July 31 ~ Romans 8:1-2
With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
From our living room windows, we have a rather unique vantage point during many thunderstorms. Because our house is perched on a bluff, we can see out into the valley below us, and as a wall cloud moves over, we can clearly see the line of demarcation between clear weather and the storm. After the storm passes, we can sometimes see the backside of it in the form of a fluffy white cloud mass, sometimes spewing lightning bolts throughout those clouds or even toward the ground. This is a great visual image of our life of sin versus the life in Christ. Sin is like the dark storm cloud that drifts over us, delivering rain, wind, hail, lightning, thunder… and fear! The Holy Spirit is the strong wind behind this storm wall that drives it past us and brings the clear skies and crisp, clean air. He refreshes and washes away all of the darkness. We no longer need to be afraid… this Spirit will stick around and protect us! The bright sunshine of the Holy Spirit will shine within our hearts and give us peace and hope.
The next time you see a thunderstorm pass… when you see the dark, foreboding wall cloud… think of it as your sinful past. Recognize the stormy turbulence that sin brings to our lives. Realize that the cloud will pass, and the skies will brighten and turn blue and sunny again. Recognize that Jesus has done this in our own lives… if we have surrendered to Him. He has given us His Holy Spirit to reside within our heart… to blow away the dark cloud of sin. It now looks like a fluffy cloud line on the horizon, as the Spirit continues to move this darkness farther away from us.
Take time today to thank God for giving us His Holy Spirit. Thank Him for blowing away the dark cloud of sin and replacing it with the clean air and bright sunshine of His Holy Spirit. Celebrate in your own heart that you have “weathered the storm” of sin and chosen to live in the clear skies of serving Jesus and walking with Him each day. Thank Him for clearing the air… and breathe deeply of His love.
©2009 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------
July 30 ~ John 8:14-18
Jesus replied, "You're right that you only have my word. But you can depend on it being true. I know where I've come from and where I go next. You don't know where I'm from or where I'm headed. You decide according to what you can see and touch. I don't make judgments like that. But even if I did, my judgment would be true because I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father. That fulfills the conditions set down in God's Law: that you can count on the testimony of two witnesses. And that is what you have: You have my word and you have the word of the Father who sent me."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever been to a haunted house on Halloween, and someone took you into a pitch-dark room and plunged your hand into a bowl of what they told you was “guts and eyeballs”? In actuality, it was spaghetti and peeled boiled eggs or great big olives. But admit it… for a minute, you really thought of guts and eyeballs, didn’t you? You decided according to what you could touch. When the lights came on and you saw the spaghetti and boiled eggs or olives, you had a completely different take on things, right? You made your first judgment out of the narrowness of your experience. Someone could stand beside you in the dark and say, “It’s really just spaghetti and boiled eggs,” but you would have to make a choice as to whether to depend on that statement being the truth or not. Largely, your decision would depend on how well you trusted that person.
How well do you trust God to tell you the truth? How much do you believe in the truth of His word? So much of what we read in the Bible is about people and events we cannot see and touch. We trust that Jesus is real… that the Holy Spirit lives within us… based upon feelings and faith. But we have never physically seen Jesus as a man. We were not physically there when He was crucified on Calvary or rose from the grave.
Recently, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon. There are some who claim this never happened… that it was all fabricated in a movie studio somewhere and broadcast to the masses. I watched Neil Armstrong take these first steps… on my family’s black and white television set. I believed – and I still believe today – that this really happened. How do I know for sure? I wasn’t there… I didn’t experience it firsthand. But I trust that it happened, just as I know without being there that the World Trade Center towers were hit by hijackers on 9-11, e-mail messages travel through cyberspace to reach my intended destination (usually!), and the Lakers won the 2009 NBA Championship!
We eagerly accept so many things on the word of others or limited information. We assume that events we see unfolding on television or read about in the newspaper or on the Internet are truly happening. We stand ready to trust so many people and situations as completely honest and real. Yet we are often unwilling to trust in the word of God. We are often hesitant to take Jesus at His word… to believe that the promises of God for our lives are the real deal. Why is that? This is not spaghetti and boiled eggs or olives representing guts and eyeballs… this is the word of God, spoken over our lives to lead us to righteousness and an Eternity in His presence! Isn’t it about time we started believing? Isn’t it about time we started trusting in GOD? We have His word… what else do we need?
©2009 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------------------------
July 29 ~ Mark 10:41-45
When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John. Jesus got them together to settle things down. "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around," he said, "and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served - and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
We see this over and again. People love to assume authority. It’s human nature. That’s why parents are sideline coaches at Little League and high school ballgames. This is why political appointees are quick to step to the podium and say, “I am in charge here.” This is how elected officials come to feel they are above reproach. I’ve been reading lately about yet another “religious” group who believes that “men of power” are selected by God because of their wealth and power… and any sins or indiscretions they commit will be overlooked because we need their leadership and power! I know – this is SCARY thinking, right?!
Maybe some people need Mark 10:41-45 plastered on their foreheads! God is not calling us to be “the boss!” Even Jesus came to earth serve others, in part, so why do we think we deserve to be served in any way, shape or form? True servanthood doesn’t include being able to do whatever we please – whenever we please – because we are “God’s servants.” In fact, just the opposite should be true. If we are really God’s servants, we will do whatever pleases GOD… whenever it pleases Him… and it will not be about us in any manner.
On the Walk to Emmaus, there are dozens of people who serve in all capacities… from those who help with talks and discussions and serve as ministers and lay leaders to those who help with music to those who prepare food in the kitchen. But there are also those who pray – continually - during the 72-hour weekend. There are those who carry luggage and make beds and create agape (love gifts) and those who work behind the scenes to organize the entire event. A Walk to Emmaus is a great model for true, Godly servitude. “Leaders” are no more vital to this event than the kitchen person who takes out the trash and makes the morning coffee. No musician or minister is more powerful than the person who prays for the Walk and those who attend. Persons who attend a Walk to Emmaus are in no way more powerful or Godly than someone who doesn’t. But hopefully they understand the blessings and responsibilities of servanthood a little better after their Emmaus experience.
Anything done in God’s name for another person is powerful. Many of the smallest gestures, if done in the right spirit and with the love of Christ, have more impact and are more pleasing to God than preaching an amazing sermon, creating and performing incredible praise and worship music, or donating thousands of dollars to a church and its missions. God does not approve of anyone throwing his/her weight around in the name of serving Him. He rewards the quiet, small servitude of those who humbly minister in His name. Where do you fit into this equation? Are you power hungry, or is your heart that of a Godly servant? Being a Godly leader is important… but we must all be His servants first. The real road to greatness begins with servanthood. Are you on this road?
©2009 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------------------------------------------
July 28 ~ Matthew 7:3
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Ouch! This passage is a little painful for most of us, isn’t it?! Most of us have a very bad habit of passing judgment on others. It’s that “If I ran the zoo” mentality of thinking we know what is wrong with everyone else – and how to fix them! But the truth of the matter is that we are all just as mixed up and messed up as the other guy. None of us is perfect. None of us is sinless. We are all human, and as such, we are subject to mistakes, idiosyncracies, and failures.
