Psalm 42:5-8
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He’s my God.
When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
everything I know of you,
From Jordan depths to Hermon heights,
including Mount Mizar.
Chaos calls to chaos,
to the tune of whitewater rapids.
Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers
crash and crush me.
Then God promises to love me all day,
sing songs all through the night!
My life is God’s prayer.
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.
According to a synopsis provided on http://IMDB.com for the 1987 Box Office hit, Moonstruck, “Loretta
Castorini (played by Cher), a Brooklyn bookkeeper in her late 30s whose
husband died several years earlier in a bus accident, decides it's time
to get married again. So she accepts the proposal of a nice,
middle-aged fellow named Johnny Cammareri (portrayed by Danny Aiello).
Loretta is convinced her first marriage was cursed because she and her
husband had gotten married at City Hall; this time, she's determined to
do things right, even as she admits to her mother, Rose (Olivia
Dukakis), that she's not really in love with Johnny.” Loretta finds
herself attracted to Johnny Cammareri’s brother, Ronny (played by
Nicholas Cage)."
Ronny Cammareri tells Loretta…”I love you.”
Loretta slaps Ronny – twice – and yells, “Snap out of it!” The line has
endured for almost 30 years and become a somewhat iconic catch phrase
among many! And indeed, as I read this passage from Psalm 42, I
couldn’t help but hear “Loretta’s” words…“Snap out of it!”
Do you
ever feel blue…even for a few hours – or maybe a day or two? Do you
find there are times when your soul is down in the dumps – with or
without a good excuse or explanation? Does anyone ever say to you,
“Snap out of it!” at such a time?
I have good news for
you…regardless of what is happening in your life, God loves you…and He
promises to love you all the time! When “chaos calls to chaos” and the
“thundering breakers” of the devil’s schemes threaten to crash and crush
you, focus on God. Call to Him, just as a drowning person might reach
out for a life preserver…because a dramatic rescue is exactly what God
offers!
Sometimes all we need is for someone to tell us to “Snap
out of it!” But I can tell you from experience that there are times
when that tactic does NOT work at all. We often need something deeper,
more profound…we need the restful, healing touch of God. And He is
always ready, willing, and able to meet us right where we are. God’s
deepest desire for us is that we would reach out for Him in all
things…in all situations…and in all moods.
Who will help you
“Snap out of it!” today? Are you resting in the LORD and trusting Him
to save you from the “whitewater rapids” of life? Will you trust His
promises to love you all day and sing songs all through the night?
Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 29, 2014
Psalm 4:8
I can lie down and sleep soundly
because you, Lord, will keep me safe.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On the way home from church today, we discussed taking an afternoon nap. “Grandma E” said that she was going to have a nap. Uncle Greg and I both said we planned to take a nap. Timothy even said a nap sounded good to him. But 3-year-old Zola said, “I’m not napping! I’ve already napped today!” Most days, neither one of these children wants to take a nap! Like most little ones, they consider naps and sleep to be a total waste of their time and energy! They fail to see the rejuvenating benefits of rest and sleep. And if they happen to be afraid of nightmares - or as Timothy told me recently, “monsters who will attack me while I sleep”…they do not see anything safe and protective about even a brief slumber.
Several years ago, I was feeling restless, uncertain, frustrated…and weary. One day, I closed my eyes to pray…and as I did so, I pictured Jesus extending His arms to me. He was wearing the softest, silky white robe…and He beckoned me to come to Him… just as an adult would welcome a little child. I imagined myself sinking into his arms…felt the softness of the sleeves of His robe as He engulfed me with His arms…and nestled against His strong chest as He gently – but firmly – drew me against His body. I relaxed, rested, and “slept soundly” – if only in my mind – as Jesus soothed and protected me.
There was a fleeting recollection of being nuzzled and snuggled like this as a child…maybe not by someone in a flowing robe…but I could recall feeling safe and protected in the arms of a strong, loving presence all the same. Many of us probably felt the safety and security of a “grown-up’s” arms… or crawled into the lap of a beloved parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle and slept soundly.
But imagine the arms of Jesus welcoming you. Think of His strength and power intertwined with His gentleness and affection. Settle in for a while…rest and relax. Are you able to imagine this? Are you so comfortable and confident in your relationship with Jesus that you can envision taking a nap in His arms and allowing Him to protect you from anything and everything that is threatening or unpleasant? Can you refresh and rejuvenate in His presence and “awaken” feeling more confident in His wisdom and care?
Is the LORD truly your refuge…your place of shelter and rest? Even when “life is good” do you find yourself crawling into His lap for even a brief snuggle and visit? Can you lie down and sleep soundly, because you know that the LORD keeps you safe? Isn’t this the perfect day to “fall into the arms of Jesus” and relax? The time has come to crawl into Jesus’ lap and sleep well. Aren’t you ready for a nap?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I can lie down and sleep soundly
because you, Lord, will keep me safe.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On the way home from church today, we discussed taking an afternoon nap. “Grandma E” said that she was going to have a nap. Uncle Greg and I both said we planned to take a nap. Timothy even said a nap sounded good to him. But 3-year-old Zola said, “I’m not napping! I’ve already napped today!” Most days, neither one of these children wants to take a nap! Like most little ones, they consider naps and sleep to be a total waste of their time and energy! They fail to see the rejuvenating benefits of rest and sleep. And if they happen to be afraid of nightmares - or as Timothy told me recently, “monsters who will attack me while I sleep”…they do not see anything safe and protective about even a brief slumber.
Several years ago, I was feeling restless, uncertain, frustrated…and weary. One day, I closed my eyes to pray…and as I did so, I pictured Jesus extending His arms to me. He was wearing the softest, silky white robe…and He beckoned me to come to Him… just as an adult would welcome a little child. I imagined myself sinking into his arms…felt the softness of the sleeves of His robe as He engulfed me with His arms…and nestled against His strong chest as He gently – but firmly – drew me against His body. I relaxed, rested, and “slept soundly” – if only in my mind – as Jesus soothed and protected me.
There was a fleeting recollection of being nuzzled and snuggled like this as a child…maybe not by someone in a flowing robe…but I could recall feeling safe and protected in the arms of a strong, loving presence all the same. Many of us probably felt the safety and security of a “grown-up’s” arms… or crawled into the lap of a beloved parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle and slept soundly.
But imagine the arms of Jesus welcoming you. Think of His strength and power intertwined with His gentleness and affection. Settle in for a while…rest and relax. Are you able to imagine this? Are you so comfortable and confident in your relationship with Jesus that you can envision taking a nap in His arms and allowing Him to protect you from anything and everything that is threatening or unpleasant? Can you refresh and rejuvenate in His presence and “awaken” feeling more confident in His wisdom and care?
Is the LORD truly your refuge…your place of shelter and rest? Even when “life is good” do you find yourself crawling into His lap for even a brief snuggle and visit? Can you lie down and sleep soundly, because you know that the LORD keeps you safe? Isn’t this the perfect day to “fall into the arms of Jesus” and relax? The time has come to crawl into Jesus’ lap and sleep well. Aren’t you ready for a nap?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 28, 2014
Psalm 37:7
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The words “be still” are really not high on my vocabulary list! In my own defense, I grew up with a grandmother who would call and say, “there are peas and beans to be picked in the garden.” By the time my parents, siblings and I got to her farm to help, said peas or beans were already picked, shelled – and either put up in the freezer, or simmering in a pot on the stove alongside an all-out country dinner! My dad (her son) was one of these “if-you-want-that-fence-torn-down-then-show-me-where-to-put-the-remnants” …or “you’re-thinking-of-moving-so-I’ll-hook-my-trailer-to-the-truck” sort of guy.
Then I married someone who was more pensive and patient. Greg thinks things through…sometimes for days or weeks. He studies all of the angles and carefully weighs the outcomes. He can make split-second decisions…but he can also say, “Let’s not get in a hurry…there is no rush!” He is not an impulse buyer…nor does he have a quick temper. He has helped me to discover that while “The early bird gets the worm”…there is also wisdom in knowing that “Good things come to those who wait”!
As I have grown in my faith and my relationship with the Holy Spirit, I have come to understand the delicate balance of knowing when to act quickly, and when to “be still”. I will be the first in line to press the button when tickets go on sale for a James Taylor concert…but it may take me weeks or months to pick out a new laptop computer or a car. I may be one of the “first responders” when someone I know or care about is in need…but now, I may take a step back and prayerfully consider my response and/or reaction when someone offends me.
I have learned that evil people with wicked schemes don’t really prosper…even when it seems that they may – momentarily, at least. Name one person who truly “skirted by” his/her entire life without some sort of downfall or defeat. I don’t say this to imply that I wish anyone to suffer or to receive “just desserts”. I know plenty of “good people” who have suffered tremendous injustices while it seems that those who defy God at every turn seem to skate along. But I also know that not all rewards and blessings are visible and tangible in this earthly lifetime…nor are the consequences for bad behaviors.
