Category: Devotional

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  When the Darkness Comes

LESSONS from a KING

When I was a young teenager, I went through a period of depression.  At that time, I was not aware of “depression,” and had never knowingly encountered anyone living with that reality.  In the “church world” in which I was fully immersed, there was no talk of someone battling depression.  People who followed God should not struggle with such things, it seemed.  As a young teenager, I was completely unaware that a young person might have such struggles.  And if they did, it was just something in my shy personality that caused me to be alone in my room so much.   But I knew that what I was experiencing was not good . . . it was not something that God would have put in my life.  

I will never forget the day when, at 14 years old, all alone in my bedroom, (which was becoming my “new normal,”)  I was sitting on the edge of my bed, filled with the deep sadness that I could not seem to escape.  I began to cry, and asked God to help me. . . I knew “it” wasn’t good . . . not something from God.  But I had no idea what to do about it.  In desperation, I picked up my Bible, and silently asked God to show me something in it that would help me get out of the dark cloud that was closing in on my life.  I simply let my Bible fall open with my silent plea.  The words that caught my attention were not words I had ever read before.   

  • Isaiah 42:3
    “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;”

  • And it is repeated in the New Testament. . . 
  • Matthew 12:20
    A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.

My tears began to flow.  I knew that I was that “bruised reed” about to break.  I was that fragile, smouldering wick that would need only a wisp of air to snuff it out completely.

And I knew that God was holding me in that moment . . . He would not let my fragile heart be broken.  That was the Moment that will always be a turning-point in my Journey

with Jesus . . . when He met me there in the midst of my sadness and longing for Purpose,  and Hope, in my life.  He was with me . . . ME . . . personally, and permanently.  That very personal certainty was a major turning  point in my life.  And I never again had any doubts of His Presence, His Love, and His Purposes for my life.  That Bedrock of Truth has remained a reality from that Moment on, despite extremely difficult and painful seasons, He has faithfully protected and sustained that Flame, though flickering at times, that was lit in my heart as a young teenage girl.  And He is not finished!  He will continue to keep that Flame alive . . . even when it is barely smoldering, until justice (just as the reality should have been before the damage occurred) has been brought through to Victory.)   What a Promise!!!

Read Janet’s Latest Book – Not Forgotten on Amazon

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Talking to Yourself?

“Praise the Lord, my soul!

Praise His holy Name,

All that is within me!

Praise the Lord, my soul,

And never forget all the good He has done.”

Psalm 103:1

OK, . . . be honest.   Do you talk to yourself?   Do you say out loud what you are thinking, and you are the only one in the room?  Do you ask questions to yourself?   Do you answer them, too?

Well, though you may be teased by others who overhear your verbal activities, it’s nothing to worry about.  The Bible has lots of passages that are words spoken to the person saying them.  David did that quite a bit.  Out in those fields with just a bunch of sheep whose entire vocabulary was “Baah” or “Maah”.  David would have probably gone crazy if he hadn’t had someone to talk to.  David learned early on to talk to himself, . . . and to God.  He also put music to the words swirling in his heart and mind as he spent his days and nights with only the “Baah” and “Maah” vocabulary of his field-mates.  

David was never faulted for that, in God’s estimation.  God was listening.  And enjoying the boy’s words to himself.  And David’s words to himself seamlessly became words to God Himself. . . even adding melodies to those words.

Do you ever intentionally speak to yourself   . . . your soul . . . your heart . . . putting words to the emotions that can overwhelm you, especially when nobody else is there?  Well, you are in good company!   

But  there IS Some One there. . . near.. . .in the room.  Unseen, but real.  Present.  Hearing.  Understanding.  And Responding. . . .although we may not realize all that is true.  He is listening.  And He wants to hear all of it.   Yes, He knows it already, but He wants us to hear ourselves expressing those things that we don’t easily say out loud.  There is an old saying I’ve heard spoken in many Jewish homes  . . . “my lips to God’s ears.”    It’s a good, simple reminder.  Even if we are “talking to ourselves”, God hears it all.  Present.  Understanding.  Responding . .  whether we are aware or not.  Believing it or not.  

