Author: Janine Tuggle

A wife of 41 years, mother of three, grandmother of seven who all call me Amma. (That's pronounced like Gra-ma without the Gr.) Striving to be a good Christian wife, mother, grandmother, friend and example.

Devotional: But Ask the Beasts (Job 12:7–9)

On By Janine TuggleIn Animals, Devotional, Job, Matthew, Old Testament, Wisdom Literature 
“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you... and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12:7, 8b, 9).

As we read about different animals in the Bible, we see that God made animals for us to learn from them many great and valuable lessons in life. Animals have distinct characteristics that can show us how humans should behave.

Jesus taught truths using these animals in the form of similes. 

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

We observe from the characteristics of these animals, that sheep are vulnerable to predators, such as wolves. The sheep are without protection. Wolves are hunters on the prowl. They will devour innocent sheep in a heartbeat. Serpents are considered wise with sly and cunning maneuvers. Snakes will move slowly through new territory. Usually, they stay concealed finding a place to hide.

Doves were designed with innocent, meek, and gentle qualities. They are birds known to be non-threatening. When Jesus sent his disciples out to teach the world, He compared them to sheep amid wolves. Jesus knew there would be people out there, who would attack them for their proclaimed message.

How does a person become wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove? It does sound as if the two do not mix. To be wise is to be practical, prudent, and discerning regarding relationships.

  • Be wise in keeping yourself innocent.
  • Be practical in keeping yourself away from the evil in the world.
  • Be prudent in how you manage yourself around others.

Know when to turn away and hide like that wise snake when others want to lead you into temptation.

Sing: “How Great Thou Art“

Devotional: All God’s Creatures (Genesis 1:30)

On By Janine TuggleIn Animals, Devotional, Genesis, Old Testament, Proverbs, Psalms, Theology 
“And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food” (Genesis 1:30).

We may wonder why God created all the different animals. We read in Genesis 1 that God created the sea creatures and the birds that fly in the air on the fifth day. On the sixth day, He created every living creature that “creeps” on the ground.

Every animal shows God’s glory and is a glory to God. He gave man instructions and responsibility to have dominion over all creeping things on the earth. This does not mean ownership; it is about stewardship. Man is to take care of the animals.

According to one source, over 120 animal species are mentioned in the Bible. Animals show God’s creativity. There are many large and many small. Some are beautiful and some are strange; some have many legs. Some have none.

Animals have been used as a teaching tool, for example:

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Proverbs 6:6–8).

Animals have been used to accomplish God’s will. He used animals with the 10 plagues. He used a great fish when Jonah was swallowed by it. God caused a donkey to speak so Balaam would obey Him. He sent quail to provide food for the Israelites and ravens to bring bread and meat to Elijah.

These are just a few examples of what we can read and learn from animals. In the next few weeks, we will learn more interesting tidbits and lessons from animals mentioned in the Bible.

“Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps. . . . Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!” (Psalm 148:7, 10).

Hymn: “All Things Bright and Beautiful“

Devotional: Doves (Genesis 8:8)

On By Janine TuggleIn Animals, Devotional, Doves, Genesis, John, Luke, Mark, Matthew, New Testament, Old Testament 
“Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground.” (Genesis 8:8)

The dove, a beautiful bird with a lovely cooing sound is one of God’s creatures that has many symbols. We find many of them in the Bible.

Let us learn a little bit about the nature of doves. Doves, turtle doves (a dainty dove), and pigeons (larger in size) are from the order Columbiformes family of birds. A dove’s eyes are on the sides of their head, having a 340° vision. They can see in front and in back at the same time. This is necessary for an animal of prey to watch out for predators.

Doves can fly up to speeds of fifty-five mph.

Doves will only descend when they know it is safe and trust where it will land. Once a dove starts its descent, it doesn’t have the ability to go in reverse.

We first read of the dove in Genesis 8:9. After Noah sent out a raven, he sent out a dove. It flew to and fro, then came back after no place to land. Seven days went by, and Noah sent the dove out again. This time by evening the dove brought back an olive branch. This is where the symbol of hope, peace, and a new beginning came from.

In the gospel accounts we read that the Holy Spirit descended as a dove when Jesus was baptized. 

“The heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him” (Matthew 3:16b; cf. Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32).

When Jesus was baptized the Holy Spirit came down and rested upon Jesus to stay. Just as when we are baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, there is trust. And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest” (Psalm 55:6). A symbol of peace.

Hymn: “I’ll Fly Away”

Devotional: The Beast of Burden (Zechariah 9:9)

On By Janine TuggleIn Devotional, Old Testament, the prophets, Zechariah 
“Behold, your king is coming to you; . . . humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9b)

The donkey is an amazingly strong animal. Through centuries this animal has aided in people’s burdens. In today’s world, especially here in America, the donkey is not thought of as a special animal. It is thought of as dumb or stubborn and is used as the brunt end of jokes or name-calling.

Throughout the Bible, people rode donkeys for everyday travel. When kings rode a donkey, it was a symbol of peace. Opposed to riding a horse which was a symbol for war.

We read when Abraham took his son Isaac for an offering he took along a donkey. 

“So, Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.” (Genesis 22:3)

Saddling the donkey and cutting the wood for the burnt offering, it is probable that the donkey carried the wood and other supplies until they got to the place where Abraham gave Isaac the wood to carry.