And so, as I sit here with a cup of coffee and talk with you, I suggest that we all take time today – and every day – to “be still”…to consult God before we make decisions of all sizes, shapes and colors…and to wait patiently for His wise reply. Would you really rather have “the worm”…or the “good things” that come from waiting on the LORD? Are you ready to “be still and know” the difference?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The words “be still” are really not high on my vocabulary list! In my own defense, I grew up with a grandmother who would call and say, “there are peas and beans to be picked in the garden.” By the time my parents, siblings and I got to her farm to help, said peas or beans were already picked, shelled – and either put up in the freezer, or simmering in a pot on the stove alongside an all-out country dinner! My dad (her son) was one of these “if-you-want-that-fence-torn-down-then-show-me-where-to-put-the-remnants” …or “you’re-thinking-of-moving-so-I’ll-hook-my-trailer-to-the-truck” sort of guy.
Then I married someone who was more pensive and patient. Greg thinks things through…sometimes for days or weeks. He studies all of the angles and carefully weighs the outcomes. He can make split-second decisions…but he can also say, “Let’s not get in a hurry…there is no rush!” He is not an impulse buyer…nor does he have a quick temper. He has helped me to discover that while “The early bird gets the worm”…there is also wisdom in knowing that “Good things come to those who wait”!
As I have grown in my faith and my relationship with the Holy Spirit, I have come to understand the delicate balance of knowing when to act quickly, and when to “be still”. I will be the first in line to press the button when tickets go on sale for a James Taylor concert…but it may take me weeks or months to pick out a new laptop computer or a car. I may be one of the “first responders” when someone I know or care about is in need…but now, I may take a step back and prayerfully consider my response and/or reaction when someone offends me.
I have learned that evil people with wicked schemes don’t really prosper…even when it seems that they may – momentarily, at least. Name one person who truly “skirted by” his/her entire life without some sort of downfall or defeat. I don’t say this to imply that I wish anyone to suffer or to receive “just desserts”. I know plenty of “good people” who have suffered tremendous injustices while it seems that those who defy God at every turn seem to skate along. But I also know that not all rewards and blessings are visible and tangible in this earthly lifetime…nor are the consequences for bad behaviors.
And so, as I sit here with a cup of coffee and talk with you, I suggest that we all take time today – and every day – to “be still”…to consult God before we make decisions of all sizes, shapes and colors…and to wait patiently for His wise reply. Would you really rather have “the worm”…or the “good things” that come from waiting on the LORD? Are you ready to “be still and know” the difference?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 27, 2014
Psalm 23
You, Lord, are my shepherd.
I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields
of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name,
and you lead me
along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me,
and your shepherd’s rod
makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast,
while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup
until it overflows.
Your kindness and love
will always be with me
each day of my life,
and I will live forever
in your house, Lord.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Medal of Honor recipient, Marine Lance Cpl. William Kyle Carpenter was interviewed on “Late Show with David Letterman” recently. Carpenter becomes the 8th living recipient of the nation’s highest military award. William Kyle Carpenter was injured in Afghanistan in 2010, when he threw himself on an incoming grenade to protect a fellow marine, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Eufrazio, who was also injured. Carpenter suffered multiple injuries, including a shattered jaw and arm, loss of his right eye, shrapnel to the brain and legs, and a severed carotid artery. He said that when he arrived at the first military hospital, he was tagged PEA…”Patient Expired on Arrival”. This now-24-year-old soldier was resuscitated at least twice and spent more than 2 years in hospitals undergoing treatments, surgeries and therapies.
As I sat and listened to this young man recant his experience and conduct himself with seemingly such peace and confidence, I couldn’t help but think about what he must have endured. David Letterman asked Carpenter what he remembered. Carpenter said that the first time he awoke was five weeks later, when he saw his mother. She had hung Christmas stockings for every member of the family on the wall in his hospital room. I couldn’t help but think about my own little nieces, nephews and friends…I tried to imagine what such an experience would be like for one of them, were they in his position – or for anyone. Carpenter said he knew the grenade was coming. He knew they were under attack. Imagine the fear…the anxiety and confusion of such a moment…the overwhelming sense of incredulity as you know bad things are happening – but you can’t stop them!
I thought of Carpenter’s mother – and other family members. Imagine being told that your child or loved one had suffered such devastating injuries…that someone was so filled with hate that they would want to inflict this kind of atrocities on another human being…and there was nothing you can do except stand by, watch, and beg God for mercy and healing. Surely there were days when everyone involved must have felt that death would actually be easier to bear than the suffering that this young man bore.
After all of this, young Marine Lance Cpl. William Kyle Carpenter says “I wouldn’t change a thing.” He now studies psychology at the University of South Carolina. His appears to be wise beyond his years…and filled with incredible peace.
All around the world, people endure incredible challenges and sufferings each and every day. Hopefully, you and I will never experience anything akin to such atrocities or heartaches…but our “burdens” are often troublesome, all the same. The message of the 23rd Psalm is for us just as much as for Lance Cpl. William Kyle Carpenter - or anyone else. If you are like many, you have this Psalm memorized in one form or another. But I encourage you to read today’s presentation of it again. I particularly like how “valleys as dark as death” are described.
I also like the first few verses. They speak volumes to us as Christians. These words offer a glimpse of the hope and peace we find in God…the incredible rest we enjoy in Jesus Christ.
I pray that you never have to experience something as devastating as what happened to William Kyle Carpenter. I hope you never have to watch a child or loved one suffer…that your life is filled with a series of happy events and positive happenings. But I also pray that you know that…no matter what comes your way…the LORD is your Shepherd, and you will never be in need.
Are you dwelling in the house of the LORD and resting in God’s fields of green grass? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
You, Lord, are my shepherd.
I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields
of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name,
and you lead me
along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me,
and your shepherd’s rod
makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast,
while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup
until it overflows.
Your kindness and love
will always be with me
each day of my life,
and I will live forever
in your house, Lord.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Medal of Honor recipient, Marine Lance Cpl. William Kyle Carpenter was interviewed on “Late Show with David Letterman” recently. Carpenter becomes the 8th living recipient of the nation’s highest military award. William Kyle Carpenter was injured in Afghanistan in 2010, when he threw himself on an incoming grenade to protect a fellow marine, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Eufrazio, who was also injured. Carpenter suffered multiple injuries, including a shattered jaw and arm, loss of his right eye, shrapnel to the brain and legs, and a severed carotid artery. He said that when he arrived at the first military hospital, he was tagged PEA…”Patient Expired on Arrival”. This now-24-year-old soldier was resuscitated at least twice and spent more than 2 years in hospitals undergoing treatments, surgeries and therapies.
I may walk through valleys as dark as death,
but I won’t be afraid.
but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup until it overflows.
You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup until it overflows.
Your kindness and love will always be with me
each day of my life…
each day of my life…
I also like the first few verses. They speak volumes to us as Christians. These words offer a glimpse of the hope and peace we find in God…the incredible rest we enjoy in Jesus Christ.
You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields of green grass.
You lead me to streams of peaceful water,
and you refresh my life.
You let me rest in fields of green grass.
You lead me to streams of peaceful water,
and you refresh my life.
Are you dwelling in the house of the LORD and resting in God’s fields of green grass? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 26, 2014
Psalm 127:1-2
If God doesn’t build the house,
the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
giving rest to those he loves?
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 started reading a Bible study guide written by Jen Hatmaker, called Make Over. This girl speaks my language! In the first few days’ lessons, she talks about all of the “busyness” that fills our days…and she calls us to question why we do what we do…in the way that we do it. She likens many of us to “dancing monkeys” who try to be all things to all people…”performers” of sorts who rise early and go to bed late – and work our fingers to the bone in between. She asks the question, “Monkey, who are you dancing for?”*
This is a reasonable question. And in light of today’s scripture passage from Psalm 127, I would like to add, “Who is your ‘supervisor’ on the job?” If we are busy trying to do all of the things that we think will make us – and others – happy…and we fail to recognize God’s desires and/or His joy in helping us accomplish all that is necessary and important…we are going to end up bone tired, discouraged, defeated – and maybe even a little disgusted!
Hatmaker asks…”What if our value exists because God takes pleasure in us?” More to the point of this scripture lesson, “What if we focused on pleasing God and asked Him to help us prioritize our days?” So often, we are too busy trying to keep up with others – or what we perceive to be their expectations of us. We put all kinds of demands on ourselves that are not of God’s making. So we build “shacks” rather than God-ordained “houses”…and we just as well have taken a nap instead.
Jen Hatmaker concludes that “God never asked for dancing monkeys.” He also never told us we had to do this all on our own! Isn’t it time to bring Him in on the design for your life…your daily “calendar”…the creation of your life’s “blueprint”? Wouldn’t a little help with all of the burdens and challenges one faces in any given day be refreshing and restorative? Are you ready to truly rest in the LORD and let Him shoulder the heavy stuff? Isn’t this the perfect day to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://jenhatmaker.com/books.htm
If God doesn’t build the house,
the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
giving rest to those he loves?
