Galatians 4:1-3
Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance, he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation. That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives.
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.
Like many people, I have family heirlooms that I plan to pass on to my nieces and nephews someday. However, many times, the heirs are too young to fully appreciate the inheritance – or to properly care for the items. For example nobody would give a three-year-old boy his Grandpa’s gun or expect a 12-year-old girl to be trusted with an expensive piece of diamond jewelry. Young children have neither the maturity nor the capacity for housing Grandma’s china or a piece of furniture that has been handed down for generations. So the benefactor often holds onto these things – or places them in a “trust” - until the heirs mature.
What does this have to do with our Christian faith? God has so much that He wants to give us. We are truly the “heirs to His kingdom.” But most of us are not spiritually mature enough to handle this gift… at least not all of it. So we must be tutored and guided until we reach a level of Christian maturity. As we get to certain points in our “faith walk,” God grants us more gifts and blessings.
My grandparents and other relatives taught me about many of the heirlooms that I treasure today… who made them, how they were used, and more. I am trying to do the same for my nieces and nephews… teaching them to appreciate these pieces and why they are significant. I am not saving everything to be dispensed when I die. As they grow and mature enough to care for these heirlooms, I am sharing some of them. I get a kick out of watching these “children” enjoy my gifts. And it’s the same with God. He loves to see us reach a level of maturity that enables us to enjoy and fully appreciate His gifts and blessings.
Some of us want to resist God’s teaching. We think we already know far more than we truly do. Don’t be like this. Get over yourself, and accept God’s instruction and guidance. The sooner you grow and mature in your faith, the sooner you can receive more of the blessings of your inheritance. Listen to God… learn from Him… and get ready to be rewarded with His good gifts!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 29, 2012
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
My friends, you are acting like the people of this world. That’s why I could not speak to you as spiritual people. You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ is concerned. So I had to treat you like babies and feed you milk. You could not take solid food, and you still cannot, because you are not yet spiritual. You are jealous and argue with each other. This proves that you are not spiritual and that you are acting like the people of this world.
Some of you say that you follow me, and others claim to follow Apollos. Isn’t that how ordinary people behave?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, our church “confirmed” several sixth graders. They vowed to love Jesus and serve Him… and the church. We (the church members) vowed to love and nurture these children, meet their needs, and serve alongside them. The “confirmands” have been spending time together for several weeks as a group – learning about God, the church, and what it means to be a Disciple of Christ. I daresay that some of these children may know more about this now than many adults! But one thing I can say for sure is that no matter how much these children know – or think they know – about God, there is so much more to learn!
More than a few of us are stuck in a rut as Christians. We’ve been content with the “Spiritual milk” of knowing the basics about Jesus and how He died on the cross for our sins. We’ve acknowledged that we want to be Christians… that yes, we love Jesus and want His forgiveness… we want to go to heaven someday. But we have not taken any further steps to affirm our faith. We’ve not given up old habits and interests and sought the will of God for our lives. We have not asked, “What do I do now? How do I serve and share this GOOD NEWS with others? Where – and how – do You want me to serve You, LORD?” Honestly, I think some of us are afraid of His answers!
In order to build our faith and grow in our knowledge of the LORD… and service to Him… we will have to grow up. We will have to stop acting like everyone else and be who God has called us to be. We will have to be willing to stop being coddled like babies and instead, be treated like mature Christians - which is a huge commitment! If God gave us everything all at once as new Christians, we couldn’t handle it. Spiritual growth and maturity is a slow process for most of us. But the results are so worth the effort.
Are you ready to park your old ways and pick up the new ones that God has laid before you? Are you hungry for His word and will… and eager to learn more each day about how God operates? Are you ready to grow in your faith and experience more of God’s blessings? Will you graduate from “milk” to “solid food”? Are you content to be “ordinary,” or are you ready to take your faith to the next level?
©2012 Debbie Robus
My friends, you are acting like the people of this world. That’s why I could not speak to you as spiritual people. You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ is concerned. So I had to treat you like babies and feed you milk. You could not take solid food, and you still cannot, because you are not yet spiritual. You are jealous and argue with each other. This proves that you are not spiritual and that you are acting like the people of this world.
Some of you say that you follow me, and others claim to follow Apollos. Isn’t that how ordinary people behave?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, our church “confirmed” several sixth graders. They vowed to love Jesus and serve Him… and the church. We (the church members) vowed to love and nurture these children, meet their needs, and serve alongside them. The “confirmands” have been spending time together for several weeks as a group – learning about God, the church, and what it means to be a Disciple of Christ. I daresay that some of these children may know more about this now than many adults! But one thing I can say for sure is that no matter how much these children know – or think they know – about God, there is so much more to learn!
More than a few of us are stuck in a rut as Christians. We’ve been content with the “Spiritual milk” of knowing the basics about Jesus and how He died on the cross for our sins. We’ve acknowledged that we want to be Christians… that yes, we love Jesus and want His forgiveness… we want to go to heaven someday. But we have not taken any further steps to affirm our faith. We’ve not given up old habits and interests and sought the will of God for our lives. We have not asked, “What do I do now? How do I serve and share this GOOD NEWS with others? Where – and how – do You want me to serve You, LORD?” Honestly, I think some of us are afraid of His answers!
In order to build our faith and grow in our knowledge of the LORD… and service to Him… we will have to grow up. We will have to stop acting like everyone else and be who God has called us to be. We will have to be willing to stop being coddled like babies and instead, be treated like mature Christians - which is a huge commitment! If God gave us everything all at once as new Christians, we couldn’t handle it. Spiritual growth and maturity is a slow process for most of us. But the results are so worth the effort.
Are you ready to park your old ways and pick up the new ones that God has laid before you? Are you hungry for His word and will… and eager to learn more each day about how God operates? Are you ready to grow in your faith and experience more of God’s blessings? Will you graduate from “milk” to “solid food”? Are you content to be “ordinary,” or are you ready to take your faith to the next level?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 28, 2012
April 28 ~ Psalm 34:7-9
God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.
Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.
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.
My husband and I have been watching Discovery Channel’s “Frozen Planet” about life in the Arctic and Antarctica. On one episode, hungry wolves approached a herd of bison, hoping to capture a slower, weaker yearling for dinner. The older bison encircled the young calf and protected it. The wolves were intimidated and retreated. I was reminded that, even in nature, God offers His circle of protection. I am comforted to think that when I pray to Him, His angels encircle me and protect me. I am grateful to think that I am ministered to by these agents of God as I pour out my heart to Him.
A few weeks ago, we went to a local steak house for dinner. We had eaten at this restaurant years ago, but they recently re-opened after being out of business for several years. We ordered our favorite – filet mignon – and when the food arrived and we tasted the first bite, we were both transported back in time. We savored the flavorful, tender beef and smiled at how delicious it tasted. We felt blessed!
Do you think of angels surrounding you… encircling you with protection when you pray? Do you savor God’s goodness like a well-cooked steak? Do you run to Him and seek His very best for you… worship Him and praise His blessings over your life? What do you suppose would change in your life if you did this? Are you ready and willing to find out?
©2012 Debbie Robus
God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.
Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.
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.
My husband and I have been watching Discovery Channel’s “Frozen Planet” about life in the Arctic and Antarctica. On one episode, hungry wolves approached a herd of bison, hoping to capture a slower, weaker yearling for dinner. The older bison encircled the young calf and protected it. The wolves were intimidated and retreated. I was reminded that, even in nature, God offers His circle of protection. I am comforted to think that when I pray to Him, His angels encircle me and protect me. I am grateful to think that I am ministered to by these agents of God as I pour out my heart to Him.
A few weeks ago, we went to a local steak house for dinner. We had eaten at this restaurant years ago, but they recently re-opened after being out of business for several years. We ordered our favorite – filet mignon – and when the food arrived and we tasted the first bite, we were both transported back in time. We savored the flavorful, tender beef and smiled at how delicious it tasted. We felt blessed!
Do you think of angels surrounding you… encircling you with protection when you pray? Do you savor God’s goodness like a well-cooked steak? Do you run to Him and seek His very best for you… worship Him and praise His blessings over your life? What do you suppose would change in your life if you did this? Are you ready and willing to find out?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 27, 2012
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.
This morning, I downloaded the pattern for making a crochet button necklace. I saw my friend wearing one, and I liked it enough to want to make some with my old buttons. I can already tell from reading the instructions that I will probably have to start over more than once before I get the hang of it, but I will keep trying, and the end result will be really cool.
As with many things that don’t work out on the first try, I will probably grow a little frustrated. And I will have to be careful not to race ahead, assuming that I already know how to do the next stitch. I looked my friend’s necklace over carefully, but I have enough sense to realize that I need instructions in order to make a decent replica on my own! So I will be happy for the free instructions I found online, and I will welcome the “corrections” that will come as I attempt to create my own fashion accessory.
We often trust our own instincts and try to figure things out on our own… frequently with less than stellar results. We resent instruction, and we ignore even some of the most glaring signs that we are headed in the wrong direction. Worse yet, we listen to people who are not helpful at best – and sometimes those who may be downright evil in one way or another. If we are going to “walk in the fear of the LORD,” we have to humble ourselves and detach from evil ways. We cannot hang out with evil people… or do things we did before we committed to Christ.
This is not a bad thing… or a “death sentence!” When we walk in the “fear” (respect and honor) of the LORD and seek His guidance in all things, He will elevate us to heights we have never known… and the end result will be beautiful, healthy, and glowing! I find that learning new things is beneficial in so many ways… even if it is how to make a crochet button necklace! Learning more about the LORD and His desires for me is even better - and draws me closer to walking in His purpose for my life.
In my prayer journal notes, I have written… “Whether or not the world is ever impressed with you doesn’t ever matter to God. You don’t ever have to “kiss up” to get ahead. Walking in the fear of the LORD will get you where you need to be – to your one true root purpose.” Are you seeking God’s direction and respectfully trusting Him from the bottom of your heart? Are you healthy and glowing… do your bones “vibrate with life” in Him? Are you still learning from God… or are you stubbornly clinging to your old life and its evil pull?
God wants to do beautiful things in and through you. He wants to reveal His purpose and help you to grow in its fullness. What is holding you back today? Isn’t it time to listen to God’s instruction for your life? Are you ready to start learning again?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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.
This morning, I downloaded the pattern for making a crochet button necklace. I saw my friend wearing one, and I liked it enough to want to make some with my old buttons. I can already tell from reading the instructions that I will probably have to start over more than once before I get the hang of it, but I will keep trying, and the end result will be really cool.
As with many things that don’t work out on the first try, I will probably grow a little frustrated. And I will have to be careful not to race ahead, assuming that I already know how to do the next stitch. I looked my friend’s necklace over carefully, but I have enough sense to realize that I need instructions in order to make a decent replica on my own! So I will be happy for the free instructions I found online, and I will welcome the “corrections” that will come as I attempt to create my own fashion accessory.
We often trust our own instincts and try to figure things out on our own… frequently with less than stellar results. We resent instruction, and we ignore even some of the most glaring signs that we are headed in the wrong direction. Worse yet, we listen to people who are not helpful at best – and sometimes those who may be downright evil in one way or another. If we are going to “walk in the fear of the LORD,” we have to humble ourselves and detach from evil ways. We cannot hang out with evil people… or do things we did before we committed to Christ.
This is not a bad thing… or a “death sentence!” When we walk in the “fear” (respect and honor) of the LORD and seek His guidance in all things, He will elevate us to heights we have never known… and the end result will be beautiful, healthy, and glowing! I find that learning new things is beneficial in so many ways… even if it is how to make a crochet button necklace! Learning more about the LORD and His desires for me is even better - and draws me closer to walking in His purpose for my life.
In my prayer journal notes, I have written… “Whether or not the world is ever impressed with you doesn’t ever matter to God. You don’t ever have to “kiss up” to get ahead. Walking in the fear of the LORD will get you where you need to be – to your one true root purpose.” Are you seeking God’s direction and respectfully trusting Him from the bottom of your heart? Are you healthy and glowing… do your bones “vibrate with life” in Him? Are you still learning from God… or are you stubbornly clinging to your old life and its evil pull?
God wants to do beautiful things in and through you. He wants to reveal His purpose and help you to grow in its fullness. What is holding you back today? Isn’t it time to listen to God’s instruction for your life? Are you ready to start learning again?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 26, 2012
Psalm 111:5-10
He gives food to his worshipers and always keeps his agreement with them. He has shown his mighty power to his people and has given them the lands of other nations.
God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted. They are true and right and will stand forever. God rescued his people, and he will never break his agreement with them. He is fearsome and holy.