Things are not always as they seem. When my maternal grandmother was in the nursing home, she spent nearly every moment that my mother and I were there complaining about something… the food, the care, she wanted to go home, this hurt, that didn’t feel right… the list was endless. Yet we would meet people in the store or at church, and they would say, “Your mother/grandmother is such a joy. I visited her recently and we had a great time together. She was joking and laughing, and simply a delight to be around.” Really? Had they visited the same person we visited? Obviously, my grandmother painted quite a different picture for others than she did for us!
But isn’t that how life is in general? We see things one way, while others see them quite differently. So for us to judge others based on our limited knowledge is unfair at best, and downright sinful in many cases. We wouldn’t want others “painting us with such a broad brush,” would we? If we knew what others were thinking of us, we might be quite hurt and upset… because their opinions were formed without all of the facts and circumstances of any given situation.
We need to focus on keeping our own lives in order, on track and more Godly. We need to focus on what God wants us to do and on loving others in His name – warts and all –rather than finding fault… in others or ourselves. Focus on what is good and right – what pleases God and furthers His kingdom. GOD will take care of the judgment… He will set things right and create circumstances to correct our errors and sins. This is not our job! We need to focus on Jesus… focus on loving and serving Him. We need leave the reprimanding to The One who has the facts and the authority to judge and reprimand! We may want to run the zoo, but we are not "The Zookeeper"!
©2009 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------------------
July 27 ~ Matthew 5:25-26
"Or say you're out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don't lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you're likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that happens, you won't get out without a stiff fine.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
We don’t have to look very far to find people who are holding a grudge against someone for one thing or another. Recently, someone asked me, “What’s the deal with So-and-so? Why doesn’t he/she get along with Such-and-such?” My answer was “This feud has been going on so long that I honestly don’t know how it started… and I’m not sure the parties involved even know any more.” It gets to the point where some people are just mad or fighting to be mad or fighting!
I have a friend who likes to say, “Build a bridge – and get over it!” “Build a bridge” has become something of a running gag between us. But truthfully, this is what the Scripture is telling us. Build a bridge… and get over whatever is troubling you. It may not be easy to swallow your pride and take the first step, but the end result is well worth the effort. This is how families of murder victims reach out to the murderer. This is how parties in a divorce become friendly – if only for the sake of children or other family members. This is how nations get along after their previous generations have ravaged each other in war.
Sometimes, the hardest relationships to mend are those that are closest… our family, our dearest friends, our co-workers. But God is calling us to make the first move – to set things right between ourselves. The alternative might not actually result in jail time or a fine, but it may feel like it deep in your gut! Don’t let anger, resentment, bitterness – offense – eat away at you. Step out in faith and extend your hand and the love of Christ within you… and see what happens. At the very least, your conscience will be clear. Build a bridge and get over it. The other person may not choose to come along, but the structure is in place.
©2009 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------
July 26 ~ Matthew 5:8-12
"You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
"Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens - give a cheer, even! - for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Suppose you were at a party, and some of the others in attendance handed you a gun and said, “We’re gonna rob a convenience store. You can either go with us, or you can leave now.” You would leave, right? Suppose you were at the party, but instead of handing you a gun, these people handed you a joint or a pill and said, “You can either get high with us or leave.” Would you still leave? What if you were under legal drinking age, and someone handed you a beer, a glass of wine, or an alcoholic beverage. Would you drink it… or would you leave the party?
As Christians and as moral, upstanding citizens, we wouldn’t think of robbing a bank or convenience store. But would we feel the same way about cheating on our taxes or taking home paper clips and pens from the office? When someone comments on our Facebook page with an obscenity, we would hopefully remove it at once … but what if that same comment contained a racial slur or even the hint of disrespect toward another person, or a comment that contradicted our faith? Would we leave it – and leave others to wonder where we stood? Would we delete it and say nothing? Or would we challenge the comment – kindly of course – and let others know we do not agree with the statement? It’s one thing to avoid hurting someone else’s feelings by deleting their comments or post… but it’s quite another to even give the impression you approve of obscene or unkind comments.
I will be the first to admit this is a slippery slope – and it has probably cost me a “friend” or two in the bargain. For instance, the Internet has become a rather accepted venue for people to spew all sorts of venom – and some of it in the name of Jesus! So when I receive e-mail that is disrespectful toward our President, or unkind (and in some cases, downright obscene) toward a political leader or even a celebrity, or voices a moral or political opinion with the assumption that I agree and support it (and I don’t feel it lines up with my faith), I have to respond. Usually, I let the sender know (nicely) that I do not agree with these comments and would appreciate not receiving them in the future. In most cases, the person stops… whether he/she agrees remains a mystery. In a couple of cases, the sender sent even MORE material, and I had to hit the “block” button.
The point is, standing up for your faith in Jesus and for His teachings is not always easy or popular with the people you hang around each and every day. Some of them even feel that they are doing and saying things that please Jesus! But the bottom line is that, with Christ, there are no gray areas – no “either or” situations. We must all search our hearts, seek God’s word and His will, and then act accordingly. Cheating is cheating, lying is lying, spite is spite.
If choosing to do the right thing costs us an earthly friend or two but gains us the applause of Jesus, this is a small price to pay for His approval and pleasure. Sure, we are blessed when we cooperate with others and attempt to “keep the peace” – but not if it means compromising our values and going along with things that don’t line up with the word of God – or even the law (like underage drinking or leaving obscene comments on our Facebook wall) . Store up your treasure – and your popularity – in heaven by doing the right things and making good choices here and now. Hang tough in your faith, and be blessed forever and ever!
©2009 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------------
July 25 ~ Mark 12:29-31
Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
We know this passage… we sing about it in church… “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind… and with all your strength.” And if someone asked us, “Do you love the Lord?” we would probably not hesitate to say, “Absolutely! Of course!” But let’s break this down… when we ding the car door and don’t say anything to our parents or our spouse, are we loving God with all our heart? When someone gives us an extra $10 bill when making change, and we consider it our lucky day – do we love God with all our mind? When someone irritates us and we are “snippy” in return, are we loving God with all our soul? When “life” knocks us down, and we choose to stay there and wallow in our pity and that of others… have we loved God with all our strength?
See, loving God completely means counting on Him to see us through any and every situation. Loving God completely means respecting and revering Him in even the smallest of things, like admitting a car ding. And I haven’t even gotten to loving others as we love ourselves, which is the second part of this passage! If we treated others like we want to be treated, a whole lot of things would be very different in this world!
We need to take a long, hard look at this passage and examine every aspect of our lives. We need to think about the things we say and do – how we act and react to people and situations – and ask ourselves, “Am I loving God? Am I loving others like I want to be loved?” Unless the answer is “Absolutely – of course!” we have some work to do. How are YOU loving – and living – today?
©2009 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------------------------------------
July 24 ~ Romans 5:3-5
There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary - we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I am a “fixer.” When problems arise, I like to solve them… and quickly! But there are a lot of things that I just cannot fix. And there have been some incredibly valuable lessons for me in this realization. Death is one of these times. When the doctor says to you, “There is no brain activity,” or “We’ve done all we can do,” you have to accept that you are hemmed in with troubles, and there is no way out. The only option is to be patient, and wait for what God will do next.