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 started reading a Bible study guide written by Jen Hatmaker, called Make Over. This girl speaks my language! In the first few days’ lessons, she talks about all of the “busyness” that fills our days…and she calls us to question why we do what we do…in the way that we do it. She likens many of us to “dancing monkeys” who try to be all things to all people…”performers” of sorts who rise early and go to bed late – and work our fingers to the bone in between. She asks the question, “Monkey, who are you dancing for?”*
This is a reasonable question. And in light of today’s scripture passage from Psalm 127, I would like to add, “Who is your ‘supervisor’ on the job?” If we are busy trying to do all of the things that we think will make us – and others – happy…and we fail to recognize God’s desires and/or His joy in helping us accomplish all that is necessary and important…we are going to end up bone tired, discouraged, defeated – and maybe even a little disgusted!
Hatmaker asks…”What if our value exists because God takes pleasure in us?” More to the point of this scripture lesson, “What if we focused on pleasing God and asked Him to help us prioritize our days?” So often, we are too busy trying to keep up with others – or what we perceive to be their expectations of us. We put all kinds of demands on ourselves that are not of God’s making. So we build “shacks” rather than God-ordained “houses”…and we just as well have taken a nap instead.
Jen Hatmaker concludes that “God never asked for dancing monkeys.” He also never told us we had to do this all on our own! Isn’t it time to bring Him in on the design for your life…your daily “calendar”…the creation of your life’s “blueprint”? Wouldn’t a little help with all of the burdens and challenges one faces in any given day be refreshing and restorative? Are you ready to truly rest in the LORD and let Him shoulder the heavy stuff? Isn’t this the perfect day to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://jenhatmaker.com/books.htm
Daily Devotional for June 25, 2014
Proverbs 6:6-11
You lazy fool, look at an ant.
Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
Nobody has to tell it what to do.
All summer it stores up food;
at harvest it stockpiles provisions.
So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing?
How long before you get out of bed?
A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,
sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?
Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,
poverty your permanent houseguest!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my Mam-ma Polly was still living at home, I would take her to the beauty shop on Friday afternoons right after lunch. I would do her grocery shopping and other errands while she was getting her hair “done”. It almost never failed…when I picked her up, she would ask, “Well…what have you done today?” In fact, she asked me that a lot of days – often by mid-morning! This was not just a way to “make conversation”…she truly wanted to hear a list of what I had done. Once I retired, I have to admit that there were days when the answer was an uncomfortable – if not embarrassing - ”not much!” But if I asked her what she had done, she would rattle off this list that almost defied logic…especially for a 90-something-year-old woman!
My grandmother would often start with a 6:00 a.m. walk, followed by a breakfast (usually home-made to include eggs, sausage and a biscuit!), then maybe doing some laundry that she hung on the line to dry, tidying her house, and canning or freezing a seasonal fruit or vegetable or making a pie or some cookies! And this would all transpire before 10:00 a.m.! She made me tired just to listen to her litany of completed tasks! Even after she moved into the Assisted Living Facility, she stayed incredibly busy for as long as physically possible. Breakfast, exercise class, and sometimes a singing group and/or craft filled her mornings. Usually she managed to squeeze a shower and cleaning her room – or perhaps a little gardening - into this time span, as well!
When I was young, my Mam-ma rose most mornings around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. and cooked my Pap-pa a big hot breakfast, packed his lunch while he fed his cows, then saw him off to work at a job that started early and ran late. Then Mam-ma would dress and prepare for her workday - which started before 7:00 a.m. with driving a school bus…collecting the kids who lived in the countryside along her route to town. She then spent the day as a chair-side dental assistant before picking the kids up after school to return them to their homes.
Now most people would come home from that kind of day and plop down on the couch with a snack and “veg out” in front of the TV. But not my grandmother! She tended her garden, sewed or worked on a quilt, and cooked a big hot dinner for my grandfather. She did laundry and canned or froze fruits and vegetables. She took time to teach us how to sew and cook and work a garden and more.
It is important to note that my grandmother was even more diligent about her work for the LORD than her daily chores. Not only did she manage her household and her work away from the home…she cared for others. She cooked meals for those in need and served in various capacities in her church. She was a great “neighbor” – to people up and down the countryside. She took time to study her Bible…and to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus with others.
Here’s the thing…my grandmother lived 100 years and 123 days. I have to believe that a big part of her longevity was due to her work ethic. But her goal was not to live a certain number of days…not even to that magical age of 100 years! My grandmother’s intention was to live a “rich” life…and I mean “rich” in the things that truly matter. Yes, it was important to my Mam-ma that we not sit around and do nothing and be “lazy bums”…but it was more important that we learn to love others and minister to them. She wanted us to meet a new next-door neighbor and immediately invite them in for a meal and ask, “Where do y’all go to church?”…to be ready to help with a ministry at the church - to prepare food for someone who was sick or grieving…or to pray for others.
My grandparents enjoyed their lives…they fished and played cards with friends and belonged to a “supper club”. After my grandfather died, Mam-ma traveled a little, enjoyed afternoon dominoes games with friends, and danced three nights a week! But she knew how to distinguish between leisure and laziness. And the latter didn’t have any place in her life.
We’re all “lazy” from time to time. We take vacations. We get a “day off”. But when this becomes a way of life for us – physically and/or spiritually – it can be a slippery slope. Yes, God wants us to rest…He is the GIVER of rest. But He wants us to figure out the difference between resting for rejuvenation…and making a “career” of it!
What is your ultimate goal? Are you determined to do all that God calls you to…physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually? Do you trust Him to give you the strength and stamina for this…and to help you to rest and refresh when needed? Or have you decided to do the bare minimum…to work only as much as necessary to get by…then prop up your feet the rest of the time and hope someone else picks up the slack? Are you stockpiling blessings in Heaven by your earthly service…or are your “Heavenly cupboards” going to be pretty bare?
Are you living a “rich” life…or one that is dirt poor? Is your “rest” one of rejuvenation and renewal in God’s strength…or an ongoing festival on the couch that is getting you nowhere? At the end of your life, where – and how – will you have “rested”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
You lazy fool, look at an ant.
Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
Nobody has to tell it what to do.
All summer it stores up food;
at harvest it stockpiles provisions.
So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing?
How long before you get out of bed?
A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,
sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?
Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,
poverty your permanent houseguest!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my Mam-ma Polly was still living at home, I would take her to the beauty shop on Friday afternoons right after lunch. I would do her grocery shopping and other errands while she was getting her hair “done”. It almost never failed…when I picked her up, she would ask, “Well…what have you done today?” In fact, she asked me that a lot of days – often by mid-morning! This was not just a way to “make conversation”…she truly wanted to hear a list of what I had done. Once I retired, I have to admit that there were days when the answer was an uncomfortable – if not embarrassing - ”not much!” But if I asked her what she had done, she would rattle off this list that almost defied logic…especially for a 90-something-year-old woman!
My grandmother would often start with a 6:00 a.m. walk, followed by a breakfast (usually home-made to include eggs, sausage and a biscuit!), then maybe doing some laundry that she hung on the line to dry, tidying her house, and canning or freezing a seasonal fruit or vegetable or making a pie or some cookies! And this would all transpire before 10:00 a.m.! She made me tired just to listen to her litany of completed tasks! Even after she moved into the Assisted Living Facility, she stayed incredibly busy for as long as physically possible. Breakfast, exercise class, and sometimes a singing group and/or craft filled her mornings. Usually she managed to squeeze a shower and cleaning her room – or perhaps a little gardening - into this time span, as well!
When I was young, my Mam-ma rose most mornings around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. and cooked my Pap-pa a big hot breakfast, packed his lunch while he fed his cows, then saw him off to work at a job that started early and ran late. Then Mam-ma would dress and prepare for her workday - which started before 7:00 a.m. with driving a school bus…collecting the kids who lived in the countryside along her route to town. She then spent the day as a chair-side dental assistant before picking the kids up after school to return them to their homes.
Now most people would come home from that kind of day and plop down on the couch with a snack and “veg out” in front of the TV. But not my grandmother! She tended her garden, sewed or worked on a quilt, and cooked a big hot dinner for my grandfather. She did laundry and canned or froze fruits and vegetables. She took time to teach us how to sew and cook and work a garden and more.
It is important to note that my grandmother was even more diligent about her work for the LORD than her daily chores. Not only did she manage her household and her work away from the home…she cared for others. She cooked meals for those in need and served in various capacities in her church. She was a great “neighbor” – to people up and down the countryside. She took time to study her Bible…and to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus with others.
Here’s the thing…my grandmother lived 100 years and 123 days. I have to believe that a big part of her longevity was due to her work ethic. But her goal was not to live a certain number of days…not even to that magical age of 100 years! My grandmother’s intention was to live a “rich” life…and I mean “rich” in the things that truly matter. Yes, it was important to my Mam-ma that we not sit around and do nothing and be “lazy bums”…but it was more important that we learn to love others and minister to them. She wanted us to meet a new next-door neighbor and immediately invite them in for a meal and ask, “Where do y’all go to church?”…to be ready to help with a ministry at the church - to prepare food for someone who was sick or grieving…or to pray for others.