Respect and obey the Lord! This is the first step to wisdom and good sense. God will always be respected.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we take out a loan to buy a house or a car, we sign a contract that says we agree to make the payments. When a couple marries, they exchange vows and then sign a document that says they are legally bound to one another. Many people take an “oath of office” and “solemnly swear” to uphold certain principles. In our lifetime, most of us will sign dozens of contracts of one kind or another, make promises, and agree to all sorts of things. And more than a few of us will fail to keep at least some of these agreements. If everyone kept every agreement, we would have no divorces, defaulted loans, “scandals,” or disappointments. And the devil would be even more miserable!
The only covenant we can truly count on is our agreement with God. HE will never let us down. God will never break his agreement with us or back out on His promises. God sealed His covenant with the blood of Jesus. Satan wants us to fear that God’s word won’t work, but we know better! If God said it, He will do it. If he spoke it, He will bring it to pass.
When we read the Bible or pray, we must remember to keep God’s covenant in mind. Just to refresh your memory, God’s covenant says that He loved us enough to send His only Son to die on the cross, so that everyone who believes in Him will have Eternal Life with Him in Heaven. Beyond this, God has promised many things… that all things are possible with Him… that He is always with us and will never leave… that He is always ready to rescue and restore us… and so much more.
I don’t know about you, but I am so glad we serve a God who keeps His word. I can’t imagine His grace and mercy and how He puts up with all of us, but I’m surely glad He does! And I am truly grateful that to know that I can count on His promises… aren’t you? Isn’t this a great day to stop taking so much for granted and being more aware of just how blessed we are to serve such an honorable God? Isn’t this a good time to stop and thank Him for honoring His covenant? Won’t you take a moment with me now and do exactly that?
©2012 Debbie Robus
He gives food to his worshipers and always keeps his agreement with them. He has shown his mighty power to his people and has given them the lands of other nations.
God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted. They are true and right and will stand forever. God rescued his people, and he will never break his agreement with them. He is fearsome and holy.
Respect and obey the Lord! This is the first step to wisdom and good sense. God will always be respected.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we take out a loan to buy a house or a car, we sign a contract that says we agree to make the payments. When a couple marries, they exchange vows and then sign a document that says they are legally bound to one another. Many people take an “oath of office” and “solemnly swear” to uphold certain principles. In our lifetime, most of us will sign dozens of contracts of one kind or another, make promises, and agree to all sorts of things. And more than a few of us will fail to keep at least some of these agreements. If everyone kept every agreement, we would have no divorces, defaulted loans, “scandals,” or disappointments. And the devil would be even more miserable!
The only covenant we can truly count on is our agreement with God. HE will never let us down. God will never break his agreement with us or back out on His promises. God sealed His covenant with the blood of Jesus. Satan wants us to fear that God’s word won’t work, but we know better! If God said it, He will do it. If he spoke it, He will bring it to pass.
When we read the Bible or pray, we must remember to keep God’s covenant in mind. Just to refresh your memory, God’s covenant says that He loved us enough to send His only Son to die on the cross, so that everyone who believes in Him will have Eternal Life with Him in Heaven. Beyond this, God has promised many things… that all things are possible with Him… that He is always with us and will never leave… that He is always ready to rescue and restore us… and so much more.
I don’t know about you, but I am so glad we serve a God who keeps His word. I can’t imagine His grace and mercy and how He puts up with all of us, but I’m surely glad He does! And I am truly grateful that to know that I can count on His promises… aren’t you? Isn’t this a great day to stop taking so much for granted and being more aware of just how blessed we are to serve such an honorable God? Isn’t this a good time to stop and thank Him for honoring His covenant? Won’t you take a moment with me now and do exactly that?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 25, 2012
Matthew 14:15-21
That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it is already late. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the villages and buy some food.”
Jesus replied, “They don’t have to leave. Why don’t you give them something to eat?”
But they said, “We have only five small loaves of bread[c] and two fish.” 18 Jesus asked his disciples to bring the food to him, 19 and he told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples, and they gave it to the people.
After everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jesus' disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftovers.
There were about five thousand men who ate, not counting the women and children.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A childhood friend of mine is facing a heartbreaking situation. This will be the last night she gets to spend with two children she has fostered for several months. Tomorrow they will return to their mother. The now-4-year-old boy and his 7-month-old sister have been with my friend since the little girl was seven weeks old. As my friend puts it, “they feel safe.” She also wrote lately, “This is not what I prayed for, Lord! I asked for children of my own!” Yet God gave her foster children instead. Understandably, my friend has grown attached to her “children” these last few months. She worries about the environment they will return to, and she is trying to mentally and emotionally prepare herself for their departure. I’m sure my friends who are involved in fostering children in our community will totally understand this.
One day this week, my friend wrote on Facebook about a conversation she heard on television between Oprah Winfrey and Bishop T.D. Jakes. Bishop Jakes mentioned this passage from Matthew 14 and said (speaking of Jesus)…” We are certain that He had 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread when He blessed it. As he broke it - that's where we lose count. You understand then, that the blessing is at the breaking. That which refuses to be broken, refuses to be blessed. It is the breaking of life that produces the blessing of life. I have noticed in my life that the most blessed people I have ever met have gone through something that broke them."
Really think about this and let it soak in for a while. Have you had “broken” experiences that produced growth? Have you lost a loved one – and grown in your faith and dependence on God to sustain you? Have you been sick or injured and seen God work through others to heal and comfort you? Have you suffered a broken relationship or a personal loss of some sort that made you more aware of others’ feelings and caused you to be more aware of how you treat them?
I am sad for my friend… I understand her pain. And because of this, I have been able to offer her words of encouragement that she knows are sincere and heartfelt. She knows that I speak firsthand when I tell her, “I don’t know how God will get you through this… I only know that He will.” Whatever you have experienced… or whatever may happen to you in the future… can be the catalyst for your next blessing. My friend concluded her Facebook post by saying… ”I am so very thankful, and I bless these little children who brought - and bring - challenges, laughter, and joy to my life. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have loved them. And so I surrender to fully embrace and bless this experience… and look to God for even greater, unimagined blessings.”
I had never considered these verses from Matthew 14 in this context. I had never thought of the broken bread that multiplied as an illustration of how God uses our brokenness to create growth and blessings. But I have learned that God’s word is new every day – and always timely – so I should not be surprised that He would use this familiar passage to teach me another lesson. And I don’t plan to miss the message! I hope you won’t, either.
Whatever God is doing in your life… whatever seems to be breaking or falling apart… God will use this to create blessings and growth. The question we must as is not “LORD, why?” but rather, “Lord, what next?” Are you seeking blessings in your brokenness? Are you asking the right questions?
©2012 Debbie Robus
That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it is already late. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the villages and buy some food.”
Jesus replied, “They don’t have to leave. Why don’t you give them something to eat?”
But they said, “We have only five small loaves of bread[c] and two fish.” 18 Jesus asked his disciples to bring the food to him, 19 and he told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples, and they gave it to the people.
After everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jesus' disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftovers.
There were about five thousand men who ate, not counting the women and children.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A childhood friend of mine is facing a heartbreaking situation. This will be the last night she gets to spend with two children she has fostered for several months. Tomorrow they will return to their mother. The now-4-year-old boy and his 7-month-old sister have been with my friend since the little girl was seven weeks old. As my friend puts it, “they feel safe.” She also wrote lately, “This is not what I prayed for, Lord! I asked for children of my own!” Yet God gave her foster children instead. Understandably, my friend has grown attached to her “children” these last few months. She worries about the environment they will return to, and she is trying to mentally and emotionally prepare herself for their departure. I’m sure my friends who are involved in fostering children in our community will totally understand this.
One day this week, my friend wrote on Facebook about a conversation she heard on television between Oprah Winfrey and Bishop T.D. Jakes. Bishop Jakes mentioned this passage from Matthew 14 and said (speaking of Jesus)…” We are certain that He had 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread when He blessed it. As he broke it - that's where we lose count. You understand then, that the blessing is at the breaking. That which refuses to be broken, refuses to be blessed. It is the breaking of life that produces the blessing of life. I have noticed in my life that the most blessed people I have ever met have gone through something that broke them."
Really think about this and let it soak in for a while. Have you had “broken” experiences that produced growth? Have you lost a loved one – and grown in your faith and dependence on God to sustain you? Have you been sick or injured and seen God work through others to heal and comfort you? Have you suffered a broken relationship or a personal loss of some sort that made you more aware of others’ feelings and caused you to be more aware of how you treat them?
I am sad for my friend… I understand her pain. And because of this, I have been able to offer her words of encouragement that she knows are sincere and heartfelt. She knows that I speak firsthand when I tell her, “I don’t know how God will get you through this… I only know that He will.” Whatever you have experienced… or whatever may happen to you in the future… can be the catalyst for your next blessing. My friend concluded her Facebook post by saying… ”I am so very thankful, and I bless these little children who brought - and bring - challenges, laughter, and joy to my life. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have loved them. And so I surrender to fully embrace and bless this experience… and look to God for even greater, unimagined blessings.”
I had never considered these verses from Matthew 14 in this context. I had never thought of the broken bread that multiplied as an illustration of how God uses our brokenness to create growth and blessings. But I have learned that God’s word is new every day – and always timely – so I should not be surprised that He would use this familiar passage to teach me another lesson. And I don’t plan to miss the message! I hope you won’t, either.
Whatever God is doing in your life… whatever seems to be breaking or falling apart… God will use this to create blessings and growth. The question we must as is not “LORD, why?” but rather, “Lord, what next?” Are you seeking blessings in your brokenness? Are you asking the right questions?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 24, 2012
Deuteronomy 10:12
People of Israel, what does the Lord your God want from you? The Lord wants you to respect and follow him, to love and serve him with all your heart and soul…
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today is the birthday of my cousin Natalie. I remember when she was born… my husband and I had been married less than a year, and my parents would place this darling baby in my lap and say, “When you finish college, maybe you will have one of these.” When Natalie’s brother Franklin came along four years later, they would hand him to me and say, “Doesn’t this make you want a baby?” As much as I love Natalie and Franklin, babies were not in the plans for us… at least not at that stage in our lives! But oh, how I loved my cousins. They were adorable… and easy to love – and they still are today! I am so proud of who they have become as adults… and parents themselves!
While it is easy to love some people… others are what I would describe as “unlovable” – or at the very least, “unlovely.” Yet, as Disciples of Christ and people who “walk in the fear of the LORD” (meaning we love and respect God and His commandments), we are called to “love one another.” We must recognize that the “unlovely” and “unlovable” are just as important, precious, and adorable to God as we are!
I totally understand how hard this is for us. When the telemarketer calls and interrupts my dinner or an evening movie, I find it hard to be kind and loving. When someone mistreats me - or worse…when I learn of the abuse of a child or watch news reports about the horrors of war or the mistreatment of an animal, I find it hard to love the perpetrator. And while we are right to be outraged and/or insulted… the ultimate judgment and justice resides with God. Trusting Him to handle these things is tantamount to operating in Christian faith.
Today, think of someone that you consider “unlovable” or “unlovely.” I bet you won’t have to look very far – we’re a pretty judgmental lot! Now imagine God wrapping His arms around them and loving them as much as you love your most dear child, cousin, or friend. Consider that this person is just as important to God as we are… and He expects us to treat them fairly. This doesn’t mean we have to go out of our way to be nice to a criminal or bully – but we must love them in our hearts… and genuinely pray for their soul.
We can’t have it both ways. We can’t say we “walk in the fear of the LORD” and also claim we find it impossible to love – or even tolerate – some people. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a lot of work to do in this area. But it could be some of the most important work of my life, and I’m more than ready to begin. To “walk in the fear of the LORD” – keeping God’s commandments – is the foundation of all happiness. This means I’m going to have to work harder at loving those who make it so difficult… and I’m willing to do this. Are you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
People of Israel, what does the Lord your God want from you? The Lord wants you to respect and follow him, to love and serve him with all your heart and soul…
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today is the birthday of my cousin Natalie. I remember when she was born… my husband and I had been married less than a year, and my parents would place this darling baby in my lap and say, “When you finish college, maybe you will have one of these.” When Natalie’s brother Franklin came along four years later, they would hand him to me and say, “Doesn’t this make you want a baby?” As much as I love Natalie and Franklin, babies were not in the plans for us… at least not at that stage in our lives! But oh, how I loved my cousins. They were adorable… and easy to love – and they still are today! I am so proud of who they have become as adults… and parents themselves!
While it is easy to love some people… others are what I would describe as “unlovable” – or at the very least, “unlovely.” Yet, as Disciples of Christ and people who “walk in the fear of the LORD” (meaning we love and respect God and His commandments), we are called to “love one another.” We must recognize that the “unlovely” and “unlovable” are just as important, precious, and adorable to God as we are!