When I heard the x-ray technician say, “Your ankle is broken,” I had no choice but to accept the splint – and subsequent cast and boot – and take a seat on the sidelines of life for a few months. The upside was that I had big chunks of time to write devos, read and study the Bible and some good books I’d been saving, and communicate with friends and family via e-mail, notes, cards and phone calls. I learned to appreciate the luxury of a hot shower and an unencumbered good night’s sleep (i.e. sleeping without a Frankenstein boot on my foot!). I was blessed with hot meals, love and concern from many wonderful people. I developed a greater appreciation for waking up healthy every day and the ability to walk across the room on my own two feet. Now, on days when I grumble about exercising, I remember that there was a time when I wondered if I would EVER be able to walk on the treadmill again, much less jog a few steps here and there. On mornings when I don’t want to get up, I think about people who can’t get out of bed, and I am humbled… and grateful!
Out of our troubles, inconveniences, stresses and struggles, God can bring us to new levels of patience, joy and gratitude. Just look back on the challenges you have already faced in life and ask yourself… “What did God show me through this?” Evaluate how well you paid attention to the blessings intermingled with the trials. Did you see them? Do you see them now?God never wastes an opportunity – to teach us AND to bless us. Sometimes we are just too busy trying to “fix” things to see that He has already done this! Don’t miss the blessings OR the lessons. Even in the worst, most tragic situation, God is still working to bring you joy and blessings. Open your heart and mind to His possibilities. Stay awake and alert - don’t miss a single thing God has in store for you!
©2009 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------
July 23 ~ Habakkuk 2:1-3
What's God going to say to my questions? I'm braced for the worst. I'll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon.
I'll wait to see what God says, how he'll answer my complaint.
And then God answered: "Write this. Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.
This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming.
It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I was talking on the phone with a friend recently, and I was telling her about Bro. Tommy’s sermon on finding time to reflect and pray - how he recommended making notes of the people and situations for which we prayed. At a later date, he suggests we go back and read through our notes and see how many prayers God has answered… and HOW He answered them. My friend added… “yes, and see how many have NOT been answered!”
We laughed, and I kidded her about her pessimism. She said she will see a name or situation and think, “I’ve been praying about that for seven years now and nothing has changed.” But in all honesty, I pointed out to her… these are prayers that God has either not answered yet – or He has answered in a way we didn’t expect. Listen again to what scripture is telling us in Habakkuk… “If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.”
I realize more every day how badly we want to “drive the car” – and I count myself chief among those who fall into this trap. It’s time we realized that this is Satan’s trap! If he can just keep us thinking that God isn’t working fast enough – or in the right way… that our needs and prayers are not being met… he still has us in his clutches. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be in Satan’s clutches – in even the smallest of ways. So I am making a concerted effort to stop this! I am really working to “let go and let God.” I’m ready for the blessings… I’m ready for the release from the burden of feeling *I* have to make things happen. I’m ready to take a backseat and let Someone else do the driving. Are you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
July 2009 Devotionals - Week 3
July 22 ~ Jeremiah 33:2-3
"This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.'
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
A friend was telling me recently about his work with a life coach. He said the coach had given him an “assignment” – to write down 100 of his accomplishments. My friend was stunned… “One hundred? He asked. The coach replied, “I could have asked for five hundred – and you have that many and more!” He went on to explain that even the things we take for granted, like learning to swim or ride a bike, are accomplishments. I said to my friend… “You know, we could take that one step further. We could also say that these are accomplishments made possible by GOD, and to downplay them or take them for granted is really an insult toward Him.” My friend agreed completely.
See, fail to recognize so very much of what God does for us – and we set tremendous limits on God because of our attitude. We give no thought to so much of what He does for us. Yet, by contrast, we assume that “this can’t happen” or “that will never change,” because we fail to recognize the limitless abilities of our GOD! Just look a butterfly that floats atop the flowers in your yard - or the hummingbird at a feeder. Look at your children… your pets and the intricacies of the color pattern in their fur… the way a wilted plant refreshes after being watered… and then tell me that God has limits!
The limits are OURS. Stop and think about this… God will tell us marvelous and wondrous things that we could never figure out on our own. But are we willing to let Him? Can we step aside and put our faith in God long enough to see Him work? Our pastor said recently that we should jot down our prayer thoughts – people and situations for whom we are praying. Then we should look back at these sometime later and see how many prayers God answered… and look at the incredible ways in which He worked. I know it seems too simple, but if we call to God, He will answer us. I don’t know about you, but "marvelous and wondrous things" sound pretty incredible to me. In the language of Facebook, I would “like” this! Wouldn’t you? Are you willing to do what is necessary… will you call to God and trust Him to answer? And will you recognize His handiwork in your life?
©2009 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------
July 21 ~ 1 Cor 1:18-25
The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written,
I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head,
I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots.
So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb - preaching, of all things! - to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.
While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle - and Greeks pass it off as absurd. But to us who are personally called by God himself - both Jews and Greeks - Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can't begin to compete with God's "weakness."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
When I was in high school, I really loved geometry. At the same time, geometry frustrated me on several levels. I loved the challenge of the proofs, but there were times when I had a problem I simply could not seem to solve… at least to my teacher’s satisfaction! In geometry you have to take an equation and solve it… but you have to “show your work.” You have to use a “proof” to explain, based on several theorems (or mathematical laws), how you got to the answer. Sometimes the answer I got was right, but the “proof” was wrong! That’s when I got frustrated.
This passage is telling us that a lot of people want hard proof of God’s existence… and of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. They want to be shown, beyond a shadow of a doubt, exactly how we are going to be forgiven of our sins and spend eternity in Heaven with God. For that matter, some want Heaven itself to be proven to them. Statements like “Look around at all of nature and the beauty and intricacies of life and tell me there is no God,” and “I know Jesus has saved me because I have faith and trust in God’s word to be true” are considered “weak” or “lame.” Some skeptics have to have physical proof… hard evidence or a “sign.”
But we who are Christians know that our faith is not geometry. All of the “proofs” in the world do not affect the promise of salvation and Eternity in Heaven. Jesus is the Son of God, sent to earth to live among man and die on a cross for his sins. The grave could not contain Jesus… He rose to sit at God’s right hand. Try as you and I might to prove all of this beyond dispute, people will continue to shoot holes in our evidence. Until they are ready to “believe and receive,” our faith will never make sense to them.
So what are we to do? How do we convince others to give their heart to Jesus? I believe the best way is by living out our faith every single day. We have to live in such a way that others want what we have… not in a bad or jealous way, but out of a sincere desire to be filled with the joy, grace and mercy of our loving Lord. We have to live in a way that shows others that God handles everything for us… and we trust Him to do just that. We have to live in a way that says to others, because God loved someone like me enough to die for my sins, I am encouraged and inspired to share love with others in any way I can.
I don’t know where you are today in this equation. I don’t know if you agree with me and accept Jesus as your Savior based on sheer faith and the promises of the Bible. Or maybe you are one of the skeptics who is saying, “Where is the proof?” I do know that my worst day walking with Jesus Christ is better than my best day without Him. I believe that God is real… that Christ is His ultimate wisdom and miracle all wrapped up into one. I look forward to spending eternity with God one day, and in the meantime, I want to serve Him however, wherever, and whenever I can.