My grandparents enjoyed their lives…they fished and played cards with friends and belonged to a “supper club”. After my grandfather died, Mam-ma traveled a little, enjoyed afternoon dominoes games with friends, and danced three nights a week! But she knew how to distinguish between leisure and laziness. And the latter didn’t have any place in her life.
We’re all “lazy” from time to time. We take vacations. We get a “day off”. But when this becomes a way of life for us – physically and/or spiritually – it can be a slippery slope. Yes, God wants us to rest…He is the GIVER of rest. But He wants us to figure out the difference between resting for rejuvenation…and making a “career” of it!
What is your ultimate goal? Are you determined to do all that God calls you to…physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually? Do you trust Him to give you the strength and stamina for this…and to help you to rest and refresh when needed? Or have you decided to do the bare minimum…to work only as much as necessary to get by…then prop up your feet the rest of the time and hope someone else picks up the slack? Are you stockpiling blessings in Heaven by your earthly service…or are your “Heavenly cupboards” going to be pretty bare?
Are you living a “rich” life…or one that is dirt poor? Is your “rest” one of rejuvenation and renewal in God’s strength…or an ongoing festival on the couch that is getting you nowhere? At the end of your life, where – and how – will you have “rested”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 24, 2014
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
On June 9th, a post was shared on Facebook titled “5 Minutes in a Mom’s Head”*…written by Bunmi Laditan, who describes herself as “a writer and social-media obsessed female human…and author of The Honest Toddler: A Child's Guide to Life.” Laditan lives in rural Quebec, by way of California, with her three children and husband…and she contributes to The Huffington Post, Mommyish, Parenting and other websites.
In her “5 Minutes” piece, Laditan says in part:
The thing to remember is that NOTHING is silly or trivial to God! He cares about whether your car is gassed up and your house is decluttered – if that matters to you! He cares whether you are undergoing chemotherapy for a disease that is ravaging your body just as much as the cough or sniffle that has you laid up for a few days. He is concerned about your lack of sleep – regardless of the cause. God wants to handle any – and ALL of your burdens…and exchange them for His inexplicable peace. He wants to give you a heart and mind that is completely at rest in Him.
I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking maybe I should have this scripture passage tattooed on my forearm, where I would be sure to see it several times a day! I need a constant reminder of God’s desire to fill me with peace…always…in ALL WAYS! And maybe you need this reminder, too! It’s normal…human…to worry and fret and have a heart and mind cluttered with all kinds of thoughts and concerns in today’s busy, hectic world. But it’s also totally unnecessary.
I am so thankful that God wants to give us a rest that defies logic…a peace that cannot be rationalized - but is completely real, just the same. And it all starts with a prayer…and a release of our thoughts and cares into His capable hands (followed by a profuse expression of gratitude for His amazing grace and mercy!). What do you think would happen if each morning, you replaced the first five minutes of “pillow talk” in your head with a conversation with God about your day and your concerns? What if you continued to talk to Him throughout the day about each issue that arose – no matter how great or small? Isn’t it worth a try?
Are you ready to experience God’s “peace that passes understanding”? Are you ready for some real rest and stress relief? Have you spoken to Him about this today? Don’t you think it’s time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bunmi-laditan/5-minutes-in-a-moms-head_b_5445948.html
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
On June 9th, a post was shared on Facebook titled “5 Minutes in a Mom’s Head”*…written by Bunmi Laditan, who describes herself as “a writer and social-media obsessed female human…and author of The Honest Toddler: A Child's Guide to Life.” Laditan lives in rural Quebec, by way of California, with her three children and husband…and she contributes to The Huffington Post, Mommyish, Parenting and other websites.
In her “5 Minutes” piece, Laditan says in part:
“What time is it? What day is it? Oh gosh this bed feels so good. Why can't I just stay here all day. That would be the perfect vacation.Sound familiar? Even if you are not a mom, you may be one of “those people” whose mind races…especially when your head hits the pillow. Your thoughts and your heart are anything but quiet! Substitute your worries and concerns for those of this mom, and you totally “get” her! “But I have real problems…not the silly, trivial worries she talks about…things far more important than dust mites on Teddy bears and getting organized!” Yeah…but a lot of us worry about those “silly, trivial” things right along with the big issues…like school, work, bills, health, and relationships, and war and peace!
What are they [the kids] fighting about? ...I should probably wash their stuffed animals. What if they're full of dust mites.
What do I need to do today... return calls, answer emails, return texts from days ago... people probably think I'm so rude. I need to get organized. I need to organize this whole house. This room is a mess. I need to declutter.
OK, if I don't get up now we're going to be late. Oh man, I have to stop for gas. I'm on empty. Why do I always wait until the last minute? Because I was rushing home to make dinner.”
The thing to remember is that NOTHING is silly or trivial to God! He cares about whether your car is gassed up and your house is decluttered – if that matters to you! He cares whether you are undergoing chemotherapy for a disease that is ravaging your body just as much as the cough or sniffle that has you laid up for a few days. He is concerned about your lack of sleep – regardless of the cause. God wants to handle any – and ALL of your burdens…and exchange them for His inexplicable peace. He wants to give you a heart and mind that is completely at rest in Him.
I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking maybe I should have this scripture passage tattooed on my forearm, where I would be sure to see it several times a day! I need a constant reminder of God’s desire to fill me with peace…always…in ALL WAYS! And maybe you need this reminder, too! It’s normal…human…to worry and fret and have a heart and mind cluttered with all kinds of thoughts and concerns in today’s busy, hectic world. But it’s also totally unnecessary.
I am so thankful that God wants to give us a rest that defies logic…a peace that cannot be rationalized - but is completely real, just the same. And it all starts with a prayer…and a release of our thoughts and cares into His capable hands (followed by a profuse expression of gratitude for His amazing grace and mercy!). What do you think would happen if each morning, you replaced the first five minutes of “pillow talk” in your head with a conversation with God about your day and your concerns? What if you continued to talk to Him throughout the day about each issue that arose – no matter how great or small? Isn’t it worth a try?
Are you ready to experience God’s “peace that passes understanding”? Are you ready for some real rest and stress relief? Have you spoken to Him about this today? Don’t you think it’s time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bunmi-laditan/5-minutes-in-a-moms-head_b_5445948.html
Daily Devotional for June 23, 2014
Philippians 3:13-14
No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When I was in my twenties, I took up running as a form of exercise…and I competed in a few 5K and 10K races. Working toward the race gave me motivation and a goal. I had to train and prepare. I couldn’t just show up on Race Day and run 3.1 to 6.2 miles…I had to build up my stamina, endurance, and strength. So I would go on 3-to-6-mile runs every day to get my body (and my mind) ready for the actual event.
I’ll tell you, each day was different. Some “training days” were good…and others I’d just as soon forget! In fact, even within the run itself, I would tell myself, “Okay, you can’t think about the 4.5 miles you have already run and how tired you are…you have to focus on this last 1.5 miles and getting finished.” Honestly, there were lots of times that I wasn’t even all that concerned with how well I ran…I just wanted to be done! And for me, it wasn’t about the prize or medal on Race Day…it was about the personal satisfaction of knowing that I worked toward a goal and completed it. But there were indeed “prizes” and medals…and I did pick up a few - usually because in the early 1980s, there were so few women who ran competitively!
Most of us are working toward something…a high school diploma or college degree…a promotion at work…saving up enough money to buy a house or a car…finding the right partner and starting a family…saving for retirement…making it to the eligibility point for receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits…living to a certain age – or long enough to see our children or grandchildren grown…or getting to travel to a certain destination or experience things on a “bucket list”. Dreams and goals are important! They give our lives purpose…and the “prize” or reward we seek often motivates us to keep going.
I wonder…how motivated are we spiritually? Do we truly desire to be better today than we were yesterday? Do we really “press on toward the mark” and strive to do more for Jesus each day? Do we get bogged down in our past and use that as a crutch for failing to serve as faithfully or enthusiastically as we should? Are we as diligent in our efforts to be faithful Christian disciples as we are to save for a house or a car…or to achieve other personal goals? Do we work as hard for Jesus as we do for ourselves?
Is the “prize for which God is calling us up to Heaven” - the promise of Eternity in His presence - enough motivation for us to “bring all of our energies to bear” on what we do in this earthly lifetime? Shouldn’t it be? Are we giving all we can to the one who gave so much for us, so that we can rest with Him in Heaven someday? Or are we taking His “prize” for granted…and “resting on our laurels”?
How you answer these questions matters! Which “prizes” have caught your eye and garnered your attention? You will have plenty of time to rest when Jesus calls you “home” for good. What are you doing in the meantime?
