Beth Duncan

April 15, 2024

At our center…. (devo reflection)

Genesis 50:9 Chariots and horsemen also went up with him. It was a very large company.

Father, There are so many of us struggling with so many things at present. Thank You for knowing each of us personally, for understanding our struggles, for leading and guiding us as we grieve.

Genesis 50:10 When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father.

Lord, Help us to keep ourselves centered on You–Your love, Your grace, Your guidance. Help us to keep You at our core, to grieve the people, things, and opportunities we love, but to not get mired in eternal grief.

Genesis 50:11 When the Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning.” That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim.

Precious Savior, Thank You for being present with us, for guiding us, for grieving with us even while leading us forward. Help us to keep You at our center. Always. Amen.

Genesis 50:12 So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them:

Have a blessed day.

April 14, 2024

For a purpose…. (devo reflection)

Genesis 50:5 ‘My father made me swear an oath and said, “I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’ ”

Funerals are hard. Grieving is hard. I’m going to be honest…I sort of regret my decision to come to Genesis 50 because I feel I have no wisdom to give. But God directed me here for a purpose. If there is any wisdom I could share, it would be: Don’t leave things left unsaid.

Genesis 50:6 Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”

I’m a pretty awkward person by nature, and I’ve learned to lean into that, to give the compliment, to ask if everything is ok, to say how much I appreciate a person. I don’t do it as often or as well as I should, but I’m much better at it now than I used to be. And I’ll keep striving to get a little better still.

Genesis 50:7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt—

Precious Savior, Death is hard. Grieving is hard. I figure You have me in this chapter because You know I have work to do here. Help me to learn and grow. Help me to shine Your light. Help me to draw closer to You. That’s what this life is all about. Amen.

Genesis 50:8 besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen.

Have a blessed day.

April 13, 2024

When the days of mourning had passed…. (devo reflection)

Genesis 50:1 Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him.

I decided to go to Genesis 50 today because of a verse that is coming up in the text. But when I began today’s reflection and saw where this chapter begins, with a death, a loss, I wondered if maybe God had other ideas in sending me here. You see, spring is a tough time for me. I lost a lot of people I love in the springtime, and every spring, that grief, that loss wraps itself around me, dragging my heart down.

Genesis 50:2 Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him,

What strikes me as I read this morning, though, is verse 4, “When the days of mourning had passed….” I don’t think grief is a switch that you can flip and move on, but I am reminded by this verse that Jesus is my center and that no matter how deep my grief, I cannot get stuck in this place of mourning, permanently moored here. If Jesus is my center, then I need to keep following Him, even as I grieve, even as I move slowly, painfully forward.

Genesis 50:3 taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

Precious Savior, Thank You for knowing me and loving me. Thank You for understanding my grief and my mourning. Thank You for reminding me not to get mired in my grief but to keep You at my center. Help me to cling to You, even in my struggle. Amen.

Genesis 50:4 When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him…

Have a blessed day.

April 12, 2024

Faithfulness…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 61:5 For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

In verse 1 of Psalm 61, David says, “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.” In verse 5, we see that God has listened, is listening and David knows that and will honor his vow to God just as God honors His promise to David (to hear, to listen, to be present).

Psalm 61:6 Increase the days of the king’s life, his years for many generations.

I hope I am as faithful with both my pleas to God AND my praise of Him. I hope I both call to Him AND praise His name. I’m better at it now than I used to be, but I absolutely know that there is room for improvement. It’s an area where I definitely want to do better.

Psalm 61:7 May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

Precious Savior, Thank You for hearing my cries of distress. Thank You for listening to my prayers–the mundane and the extraordinary. Forgive me when I neglect to praise You as You deserve. Help me to do better. Always. Amen.

Psalm 61:8 Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

Have a blessed day.

April 11, 2024

Refuge…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 61:3a For you have been my refuge,

Google defines refuge as a noun, meaning “a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.” If God is my refuge, that means that He is my safe place, my shelter, where I can go to not be pursued by danger or trouble. Even just reading that definition, I feel my soul take a breath of relief.

Psalm 61:3b …a strong tower against the foe.

If He is with me always, and I truly believe that He is, then that shelter, that refuge is always available to me. Always. So on those days where I feel beleaguered or overwhelmed or pursued by danger or trouble, that means I am not utilizing the most amazing resource I have in my daily defense arsonal–the refuge of my Savior.

