Romans 12:3
I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for 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.
I have written already about my grandmother’s fall on our driveway on Christmas Eve. Even at age 99, she still wants to do things herself… and her way! So she did not wait for help when she got out of my mom’s car, and she fell. Quite literally, Proverbs 16:18… “First pride, then the crash — the bigger the ego, the harder the fall”… came to life that day! And honestly, at age 99, I believe it is more an attempt for my grandmother to maintain her independence and to feel self-sufficient than a matter of ego.
In the same way, small children will say, “I’ll do it myself!” Their pride and desire to be independent often leads to a mishap of some form or another. And in many ways, we all behave this way with everything from daily activities to matters of faith. We try to handle things on our own… and often, we end up making a mess of things. Our pride is a form of doing our own thing instead of GOD’s thing. It is a rebellion rather than compliance… and it demonstrates a lack of faith on our part.
If we want to remain faithful, we have to work diligently to remain engaged with God. We must combat two enemies of our faithfulness… boredom and pride. When we are not constantly seeking God’s will… or we develop an exaggerated opinion of our own ability to handle daily challenges… we can become not only proud – but also bored. Our “faith walk” develops a sameness and becomes somewhat routine and one-dimensional. We read our Bible, say a prayer, and then forge ahead to handle life on our own. We don’t seek God… we never look for Him in unexpected places. In reality, we don’t expect Him to show up in our lives at all… and things get pretty dull and uninteresting. This is when our faith can waiver.
It’s time to remember the promise of Philippians 4:13…”Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” We must learn to not only be content with what God gives us each day… but also with relying on Him to meet all of our needs – and expecting Him to do so! We need to kick pride to the curb – in every area of our life. We need to engage fully in seeking God each and every day… and in so doing, powerfully reconnect to God’s anointing. It’s time to operate in faithfulness… to “let go and let God…and to be completely fulfilled in Him. Are you in?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 28, 2012
Romans 12:4-6
In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.
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.
Today, for the second time in less than a year, I will attend the burial service of a dear relative or friend who was “like family.” Both died too young – neither living to their mid-fifties. Both were Christians… and I’m sure they rest safely in Jesus’ arms today. But both left unfinished business on this earth. And while we all do this, to some degree… some leave more than others.
Like my loved ones, you may be separated from others you love – who love you – for a variety of reasons. These reasons may make perfect sense to you… and to some of those around you… but some of the motivations seem so long ago and convoluted that you honestly can’t even explain how or why the separation happened. Some have distanced themselves from others over petty and selfish events… hurtful words…or pure laziness that kept both parties from making the effort to maintain the relationship.
Think about your own life. Who was a big part of your world at one time who is now completely off your radar screen… and why? Facebook has helped me to reconnect with a lot of people from my high school and college years… to rekindle friendships with people I had simply not remained in contact in decades… and understandably. Our lives went in different directions. There was a friendship there… but probably not a deep connection or bond.
On the other hand, I have cousins and other relatives - people who were truly important in my life - with whom I have not spoken in months… or years. I am ashamed to say, “So-and-So was a huge part of my childhood… and I’ve not spoken to him/her in a decade.” It’s embarrassing to tell someone, “She is ‘like family’ to me… but I’ve not seen her in years.” What does this say about me as a part of Christ’s body? It’s as if I said, “Oh, I’ll be the earlobe… that way, how I behave or serve is not all that important in the scheme of things.” Let me ask you… if you saw someone and one of their earlobes was missing, don’t you think you would notice?
Every one of us is vital to the body of Christ. That means that the person we have not seen or spoken to - for whatever reason – is equally important… and we all need to function together as one body. I encourage you to search your heart today and think about the people who have been such an integral part of making you who you are today. Who in that group have you neglected? Who in that group have you distanced yourself from… even with “good” reason? As a part of the body of Christ, isn’t it time you reached out and at least attempted to reconnect?
In my own case with my two loved ones now gone, I made the effort with one of them – although it was not reciprocated. But I knew that this person knew how much I cared. In the other case, I could have done more… and this is a good lesson for me. There doesn’t have to be reconciliation… and there very well may not be… but a note to let this person know you still love them and care could begin the healing process. I’ll be sending some notes and e-mails… maybe making a phone call or two… and starting the process of reconnecting with the body of Christ and becoming a fully functioning part of His ministry. Will you do the same?
©2012 Debbie Robus
In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.
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.
Today, for the second time in less than a year, I will attend the burial service of a dear relative or friend who was “like family.” Both died too young – neither living to their mid-fifties. Both were Christians… and I’m sure they rest safely in Jesus’ arms today. But both left unfinished business on this earth. And while we all do this, to some degree… some leave more than others.
Like my loved ones, you may be separated from others you love – who love you – for a variety of reasons. These reasons may make perfect sense to you… and to some of those around you… but some of the motivations seem so long ago and convoluted that you honestly can’t even explain how or why the separation happened. Some have distanced themselves from others over petty and selfish events… hurtful words…or pure laziness that kept both parties from making the effort to maintain the relationship.
Think about your own life. Who was a big part of your world at one time who is now completely off your radar screen… and why? Facebook has helped me to reconnect with a lot of people from my high school and college years… to rekindle friendships with people I had simply not remained in contact in decades… and understandably. Our lives went in different directions. There was a friendship there… but probably not a deep connection or bond.
On the other hand, I have cousins and other relatives - people who were truly important in my life - with whom I have not spoken in months… or years. I am ashamed to say, “So-and-So was a huge part of my childhood… and I’ve not spoken to him/her in a decade.” It’s embarrassing to tell someone, “She is ‘like family’ to me… but I’ve not seen her in years.” What does this say about me as a part of Christ’s body? It’s as if I said, “Oh, I’ll be the earlobe… that way, how I behave or serve is not all that important in the scheme of things.” Let me ask you… if you saw someone and one of their earlobes was missing, don’t you think you would notice?
Every one of us is vital to the body of Christ. That means that the person we have not seen or spoken to - for whatever reason – is equally important… and we all need to function together as one body. I encourage you to search your heart today and think about the people who have been such an integral part of making you who you are today. Who in that group have you neglected? Who in that group have you distanced yourself from… even with “good” reason? As a part of the body of Christ, isn’t it time you reached out and at least attempted to reconnect?
In my own case with my two loved ones now gone, I made the effort with one of them – although it was not reciprocated. But I knew that this person knew how much I cared. In the other case, I could have done more… and this is a good lesson for me. There doesn’t have to be reconciliation… and there very well may not be… but a note to let this person know you still love them and care could begin the healing process. I’ll be sending some notes and e-mails… maybe making a phone call or two… and starting the process of reconnecting with the body of Christ and becoming a fully functioning part of His ministry. Will you do the same?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 27, 2012
Mark 3:10
After Jesus had healed many people, the other sick people begged him to let them touch him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In my daily devotional book, God Calling, the commentary for today was about touch… not just hearing from God or speaking to Him, but sitting still and feeling His presence – His touch. As if this were not inspiration enough, I opened a magazine, and the first article I turned to was about the healing effects of - you guessed it - touch! If this isn’t a clear sign that I am supposed to address the subject of touch today, I don’t know what is!
Over and again in scripture, we read about touch… a touch from God… the healing touch of Jesus… the woman who said (paraphrased), “If only I could touch the hem of His garment.” We hear Jesus feel the healing power leave his body and ask, “Who touched my clothing?” Touch is powerful! And just as I read in my devotional book today, we need to stop and rest in the moment and truly experience God’s touch.
The article I read suggested that the touch of another could lower blood pressure, facilitate physical healing, and soothe the soul. Even snuggling into a warm bathrobe or cupping a steaming mug of coffee or tea can elicit calm and a sense of well-being as your skin comes into contact with something soothing and warm. Stroking a devoted pet can make everything better. And the touch of God Almighty can truly heal and restore you in every area of life.
My husband and I used to have a farm house with a big front porch. Even on cold nights, I would sit there in a chair or swing… bundled in a warm bathrobe with a cup of hot tea to warm my hands… and I would talk to God. I would feel the warmth and comfort of His presence… like big arms wrapped around me. This was my sanctuary – my healing place – and God touched me there. I’ll be honest… I need to find a new sanctuary and rekindle that kind of daily “touch” from God… and maybe you do, as well. Make this the week you begin to find time each day to receive a touch from God… and to look for opportunities to offer a touch to someone else.
In the magazine article I read, there was a story from a 27-year-old single woman who attended church, and one Sunday the pastor said, “When you share God’s peace with others, reach over and touch somebody. Some people in here have not been touched all week.” She thought to herself that it was sad that there must be a lot of older people in the service who needed this touch. Then it hit her – SHE was one of those people! Are you one of those people who need a touch – from God and/or others? Have you made yourself available to God? Have you “stilled” yourself long enough for Him to touch you in whatever manner you need? Who do you need to reach out and touch this week with God’s love?
Make this the week that you beg to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Make this the week that you begin to experience the blessings that result from the touch of God. Find your sanctuary and spend time in His presence… then pass on the blessings to others. Feel them multiply exponentially as you experience – and share - the healing power of God’s touch.
©2012 Debbie Robus
After Jesus had healed many people, the other sick people begged him to let them touch him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In my daily devotional book, God Calling, the commentary for today was about touch… not just hearing from God or speaking to Him, but sitting still and feeling His presence – His touch. As if this were not inspiration enough, I opened a magazine, and the first article I turned to was about the healing effects of - you guessed it - touch! If this isn’t a clear sign that I am supposed to address the subject of touch today, I don’t know what is!
Over and again in scripture, we read about touch… a touch from God… the healing touch of Jesus… the woman who said (paraphrased), “If only I could touch the hem of His garment.” We hear Jesus feel the healing power leave his body and ask, “Who touched my clothing?” Touch is powerful! And just as I read in my devotional book today, we need to stop and rest in the moment and truly experience God’s touch.
The article I read suggested that the touch of another could lower blood pressure, facilitate physical healing, and soothe the soul. Even snuggling into a warm bathrobe or cupping a steaming mug of coffee or tea can elicit calm and a sense of well-being as your skin comes into contact with something soothing and warm. Stroking a devoted pet can make everything better. And the touch of God Almighty can truly heal and restore you in every area of life.
My husband and I used to have a farm house with a big front porch. Even on cold nights, I would sit there in a chair or swing… bundled in a warm bathrobe with a cup of hot tea to warm my hands… and I would talk to God. I would feel the warmth and comfort of His presence… like big arms wrapped around me. This was my sanctuary – my healing place – and God touched me there. I’ll be honest… I need to find a new sanctuary and rekindle that kind of daily “touch” from God… and maybe you do, as well. Make this the week you begin to find time each day to receive a touch from God… and to look for opportunities to offer a touch to someone else.
In the magazine article I read, there was a story from a 27-year-old single woman who attended church, and one Sunday the pastor said, “When you share God’s peace with others, reach over and touch somebody. Some people in here have not been touched all week.” She thought to herself that it was sad that there must be a lot of older people in the service who needed this touch. Then it hit her – SHE was one of those people! Are you one of those people who need a touch – from God and/or others? Have you made yourself available to God? Have you “stilled” yourself long enough for Him to touch you in whatever manner you need? Who do you need to reach out and touch this week with God’s love?