I totally understand how hard this is for us. When the telemarketer calls and interrupts my dinner or an evening movie, I find it hard to be kind and loving. When someone mistreats me - or worse…when I learn of the abuse of a child or watch news reports about the horrors of war or the mistreatment of an animal, I find it hard to love the perpetrator. And while we are right to be outraged and/or insulted… the ultimate judgment and justice resides with God. Trusting Him to handle these things is tantamount to operating in Christian faith.
Today, think of someone that you consider “unlovable” or “unlovely.” I bet you won’t have to look very far – we’re a pretty judgmental lot! Now imagine God wrapping His arms around them and loving them as much as you love your most dear child, cousin, or friend. Consider that this person is just as important to God as we are… and He expects us to treat them fairly. This doesn’t mean we have to go out of our way to be nice to a criminal or bully – but we must love them in our hearts… and genuinely pray for their soul.
We can’t have it both ways. We can’t say we “walk in the fear of the LORD” and also claim we find it impossible to love – or even tolerate – some people. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a lot of work to do in this area. But it could be some of the most important work of my life, and I’m more than ready to begin. To “walk in the fear of the LORD” – keeping God’s commandments – is the foundation of all happiness. This means I’m going to have to work harder at loving those who make it so difficult… and I’m willing to do this. Are you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 23, 2012
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Everything you were taught can be put into a few words:
Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about. God will judge everything we do, even what is done in secret, whether good or bad.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If someone asked you what your sole purpose in life is, what would you tell them? Why do you suppose you are here? What has God placed you on this earth to accomplish? There is a “short answer” to this question… and it is the same for all Christians – or should be. Our sole purpose in life is to walk in the fear of the LORD and keep His commandments.
Let this soak in for a minute. If our primary purpose in life is to respect and revere God and keep His commandments, won’t this affect every aspect of our lives? If God has called you to be a great physician, and you spend your life working to keep others healthy, you have fulfilled God’s desires for you… if you have kept His commandments at the same time. If God calls you to be a teacher, lawyer, builder, laborer, mother, father, pastor, policeman, coach, salesman, farmer… or whatever… and you do this to the best of your ability and keep His commandments, you have fulfilled your purpose in life.
When we try to do anything on our own… or when we ignore God’s commandments and do things the way we want, we are fulfilling our own purposes – not God’s. If we try to minister to others while we are not walking in the fear of the LORD and His commandments, we can really mess things up. I know that God wants me to share this message with you today, because He has revealed it to me twice in the last two hours. My daily devotional from the book God Calling spoke of learning to “be” for God rather than “speak” for Him. In other words, we are far more effective witnesses for God when we live in a manner that exhibits respect, reverence and obedience for His commandments than when we try to tell someone else how to live for God. Sometimes, we need to be quiet and let the actions of our life speak for us rather than try to “win someone to the LORD” with our words.
Show others what your sole purpose is by showing them your “soul purpose.” Live in such a way that it is evident to all who know you that your primary purpose is to serve God and obey His commands. Show God how much you love Him by following His commandments and operating within His will for your life. In doing so, you will say to everyone you meet that the fear of the LORD is the foundation of all happiness. Keeping God’s commandments will open the door for God to reveal His will for your life… and bless you and others in your path.
What is your “sole purpose” today… and what is your “soul purpose?” Are they the same thing? Shouldn’t they be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Everything you were taught can be put into a few words:
Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about. God will judge everything we do, even what is done in secret, whether good or bad.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If someone asked you what your sole purpose in life is, what would you tell them? Why do you suppose you are here? What has God placed you on this earth to accomplish? There is a “short answer” to this question… and it is the same for all Christians – or should be. Our sole purpose in life is to walk in the fear of the LORD and keep His commandments.
Let this soak in for a minute. If our primary purpose in life is to respect and revere God and keep His commandments, won’t this affect every aspect of our lives? If God has called you to be a great physician, and you spend your life working to keep others healthy, you have fulfilled God’s desires for you… if you have kept His commandments at the same time. If God calls you to be a teacher, lawyer, builder, laborer, mother, father, pastor, policeman, coach, salesman, farmer… or whatever… and you do this to the best of your ability and keep His commandments, you have fulfilled your purpose in life.
When we try to do anything on our own… or when we ignore God’s commandments and do things the way we want, we are fulfilling our own purposes – not God’s. If we try to minister to others while we are not walking in the fear of the LORD and His commandments, we can really mess things up. I know that God wants me to share this message with you today, because He has revealed it to me twice in the last two hours. My daily devotional from the book God Calling spoke of learning to “be” for God rather than “speak” for Him. In other words, we are far more effective witnesses for God when we live in a manner that exhibits respect, reverence and obedience for His commandments than when we try to tell someone else how to live for God. Sometimes, we need to be quiet and let the actions of our life speak for us rather than try to “win someone to the LORD” with our words.
Show others what your sole purpose is by showing them your “soul purpose.” Live in such a way that it is evident to all who know you that your primary purpose is to serve God and obey His commands. Show God how much you love Him by following His commandments and operating within His will for your life. In doing so, you will say to everyone you meet that the fear of the LORD is the foundation of all happiness. Keeping God’s commandments will open the door for God to reveal His will for your life… and bless you and others in your path.
What is your “sole purpose” today… and what is your “soul purpose?” Are they the same thing? Shouldn’t they be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 22, 2012
Psalm 128:1
The Lord will bless you if you respect him and obey his laws.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently I saw a news report on a documentary film that has been made about drug dealers in Mexico… except the actors were all children instead of adults. The four-minute film is a commentary on the upcoming presidential elections in our neighboring country to the south. Deemed a “wake-up” call, this “mocumentary” has gone viral on YouTube and ends with a little girl saying, “If this is the future that awaits me, I don't want it. Enough of working for your political parties instead of for us. Enough of cosmetic changes.”
As I watched the video, I was struck by the thought that every adult is someone’s child. And in that context, I would hope we find it a little more difficult to be so harsh and judgmental toward others. At the very least, when we think about the person who commits a heinous crime and see his/her grieving parents on the news, we should have compassion… for them AND – to some degree - for the culprit. Somewhere along the line, this person lost his/her respect for – and obedience to – God’s laws. And in many ways, we have all done the same thing as we choose to follow our own desires – or the will of man – rather than God’s.
We are all familiar with the “Ten Commandments” as given to Moses by God. We probably all know them pretty well by heart. But in the New Testament, Jesus gave us two basic “laws”… “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind and soul,” and “Love one another as He has loved us.” If/when we do these things, everything else falls into place. All you have to do is stop and ask yourself if your words and actions reflect a love for God with all your heart, mind and soul… and whether they show a love for others. It’s truly that simple… and that complicated all at once!
If we consider Jesus’ commands, we cannot be judgmental, immoral, unkind, indecent, or perverse. We cannot be arrogant, pious, or proud. We cannot murder, steal, lie or cheat. To love God on this level means we must fully surrender our “program” for God’s… and walk in respect and reverence of Him at all times.
I don’t know what man-made “laws” - or interpretations of God’s law - are governing (and/or burdening) you today. But I do know that the only laws that matter are God’s… and it’s up to us to determine which are which! If we operate in the fear (respect and reverence) of the LORD and walk in His ways… obey His laws… our choices and decisions become fairly simple – and the blessings are sure to be evident. Ask yourself simply and prayerfully, “Does this line up with the word and will of God?” Your answer will determine how you proceed… and inevitably control the outcome.
To paraphrase the little girl in the movie…“Enough of living according to man’s law and his interpretation of the word of God. Enough of pretending to serve God while serving our own interests.” It’s time to make sure we are in step with God’s will at all times. Are you asking the right questions? Whose laws are you following these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
The Lord will bless you if you respect him and obey his laws.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently I saw a news report on a documentary film that has been made about drug dealers in Mexico… except the actors were all children instead of adults. The four-minute film is a commentary on the upcoming presidential elections in our neighboring country to the south. Deemed a “wake-up” call, this “mocumentary” has gone viral on YouTube and ends with a little girl saying, “If this is the future that awaits me, I don't want it. Enough of working for your political parties instead of for us. Enough of cosmetic changes.”
As I watched the video, I was struck by the thought that every adult is someone’s child. And in that context, I would hope we find it a little more difficult to be so harsh and judgmental toward others. At the very least, when we think about the person who commits a heinous crime and see his/her grieving parents on the news, we should have compassion… for them AND – to some degree - for the culprit. Somewhere along the line, this person lost his/her respect for – and obedience to – God’s laws. And in many ways, we have all done the same thing as we choose to follow our own desires – or the will of man – rather than God’s.
We are all familiar with the “Ten Commandments” as given to Moses by God. We probably all know them pretty well by heart. But in the New Testament, Jesus gave us two basic “laws”… “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind and soul,” and “Love one another as He has loved us.” If/when we do these things, everything else falls into place. All you have to do is stop and ask yourself if your words and actions reflect a love for God with all your heart, mind and soul… and whether they show a love for others. It’s truly that simple… and that complicated all at once!
If we consider Jesus’ commands, we cannot be judgmental, immoral, unkind, indecent, or perverse. We cannot be arrogant, pious, or proud. We cannot murder, steal, lie or cheat. To love God on this level means we must fully surrender our “program” for God’s… and walk in respect and reverence of Him at all times.
I don’t know what man-made “laws” - or interpretations of God’s law - are governing (and/or burdening) you today. But I do know that the only laws that matter are God’s… and it’s up to us to determine which are which! If we operate in the fear (respect and reverence) of the LORD and walk in His ways… obey His laws… our choices and decisions become fairly simple – and the blessings are sure to be evident. Ask yourself simply and prayerfully, “Does this line up with the word and will of God?” Your answer will determine how you proceed… and inevitably control the outcome.
To paraphrase the little girl in the movie…“Enough of living according to man’s law and his interpretation of the word of God. Enough of pretending to serve God while serving our own interests.” It’s time to make sure we are in step with God’s will at all times. Are you asking the right questions? Whose laws are you following these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 21, 2012
2 Chronicles 16:7-9
Just after that, Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said, "Because you went for help to the king of Aram and didn't ask God for help, you've lost a victory over the army of the king of Aram. Didn't the Ethiopians and Libyans come against you with superior forces, completely outclassing you with their chariots and cavalry? But you asked God for help and he gave you the victory. God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God's help. Now you're in trouble—one round of war after another."
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.
Timothy has a book that we must have read a thousand times or more, entitled I Can Do It Myself. The book features Sesame Street characters that tie their own shoes, make their own bed, button their own buttons, and much more. Even though Timothy could not do many of these things himself, he loved reading about his friends like Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Bettie Lou and Elmo who could do many things for themselves and enjoyed exerting their independence.
Learning to do things for themselves marks monumental milestones in the life of a toddler or small child. We want our children to function independently. But I can tell you firsthand that watching your little ones learn to depend less on you for certain things is bittersweet. I liked that Timmy needed me to read bedtime stories to him. I know the day will come all too quickly when he will outgrow this. I liked pushing him in the stroller… and when he began to balk at riding in it, I was a little sad. Even though I’m glad he can walk and run and is growing in his abilities, the day he learned to crawl – then walk – changed the entire game around our house! And as he gets older and “outgrows” us, he will listen less and less to our advice and try more and more to do things his own way… with mixed results.
Imagine how God must feel as He sits and watches us flounder and try to do things on our own that we are in no way equipped to accomplish. Whether we physically voice it or not, we tell Him all the time that “I can do it myself.” And quite often, nothing could be farther from the truth. Then we have the nerve to question why we’re in such a pickle.
Things don’t have to be this way. Your pride is at stake here… but not in the way you imagine. By asking God for His help, acknowledging His will and listening to His answers, you are assuring victory and success. Trying to do things by yourself will result in a wounded pride at best… and the potential for disaster.
Don’t place yourself in a position to fail. Wouldn’t you rather go to God in the beginning than have to crawl to Him later after you’ve made a royal mess of things? God wants to open up and show His strength on our behalf. In order to do this, we have to operate in His kingdom and do His will. Yes, I can do it myself in many instances… but I must let God show me how and when this applies. Do you respect His decisions and guidance… are you really listening?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Just after that, Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said, "Because you went for help to the king of Aram and didn't ask God for help, you've lost a victory over the army of the king of Aram. Didn't the Ethiopians and Libyans come against you with superior forces, completely outclassing you with their chariots and cavalry? But you asked God for help and he gave you the victory. God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God's help. Now you're in trouble—one round of war after another."
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.
