Jan Ross

Working It Out

janross — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:19:54 +0000

A life of service is the most rewarding and fulfilling lifestyle imaginable. It’s easy to understand that our works are important to the Lord as they serve as a barometer measuring the condition of the heart. A corrupt heart will produce corrupt fruit just as a healthy heart in relationship with the Lord will produce healthy fruit bringing glory to Him.

The Lord wants us ALL to be rich in works. Material wealth really makes no distinction in anything that pertains to character or salvation; it does not necessarily make one wise, or learned, or great, or good. In fact, the same truth was pertinent in Paul’s time as it is today.

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

The letters to the churches of Asia written by John in Revelation 2 and 3 show us how each church was judged. Look at what the angel said to each of the churches: “I know thy works . . .” Notice the angel didn’t say “I know your heart . . .” but he talked about their works – the churches were known by their works because their works reflected the condition of their hearts.

If you were judged according to your works, what would be known of your heart? Do your works reveal a heart full of faith? Does your life bear the imprint of Christlikeness? Or do your works cause your friends, family, and acquaintances to question whom you serve—God or self?

Let us all be “rich in good works, ready to distribute, and willing to communicate” as our works are closely judged by the One who knows the motive of our hearts. May we never be found guilty of being rich in worldly goods without having a heart producing healthy fruit by being “rich in good works” as well.

Father, I pray that the motive of my heart will be pure as my life produces fruit fit for a King. Expose areas in my life that are lacking and give me the courage to pursue good works at all times and in all situations. Father, teach me Your ways as I daily choose to cast down my thoughts, my plans, my ideas to apprehend Yours. I love You, Lord, and I long to please You according to all that is within me, for Your glory and honor, amen and amen!

“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)

Running Back

janross — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:59:06 +0000

Every time I read the story of the prodigal son, I’m reduced me to tears. As a parent, this gives me hope beyond measure. This son had squandered everything his father had given him; he spent all his inheritance and partied until there was no partying left. But the depth of the father’s love was untouched by the son’s sin. He welcomed him home with arms opened wide.

“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

The sinful state into which this son fell can be identified with several manifestations: (1) Departure and/or distance from his father; (2) Uncontrolled spending and riotous living; (3) Constant “wanting”; (4) Perpetual dissatisfaction; (5) Could find no relief; (6) Worthy of the punishment of death; and (7) State of madness or frenzy. Unfortunately, every one of these “symptoms” can be found at one time or another in our lives when we are willfully disobedient.

But, here’s the good news. Just as the father of the prodigal son immediately forgave him upon his confession of sin, our Father will forgive us and welcome us back into fellowship with Him. All it takes is a humble confession when you run back to Him. He’s always there for you, He’s waiting for you, and He won’t turn His back on you!

Are you out of fellowship with Him? Run back NOW, humbly confess your sin and you’ll find that He’s standing there looking for you. And, when He sees you, He’ll run to meet you and throw His arms around you and welcome you back home.

What a beautiful example of His undying love for us. How much more does our Father in heaven rejoice at our “homecoming.” This is such an incredible portrait of our Father’s total love toward us. All He wants from us is to humbly acknowledge our sin and come back home to Him.

This parable demonstrates how the Father longs to have sinners repent and return to Him. But, it also must cause us to think about how He longs to see His children recognize His unparalleled love.

Father, there are many times when I choose to disobey and thus hinder our relationship. There are times when I seek my own will and not Yours, when I put my desires above Yours. Lord, forgive me. I want You to reign in my life, to sit on the throne of my heart, to be a part of every fiber of my being. Forgive me, Lord, when I allow these things in my life and allow our relationship to be hindered. Father, I confess I love You, Lord. There is none like You in all the earth, amen.

Promises Unbroken

janross — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:48:25 +0000

Years ago when still in my teens, the doctors told me it was impossible for me to have children. Obviously, I was devastated. I had always seen myself as a mother, not of just one but of many. I loved children and truly felt God intended me to be a mother.