I pray that you would consider carefully the message of the Cross. Don’t make this so complicated… the beauty of salvation is just how simple it is! Sincerely trust in God… humbly and honestly invite Jesus into your heart and ask for forgiveness of your sins. I believe you’ll get your proof… when Jesus comes into your heart, you will know that you know that you know Him, and He will be the real deal for you. The first step is yours… are you willing to take it?
©2009 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------------------
July 20 ~ Jeremiah 32:26-30
Then God's Message came again to Jeremiah: "Stay alert! I am God, the God of everything living. Is there anything I can't do? So listen to God's Message: No doubt about it, I'm handing this city over to the Babylonians and Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He'll take it. The attacking Chaldeans will break through and burn the city down: All those houses whose roofs were used as altars for offerings to Baal and the worship of who knows how many other gods provoked me. It isn't as if this were the first time they had provoked me. The people of Israel and Judah have been doing this for a long time—doing what I hate, making me angry by the way they live." God's Decree.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
We really don’t have to look very far to see people for whom stress is a way of life. I am thinking in particular of a lifelong friend of my mother’s who seems to always have about nine family crises happening at once. Her household includes her husband and a grandson, her elderly father, other relatives who visit frequently, a number of pets - and on any given day, trips to the ER, accidents so bizarre you couldn’t make them up, and a variety of challenging situations. Did I mention she was the recipient of a life-saving liver transplant two years ago? And yet, she seems to thrive on this chaos. Notice I didn’t say she enjoyed it, but I think we would worry if she telephoned someday and said nothing was wrong!
So what is her secret? How does she manage in such turmoil? She stays focused on God. Even while waiting for a liver transplant, she debated whether to miss her Bible study in a nearby town, knowing if she got “the call” it would add extra minutes to her drive to the hospital in Memphis. She has always been a woman of faith who trusted God to see her through every challenge – and He has!
I could cite examples of other people who face extraordinary challenges and obstacles each and every day yet remain positive and upbeat… and steadfast in their faith and trust in God. See, these people know what we should all know… that nothing is too big for God to handle. They understand that whatever “battles” we have, God will fight them for us… if we will let Him. We don’t have to figure things out for ourselves… often we couldn’t anyway. All we have to do is trust God and say, “This is yours, Lord. If you want me to do something, show me. But otherwise, I’m letting you handle this.”
I promise, for every challenge, illness, accident, struggle, disappointment, battle, and question you have, God has an answer. Some of us are “circling the drain,” so to speak, but God can rescue us. He will not let us “go down the tubes,” unless we choose to do so. We can choose to let Him save us. Obviously, this doesn’t mean all of our troubles will be over, but it does mean everything will be okay. There will never be something we can’t handle with God’s help – the key is to include Him. What about you? Have you asked for help… or are you still trying to do things on your own? Isn’t it about time you “let go and let God?”
©2009 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------------
July 19 ~ Romans 8:26-28
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
In our house I have several lights that are on timers. The little clock ticks all day and night, and at specific times, the lights come on and go off. I don’t do anything – but these timers work in the background so that we have illumination in certain places at specific times.
There are times when I spend an hour or more a day (or evening) just sitting somewhere quietly and talking to God – praying for my family and friends and the situations of the day. Sometimes I even make lists and pray over them. But lately, I find that my prayers have been more on the variety of the “wordless sighs and aching groans” that Paul talks about in this passage. As situations arise throughout the day, I find that I am simply saying, “Thank you, Jesus,” for this or that… or “Help me, Lord,” in specific situations.
Sometimes I will hear about a person who has a specific need, and I will speak a prayer at that moment for the person. By the end of the day, I realize that I have talked to God off and on all day, but I have not set aside a specific time for quiet, contemplative prayer. And I’ll admit, sometimes, I just have to say, “Oh, Lord… YOU know!” and rest in the fact that He DOES know what I need better than I do. I’ll admit, it often bothers me that I came to the end of another day and didn’t take time to sit quietly and meditate with God… or to intercede. I wonder… am I that disjointed or “busy” that I can’t sit for awhile in the presence of my Heavenly Father?
But this scripture has renewed my faith and encouraged me. Even when I am not satisfied with my methods for communicating with God, the very fact that I do communicate pleases Him. God understands this season in my life… He knows better than I the “whys and wherefores” of my life, and He is creating the best possible outcome for me and others. I know times of quiet meditation will come again. But most importantly, I know that in the meantime, God is still with me – He still hears me. Like the timers we have on the lighting in our home, God is working to make sure that we are properly “illuminated” and that our prayers are heard – and answered.
If you are communicating with God - even in groans and sighs – He is hearing you. He will work all things together in your life for good, even when you are tired and discouraged. This is incredible news… this is our HOPE and our promise! Be encouraged… keep communicating with God… and watch Him work!
©2009 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------
July 18 ~ 1 John 1:8-10
If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins - make a clean breast of them - he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God - make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Recently we watched the movie Flywheel. This movie was produced by the same group who made Facing the Giants and Fireproof. The production quality is not that great (they tell you right at the start they spent $20,000 to make the movie!), and the story is a bit corny in spots, but it’s still worth your time. Basically, this is the story of a used-car salesman who is fairly successful – but at the expense of his customers. For a couple of years, he operates on the theory that he is providing a good living for his family, and that whatever people are stupid enough to believe – and/or pay – is their problem, not his.
What he comes to see is how he is not only cheating his customers… he is cheating himself, his family, his employees – and GOD! I don’t want to give away the whole story, but let’s just say that this salesman learns some tough lessons about how God operates. He learns that it is never too late to change… that even when WE think everything is in such a mess that there is no way out, GOD can make a way. When we give our situation – and our very lives – over to God and let Him do what HE wants with us… amazing things happen.
I’ll admit that this movie oversimplifies things - not all situations have an easy, happy ending where everything is perfect in an instant just because we turn our lives – and our messes - over to God. For some of us, the road back may be long and filled with struggle and tremendous effort. But in the end, the results will be worth it. I’m not saying that we will all live in a nice house with a picket fence and the perfect family and life. But when we live for God and give Him full control – complete rule over our life – He will meet our needs and bless us in ways we can’t even begin to imagine. Open your heart and mind to the possibilities. Commit your life and all that you say and do to God… and watch what happens. I promise… it’s gonna be amazing!
©2009 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------
July 17 ~ Joel 2:28-32
"And that's just the beginning: After that -
"I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters.
Your old men will dream, your young men will see visions.
I'll even pour out my Spirit on the servants, men and women both.
I'll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below:
Blood and fire and billowing smoke,
the sun turning black and the moon blood-red,
Before the Judgment Day of God, the Day tremendous and awesome.
Whoever calls, 'Help, God!' gets help.
On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be a great rescue - just as God said.
Included in the survivors are those that God calls."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
On our 25th wedding anniversary, my parents and my 9-year-old niece brought us a cake, and we celebrated together. We reminisced about the wedding and how things had changed in a quarter century – the clothes we wore and how stylish we thought we were at the time. My niece said, “I want to see the video!” We laughed and explained that in 1974, there was no such thing as “home video” – at least not as we know it today. She was amazed, and I’m sure she thought we adults were all ancient!