Timothy has a book that we must have read a thousand times or more, entitled I Can Do It Myself. The book features Sesame Street characters that tie their own shoes, make their own bed, button their own buttons, and much more. Even though Timothy could not do many of these things himself, he loved reading about his friends like Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Bettie Lou and Elmo who could do many things for themselves and enjoyed exerting their independence.
Learning to do things for themselves marks monumental milestones in the life of a toddler or small child. We want our children to function independently. But I can tell you firsthand that watching your little ones learn to depend less on you for certain things is bittersweet. I liked that Timmy needed me to read bedtime stories to him. I know the day will come all too quickly when he will outgrow this. I liked pushing him in the stroller… and when he began to balk at riding in it, I was a little sad. Even though I’m glad he can walk and run and is growing in his abilities, the day he learned to crawl – then walk – changed the entire game around our house! And as he gets older and “outgrows” us, he will listen less and less to our advice and try more and more to do things his own way… with mixed results.
Imagine how God must feel as He sits and watches us flounder and try to do things on our own that we are in no way equipped to accomplish. Whether we physically voice it or not, we tell Him all the time that “I can do it myself.” And quite often, nothing could be farther from the truth. Then we have the nerve to question why we’re in such a pickle.
Things don’t have to be this way. Your pride is at stake here… but not in the way you imagine. By asking God for His help, acknowledging His will and listening to His answers, you are assuring victory and success. Trying to do things by yourself will result in a wounded pride at best… and the potential for disaster.
Don’t place yourself in a position to fail. Wouldn’t you rather go to God in the beginning than have to crawl to Him later after you’ve made a royal mess of things? God wants to open up and show His strength on our behalf. In order to do this, we have to operate in His kingdom and do His will. Yes, I can do it myself in many instances… but I must let God show me how and when this applies. Do you respect His decisions and guidance… are you really listening?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2012
Psalm 34:9
Honor the Lord! You are his special people. No one who honors the Lord will ever be in need.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I launched Workamper News… a business that assists people in finding work while traveling and living in an RV (recreational vehicle). The world of RVing is like a lot of other things – the difference between the level of “need” and the level of “want” is vast. Some RVers are content to travel the country and Workamp, while living in a tent or a pop-up camper. Others would never consider taking a job of any sort and must have a top-of-the-line motorhome or fifth-wheel with granite counter tops, leather upholstery, and all of the latest electronic bells and whistles. You can find wonderful people in both categories – and all of the levels in between.
Some of the Workampers who sold their home and almost all of their belongings to move into a small RV and travel the country are among the happiest people I’ve ever met. They truly enjoy doing a great job for their employer in any situation… from taking tickets at an amusement park to packing orders for shipment at Amazon.com, working in a sugar beet harvest operation in the Midwest or volunteering in a federal or state park or wildlife preserve, or scrubbing shower houses in a campground, and MUCH more. These folks recognize that serving others and doing fair work for fair compensation… then enjoying the area in which they live and all of God’s creations and blessings… is more valuable than owning a lot of “stuff” and feeling “prestigious.”
The problem many of us have is discerning whether we are in “want” or honestly in need. And more than a few of us don’t realize how or when we are truly blessed. We think we have to have lots and lots of “stuff” to be happy. We have to be recognized by our peers as “successful”… and we aspire to be monetarily and materially “rich.” I always look to my grandmother, who lived modestly on an income that would have been a challenge for many of us to stretch each month. Her first payment was always to the church… and somehow, she always had money left over at the end of the month… if only a few dollars. God blessed her – and continues to bless her – by meeting all of her needs. Surely, SHE is one of the richest people I know.
I have seen firsthand how God blesses those who honor Him. I’ve watched God more than meet the needs of those who put Him first and sought to serve Him at every turn. I’ve also watched some pretty “rich” people suffer and struggle because of where they placed God in their list of priorities. And I know a LOT of people who are totally confused about what constitutes true needs and what are mere wants in their lives.
I challenge you to examine your life and discover your true needs. Make sure that you put God first… that everything you do honors Him. See for yourself how this ensures that God will meet your needs…and probably bless you far beyond this measure. Figure out what “needs” you have that are truly more in the “want” category, and ask yourself how critical these really are to you. Are they honestly worth pursuing at the cost of your relationship with God? I am quite certain that when we honor God in all things and put Him first, we will have more than enough of everything else.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Honor the Lord! You are his special people. No one who honors the Lord will ever be in need.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I launched Workamper News… a business that assists people in finding work while traveling and living in an RV (recreational vehicle). The world of RVing is like a lot of other things – the difference between the level of “need” and the level of “want” is vast. Some RVers are content to travel the country and Workamp, while living in a tent or a pop-up camper. Others would never consider taking a job of any sort and must have a top-of-the-line motorhome or fifth-wheel with granite counter tops, leather upholstery, and all of the latest electronic bells and whistles. You can find wonderful people in both categories – and all of the levels in between.
Some of the Workampers who sold their home and almost all of their belongings to move into a small RV and travel the country are among the happiest people I’ve ever met. They truly enjoy doing a great job for their employer in any situation… from taking tickets at an amusement park to packing orders for shipment at Amazon.com, working in a sugar beet harvest operation in the Midwest or volunteering in a federal or state park or wildlife preserve, or scrubbing shower houses in a campground, and MUCH more. These folks recognize that serving others and doing fair work for fair compensation… then enjoying the area in which they live and all of God’s creations and blessings… is more valuable than owning a lot of “stuff” and feeling “prestigious.”
The problem many of us have is discerning whether we are in “want” or honestly in need. And more than a few of us don’t realize how or when we are truly blessed. We think we have to have lots and lots of “stuff” to be happy. We have to be recognized by our peers as “successful”… and we aspire to be monetarily and materially “rich.” I always look to my grandmother, who lived modestly on an income that would have been a challenge for many of us to stretch each month. Her first payment was always to the church… and somehow, she always had money left over at the end of the month… if only a few dollars. God blessed her – and continues to bless her – by meeting all of her needs. Surely, SHE is one of the richest people I know.
I have seen firsthand how God blesses those who honor Him. I’ve watched God more than meet the needs of those who put Him first and sought to serve Him at every turn. I’ve also watched some pretty “rich” people suffer and struggle because of where they placed God in their list of priorities. And I know a LOT of people who are totally confused about what constitutes true needs and what are mere wants in their lives.
I challenge you to examine your life and discover your true needs. Make sure that you put God first… that everything you do honors Him. See for yourself how this ensures that God will meet your needs…and probably bless you far beyond this measure. Figure out what “needs” you have that are truly more in the “want” category, and ask yourself how critical these really are to you. Are they honestly worth pursuing at the cost of your relationship with God? I am quite certain that when we honor God in all things and put Him first, we will have more than enough of everything else.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 19, 2012
Hebrews 3:15-19
For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed.
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.
Have you ever tried to tell give a person advice – or directions – or you tried to show someone how to do a particular task… and the whole time, you knew they were not listening? In the end, all you could do was stand by and watch this person go the wrong way… or make a poor choice… or royally botch whatever he/she was trying to accomplish.
Imagine how this feels for God… because we do these same things to Him all the time! He has shown us the way. He has given us His word, His Holy Spirit, fellow believers to minister and encourage us, and much more… and still we tune it all out and try to do things on our own. God has given us the beauty of His creation, yet we doubt His existence. He has blessed us immeasurably, still we gripe and complain and have some pretty big pity parties!
We are our own worst enemy (with the devil’s help, of course). We block hearing from God… and in doing so, we block His blessings – and for some, salvation and the promise of an eternity spent in Heaven. We make the same mistakes over and again… then wonder why nothing ever works out for us like we had hoped.
The secret of success is hearing from God. I don’t necessarily mean success in a financial or material manner… although not listening to God could block these, also. I am talking about the success that comes from finding the joy, peace, hope and encouragement that God stands ready to give us… the life-altering health and wealth of living in the abundance of His blessings. We can all still enjoy this! All it takes is a shift of attitude… a willingness to pay attention, seek God’s word and will, and truly LISTEN to what He is telling us.
God’s word blesses us… empowers us… allows us to excel in all things. Don’t you want that for yourself? Won’t you stop, look and listen… and learn what God has in store for you in the days to come?
©2012 Debbie Robus
For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed.
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.
Have you ever tried to tell give a person advice – or directions – or you tried to show someone how to do a particular task… and the whole time, you knew they were not listening? In the end, all you could do was stand by and watch this person go the wrong way… or make a poor choice… or royally botch whatever he/she was trying to accomplish.
Imagine how this feels for God… because we do these same things to Him all the time! He has shown us the way. He has given us His word, His Holy Spirit, fellow believers to minister and encourage us, and much more… and still we tune it all out and try to do things on our own. God has given us the beauty of His creation, yet we doubt His existence. He has blessed us immeasurably, still we gripe and complain and have some pretty big pity parties!
We are our own worst enemy (with the devil’s help, of course). We block hearing from God… and in doing so, we block His blessings – and for some, salvation and the promise of an eternity spent in Heaven. We make the same mistakes over and again… then wonder why nothing ever works out for us like we had hoped.
The secret of success is hearing from God. I don’t necessarily mean success in a financial or material manner… although not listening to God could block these, also. I am talking about the success that comes from finding the joy, peace, hope and encouragement that God stands ready to give us… the life-altering health and wealth of living in the abundance of His blessings. We can all still enjoy this! All it takes is a shift of attitude… a willingness to pay attention, seek God’s word and will, and truly LISTEN to what He is telling us.
God’s word blesses us… empowers us… allows us to excel in all things. Don’t you want that for yourself? Won’t you stop, look and listen… and learn what God has in store for you in the days to come?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 18, 2012
Romans 4:19-25
Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That's why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right." But it's not just Abraham; it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with 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.
In 1988, Reverend Jesse Jackson ended his speech at the Democratic National Convention with these words… “You must not surrender! You may or may not get there but just know that you're qualified! And you hold on, and hold out! We must never surrender!! America will get better and better. Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive! Keep hope alive! On tomorrow night and beyond, keep hope alive!”
This is Paul’s message to the Romans – and to us! Because of the blood of Jesus and the grace and mercy of Almighty God, we are “qualified.” We must hold on – and hold out – and never surrender. When the devil tries to tell you that you will never be healthy…thin and fit…financially secure…in a committed, loving relationship…living in a decent home… working at a good job so that you can afford to feed your family… passing your classes to graduate or stay in college… or whatever it is you feel you cannot accomplish…keep hope alive. When “the world” tells you that things are bleak and impossible, remind yourself that God has promised that all things are possible when He is in charge.
Remember, you must have the necessary tools to be able to speak and hear God’s language… and the primary tool you need is God’s word – which leads to hearing His voice. Read the scriptures. Pour out your heart to God and tell Him your needs and desires… hear His answers and promises as He leads you to specific verses and passages – and shows you His will for your life in all sorts of ways. Stay awake and alert, so that you don’t miss His messages… and never forget that the God who brought Jesus to life in what appeared to be impossible circumstances stands ready to set us upright, also.
Never underestimate the power of God to work in and through you. With God, all things are possible. Our job is to keep His hope alive!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That's why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right." But it's not just Abraham; it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with 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.
In 1988, Reverend Jesse Jackson ended his speech at the Democratic National Convention with these words… “You must not surrender! You may or may not get there but just know that you're qualified! And you hold on, and hold out! We must never surrender!! America will get better and better. Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive! Keep hope alive! On tomorrow night and beyond, keep hope alive!”
This is Paul’s message to the Romans – and to us! Because of the blood of Jesus and the grace and mercy of Almighty God, we are “qualified.” We must hold on – and hold out – and never surrender. When the devil tries to tell you that you will never be healthy…thin and fit…financially secure…in a committed, loving relationship…living in a decent home… working at a good job so that you can afford to feed your family… passing your classes to graduate or stay in college… or whatever it is you feel you cannot accomplish…keep hope alive. When “the world” tells you that things are bleak and impossible, remind yourself that God has promised that all things are possible when He is in charge.
Remember, you must have the necessary tools to be able to speak and hear God’s language… and the primary tool you need is God’s word – which leads to hearing His voice. Read the scriptures. Pour out your heart to God and tell Him your needs and desires… hear His answers and promises as He leads you to specific verses and passages – and shows you His will for your life in all sorts of ways. Stay awake and alert, so that you don’t miss His messages… and never forget that the God who brought Jesus to life in what appeared to be impossible circumstances stands ready to set us upright, also.
Never underestimate the power of God to work in and through you. With God, all things are possible. Our job is to keep His hope alive!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 17, 2012
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for 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.
