Jean Hanna

LETTING GO

This daily devotional Joyce writes of has brought a certain heaviness to my heart. You see... I am the ultimate control freak!!!!! It's taken me some time to realize that I don't have to fix everything…

James 4:2 (NLT)

Save Me From Myself

I am not perfect! What I take from this Psalm is not always about others who cause conflict with me but the conflict & sin that I cause. Didn't David recognize his own failures? I am weak (which God…

Psalm 7:1 (NLT)

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY

Good morning world, Another beautiful day in NJ. Making sure I thanked my God, last night, before I fell asleep for the wonderful day I had yesterday, was a show of encouragement & love that He would…

Psalm 3:5 (NLT)

Doing what is Right

I was told at a young age that when taking a stand in doing the right thing could make you vulnerable or on the outs with others in society. That is how I reference this Psalm. Doing what is right goes…

Psalm 1:1 (NLT)

It's All Good with God

James' reference to all the good God does is further emphasized by his additional connotation to light. Light is used to keep his children on the right path. How can we see this path in the dark? When…

James 1:17 (NLT)

Deep love allows for deep suffering

I have no doubt that Jesus wept for the sadness he felt for Lazarus (he was a human being wasn't he?) but his weeping had more to do with those who did not believe. For those who had not yet come to God…

John 11:33 (NLT), John 11:34 (NLT), John 11:35 (NLT), John 11:36 (NLT), John 11:37 (NLT)

Give us rest O Lord

We forget where the sanity of life really is. This passage made me realize how weary I really was. Weary from NOT leaving my burdens with God. It's the reason I am very weary. God, help me to remember…

Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

Trying to understand

As I reread this Psalm, I have had to reach out and review what others have said about it in order to make better sense of what is happening. Thank you for all of your notes. Realizing how hard it must…

Psalm 22:1 (NLT)

Jesus washing Judas' s feet

Jesus knowing that Judas was going to betray him but treated him like royalty speaks just as Matthew 5:43-48 says to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you".  What an example set forth…

John 13:1 (NLT)

MOVING FORWARD

Being asked to state how this scripture verse relates to my life is like asking if fish swim. In prayer, I can not come to Jesus Christ unless I have made my peace with him first. The same thing applies…

Philippians 3:13 (NLT)

Faith without works is dead

James 2:26 states.... "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." It's not good enought that you recognize who I am but that you recognize all that I am. I am what…

Matthew 25:46 (NLT)

Do not waste your God given talents

How many times have we heard a parent, teacher or guardian say that? Although many others write of stewardship (i.e money), this may also refer to how you think, feel, preach/pray, honor, study, work,…

Matthew 25:29 (NLT)

Mark 4: 1-20

WOW! Does this parable hit close to my mind and heart. I look at my life as someone who has experienced those (3) sections of seeds that fell. But I am back! I now have a layer of good soil, it's not…

Proverbs 3:3

"Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!" Going through a very hard and personal situation, although I had not sought God as I should have, I realize now that God was there. Somehow, I was given the…

Proverbs 3:3 (NLT)

Psalm 70:1-5

What I feel, see and pray for are those who persecute me without giving a though to who or what I am. Maybe I don't understand something fully and need to ask additional questions, maybe I am someone…

Mark 13: 1-37

The way I read into this passage, the disciples were gazing and enjoying the architecture. Why pay attention to that which will not last! What the disciples notice right away, although pretty to look…

Psalm 91:20

The Lord God is my sanctuary. As an earthly child, I ran to my parent/protector when something upsetting happened. Now, as an adult, a child of God, I run to Him for protection. He will see me through…

Psalm 91:2 (NLT)

Palm 8:2

At birth, we are all born with original sin. As we progress and grow throughout childhood, we follow instruction and guidance from those who raise us. We listen in awe of those around us, absorbing like…

Psalm 8:2 (NLT)

Psalm 32: 4-5

The reference in this Psalm as to how one feels when overwhelmed with sin is scary. My soul feels sick when I do not ask for forgiveness. My sense of guilt is heightened at knowing I did something wrong…

Psalm 32:4 (ASV)

Psalm 139: 1-24

Last Sunday's sermon at church, there was a suggestion that we read this passage and while doing so, substitute your name for the I and Me pronouns throughout. What a difference this made! Putting my…

Psalm 139:1 (NLT)

Psalm 19:14

First and foremost, my mind and heart must work together to hear the word of God. Drawing conclusions in my mind should be able to be felt in my heart. Lastly, taking what is in the mind, felt in the…

Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

Adding a Little Sugar

To provide an analogy as to how honey can be as sweet as God's word, I think of what I use honey for and why. My favorite use is to sweeten my cup of hot tea. Honey takes the slight bitter taste out…

Psalm 119:103 (NLT)

Let us learn to recognize our temptations and do right

It has been said that Jesus walked this earth as a man. A man/human person, although his life was ordained as the Son of God, was still thrown some curve balls. He too had to pass a test. Jesus had…

Learning from the Start

We all have to start somewhere! As a baby, I was taught to nourish & groom myself. I was taught to read, write and know right from wrong. So too must I begin the journey, from the beginning, to know…

1 Peter 2:2 (NLT)

Marriage and the Bible

Men and women have been created, by God, to come together in Holy Matrimony. This is God's plan! In loving God the Father, each will be able to love each other. In loving God the Father, each will…

Ephesians 5:25 (NLT)