Make this the week that you beg to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Make this the week that you begin to experience the blessings that result from the touch of God. Find your sanctuary and spend time in His presence… then pass on the blessings to others. Feel them multiply exponentially as you experience – and share - the healing power of God’s touch.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 26, 2012
1 John 3:7-10
Children, don't be fooled. Anyone who does right is good, just like Christ himself. Anyone who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done. God's children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so that they cannot keep on sinning. You can tell God's children from the devil's children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On the reality TV show, “What Not to Wear,” the fashion experts take all of the clothing in a person’s closet and analyze each piece. Most, if not all of it, ends up in a symbolic trash can. The person with such poor fashion sense is told, “You can never wear this again.” A lot of these people protest, beg, plead, and even cry. They want to keep “just one thing,” for “old time’s sake”. But the fashion experts are insistent that the old things must go. When the person is “made over,” they usually comment that they would not want their old things in the closet again. They see how much better the “new person” they have become truly is… and often the transformation is internal as well as external.
In terms of our Christian faith, we have been “made over.” And many of us have tossed our “old life” into the trash can. The trouble is… a lot of us kept one or two things in the back of the closet… for sentimental reasons…out of fear… or “just because.” And we keep dragging these things back out from time to time and wearing them!
You may have read today’s passage and asked, “If God saved us through the blood of Jesus, why are we still bothered by the devil?” In my prayer journal/sermon notes, I have written that the word “destroy” is a Greek root word – luo – which means “to undo and loosen.” Jesus “loosed” us from the curse of sin. He did not “half-save” us… but He didn’t wipe it out the curse of sin, because we have to do that by choosing to follow God completely. It may seem like we are free from the bondage of sin, doing things our way and receiving blessings… but until we completely follow the will of God, we will never experience His full blessings.
If you want to be blessed, to prosper and fully lose the curses of your old sinful life, you must obey God’s word. You must ask Him to strengthen you with the courage to dump ALL of your old ways in the “trash can” and “dress yourself” in His grace, mercy, love, and righteousness.
Too many of us are bogged down by the baggage of old sins that we cannot seem to surrender. We often make excuses… “it’s always been this way”…”this is as good as it gets”…”this is all I deserve”…”I’m doing the best I can.” In truth, God has so much more He wants to give us… we deserve more as His heirs… and until we completely surrender to His will, we can do much more to draw closer to Him!
Ask God to show you how and where you need to shed roadblocks to living fully in His blessings. Listen for His answers. Trust Him to give you the strength and courage to take whatever steps are necessary… and put on His full armor. Dress yourself in the glory of the LORD, and get ready to be amazed by His blessings upon the “new you”… and the lives of those you encounter.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Children, don't be fooled. Anyone who does right is good, just like Christ himself. Anyone who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done. God's children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so that they cannot keep on sinning. You can tell God's children from the devil's children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On the reality TV show, “What Not to Wear,” the fashion experts take all of the clothing in a person’s closet and analyze each piece. Most, if not all of it, ends up in a symbolic trash can. The person with such poor fashion sense is told, “You can never wear this again.” A lot of these people protest, beg, plead, and even cry. They want to keep “just one thing,” for “old time’s sake”. But the fashion experts are insistent that the old things must go. When the person is “made over,” they usually comment that they would not want their old things in the closet again. They see how much better the “new person” they have become truly is… and often the transformation is internal as well as external.
In terms of our Christian faith, we have been “made over.” And many of us have tossed our “old life” into the trash can. The trouble is… a lot of us kept one or two things in the back of the closet… for sentimental reasons…out of fear… or “just because.” And we keep dragging these things back out from time to time and wearing them!
You may have read today’s passage and asked, “If God saved us through the blood of Jesus, why are we still bothered by the devil?” In my prayer journal/sermon notes, I have written that the word “destroy” is a Greek root word – luo – which means “to undo and loosen.” Jesus “loosed” us from the curse of sin. He did not “half-save” us… but He didn’t wipe it out the curse of sin, because we have to do that by choosing to follow God completely. It may seem like we are free from the bondage of sin, doing things our way and receiving blessings… but until we completely follow the will of God, we will never experience His full blessings.
If you want to be blessed, to prosper and fully lose the curses of your old sinful life, you must obey God’s word. You must ask Him to strengthen you with the courage to dump ALL of your old ways in the “trash can” and “dress yourself” in His grace, mercy, love, and righteousness.
Too many of us are bogged down by the baggage of old sins that we cannot seem to surrender. We often make excuses… “it’s always been this way”…”this is as good as it gets”…”this is all I deserve”…”I’m doing the best I can.” In truth, God has so much more He wants to give us… we deserve more as His heirs… and until we completely surrender to His will, we can do much more to draw closer to Him!
Ask God to show you how and where you need to shed roadblocks to living fully in His blessings. Listen for His answers. Trust Him to give you the strength and courage to take whatever steps are necessary… and put on His full armor. Dress yourself in the glory of the LORD, and get ready to be amazed by His blessings upon the “new you”… and the lives of those you encounter.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 25, 2012
Isaiah 43:19
I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve been spoiled lately by some pretty amazing days weather-wise. Temps have warmed to nearly 80 degrees – a rare treat for mid-to-late February. Trees have started to bud, and daffodils are blooming. This happens every winter, to some degree… but we seem to forget from year to year. So we are always enthralled with the promise of spring and all of the “newness” that will come with it.
A lot of our trouble is that we “wake up in a new world every day,” so to speak. We are not paying attention to our surroundings. We are “living in the moment” – but we are not truly soaking in each of these moments and living in them. We miss so many of God’s gifts because we are too busy hurrying from one to the next, and we fail to stop, breathe deeply, and inhale the blessings that His Holy Spirit bestows on us each and every day. Our mantra is “I don’t have time for this.”
Today, take time to “sit a spell”… to look around you and soak in what you see and hear… to breathe deeply. God has indeed made all things new… from the tiny flowers of spring to His gift of Jesus Christ to pay for our sins. Unlike God’s children of the Old Testament, we do not have to spend our time making sacrifices, burning offerings, and more. We can concentrate on truly serving God and sharing His message with others. When we are bogged down with “busyness”, we often miss the true blessings.
Today, my prayer is that you will find even a few minutes to stop and “be”… to soak in what God is trying to give you… to enjoy your blessings… to communicate with God… and to truly thank Him for all of this. Ask God, “What am I supposed to do with Your blessings? What is Your plan for me?” Then LISTEN for His direction. God is trying to do new things in and through us each and every day… our job is to pay attention so that we don’t miss this. Are you “living in the moment”… or are you “living in this moment?” There is a difference… do you get it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve been spoiled lately by some pretty amazing days weather-wise. Temps have warmed to nearly 80 degrees – a rare treat for mid-to-late February. Trees have started to bud, and daffodils are blooming. This happens every winter, to some degree… but we seem to forget from year to year. So we are always enthralled with the promise of spring and all of the “newness” that will come with it.
A lot of our trouble is that we “wake up in a new world every day,” so to speak. We are not paying attention to our surroundings. We are “living in the moment” – but we are not truly soaking in each of these moments and living in them. We miss so many of God’s gifts because we are too busy hurrying from one to the next, and we fail to stop, breathe deeply, and inhale the blessings that His Holy Spirit bestows on us each and every day. Our mantra is “I don’t have time for this.”
Today, take time to “sit a spell”… to look around you and soak in what you see and hear… to breathe deeply. God has indeed made all things new… from the tiny flowers of spring to His gift of Jesus Christ to pay for our sins. Unlike God’s children of the Old Testament, we do not have to spend our time making sacrifices, burning offerings, and more. We can concentrate on truly serving God and sharing His message with others. When we are bogged down with “busyness”, we often miss the true blessings.
Today, my prayer is that you will find even a few minutes to stop and “be”… to soak in what God is trying to give you… to enjoy your blessings… to communicate with God… and to truly thank Him for all of this. Ask God, “What am I supposed to do with Your blessings? What is Your plan for me?” Then LISTEN for His direction. God is trying to do new things in and through us each and every day… our job is to pay attention so that we don’t miss this. Are you “living in the moment”… or are you “living in this moment?” There is a difference… do you get it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
No Devotional for February 24, 2012
There will be no devo today. Please check back on February 25th.
God bless you!
~ Debbie ~
God bless you!
~ Debbie ~
Daily Devotional for February 23, 2012
Colossians 1:3-5
Our prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings. We can't quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you! We keep getting reports on your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and the love you continuously extend to all Christians. The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope.
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 may have heard the saying that “Iron sharpens iron.” We’ve all heard coaches talk about a team leader who strengthens other players as he/she “leads by example.” Perhaps there are people in your own circle of influence who have strengthened and encouraged you by their perseverance and faith that never seems to waver.
This passage reminds us that God has already delivered us from our sins, if we have claimed Jesus as our Savior. He has already paved the way and anchored the “lines of purpose” in our lives. We can be strengthened and blessed by God’s abundant blessings. We can prosper in all areas of life because of what He has established in and for us. The hope of spending an eternity in His presence keeps those “ropes” taut.
God is using people all around you to bless and strengthen you in His name… and He wants to use you to do this for others, as well. Look around and see who is strengthening and encouraging you. What examples of faith has God placed before you? How is He working in your own life to keep the “ropes” taut… and how can you lead by example? When was the last time you thanked God for those who bless and encourage you… and when was the last time you thanked them for being so faithful and strong?
Just as God can strengthen and bless you through His blessings, He can use you to do the same for others. Are you open to the possibilities? Remember, people are watching you! The question is… what sort of “lifelines” do they see? Are your “lines of purpose” tightly secured by hope and faith? Are you living as “God’s iron” to sharpen and encourage others in your circle? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Our prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings. We can't quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you! We keep getting reports on your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and the love you continuously extend to all Christians. The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope.
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 may have heard the saying that “Iron sharpens iron.” We’ve all heard coaches talk about a team leader who strengthens other players as he/she “leads by example.” Perhaps there are people in your own circle of influence who have strengthened and encouraged you by their perseverance and faith that never seems to waver.
This passage reminds us that God has already delivered us from our sins, if we have claimed Jesus as our Savior. He has already paved the way and anchored the “lines of purpose” in our lives. We can be strengthened and blessed by God’s abundant blessings. We can prosper in all areas of life because of what He has established in and for us. The hope of spending an eternity in His presence keeps those “ropes” taut.
God is using people all around you to bless and strengthen you in His name… and He wants to use you to do this for others, as well. Look around and see who is strengthening and encouraging you. What examples of faith has God placed before you? How is He working in your own life to keep the “ropes” taut… and how can you lead by example? When was the last time you thanked God for those who bless and encourage you… and when was the last time you thanked them for being so faithful and strong?
Just as God can strengthen and bless you through His blessings, He can use you to do the same for others. Are you open to the possibilities? Remember, people are watching you! The question is… what sort of “lifelines” do they see? Are your “lines of purpose” tightly secured by hope and faith? Are you living as “God’s iron” to sharpen and encourage others in your circle? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 22, 2012
Romans 8:26-28
In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God's people. We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose...
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It’s getting progressively harder for my grandmother to talk. The words she wants to use do not come… nor do her thoughts. Often, when she is trying to tell me something, I do a lot of guessing… or she uses hand gestures that mean something to me, and I know what she is trying to say. When we are with others and she wants to say something, she will often end up waving her hand and saying, “Debbie will tell you.” I’ve come to know her so well that quite frequently I can do a fairly good job of understanding what is in her mind and putting it into words for others.