You know me… I was watching a reality TV show… “Celebrity Apprentice”… and one of the “celebrities” was arguing her point before Donald Trump. As a fellow contestant passionately interjected, “Every sentence out of her mouth begins with ‘I’.” She is not a team player in the least. In fact, there are quite a few contestants on this season of “Celebrity Apprentice” who begin their sentences with “I” and want to take control – and credit – for everything their team accomplishes. The strange thing is that these “celebrities” are playing to earn money for charities throughout the world. And they will say, “This is for my charity” or “I’m fighting for my charity.” What they say and how they behave make two entirely different statements.
As Christians, we are “playing for a cause,” too… furthering God’s kingdom. Or at least, we are supposed to be working on God’s behalf. In truth, many “Christians” are doing little more than tooting their own horn… saying to the world, “Look at me! Look at me! I’m so wonderful! I’m so smart and talented! Don’t you love how I sing, speak or play an instrument – or perform on the field or the court (for God, of course!)? Didn’t you like what I had to say? Aren’t you impressed with how hard I work and all the things I’ve bought and how much of my earnings I’ve given away to the needy? Do you see all of the wonderful things I do for so many?”
Some of us act as if people are blessed merely to be in our presence! But nothing could be further from the truth! God doesn’t want “horn tooters.” He would rather use the humble homeless bum than the “Celebrity Apprentice” with an attitude. Where do you fit into this group? Are you one of God’s “nobodies” – and proud of it? Or are you constantly trying to be a “somebody”… to be recognized for your service and devotion and what a “good Christian” you are?
God is calling us to be HIS “nobodies” and humble ourselves before Him. We must recognize that He has made us who and what we are – we did not get here on our own merits. By the blood of Jesus, we are saved… and by God’s grace, we live another day to share the Good News with those in our path. It is by God’s hand that we “nobodies” become “somebodies”… and He alone deserves the recognition. Where does this leave you today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for 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.
You know me… I was watching a reality TV show… “Celebrity Apprentice”… and one of the “celebrities” was arguing her point before Donald Trump. As a fellow contestant passionately interjected, “Every sentence out of her mouth begins with ‘I’.” She is not a team player in the least. In fact, there are quite a few contestants on this season of “Celebrity Apprentice” who begin their sentences with “I” and want to take control – and credit – for everything their team accomplishes. The strange thing is that these “celebrities” are playing to earn money for charities throughout the world. And they will say, “This is for my charity” or “I’m fighting for my charity.” What they say and how they behave make two entirely different statements.
As Christians, we are “playing for a cause,” too… furthering God’s kingdom. Or at least, we are supposed to be working on God’s behalf. In truth, many “Christians” are doing little more than tooting their own horn… saying to the world, “Look at me! Look at me! I’m so wonderful! I’m so smart and talented! Don’t you love how I sing, speak or play an instrument – or perform on the field or the court (for God, of course!)? Didn’t you like what I had to say? Aren’t you impressed with how hard I work and all the things I’ve bought and how much of my earnings I’ve given away to the needy? Do you see all of the wonderful things I do for so many?”
Some of us act as if people are blessed merely to be in our presence! But nothing could be further from the truth! God doesn’t want “horn tooters.” He would rather use the humble homeless bum than the “Celebrity Apprentice” with an attitude. Where do you fit into this group? Are you one of God’s “nobodies” – and proud of it? Or are you constantly trying to be a “somebody”… to be recognized for your service and devotion and what a “good Christian” you are?
God is calling us to be HIS “nobodies” and humble ourselves before Him. We must recognize that He has made us who and what we are – we did not get here on our own merits. By the blood of Jesus, we are saved… and by God’s grace, we live another day to share the Good News with those in our path. It is by God’s hand that we “nobodies” become “somebodies”… and He alone deserves the recognition. Where does this leave you today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 16, 2012
April 16 ~ Matthew 16:17-18
Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
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.
Even though it’s been almost 26 years since I taught in the public schools, I still maintain a close relationship with several of my former students. I consider it a great blessing to keep up with their lives and accomplishments… to see their growth in so many areas. I’ve also enjoyed keeping up with those who attended my junior and senior high Sunday school classes in more recent years. Seeing them develop as productive citizens, wives, husbands and parents – and grow in their faith – has truly blessed me.
Recently, a former kindergarten student messaged me about the sudden accidental death of someone we both knew…the husband of a former fellow teacher. The man’s son is now a student of MY student, who teaches nursing at Arkansas Tech University. She was at a loss as to how to comfort this young man, and she voiced her frustrations. I offered her reassurance and tried to show her how God was using her to meet this student in ways she could not even imagine… and how He would use this experience to help both of them grow in their profession (and life in general) over time. She replied to thank me and said, “Sometimes I just need a little encouragement.”
After this exchange, I was struck by the thought that “this ole teacher” is still teaching! And then I began to think about former teachers of mine who are still teaching me new things, even today! My dear third-grade teacher, Mrs. Garner, taught me until the week she passed away about making the most of your circumstances. My sweet 2nd-grade Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Gloria Duckworth, helped instill in me a caring and concern for former students by always keeping up with me – and she encourages me even today. My grandmother still teaches me how to bless and care for others, according to your present abilities. And my former students are showing me that teaching – and learning – never ends.
I value all of the “life lessons” I have learned from influential people in my life. But more importantly, I value the lessons I learn every day from my Heavenly Father. God teaches me things that no one else can… He shows me Who He is… and often He does so through these “earthly teachers” and experiences. And what God has shown me is that I can accomplish much for His Kingdom - if I let Him have control. He can use each of us as the foundation rocks to serve as springboards for great work and blessings in His name. In this manner, the Teacher keeps on teaching.
God shows us new things every day. He offers us new insights – and He uses us to help others along the way. But we must be in constant contact with Him, so that we are receptive to His leadership… so that we hear from Him and know exactly what He wants us to do – and how to accomplish it! We must be sure that we are listening – and receiving – God’s message and allowing His Holy Spirit to establish a firm foundation within us for ministering to others.
How firm is your foundation today? Are you receiving the teaching and leadership of God’s Holy Spirit? Are you teaching others in His name? Are you living in such a way that you are one of the “rocks” of God’s church? Today, I encourage you to ask God to show you how – and where – He wants you to show up, teach, and serve in His name. Ask Him to make you one of His rocks… and to use you to build up His church. While you are at it, take a few minutes to thank God for the teachers in your life…all of the people He has used to build YOU up and show you who He truly is. May He bless each and every one of these servants… and may we aspire to follow in their footsteps.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
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.
Even though it’s been almost 26 years since I taught in the public schools, I still maintain a close relationship with several of my former students. I consider it a great blessing to keep up with their lives and accomplishments… to see their growth in so many areas. I’ve also enjoyed keeping up with those who attended my junior and senior high Sunday school classes in more recent years. Seeing them develop as productive citizens, wives, husbands and parents – and grow in their faith – has truly blessed me.
Recently, a former kindergarten student messaged me about the sudden accidental death of someone we both knew…the husband of a former fellow teacher. The man’s son is now a student of MY student, who teaches nursing at Arkansas Tech University. She was at a loss as to how to comfort this young man, and she voiced her frustrations. I offered her reassurance and tried to show her how God was using her to meet this student in ways she could not even imagine… and how He would use this experience to help both of them grow in their profession (and life in general) over time. She replied to thank me and said, “Sometimes I just need a little encouragement.”
After this exchange, I was struck by the thought that “this ole teacher” is still teaching! And then I began to think about former teachers of mine who are still teaching me new things, even today! My dear third-grade teacher, Mrs. Garner, taught me until the week she passed away about making the most of your circumstances. My sweet 2nd-grade Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Gloria Duckworth, helped instill in me a caring and concern for former students by always keeping up with me – and she encourages me even today. My grandmother still teaches me how to bless and care for others, according to your present abilities. And my former students are showing me that teaching – and learning – never ends.
I value all of the “life lessons” I have learned from influential people in my life. But more importantly, I value the lessons I learn every day from my Heavenly Father. God teaches me things that no one else can… He shows me Who He is… and often He does so through these “earthly teachers” and experiences. And what God has shown me is that I can accomplish much for His Kingdom - if I let Him have control. He can use each of us as the foundation rocks to serve as springboards for great work and blessings in His name. In this manner, the Teacher keeps on teaching.
God shows us new things every day. He offers us new insights – and He uses us to help others along the way. But we must be in constant contact with Him, so that we are receptive to His leadership… so that we hear from Him and know exactly what He wants us to do – and how to accomplish it! We must be sure that we are listening – and receiving – God’s message and allowing His Holy Spirit to establish a firm foundation within us for ministering to others.
How firm is your foundation today? Are you receiving the teaching and leadership of God’s Holy Spirit? Are you teaching others in His name? Are you living in such a way that you are one of the “rocks” of God’s church? Today, I encourage you to ask God to show you how – and where – He wants you to show up, teach, and serve in His name. Ask Him to make you one of His rocks… and to use you to build up His church. While you are at it, take a few minutes to thank God for the teachers in your life…all of the people He has used to build YOU up and show you who He truly is. May He bless each and every one of these servants… and may we aspire to follow in their footsteps.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 15, 2012
Luke 11:9-13
"Here's what I'm saying: Ask and you'll get; Seek and you'll find; Knock and the door will open. Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?"
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.
Yesterday, my husband and I went to an estate auction. My husband’s mother went with us. She is a veteran antiques dealer who has been to countless auctions in her life. There was a treadle sewing machine that she was interested in purchasing. When it comes to bidding at auctions, my mother-in-law is shrewd – and seasoned – and she started the bidding fairly low, hoping to score a real bargain. She bid $10, and some man behind her shouted “$110!” My mother-in-law shot the man a startled look, as the bidding closed and he won the sewing machine. He then asked her, “Just how high were you willing to bid?” She shot back, “Oh… probably $15.” Everyone laughed. The man had jumped the gun – and probably paid far more than he had to for this vintage piece.
The lesson for auction-goers is that you don’t know until you ask… and making an outrageous offer or bidding too high too quickly can be quite costly! You may think the item is worth what you are offering – and that you know better than the other bidders… but you can also get stuck with something you don’t want or pay far too much. It’s better to be specific… and to be patient!
When we ask God for things, we often want to play games, bargain, or jump the gun. We often think we know better than He what is needed… for ourselves and for others. We frequently act as if we have everything figured out on our own and really don’t need the Holy Spirit to intervene. And most of the time, we are terribly impatient… with sometimes disastrous results!
You may be asking why God wants us to be specific and ask Him for what we need – even the presence of His Holy Spirit – when He is supposed to know all of this already. The answer is - humility. God wants us to acknowledge Him as the author and creator of our lives and the daily turn of events. As I told you earlier, God is a gentleman and will not send His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts uninvited. We must demonstrate a level of faith and trust… a commitment and devotion to Him… and then He will gladly fill us and grant us what we need.
Are you still playing games and bargaining with God? Do you still think you can manage your life on your own terms? Isn’t it time to surrender your ego and bask in the glory and goodness of God and His amazing gifts? Will you keep jumping the gun and making a mess of things… or will you “let go and let God?” Isn’t this a great day for a change?
©2012 Debbie Robus
"Here's what I'm saying: Ask and you'll get; Seek and you'll find; Knock and the door will open. Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?"
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.
Yesterday, my husband and I went to an estate auction. My husband’s mother went with us. She is a veteran antiques dealer who has been to countless auctions in her life. There was a treadle sewing machine that she was interested in purchasing. When it comes to bidding at auctions, my mother-in-law is shrewd – and seasoned – and she started the bidding fairly low, hoping to score a real bargain. She bid $10, and some man behind her shouted “$110!” My mother-in-law shot the man a startled look, as the bidding closed and he won the sewing machine. He then asked her, “Just how high were you willing to bid?” She shot back, “Oh… probably $15.” Everyone laughed. The man had jumped the gun – and probably paid far more than he had to for this vintage piece.
The lesson for auction-goers is that you don’t know until you ask… and making an outrageous offer or bidding too high too quickly can be quite costly! You may think the item is worth what you are offering – and that you know better than the other bidders… but you can also get stuck with something you don’t want or pay far too much. It’s better to be specific… and to be patient!
When we ask God for things, we often want to play games, bargain, or jump the gun. We often think we know better than He what is needed… for ourselves and for others. We frequently act as if we have everything figured out on our own and really don’t need the Holy Spirit to intervene. And most of the time, we are terribly impatient… with sometimes disastrous results!
You may be asking why God wants us to be specific and ask Him for what we need – even the presence of His Holy Spirit – when He is supposed to know all of this already. The answer is - humility. God wants us to acknowledge Him as the author and creator of our lives and the daily turn of events. As I told you earlier, God is a gentleman and will not send His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts uninvited. We must demonstrate a level of faith and trust… a commitment and devotion to Him… and then He will gladly fill us and grant us what we need.