This made me stop and think about how many advances we have made in the world in just my lifetime. I can remember when we first got air conditioning and when my grandparents got a COLOR television! Many of you may not remember rotary dial telephones, reel-to-reel tape recorders, slide projectors, or filmstrips in your classrooms! And if I look at my grandmother’s life, I realize that in nearly 97 years, she has seen us go from horse-drawn wagons to space shuttles, those old wooden box telephones on the wall and party lines to cell phones and Skype, cooking on a wood stove to microwaves, slate chalkboards for writing lessons in the classroom to texting on hand-held devices, and more!
For all of the changes that we have witnessed in the last century, there is one thing that never changes… God’s promises. Everything God has ever said He would do has happened. Every person who has asked for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit has received it. Whoever calls “Help, God!” really does get His help! In essence, there really isn’t anything new under the sun… or I should say, under The SON! Yes, technology improves and changes. But the basic needs and challenges of man do not. And GOD doesn’t change. He still cares for us just as He did those foretold by the prophet Joel. He still answers when we call… He still pours out His Spirit on us.
It is important that we stop and think about this. The most vital aspect of our lives – our relationship with God – never changes… and hasn’t for thousands of years. When everything seems impossible… when challenges seem too big to handle… we can look to God and remind ourselves of His consistency! Day in and day out, He is with us, answering us, blessing us and meeting our needs… and that will never change! Praise be to God for His amazing, unending grace and mercy over us. Let us never forget how He cares for us!
©2009 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------
July 16 ~ Joel 2:25-27
"I'll make up for the years of the locust, the great locust devastation—
Locusts savage, locusts deadly, fierce locusts, locusts of doom,
That great locust invasion I sent your way.
You'll eat your fill of good food. You'll be full of praises to your God,
The God who has set you back on your heels in wonder.
Never again will my people be despised.
You'll know without question that I'm in the thick of life with Israel,
That I'm your God, yes, your God, the one and only real God.
Never again will my people be despised.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever played a video game where the deeper you got into the game, the faster opponents and objects came at you? I’m thinking of a game on my laptop called “Otto’s Magic Blocks.” The object is to use your arrow buttons to bounce a character from one block to another until every block is lit. Sounds easy enough… but there are little “gremlins” that pop up along the way. You have to figure out – in a big hurry! – how to maneuver around these “gremlins.” And you have limited time and three “strikes” before you are “out” and the game is over.
If you finally manage to conquer Level I, you work on Level II, which has a more complicated block pattern, and more “gremlins!” As you manage to progress through the levels, everything gets more complicated, and the “gremlins” keep on coming. The games can be fun, but also frustrating – and even maddening. You want to overcome and make it to the next level to make up for the feelings of frustration and irritation along the way!
Sometimes our life is like “Otto’s Magic Blocks” – frustrating, challenging, maddening at times, and filled with “gremlins.” Like the years of the locusts that devastated and just kept on coming in scripture, our hours seem like they are filled with one thing or another to complicate our lives at best… and devastate us at worst. But GOD can restore us. He can conquer any “gremlin.” He can set us back on our feet and fill us with His blessings. And He will do just this. No matter what comes our way… no matter what “gremlins” or “locusts” challenge, madden, or devastate us… GOD can make up for it. Focus on Him. Stay strong in Him, and know that He will make it all right again. God will bring you through to the next level. With God, it’s “game over… you win!”
©2009 Debbie Robus
July 2009 Devotionals - Week 2
July 15 ~ Isaiah 61:1-7
The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me.
He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken,
Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners.
God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—
and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory.
They'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They'll start over on the ruined cities,
take the rubble left behind and make it new.
You'll hire outsiders to herd your flocks and foreigners to work your fields,
But you'll have the title "Priests of God," honored as ministers of our God.
You'll feast on the bounty of nations, you'll bask in their glory.
Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt,
Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever had a “double dose of trouble?” Maybe it came in the form of a week that just seemed to have no end. I had a week like that recently. It started out rather simply, and I had grand plans of getting a lot of “projects” done at a leisurely pace. And that’s when “the bottom fell out.” Several unexpected events arose, and it seemed that I just got busier and busier as the week went along. I have to admit, there were moments when it was hard to find my joy! Don’t tell me YOU don’t have times like this – we all do.
So how do we manage? I have found that any time I let things get to me… any time I get “down and out,” I have not spent enough time with God. I have not stayed close enough in prayer and Bible study and quiet meditation with Him. Because you see, every time I go to God and share my thoughts and feelings, He calms me. He quiets my spirit and encourages me. He fills me with comfort - and JOY! When I stop and take time to hear from God, He encourages me and helps me to start over. He restores and renews me, and whatever I was so overwhelmed by doesn’t seem as significant any longer.
What about you? Is the Spirit of God on you, anointing you and giving you what the King James Version of this passage calls “beauty for ashes?” Years ago, my grandparents’ house burned to the ground just before Christmas. It burned so hot that afterward, there was nothing left but a few foundation stones, and everything was bulldozed flat. When spring came, the area where the house had once stood was covered with beautiful blooming petunias. I’m sure that the bulldozer had spread some seed from my grandmother’s flower beds. But literally, out of the ashes, flowers grew. And out of the “ashes” of our lives, God can grow flowers. We just have to open ourselves to His work in us. We have to stay close to God and focused on Him. As scripture tells us in the book of James, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” So I ask... do you often have a double dose of trouble these days? Or do you have more roses than ashes? The choice is ours.
©2009 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
July 14 ~ Isaiah 54:1-6
"Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby.
Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth!
You're ending up with far more children
than all those childbearing women." God says so!
"Clear lots of ground for your tents!
Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!
Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep.
You're going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family.
You're going to take over whole nations;
you're going to resettle abandoned cities.
Don't be afraid - you're not going to be embarrassed.
Don't hold back - you're not going to come up short.
You'll forget all about the humiliations of your youth,
and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory.
For your Maker is your bridegroom, his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel, known as God of the whole earth.
You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief,
and God welcomed you back,
Like a woman married young and then left," says your God.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
You are probably wondering why in the world I am sharing a scripture passage today about barren women who have never had a baby…and widows! This is actually a “Why me, Lord?” passage. How often do you wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” Maybe you are sick, or maybe you are ending a relationship with someone, or maybe you lost your job – or can’t find a job! Maybe you have just lost your spark… you don’t seem to have any energy or enthusiasm about anything. Whatever is happening, you are at least wondering to yourself, “Why me?”
Isaiah is telling us to pick ourselves up - and like the old song… dust ourselves off - and get ready! Something BIG is coming. In other words, we don’t have time to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves, because God has work for us to do! Even when we are sick, there are things we can do… like pray… and if we feel up to it, call, write or e-mail others to encourage them in their faith. If we are ending a relationship, we know God has not deserted us, and He will help us to rebuild and move forward. If we need a job, God will help us find one.
The KEY is to stay focused on WHO is important and WHAT He has promised. We all get in a rut sometimes. We all have problems on any given day, and it is so easy to collapse in a heap and say, “Why me?!” But Isaiah reminds us that we don’t have time to waste on this pity party! We have to get ready for God’s next good thing in our life! And if we stay focused on serving Him, there will be a next good thing! So clear your “ground” for the tents, put the past in the past, look to the future without fear or embarrassment, and GET READY! The best is yet to be with God… with Him in charge of your steps, you will never come up short!
