Tag: Janine Tuggle

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: 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

Devotional: Give Thanks Unto Him Through Song (Psalm 100:4)

On By Janine TuggleIn Colossians, Devotional, Ephesians, Hymns, New Testament, Old Testament, Psalms, Spiritual Formation, worship

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Give thanks unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4 KJV).

Growing up in the church, my family was surrounded by singing. We would sing in all the regular services.  Periodically there was a 5th Sunday singing. There were singings in surrounding congregations that we would attend. Our family would also sing when we had family gatherings. After I got married, my husband’s family and mine would gather at one another’s house to sing. 

We can look to the scriptures to find out more about singing. 

Singing is a command:

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19 ESV).

Singing is a way of teaching others about God:

According to Paul’s words,

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16a ESV). 

Singing helps summarize Bible truths to “dwell in you richly”: 

There are phrases we memorize, singing them over and over through the years, and they stick with us. 

Singing can be used to strengthen each other during trials and tribulations as “Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25a) while in prison. 

Singing is also a way of praising God: 

“Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord” (Psalm 68:4).

Singing is to build one another up: 

In Colossians 3:12–16 we see singing at the end of a long list of duties and encouragement that God wants his chosen ones to show. He wants us to have compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other as we have been forgiven, binding everything together with love and harmony, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

Singing does all of this: it lets the word of Christ dwell in us; It teaches and admonishes each other; Singing helps us praise God; and give thanks to God. While singing we are all united in harmony in the musical sense and in the spiritual sense. We are all praising God and giving thanks. I am so thankful God gave us voices to sing praises to Him.

Hymn: Sing Me A Song About Jesus