So next time you or someone near to you says something to himself or herself, or to nobody at all, pause a moment and think of what God is hearing….with full Knowledge of the thoughts behind the words.  Then listen for that “still, small Voice” . . . with your heart.

Read Janet’s Latest Book – Not Forgotten on Amazon

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Our On-going Conflict

"Stand fast, therefore,
In the Liberty wherewith
Christ has made us free."
Galatians 5:1

Paul, the writer of the Book of Galatians, was well-acquainted with conflict.   Paul literally met Jesus in the midst of creating conflict… targeting and wreaking havoc in the Christian world that was grappling with the effects of Jesus’ physical visit to Earth.  Paul had turned the religious world upside-down in his former life’s Mission to uphold the Faith of the God of Israel.  But then Paul whole-heartedly turned to Faith in the Messiah Jesus, following his dramatic, personal Encounter with Him.

Paul’s words echo through the ages to us, and the experiences each of us have had as a result of our own personal encounters with Christ . . . now in the 21st Century of history.  Paul presents the “Great Conflict” with which each follower of Christ must grapple throughout all of our days here on Earth.  As we individually choose to step out of the Kingdom of Darkness and step into the Kingdom of Light, we have each experienced the personal impact of choosing to stand with Christ in our life’s Journey here.  The world we each entered from the beginning of our tiny life is not the World that God had created before sin entered and became a permanent part of Life on Earth.  

Although the Kingdom of this World incessantly works to draw us into its Darkness,  Jesus stands with each of us who have chosen to follow and serve Him, having won our Freedom from that Darkness and bringing us into His Kingdom of Light.  Paul’s words give us a picture of that very real, very hard-fought Liberty that Jesus offers and provides for each of us.  It is our new Reality.  Always available.  Always True.  

“Stand fast” . . . not shaking in our boots . . . not turning and running . . . not hiding in a bunker . . . not running home to escape the dangers. . . not pretending there is no risk in our life’s reality.   

“Stand fast, therefore . . .  in the Liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.”  Period.  

Do we realize that our Liberty is a reality NOW?   We don’t need to cower in fear, peeking out of our bunker to check for danger.  We don’t need to hide behind someone else who seems to offer protection.  “Stand fast…”  He’s got you.  He’s got me.  That is the Reality, despite the Battle that rages around us.  We are His.  We are free.

See Janet’s book Not Forgotten on Amazon:

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Seeing the Family Resemblance

“Dear Friends,
We are God’s children NOW,
And it has not yet been made clear 
what we will become.
We DO KNOW 
That when He appears, 
We will be like Him;
Because we will see Him as He really is.”
1 John 3:2

It seems to be a universal part of human nature to look at children and notice a resemblance to their parents.  People will make comments about a child’s facial features, unique little gestures, hair and eye color, a sense of humor, as well as propensities to behaviors that have been seen in action by the child’s parent or relative.  

Families will recognize behaviors, or likenesses, vocal similarities, eye color, little gestures, speech, and temperaments that they observe, both good and bad.  Similar talents that emerge in a child often resemble those of a parent.

When we consider God as our Father, and note His Presence in our lives, how He Speaks  . . . how He Blesses . . . how He Guides . . . how He Comforts . . . how He Corrects . . . how He Loves . . . we have the opportunity to mimic Him, just as a child mimics a parent.  Intentional or often without realizing it, a child will display an expression, a gesture, an attitude, a way of pronouncing a word, and lots of ordinary life actions that  people  in our familiar circle recognize as a resemblance to a parent or grandparent.  

It’s “natural” to reflect our parents or other significant people in our lives.  It’s not usually something that is a result of a conscious effort.  

John is giving a “tall order” for us to become “like Him…Jesus.”   The Bible speaks of reflecting Him in our lives. . . through changing us.  But it’s starting from the very deepest part of our being. 

I remember in my late high school years, the “Jesus Revolution” began in California.  “Jesus People”  were in the news.  Then some young men from Texas came to the Fox Valley. . . wearing bluejeans and sandals.  Strumming guitars, singing simple songs about Jesus.  They were visibly changing on the outside.  Long hair, beards, sandals, calling each other “brother” and “sister,” and playing guitars and singing in a circle gently rocking as they sang simple songs of Jesus.  As a generational Christian with a heritage of strong Bible-believing, hymn-singing, piano and organ playing, and sitting on the front pew every Sunday, Mom at the organ and Dad in the pulpit, this unexpected scene change was fascinating and delightful to me.  The new Believers did not look like hymn-singing, suit-and-tie Scripture-memorizing “church people.”   