©2014 Debbie Robus
No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When I was in my twenties, I took up running as a form of exercise…and I competed in a few 5K and 10K races. Working toward the race gave me motivation and a goal. I had to train and prepare. I couldn’t just show up on Race Day and run 3.1 to 6.2 miles…I had to build up my stamina, endurance, and strength. So I would go on 3-to-6-mile runs every day to get my body (and my mind) ready for the actual event.
I’ll tell you, each day was different. Some “training days” were good…and others I’d just as soon forget! In fact, even within the run itself, I would tell myself, “Okay, you can’t think about the 4.5 miles you have already run and how tired you are…you have to focus on this last 1.5 miles and getting finished.” Honestly, there were lots of times that I wasn’t even all that concerned with how well I ran…I just wanted to be done! And for me, it wasn’t about the prize or medal on Race Day…it was about the personal satisfaction of knowing that I worked toward a goal and completed it. But there were indeed “prizes” and medals…and I did pick up a few - usually because in the early 1980s, there were so few women who ran competitively!
Most of us are working toward something…a high school diploma or college degree…a promotion at work…saving up enough money to buy a house or a car…finding the right partner and starting a family…saving for retirement…making it to the eligibility point for receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits…living to a certain age – or long enough to see our children or grandchildren grown…or getting to travel to a certain destination or experience things on a “bucket list”. Dreams and goals are important! They give our lives purpose…and the “prize” or reward we seek often motivates us to keep going.
I wonder…how motivated are we spiritually? Do we truly desire to be better today than we were yesterday? Do we really “press on toward the mark” and strive to do more for Jesus each day? Do we get bogged down in our past and use that as a crutch for failing to serve as faithfully or enthusiastically as we should? Are we as diligent in our efforts to be faithful Christian disciples as we are to save for a house or a car…or to achieve other personal goals? Do we work as hard for Jesus as we do for ourselves?
Is the “prize for which God is calling us up to Heaven” - the promise of Eternity in His presence - enough motivation for us to “bring all of our energies to bear” on what we do in this earthly lifetime? Shouldn’t it be? Are we giving all we can to the one who gave so much for us, so that we can rest with Him in Heaven someday? Or are we taking His “prize” for granted…and “resting on our laurels”?
How you answer these questions matters! Which “prizes” have caught your eye and garnered your attention? You will have plenty of time to rest when Jesus calls you “home” for good. What are you doing in the meantime?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 22, 2014
Matthew 8:24
Suddenly a terrible storm came up, with waves higher than the boat. But Jesus was asleep.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The other day I looked outside the windows at our local Aquatic Center and watched summer storm clouds grow on the horizon. There is a rule at the Aquatic Center that when thunder is heard, everyone must get out until the storm passes and no thunder is heard for 30 minutes. The cloud formations got larger and seemed to work into a “slow boil” that was ripe with the ingredients for a hefty summertime thundershower.
Timothy was taking a swimming lesson. When he finished, we quickly changed clothes and gather our things. Just as we got to our car, big raindrops began to pelt us. By the time we pulled away from the Aquatic Center, there were loud claps of thunder…followed soon after by a torrential rain, lightning, thunder – and even a little hail. The storm lasted about an hour and netted a 1” rainfall – at least in our yard!
I knew that “scattered thunderstorms” were forecast. I was somewhat prepared to have to cut the swimming lesson short and leave early. In fact, when a precursory rumble of thunder sounded in the distance, a couple of us looked at each other and grimaced…and hoped that maybe we were “hearing things”. But we all knew that these clouds were rapidly coursing toward a full-blown, all-out storm…and that’s exactly what we got.
The good news is that it didn’t stick around for very long. Later in the afternoon, the sun was out, and the storms had passed…and we were none the worse for the wear. In fact, our lawns and foliage were in need of some rainfall…so the “storm” brought hidden blessings and benefits.
I can see potential “storm clouds” on the horizon in certain areas of my own life. Let’s get real here…I bet you do, too! My “brewing storm” may not be the same as yours…but I am pretty sure that there is something about your life that is less than perfect – and conditions may be ripe for a hefty, all-out “thunderstorm”. If you are like me, you can somewhat see the handwriting on the wall…the inevitable “storm” that is headed your way. And yes, I’ve prayed about my situation until my knees are raw (figuratively) – as I’m sure you have. Still, the “storm clouds” keep growing and heading right toward me. This may “blow over” and be nothing…or it may be a “terrible storm”. Right now I am not sure how things will go, and this uncertainty heightens my prayer time!
The craziest part of all is that while we can see these “storms” building on the horizon…we can hear the “rumbling thunder” in the distance…God often seems to be sound asleep. We are saying, “Hey, LORD!!! Can’t you stop this? Don’t you see what is happening? Didn’t you notice that everything is about to fall down around me?”…and God is quietly and calmly “napping in the bottom of the boat”. I don’t know about you, but this is a frustrating, almost helpless feeling for me. And yet, as I look backward and review other “storms” in my life, I see how God handled them on my behalf…how He was always at work (even when I thought He had abandoned me)…how He brought blessings even in the “rain”. As our pastor reminded us in this week’s sermon, I have sometimes mistaken God’s silence for abandonment…and forgotten that God will never leave me.
Now I will be the first to tell you that I am probably going to continue to stew and fret over my current “storm”…because I’m human and that’s just how I roll. I’m not the least bit proud of the fact that I do some hand-wringing…but I cannot seem to stop myself nonetheless. However, I am going to do my dead-level best to stay calm, avoid over-reacting, and trust that even as God “naps”, He is aware of – and working on – my situation. Rather than add the needless worry and confusion of wondering where God has gone to my list of anxieties and qualms, I’m going to trust that He is right here with me…making a clear path where I cannot see one.
I’m going to actually believe that God is “patting the bottom of the boat” and saying, “Come on over and lie down beside me. Rest a while. This storm will pass soon enough. I’m in complete control…I’ve got this!” As believers, we’re all “riding in the same boat”, so to speak. My question for you is…where do you plan to sit?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Suddenly a terrible storm came up, with waves higher than the boat. But Jesus was asleep.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The other day I looked outside the windows at our local Aquatic Center and watched summer storm clouds grow on the horizon. There is a rule at the Aquatic Center that when thunder is heard, everyone must get out until the storm passes and no thunder is heard for 30 minutes. The cloud formations got larger and seemed to work into a “slow boil” that was ripe with the ingredients for a hefty summertime thundershower.
Timothy was taking a swimming lesson. When he finished, we quickly changed clothes and gather our things. Just as we got to our car, big raindrops began to pelt us. By the time we pulled away from the Aquatic Center, there were loud claps of thunder…followed soon after by a torrential rain, lightning, thunder – and even a little hail. The storm lasted about an hour and netted a 1” rainfall – at least in our yard!
I knew that “scattered thunderstorms” were forecast. I was somewhat prepared to have to cut the swimming lesson short and leave early. In fact, when a precursory rumble of thunder sounded in the distance, a couple of us looked at each other and grimaced…and hoped that maybe we were “hearing things”. But we all knew that these clouds were rapidly coursing toward a full-blown, all-out storm…and that’s exactly what we got.
The good news is that it didn’t stick around for very long. Later in the afternoon, the sun was out, and the storms had passed…and we were none the worse for the wear. In fact, our lawns and foliage were in need of some rainfall…so the “storm” brought hidden blessings and benefits.
I can see potential “storm clouds” on the horizon in certain areas of my own life. Let’s get real here…I bet you do, too! My “brewing storm” may not be the same as yours…but I am pretty sure that there is something about your life that is less than perfect – and conditions may be ripe for a hefty, all-out “thunderstorm”. If you are like me, you can somewhat see the handwriting on the wall…the inevitable “storm” that is headed your way. And yes, I’ve prayed about my situation until my knees are raw (figuratively) – as I’m sure you have. Still, the “storm clouds” keep growing and heading right toward me. This may “blow over” and be nothing…or it may be a “terrible storm”. Right now I am not sure how things will go, and this uncertainty heightens my prayer time!
The craziest part of all is that while we can see these “storms” building on the horizon…we can hear the “rumbling thunder” in the distance…God often seems to be sound asleep. We are saying, “Hey, LORD!!! Can’t you stop this? Don’t you see what is happening? Didn’t you notice that everything is about to fall down around me?”…and God is quietly and calmly “napping in the bottom of the boat”. I don’t know about you, but this is a frustrating, almost helpless feeling for me. And yet, as I look backward and review other “storms” in my life, I see how God handled them on my behalf…how He was always at work (even when I thought He had abandoned me)…how He brought blessings even in the “rain”. As our pastor reminded us in this week’s sermon, I have sometimes mistaken God’s silence for abandonment…and forgotten that God will never leave me.