This is what the Holy Spirit often does for us. He knows our heart… our innermost thoughts… desires… needs… and He can convey them to God when we cannot seem to find the words. We often think of Romans 8:28 as a justification of God’s will, or an explanation of failures… “all things work together for the good”. But actually, this passage refers to all forms of communication with God – all forms of prayer - working together for the good that God desires for us. Whether we are talking to him directly, speaking in tongues, singing praises, or allowing the Holy Spirit to speak for us… all forms of prayerful communication work together to accomplish God’s will.
Just because my grandmother cannot always verbalize what she is thinking or needing doesn’t mean we cannot communicate. For several years following a stroke that claimed her mother’s speech, my dear friend “talked” with her mom via a system of pointing to letters of the alphabet to spell things. Helen Keller was deaf and blind, but she was able to communicate with others via human touch. And we can use a variety of methods to communicate clearly with God every minute of the day. The key is to recognize that there are many ways to speak with God, and even when we can’t seem to find the right words to express our thoughts and feelings, He still hears us.
I sometimes have a hard time understanding what my grandmother is telling me… and often we both get frustrated before I figure out what she is saying – or we both give up and move on to something else. But that never happens with God. He always knows exactly what we are saying… His responses are given in love, timely, and perfect. He never gives up or grows weary… and He weaves everything we communicate to Him together to give us the best possible outcome.
I am glad that God hears me in so many ways. I am glad that when I can’t express myself, the Holy Spirit takes over for me. Doesn’t it give you hope, peace, and comfort to know that all you have to say is, “Here I am, LORD… I need you…” and He does the rest? Do you have the power of the Holy Spirit working in your heart – and on your behalf? Do you have all forms of prayer working together for the good in your life? Isn’t today a good time to begin to utilize them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God's people. We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose...
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It’s getting progressively harder for my grandmother to talk. The words she wants to use do not come… nor do her thoughts. Often, when she is trying to tell me something, I do a lot of guessing… or she uses hand gestures that mean something to me, and I know what she is trying to say. When we are with others and she wants to say something, she will often end up waving her hand and saying, “Debbie will tell you.” I’ve come to know her so well that quite frequently I can do a fairly good job of understanding what is in her mind and putting it into words for others.
This is what the Holy Spirit often does for us. He knows our heart… our innermost thoughts… desires… needs… and He can convey them to God when we cannot seem to find the words. We often think of Romans 8:28 as a justification of God’s will, or an explanation of failures… “all things work together for the good”. But actually, this passage refers to all forms of communication with God – all forms of prayer - working together for the good that God desires for us. Whether we are talking to him directly, speaking in tongues, singing praises, or allowing the Holy Spirit to speak for us… all forms of prayerful communication work together to accomplish God’s will.
Just because my grandmother cannot always verbalize what she is thinking or needing doesn’t mean we cannot communicate. For several years following a stroke that claimed her mother’s speech, my dear friend “talked” with her mom via a system of pointing to letters of the alphabet to spell things. Helen Keller was deaf and blind, but she was able to communicate with others via human touch. And we can use a variety of methods to communicate clearly with God every minute of the day. The key is to recognize that there are many ways to speak with God, and even when we can’t seem to find the right words to express our thoughts and feelings, He still hears us.
I sometimes have a hard time understanding what my grandmother is telling me… and often we both get frustrated before I figure out what she is saying – or we both give up and move on to something else. But that never happens with God. He always knows exactly what we are saying… His responses are given in love, timely, and perfect. He never gives up or grows weary… and He weaves everything we communicate to Him together to give us the best possible outcome.
I am glad that God hears me in so many ways. I am glad that when I can’t express myself, the Holy Spirit takes over for me. Doesn’t it give you hope, peace, and comfort to know that all you have to say is, “Here I am, LORD… I need you…” and He does the rest? Do you have the power of the Holy Spirit working in your heart – and on your behalf? Do you have all forms of prayer working together for the good in your life? Isn’t today a good time to begin to utilize them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 21, 2012
Ephesians 3:14-19
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My cousin shared this sweet story with me recently:
I challenge you to start to live in the fullness and strength of Psalm 23:1. I pray that you will thank God for all that He promises in this passage… and live as if you really believe He will supply all of your needs. “The LORD is my Shepherd… I shall not want.” Can you say the same? Embrace all that God offers you, and live in the power of His blessings and glory. The LORD is our Shepherd…what more could we possibly desire?
©2012 Debbie Robus
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My cousin shared this sweet story with me recently:
- A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.
On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."
I challenge you to start to live in the fullness and strength of Psalm 23:1. I pray that you will thank God for all that He promises in this passage… and live as if you really believe He will supply all of your needs. “The LORD is my Shepherd… I shall not want.” Can you say the same? Embrace all that God offers you, and live in the power of His blessings and glory. The LORD is our Shepherd…what more could we possibly desire?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 20, 2012
1 Corinthians 4:14-17
I am not writing to embarrass you. I want to help you, just as parents help their own dear children. Ten thousand people may teach you about Christ, but I am your only father. You became my children when I told you about Christ Jesus, and I want you to be like me. That's why I sent Timothy to you. I love him like a son, and he is a faithful servant of the Lord. Timothy will tell you what I do to follow Christ and how it agrees with what I always teach about Christ in every church.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend shared a story via Facebook recently about a young violinist who played in a metro station in Washington, DC, one cold January morning. In 45 minutes, the young man played six pieces by Bach. People passed by without as much as a look. A few tossed money into his case. Some even paused briefly before they hurried on. One three-year-old boy stopped and listened to the musician, but his mother tugged and pushed and insisted he move ahead. Other children and parents were observed engaging in much the same interaction.
The Washington Post had planted this musician in the metro as an experiment. His name was Joshua Bell, and he was one of the most talented musicians in the world. One of the pieces he performed was considered to be the most complicated musical work ever written – and he played it on a violin worth $3.5 million! Two nights earlier, he had sold out a concert hall in Boston, where seats went for as much as $100 each. This morning he garnered $32 in “tips”.
The story claimed that the Post put Bell here as part of… “a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were… in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: 1) Do we perceive beauty? 2) Do we stop to appreciate it? and 3) Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?”
The article concluded by asking (paraphrased)… “If we don’t pause in a crowded place to listen to one of the best musicians in the world play one of the most complicated, beautiful pieces of music ever written, what else might we be missing?” As I read this passage from Paul to the Corinthians, I asked myself how many people and situations God has sent to teach us about Jesus, and we were too busy or disinterested… lost in our own little worlds to recognize and appreciate them? Just as God used Paul to send Timothy to minister to the people of Corinth, He sends ministers to us each day. But do we recognize them?
There are thousands of “teachable moments” from God… but we miss too many of them. We overlook far too many opportunities to hear from God – to experience His glory and beauty in nature, music, the laugh of a child or even the touch of an adoring pet who paws at us, and more. We hurry onward and often do nothing more than toss a dollar bill into a collection plate – or give a sideward glance or lip service to who and what surrounds us - as we race to get to our next big event… failing to see God standing right before us creating a magnificent opus to begin our day!
Who has God sent your way to teach you and bless you? Where is He offering you “teachable moments” – and blessings to brighten your journey? Are you truly alert and appreciative? Do you recognize His presence with childlike innocence and intrigue… or are you far too busy? Can I tell you something? There is nothing more important that we have to do today than hear from God! Stop! Look! Listen! Hear God’s “music” and recognize those He sends to perform it for you. Pay attention to your Heavenly Father… and truly learn all you can from Him. Let this be the day you begin to slow down and recognize His presence… and to appreciate more deeply just how blessed we are by His love and care.
©2012 Debbie Robus
I am not writing to embarrass you. I want to help you, just as parents help their own dear children. Ten thousand people may teach you about Christ, but I am your only father. You became my children when I told you about Christ Jesus, and I want you to be like me. That's why I sent Timothy to you. I love him like a son, and he is a faithful servant of the Lord. Timothy will tell you what I do to follow Christ and how it agrees with what I always teach about Christ in every church.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend shared a story via Facebook recently about a young violinist who played in a metro station in Washington, DC, one cold January morning. In 45 minutes, the young man played six pieces by Bach. People passed by without as much as a look. A few tossed money into his case. Some even paused briefly before they hurried on. One three-year-old boy stopped and listened to the musician, but his mother tugged and pushed and insisted he move ahead. Other children and parents were observed engaging in much the same interaction.
The Washington Post had planted this musician in the metro as an experiment. His name was Joshua Bell, and he was one of the most talented musicians in the world. One of the pieces he performed was considered to be the most complicated musical work ever written – and he played it on a violin worth $3.5 million! Two nights earlier, he had sold out a concert hall in Boston, where seats went for as much as $100 each. This morning he garnered $32 in “tips”.
The story claimed that the Post put Bell here as part of… “a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were… in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: 1) Do we perceive beauty? 2) Do we stop to appreciate it? and 3) Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?”
The article concluded by asking (paraphrased)… “If we don’t pause in a crowded place to listen to one of the best musicians in the world play one of the most complicated, beautiful pieces of music ever written, what else might we be missing?” As I read this passage from Paul to the Corinthians, I asked myself how many people and situations God has sent to teach us about Jesus, and we were too busy or disinterested… lost in our own little worlds to recognize and appreciate them? Just as God used Paul to send Timothy to minister to the people of Corinth, He sends ministers to us each day. But do we recognize them?
There are thousands of “teachable moments” from God… but we miss too many of them. We overlook far too many opportunities to hear from God – to experience His glory and beauty in nature, music, the laugh of a child or even the touch of an adoring pet who paws at us, and more. We hurry onward and often do nothing more than toss a dollar bill into a collection plate – or give a sideward glance or lip service to who and what surrounds us - as we race to get to our next big event… failing to see God standing right before us creating a magnificent opus to begin our day!
Who has God sent your way to teach you and bless you? Where is He offering you “teachable moments” – and blessings to brighten your journey? Are you truly alert and appreciative? Do you recognize His presence with childlike innocence and intrigue… or are you far too busy? Can I tell you something? There is nothing more important that we have to do today than hear from God! Stop! Look! Listen! Hear God’s “music” and recognize those He sends to perform it for you. Pay attention to your Heavenly Father… and truly learn all you can from Him. Let this be the day you begin to slow down and recognize His presence… and to appreciate more deeply just how blessed we are by His love and care.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 19, 2012
Proverbs 20:27
Our inner thoughts are a lamp from the LORD, and they search our hearts.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You’ve probably known someone who got dressed in the dark and came to school or work wearing a black shoe and a brown one – or two different colored socks or something else mismatched. Without appropriate light to guide us, we often make mistakes. And while some are minor in the scheme of things – like getting dressed in the dark - some are more serious. Reaching into a poorly lit knife drawer could result in a bad cut. We probably wouldn’t put our hand into black, murky water without know what was in there. We’re not inclined to drive a car into a shadowy, deserted area without knowing what lies ahead… or to enter a pitch black room in an unfamiliar building.
Satan operates within the darkness of our hearts. He fills the inner recesses with unkind thoughts, temptations, self-serving desires, and much more. He cannot operate in the light. So when we allow the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts, it’s as if we have “lit” our hearts with the Word of God and banished the devil. Just as the light of a candle can guide us into a dark room, God can illuminate our heart and show us where the wiles of Satan are lurking – and help us to get rid of him. We can then receive all that we need to operate skillfully in the realm of God and His purposes.
We need to learn to believe God with our heart… how to operate in His light… and then give Him room to do exactly this! Don’t miss out on all God wants to give you. Turn on the “Light!” There is no limit to what God can use to get His word to you… to light the darkest recesses of your heart and fill you with His Holy Spirit. The only limitations are those we place on Him to do this, through lack of knowledge, an openness and willingness of our heart, and continual communication with Him.