Besides supplies, often the donkey was used to carry food. “And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul” (1 Samuel 16:20).

Then later on in the time of Jesus, He fulfills the prophecy of our text in Zechariah 9:9b showing that He is King and that He comes in peace.

It is very interesting that the donkey in the Old Testament carries the bread and wine. Also, a donkey carries Jesus, and the scriptures say, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).

As stated in an earlier devotional on “God’s Creatures,” all of God’s creatures were made for His glory and in His glory.

Hymn: “To God Be The Glory”

Devotional: God Is Slow To Anger (2 Peter 3:9)

On By Janine TuggleIn 2 Peter, Devotional, James, Jonah, New Testament, Old Testament 
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

Many times we hear people say or think God is an angry God. True, God is angry when people disobey his will. But is he quick to anger? Does he have a short fuse? There may be many people who are said to have a short fuse, but God is not that.

We as people in our society get angry in a different ways. We are quick to judge and make a final judgment of someone. They are guilty before proven innocent, they are too far gone and aren’t worth saving. Lock them up and throw away the key; People want justice or want someone to blame. Let’s remember,

“For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20)

Let’s take a look at Jonah. Jonah did not want to go to the city of Nineveh as God told him to and preach against their evil ways. He probably thought it was not worth going to preach to these evil people. So he ran off to catch a boat to Tarshish. 

We all know the rest of the story of the big fish swallowing Jonah. While in the fish, Jonah prayed. He had a change of heart and did as God said once the fish vomited him out onto dry land. Jonah went about telling the people,

"Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4b)

The king and all the people believed God and turned from their evil ways so consequently God relented.

Jonah was angry. He was upset, knowing God was a gracious and merciful God. He would rather die than face that he was wrong when he thought the people had no hope. 

Sometimes we would rather stay angry at someone, never wanting to be forgiving, never wanting to admit we are wrong, or realize others can have a change of heart in their ways. God was gracious in order to save 120,000 souls from Nineveh. God is slow to anger knowing we all sin and fall short of doing what is right. He would rather have patience than for us to be lost.

Hymn: The Love of God

Devotional: Lamp of the Body (Matthew 6:22)

On By Janine TuggleIn Devotional, Matthew 
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light." (Matthew 6:22)

Have you ever got up in the night thinking you would be able to find your way around in the dark, then…boom, you ran into something or stubbed your toe? With a well-lit room, we’re able to see our way around and also find things we might be looking for. If the lights are turned out that is when we start to stumble, bump into objects and fall. 

The eyes are the lamp to our mind and our heart. They guide us in everything we do, what we look at, stay focused on, and follow. They determine what direction we are going. Therefore when we focus our life on kindness, compassion, and righteousness, and keep our eyes looking toward Heaven our whole body will be full of light. 

On the other hand, 

"...but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness" (Matthew 6:23)

How does darkness get into our life? If we veer away just a little we might stumble. It doesn’t take much. If we let other things prioritize our life our light will grow darker.

Sometimes the lamp dims slowly. Our lamp can dim slowly if we don’t put oil in it.

The oil keeps the light burning. Our lights must continue to burn to keep the darkness away. What would be this oil source in our life for our lamp? 

As stated above the eye is the lamp to the body. This is the pathway to our mind. The oil is all things pertaining to Jesus and his love. We must keep our eyes focused on Jesus worshiping the Lord with all our hearts, 

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30)

This is the first commandment. 

If we keep plenty of oil on hand and do all things in his name, there will be no time or room for darkness.

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Colossians 3:17a)

Hymn: Do All In The Name Of The Lord

Devotional: We have an Anchor (Hebrews 6:19)

On By Janine TuggleIn Devotional, Hebrews, Hymns, New Testament, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Growth

“Which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil” (Hebrews 6:19 ASV).

The Hebrews writer tells us in chapter 6 about the hope we have set before us, comparing it to an anchor. Ships and boats use an anchor to secure the vessel from drifting off when getting close to shore. 

Anchors are made of heavy metal which is attached to a large chain or cable. When the anchor is thrown overboard it falls to the seafloor digging into the ground by the fluke to hold steady and firm.

As ships are coming in from being out to sea there is sometimes fog that veils the shoreline. An anchor needs to be thrown out at this time so the ship can slowly and safely go through the veil. When a ship is out in the deep sea an anchor is not used. The anchor will not be of any use because the anchor will not reach the seafloor to take hold. 

Throughout life, a person has many temptations, many heartaches, and disappointments as well as good times. We need the hope of safety and assurance for the saving of our souls. Jesus Christ is that saving hope. We must have Him in our life to know we are safe and secure from the boundless world of sin.

When a person is living without Christ in their life, they are far out in the worldly sea with no hope of reaching safety. Some may try to latch onto a false hope thinking they may be saved in the vast billowing sea of life but that false hope will cause them to be lost at sea.

If we want to obtain that anchor of hope we need to stay close to the shoreline where Jesus is; We need to look to Jesus who is the grounding source our anchor of hope holds onto; We need the strong cable of faith and determination that holds the anchor of hope firm and still; We need to be fastened to the anchor which is the hope we have, so when we pass through the veil of death we know that our hope has been steadfast and sure. 

When we anchor our hope in Christ we can make it through the hardships and temptations with calm patience. We can make it through sorrow and grief with joyful victory. Is Christ the anchor of your soul?

Hymn: We Have an Anchor