©2009 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------
July 13 ~ Isaiah 32:15-20
Yes, weep and grieve until the Spirit is poured
down on us from above
And the badlands desert grows crops
and the fertile fields become forests.
Justice will move into the badlands desert.
Right will build a home in the fertile field.
And where there's Right, there'll be Peace
and the progeny of Right: quiet lives and endless trust.
My people will live in a peaceful neighborhood—
in safe houses, in quiet gardens.
The forest of your pride will be clear-cut,
the city showing off your power leveled.
But you will enjoy a blessed life,
planting well-watered fields and gardens,
with your farm animals grazing freely.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
One of my “heroes” is a little lady named Geraldine McCurry. I call her MawMac. She and I share the same birthdate, and she has known me all of my life. We call each other our “Birthday Buddy,” and I love her dearly. Why is MawMac my hero? Because MawMac is truly a woman who has had the Spirit poured down on her from above. And even though the forest of her pride has been clear-cut and the city showing off her power has been leveled, she enjoys a blessed life… and she is a continual blessing to others.
MawMac’s husband fought in WWII while she and her little daughter kept the home fires burning. When he returned, two more daughters were born – the last with cerebral palsy. In an era when children with special needs were whisked away to “homes” and even labeled “retarded,” MawMac and her family cared for their daughter at home. She attended church with them every Sunday in her wheelchair, and we learned to treat her as an intelligent young woman who just happens to be trapped in a challenged body. On July 4th, MawMac started her 91st birthday by driving to Conway to visit with her daughter. Now 57, she has such serious health problems that she must live in a facility that provides the care she requires.
But that’s not all. MawMac’s body has been ravaged by osteoporosis to the point that she will quickly tell you, “I’ve shrunk FIVE inches!” And truly, at somewhere around four feet tall, she looks more like a “little person” with each passing year. I’m sure there have been many other difficulties along the way… but the Christmas before her 90th birthday, MawMac suffered a serious fall that almost took her life.
Any time the doors are open at First Baptist Church, you’ll probably find MawMac there. And often, she can also be seen at events many of the other churches in town. She is a faithful attendee of everything from local dance recitals and concerts to Chamber of Commerce dinners. So MawMac’s fall happened the day of her church’s annual Christmas Cantata. She stumbled getting out of the car and fell onto the sidewalk, her hands hitting the concrete with such force that both of her shoulders were broken badly. She was rushed to a Little Rock hospital, where surgery was deemed necessary.
But there was a problem… MawMac has a blood disorder that makes any surgery very high risk. We all feared that this might be the end of her. But she survived the surgery, and she vowed to drive again by her 90th birthday the next July, so that she could visit her daughter. Such a recovery in this time period would have been daunting for a teenager, much less an 89-year-old. But not MawMac!! Everyone prayed over her, and I know she prayed for God to give her the strength to do this. Her daughters told me of the pain she suffered in therapy sessions… how hard she worked to regain her strength and range of motion. I know there was absolutely no way she did this on her own. I know… and I am certain she would tell you… that God healed her supernaturally.
MawMac is a blessing to others. She is a whirlwind of activity – a little spitfire! - but I can assure you her soul is at peace and filled with endless trust. The garden of her life is well watered by the Holy Spirit. Troubles and heartaches are going to come to all of us. But we don’t have to be consumed by them. The prophet Isaiah knew that a Savior was coming to bring justice, peace, prosperity and endless trust. MawMac knows this, too… she lives a Spirit-filled life every day. And so can we!
Don’t you want this? Even if you don’t live to be 91, don’t you want to have this kind of confidence and peace the rest of your days? Whatever challenges I am given, I may weep and grieve for a brief moment, but the Holy Spirit will pour out comfort and peace, and I will LIVE for Him… and in honor of MawMac! Who are your earthly heroes? How are you living – and who do you honor?
©2009 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------
July 12 ~ Genesis 2:18-20
God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn't find a suitable companion.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I think I have referenced this before, but there is a scene in the movie, “The Jerk,” where Steve Martin’s character Navin R. Johnson, has been sued and lost all of his money. His wife, played by Bernadette Peters, is dumping him. Navin was a poor young man who “made it big” and became rich, and he acquired a mansion and many material possessions. As he is leaving his mansion, he is saying to his wife that he will be okay… he knows what it is to have nothing, and he will be satisfied again with that lifestyle. According to www.IMDB.com, here is what he says (remember, this is a comedy):
- Navin R. Johnson: Well I'm gonna to go then. And I don't need any of this. I don't need this stuff, and I don't need you. I don't need anything except this. [picks up an ashtray]
- Navin R. Johnson: And that's it and that's the only thing I need, is this. I don't need this or this. Just this ashtray. And this paddle game, the ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need. And this remote control. The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need. And these matches. The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control and the paddle ball. And this lamp. The ashtray, this paddle game and the remote control and the lamp and that's all I need. And that's all I need too. I don't need one other thing, not one - I need this. The paddle game, and the chair, and the remote control, and the matches, for sure. And this. And that's all I need. The ashtray, the remote control, the paddle game, this magazine and the chair. [walking outside]
- Navin R. Johnson: And I don't need one other thing, except my dog. [dog barks]
- Navin R. Johnson: I don't need my dog.
Through the years, this conversation has been the basis for a running gag between my husband and me. We will be talking about how we don’t really need a thing, but we surely would like to have such-and-such, and one of us will say, “All I need is this ashtray…” and we start to laugh. So often, we seem to have everything we could want or need, and yet we are not satisfied. Or we think we need “just one more thing” and we will have it all. God gave Adam every living creature – every animal and bird – and even the authority to name them. But it wasn’t enough… something was still missing. How often is something missing in our lives, even when we “have it all?” Is it because we are searching in the wrong places? Are we seeking satisfaction from people – or things – instead of a relationship with God? That’s what Adam was missing – a relationship!
Earthly things will never satisfy. People will come and go throughout our lives. The only constant will be our relationship with God… the only sure and “Forever Companion” will be the Holy Spirit. There is nothing wrong with having possessions. Personal relationships with people are great… and necessary. But the lasting relationship with Jesus Christ - and His presence in the form of the Holy Spirit - is truly “the one thing” we need. Jesus is The One – HE makes the difference. Be sure you are in constant companionship with Him – everything else is just gravy on the side!
©2009 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 11 ~ Ephesians 5:21-27
Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.
Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.
Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church - a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor - since they're already "one" in marriage.
(Scripture from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Everybody is searching for the “magic bullet” that will create a great relationship. Books are written about how to get along with others – especially “love and dating” relationships. The book Men Are From Mars – Women Are From Venus comes to mind. Magazine headlines grab attention touting articles about how to “get a man (or woman)” – and keep them! Everywhere we turn we are bombarded with information about this topic, so obviously we want (or need!) help with navigating the relationship waters.