Now I will be the first to tell you that I am probably going to continue to stew and fret over my current “storm”…because I’m human and that’s just how I roll. I’m not the least bit proud of the fact that I do some hand-wringing…but I cannot seem to stop myself nonetheless. However, I am going to do my dead-level best to stay calm, avoid over-reacting, and trust that even as God “naps”, He is aware of – and working on – my situation. Rather than add the needless worry and confusion of wondering where God has gone to my list of anxieties and qualms, I’m going to trust that He is right here with me…making a clear path where I cannot see one.
I’m going to actually believe that God is “patting the bottom of the boat” and saying, “Come on over and lie down beside me. Rest a while. This storm will pass soon enough. I’m in complete control…I’ve got this!” As believers, we’re all “riding in the same boat”, so to speak. My question for you is…where do you plan to sit?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 21, 2014
Matthew 26:45
Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy has this book we read at bedtime about a farmer whose entire menagerie – and even his family – arose before he did. Every time he heard the rooster crow, he would say, “Just a few more minutes”…or “Not yet”…or “Just one more second” so that he could continue sleeping. He would burrow further under the covers as the cow mooed and the cat and dog came to sit on top of him. And then, his wife yelled “ALBERTTTTTTTT!” He continued to try to sleep until the second time his wife yelled “ALBERTTTTTTTTT!!!” Then he said, “Oh, alright!” He got up, dressed, did his chores, and sat down to a hearty breakfast.
Timothy loves this story. So when he awoke at 6:15 a.m., and I wanted to continue sleeping, I reminded him that I was like the farmer in his story…”just a few more minutes, please!” “But it’s a beautiful day!” Timothy told me. And as much as I wanted to sleep and rest a little while longer, I knew that it was time to get up and start enjoying this “beautiful day” with my nephew. Soon enough, he will be too old for his Aunt Debbie. I will be the one saying, “Get up! It’s a beautiful day,” and he will be grumbling and groaning as many teenagers do…and saying, “Just a few more minutes!”
Soon enough, this little boy who thinks we are “perfect” (his word, not mine!) will not want to be seen with two old fogeys like us! Soon enough, he will be grown, move out of the house, and maybe have a family with little boys and girls of his own. The time to “get up and enjoy a beautiful day” with him is NOW! And this is the point of today’s scripture passage…the time to get up and share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ is here!
Jesus didn’t tarry…He didn’t say, “Just a few more minutes”…or “God, can’t this wait until another day?”…He didn’t make excuses and shirk His responsibilities. Surely we can get up and get going on behalf of the One who did so much for each one of us! Soon enough, our earthly lives will be over, and all of the opportunities we had to serve Jesus and share His message of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness – and a new life in Him – will have passed. Where will you be on that day? Will you have spent your time wisely and obediently? Or will you have been like the farmer who pulled the quilt up over his head and pled, “Just a little while longer!” as his wife and animals called to him.
“The time has come.” These are Jesus’ words…will you answer His call… or are you still sleeping?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy has this book we read at bedtime about a farmer whose entire menagerie – and even his family – arose before he did. Every time he heard the rooster crow, he would say, “Just a few more minutes”…or “Not yet”…or “Just one more second” so that he could continue sleeping. He would burrow further under the covers as the cow mooed and the cat and dog came to sit on top of him. And then, his wife yelled “ALBERTTTTTTTT!” He continued to try to sleep until the second time his wife yelled “ALBERTTTTTTTTT!!!” Then he said, “Oh, alright!” He got up, dressed, did his chores, and sat down to a hearty breakfast.
Timothy loves this story. So when he awoke at 6:15 a.m., and I wanted to continue sleeping, I reminded him that I was like the farmer in his story…”just a few more minutes, please!” “But it’s a beautiful day!” Timothy told me. And as much as I wanted to sleep and rest a little while longer, I knew that it was time to get up and start enjoying this “beautiful day” with my nephew. Soon enough, he will be too old for his Aunt Debbie. I will be the one saying, “Get up! It’s a beautiful day,” and he will be grumbling and groaning as many teenagers do…and saying, “Just a few more minutes!”
Soon enough, this little boy who thinks we are “perfect” (his word, not mine!) will not want to be seen with two old fogeys like us! Soon enough, he will be grown, move out of the house, and maybe have a family with little boys and girls of his own. The time to “get up and enjoy a beautiful day” with him is NOW! And this is the point of today’s scripture passage…the time to get up and share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ is here!
Jesus didn’t tarry…He didn’t say, “Just a few more minutes”…or “God, can’t this wait until another day?”…He didn’t make excuses and shirk His responsibilities. Surely we can get up and get going on behalf of the One who did so much for each one of us! Soon enough, our earthly lives will be over, and all of the opportunities we had to serve Jesus and share His message of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness – and a new life in Him – will have passed. Where will you be on that day? Will you have spent your time wisely and obediently? Or will you have been like the farmer who pulled the quilt up over his head and pled, “Just a little while longer!” as his wife and animals called to him.
“The time has come.” These are Jesus’ words…will you answer His call… or are you still sleeping?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 20, 2014
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke—for it fits perfectly—and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Have you ever tried on clothing or a pair of shoes that didn’t feel quite right…then someone suggested that you try another size, and it felt so much better? The fit was more “you”…in fact, it was perfect! That’s exactly how it is with a life in Christ. Jesus fits each of us perfectly. Notice that He doesn’t claim to give you a burden-free life. Jesus promises us burdens that are lighter and easier to bear – because He does the heavy lifting!
Nobody likes to wear shoes or clothing that doesn’t fit. So why are you putting up with a life that is overly burdensome and uncomfortable? Come to Jesus…let Him do the heavy lifting. Wear His yoke instead of the ill-fitting one you’ve been dealing with…and find rest for your soul in the process.
©2014 Debbie Robus
“Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke—for it fits perfectly—and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Have you ever tried on clothing or a pair of shoes that didn’t feel quite right…then someone suggested that you try another size, and it felt so much better? The fit was more “you”…in fact, it was perfect! That’s exactly how it is with a life in Christ. Jesus fits each of us perfectly. Notice that He doesn’t claim to give you a burden-free life. Jesus promises us burdens that are lighter and easier to bear – because He does the heavy lifting!
Nobody likes to wear shoes or clothing that doesn’t fit. So why are you putting up with a life that is overly burdensome and uncomfortable? Come to Jesus…let Him do the heavy lifting. Wear His yoke instead of the ill-fitting one you’ve been dealing with…and find rest for your soul in the process.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 19, 2014
Mark 6:30-34
The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.
So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them.
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.
We’re all aware of the adage, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Such was the case in 1959, when then 14-year-old Linda Balough was working a shift in a small franchised shoe store in Owensboro, Kentucky. She recalled this day for the June 2014 issue of AARP Bulletin. One Saturday during a local tobacco market, a disheveled, rather dirty family of five came into the Kentucky shoe store where Linda worked, and none of the employees would wait on them. Linda was operating the cash register and noticed that her colleagues looked the other way. One of them actually said to her that this family smelled of coal and had on clothing that indicated that they would not purchase anything, and that serving them would be a total waste of time. So Linda grabbed her foot-measuring device and approached the mother of the family – and asked her shoe size.
The family ended up purchasing 10 pair of shoes. The father explained that this was the time of year when he and his family brought their tobacco to sell at market…and they outfitted everyone with shoes for the entire year. He thanked Linda for being so respectful and helpful. As it turns out…this was one of the store’s largest sales - of.the.year!
Timing is everything. There are times when we should be bold…and times when we need to take a step backward. There are times when we need to rest…and times when we need to get the work done, no matter how tired we may be. There are times when we are busy and cannot drop what we are doing…and times when we need to totally change course – or our preconceived notions about a person or situation – and meet that immediate need.
Jesus knew that His disciples were tired and needed a break. I am sure He longed to get away with them for a while…to rest and hear their accounts of their ministries. But in the middle of all of this, Jesus noticed a group of people who needed Him. No doubt, some were dirty and disheveled. There were probably little kids and crying babies in the crowd, as well as rowdy teenagers and a few people who might have seemed like “unsavory characters” who were a “total waste of time”. I’m sure it was a noisy, chaotic scene as these people rushed to the beach. For whatever reason, they were coming to see Jesus…and He sensed the urgency in the needs of many of them. So Jesus stayed and ministered to the crowd…teaching, healing, and feeding bodies and souls.
Where have we put our own desires above the ministries of Jesus? Have we judged someone in an instant and deemed them unworthy of our time and attention – and missed an opportunity to share Christ’s love in the process? Are there times when we are so dead-set on doing what we want that we leave someone who is truly in need without an ally? Are our priorities just a little out of whack on many occasions?
There are times when it is important to say “No!”…to take time for ourselves…to focus on our own rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. But often, we choose this option selfishly…without giving any consideration to what God is showing us or where He is leading. Essentially, we say, “Not now, LORD…it’s MY turn,” or “LORD, surely you can’t mean for me to associate with this person or situation!” In both cases, we miss valuable opportunities for discipleship and ministry…and for the blessings that God has in store for us.