After my husband and I were married, my desire for children became somewhat of an obsession—I was convinced that motherhood was included God’s plan for my life. Every month we prayed it would be THE month. This went on for several years while we continued to believe God for a child. We did everything we could think of that was within our ability to make things work. Then, suddenly, despite every natural fact and medical obstacle, our firstborn son arrived. Thirty-four years later, we have six adult children (three are adopted) and a slew of amazing grandchildren. What a miraculous thing God has done!

When I take time to contemplate it all, I can’t help but be reminded of Abraham and the family God had planned for him, even when he was considered to be unable to father a child because of his advanced age.

“Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.” (Hebrews 11:12)

From one man, whose body was old and as good as dead (in our eyes we would have considered him to have no more possibility of fathering a child than a dead man would have), sprang forth a nation chosen of God, ordained by God, and loved by God. The entire Jewish nation came from that one man who dared to believe God. As the reward of His faithfulness he was made the father and founder of an entire nation that continues to increase even today.

One wonders if Abraham even had a glimpse of what God’s purpose for his life really entailed. Just the thought of it would make us wonder if we really have any clue of what God purposes through our own lives.

Abraham’s obedience to God made a way for God’s eternal purposes to be fulfilled. Our obedience to God makes the way for God’s eternal purposes to be fulfilled. Abraham, the Father of Faith, was human just like us, but God confirmed His promises to Abraham which opened the door to many blessings too numerous to count. Our faith in God’s promises will do no less.

Take some time today and examine your life. Look for areas where you can become more confident of God’s promises to you as a believer. He is looking for submitted vessels through which He can accomplish His will in the earth. May He find them in us!

Father, once again I have examined my life and find areas in which my obedience and submission to You are sorely lacking. Forgive me, Lord, and help me to live a life of submission pleasing to You. Father, I long to look into Your Word and grab hold of Your promises to me. Your Word is forever settled in heaven … may it be forever settled in my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mercy for Judgment

janross — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:39:12 +0000

David is a wonderful example of God’s mercy which was continually displayed throughout his life. When he deserved judgment, mercy was granted; when he deserved punishment, mercy was applied. As a matter of fact, David was so assured of God’s eternal mercy that he could boldly proclaim himself as numbered in the ranks of the righteous … his sins had been thoroughly purged and cleansed. He was confident of God’s mercy yet never to such a degree that he would decidedly abuse it.

“Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.” (Psalm 118:19-20)

It is so easy to allow our past to keep us from the presence of the Lord. I can think of so many things that I’ve done in my past which should keep me from entering into His presence and worshipping at His feet. But, it’s His mercy. It’s His grace. It’s His blood that makes me righteous in His eyes.

If we were honest with ourselves, we would have to admit to things that seem to surface while praying or worshipping in His presence. These “things” are a trap set by the enemy to rob the Father of our worship. If he can keep us concentrating on how bad we are, we’ll never be able to truly worship Him for how magnificent He is.

David’s testimony of God’s grace is our key to victory over the snare of the enemy. Would that we all could grasp His understanding of God’s unfailing love and tender mercy. It goes deeper than we can comprehend. His mercy reaches farther than we are aware. Fathomless. Boundless. Eternal.

Take some time today to consider the depth of God’s undeserved and incomprehensible mercy. Walk in freedom through His gates and into His holy presence where we will find fullness of joy.

Lord, help me to comprehend the depths of your merciful love toward me so I can unashamedly enter Your gates with thanksgiving in my heart for all you have done for me. Help me to remember when my thoughts return back to my past that You were there in my past, You are here in my present, and You will be with me in through my tomorrows. And, yet, You have accepted me and forgiven me thoroughly. Remind me, dear Lord, that my life (including my past, present and future) is not about me in any way; it’s about You. In Your precious, holy name, amen!

Mercy-Full Morning

janross — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:06:12 +0000

One of my greatest and fondest memories of childhood is the sound of our congregation singing hymns on Sunday morning. In my family’s church, there was only the rich sound of the pipe organ accompanying the congregation, led by the pastor. No music could match the blend of four-part harmony ascending to the skies; no words could match the faith-filled words of songs like, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” Hymn-singing was in itself a sermon challenging the heart to trust in our great God.

