Devotions By Jan


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A Heart of Gold

Scripture for Today: Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

The Portable Antiquities Scheme/ The Trustees of the British Museum, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What a find! This beautiful golden heart was discovered in Pembrokeshire, England and now sits in a museum. This heart is thought to date back to the late 14th century. It was at that time that the pear shaped heart, representing love, changed position. Before that time the heart was portrayed upside down! Today no one would mistake the heart as a symbol of love regardless of its position or even its composition. Of course, one made of gold has a longer shelf life than one made of chocolate!

Today’s verse puts a heart made of stone in a very negative light. The stone represents an unwillingness to submit to God. This is a heart that is stubborn and hardened against God and His commandments. The Sovereign Lord wanted to bless Israel for obedience and through them to make His name known to all the nations. But the people resisted God’s plan and their hardened hearts caused them to forgo His blessing, that is just until they repented.

I can almost feel my heart hardening when I ignore what He says in His Word. But when I am submissive and agree with Him that His way is better, I can feel my heart becoming soft and pliable again. This new spirit He gives is one of obedience. And His Spirit moves me to follow and obey Him (verse 27). I do not want a heart of gold that is hard and stubborn. I want my heart made of flesh, so that it is soft and malleable, one that He can use.

Lord, keep my heart soft towards You.


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Bold Highlights

Scripture for Today:   Acts 4:13   “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus.”

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:37-brown-hair-with-pastel-purple-ombre-highlights.jpg

No, this is not me. I am not that bold! But highlighting hair has been practiced as early 4 BC as the Greeks would apply a mixture of olive oil, pollen and gold flakes. With this application the women would sit for hours in the sun. It was not until the 1400’s that the addition of chemicals made for a better result. At that time highlighting involved alum, honey, lemons and sulfur! Methods today are much more effective in drawing attention to distinctive coloring.

Today’s verse describes two men who were uneducated and ordinary; Peter and John. What made them remarkable and amazing was that they had spent time with Jesus and it showed. Like highlighting hair, the fact that they knew Jesus drew attention! Because of their closeness to Jesus, they were able to live and testify with boldness. Christ made that much of a difference in their lives.

Christ is the power and wisdom of God. I am thankful that He chooses what is foolish to confound the wise! He chooses the weak to confound the mighty!  (I Cor. 1:27) That means that what was said about Peter and John can potentially be said about me as well! It is Christ in me that sets me apart and makes me different. I want Jesus to be seen in my every-day life. He is to have the attention and the glory for everything positive. It does not matter that I did not attend an Ivy League school. It makes no difference that I am not a big name. It is His life in me that makes life amazing!

Lord, highlight my life with Your presence today!


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Eye Lashes in the Sky

Scripture for Today: Job 37:12-13 “At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. He brings the clouds to punish people or to water his earth and show his love.”

Betty Flowers https://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/9040974523

This incredible image shows scud clouds hanging from underneath a thunderstorm. They almost look like lace as they grace the sky above Wallops Island, Virginia. Also pictured is a roll cloud which resembles a horizontal tube. The air spins inside the roll clouds creating the lacy look of the scuds hanging from it. What an imaginative scene! Does anyone else see eye lashes?

Today’s verse reminds us of God’s creative power as He is the one who designs these tableaus. It is at His direction that the clouds swirl around to form what we see overhead. And the clouds stand ready to do His bidding. Our powerful God commands the clouds. His duel purpose is to punish people or to show love in watering the earth. All of His creation is under His control and responds to His directives. Nothing is outside His authority. And as a perfectly just God, it is His prerogative to punish or to bless.

I am eternally grateful to have God’s love and blessing. Because of Christ’s sacrifice for my sin, I am under no condemnation (Rom. 8:1) and do not need to fear His punishment. His blessing means an eternity with Him. But He has also given me every spiritual blessing here and now! (Eph. 1:3-8) So even when I see clouds that are not so beautiful but dark and menacing, I can be confident of His love and care. I can look up with assurance that He knows exactly what is happening.

Thank you Lord, for Your loving control in my life!


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Rest Stop

Scripture for Today: Mark 6:31 “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat. he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place to get some rest.”

photo by Wayne S. Grazio https://www.flickr.com/photos/fotograzio/40216062413

I guess it only makes sense that seagulls would need rest stops too! These birds had been flying from the coast to Lake Miramar in San Diego, looking for something to eat. This floating water barrier made for a perfect spot to rest up, face the sun and soak in some rays before continuing their quest.

Today’s verse has Jesus showing love and concern for the well-being of His disciples. They finished their report to Him of all they had just done and taught (verse 30). Jesus must have seen the weariness etched in their faces. Perhaps their posture gave away their tiredness as well. People were coming and going and meeting the needs of others gave the disciples no chance to even eat! Their immediate need was rest, so they went away by themselves with Him to a solitary place (verse 32).

The Lord knows when I need rest. And the kind He offers is timely and meets my needs, whether I recognize them or not! The disciples needed physical rest, but also social rest, away from people. Sometimes the rest He gives me means to retreat from people as well. Rest can mean a quiet place when our senses are overwhelmed with noise. Or His rest can be while I continue working. Yoked with Him and His power, the load can be lighter (Matt. 11:28-29). But the best rest He gives me is that settled peaceful feeling in the depths of my soul.

Thank you Lord, for Your perfect rest.


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Buyer’s Remorse

Scripture for Today: Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

It’s not that I hate buying online. The convenience of it is wonderful when everything goes right. But when there is a problem, the back and forth with the company, the mailing back of the item or delays in being reimbursed can be very frustrating. Then there’s the decision as to whether it is worth it or not to buy again online. Sometimes it seems easier to just get in the car and shop the old fashioned way!

The purchase in today’s verse will have no buyer’s remorse! This parable told by Jesus points out the incredible value inherent in the kingdom of heaven. It is a treasure that is worth far more than everything a man can exchange for it. It is a treasure that is worth the effort of finding as it is eternal. It is ready and waiting in heaven where it is protected. (Matt. 6:20) But this treasure is also enjoyed now with knowing the King of this kingdom!

I sometimes forget that my little pile of baubles has no value at all compared to the treasure of knowing Him! Paul considered everything in his life a pile of garbage when measured against the surpassing worth of knowing Christ! (Phil. 3:8) What an incredible exchange God offers: light for darkness, forgiveness for guilt, rest for weariness, hope for despair, and peace for chaos. He asks of me all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30) And HE is a worth giving my all!

Thank you Lord, for being my treasure.