We need to humanly, consciously open our heart to all that God wants to give us. We must allow Him to “turn on the Light,” and guide our natural thoughts and transform them into holy ones. Just as we would never reach into a dark drawer or step into a pitch black room, we must never operate from a place of darkness. Make room for God in your heart. Allow Him to illuminate you from the inside out… to drive Satan completely away. Let God fill you with His Light - and all of the blessings that follow.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Our inner thoughts are a lamp from the LORD, and they search our hearts.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You’ve probably known someone who got dressed in the dark and came to school or work wearing a black shoe and a brown one – or two different colored socks or something else mismatched. Without appropriate light to guide us, we often make mistakes. And while some are minor in the scheme of things – like getting dressed in the dark - some are more serious. Reaching into a poorly lit knife drawer could result in a bad cut. We probably wouldn’t put our hand into black, murky water without know what was in there. We’re not inclined to drive a car into a shadowy, deserted area without knowing what lies ahead… or to enter a pitch black room in an unfamiliar building.
Satan operates within the darkness of our hearts. He fills the inner recesses with unkind thoughts, temptations, self-serving desires, and much more. He cannot operate in the light. So when we allow the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts, it’s as if we have “lit” our hearts with the Word of God and banished the devil. Just as the light of a candle can guide us into a dark room, God can illuminate our heart and show us where the wiles of Satan are lurking – and help us to get rid of him. We can then receive all that we need to operate skillfully in the realm of God and His purposes.
We need to learn to believe God with our heart… how to operate in His light… and then give Him room to do exactly this! Don’t miss out on all God wants to give you. Turn on the “Light!” There is no limit to what God can use to get His word to you… to light the darkest recesses of your heart and fill you with His Holy Spirit. The only limitations are those we place on Him to do this, through lack of knowledge, an openness and willingness of our heart, and continual communication with Him.
We need to humanly, consciously open our heart to all that God wants to give us. We must allow Him to “turn on the Light,” and guide our natural thoughts and transform them into holy ones. Just as we would never reach into a dark drawer or step into a pitch black room, we must never operate from a place of darkness. Make room for God in your heart. Allow Him to illuminate you from the inside out… to drive Satan completely away. Let God fill you with His Light - and all of the blessings that follow.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 18, 2012
1 Corinthians 2:1-10
You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.
I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it's not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface. It's not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. The experts of our day haven't a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn't have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross.
That's why we have this Scripture text:
No one's ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him.
But you've seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before 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.
I hadn’t really planned on watching the television coverage of singer Whitney Houston’s funeral, but as the hour drew near for the service to begin, I found myself listening to the choirs sing before the service began. The atmosphere of worship was so palpable that I could do nothing else. In the old-fashioned gospel music, the message rang loud and clear… that God loves each of us, regardless of our station in life. One person Tweeted the following… “look @ God! turning a time of grief and sorrow into one of worship, praise and celebration for ALL the world to see. amen.”
Celebrities truly are not born any different than the rest of us. Many grow up in ordinary circumstances… some grow up “in the church. More than a few have overcome incredible obstacles in their lives… poverty, abuse, addictions, illness. Sadly, some are overcome by these afflictions – even those who grew up learning about God. If you have ever known someone who struggled with addiction and other “life challenges,” you may have asked, “How could this happen? I thought they knew God!”
Here is the message of this passage for me – and you – today. Life is often messy. As I have shared in recent days, our heart often knows what God wants us to do… but the minute we seem to get on track, sin comes along to trip us up and try to knock us down. If you don’t believe that Satan has power, you’re living in a dream world! The key thing to understand is that God is more powerful. So yes, someone can love God and deeply desire to serve Him… yet struggle with addictions, financial troubles, illness (physical and/or mental), and much more. It doesn’t change God’s love for this person… it doesn’t change the fact that God’s “master stroke” in sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins includes those who struggle, also. Let’s be honest, our “sins” may not be as public… our struggles and failures as familiar to the masses… but they are just as profound… and just as forgiven, if we have called on Jesus to save us.
In his funeral remarks, Pastor T.D. Jakes reminded us that “Love is stronger than death” – GOD’s love. He noted that it looks like death won again… but 2000 years ago, Jesus showed us that His love is greater than death. And that is what we must remember today. Many of us have experienced grief over the death of someone who left us far too soon… but this was not because death won… or that God removed His love from us. This is the mysterious part… how - and when - GOD sometimes loves us enough to call us to Him and remove us from the challenges we are facing on this earth.
The message is simple, pure, and everlasting… God is love… He loved us long before we were formed, and His plans for us are perfect and amazing. And while we mourn the passing of those who have left us – whether their life struggles were quite visible and public, or they appeared to “have it all together” – we celebrate that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Through His spirit, God is able to use even a service of mourning to celebrate all that He is able to do in and through us. We may never know how God will use this worldwide public broadcast of a funeral service for His glory… but we must never underestimate the power of God to get His message to those who need to hear it.
To God be the glory for blessing Whitney Houston with such amazing talent. May He comfort her now as she rests in His arms… and may He comfort those who grieve her passing. More importantly, may He “turn a time of grief and sorrow into one of worship, praise and celebration for ALL the world to see.” In the midst of this public tragedy, may others come to know the amazing love and power of a relationship with the God who loves us so mysteriously… and completely.
©2012 Debbie Robus
You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.
I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it's not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface. It's not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. The experts of our day haven't a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn't have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross.
That's why we have this Scripture text:
No one's ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him.
But you've seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before 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.
I hadn’t really planned on watching the television coverage of singer Whitney Houston’s funeral, but as the hour drew near for the service to begin, I found myself listening to the choirs sing before the service began. The atmosphere of worship was so palpable that I could do nothing else. In the old-fashioned gospel music, the message rang loud and clear… that God loves each of us, regardless of our station in life. One person Tweeted the following… “look @ God! turning a time of grief and sorrow into one of worship, praise and celebration for ALL the world to see. amen.”
Celebrities truly are not born any different than the rest of us. Many grow up in ordinary circumstances… some grow up “in the church. More than a few have overcome incredible obstacles in their lives… poverty, abuse, addictions, illness. Sadly, some are overcome by these afflictions – even those who grew up learning about God. If you have ever known someone who struggled with addiction and other “life challenges,” you may have asked, “How could this happen? I thought they knew God!”
Here is the message of this passage for me – and you – today. Life is often messy. As I have shared in recent days, our heart often knows what God wants us to do… but the minute we seem to get on track, sin comes along to trip us up and try to knock us down. If you don’t believe that Satan has power, you’re living in a dream world! The key thing to understand is that God is more powerful. So yes, someone can love God and deeply desire to serve Him… yet struggle with addictions, financial troubles, illness (physical and/or mental), and much more. It doesn’t change God’s love for this person… it doesn’t change the fact that God’s “master stroke” in sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins includes those who struggle, also. Let’s be honest, our “sins” may not be as public… our struggles and failures as familiar to the masses… but they are just as profound… and just as forgiven, if we have called on Jesus to save us.
In his funeral remarks, Pastor T.D. Jakes reminded us that “Love is stronger than death” – GOD’s love. He noted that it looks like death won again… but 2000 years ago, Jesus showed us that His love is greater than death. And that is what we must remember today. Many of us have experienced grief over the death of someone who left us far too soon… but this was not because death won… or that God removed His love from us. This is the mysterious part… how - and when - GOD sometimes loves us enough to call us to Him and remove us from the challenges we are facing on this earth.
The message is simple, pure, and everlasting… God is love… He loved us long before we were formed, and His plans for us are perfect and amazing. And while we mourn the passing of those who have left us – whether their life struggles were quite visible and public, or they appeared to “have it all together” – we celebrate that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Through His spirit, God is able to use even a service of mourning to celebrate all that He is able to do in and through us. We may never know how God will use this worldwide public broadcast of a funeral service for His glory… but we must never underestimate the power of God to get His message to those who need to hear it.
To God be the glory for blessing Whitney Houston with such amazing talent. May He comfort her now as she rests in His arms… and may He comfort those who grieve her passing. More importantly, may He “turn a time of grief and sorrow into one of worship, praise and celebration for ALL the world to see.” In the midst of this public tragedy, may others come to know the amazing love and power of a relationship with the God who loves us so mysteriously… and completely.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 17, 2012
Romans 7:21-23
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
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 and my “reality TV” hobby… I was watching a show called “My 600-lb. Life” on TLC, and this morbidly obese man, Henry, had gastric bypass surgery. Initially weighing in at 715 lbs., Henry ultimately lost 500 pounds over the course of five years. Some of this came in the form of cosmetic surgery to remove excessive skin… but most was a result of eating less and burning body fat. However, this was a very difficult journey for Henry, as it is for so many… in large part because of the temptations that surrounded him.
Henry’s family continued to eat all the wrong things – in excessive quantities – directly in front of him. Once, when he returned home after a month in the hospital for “skin” surgery, his sister said something to the effect of… “We’ve got to stop and get Momma something to eat on the way home. She said she was hungry and not to come home without a sandwich or something.” The next scene was all of Henry’s family, chowing down on burgers, fries and more, while he looked on pitifully. He admitted that sometimes he wanted to throw up his hands and just go back to eating. The man who had overcome so much… lost at least two persons in body weight… acquired an entirely new, much smaller wardrobe – even down to underwear, socks and shoes… and rekindled his relationship with the love of his life… still wanted to eat whatever and whenever he pleased.
Surely this passage has it right… there are times when parts of us covertly rebel and take charge. And like Henry, this is when we have to stand up and leave the room or do whatever it takes to strengthen our resolve to stay on course. This is when we truly have to “speak of things that be not as though they are!” We must use our mouth to call on God to rescue us… and we must do so with confidence that He will do exactly this!
The point is that life is hard… there are always going to be challenges, and Satan is NEVER going away. The minute we think we have it all together is the very moment he will show up full force to try to derail us. We must speak against anything that comes between us and living in God’s will. We must declare that we will not give in – or fold up. We will persevere by the strength of God Almighty, and we will come out on top. You may only have 5 pounds you wish to lose, but temptations still abound. You may have a “habit” you are trying to kick, and temptations keep trying to reel you back in.
You may be working toward a goal, like a college degree, training for a job promotion, or just getting your life on track in general… and roadblocks may keep appearing. Don’t give up! Keep on working toward whatever God is trying to give you. Call on Him to help you – and declare that you know He is going to deliver!
We know that when we get on track, challenges are going to show up almost like clockwork. By God’s grace, we are bigger than those challenges… and we have His full force behind us. Tell whatever part of you that is listening to Satan to get on board or move over, because you are committed to God, and He will not allow you to fail! This is great news! This is worthy of a shout! Praise God… with Him all things are possible… with God, we cannot be defeated!
©2012 Debbie Robus
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
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 and my “reality TV” hobby… I was watching a show called “My 600-lb. Life” on TLC, and this morbidly obese man, Henry, had gastric bypass surgery. Initially weighing in at 715 lbs., Henry ultimately lost 500 pounds over the course of five years. Some of this came in the form of cosmetic surgery to remove excessive skin… but most was a result of eating less and burning body fat. However, this was a very difficult journey for Henry, as it is for so many… in large part because of the temptations that surrounded him.