Psalm 61:4a I long to dwell in your tent forever…

Precious Savior, Thank You for being with me always, for providing me with refuge always. Thank You that I can count on You, that I can trust You, no matter what I encounter in each day. Help me not to forget that You ARE my refuge. Help me to seek refuge in You when life overwhelms. Amen.

Psalm 61:4b …and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

Have a blessed day.

April 10, 2024

…lead me to the rock that is higher than I…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 61:1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

Lord, Thank You that You hear my cries of distress, that You listen to my prayers when I call. Thank You for knowing me by name, for knowing every hair on my head, every breath in my body. Thank You for loving me fiercely and completely.

Psalm 61:2a From the ends of the earth I call to you,

Father, Thank You that I can call to You any time, any where, in any situation. Thank You for prioritizing me, Your deeply loved child, no matter where my distress falls in the continuum of life’s hardships. Thank You for caring, for responding, for loving me always.

Psalm 61:2b …I call as my heart grows faint;

Precious Savior, Thank You that You are the Rock that is higher, stronger, more solid than I. Thank You that I don’t have to do this life alone. Thank You that when I call on You, You hear, You respond, You comfort me. Always. No matter what. Thank You. Amen.

Psalm 61:2c …lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Have a blessed day.

April 9, 2024

Not losing heart…. (devo reflection)

2 Corinthians 4:15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

I think this is the first time I have noticed that both verse 1 and verse 16 talk about not losing heart, reminders at both the beginning and the end of the chapter to hold on. As I mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, this time of year, losing heart is pretty easy for so many reasons. So the reminder to not lose heart is pretty important for me.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

I think the key to not losing heart is being renewed day by day, finding those things that nourish my soul, like time with family, reading a good book, texts with friends, noticing and recognizing the many, many little moments in each day where God shows His love and presence.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Precious Savior, Thank You for understanding the struggle to not lose heart. Thank You for the reminder that You are with us, that You see our struggles, that You love us deeply, that we are not alone. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Have a blessed day.

April 8, 2024

Drawing closer…. (devo reflection)

2 Corinthians 4:12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Precious Savior, You go before us today. You know all that we will encounter. You can use all things for our good and Your glory if we will allow. Thank You for Your presence and Your willingness to use all things to draw us closer to You.

2 Corinthians 4:13a It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”

Lord, Everything starts with our faith in You. Help us to root ourselves firmly in You–Your word, Your will, Your love and mercy. You tell us that with faith the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains in Your name. Help us to believe and to live that faith.

2 Corinthians 4:13b …Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,

Holy Father, Thank You for the Risen Lord, for a faith that is not severed by death, for the power of prayer and the power of belief. Thank You that You are with us always. Be with us today, Lord, no matter what we face. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.

Have a blessed day.

April 7, 2024

Hold on…. (devo reflection)

2 Corinthians 4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

Today’s scripture reminds me that life is not always easy. There are seasons where we are hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. But I have heard it said and I believe that, “The worst thing is never the last thing.” Death doesn’t win. Hate doesn’t win. Despair doesn’t win.

2 Corinthians 4:9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

God wins. Christ wins. Love wins. We see it on the cross, in the empty tomb, in the risen Savior. So whatever you are going through right now, hold on–to God, to Jesus, to love, mercy, and grace, to hope. The worst thing is never the last thing. Jesus promised, and He always keeps His promises.

2 Corinthians 4:10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Precious Savior, I know that there are a lot of hurting hearts in this world. There are a lot of folks struggling, feeling hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. Help them to hold on to You, to hope, to love and grace and mercy. Please, Jesus. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

Have a blessed day.

April 6, 2024April 6, 2024

Shining His light…. (devo reflection)

2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

“Let light shine out of darkness,” verse 6 tells us this morning. That’s a tall order sometimes. But have you ever noticed just how much light a tiny little light can shed? The barest illumination can shine as a beacon in total darkness. So our light can shine His glory. The darker it is, the easier it will be to see, but even in the light, it’s there.

2 Corinthians 4:5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

And while we have the power to shine His light, we must remember that “we have this treasure in jars of clay.” The light is His, not ours. We just shine it back to Him. It is His “all-surpassing power” that is shining through. We are simply earthen vessels, doing our best to shine for Him, in Him, and with Him.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your light, which shines in us. Thank You for the power to shine that light wherever we are. Thank You that in the darkness, our little light shines even brighter. Help us to face this day with you, to shine for You, to give each other hope in You. Always. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Have a blessed day.