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JFH Devotionals by J.M. Farro


Lessons From A Loss


"Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground."
- Psalm 143:10 NIV

Recently, my family and I experienced a loss that deeply saddened our hearts, when one of our beloved pets died suddenly. After raising ducks for more than four years, and experiencing the joys and the sorrows of being pet owners, we were now down to only one duck--our "Larry Boy." Knowing how heartbroken we were, our loved ones encouraged us to get a new pet to replace the one we had lost. This made a lot of sense, because Larry was grieving so much for his mate that he stopped eating, and became lethargic and listless. Even so, I didn't want to let my emotions dictate my actions, so I went to the Lord in prayer. The first thing I did was to put my own desires "on the altar." I told the Lord that as much as I would love to have a new pet, I wanted His perfect will even more. I asked Him to close all the wrong doors, and open all the right doors, so that His purpose would prevail. The days to follow were very painful for me, because I felt as though I were in "limbo." Was God going to lead me to part with my only remaining pet, or was He going to bring an additional one into my life? This experience taught me how submitting to the Lord's plans can help us to receive His best.

As the days went by without the Lord revealing to me what He wanted me to do about Larry, I noticed him becoming more and more depressed and inactive. I began making phone calls to wildlife centers to see if they might have a duck that needed a good home, or if they could place Larry in a new home with other ducks, but I kept running into closed doors. As I described Larry's symptoms to one of the wildlife specialists I spoke to, she said that if I didn't get him a new mate right away, he might not survive. As soon as I hung up the phone, I fell to my knees in prayer, and I pleaded with the Lord to provide Larry with a new mate--either in my home, or somewhere else. This experience reminded me how increasing the intensity of our prayers can move the mighty hand of God.

I knew that the brother of one of my husband's friends raised ducks. But I also knew that even though we had asked him for one of his ducks when we were in need in the past, he had never agreed to give us one. So I earnestly prayed, "Lord, if it's Your will for us to have one of this man's ducks, then please change his heart and mind so that he will give us one." I knew that our God is a God of hearts, and that it is within His power to change someone's heart when He chooses to. (Proverbs 21:1) This experience reminded me how asking God to change a stubborn heart can enable us to partner with Him to see His will come to pass.

A year earlier, my family and I had to give up our pet duck, Ginger, because he and Larry had begun fighting over the single female duck we had. The Lord opened a door for us to place Ginger in a good home with a new mate of his own. My heart was broken when we had to part with Ginger, but I offered him up to the Lord as a sacrifice, and planted him as a seed for a harvest of blessing for me and my family. Never could I have imagined that one of the offspring that Ginger would father in his new home, would be God's provision for the perfect mate for Larry a year later. This experience taught me how planting a sacrificial seed can meet a need in the days to come.

God honored my heartfelt desire to do His will, where my family's pet situation was concerned. As I put my own plans and desires on the altar, and as my prayers and pleas became desperate and urgent, the Lord softened and changed a man's heart, so that he would release to us a blessing that God had planned for us all along--one of our own Ginger's offspring to make our little flock complete, and to fill our hearts with joy!

Prayer: Lord, I know that whenever I suffer a loss, You have valuable lessons to teach me. Please show me what they are, and grant me a teachable spirit, so that my suffering may bear good fruit for my good and Your glory. Thank You that as I put my trust in You, and submit to Your will, I will receive the very best of Your blessings!

- J. M. Farro

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
ELI GABLE Glory Bound - Single [Capitol CMG]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Claire Leslie Thank God I'm Not Alone (from Claire's Phone) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Tommy Royale, gio. Like Dat - Single [Capitol CMG]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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