I am sure that the 14-year-old Kentucky girl who made one of the store’s largest sales of the year was delighted – and received accolades from management for her astute salesmanship. But the fact that Linda recounts this story with such clarity some 55 years later tells me that the impact on her life went far beyond dollars and cents - and a “job-well-done” pat on the back. This young girl saw people who were in need, and she dropped what she was doing – and any judgments – and met them right where they were.
Where do we need to open our eyes and ears to what God is calling us to do? Are we so in tune with His voice that we know when to rest…and when to get busy serving others in Jesus’ name? Are we blinded by judgment and our own selfishness…or do we able to discern when God calls us to action – and go? Isn’t it time we learned to tell the difference? What is God calling you to do today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.
So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them.
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.
We’re all aware of the adage, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Such was the case in 1959, when then 14-year-old Linda Balough was working a shift in a small franchised shoe store in Owensboro, Kentucky. She recalled this day for the June 2014 issue of AARP Bulletin. One Saturday during a local tobacco market, a disheveled, rather dirty family of five came into the Kentucky shoe store where Linda worked, and none of the employees would wait on them. Linda was operating the cash register and noticed that her colleagues looked the other way. One of them actually said to her that this family smelled of coal and had on clothing that indicated that they would not purchase anything, and that serving them would be a total waste of time. So Linda grabbed her foot-measuring device and approached the mother of the family – and asked her shoe size.
The family ended up purchasing 10 pair of shoes. The father explained that this was the time of year when he and his family brought their tobacco to sell at market…and they outfitted everyone with shoes for the entire year. He thanked Linda for being so respectful and helpful. As it turns out…this was one of the store’s largest sales - of.the.year!
Timing is everything. There are times when we should be bold…and times when we need to take a step backward. There are times when we need to rest…and times when we need to get the work done, no matter how tired we may be. There are times when we are busy and cannot drop what we are doing…and times when we need to totally change course – or our preconceived notions about a person or situation – and meet that immediate need.
Jesus knew that His disciples were tired and needed a break. I am sure He longed to get away with them for a while…to rest and hear their accounts of their ministries. But in the middle of all of this, Jesus noticed a group of people who needed Him. No doubt, some were dirty and disheveled. There were probably little kids and crying babies in the crowd, as well as rowdy teenagers and a few people who might have seemed like “unsavory characters” who were a “total waste of time”. I’m sure it was a noisy, chaotic scene as these people rushed to the beach. For whatever reason, they were coming to see Jesus…and He sensed the urgency in the needs of many of them. So Jesus stayed and ministered to the crowd…teaching, healing, and feeding bodies and souls.
Where have we put our own desires above the ministries of Jesus? Have we judged someone in an instant and deemed them unworthy of our time and attention – and missed an opportunity to share Christ’s love in the process? Are there times when we are so dead-set on doing what we want that we leave someone who is truly in need without an ally? Are our priorities just a little out of whack on many occasions?
There are times when it is important to say “No!”…to take time for ourselves…to focus on our own rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. But often, we choose this option selfishly…without giving any consideration to what God is showing us or where He is leading. Essentially, we say, “Not now, LORD…it’s MY turn,” or “LORD, surely you can’t mean for me to associate with this person or situation!” In both cases, we miss valuable opportunities for discipleship and ministry…and for the blessings that God has in store for us.
I am sure that the 14-year-old Kentucky girl who made one of the store’s largest sales of the year was delighted – and received accolades from management for her astute salesmanship. But the fact that Linda recounts this story with such clarity some 55 years later tells me that the impact on her life went far beyond dollars and cents - and a “job-well-done” pat on the back. This young girl saw people who were in need, and she dropped what she was doing – and any judgments – and met them right where they were.
Where do we need to open our eyes and ears to what God is calling us to do? Are we so in tune with His voice that we know when to rest…and when to get busy serving others in Jesus’ name? Are we blinded by judgment and our own selfishness…or do we able to discern when God calls us to action – and go? Isn’t it time we learned to tell the difference? What is God calling you to do today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 18, 2014
Luke 10:5-6
“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve all been there. You’re in your most comfortable – but somewhat ratty – pajamas or sweats…your hair is a mess…and maybe you need a shower. And someone knocks on your door. Delivery people like my mail carrier and the drivers for UPS and FedEx must think “That poor woman needs help!” when I answer their call. Worse yet is when a family member, friend or acquaintance drops by and catches you off guard. I’m pretty sure that in each case, we don’t exactly promote an air of peace!
Perhaps you have been on the “receiving end” of this experience. And maybe you have visited someone who was cordial, at best…but cool – or in some cases, quite short and rude. They did not make you feel welcome in their home, for whatever reason. Perhaps they were uncomfortable about their appearance…or you just caught them at a truly inconvenient time. Or maybe they really didn’t want to spend time with you…much less entertain you in their home for even the briefest of moments.
And that’s the point…there are all sorts of reasons for a reception that is less than welcoming. I have learned that most people are not noticing my appearance or the neatness and cleanliness of my house nearly as much as I am. I have also learned that I can’t possibly know everything that was happening right before I rang someone’s doorbell or approached them on the street or in a hallway at school, work or church…or in the grocery store or other public venue.
Think back to the old movies and television shows we watched when we were younger. Do you remember those where a stranger would approach a person or a group of people and say, “I come in peace!” This person was saying, “No need to be uneasy…I am not here to harm you or judge you in any way. I just want to talk.” In this passage, Jesus is instructing His disciples to let others know that “I come in peace!”
If we project a sense of acceptance and peace – and a lack of judgment and condemnation – we have a far better chance of getting a good reception. If we behave in this manner and offer the peace of God (if only in our demeanor and a silent prayer) and we are treated poorly, we’ve not really lost anything. It’s a “no-harm-no-foul” situation of sorts.
I’ll have to say, I have the best delivery people in the world. They treat me the same whether I look like I just rolled out of bed or I am dressed for a church service! I don’t know if they actually say, “Peace to this house” before they knock on my door…or if it just seems like it. I do know that one FedEx delivery man always says, “It’s been a pleasure to serve you” as he walks away. Whether he means that (and I think he does!) or not…this comment leaves me with a warm feeling.
When others come to your door, do they feel like it was a pleasure to be in your presence? When you visit others…do they know that you “come in peace”? Do you trust God to make the difference as you interact with others and offer His love, grace, mercy, peace, understanding – and the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ – to them? Do you rest in the peace of God, regardless of how others treat you? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve all been there. You’re in your most comfortable – but somewhat ratty – pajamas or sweats…your hair is a mess…and maybe you need a shower. And someone knocks on your door. Delivery people like my mail carrier and the drivers for UPS and FedEx must think “That poor woman needs help!” when I answer their call. Worse yet is when a family member, friend or acquaintance drops by and catches you off guard. I’m pretty sure that in each case, we don’t exactly promote an air of peace!
Perhaps you have been on the “receiving end” of this experience. And maybe you have visited someone who was cordial, at best…but cool – or in some cases, quite short and rude. They did not make you feel welcome in their home, for whatever reason. Perhaps they were uncomfortable about their appearance…or you just caught them at a truly inconvenient time. Or maybe they really didn’t want to spend time with you…much less entertain you in their home for even the briefest of moments.
And that’s the point…there are all sorts of reasons for a reception that is less than welcoming. I have learned that most people are not noticing my appearance or the neatness and cleanliness of my house nearly as much as I am. I have also learned that I can’t possibly know everything that was happening right before I rang someone’s doorbell or approached them on the street or in a hallway at school, work or church…or in the grocery store or other public venue.
Think back to the old movies and television shows we watched when we were younger. Do you remember those where a stranger would approach a person or a group of people and say, “I come in peace!” This person was saying, “No need to be uneasy…I am not here to harm you or judge you in any way. I just want to talk.” In this passage, Jesus is instructing His disciples to let others know that “I come in peace!”
If we project a sense of acceptance and peace – and a lack of judgment and condemnation – we have a far better chance of getting a good reception. If we behave in this manner and offer the peace of God (if only in our demeanor and a silent prayer) and we are treated poorly, we’ve not really lost anything. It’s a “no-harm-no-foul” situation of sorts.
I’ll have to say, I have the best delivery people in the world. They treat me the same whether I look like I just rolled out of bed or I am dressed for a church service! I don’t know if they actually say, “Peace to this house” before they knock on my door…or if it just seems like it. I do know that one FedEx delivery man always says, “It’s been a pleasure to serve you” as he walks away. Whether he means that (and I think he does!) or not…this comment leaves me with a warm feeling.
When others come to your door, do they feel like it was a pleasure to be in your presence? When you visit others…do they know that you “come in peace”? Do you trust God to make the difference as you interact with others and offer His love, grace, mercy, peace, understanding – and the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ – to them? Do you rest in the peace of God, regardless of how others treat you? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 17, 2014
Leviticus 23:23-25
The Lord told Moses to say to the people of Israel:
The first day of the seventh month must be a day of complete rest. Then at the sound of the trumpets, you will come together to worship and to offer sacrifices on the altar.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One September morning, the mother of one of my students came into my classroom and told me that her son would be absent from class for a few days later that week. The family would be celebrating their church’s “Feast of the Trumpets”. I will admit, I had never heard of this…but it was obviously a big deal to this family and their fellow church members in the Church of God – a Christian denomination. If you read all of Leviticus 23, you will see that there are several “Bible feasts” and celebrations throughout the year that were to be observed with certain rituals, foods, and periods of rest from all labors…and this student’s family attended many of them.