But the Light in their eyes and Peace in their hearts, and the smiles on their faces told the Story of a New Life that was now inside of them.  They even began referring to one another as “brother” and “sister.”  

They were taking on a “Family Resemblance” . . . from the inside.  

The Apostle John had physically followed Jesus.  He had experienced the miracles, the crowds coming to see and hear Jesus teach, heal, and Love.  He had seen Jesus.  He had walked with, talked with, eaten with,  shared so much with Him.  Yet, John was looking forward to a Future Time to come, when there would be nothing in the way of seeing Jesus, face to Face, as He REALLY IS. . . not limited to a human form and  its earthly realities, but WHO HE IS.  

May our hearts grow to long . . . with joy and hope and expectation  . . . LOVE, longing to SEE Him as He really is,  and as a result, be changed in every speck of our Being . . . 

To Be like Him . . . in every way!

Read Janet’s new book – Not Forgotten. Now available on Amazon.

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He ComesOut of Nowhere

“Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
You are by no means least among the
leaders of Judah.
A leader will come from you.
He will shepherd My people Israel.”
Matthew 2:4-6

In a far-away place, the present day Iran, God was making a celestial Announcement to a
People who had no knowledge of the God of Israel. But there were a few men there who had been focusing their energies in watching the stars of the heavens. . . charting their courses, . . . noting the Supernatural Order of the galaxies and planets that filled the night skies. Their faith was not the Faith of God’s People, Israel. But in the darkness of night, God was present, and in a world that had little to no exposure to the God Who created the heavens and earth, He orchestrated a Celestial Announcement to a handful of men who were paying attention to the heavens. Their lack of exposure to God’s Word did not limit God’s abililty to draw these wise men to His existence and His Plans regarding the human life that He had put on the Earth.

God has His own unique Ways of reaching out to humanity . . . with or without our participation in His Plans. His Spirit knows no boundaries. His Heart has no limitations of “who” He will draw to Himself. In that long-ago Moment in His-story, God chose to communicate and tug on the hearts of men who did not know Him, but were paying attention. Despite the foreign land from which they came, the language barriers, the cultural differences, and the spiritual differences between the nation of Israel and the part of the world of these foreign “Wise Men,” God chose to reveal Himself to them. Unannounced, and in a way that they could understand, their hearts were motivated to search for the Source of what was pulling at their minds, spirits, and hearts. God orchestrated a new Thread into the Story He was unfolding for humanity that would carry
through centuries . . . until His Story would fill the earth.

He chose to use mortals . . . us . . . in His Story. . . to carry the Light of His Love and Presence
into our world. Whether a young teenage girl . . .astrologers . . . a carpenter . . . fishermen . . .
lame people, . . . blind people. . . hopelessly messed up people . . . even “dead” people, He
draws into His Story of Love. You have a Story, you are a Story, and in His Hands, He will use
it… YOU… for His Purposes in our world.

Read Janet’s book, Not Forgotten. Now available on Amazon


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God Protects His Tiny Sacrifice Lamb

“This is how you will recognize Him:
You will find
An infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12

Jerusalem is an easy walk from Bethlehem. The Gate used for lambs to be brought to the Temple for sacrifice is within sight of Bethlehem.  Flocks of sheep have filled the fields between the two cities for centuries.

God’s Son, the Perfect Lamb of God, came into this world in that small town of Bethlehem.   His Purpose was to be the only perfect One who could be the ultimate Atonement Sacrifice for sin, making it possible for our forgiveness and the Hope of Eternal Life.

The town of Bethlehem provided the most convenient sacrifice lambs for all those who came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the God of Israel.  The flocks of Bethlehem were the key source of lambs used in the nearby Temple.  

