Devotions By Jan


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The Easter Basket

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 40:12 “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?”

I can still remember the squeals of delight when distributing those Easter baskets to our kids! I started with the oldest, much to the annoyance of my youngest. The origin of Easter baskets is thought to be from a Catholic tradition in Poland and other eastern European countries. Families would bring their Easter Sunday dinner to mass in a basket to have it blessed. Of course, anything in the basket other than chocolate and jelly beans would be firmly rejected by children everywhere today!

Today’s verse describes the contents of another basket as being all the dust of the earth. This poetic description of God’s mighty power asks rhetorical questions that can only have one response; no one. No one but God could measure all the waters of the earth, or the breadth of the heavens. No one but God is powerful enough to hold all the dust of the earth or weigh the mountains and hills. If He can do all of this, than raising Jesus from the dead poses no challenge at all to the all-powerful One.

I serve a mighty powerful God who is not bound by the laws of nature that He Himself created. And the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that raises me to new life as well. I was dead in my sin (Col. 2:13) but God made me alive with Christ. I can be truly alive only because He is! And if God can raise Jesus from the dead and promise me an eternity with Him, why do I worry about what this day might bring?

Thank you Lord, for Your resurrection power!

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2018)


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The Tallest Cross

Scripture for Today:  I Corinthians 1:18  “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

Credit to Godot13 at Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International 

This cross is thought to be the tallest in the world, standing at 492 feet in Madrid, Spain. It is so prominent that it can be seen from 40 miles away! Built between 1940-1958, it sits atop a monument to immortalize the fallen, which explains the monument’s name, “The Valley of the Fallen.” Roughly 34 thousand combatants are buried there, from both sides of their civil war. Half the fallen are buried on one side and half on the other.

Today’s verse describes two ways people view the cross of Christ, especially remembered on Good Friday. It continues to be a symbol of sacrificial love throughout the centuries. For those who are being saved it is a positive symbol of our salvation. We celebrate a cross where death led to life everlasting. But for those who are perishing the cross is foolishness. It signifies indignity and failure, rather than the power by which we are saved. 

The cross continues to polarize. There is no middle ground as we are on one side or the other. We are all in the Valley of the Fallen, having fallen short of God’s standards. (Rom. 3;23) Like the two thieves crucified with Jesus, there are only two responses. I either place my trust in Christ as my substitute, or I remain in my sin. What power in this cross of Jesus! His power snatched me from darkness and placed me in His wonderful light! (I Peter 2:9) Because of the cross I have hope. I have life, forgiveness, and healing! The power of the cross is that it cancels the power of my guilt and shame!

Lord, I am eternally grateful for the power of Your cross.


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The Court Jester

Scripture for Today: Psalm 14:1 “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.”

This week some will celebrate April Fool’s Day by tricking friends and making them laugh. In medieval times, the royals had the luxury of having a court jester always available to make one laugh. He was also called a “fool” and would wear brightly colored clothes and bizarre hats in a motley pattern. His job was simply to entertain. His was a privileged position in the court as he could mock and revile without penalty.

Today’s verse describes a different sort of fool; the one that in his heart says that there is no God, mocking the very idea of God. But his Creator says He will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7). This fool may not be easily recognized as his foolishness is hidden in his heart. He may be revered for his doctorates or admired for his sophistication. But God sees them as a fool and even laughs at the wicked! (Ps. 37:13) And the fool is eventually revealed to others by his behavior.

It is never my place to call anyone a “fool” as in a curse (Matt. 5:22) as I cannot see what is in the heart. That is better left to the One who can. However, my own behavior can be very revealing and I know when I am being foolish with my decisions. When I choose to do things my own way instead of the Lord’s, I am being foolish. When I decide I know better I feel chagrin at the mess I make of things. Better to obey His Word even if I look the fool to the world!

Lord, keep me from being foolish today.


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New Season, New Life!

Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

It is a stunning sight to see these Monarch Butterflies cluster together at their sanctuary in Pacific Grove, California! I remember visiting there with my family as a young girl and being wowed by their sheer numbers! Their annual 3,000 mile migration begins in Southern Canada and ends in Mexico, with this springtime stopover. This is the longest migration of any insect. Imagine a caterpillar trying to cover that distance!

Today’s verse is a promise for those who are “in Christ.” Discarding the old, that person has become an entirely new creation. No longer do old habits and ways of thinking limit progress. With sleek bodies and strong wings, long distances can be covered with each new day showing us new vistas. Placing our faith in the saving work of Christ changes us. And this transformation is completely from God Himself (verse 18) who reconciled us to Himself through Christ.

So many refuse this offer of new life. They cannot see beyond their caterpillar stage and seem content to crawl along the ground rather than fly! But every Spring I am reminded of the new life He has given me. My old life is dead and buried. I have been changed forever! I am not at all tempted to return to the form of that caterpillar. He has given me wings, color, sweet nectar and new life! And it was all accomplished by His Spirit and not at all by my own efforts.

Thank you Lord, for Spring and new life in You!


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Precious Jewels

Scripture for Today: Zechariah 9:16 “The Lord their God will save his people on that day, as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.”

In a long-ago Sunday School class, I learned that I was a precious jewel. The children’s hymn, “When He Cometh” told me so. “When He cometh, when He cometh, to make up His jewels, All His jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own.” This is one of 300 hymns written by William Cushing in 1856. There are only four gems in the world that are categorized as “precious:” diamond, sapphire, ruby and emerald. As a child I remember feeling confused that I could sparkle and be precious to the Lord!

Today’s verse was surely the origin of this long-ago hymn. Although the context is specific to the people of Judah, we know that believers today in His Church are precious in His sight, seen as His beautiful bride (Eph. 5:25-27), and His treasure (Matt. 13:44) and even His inheritance! (Ps. 33:12) God values us so much that He bought us as His own at a huge cost to Himself, the sacrifice of His Son! It is His love and grace that makes us so precious in His eyes.

These beautiful precious gems become this way after some pretty intense cutting and polishing. It is over a long course of troubles and difficulties that God is refining me to sparkle and shine like He intends. It helps to know that He thinks I am worth the trouble. I don’t always see progress in His work on me. But I do know that one day, His work on me will be finished. The Lord sees the final product and it will be worth it all!

How amazing it is to know that I am PRECIOUS in Your sight!