!  Cripple Creek in Colorado used to be a thriving gold camp producing more than four million dollars in gold.  At its zenith Cripple Creek boasted over 35,000 inhabitants.  Now, despite the eighteen casinos built in the nineties, the population has dwindled to only 1,500.  This historical site attracts tourists with its gold mine tours and guided train rides.  But how sad it is to see the clusters of empty buildings, deserted homes and abandoned mines.

Today’s verse describes the growth of a seed being choked by thorns.  These thorns represent life’s worries, riches and pleasures.  What started out with anticipation and optimism ended with disappointment.  There was promise of growth with a small seedling, but the thorns took over and choked out any life.  The one who hears God’s Word is that seed, but he is distracted by the cares and anxieties of everyday living.  He abandons any thought of God and instead makes riches and pleasure his priority.  Before long, that growth and potential is crippled.

I understand that hearing God’s Word makes me grow.  But I am so easily distracted from actually sitting down to listen, read and study.  There is always something else I could be doing.  However, the biggest danger for me is feeling self-sufficient with a comfortable easy life, forgetting my need to hear from Him.  I become too busy maintaining all that I have accumulated.  And the busier I am with an active social life, the easier it is to ignore what feeds my soul!

Lord, keep me in Your Word, thriving and growing.


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Impatiens

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

I tried growing Impatiens in our long narrow yard while living in Grenoble, France.  They seemed to really thrive in the climate and soil.  But I eventually gave up as our rabbit kept thinking they were his lunch!  This flower is said to be a symbol of motherly love as they easily release and scatter their seed at the slightest touch.  It certainly is not indicative of motherly love with its other names; “touch-me-not” and “snapweed.”

Today’s verse would be great on the wall of every family room!  Somehow, the standards in this verse are especially difficult to live out with those closest to us.  Within those four walls we feel free to speak our mind without any filters.  We allow ourselves to snap at others or use our words to distance ourselves from those around us.  However, the standard for our words is that they be helpful and beneficial to those listening.  And we are to build up and encourage others in a way that speaks to their needs.

More often than not, my words are expressed according to my need to say them.  I often am unaware or uncaring as to the needs of the listener.  But with that attitude the conversation is usually cut short.  If my words are not building up they are perhaps subtly tearing down.  How much does it really cost me to compliment or encourage?  I want my words to be gracious,  sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (Prov. 16:24).  I want my words to be like His; kind, compassionate and forgiving (verse 32).

Lord, make my words as gracious as Yours.