Are you still playing games and bargaining with God? Do you still think you can manage your life on your own terms? Isn’t it time to surrender your ego and bask in the glory and goodness of God and His amazing gifts? Will you keep jumping the gun and making a mess of things… or will you “let go and let God?” Isn’t this a great day for a change?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 14, 2012
Acts 17:24-29
"The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn't live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn't take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don't make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him! One of your poets said it well: 'We're the God-created.' Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn't make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it?
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.
One night a few years ago, I played a song for some of my friends. It was one I had written… and I was quite pleased with it. No sooner had I finished, than one of these friends came to the piano, slid me over on the bench, and said, “What if you did such-and-such… I think that would be so much better. Just leave off this word and that note and change the tempo a little.” He began to play HIS rendition…”There! he said, “that’s better!” I have to tell you, I was insulted! It’s not that I can’t take criticism… it was more the attitude of the critic. He knew better than I how a song I had created should sound – and what the lyrics should be – and he wasted no time in telling tell me!
Here’s the thing… we do this all the time to God. He made us... created us just like He wants us… planned for our lives and instilled us with His hopes and dreams. But instead of listening to God and seeking His will for our lives, we dare to tell Him, “If I just do this my way… if I tweak Your plans just a little bit here and there… they will be so much better!”
Who do we think we are to try to mold God in OUR image? What makes us think that we can tell our Creator that He needs to adapt to OUR specifications? Are we really so out of tune with God that we think we know better than He what should transpire in our lives?
The time has come for a reality check. We don’t like other people telling us that their way is better than ours… so what makes us think this would ever fly with God? The bigger question is… who do we think we are? It’s time to come down off our high horse and humble ourselves before Almighty God… to bow at His feet and say, “LORD… You are my creator... my constant companion… my very being. Work in and through me according to YOUR plans… not mine.” We did not create God… He created us… and He did so perfectly! The question becomes… who do we worship? Are we acting like God’s perfect creations and worshipping Him – or have we decided we are the ones worthy of worship?
This is a good day to search our hearts and get things in perfect order again… to humbly acknowledge our place in the scheme of things as a disciple of Christ… and to let Him have complete control of the design process. Who is “running your show” these days? In your daily living, Who is truly worshipped?
©2012 Debbie Robus
"The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn't live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn't take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don't make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him! One of your poets said it well: 'We're the God-created.' Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn't make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it?
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.
One night a few years ago, I played a song for some of my friends. It was one I had written… and I was quite pleased with it. No sooner had I finished, than one of these friends came to the piano, slid me over on the bench, and said, “What if you did such-and-such… I think that would be so much better. Just leave off this word and that note and change the tempo a little.” He began to play HIS rendition…”There! he said, “that’s better!” I have to tell you, I was insulted! It’s not that I can’t take criticism… it was more the attitude of the critic. He knew better than I how a song I had created should sound – and what the lyrics should be – and he wasted no time in telling tell me!
Here’s the thing… we do this all the time to God. He made us... created us just like He wants us… planned for our lives and instilled us with His hopes and dreams. But instead of listening to God and seeking His will for our lives, we dare to tell Him, “If I just do this my way… if I tweak Your plans just a little bit here and there… they will be so much better!”
Who do we think we are to try to mold God in OUR image? What makes us think that we can tell our Creator that He needs to adapt to OUR specifications? Are we really so out of tune with God that we think we know better than He what should transpire in our lives?
The time has come for a reality check. We don’t like other people telling us that their way is better than ours… so what makes us think this would ever fly with God? The bigger question is… who do we think we are? It’s time to come down off our high horse and humble ourselves before Almighty God… to bow at His feet and say, “LORD… You are my creator... my constant companion… my very being. Work in and through me according to YOUR plans… not mine.” We did not create God… He created us… and He did so perfectly! The question becomes… who do we worship? Are we acting like God’s perfect creations and worshipping Him – or have we decided we are the ones worthy of worship?
This is a good day to search our hearts and get things in perfect order again… to humbly acknowledge our place in the scheme of things as a disciple of Christ… and to let Him have complete control of the design process. Who is “running your show” these days? In your daily living, Who is truly worshipped?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 13, 2012
Isaiah 45:18-21
God, Creator of the heavens - he is, remember, God. Maker of earth - he put it on its foundations, built it from scratch. He didn't go to all that trouble to just leave it empty, nothing in it. He made it to be lived in.
This God says: "I am God, the one and only. I don't just talk to myself or mumble under my breath. I never told Jacob, 'Seek me in emptiness, in dark nothingness.' I am God. I work out in the open, saying what's right, setting things right. So gather around, come on in, all you refugees and castoffs. They don't seem to know much, do they - those who carry around their no-god blocks of wood, praying for help to a dead stick?
So tell me what you think. Look at the evidence. Put your heads together. Make your case. Who told you, and a long time ago, what's going on here? Who made sense of things for you? Wasn't I the one? God? It had to be me. I'm the only God there is - The only God who does things right and knows how to help.
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.
When I packed my grandmother’s things last year to move her into an assisted living facility, I found more than one set of nice pajamas in a dresser drawer. They had never been worn. She was saving them “in case I have to go to the hospital.” In truth, the hospital staff prefers that patients wear the “gowns” they provide – for a variety of reasons. So these beautiful pajamas that had never been worn were in my grandmother’s dresser drawer, where time had taken a toll on the elastic in the pants. Before anyone could wear them, these “brand-spanking-new” pajamas would have to be repaired!
I made a point to sort through all of my grandmother’s clothes and only move her best things… and a handful of older items she simply refused to part with… and I told her she should wear her good things every day and not tuck anything in the back of her closet for a “rainy day.” She has not been entirely happy with this and claims that on some days she is “overdressed,” but she is making an effort to dress well.
Don’t we do this with our life as a Christian? Don’t we often tuck our best into a drawer or the back of our closet… to trot out only if and when we have a special occasion? Don’t we go through life pretty much taking God for granted… calling on Him only in a crisis… and “worshipping” other things – at least to some degree – much of the time? We can blame this on busyness, or admit to laziness, or even self-absorption. But the bottom line is that – for whatever reasons - many of us often neglect our relationship with our One True God and fail to fully live as good stewards of His blessings in the world He created.
I count myself among those who need to renew efforts to “wear the good stuff” every day – to truly give God my best in all things, at all times. Any less belies how important He is in my daily living… and WHO God truly is. Who – or what – have you placed ahead of God these days? What old habits and other “old stuff” have you pulled out of the closet? Isn’t it time for a good old-fashioned spring cleaning? Isn’t this a great time to bring God’s best to the forefront… to “wear” the blessings and His call to service for all to see – and to give Him the glory and recognition He deserves?
©2012 Debbie Robus
God, Creator of the heavens - he is, remember, God. Maker of earth - he put it on its foundations, built it from scratch. He didn't go to all that trouble to just leave it empty, nothing in it. He made it to be lived in.
This God says: "I am God, the one and only. I don't just talk to myself or mumble under my breath. I never told Jacob, 'Seek me in emptiness, in dark nothingness.' I am God. I work out in the open, saying what's right, setting things right. So gather around, come on in, all you refugees and castoffs. They don't seem to know much, do they - those who carry around their no-god blocks of wood, praying for help to a dead stick?
So tell me what you think. Look at the evidence. Put your heads together. Make your case. Who told you, and a long time ago, what's going on here? Who made sense of things for you? Wasn't I the one? God? It had to be me. I'm the only God there is - The only God who does things right and knows how to help.
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.
When I packed my grandmother’s things last year to move her into an assisted living facility, I found more than one set of nice pajamas in a dresser drawer. They had never been worn. She was saving them “in case I have to go to the hospital.” In truth, the hospital staff prefers that patients wear the “gowns” they provide – for a variety of reasons. So these beautiful pajamas that had never been worn were in my grandmother’s dresser drawer, where time had taken a toll on the elastic in the pants. Before anyone could wear them, these “brand-spanking-new” pajamas would have to be repaired!
I made a point to sort through all of my grandmother’s clothes and only move her best things… and a handful of older items she simply refused to part with… and I told her she should wear her good things every day and not tuck anything in the back of her closet for a “rainy day.” She has not been entirely happy with this and claims that on some days she is “overdressed,” but she is making an effort to dress well.
Don’t we do this with our life as a Christian? Don’t we often tuck our best into a drawer or the back of our closet… to trot out only if and when we have a special occasion? Don’t we go through life pretty much taking God for granted… calling on Him only in a crisis… and “worshipping” other things – at least to some degree – much of the time? We can blame this on busyness, or admit to laziness, or even self-absorption. But the bottom line is that – for whatever reasons - many of us often neglect our relationship with our One True God and fail to fully live as good stewards of His blessings in the world He created.
I count myself among those who need to renew efforts to “wear the good stuff” every day – to truly give God my best in all things, at all times. Any less belies how important He is in my daily living… and WHO God truly is. Who – or what – have you placed ahead of God these days? What old habits and other “old stuff” have you pulled out of the closet? Isn’t it time for a good old-fashioned spring cleaning? Isn’t this a great time to bring God’s best to the forefront… to “wear” the blessings and His call to service for all to see – and to give Him the glory and recognition He deserves?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 12, 2012
Isaiah 64:3-4, 8-9
Your fearsome deeds have completely amazed us; even the mountains shake when you come down. You are the only God ever seen or heard of who works miracles for his followers.
You, Lord, are our Father. We are nothing but clay, but you are the potter who molded us. Don’t be so furious or keep our sins in your thoughts forever! Remember that all of us are your people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In the songbook Then Sings My Soul, an account is given of the life of Adelaide A. Pollard, author of the well-known hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Pollard was apparently healed of diabetes in the early 1900s, through the ministry of a Scottish-born faith healer, John Alexander Dowie. Years later, she sat in a prayer meeting… her heart heavy because she could not raise the necessary funds to travel to Africa as a missionary. Another lady attending the meeting prayed, “It doesn’t matter what you bring into our lives, LORD. Just have your own way with us.”
Pollard had recently read the story of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18, where in verse six, God says, “People of Israel, I, the Lord, have power over you, just as a potter has power over clay.” She used this verse and the woman’s prayer as inspiration to create the well-loved hymn. In the verses, she asks repeatedly, “Have Thine own way, LORD! Have Thine own way!” and she reminds God that “Thou art the Potter… I am the clay.” In the third verse she says, “Wounded and weary… help me, I pray! Power, all power, surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!” And finally, she asks, “Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see, Christ only, always… living in me!”
As someone who attends a contemporary worship service most Sundays, I have to tell you that I miss old hymns like this one. I didn’t fully appreciate them when I was young… and I remember thinking this one was particularly mournful… but that had more to do with the tune itself and the tempo than the words themselves. There is something truly beautiful about so many of the old hymns, and this one is no exception. In these verses, we are reminded that God is willing to reward those who step out and spend time with Him. “Hold o’er my being absolute sway,”… then “Touch me and heal me” with your power!... can there be a stronger statement of faith and commitment?
We all get discouraged from time to time… and clearly, Adelaide Pollard did, as well. Even after being healed of a life-altering disease, she still found the need to humble herself before God and ask for a miracle. But the key point here is that God did answer… and eventually, Pollard made it to Africa. However, World War I caused her to move to Scotland – and eventually back to America, where she spoke frequently to groups, ministered to others, and wrote poetry. She was on her way to a speaking engagement in Pennsylvania, when she was stricken with a seizure and later died.
Surely God worked in the life of Adelaide Pollard and “had His own way” with her heart. Clearly she trusted Him to fill her with the Holy Spirit… and to lean on His wisdom and plans for her life. I find it inspiring that examples of faith know no time limit… what worked for a woman in the early 1900s can work for us in 2012 – and beyond. All we have to do is to ask God to “Have Thine own way” and to trust Him to mold us and make us after His own will. If we will sincerely and humbly do this, I truly believe that “we ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” Are you ready to find out for yourself? Will this be the day you truly ask God to “Have Thine own way?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Your fearsome deeds have completely amazed us; even the mountains shake when you come down. You are the only God ever seen or heard of who works miracles for his followers.
You, Lord, are our Father. We are nothing but clay, but you are the potter who molded us. Don’t be so furious or keep our sins in your thoughts forever! Remember that all of us are your people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In the songbook Then Sings My Soul, an account is given of the life of Adelaide A. Pollard, author of the well-known hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Pollard was apparently healed of diabetes in the early 1900s, through the ministry of a Scottish-born faith healer, John Alexander Dowie. Years later, she sat in a prayer meeting… her heart heavy because she could not raise the necessary funds to travel to Africa as a missionary. Another lady attending the meeting prayed, “It doesn’t matter what you bring into our lives, LORD. Just have your own way with us.”