Thomas Chisholm was born in 1866 in Kentucky. He wrote over 1200 hymns, such as “Living For Jesus” and “O, To Be Like Thee.” But the hymn we remember the most is “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” Chisholm did not write this hymn because something great and miraculous had taken place in his life. No, he wrote this because over his entire life he had learned to see the greatness of God. At the age of 75, he wrote:

“My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.”

Surely he understood the meaning of Lamentations 3:21-23: “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Think about the scripture … “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.” If we could only discipline ourselves to bring this scripture to our minds, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Remember it every time we are faced with doubt and unbelief. Keep it committed to memory for the times we come up against seemingly insurmountable situations. Remember, no matter what…Great is His faithfulness!

“Morning by morning, new mercies I see!” Those are Chisholm’s words, but they must be our words as well. Oh yes! Our covenant-keeping God is faithful and His compassions fail not.

Read the verse one more time . . . “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Now read the words penned by Chisholm who framed this scripture so powerfully in “Great Is Thy Faithfulness!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessing all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided -
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Can you join in the chorus? Can you add your sacrifice of praise to God for His faithfulness? Can you look beyond your disabilities, your disappointments, and your disillusionments to proclaim that no matter what, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”?

Spend some time right now – find a place where you are alone for a few moments and pour out your praise as a drink offering before the Lord. He’s so worthy…His faithfulness so great!

Father, I can’t get past these words … great is Your faithfulness! I’ve never known anyone so faithful, anyone so tender, anyone so forgiving as You. Oh Lord, I’m overwhelmed with praise as it stirs within my heart. Father, when all my friends fail me, You are faithful! When those closest to me let me down, You are faithful! When my family has turned cold toward me, You are faithful! When it looks as if everything is crumbling at my feet, You are there. And, not only are you there, You are FAITHFUL. Great … GREAT is Your faithfulness, morning after morning Your mercies are new. I’m overwhelmed by Your love, Your provision, and Your merciful faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, by His blood, and for His glory … Amen and Amen.

“Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.” (Psalm 36:5)

Angels, Step Back!

janross — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:13:20 +0000

Did you ever stop to think about the fact that God “knows” every animal, every beast, every creature that crawls on this earth. Even the sparrow. His eye is on each one. Take a moment before you continue reading, and consider what it means that He is more than simply aware of all the life on this planet, He “knows” everything that belongs to Him.

“I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.” (Psalm 50:11)

Yes, we serve an awesome God, a God who is too difficult to comprehend. But what warrants even further consideration is the fact that if He knows every creature upon the face of the earth, how much MORE intimately He knows us. He has invested so much into our lives; we have to understand that His concern for us goes far beyond what it does for the rest of creation.

Mankind was created to be a praise to Him, created to bring Him glory, created to worship Him. All that, yet with a will of our own to make the choice—will we be a praise to Him on this earth? Will we bring Him glory in our lives? Will we worship our Creator? Consider the difference between the angelic host and mankind. While the throneroom is filled with angels praising Him day and night before His throne, they are secondary to one soul offering up a heartfelt word of praise. The Lord longs for and glories in the praise and worship of His people far above the worship of His angelic beings; it thrills His heart when we CHOOSE to praise Him!

He’s already there waiting to hear you. Go ahead and praise Him, glorify Him and worship Him. Open your mouth and your whole heart. Pour out your praise to the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords—the Majestic One who gave His all for you.

Father, thank You for loving me and knowing me more than I could ever hope to comprehend. I am so undeserving of Your great and unmatchable love, but I want to love You in return. Lord, I pray You will give me a greater revelation of Your love for mankind through Your Word and through intimate time spent in Your presence. I want to know You more. I want to love You more. The greatest thing in all my life is loving You…Amen!

Mission Field Status: Wide Open

janross — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:04:16 +0000

What are some of your fondest memories? Can you remember sitting on a grandparent’s lap as they tell you some stories of how things were when they were growing up?