But, considering how sheep are quite defenseless, the newborn lambs were the most defenseless of all.  And Mama could not be of much help.  So, the shepherds had to not only watch over all of the sheep, but those “perfect lambs” born within their flocks had to be protected above all.  If mama sheep are defenseless, how much moreso are their newborn lambs at risk.  And here is the missing piece of the puzzle (for me anyway) concerning those little, defenseless, newborn lambs that were the key piece of Temple sacrifices to the God of All Creation.

The shepherds used a simple system put in place for the survival of those perfect lambs.  They would wrap a perfect, newborn lamb in strips of cloth.  This would protect them from cold, as well as bites or cuts  that they might experience in the sheepfold.  If you’ve ever seen sheep get wind of the their shepherd coming with his buckets of food for them, you would understand the danger of anything getting in the way of those pushing, baaa-ing…pawing, shoving, trying to get on top of one another in order to get to their food.  The tiny, newborn lambs do not stand a chance!   

The ancient solution to this “manger danger” was for the shepherd to swaddle the newborn lamb with strips of cloth and put that tiny lamb into a manger  away from the rest of the sheep. 

Ring a bell?   The Wise men who were coming to find this Holy Child. . . the Lamb of God, were to look for “ an infant wrapped in swaddling cloths, and lying in a manger.”  

The established protocol for protecting the perfect lambs destined for sacrifice was exactly the same protocol that Baby Jesus, the Perfect Lamb of God, followed from His first breath as God-became-man in tiny human form.  

His Story never becomes old.  It is alive . . . active, drawing us deeper and deeper into His Love and Purposes for our lives and our world.   

May this Christmas season continue to unfold in  your own heart, and from your heart to this world that so desperately needs Him.

Read Janet’s book, Not Forgotten. Now available on Amazon

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 Bird Brains


“Consider the birds, for they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the crop]; 
They have no storehouse nor barn, 
Yet, God feeds them.
How much more valuable are you than the birds!
Luke 12:24

Growing up, I would often hear my dad say something like, “What kind of bird-brain came up with that idea?!”  He would also mutter that term about himself when he couldn’t figure something out. Birds have very tiny brains that share the space with the other tiny organs of their tiny bodies.

I thought of those terms as I contemplated the Words of Jesus as He was speaking to His followers.  They were men who carried family responsibilities of providing for their families’ practical needs. . . typically not only their own nuclear family, but for their aging parents as well. 

Daily life at that time was much more challenging as far as practical needs.  No Kwik-Trip, or conveniences like refrigerators or freezers.  To “run” to the market was probably literal…on foot. . . and not all in one shop.  It took time, effort, energy, and physical work to feed a family.  Nor did they have any paychecks to send home, where often three generations shared the space. 

The disciples had those kinds of personal responsibilities as the heads of their household.  Jesus had asked each of them to “follow Him” . . .  So they had left their families quite often and for stretches of time, knowing that their families were dealing with all of those daily needs, but without the presence of their father and husband.  It had to be stressful.  Not only for their own personal needs, but also for the needs of their families.  

But they had chosen to follow Jesus . . . period.

Jesus knew well the responsibilities each of His team carried before He had called them to follow Him.  He knew what realities and stress they faced in choosing to follow Him.  There is no condemnation nor frustration expressed . . . only a caring reminder of their great value to God.  If God sees and cares for those tiny little birds that flit through their tiny, short lives on earth, how much greater is God’s moment-by-moment awareness and care for us. . . the humans for whom He had come to save, and share Eternity.

And what a sweet reminder we have of His Love and Compassion . . . and Provision for us as we daily choose to follow Him.

Find Janet’s Book on Amazon

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It Never Gets Old

“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in times of trouble.
That is why we are not afraid
even when the earth quakes
or the mountains topple
into the depths of the sea.
Water roars and foams,
and mountains shake at the surging waves.
There is a River whose streams bring Joy. . .”

Psalm 46:1-4

The words of this ancient song of David continue to echo throughout the ages, still as true and relevant to us as when they were first uttered. As a very little girl, I learned these words of David from my mom and dad. “God is my wefuge and stwenth, an evo-pwesent hewp in times of twuble.” As those ancient words sunk into my little mind, they took on deeper meaning as I grew throughout my youth and its “highs and lows” of those years. As I walked through the years of early adulthood, with relationships, turmoils, challenges, and love, His Words were woven throughout the fabric of that season of life. Marriage . . . three little boys . . . full-time ministry to troubled youth which eventually grew into a “mega-church” . . . that River continued to flow.