And we have it! The Bible tells us all we need to know about how to get along with others… including our “love relationships.” This passage particularly addresses how men and women should treat each other in marriage, but it could be adapted to guide us in dating, too. And the very first verse really tells the tale… Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. If we entered into relationships with others with this in mind – with the intention of being courteously reverent to one another – amazing things might happen. It can’t hurt to try this… right?
Whatever your “relationship status” these days, doesn’t this seem like sound advice? Isn’t the Bible the best place to start in a search for suggestions about this – and everything else, for that matter? Jesus was all about relationships, so it stands to reason He would be the best starting point for learning how to develop successful ones for ourselves. Where are you seeking advice these days… how “courteously reverent” are your relationships?
©2009 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------
July 10 ~ Proverbs 31:10-31
A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!"
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
(Scripture from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Before all of you GUYS tune me out, this passage is for YOU, too! See, we need to think of the “good woman” in this passage as each of us in relation to being “the bride of Christ.” If you consider yourself Christ’s “bride” – if you belong to Him, then the “good woman” becomes YOU! So let’s see how you chalk up…
- Does Jesus trust you without reserve and never have reason to regret it?
- Do you treat Him generously all the time?
- Do you get up early and stay up late to do things to serve Jesus?
- Do you plant seeds of faith in others?
- Do you create a home (meaning your earthly body) that is welcoming and pleasing?
- Do you assist the needy and the poor?
- Do you carry yourself in a manner that is neat, attractive, and respectable?
- Do you face each day and the situations it brings with a smile?
- Do you speak kindly and wisely?
- Do you watch out for others – do you live with class?
- Do you respect God and live in reverence of Him?
©2009 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------------------
July 9 ~ Proverbs 3:13-18
You're blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom,
when you make friends with Madame Insight.
She's worth far more than money in the bank;
her friendship is better than a big salary.
Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth;
nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
With one hand she gives long life,
with the other she confers recognition.
Her manner is beautiful,
her life wonderfully complete.
She's the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her.
Hold her tight—and be blessed!
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I write articles for a website called Helium. There is a wide variety of subjects on which to write, and topics are suggested to get you started. Recently, I saw a debate topic on the list for “writers needed”… “Would you rather be born with wealth or intelligence?” Writers will weigh in on both sides of this question. I have not decided yet whether I will write to this topic. If I do, I know which side will get my vote and my thoughts!
The Bible clearly tells us that wisdom is more valuable than riches. Knowledge truly is power! With wisdom we are able to determine the right choices. With wisdom we are able to create a course for our life that very well might lead to tangible earthly wealth. But this should not be our goal. With God-given wisdom, we are able to discern right from wrong… and to avoid Satan’s traps. We are able to determine who needs our help and who is out to engage us in sinful activity – and how to know the difference!
God-given wisdom leads to wealth – maybe not money or material abundance in this life – but the riches of an eternity in heaven with Jesus. My grandmothers used to tell me to “marry a rich man – a doctor or a lawyer.” They meant well… and I did “marry rich!” I married a man who has grown rich in wisdom… a man who loves God and desires to serve Him. Your parents may tell you to study hard and get a college degree so you can make a lot of money. There is nothing wrong with that... and working and earning a living is important. But attaining material wealth or riches will not be your most important achievement. Attaining wisdom and insight – especially into matters related to your service to Christ – are what matters. If you want a full, “rich” life – seek God’s wisdom and His will. This will complete your life – this is where the real blessings are found!
©2009 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 8 ~ Proverbs 6:16-19
Here are six things God hates,
and one more that he loathes with a passion:
eyes that are arrogant,
a tongue that lies,
hands that murder the innocent,
a heart that hatches evil plots,
feet that race down a wicked track,
a mouth that lies under oath,
a troublemaker in the family.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Facebook is so interesting to me. I read posts on the “News Feed” page that astound me. Some people use this venue as a fun, lighthearted way to keep in touch with friends and family – or to share information of interest to many. Some people use Facebook as a forum to vent their frustrations, albeit cryptically sometimes, so that most of us don’t have a clue who – or what – they are talking about! Some use it as a platform for expressing their political opinions – often as if the whole world agrees with them completely. Still others use this “wall” to judge people – to berate and criticize anyone who doesn’t meet their standards or behave to suit them.
The saddest thing about all of this is that some of the folks who post the most outlandish comments do so under the guise of being Spirit-filled Christians! They fail to realize that their words are just as powerful as arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, murdering hands, a heart that hatches evil plots, wicked feet, and lies made while under oath. And worst of all, their words are designed to stir up trouble in the family, so to speak.
I hope no one will misunderstand me. I am not saying that we don’t have a right to exercise free speech. Certainly we do! But we have to be very careful about how we conduct ourselves. Believe it or not, Satan can use even Facebook, Twitter, texting, MySpace, e-mail, blogs, and more to accomplish his goals. Do NOT underestimate his cunning ability, his devious nature, and his willingness even to invoke the name of God or the cover of Christianity to accomplish his goals. Recently a politician tried to justify his marital infidelity, in part by citing the Biblical account of David and Bathsheba… noting that God used David and made him a great leader. What he failed to mention was the price that David paid – the loss of his own son and more – because of his sin.
God is not pleased when we behave this way. He does not like it one bit when our behavior contains any of the acts listed here. The Bible can’t be more plain than to say that He loathes troublemakers in the family. I believe this refers to our Christian family and the community at large as much as our biological relatives. So this is a good time to take stock of our lives. We need to stop and assess how we are behaving. Where have we justified our behavior and/or sin – where have we allowed Satan to fool us into thinking what we are saying and doing is okay? Where do we need to clean up our act – our language and the thoughts and ideas we are expressing, both online and in our everyday life?
What would happen if we traded our complaints and negativity on these “walls” for positive statements… for words of encouragement, praises and acknowledgments of God’s grace and power in our lives? Some are doing this already, but many more need to follow. Are you willing to take a stand? Are you willing to voice the lovely things of God more often and drive the devil a little crazy? Interesting concept, isn’t it?! Are you up to the challenge?
©2009 Debbie Robus
July 2009 Devotionals
July 7 ~ Proverbs 3:5-12
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline;
don't sulk under his loving correction.
It's the child he loves that God corrects;
a father's delight is behind all this.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Several electrical outlets in our house are equipped with Ground Fault Interrupters – GFI’s for short. This means if a significant amount of moisture is detected, a breaker is thrown, and the power to that outlet and others on the same circuit is interrupted. These outlets are now required in new construction for such places as kitchens, bathrooms, and anywhere else there is a water source, like a laundry room. More than once, for a reason I cannot determine, this breaker has “thrown,” and I’ve lost power to a particular circuit. This means I have to press a button to reset the power, which is no big deal, really. But in my bathroom, I have a digital clock, and every time I have to reset the GFI, I have to reset that clock. Small irritation? Yes, but I realize that this represents an action that is ultimately protecting my safety. This system is designed to prevent accidental electrocution – and that’s a good thing!
Sometimes things don’t go like we want them to – or think they should – and we are mildly irritated with God. “Why did this happen? Why didn’t You prevent that from tripping me up? Where were You?” we ask. The truth is that God is always with us… always guiding our paths and watching out for us. His ways are so much better than ours, and when things don’t go like we planned – or desired – there is probably a pretty good reason! And when we feel like God is trying to teach us a lesson, we had better get busy listening – and thanking Him – because His correction is a shining example of His love for us.