Henry’s family continued to eat all the wrong things – in excessive quantities – directly in front of him. Once, when he returned home after a month in the hospital for “skin” surgery, his sister said something to the effect of… “We’ve got to stop and get Momma something to eat on the way home. She said she was hungry and not to come home without a sandwich or something.” The next scene was all of Henry’s family, chowing down on burgers, fries and more, while he looked on pitifully. He admitted that sometimes he wanted to throw up his hands and just go back to eating. The man who had overcome so much… lost at least two persons in body weight… acquired an entirely new, much smaller wardrobe – even down to underwear, socks and shoes… and rekindled his relationship with the love of his life… still wanted to eat whatever and whenever he pleased.
Surely this passage has it right… there are times when parts of us covertly rebel and take charge. And like Henry, this is when we have to stand up and leave the room or do whatever it takes to strengthen our resolve to stay on course. This is when we truly have to “speak of things that be not as though they are!” We must use our mouth to call on God to rescue us… and we must do so with confidence that He will do exactly this!
The point is that life is hard… there are always going to be challenges, and Satan is NEVER going away. The minute we think we have it all together is the very moment he will show up full force to try to derail us. We must speak against anything that comes between us and living in God’s will. We must declare that we will not give in – or fold up. We will persevere by the strength of God Almighty, and we will come out on top. You may only have 5 pounds you wish to lose, but temptations still abound. You may have a “habit” you are trying to kick, and temptations keep trying to reel you back in.
You may be working toward a goal, like a college degree, training for a job promotion, or just getting your life on track in general… and roadblocks may keep appearing. Don’t give up! Keep on working toward whatever God is trying to give you. Call on Him to help you – and declare that you know He is going to deliver!
We know that when we get on track, challenges are going to show up almost like clockwork. By God’s grace, we are bigger than those challenges… and we have His full force behind us. Tell whatever part of you that is listening to Satan to get on board or move over, because you are committed to God, and He will not allow you to fail! This is great news! This is worthy of a shout! Praise God… with Him all things are possible… with God, we cannot be defeated!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 16, 2012
1 Peter 3:4
Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The last few days, the remnants of a light snowfall have been evident on our lawns. There is something so quiet about a snowy day… as if the earth is nestled under a fluffy, white blanket. And as the snow melted and warmer temperatures have returned, the air has been filled with the chirping of birds… a red-winged blackbird, a Carolina wren, and other songbirds who are beckoning the return of spring. Where is God ever more evident than in these beautiful, quiet creations? Yet, so many of us miss them… we are looking for something louder and more profound.
The devotionals begin with a scripture passage, and then there is a commentary, written as if God is speaking directly to the reader. Here’s where it gets amazing… today’s commentary on Psalm 4:3-5 says in part…“if you only sat still and longed for Me, if you just drew hungering breaths for Me, as you do for the fresh pure air of the open. Be still, be calm. Wait before Me. Learn of Me patience, humility, peace.”
When I began writing this devotional to share with you, I opened my prayer journal to the sermon notes I’ve been using, and the scripture passage I was drawn to for today was once again the message… “be gentle and quiet.” Only God could tie together the scripture passages from Psalm 4:3-5 and 1 Peter 3:4. Clearly this is the word He has for us today… and it came in the “quiet” of reading from His Holy Word!
If we can only learn to be quiet… to listen for God… and then to let others “hear” Him through our peaceful, calm nature…great things can be accomplished. If we stop long enough to listen for a songbird and recognize that God cares as much for these tiny creatures as He does for each of us, we will be blessed beyond measure. If we can operate in the beauty and peacefulness of quiet, we can have far more impact than if we scream and shout!
We need to slow down… to look and listen for God in the most ordinary of places. We’ve become to “wired” for grandeur and “the bigger the better.” It’s time to dial it down a notch or two and let God work through a quieter, calmer, more peaceful approach. Stop, look, listen… breathe deeply… inhale all that God wants to give you this day… and exhale all the negative “noise.” Operate in peace and quiet for a change, and see for yourself how God can bless you… and others.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The last few days, the remnants of a light snowfall have been evident on our lawns. There is something so quiet about a snowy day… as if the earth is nestled under a fluffy, white blanket. And as the snow melted and warmer temperatures have returned, the air has been filled with the chirping of birds… a red-winged blackbird, a Carolina wren, and other songbirds who are beckoning the return of spring. Where is God ever more evident than in these beautiful, quiet creations? Yet, so many of us miss them… we are looking for something louder and more profound.
If I weren’t learning to expect God in the most unexpected places, I would be amazed at what I am about to tell you. A few days ago, I visited with a friend in Wal-Mart, and she recommended a book to me… God Calling, a daily devotional book written by two British women in the early 1930s. I came home and downloaded the book onto my Kindle. A London newspaperman, A. J. Russell, edited the writings of these two ladies for publication, and the book has sold millions of copies worldwide. The book’s introduction states that these women always remained anonymous, and ... “’were poor, brave and courageously fighting against sickness and penury,’ in Russell’s words. They were facing a hopeless future and one of them even longed to be quit of this hard world for good. But then, God spoke to their hearts, and God Calling was born.”
 |
| God can speak through the quiet beauty of fog rising over a river on a sunny morning. |
When I began writing this devotional to share with you, I opened my prayer journal to the sermon notes I’ve been using, and the scripture passage I was drawn to for today was once again the message… “be gentle and quiet.” Only God could tie together the scripture passages from Psalm 4:3-5 and 1 Peter 3:4. Clearly this is the word He has for us today… and it came in the “quiet” of reading from His Holy Word!
If we can only learn to be quiet… to listen for God… and then to let others “hear” Him through our peaceful, calm nature…great things can be accomplished. If we stop long enough to listen for a songbird and recognize that God cares as much for these tiny creatures as He does for each of us, we will be blessed beyond measure. If we can operate in the beauty and peacefulness of quiet, we can have far more impact than if we scream and shout!
We need to slow down… to look and listen for God in the most ordinary of places. We’ve become to “wired” for grandeur and “the bigger the better.” It’s time to dial it down a notch or two and let God work through a quieter, calmer, more peaceful approach. Stop, look, listen… breathe deeply… inhale all that God wants to give you this day… and exhale all the negative “noise.” Operate in peace and quiet for a change, and see for yourself how God can bless you… and others.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 15, 2012
2 Corinthians 6:11-13
Friends in Corinth, we are telling the truth when we say that there is room in our hearts for you. We are not holding back on our love for you, but you are holding back on your love for us. I speak to you as I would speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Telephone conversations with a toddler who is not quite three are challenging, to say the least! Timothy tries to “show” me what he is saying… and of course, I can’t “see” his nods and gestures in response to my questions and comments. So I try to keep things as simple as possible… questions he can answer with one word or two… singing one of his favorite songs… and lots of “I love yous!” In the most elementary way possible, my husband and I try to convey to him with words that there is more than enough room in our hearts for him. And I know from his responses that the feeling is mutual.
We can’t exactly get a physical hug from God, either. Yet, He shows us in ways great and small that there is room in His heart for us. But how do we show Him our heart? Is there room for God there? Do we speak and act in a way that exhibits love, respect, honor and glory to Him? Do we waste time trying to make lavish, grand gestures - or do we keep it as simple as possible… offering prayers of praise, living and serving in a way that pleases Him, speaking His truths and sharing the Good News with others, operating in love and kindness?
Timothy knows that we love him. Every time he gets pictures, coloring pages, or a toy or new clothes in the mail, he knows we are thinking of him. When we sing a song over the telephone, he is reminded of the hours we spent singing in the living room and playing together. When we tell him “I love you,” he remembers the hugs and kisses that accompanied those words. And every single day, God is showering us with love and hugs through all sorts of gestures… the warmth of a beautiful sunny day… health and healing… the smiles and kindness of others… and much more. All we have to do to feel God’s love is to open our hearts and minds to the possibilities He offers. We have to stop holding back… to “let go and let God” fill us with His love, grace, mercy and blessings.
What is the condition of your heart? Is it open wide, with room for God to enter and fill you? Or are you holding back - both in your ability to receive and to give love to God and others? Isn’t this a perfect time to open your heart… to allow God to fill you with His love… and to simply and profoundly share love and kindness with others? Do you know how much God loves you? Do others know how much you love them? Just how wide open is your heart these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Friends in Corinth, we are telling the truth when we say that there is room in our hearts for you. We are not holding back on our love for you, but you are holding back on your love for us. I speak to you as I would speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Telephone conversations with a toddler who is not quite three are challenging, to say the least! Timothy tries to “show” me what he is saying… and of course, I can’t “see” his nods and gestures in response to my questions and comments. So I try to keep things as simple as possible… questions he can answer with one word or two… singing one of his favorite songs… and lots of “I love yous!” In the most elementary way possible, my husband and I try to convey to him with words that there is more than enough room in our hearts for him. And I know from his responses that the feeling is mutual.
We can’t exactly get a physical hug from God, either. Yet, He shows us in ways great and small that there is room in His heart for us. But how do we show Him our heart? Is there room for God there? Do we speak and act in a way that exhibits love, respect, honor and glory to Him? Do we waste time trying to make lavish, grand gestures - or do we keep it as simple as possible… offering prayers of praise, living and serving in a way that pleases Him, speaking His truths and sharing the Good News with others, operating in love and kindness?
Timothy knows that we love him. Every time he gets pictures, coloring pages, or a toy or new clothes in the mail, he knows we are thinking of him. When we sing a song over the telephone, he is reminded of the hours we spent singing in the living room and playing together. When we tell him “I love you,” he remembers the hugs and kisses that accompanied those words. And every single day, God is showering us with love and hugs through all sorts of gestures… the warmth of a beautiful sunny day… health and healing… the smiles and kindness of others… and much more. All we have to do to feel God’s love is to open our hearts and minds to the possibilities He offers. We have to stop holding back… to “let go and let God” fill us with His love, grace, mercy and blessings.
What is the condition of your heart? Is it open wide, with room for God to enter and fill you? Or are you holding back - both in your ability to receive and to give love to God and others? Isn’t this a perfect time to open your heart… to allow God to fill you with His love… and to simply and profoundly share love and kindness with others? Do you know how much God loves you? Do others know how much you love them? Just how wide open is your heart these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 14, 2012
James 3:13-16
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.
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.
On ABC’s The View, Barbara Walters said she wished children did not take Valentines to school on Valentine’s Day. Several of her co-workers gasped and questioned her about this remark. She explained that there always seemed to be a few children who brought Valentines for everyone and had a big fancy box to collect those which they received in return. However, not all children could afford to bring Valentines for others. And just as hurtful, some children were excluded from the exchange on purpose. Walters’ own daughter experienced this as a tall-for-her-age, gawky 6th grader who took a Valentine for every classmate… yet some deliberately did not reciprocate and made her feel inferior and ugly.
We start early building competitive spirit - and downright arrogance, prejudice, and meanness – into our children. By the time they are in upper elementary school, many have drawn a line in the sand between the “Haves” and the “Have-nots”… the “pretty” and the “ugly”… the popular and the unpopular people. Some spend lot of time and energy trying to be in the former camps, rather than the latter… and they will do almost anything to belong.
In my adult life, I have found it interesting to reconnect with some of the people who were so busy talking, boasting, twisting the truth, conniving and bullying others in order to appear wise, popular, or more important. Often, their lives turned out anything but well… filled with heartaches, missteps, and disappointments – if not utter failure. Some of those who lived in the shadows, quietly and humbly minding their own business, have gone on to accomplish great success… to become wise, well-respected, honorable and productive human beings who glorify God and bless others in their path.