Then came the decades of serving and loving my muslim refugee nation in the Desert of North Africa. . . that River wound its way throughout all of the harshness of the desert, bringing a stream of Living Water that took on an entirely new meaning than I had ever tasted before. I had a firsthand view of seeing the Living Waters begin to trickle into that harsh, endless desert to the precious people who desperately needed its life-giving water of life. And when my personal world was shaken in surging waves and after-shocks, that River carried me gently in safety to quiet shores with His Arms of Love surrounding me.

There IS a River whose streams bring Joy. That is a Promise.

Find Janet’s book on Amazon!

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Trusting God with Your Child’s Future Mate

“God will send His angel ahead of you,
And you will get my son a wife from there.”
Genesis 24:7

It’s scary when our kids reach an age of hormones and butterflies.  We are brought back to our own youthful season of awakening desires and the “yuckiness” of their previous aversion to the opposite sex becomes a thing of the past.  

Abraham knew that his son was reaching that point, and that they were in a land inhabited by people who had no consciousness of the True Creator-God that Abraham’s family worshiped.  Where was he going to ever find a young lady “good enough” for his precious son Isaac!

Abraham went to God with his quandary.  And God was faithful, as always.

Although Abraham’s family was in a “world” that did not have the Truth or connection with the God of Abraham,  Creator God was looking at the heart of a young woman to bring into their little family.  Abraham could have taken things into his own hands, but his Journey with God was proving again and again that God Knows . . . He is Able . . . His Ways are best.  Finding a young woman of virtue and character in that world was highly unlikely.  But “unlikely” is when God does some of His finest work.

It would require that Abraham be “hands-off” in finding his son a wife in their very un-Godly environment.  But unlike us, God sees the heart, knows the story, sees the future, and knows the Path that will lead to fulfilling His Purposes in this world.  

Even when it seems highly unlikely that He can really do that.

Abraham chose to put his trust in his servant.  As he had instructed, Abraham’s servant went to the land of his master’s birth, and the God of Abraham guided him to the woman who God had chosen for the beloved son.  

Sometimes God chooses to use people in our children’s lives to bring about His Purposes for them.  Trusting The Father of All Fathers is always best.

Check out Janet’s book: Not Forgotten on Amazon

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A Lesson from a Grape

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. 
No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. 
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
John 15:4

Today I have been contemplating grapes.   There is a cluster of them on my kitchen counter.

But they don’t look like they did a week ago.  They still look like grapes, but not quite as plump as they looked the day I put them on my counter.   They are still attached to their vine.  I pulled one off and popped it in my mouth.  It still tasted good, but it wasn’t nearly as juicy and yummy as the cluster of grapes tasted fresh from the market last week.  

It got me thinking…

The cluster of grapes were still on the branch, but the fruit  was no longer attached to the vine upon which it had grown.  It had been separated from the vine when it had been ripe enough to be sent to the market.  Now, on my counter, the small cluster of grapes, though still attached to their original little branch,  were losing their plumpness.  The little segment of vine had become brittle as its fruit had used up all that the little vine branch had provided for the grapes.   Though separated from the vine, their little, dried up branch to which the grapes still clung had used up all the “life”  it had stored up while attached to  the vine.  

Jesus is the Vine to whom we, His followers, are attached.  We are the “Fruit”  . . . the result of having begun our lives from the Vine.  Remaining firmly attached to our Vine, we grow, ripen, and become a source of delight to our world.  We provide nourishment, drink of refreshment, a pop of flavor, and, even when we reach the stage of “drying up” . . . becoming a sweet little raisin treat that young and old alike can enjoy . . .  even if a little “shriveled.”

Unlike the natural vines in our world, our Vine will never shrivel.  Never Die.  Whatever “branch” to which we were originally attached, our Tree of Life has provided the on-going nourishment to sustain our lives and grow . . . and produce the Fruit of our Tree from which we grew.   The Fruit of our lives is intended for the nourishment, enjoyment, pop of flavor, and a sweet refreshment  for our world.  Enjoy being a grape!

Check out Janet’s book: Not Forgotten on Amazon