Pollard had recently read the story of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18, where in verse six, God says, “People of Israel, I, the Lord, have power over you, just as a potter has power over clay.” She used this verse and the woman’s prayer as inspiration to create the well-loved hymn. In the verses, she asks repeatedly, “Have Thine own way, LORD! Have Thine own way!” and she reminds God that “Thou art the Potter… I am the clay.” In the third verse she says, “Wounded and weary… help me, I pray! Power, all power, surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!” And finally, she asks, “Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see, Christ only, always… living in me!”
As someone who attends a contemporary worship service most Sundays, I have to tell you that I miss old hymns like this one. I didn’t fully appreciate them when I was young… and I remember thinking this one was particularly mournful… but that had more to do with the tune itself and the tempo than the words themselves. There is something truly beautiful about so many of the old hymns, and this one is no exception. In these verses, we are reminded that God is willing to reward those who step out and spend time with Him. “Hold o’er my being absolute sway,”… then “Touch me and heal me” with your power!... can there be a stronger statement of faith and commitment?
We all get discouraged from time to time… and clearly, Adelaide Pollard did, as well. Even after being healed of a life-altering disease, she still found the need to humble herself before God and ask for a miracle. But the key point here is that God did answer… and eventually, Pollard made it to Africa. However, World War I caused her to move to Scotland – and eventually back to America, where she spoke frequently to groups, ministered to others, and wrote poetry. She was on her way to a speaking engagement in Pennsylvania, when she was stricken with a seizure and later died.
Surely God worked in the life of Adelaide Pollard and “had His own way” with her heart. Clearly she trusted Him to fill her with the Holy Spirit… and to lean on His wisdom and plans for her life. I find it inspiring that examples of faith know no time limit… what worked for a woman in the early 1900s can work for us in 2012 – and beyond. All we have to do is to ask God to “Have Thine own way” and to trust Him to mold us and make us after His own will. If we will sincerely and humbly do this, I truly believe that “we ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” Are you ready to find out for yourself? Will this be the day you truly ask God to “Have Thine own way?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 11, 2012
Ephesians 4:25-32
What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.
Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.
Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave 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.
Unless you have been under a rock for the last two weeks, you know that we’ve had a scandal brewing in Arkansas involving the head football coach at one of our leading state universities. Bobby Petrino was fired on April 10th… dismissed “with cause”… meaning his $3.86 million annual salary ceases, and he is no longer employed by the state of Arkansas. Any way you slice it, this has been a sad situation for many… and as University of Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long put it in a press conference after the firing, “… it’s because people’s lives are affected here, and that’s what we sometimes miss.” This is an example of how we are all connected to each other in the body of Christ, and how one person’s lies affects not only others, but themselves.
Even though this would be a good “lesson” in and of itself, I want to focus on another portion of this scripture passage. See, I’ve been frustrated and judgmental of several people lately, if only in my own heart. I’ve deemed more than one person to be self-absorbed and inconsiderate of others’ feelings… “What were they thinking? How could they claim to be a caring, even “Godly” person and treat someone else with such disregard?” I’ve judged people who seemed inattentive to their family members and friends… and people who claim to serve God at every turn but only seem to truly serve themselves. On the surface, it often appears to us as “outsiders” that others are only doing what makes them feel good – and never considering how it affects anyone else.
This brings me to the last portion of this passage… “Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” At the end of the day, we are all selfish and self-centered at times. Each of us has lied and thought of no one but ourselves. We’ve all said things we shouldn’t. And we have all had to bow before Jesus and ask for forgiveness, which has been quickly and freely granted.
So we must offer the same gentleness and sensitivity to those who make a mess of things… if only in our own estimation. We are right to be angry – to a point. I think our disappointment with Coach Petrino is justified. But at the end of the day, he is a child of God as much as you and I… and entitled to the same forgiveness from Jesus as we are (if he asks for it – and I believe he will). Judgment is not our job… but extending to others the forgiveness we have received certainly is!
I was called up short by these last verses. I have to release my anger and frustration toward others and offer them sensitivity, gentleness, and forgiveness – whether they ask me for it or not. Otherwise, the devil will use this negative “energy” to gnaw at me and steal my joy… and I am not willing to compromise this gift! There are at least two things we should take away from the scripture passage today:
©2012 Debbie Robus
What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.
Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.
Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave 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.
Unless you have been under a rock for the last two weeks, you know that we’ve had a scandal brewing in Arkansas involving the head football coach at one of our leading state universities. Bobby Petrino was fired on April 10th… dismissed “with cause”… meaning his $3.86 million annual salary ceases, and he is no longer employed by the state of Arkansas. Any way you slice it, this has been a sad situation for many… and as University of Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long put it in a press conference after the firing, “… it’s because people’s lives are affected here, and that’s what we sometimes miss.” This is an example of how we are all connected to each other in the body of Christ, and how one person’s lies affects not only others, but themselves.
Even though this would be a good “lesson” in and of itself, I want to focus on another portion of this scripture passage. See, I’ve been frustrated and judgmental of several people lately, if only in my own heart. I’ve deemed more than one person to be self-absorbed and inconsiderate of others’ feelings… “What were they thinking? How could they claim to be a caring, even “Godly” person and treat someone else with such disregard?” I’ve judged people who seemed inattentive to their family members and friends… and people who claim to serve God at every turn but only seem to truly serve themselves. On the surface, it often appears to us as “outsiders” that others are only doing what makes them feel good – and never considering how it affects anyone else.
This brings me to the last portion of this passage… “Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” At the end of the day, we are all selfish and self-centered at times. Each of us has lied and thought of no one but ourselves. We’ve all said things we shouldn’t. And we have all had to bow before Jesus and ask for forgiveness, which has been quickly and freely granted.
So we must offer the same gentleness and sensitivity to those who make a mess of things… if only in our own estimation. We are right to be angry – to a point. I think our disappointment with Coach Petrino is justified. But at the end of the day, he is a child of God as much as you and I… and entitled to the same forgiveness from Jesus as we are (if he asks for it – and I believe he will). Judgment is not our job… but extending to others the forgiveness we have received certainly is!
I was called up short by these last verses. I have to release my anger and frustration toward others and offer them sensitivity, gentleness, and forgiveness – whether they ask me for it or not. Otherwise, the devil will use this negative “energy” to gnaw at me and steal my joy… and I am not willing to compromise this gift! There are at least two things we should take away from the scripture passage today:
- There is no room for ego in the life of a Christian. The choices and decisions we make affect others. “What about me?” will simply not cut it, if we truly want to live for Jesus. Virtually nothing in this life is totally about you or me.
- We must all realize that we can’t ask Jesus to forgive us… and then continue to judge others. We must operate in humility and an understanding that we are only one prayer for forgiveness away from being in the “hot seat” ourselves.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 10, 2012
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.
The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others. Some of us can speak with wisdom, while others can speak with knowledge, but these gifts come from the same Spirit. To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God's Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean. But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The last week or so, I’ve been sewing with fabrics in the same color family – a base of black or grey, with hues of deep teal, fuchsia, white, and celadon green. It may sound awful, but it’s really nice fabric. I’ve sewn stripes, “groovy guitars,” zoo animals, various sized circle outlines, mod daisy-like flowers, and polka dots. Now you are probably really thinking I’m nuts! But trust me, all of these fabrics work together in various combinations – with pleasing results!
And that’s the thing… I can combine stripes and guitars or zoo animals… but not stripes and flowers. Zoo animals and guitars don’t work in the same outfit, but they both work great with the stripes or polka dots… and maybe the circles, depending on how I use them. For instance, I made my great-niece Zola a striped dress with a border of guitars… and I made Timothy shorts in both the guitar and stripes fabrics. I made my cousin a sundress in the mod flowers… and her daughter is getting a blouse that has flowers bordered in polka dots!
Each fabric is very different. On the surface, they don’t appear to have much in common. But when I combine them thoughtfully, the end result is something quite surprising and pleasant… and the recipients are blessed by the outcome. All I have to do is stand back, look at the fabrics, and take time to consider how they might work best together… and the ideas begin to flow!
We all have gifts and abilities that may not seem to work well together. But when the Holy Spirit is involved in combining them and orchestrating things, the end result is always a blessing to others – and to God. And often the outcome is quite surprising and pleasant. You may feel you that have no “Spiritual gift,” but I assure you that this is not the case. Maybe you have not opened your heart to the Holy Spirit’s guidance… and maybe He has held your gift in reserve. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman… He will not force Himself upon us. We must invite Him in… and make Him welcome.
Whatever your “Spiritual gifts” may be, it would be such a shame not to receive them – and to use them for God’s glory. I encourage you to step back and look at the “fabrics” of your life and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how they go together. Invite Him to dwell in your heart, and listen for His voice each and every day. Call upon the Holy Spirit to bless you with your Spiritual gifts… and get busy using them. You will be amazed – and delighted – at the outcomes… and so will those who receive a blessing as a result.
©2012 Debbie Robus
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.
The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others. Some of us can speak with wisdom, while others can speak with knowledge, but these gifts come from the same Spirit. To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God's Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean. But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The last week or so, I’ve been sewing with fabrics in the same color family – a base of black or grey, with hues of deep teal, fuchsia, white, and celadon green. It may sound awful, but it’s really nice fabric. I’ve sewn stripes, “groovy guitars,” zoo animals, various sized circle outlines, mod daisy-like flowers, and polka dots. Now you are probably really thinking I’m nuts! But trust me, all of these fabrics work together in various combinations – with pleasing results!
And that’s the thing… I can combine stripes and guitars or zoo animals… but not stripes and flowers. Zoo animals and guitars don’t work in the same outfit, but they both work great with the stripes or polka dots… and maybe the circles, depending on how I use them. For instance, I made my great-niece Zola a striped dress with a border of guitars… and I made Timothy shorts in both the guitar and stripes fabrics. I made my cousin a sundress in the mod flowers… and her daughter is getting a blouse that has flowers bordered in polka dots!
Each fabric is very different. On the surface, they don’t appear to have much in common. But when I combine them thoughtfully, the end result is something quite surprising and pleasant… and the recipients are blessed by the outcome. All I have to do is stand back, look at the fabrics, and take time to consider how they might work best together… and the ideas begin to flow!
We all have gifts and abilities that may not seem to work well together. But when the Holy Spirit is involved in combining them and orchestrating things, the end result is always a blessing to others – and to God. And often the outcome is quite surprising and pleasant. You may feel you that have no “Spiritual gift,” but I assure you that this is not the case. Maybe you have not opened your heart to the Holy Spirit’s guidance… and maybe He has held your gift in reserve. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman… He will not force Himself upon us. We must invite Him in… and make Him welcome.
Whatever your “Spiritual gifts” may be, it would be such a shame not to receive them – and to use them for God’s glory. I encourage you to step back and look at the “fabrics” of your life and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how they go together. Invite Him to dwell in your heart, and listen for His voice each and every day. Call upon the Holy Spirit to bless you with your Spiritual gifts… and get busy using them. You will be amazed – and delighted – at the outcomes… and so will those who receive a blessing as a result.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 9, 2012
2 Corinthians 1:3-7
All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.
When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching. Your hard times are also our hard times. When we see that you're just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you're going to make it, no doubt about it.
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.
I have just finished reading an amazing book…The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. Supposed to be a true account of the author’s childhood, this harrowing story will leave you frustrated in one moment, angry the next, and even laughing from time to time. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, but let’s just say that this woman and her siblings grew up in a situation of poverty, filth, and neglect that will astound you… and hopefully give you a new perspective on those you meet who appear to be in similar circumstances.
The author and her siblings did all they could to mask the fact that they were dirty, disheveled, and dressed in tatters. Ms. Walls manages to make it to college, and she is arguing in one class about the plight of the homeless. Based on her childhood and the fact that her parents are now homeless by choice, she tries to make the point that things are not always as they seem… and perhaps the homeless sometimes “get the lives they want”. The instructor asks, “What do you know about the lives of the underprivileged? What do you know about the hardships and obstacles that the underclass faces?” In an effort to hide her true identity, the author replies, “You have a point.”
My point is that we all have made up our minds, to a degree, about other people. We have looked at others and made judgments, based on appearance, their behavior, or our own hard-and-fast opinions about certain things. Sometimes, it takes “getting knocked down a peg or two” for us to become empathetic to others’ circumstances. I’m not saying God causes this… but I do believe He allows it. So often, we are full of what we think is good advice for others… until we walk a mile in their shoes. Or we neglect those around us who are in need, because we have not shared their experiences and don’t have a clue what they are feeling… but we have deemed them to be unworthy of our time and attention.