I can easily remember my grandfather who died when I was quite young. As he was holding me on his lap, he gave me a gift I’ll never forget. It was a very special moment between a granddaughter and a grandfather. His voice was kind and gentle. His hands were large and he reminded me of one so strong he could accomplish anything. These special moments with him were short-lived, but profound, so profound that now more than 50 years later I can still remember his voice, his smell, his love. He left a strong impact on my life.

These memorable moments with our children and grandchildren often linger in their memories for an entire lifetime. Whether it is from the intimacy of being held close by one they love, or whether it is the soft tone of your voice, or even just the story you tell, it makes a lasting impact on them – something that they may one day pass on to their own children and grandchildren.

Can you imagine if the stories you relate to your children and grandchildren were testimonies of God’s grace and power? Can you imagine the impact that details of God’s goodness would make on these small, impressionable minds? It is our heritage in the Lord that we should be declaring to our youth, whether we’re a parent or a grandparent, or even a great-grandparent.

“One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:4)

Our children’s minds are an open mission field, ready to receive a heritage from the Lord that will stick with them throughout their lifetime – and they will in turn pass it along to their own children.

Be sure to tell your children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren of the mighty acts of God in your lifetime. Invest a small amount of time in their lives which will leave a lasting impact on them, one they will never forget or forsake. It will also build your own faith to recount the mighty works of God that He has wrought in your life. Don’t neglect this mission field; impact the next generation and they will have a foundation on which to build their own faith in our awesome, holy God.

Father, please forgive me for neglecting a mission field found in the minds and memories of our youth. Lord, give me the opportunity to sit down and share with these young, impressionable little ones about Your mercy, Your goodness, Your mighty acts. Father, I do want to make an impression on them that will give them a foundation on which they will be able to build their own faith as they grow. Help me, Lord, to take this assignment seriously and to know that if I don’t share with them, it is possible that no one else will. Lord, I want to praise Your works to every generation, for You have done wondrous things in my life and in the lives of my loved ones. Bless Your Holy Name Forever! Amen!

“But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.” (Psalm 102:12)

Jumping at the Opportunity

janross — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:27:44 +0000

My heart is deeply moved as I attempt to write this. In a land where devastating poverty exists, it is paralleled by spiritual poverty; the comparison can easily be seen with uncanny exactness. In Africa, I’ve witnessed the effects of nourishment. In small villages or communities where the Body of Christ was involved in the people’s lives, ministering to them, working side by side with them, building the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, the fields were greener, the land itself appeared more nourished, and the people (although very poor according to our standards) were rich. However, in communities lacking the Bread of Life, the land was also lacking nourishment to sustain life essentially causing incomprehensible poverty.

The Bread of Life brings life to the physically and spiritually impoverished.

“He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:16)

If you go on to read the very next verse, you find Simon Peter more frustrated as once again Jesus asks him, “Do you love me?” Jesus then tells him “Feed my sheep!”

What greater gift can be given than food – life sustaining nourishment giving strength and bringing health to anyone who will eat? In fact, a great man of God spoke to me on this very subject a few days ago pointing out the necessity of ministering to the physical needs of man before they can receive spiritual nourishment.

Jesus, when speaking with Peter, understood the relationship between spiritual and physical nourishment. His admonition to Peter to “feed My sheep” was more than merely offering a piece of bread to a hungry person, He spoke of the need to involve both the natural bread and the Bread of Life – where life sustaining nourishment which gives strength and brings health can be found.

We claim to love the Lord just as Peter answered, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.” When the Lord questions us in the same manner our immediate response is much the same: “Oh yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” I declare that He then admonishes us all, “Then feed my sheep!” Don’t just feed them physically – they have need of spiritual food. Don’t just feed them spiritually – they have need of physical food.

Jump at every opportunity opened up to you to feed the hungry – both physically and spiritually. If you meet the physical needs, you will have greater success ministering to the spiritual needs.

You don’t need to go to Africa to find the hungry. Take a friend to lunch, take a meal to a shut-in, deliver a meal to a single mom overwhelmed with life’s responsibilities. Then, give them Jesus. Show them the natural bread then introduce them to the Living Bread. Hear the passionate urgency in Jesus’ voice: “Feed My Sheep!”