Today, I challenge you to spend a few minutes thinking about your actions – and reactions – toward others. What image are you projecting? Are you boastful, judgmental, prejudiced, conniving? Do you take whatever steps are necessary to get ahead, make yourself look better, appear wise and affluent, and get what you want… at the expense of anything or anyone in your way? Has this become so much a part of your psyche that you don’t even realize you behave this way?
Ask God to show you where – and how – you need to become more humble. Call on Him to help you control your mouth… and your actions. It’s never too late to grow in wisdom… to more closely resemble the person God has called you to be. You may not be able to go back to 6th grade and give every classmate a Valentine, but you can start to be a nicer person in your present circle of friends and acquaintances. Are you building a reputation for wisdom? Will this be the Valentine’s Day you truly begin to operate in God’s love for you and those around you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.
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.
On ABC’s The View, Barbara Walters said she wished children did not take Valentines to school on Valentine’s Day. Several of her co-workers gasped and questioned her about this remark. She explained that there always seemed to be a few children who brought Valentines for everyone and had a big fancy box to collect those which they received in return. However, not all children could afford to bring Valentines for others. And just as hurtful, some children were excluded from the exchange on purpose. Walters’ own daughter experienced this as a tall-for-her-age, gawky 6th grader who took a Valentine for every classmate… yet some deliberately did not reciprocate and made her feel inferior and ugly.
We start early building competitive spirit - and downright arrogance, prejudice, and meanness – into our children. By the time they are in upper elementary school, many have drawn a line in the sand between the “Haves” and the “Have-nots”… the “pretty” and the “ugly”… the popular and the unpopular people. Some spend lot of time and energy trying to be in the former camps, rather than the latter… and they will do almost anything to belong.
In my adult life, I have found it interesting to reconnect with some of the people who were so busy talking, boasting, twisting the truth, conniving and bullying others in order to appear wise, popular, or more important. Often, their lives turned out anything but well… filled with heartaches, missteps, and disappointments – if not utter failure. Some of those who lived in the shadows, quietly and humbly minding their own business, have gone on to accomplish great success… to become wise, well-respected, honorable and productive human beings who glorify God and bless others in their path.
Today, I challenge you to spend a few minutes thinking about your actions – and reactions – toward others. What image are you projecting? Are you boastful, judgmental, prejudiced, conniving? Do you take whatever steps are necessary to get ahead, make yourself look better, appear wise and affluent, and get what you want… at the expense of anything or anyone in your way? Has this become so much a part of your psyche that you don’t even realize you behave this way?
Ask God to show you where – and how – you need to become more humble. Call on Him to help you control your mouth… and your actions. It’s never too late to grow in wisdom… to more closely resemble the person God has called you to be. You may not be able to go back to 6th grade and give every classmate a Valentine, but you can start to be a nicer person in your present circle of friends and acquaintances. Are you building a reputation for wisdom? Will this be the Valentine’s Day you truly begin to operate in God’s love for you and those around you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 13, 2012
Romans 3:1-6
So what difference does it make who's a Jew and who isn't, who has been trained in God's ways and who hasn't? As it turns out, it makes a lot of difference—but not the difference so many have assumed. First, there's the matter of being put in charge of writing down and caring for God's revelation, these Holy Scriptures.
So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn't abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same: Your words stand fast and true; rejection doesn't faze you.
But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God's rightdoing, shouldn't we be commended for helping out? Since our bad words don't even make a dent in his good words, isn't it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word? These questions come up. The answer to such questions is no, a most emphatic No! How else would things ever get straightened out if God didn't do the straightening?
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 been “stood up”? Has someone ever told you they would call you, stop by and see you, or help you with something… then they either called and said they weren’t available – or you never heard from them at all? It stinks, doesn’t it? And honestly, don’t you know people who seldom – if ever – keep their word? I have said of more than one such person… “If their lips are moving, they are probably lying.” That’s a pretty sad commentary, isn’t it?
You may also know people who profess to be Christians… but they take great license with their salvation. It’s as if they feel that because they are saved by the blood of Jesus, they have a free ticket to do as they please without fear of any consequences. Clearly, this passage shows us that God is not happy by our assumptions. GOD’s words matter… OUR words matter… and so do the actions we put behind them!
God would never think of going back on His word… and neither should we! We should never “abandon our post” and dishonor Him by interpreting scripture to suit our own purposes…taking our salvation for granted… or speaking “bad words” to others. As Disciples of Christ, we are called to honor His sacrifice by speaking words that are true, hopeful, positive, kind, and reliable. When we say we will do something, we should do it. When we promise to call or help someone, we must follow through and show up. We must remember WHOSE we are – and what it cost for us to become heirs to His throne… and we must behave honorably even when all around us seem to have lost their heads!
There will be times when we become discouraged. We will feel that God’s promises of blessings, good health and prosperity must be meant for someone else. We will have struggles, challenges, and disappointments… and the natural tendency will be to blame God – or at least complain to Him loudly. We will be tempted to throw up our hands and ask, “What’s the point?” The short answer is that every word from God is true, whether it lines up with physical fact or not. We can’t always see what God is doing in our lives… so we live in faith that He is really at work in us.
Don’t become discouraged. Work hard to be more like Jesus every day. Make your word your bond… and believe that God’s word is infallible. Honor your commitments… to God and to others. In my notes, I have written… “You can’t expect things to come if you don’t call them. Call healing when you are sick… call prosperity when you are poor… call light when there is darkness. Keep asking… seeking… calling until it comes. Get violent (intense) faith.” What are you speaking today? Are your words your bond… or are you merely offering lip service - to God and others? Do you believe what God is speaking over your life? Can others believe your words, as well? What is God saying to you this day… and how will you respond?
©2012 Debbie Robus
So what difference does it make who's a Jew and who isn't, who has been trained in God's ways and who hasn't? As it turns out, it makes a lot of difference—but not the difference so many have assumed. First, there's the matter of being put in charge of writing down and caring for God's revelation, these Holy Scriptures.
So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn't abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same: Your words stand fast and true; rejection doesn't faze you.
But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God's rightdoing, shouldn't we be commended for helping out? Since our bad words don't even make a dent in his good words, isn't it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word? These questions come up. The answer to such questions is no, a most emphatic No! How else would things ever get straightened out if God didn't do the straightening?
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 been “stood up”? Has someone ever told you they would call you, stop by and see you, or help you with something… then they either called and said they weren’t available – or you never heard from them at all? It stinks, doesn’t it? And honestly, don’t you know people who seldom – if ever – keep their word? I have said of more than one such person… “If their lips are moving, they are probably lying.” That’s a pretty sad commentary, isn’t it?
You may also know people who profess to be Christians… but they take great license with their salvation. It’s as if they feel that because they are saved by the blood of Jesus, they have a free ticket to do as they please without fear of any consequences. Clearly, this passage shows us that God is not happy by our assumptions. GOD’s words matter… OUR words matter… and so do the actions we put behind them!
God would never think of going back on His word… and neither should we! We should never “abandon our post” and dishonor Him by interpreting scripture to suit our own purposes…taking our salvation for granted… or speaking “bad words” to others. As Disciples of Christ, we are called to honor His sacrifice by speaking words that are true, hopeful, positive, kind, and reliable. When we say we will do something, we should do it. When we promise to call or help someone, we must follow through and show up. We must remember WHOSE we are – and what it cost for us to become heirs to His throne… and we must behave honorably even when all around us seem to have lost their heads!
There will be times when we become discouraged. We will feel that God’s promises of blessings, good health and prosperity must be meant for someone else. We will have struggles, challenges, and disappointments… and the natural tendency will be to blame God – or at least complain to Him loudly. We will be tempted to throw up our hands and ask, “What’s the point?” The short answer is that every word from God is true, whether it lines up with physical fact or not. We can’t always see what God is doing in our lives… so we live in faith that He is really at work in us.
Don’t become discouraged. Work hard to be more like Jesus every day. Make your word your bond… and believe that God’s word is infallible. Honor your commitments… to God and to others. In my notes, I have written… “You can’t expect things to come if you don’t call them. Call healing when you are sick… call prosperity when you are poor… call light when there is darkness. Keep asking… seeking… calling until it comes. Get violent (intense) faith.” What are you speaking today? Are your words your bond… or are you merely offering lip service - to God and others? Do you believe what God is speaking over your life? Can others believe your words, as well? What is God saying to you this day… and how will you respond?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 12, 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.
There is a new commercial airing for StraightTalk cell phone service that has people talking like they are rich and worldly, while they look for their clunker car in the parking lot. In this commercial, a lady is talking on her cell phone to someone about serving Cornish game hen versus chicken, because “everyone gets their own baby chicken on their own baby plate” and an endive salad. She then argues about the pronunciation of the word “endive” as she tries to open a very expensive car that is dubbed “the car of a hip-hop music mogul.” She asks her husband why her keyless remote will not open the car door, and he points across the lot and says, “… because we drive a station wagon.” The point of the commercial is that saving money on her cell phone bill has made the woman feel rich and important - and speak to others with arrogance.
A lot of us are trying to be something or someone we aren’t. Even more of us are failing to recognize who we truly are! We are the chosen heirs of God Almighty, which makes each a prince or a princess… our Father is the King of Kings! Too many of us make excuses… “I’m not smart enough… thin enough, rich enough… from the right family. I’m the wrong color or the wrong gender. I didn’t go to college. I’m different… people don’t like me. I’m ugly, my hair is too curly (or straight)… my nose is too big… I’m too short or too tall.” We give up quickly and let poor health, our social, economic, and educational status (or lack of one), and more limit what God can do with us. We fail to recognize the power of positive thinking and speaking… a need to change our words!
Today, let’s start speaking positively. Let’s “call things that be not as though they were.” In other words, try saying “I can,” instead of “I can’t.” Recognize that God wants to do amazing things in and through you… and if He believes you are good enough, this is all that matters. Don’t start talking like someone else and pretending to be more important than you already are. Realize that you are amazing, incredible, and perfectly formed by God Almighty… and that’s more than enough. Ask God to show you how and where to use what He has given you - for His glory. Blow a trumpet for God, and get ready for Him to knock your socks off with blessings.
©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.
There is a new commercial airing for StraightTalk cell phone service that has people talking like they are rich and worldly, while they look for their clunker car in the parking lot. In this commercial, a lady is talking on her cell phone to someone about serving Cornish game hen versus chicken, because “everyone gets their own baby chicken on their own baby plate” and an endive salad. She then argues about the pronunciation of the word “endive” as she tries to open a very expensive car that is dubbed “the car of a hip-hop music mogul.” She asks her husband why her keyless remote will not open the car door, and he points across the lot and says, “… because we drive a station wagon.” The point of the commercial is that saving money on her cell phone bill has made the woman feel rich and important - and speak to others with arrogance.
A lot of us are trying to be something or someone we aren’t. Even more of us are failing to recognize who we truly are! We are the chosen heirs of God Almighty, which makes each a prince or a princess… our Father is the King of Kings! Too many of us make excuses… “I’m not smart enough… thin enough, rich enough… from the right family. I’m the wrong color or the wrong gender. I didn’t go to college. I’m different… people don’t like me. I’m ugly, my hair is too curly (or straight)… my nose is too big… I’m too short or too tall.” We give up quickly and let poor health, our social, economic, and educational status (or lack of one), and more limit what God can do with us. We fail to recognize the power of positive thinking and speaking… a need to change our words!