I have shared over and again several instances where I faced something that God saw me through… and then I was able to help someone else with a similar experience. I will tell you that I did not always recognize God’s presence as profoundly as I should have… nor did I clearly see how He could ever use some of my experiences to help others. But I am learning NEVER to question God… or the things that happen in my life. More importantly, I’m learning to continually ask, “What are you showing me, LORD? How will you use this… and me… for your glory?”
If you want to put this in perspective, take a few minutes and make a list of some things that have happened to you throughout the years. Then think back over the events and look at how God stood by you… how He blessed you and cared for you. Maybe He sent someone to encourage or comfort you. Maybe He orchestrated things in amazing perfection, even in the midst of what seemed like an impossible situation. Now think about how you have been able to use those same experiences to help someone in a similar position. Have you “paid it forward?”… or have you missed some opportunities to do this? Have you truly noticed those in your midst who need your assistance?
Paul tells us that suffering for Jesus brings benefits… and opportunities to bless others in His name. Our job is to take advantage of all of these… to make the most out of every experience, with God’s help. As Paul says, when we do this, we are unstoppable… there is no doubt that we are going to make it! Look around… see where God is walking beside you – and giving you valuable experience that you can use for His glory. Don’t be ashamed of your past experiences… use them to encourage and bless others. In the end, Ms. Walls has done exactly this by writing her story. Others will surely gain a different perspective on those who appear less fortunate. I know I did.
What is God calling you to share with others today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.
When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching. Your hard times are also our hard times. When we see that you're just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you're going to make it, no doubt about it.
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.
I have just finished reading an amazing book…The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. Supposed to be a true account of the author’s childhood, this harrowing story will leave you frustrated in one moment, angry the next, and even laughing from time to time. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, but let’s just say that this woman and her siblings grew up in a situation of poverty, filth, and neglect that will astound you… and hopefully give you a new perspective on those you meet who appear to be in similar circumstances.
The author and her siblings did all they could to mask the fact that they were dirty, disheveled, and dressed in tatters. Ms. Walls manages to make it to college, and she is arguing in one class about the plight of the homeless. Based on her childhood and the fact that her parents are now homeless by choice, she tries to make the point that things are not always as they seem… and perhaps the homeless sometimes “get the lives they want”. The instructor asks, “What do you know about the lives of the underprivileged? What do you know about the hardships and obstacles that the underclass faces?” In an effort to hide her true identity, the author replies, “You have a point.”
My point is that we all have made up our minds, to a degree, about other people. We have looked at others and made judgments, based on appearance, their behavior, or our own hard-and-fast opinions about certain things. Sometimes, it takes “getting knocked down a peg or two” for us to become empathetic to others’ circumstances. I’m not saying God causes this… but I do believe He allows it. So often, we are full of what we think is good advice for others… until we walk a mile in their shoes. Or we neglect those around us who are in need, because we have not shared their experiences and don’t have a clue what they are feeling… but we have deemed them to be unworthy of our time and attention.
I have shared over and again several instances where I faced something that God saw me through… and then I was able to help someone else with a similar experience. I will tell you that I did not always recognize God’s presence as profoundly as I should have… nor did I clearly see how He could ever use some of my experiences to help others. But I am learning NEVER to question God… or the things that happen in my life. More importantly, I’m learning to continually ask, “What are you showing me, LORD? How will you use this… and me… for your glory?”
If you want to put this in perspective, take a few minutes and make a list of some things that have happened to you throughout the years. Then think back over the events and look at how God stood by you… how He blessed you and cared for you. Maybe He sent someone to encourage or comfort you. Maybe He orchestrated things in amazing perfection, even in the midst of what seemed like an impossible situation. Now think about how you have been able to use those same experiences to help someone in a similar position. Have you “paid it forward?”… or have you missed some opportunities to do this? Have you truly noticed those in your midst who need your assistance?
Paul tells us that suffering for Jesus brings benefits… and opportunities to bless others in His name. Our job is to take advantage of all of these… to make the most out of every experience, with God’s help. As Paul says, when we do this, we are unstoppable… there is no doubt that we are going to make it! Look around… see where God is walking beside you – and giving you valuable experience that you can use for His glory. Don’t be ashamed of your past experiences… use them to encourage and bless others. In the end, Ms. Walls has done exactly this by writing her story. Others will surely gain a different perspective on those who appear less fortunate. I know I did.
What is God calling you to share with others today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 8, 2012
John 16:4-11
"I didn't tell you this earlier because I was with you every day. But now I am on my way to the One who sent me. Not one of you has asked, 'Where are you going?' Instead, the longer I've talked, the sadder you've become. So let me say it again, this truth: It's better for you that I leave. If I don't leave, the Friend won't come. But if I go, I'll send him to you.
"When he comes, he'll expose the error of the godless world's view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He'll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.
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.
When I was in about seven, my dad took a job near Dewitt, Arkansas, working on construction of part of the McClellen-Kerr navigation system on the Arkansas River. He would leave in the wee hours of Monday morning and drive to Dewitt, work all week, and drive home on Friday evening. I truly hated this. The closer it grew to bedtime on Sunday night, the sadder I became. I vividly remember crying one night as my dad sat on the side of my bed and tried to explain to me why he had to go back to Dewitt the next morning. “You want a horse to ride and other things, don’t you?” he asked me. “I have to go to work so we can afford to get these things.” Still, I didn’t want him to go, and I begged him to please stay home.
I didn’t care about horses – or anything else – I just wanted my daddy with us. As a seven-year-old second-grader, I could not grasp the concept that my dad could make so much more money as a welder on the lock and dam system’s construction than he could at many of the jobs in our community. I think I understood this a little better when I was in fifth grade, and for six months we moved to an eastern Oklahoma community so that Daddy could once again work on welding tainter gates at the lock and dam there.
While we lived in Oklahoma, my dad made good money. Nearly every weekend, we traveled to a larger city and shopped, ate out, and got new toys… and my sister and I got new clothes for our Barbies. Still, we were not at home… things were not as they had been, and my siblings and I were not happy. My sister, brother and I failed to see any wisdom in my parents’ choice for my dad to work away from home… or to move us to another state for such work. We did not trust that there was anything to be gained by doing this… and we will never know what might have happened had we continued to follow the jobs.
The disciples were told that Jesus was leaving them… and they were understandably upset. After all, He had just returned to them after His crucifixion and resurrection from the tomb. Any talk of Him leaving again had these followers in a state of despair, if not downright panic! I get that! When we invite Jesus into our heart, the last thing we want to consider is that He might turn around and leave us… right? What we don’t fully understand is the hierarchy of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God the Father sent Jesus. Jesus glorifies God. The Holy Spirit gives glory to Jesus, who sent Him. Jesus never truly leaves us… His Holy Spirit is the agent of change within us. You speak to Jesus… the Holy Spirit makes things happen. He operates on the inside of you. The Holy Spirit is the giver of wisdom.” He shows us things that God knows. In order to glorify all that Jesus suffered and sacrificed for us, we must allow Him to send His Holy Spirit to live within our heart and make things happen!
My dad was not gone… he was merely working in another location through the week. But in order to have all of the benefits He wanted to provide for us, he had to work remotely. We could call him on the telephone… we could still talk with him… but he had to go away and do his work so that we could gain the things we needed. And so it is with Jesus. He had to go away to do the work… and he uses the Holy Spirit to provide us with what we need.
As a seven-year-old kid, I didn’t care (or at least I said I didn’t) about things… I just wanted my dad with us. As a 54-year-old Christian, I want Jesus with me – all the way… all the time! But I am mature enough to understand that He cannot physically return to earth and walk around with me. The way to have Jesus with me on this earth is through the Holy Spirit. If I do not make room for the Holy Spirit in my life and let Him work on the inside of me, I will never fully experience all that God set out to give me.
So we must understand that inviting Jesus to be LORD of our life is the first step… but then we must make room in our hearts for the Holy Spirit… and do all that we can to make Him feel welcome. So many Christians miss this important step. They see the Holy Spirit (or as some say, the “Holy Ghost”) as something or someone nebulous and scary. Don’t count yourself among them. See the Holy Spirit as a manifestation of Jesus in you… His vehicle to be continually present with us … to supply us with all of the wisdom, compassion, discernment, and authority He wishes to give us in order to serve Him well. Trust Jesus. Believe in Him and accept that His will and plans are perfect – and meant to bless and keep us.
To truly “let go and let God” means to trust Jesus in all things… and to believe that He will never abandon us. Surrender completely, embrace the Holy Spirit and allow the Him to come and dwell in your heart. This is when the “good stuff” starts to happen… are you ready for it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
"I didn't tell you this earlier because I was with you every day. But now I am on my way to the One who sent me. Not one of you has asked, 'Where are you going?' Instead, the longer I've talked, the sadder you've become. So let me say it again, this truth: It's better for you that I leave. If I don't leave, the Friend won't come. But if I go, I'll send him to you.
"When he comes, he'll expose the error of the godless world's view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He'll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.
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.
When I was in about seven, my dad took a job near Dewitt, Arkansas, working on construction of part of the McClellen-Kerr navigation system on the Arkansas River. He would leave in the wee hours of Monday morning and drive to Dewitt, work all week, and drive home on Friday evening. I truly hated this. The closer it grew to bedtime on Sunday night, the sadder I became. I vividly remember crying one night as my dad sat on the side of my bed and tried to explain to me why he had to go back to Dewitt the next morning. “You want a horse to ride and other things, don’t you?” he asked me. “I have to go to work so we can afford to get these things.” Still, I didn’t want him to go, and I begged him to please stay home.
I didn’t care about horses – or anything else – I just wanted my daddy with us. As a seven-year-old second-grader, I could not grasp the concept that my dad could make so much more money as a welder on the lock and dam system’s construction than he could at many of the jobs in our community. I think I understood this a little better when I was in fifth grade, and for six months we moved to an eastern Oklahoma community so that Daddy could once again work on welding tainter gates at the lock and dam there.
While we lived in Oklahoma, my dad made good money. Nearly every weekend, we traveled to a larger city and shopped, ate out, and got new toys… and my sister and I got new clothes for our Barbies. Still, we were not at home… things were not as they had been, and my siblings and I were not happy. My sister, brother and I failed to see any wisdom in my parents’ choice for my dad to work away from home… or to move us to another state for such work. We did not trust that there was anything to be gained by doing this… and we will never know what might have happened had we continued to follow the jobs.
The disciples were told that Jesus was leaving them… and they were understandably upset. After all, He had just returned to them after His crucifixion and resurrection from the tomb. Any talk of Him leaving again had these followers in a state of despair, if not downright panic! I get that! When we invite Jesus into our heart, the last thing we want to consider is that He might turn around and leave us… right? What we don’t fully understand is the hierarchy of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God the Father sent Jesus. Jesus glorifies God. The Holy Spirit gives glory to Jesus, who sent Him. Jesus never truly leaves us… His Holy Spirit is the agent of change within us. You speak to Jesus… the Holy Spirit makes things happen. He operates on the inside of you. The Holy Spirit is the giver of wisdom.” He shows us things that God knows. In order to glorify all that Jesus suffered and sacrificed for us, we must allow Him to send His Holy Spirit to live within our heart and make things happen!
My dad was not gone… he was merely working in another location through the week. But in order to have all of the benefits He wanted to provide for us, he had to work remotely. We could call him on the telephone… we could still talk with him… but he had to go away and do his work so that we could gain the things we needed. And so it is with Jesus. He had to go away to do the work… and he uses the Holy Spirit to provide us with what we need.
As a seven-year-old kid, I didn’t care (or at least I said I didn’t) about things… I just wanted my dad with us. As a 54-year-old Christian, I want Jesus with me – all the way… all the time! But I am mature enough to understand that He cannot physically return to earth and walk around with me. The way to have Jesus with me on this earth is through the Holy Spirit. If I do not make room for the Holy Spirit in my life and let Him work on the inside of me, I will never fully experience all that God set out to give me.
So we must understand that inviting Jesus to be LORD of our life is the first step… but then we must make room in our hearts for the Holy Spirit… and do all that we can to make Him feel welcome. So many Christians miss this important step. They see the Holy Spirit (or as some say, the “Holy Ghost”) as something or someone nebulous and scary. Don’t count yourself among them. See the Holy Spirit as a manifestation of Jesus in you… His vehicle to be continually present with us … to supply us with all of the wisdom, compassion, discernment, and authority He wishes to give us in order to serve Him well. Trust Jesus. Believe in Him and accept that His will and plans are perfect – and meant to bless and keep us.
To truly “let go and let God” means to trust Jesus in all things… and to believe that He will never abandon us. Surrender completely, embrace the Holy Spirit and allow the Him to come and dwell in your heart. This is when the “good stuff” starts to happen… are you ready for it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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