Father, our hearts are so overwhelmed with the desperate need for daily bread – spiritually and naturally. Show us opportunities to feed Your sheep, to minister to physical needs as well as spiritual needs. Put within us a deep passion for those who are hungry; give us courage to accept this calling. Show us opportunities to reach Your sheep with Living Bread – the Bread that more than satisfies. Oh Lord, we pray for those who do not know You as the life-sustaining Bread of Life. Teach us how to reach them – teach them through our hearts of compassion as we surrender once again to You all that we are and all that we do. In Jesus’ name, amen and amen!

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

Stirring the Heart with Oldies

janross — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:28:37 +0000

My husband particularly enjoys two types of music: Bluegrass Gospel and Oldies from the 50′s, 60′s and early 70′s. If he’s working in the garden or in the garage, his favorite music offers a peaceful backdrop to his work, making it enjoyable (most of the time). There’s something reminiscent about music from our past; it often seems to renew our youth, if only for a few precious moments.

Have you noticed, however, that sometimes the Holy Spirit will use a line or two from an old song to speak to us, convict us, or bring us encouragement?

As I was reading Psalm 5:3, “Dedicated to the One I Love,” the song made popular in 1967 by the Mamas and the Papas as sung by Michelle Phillips, came to mind. What stirred in my heart as a result of the title phrase prompted this short devotion.

Think about your day today; is it “dedicated to the One [you] love”?

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up” (Psalm 5:3).

So often we take our days for granted. We wake up and immediately get involved with day’s business, and very often our mind is on everything BUT the One we love.

The Psalmist made a point of dedicating his day to the Lord. In the morning when he woke up, the first thing he did was to direct his prayer to the Lord. This simple act of submission and dedication helped him keep his eyes on the Lord all the day long. Obviously, it will work the same for us.

Tomorrow when you wake up, when you first open your eyes, whisper a prayer of dedication. Put Him first in your day and you will find that He’s right there in your midst all the day long. Always remember, a day not dedicated to the Lord is a day dedicated to the flesh by default. The flesh will take control; the natural man will rule unless you put the Lord in His rightful place first thing when you awaken. The choice is yours. Will your flesh rule or will the Lord rule your day?

Father, it is my desire that my days never again begin without first acknowledging You. Lord, since You are the One I love, I choose to dedicate each day to You from the very moment I awaken. And, I look forward to being even more aware of your presence with me all the day long, every day, amen.

I Don’t Deserve It!

janross — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:05:48 +0000

Guilt, shame, and awareness of our own sin are the most common tools the enemy uses to keep us from realizing the incredible mercy of God. Think about it for a moment. Do you ever “feel” undeserving of God’s love to the extent that you find it hard to approach Him with your needs? Do you ever struggle to open your heart up to Him with total transparency because of sin you may have entertained? Do you ever feel like you deserve distance from God because of something you’ve done or said or even thought?

Many of us, if not all of us, struggle with this from time to time. The enemy looks for every opportunity to silence us by convincing us that God wants nothing to do with us because we’ve messed up. And while there is need for us to humbly and sincerely repent when we miss the mark, God is always there for us, eager to forgive us and pour out His great mercy toward us.

“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:11-12).

How far is the east from the west?

How high is the heaven above the earth?

Immeasurable? Yes!

Unfathomable? Yes!

Unexplainable? Absolutely!

Unthinkable? Yes!

His mercy, His love, His forgiveness—there is no way to measure it, no way to explain it, no way to comprehend it, but it’s there. We don’t deserve it, yet He has provided it to us freely.

What a wonderful thought! What a humbling thought! The Psalmist wrote of his unmistakable revelation of God’s mercy: our sins are so far removed from us that the distance is unfathomable, immeasurable, unthinkable, unexplainable, and, oh, so undeserved.

What an awesome God we serve!

Lord, I stand in awe of your gift of mercy, so undeserved yet given so freely. Your mercy—a gift which cost You so much, yet You give it to anyone who asks with a sincere heart. I am overwhelmed as I consider Your goodness and Your kindness. Thank You for loving me so. I don’t deserve it, but I am so grateful for your gift of Mercy. Oh Lord, Thank You!

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).