This is such a wonderful scripture passage… “Trust God from the bottom of your heart – don’t try to figure out everything on your own.” I know this is hard. We all want desperately to “drive the car.” Run from evil! Run to God! He’s the one who will keep you on track! It’s time we grew up and realized that God is always the better driver… and our own personal GFI.
©2009 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 6 ~ Psalms 133:1-3
How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!
It's like costly anointing oil
flowing down head and beard,
Flowing down Aaron's beard,
flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
It's like the dew on Mount Hermon
flowing down the slopes of Zion.
Yes, that's where God commands the blessing,
ordains eternal life.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I know parents who say the only time their children are getting along is when they are all asleep! When my husband and his two older brothers were small, one of the boys rode on the front seat on trips as their dad drove, and their mother sat in the back seat between the other two boys. This apparently prevented World War III! And while my parents didn’t use this seating arrangement, they had other positioning tactics to prevent battles during our own car trips.
Sibling rivalry is nothing new – it was mentioned in the Psalms! - and it seems to go with the territory. But that doesn’t mean it pleases God. And certainly “sibling rivalry” between brothers and sisters in Christ displeases Him. Yet, just as with our own brothers and sisters, there seems to often be dissention among Christians. We gossip, pick at one another, and sometimes argue loudly! We undermine the efforts of others and jockey for “position” in the church. And the devil dances! This is one of his best – and most favorite – tools! Because if he can get brothers and sisters in Christ to argue, fuss and fight, non-believers will notice. And they will deem us hypocrites and phonies… and they won’t want anything to do with us!
Let’s face it… we are never going to like everybody. We are never going to see eye to eye with every person we encounter. But we can “take the high road,” – or walk away – and avoid conflict. How wonderful… how beautiful to get along with our Christian brothers and sisters. The mental image I have is God sitting in the back seat between the two disagreeable siblings. His presence prevents any conflict and ensures a smooth ride. How awesome to let God handle the conflicts – in His timing and His way – and foil the devil’s joy in the process!
©2009 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------------
July 5 ~ Matthew 18:18-20
"Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I’m reading a book called The Noticer, by Andy Andrews. In this book two men are talking on the beach, eating a dinner consisting of Vienna sausages and sardines while sitting in the sand. I’m paraphrasing here, but one man asks the other what he is eating, and he replies, “Vienna sausages and sardines,” and the other man says, “You’re looking at this all wrong… YOU are having Vienna sausages and sardines in the sand - I’m having surf and turf with an ocean view!”
How often do we limit God because we fail to notice Him or recognize His power? How often do we say, “I’m never going to get a job,” or “I’ll never be well again,” or “I’ll always be overweight and out of shape.”? On the other hand, have you ever asked God to help you do something that you felt was beyond your abilities, and He enabled you to accomplish it? Maybe everybody told you that you could not finish a college degree, but you prayed and persevered and proved the humans wrong!
See, God is in the business of equipping us to do far more than we could ever imagine possible on our own. When we call on God and trust Him to work in and through us, incredible things happen! When we join with other Christians to agree in God’s name for answers to our prayers, amazing blessings flow. That’s why it is so important that we pray for each other… that we ask for intercessory prayers from others for our own needs - and share our blessings and praises with friends and fellow Christians. There may be “safety in numbers,” but when it comes to the actions of our Heavenly Father, there is power, also!
I’m not saying we must air every problem we have to the masses. I’m not saying God doesn’t answer the prayers we utter in private. But clearly, God wants us to share His message and His ministry with others… and He wants us to believe and receive His power and blessings. Do you see the power of God at work in your life? Is your conversation with others sprinkled with talk of God’s power, dialog about your needs and blessings, and confidence that God will answer your prayers? What is on your plate these days… are you eating “surf and turf with an ocean view?”
©2009 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------
July 3 ~ Ephesians 6:10-12
And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you seen the new commercial on television where a man sits down with two little girls and asks the first one, “Would you like a pony?” The little girl says “Yes,” and the man gives her a little plastic pony. Then he asks the other little girl the same question, and when she says “Yes,” he brings out a real pony! The first little girl says, “You didn’t say we could have a real pony!” The man replies… “You didn’t ask!”
So often, we try to fight Satan and the strongholds in our life with the “plastic pony,” because we didn’t ask – or believe - God for the real one. So often, we don’t take every “tool” or weapon God has given us, and as a result, we try to muddle through with mediocre, inadequate materials. And we all know this drill… it does NOT work!
This IS for keeps – we are working toward eternity with Jesus. Nothing but the best will do… and God has provided it. All we have to do is ask for it – all we have to do is choose wisely. All we have to do is utilize what God has provided – the best weapons and materials possible!
©2009 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------
July 2 ~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Summer is the season when many of us pack up our tents and go camping. And anyone who has ever pitched a tent knows that the first order of business is to clean and smooth a spot of ground. Nothing is more unpleasant than a tent floor with a tree root or pebble underneath it! So we use a rake, shovel, or a makeshift tool to get a patch of ground nice and smooth before we start raising the tent poles.
In our Christian life, a “tree root” or “pebble” in the form of a stronghold or sin can cause us a lot of trouble. Not only is this unpleasant and/or uncomfortable, but it can leave a mark, so to speak! If we are not careful, we get used to that rough spot (or sin), and we don’t even realize that it has become a part of our makeup.
God has given us the tools to clear our path… to make a smooth “bed” for the tent of our life. The way may not be easy, and the “tools” may require us to become obedient and work hard, but in the end, the result – a life shaped by Christ – is so worth it. Today, let’s take a look at the foundation for our “tent” and see where we need to clear away the rocks and roots that cause us trouble. Let’s use our powerful God-tools to create a life that pleases Him in every way.
©2009 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------------------------------------
July 1 ~ Romans 12:1-2
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Recently my mother and I were talking about foul language. She is working this summer at an Opera camp, where adults have come from around the world to hone their skills as musicians. She said foul language is common around the camp, and she honestly doesn’t understand what the people think it adds to their conversation. We began a discussion of how common four-letter words are now in regular television (not to mention movies and music). I am just old enough to remember when Rhett Butler’s utterance at the end of Gone With the Wind was a huge deal. Now we hear “that word” on television every day.
Frankly, there have been “friends” of mine on Facebook that I have had to hide… not so much because they use four-letter language – but because THEIR friends do. I don’t want that language on my wall. I can’t have my friends thinking I condone this talk. “Yeah, but everybody does it now,” you may think. No, everybody doesn’t do it. And even if they do, does that mean we have to as well? Our language is just one small way we drop our guard and let our culture dictate how we act and think. It is one more tool of the devil to throw us off our game… and as this scripture says, this is a sign of immaturity.
For the next month or so, we are going to talk about strongholds and how to use scripture and prayer to tear them down. We all have them, whether we recognize that they are in our life or not. For you, it might be four-letter words. For another person, it might be something else altogether. Regardless, God expects our best, and the Bible tells us how to achieve this. Let’s pray and study together this month to tear down strongholds in our lives and to become more mature as Christians. Let’s fix our attention on God and be changed from the inside out!
©2009 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)