Today, let’s start speaking positively. Let’s “call things that be not as though they were.” In other words, try saying “I can,” instead of “I can’t.” Recognize that God wants to do amazing things in and through you… and if He believes you are good enough, this is all that matters. Don’t start talking like someone else and pretending to be more important than you already are. Realize that you are amazing, incredible, and perfectly formed by God Almighty… and that’s more than enough. Ask God to show you how and where to use what He has given you - for His glory. Blow a trumpet for God, and get ready for Him to knock your socks off with blessings.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 11, 2012
Romans 10:5-10
Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it's not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story— no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying?
The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead.
That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!"
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few years ago, I decided I wanted to read the entire Bible in a year. This was a noble goal… and there are dozens of “study guides” and books that will help a person accomplish this. So far, I’ve tried at least three times… and I once did pretty well until almost the end of May! I may still try this again, but for now, I’m learning that I get bogged down in the process and lose focus on the message! So I am letting God lead my study, as in rediscovering notes I made on sermons, and scripture passages that I jotted down… and He is reminding me of old messages – and new insights.
Having said all of this, I did learn from my attempts to study the entire Bible in one year. The study guide I used suggested reading a passage each day from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and one from Proverbs. And the profound lesson I got from this was how the laws and rituals of the Old Testament were virtually all made new by the coming of Jesus in the New Testament. No longer do we have to make living sacrifices to God for our sins… Jesus was the ultimate Living Sacrifice. We don’t need priests and prophets to intercede with God on our behalf… we can speak to Him directly. We don’t have to follow rituals and rites as laid down in the writings and teachings of the old rulers and leaders… all we have to do is open our mouth and our heart… and let Jesus enter and do His work in and through us.
We are told that the tongue holds the power over life and death… and this is incredibly true when we speak up – and out – for Jesus! His Holy Spirit is as close as a whisper… His presence is as near as calling, “Come, LORD Jesus… forgive me... fill me with your Holy Spirit, and make me whole.”
Whenever we have a problem, we don’t have to consult a book of laws. We don’t need to perform a hand or foot washing, sacrifice a newborn lamb, or hide in a closet for a week of purification. We simply need to open our mouth and ask God to help us. Remember the verse in this passage that says, “The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest.” You are never alone… never helpless or hopeless… never forgotten. Your answers are a few well-chosen words away.
Call on God to give you the answers and wisdom you seek today. Ask Jesus to be the LORD of your life and fill you with His Holy Spirit. Carry Him closely in your heart… just a whisper away at all times… and when He answers, thank Him for setting things right.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it's not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story— no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying?
The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead.
That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!"
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few years ago, I decided I wanted to read the entire Bible in a year. This was a noble goal… and there are dozens of “study guides” and books that will help a person accomplish this. So far, I’ve tried at least three times… and I once did pretty well until almost the end of May! I may still try this again, but for now, I’m learning that I get bogged down in the process and lose focus on the message! So I am letting God lead my study, as in rediscovering notes I made on sermons, and scripture passages that I jotted down… and He is reminding me of old messages – and new insights.
Having said all of this, I did learn from my attempts to study the entire Bible in one year. The study guide I used suggested reading a passage each day from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and one from Proverbs. And the profound lesson I got from this was how the laws and rituals of the Old Testament were virtually all made new by the coming of Jesus in the New Testament. No longer do we have to make living sacrifices to God for our sins… Jesus was the ultimate Living Sacrifice. We don’t need priests and prophets to intercede with God on our behalf… we can speak to Him directly. We don’t have to follow rituals and rites as laid down in the writings and teachings of the old rulers and leaders… all we have to do is open our mouth and our heart… and let Jesus enter and do His work in and through us.
We are told that the tongue holds the power over life and death… and this is incredibly true when we speak up – and out – for Jesus! His Holy Spirit is as close as a whisper… His presence is as near as calling, “Come, LORD Jesus… forgive me... fill me with your Holy Spirit, and make me whole.”
Whenever we have a problem, we don’t have to consult a book of laws. We don’t need to perform a hand or foot washing, sacrifice a newborn lamb, or hide in a closet for a week of purification. We simply need to open our mouth and ask God to help us. Remember the verse in this passage that says, “The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest.” You are never alone… never helpless or hopeless… never forgotten. Your answers are a few well-chosen words away.
Call on God to give you the answers and wisdom you seek today. Ask Jesus to be the LORD of your life and fill you with His Holy Spirit. Carry Him closely in your heart… just a whisper away at all times… and when He answers, thank Him for setting things right.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 10, 2012
Hebrews 2:1-3
So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house.
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 wrote this scripture passage down in notes I made on a sermon series entitled “The Mouth is the Master Key to Life.” If a builder created a mansion for you, but you trashed it on a daily basis, it wouldn’t be much of a mansion for long, would it? If you tore down the support beams and poked holes in the plumbing, the overall structure would soon begin to crumble into ruin.
Now think of your life as God’s building… the one He created for you. Suppose you speak negatively on a regular basis… “I’m no good… I’m sick all the time… I can’t do this or that… I’m not smart enough or rich enough or good looking enough to accomplish anything… I’m a failure.” Can you see that this is like poking holes in the plumbing or tearing down the support beams? Worse still, when we belittle ourselves and others, we are chipping away at GOD! We are saying He built something inferior… worthless… ugly… inept… sick. Remember… God does not make junk!
When we speak negatively, we in essence hire the devil as our “housekeeper,” and we keep him plenty busy! Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.” What are your words accomplishing today? Your mouth IS a master key to life. It can also be a key to death… mentally, physically, emotionally… and spiritually. What are you speaking today? Are your words positive… encouraging… uplifting and full of hope and promise? Are you keeping God’s “house” in good order and recognizing what a wonderful “structure” He has created? Do you see the potential God has created in you… and are you doing all you can to speak it into existence?
The choice is ours. Who is keeping your “house” these days? Who controls your tongue… and what are you speaking – life or death? Ask God to show you where you have been using your mouth to “poke holes in His house.” Invite Him to give you strength and wisdom to start repairing the damage by speaking positively and recognizing all that He has placed within you. Give your “house” a bit of an update – or remodel – and make sure that Jesus Christ is your housekeeper from now on.
©2012 Debbie Robus
So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house.
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 wrote this scripture passage down in notes I made on a sermon series entitled “The Mouth is the Master Key to Life.” If a builder created a mansion for you, but you trashed it on a daily basis, it wouldn’t be much of a mansion for long, would it? If you tore down the support beams and poked holes in the plumbing, the overall structure would soon begin to crumble into ruin.
Now think of your life as God’s building… the one He created for you. Suppose you speak negatively on a regular basis… “I’m no good… I’m sick all the time… I can’t do this or that… I’m not smart enough or rich enough or good looking enough to accomplish anything… I’m a failure.” Can you see that this is like poking holes in the plumbing or tearing down the support beams? Worse still, when we belittle ourselves and others, we are chipping away at GOD! We are saying He built something inferior… worthless… ugly… inept… sick. Remember… God does not make junk!
When we speak negatively, we in essence hire the devil as our “housekeeper,” and we keep him plenty busy! Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.” What are your words accomplishing today? Your mouth IS a master key to life. It can also be a key to death… mentally, physically, emotionally… and spiritually. What are you speaking today? Are your words positive… encouraging… uplifting and full of hope and promise? Are you keeping God’s “house” in good order and recognizing what a wonderful “structure” He has created? Do you see the potential God has created in you… and are you doing all you can to speak it into existence?
The choice is ours. Who is keeping your “house” these days? Who controls your tongue… and what are you speaking – life or death? Ask God to show you where you have been using your mouth to “poke holes in His house.” Invite Him to give you strength and wisdom to start repairing the damage by speaking positively and recognizing all that He has placed within you. Give your “house” a bit of an update – or remodel – and make sure that Jesus Christ is your housekeeper from now on.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 9, 2012
Galatians 5:16
If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Dictionary.com defines the word “selfish” as… “devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.” My “daily humor” calendar quote for today was… “What do you get from a pampered cow? Spoiled milk!” Selfish people are often spoiled… and rotten in more ways than one!
Let’s be perfectly frank here… true Disciples of Christ do not have time to be selfish. At the same time, Satan has all the time in the world to try to con us into doing exactly this! He will tell us that it’s okay to think about ourselves for once. He will remind us that we deserve to be happy, pampered, at the top of the heap, given special treatment… or to do as we please, regardless of how it affects others. He will make whatever is tempting us so alluring and enticing that we will feel like we simply have to have it!
If you think for one minute that the devil doesn’t have a lot of power, you are sadly mistaken! And if you think that digging into the Word of God, cloaking yourself in prayer and growing closer to the Holy Spirit will make him go away, you are in for a rude awakening. As long as you are selfish and spoiled, the devil doesn’t really care… he’s got you right where he wants you. But start listening for God’s voice… start letting the Holy Spirit guide your heart… and your real challenges have just begun?
So why bother? Why not just be selfish and get what we want (or what we think we want), and forget about having to deal with all the mess that Satan will try to make of our lives if we stand up to him? Because Satan is no match for the power of the Holy Spirit. As we grow in faith and learn to live by the Holy Spirit… to walk the path that He shows us… we grow stronger in our ability to stand up to Satan’s challenges. We learn to lean more on God and less on ourselves… and we actually find that our desires become more like His and less selfish. And that… as they say… is where the magic happens!
One of the biggest and most selfish desires we have is to say whatever is on our mind as soon as we think it. In many ways, death and life are in the power of the tongue. We have the power to speak great joy into the lives of others… or great pain. And which do you think the devil prefers? By learning to listen to the Holy Spirit… by operating in His desires instead of ours… we learn to control our mouth… and all other actions and behaviors begin to change, as well.
Controlling our tongue is a very hard thing. Checking our words… stopping to think about what we say before we say it…does not come naturally for most of us. The only way we have any chance of accomplishing this is by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us… by giving our selfish desires over to Him and working to fulfill His desires instead. The first step is to want to walk in the Holy Spirit… to choose to surrender selfish desires. Once we determine to do this, we are in the right mindset to ask God to help us accomplish it.
If we could begin to operate in the desires of the Holy Spirit… if we could begin to control the words we speak and make sure they are pleasing to Him… we could see great changes in our own lives and the lives of others. We could start to surrender our selfish desires in all areas of life for good. We would still be pampered… but when God does the pampering, the results are never spoiled. Isn’t it time we changed directions and began seeking the desires of the King of Kings… the One who can truly give us the deepest desires of His heart… and ours? Are you ready to go from “spoiled rotten” to “royally blessed”?
©2012 Debbie Robus
If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Dictionary.com defines the word “selfish” as… “devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.” My “daily humor” calendar quote for today was… “What do you get from a pampered cow? Spoiled milk!” Selfish people are often spoiled… and rotten in more ways than one!
Let’s be perfectly frank here… true Disciples of Christ do not have time to be selfish. At the same time, Satan has all the time in the world to try to con us into doing exactly this! He will tell us that it’s okay to think about ourselves for once. He will remind us that we deserve to be happy, pampered, at the top of the heap, given special treatment… or to do as we please, regardless of how it affects others. He will make whatever is tempting us so alluring and enticing that we will feel like we simply have to have it!
If you think for one minute that the devil doesn’t have a lot of power, you are sadly mistaken! And if you think that digging into the Word of God, cloaking yourself in prayer and growing closer to the Holy Spirit will make him go away, you are in for a rude awakening. As long as you are selfish and spoiled, the devil doesn’t really care… he’s got you right where he wants you. But start listening for God’s voice… start letting the Holy Spirit guide your heart… and your real challenges have just begun?
So why bother? Why not just be selfish and get what we want (or what we think we want), and forget about having to deal with all the mess that Satan will try to make of our lives if we stand up to him? Because Satan is no match for the power of the Holy Spirit. As we grow in faith and learn to live by the Holy Spirit… to walk the path that He shows us… we grow stronger in our ability to stand up to Satan’s challenges. We learn to lean more on God and less on ourselves… and we actually find that our desires become more like His and less selfish. And that… as they say… is where the magic happens!
One of the biggest and most selfish desires we have is to say whatever is on our mind as soon as we think it. In many ways, death and life are in the power of the tongue. We have the power to speak great joy into the lives of others… or great pain. And which do you think the devil prefers? By learning to listen to the Holy Spirit… by operating in His desires instead of ours… we learn to control our mouth… and all other actions and behaviors begin to change, as well.
Controlling our tongue is a very hard thing. Checking our words… stopping to think about what we say before we say it…does not come naturally for most of us. The only way we have any chance of accomplishing this is by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us… by giving our selfish desires over to Him and working to fulfill His desires instead. The first step is to want to walk in the Holy Spirit… to choose to surrender selfish desires. Once we determine to do this, we are in the right mindset to ask God to help us accomplish it.
If we could begin to operate in the desires of the Holy Spirit… if we could begin to control the words we speak and make sure they are pleasing to Him… we could see great changes in our own lives and the lives of others. We could start to surrender our selfish desires in all areas of life for good. We would still be pampered… but when God does the pampering, the results are never spoiled. Isn’t it time we changed directions and began seeking the desires of the King of Kings… the One who can truly give us the deepest desires of His heart… and ours? Are you ready to go from “spoiled rotten” to “royally blessed”?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 8, 2012
2 Peter 1:3-4
Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.
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 the 1980s and 1990s, my mom and dad went on several FAM tours. According to a document at www.latour.lsu.edu, a FAM tour is “a free or reduced-rate trip offered to travel professionals to acquaint them with what a destination, attraction or supplier has to offer.” In my mom’s case, these destinations and attractions (like resorts, theme parks and more) hoped that she would write a favorable review of their offerings for the magazines and newspapers in which her articles were published.
In the mid-1990s, my mother was offered a free cruise aboard The Big Red Boat… a “Looney Tunes”-themed cruise ship sailing from Florida to the Bahamas. For the cruise, my mom was told she could not only bring my dad… but also her children! Even though my siblings and I were grown, Mom invited me, my sister, and my niece to join them… and we did!
Because of my mother’s association with certain editors and publishers, she was invited to enjoy this opportunity. And because she passed on the invitation to us, we could enjoy this 4-day cruise, as well. My mother established this relationship and her reputation as a writer, and she enjoyed trips to several major cities and resorts… the nicest rooms, tickets to top events, gourmet meals, and much more. She and my dad could easily have taken the cruise by themselves, but they graciously extended an invitation to us to join them. Once we accepted the invitation, we had to purchase our own plane tickets and fly to Florida to meet them and board the boat. But once we got there, everything else was provided.
Do you see where I’m headed with this? God sent Jesus to earth with an offer of salvation – forgiveness of our sins and Eternal life – as well as blessings we can’t even count in this lifetime. All we have to do is accept the invitation… and agree to serve Him and share His Good News with others. And the best part is that we can bring others along with us! We can tell those we encounter about Jesus and invite them to enjoy the same promises and blessings that God has offered us.
Those who offer FAM tours have no guarantee that the attendees will produce glowing reviews and write dozens of articles that drum up plenty of new business. Yet they continue to offer the tours. And God offers His gift of salvation and Eternal Life, knowing that many of us will accept His invitation to follow… and then do the bare minimum as Christian believers. Still… He offers.
I’m not sure why so many of us are reluctant to operate in the lavish blessings of God. I can’t explain why we treat the One who has given us EVERYTHING so poorly… or with such ambivalence. I’m certainly not sure why He wants to bless such an ungrateful lot like us… but He does. The invitation from God is better than any FAM tour or free cruise. Accepting and showing appreciation should be a no-brainer.
Have you said “Yes!” to God’s invitation? How are you treating Him in return? Are you living in a way that glorifies and honors this lavish gift… and have you shared God’s invitation through Jesus Christ with others? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.
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 the 1980s and 1990s, my mom and dad went on several FAM tours. According to a document at www.latour.lsu.edu, a FAM tour is “a free or reduced-rate trip offered to travel professionals to acquaint them with what a destination, attraction or supplier has to offer.” In my mom’s case, these destinations and attractions (like resorts, theme parks and more) hoped that she would write a favorable review of their offerings for the magazines and newspapers in which her articles were published.
In the mid-1990s, my mother was offered a free cruise aboard The Big Red Boat… a “Looney Tunes”-themed cruise ship sailing from Florida to the Bahamas. For the cruise, my mom was told she could not only bring my dad… but also her children! Even though my siblings and I were grown, Mom invited me, my sister, and my niece to join them… and we did!
Because of my mother’s association with certain editors and publishers, she was invited to enjoy this opportunity. And because she passed on the invitation to us, we could enjoy this 4-day cruise, as well. My mother established this relationship and her reputation as a writer, and she enjoyed trips to several major cities and resorts… the nicest rooms, tickets to top events, gourmet meals, and much more. She and my dad could easily have taken the cruise by themselves, but they graciously extended an invitation to us to join them. Once we accepted the invitation, we had to purchase our own plane tickets and fly to Florida to meet them and board the boat. But once we got there, everything else was provided.
Do you see where I’m headed with this? God sent Jesus to earth with an offer of salvation – forgiveness of our sins and Eternal life – as well as blessings we can’t even count in this lifetime. All we have to do is accept the invitation… and agree to serve Him and share His Good News with others. And the best part is that we can bring others along with us! We can tell those we encounter about Jesus and invite them to enjoy the same promises and blessings that God has offered us.
Those who offer FAM tours have no guarantee that the attendees will produce glowing reviews and write dozens of articles that drum up plenty of new business. Yet they continue to offer the tours. And God offers His gift of salvation and Eternal Life, knowing that many of us will accept His invitation to follow… and then do the bare minimum as Christian believers. Still… He offers.
I’m not sure why so many of us are reluctant to operate in the lavish blessings of God. I can’t explain why we treat the One who has given us EVERYTHING so poorly… or with such ambivalence. I’m certainly not sure why He wants to bless such an ungrateful lot like us… but He does. The invitation from God is better than any FAM tour or free cruise. Accepting and showing appreciation should be a no-brainer.
Have you said “Yes!” to God’s invitation? How are you treating Him in return? Are you living in a way that glorifies and honors this lavish gift… and have you shared God’s invitation through Jesus Christ with others? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 7, 2012
Isaiah 42:1-4
"Take a good look at my servant. I'm backing him to the hilt. He's the one I chose, and I couldn't be more pleased with him. I've bathed him with my Spirit, my life. He'll set everything right among the nations. He won't call attention to what he does with loud speeches or gaudy parades. He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right. He won't tire out and quit. He won't be stopped until he's finished his work—to set things right on earth. Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his teaching."
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.
Those of you who know me well know that I am currently fascinated with repurposing objects and giving them a new life. I have turned the sleeves of shirts and dresses into leggings and pants for toddler girls. I’ve learned how to make vests and other garments from old t-shirts, and tired sweaters have become caps and mittens for babies. Vintage linens… doilies, tablecloths and bed sheets… have become dresses, jackets, collars, and bibs for babies and little ones. An old skirt became part of a bathrobe for my cousin Owen for Christmas, and I have a chenille bedspread that is begging to become several more robes!
And it’s not just fabric. A friend asked me for a piece of gum at the ballgame recently, and I opened my purse and whipped out a little plastic container that had once held Gerber baby food… now it houses my stash of gum! I melt leftover candle wax and pour it over wicks I bought at Hobby Lobby to make new candles and keep from wasting that last third of the jar of scented wax. An old box that held disposable coffee cups and lids was covered with paper and now holds my sewing patterns.
If I can figure out another use for something, I do not throw it away, no matter how small and insignificant it seems. That’s why I have a handy stash of fabric scraps and lace trims that are perfect for patching stains and holes… I almost always have a button when I need to replace one that is missing… and the rich chicken broth that I used to make soup last week came from boiling the leftover bones of our rotisserie chicken!
Have you ever considered that WE have been repurposed by God? Through the blood of Jesus, we are given a new life. In the scheme of things, we are each so seemingly insignificant and small… yet God sent His only Son to die for us and set things right! I like to imagine that God’s “craft room” is full of broken hearts and beaten-down spirits… sinners and downtrodden souls that He is repurposing into something wonderful for His glory!
We have very much become a “throw-away society.” Yes, I use disposable coffee cups on occasion – but only if I want to take coffee with me somewhere that it would not be convenient to rinse out a mug and stash it. And if I buy a cup of coffee at McDonald’s, I often bring the container home to wash and reuse a few times until the plastic lid disintegrates. The point is that God sees the potential in us. Recently I used a tiny piece of lace trim to cover a stain that threatened to ruin the leg of a pair of little girls’ leggings. That tiny scrap of trim turned something unlovely into something quite beautiful. In the same manner, God can use the tiniest “scrap” of a person to create something wonderful for His desires!
What is our “take-away” from this today? I believe there are two lessons:
©2012 Debbie Robus
"Take a good look at my servant. I'm backing him to the hilt. He's the one I chose, and I couldn't be more pleased with him. I've bathed him with my Spirit, my life. He'll set everything right among the nations. He won't call attention to what he does with loud speeches or gaudy parades. He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right. He won't tire out and quit. He won't be stopped until he's finished his work—to set things right on earth. Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his teaching."
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.
And it’s not just fabric. A friend asked me for a piece of gum at the ballgame recently, and I opened my purse and whipped out a little plastic container that had once held Gerber baby food… now it houses my stash of gum! I melt leftover candle wax and pour it over wicks I bought at Hobby Lobby to make new candles and keep from wasting that last third of the jar of scented wax. An old box that held disposable coffee cups and lids was covered with paper and now holds my sewing patterns.
If I can figure out another use for something, I do not throw it away, no matter how small and insignificant it seems. That’s why I have a handy stash of fabric scraps and lace trims that are perfect for patching stains and holes… I almost always have a button when I need to replace one that is missing… and the rich chicken broth that I used to make soup last week came from boiling the leftover bones of our rotisserie chicken!
Have you ever considered that WE have been repurposed by God? Through the blood of Jesus, we are given a new life. In the scheme of things, we are each so seemingly insignificant and small… yet God sent His only Son to die for us and set things right! I like to imagine that God’s “craft room” is full of broken hearts and beaten-down spirits… sinners and downtrodden souls that He is repurposing into something wonderful for His glory!
We have very much become a “throw-away society.” Yes, I use disposable coffee cups on occasion – but only if I want to take coffee with me somewhere that it would not be convenient to rinse out a mug and stash it. And if I buy a cup of coffee at McDonald’s, I often bring the container home to wash and reuse a few times until the plastic lid disintegrates. The point is that God sees the potential in us. Recently I used a tiny piece of lace trim to cover a stain that threatened to ruin the leg of a pair of little girls’ leggings. That tiny scrap of trim turned something unlovely into something quite beautiful. In the same manner, God can use the tiniest “scrap” of a person to create something wonderful for His desires!
What is our “take-away” from this today? I believe there are two lessons:
- God won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt… he won't disregard the small and insignificant, and
- God won’t quit… and neither should we.
©2012 Debbie Robus
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