The “Feast of the Trumpets” is commonly known today as the Jewish New Year – or Rosh Hashanah. However, some Christian denominations still celebrate this and other “Bible feasts” marked in Leviticus 23. I honestly do not know what these entail fully…or whether celebrants literally forego all work during each of these celebrations. But the Apostle Paul referenced these events in Colossians 2:16-27…referring to them as a foreshadowing of the coming of Christ. To paraphrase Paul…”Jesus is real and here with us…we don’t necessarily need to celebrate these rituals now.”
Do not misunderstand me. This doesn’t mean that we Christians shouldn’t have rituals, ceremonies and celebrations. I believe that these events serve to enhance our faith and fellowship…and often cause us to focus more specifically on Jesus and our relationship with Him. My particular denomination does not celebrate all of these “Feasts of the Bible”, but we do participate in Sunday worship services, Holy Communion, Advent, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and other Easter week services, to name a few.
The thing that struck me as I read the verses of Leviticus 23 was that the Old Testament Jews were pretty busy observing these festivals! During each one of these events, everyone was expected to stop all work and participate…and/or rest – and sometimes abstain from eating! Can you imagine us doing this today? “People weren’t as busy back then,” you may say. Really? Do you honestly think that the workload was lighter in a time without electricity, running water, motorized vehicles, computers, telephones, home appliances, and other modern conveniences we all take for granted? Yet these faithful people stopped what they were doing and rested…they made these celebrations to honor God a priority.
I wonder…do we make God a priority? Do we shift gears and set aside time to “rest in the LORD”? I’m not necessarily talking about literal, physical “rest”…I’m talking about something far more refreshing and renewing. I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t always make time to attend such services at my church as Ash Wednesday or Maundy Thursday. But when I do attend such a time of worship, I always come away profoundly affected…feeling closer to God…more “centered” in my faith. The time that I spend in Bible study and working on these daily devotionals is precious to me and helps me to align my thoughts and my focus for the day. When I take extended time to talk with God…to sit and listen for His voice…I am refreshed and energized - as if I had taken a two-hour nap! These “rests” often help me “get my head on straight”!
It amazes me that in spite of all of our technological advances, we seem to have become busier than ever! I still cannot get over how people can’t seem to pry themselves from a hand-held device long enough to share a meal with family or friends, watch their children participate in some activity…or have a genuine conversation with another human being. And this has more than carried over into our spiritual life. We’ve become so caught up in the “busyness” of life that we no longer have time to rest and celebrate Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him!
I’m not suggesting that we go back to the Old Testament rituals found in Leviticus…or that we completely rearrange our schedules to accommodate extended periods of worship, Bible study and prayer. I fully realize that we cannot always attend every event held at our church…or stop everything to sit for an hour in prayer and Bible study. But I do think there is room for us to seek a happy medium…a compromise of sorts (and that seems a silly word to use when we talk about Jesus!)… a way to incorporate periods of celebration, worship, rest and renewal in the LORD into our everyday lives.
Jesus IS alive and real…and here with us. Are we stopping long enough to acknowledge His presence? How long has it been since you really “rested” with Him?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The Lord told Moses to say to the people of Israel:
The first day of the seventh month must be a day of complete rest. Then at the sound of the trumpets, you will come together to worship and to offer sacrifices on the altar.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One September morning, the mother of one of my students came into my classroom and told me that her son would be absent from class for a few days later that week. The family would be celebrating their church’s “Feast of the Trumpets”. I will admit, I had never heard of this…but it was obviously a big deal to this family and their fellow church members in the Church of God – a Christian denomination. If you read all of Leviticus 23, you will see that there are several “Bible feasts” and celebrations throughout the year that were to be observed with certain rituals, foods, and periods of rest from all labors…and this student’s family attended many of them.
The “Feast of the Trumpets” is commonly known today as the Jewish New Year – or Rosh Hashanah. However, some Christian denominations still celebrate this and other “Bible feasts” marked in Leviticus 23. I honestly do not know what these entail fully…or whether celebrants literally forego all work during each of these celebrations. But the Apostle Paul referenced these events in Colossians 2:16-27…referring to them as a foreshadowing of the coming of Christ. To paraphrase Paul…”Jesus is real and here with us…we don’t necessarily need to celebrate these rituals now.”
Do not misunderstand me. This doesn’t mean that we Christians shouldn’t have rituals, ceremonies and celebrations. I believe that these events serve to enhance our faith and fellowship…and often cause us to focus more specifically on Jesus and our relationship with Him. My particular denomination does not celebrate all of these “Feasts of the Bible”, but we do participate in Sunday worship services, Holy Communion, Advent, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and other Easter week services, to name a few.
The thing that struck me as I read the verses of Leviticus 23 was that the Old Testament Jews were pretty busy observing these festivals! During each one of these events, everyone was expected to stop all work and participate…and/or rest – and sometimes abstain from eating! Can you imagine us doing this today? “People weren’t as busy back then,” you may say. Really? Do you honestly think that the workload was lighter in a time without electricity, running water, motorized vehicles, computers, telephones, home appliances, and other modern conveniences we all take for granted? Yet these faithful people stopped what they were doing and rested…they made these celebrations to honor God a priority.
I wonder…do we make God a priority? Do we shift gears and set aside time to “rest in the LORD”? I’m not necessarily talking about literal, physical “rest”…I’m talking about something far more refreshing and renewing. I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t always make time to attend such services at my church as Ash Wednesday or Maundy Thursday. But when I do attend such a time of worship, I always come away profoundly affected…feeling closer to God…more “centered” in my faith. The time that I spend in Bible study and working on these daily devotionals is precious to me and helps me to align my thoughts and my focus for the day. When I take extended time to talk with God…to sit and listen for His voice…I am refreshed and energized - as if I had taken a two-hour nap! These “rests” often help me “get my head on straight”!
It amazes me that in spite of all of our technological advances, we seem to have become busier than ever! I still cannot get over how people can’t seem to pry themselves from a hand-held device long enough to share a meal with family or friends, watch their children participate in some activity…or have a genuine conversation with another human being. And this has more than carried over into our spiritual life. We’ve become so caught up in the “busyness” of life that we no longer have time to rest and celebrate Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him!
I’m not suggesting that we go back to the Old Testament rituals found in Leviticus…or that we completely rearrange our schedules to accommodate extended periods of worship, Bible study and prayer. I fully realize that we cannot always attend every event held at our church…or stop everything to sit for an hour in prayer and Bible study. But I do think there is room for us to seek a happy medium…a compromise of sorts (and that seems a silly word to use when we talk about Jesus!)… a way to incorporate periods of celebration, worship, rest and renewal in the LORD into our everyday lives.
Jesus IS alive and real…and here with us. Are we stopping long enough to acknowledge His presence? How long has it been since you really “rested” with Him?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 16, 2014
John 16:7
But I tell you that I am going to do what is best for you. That is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We took the kiddos to Pizza Hut for lunch after church yesterday. When Greg went to pay the bill, Timothy wanted to go with him. At first I told him to stay in his seat. But Timothy persisted, and I could see Greg standing at the cash register…so I decided it was safe for Timmy to join him. Plus, Timothy kept saying in a confident-but-not-bossy tone, “I’ll handle it! I can handle it!” So I let him go. And several times in the 10 or 20-foot walk to his uncle, Timothy looked back with a smile and said, “I’ll handle it!”
I’ll be honest…there have been a couple of times in this little guy’s short life when letting him go was truly heart-rending. Twice he came to visit his grandparents and us for extended stays, and then we returned him to Texas to live with his family. We all knew that he needed to be with his parents and his siblings…and he would talk about “going home to Mom and Dad”. But the head and heart are often in conflict – and these experiences were no exception!
We assured Timothy that even though he was separated from us by hundreds of miles, we would always love him…that he would forever be in our hearts. We told him, “Look at the moon and remember that we are seeing the same moon…and we love you to the moon and back!” When we would talk on the phone, we would ask him, “Did you see the moon? Do you remember how much we love you?” More importantly, we reminded him countless times of how much God loved him…and that God would never leave him, no matter where he went. I truly believe this 5-year-old boy comprehends God’s presence, love and care - as much as a child can grasp any intangible concept! He knows that God will “handle it”…no matter where he is or what happens.
Saying “Good-bye” is difficult sometimes…maybe even gut-wrenching…but often necessary. It was important that Timothy return to his parents and siblings. And it was necessary for Jesus to physically leave earth and return to Heaven. Thankfully, Timothy and his family returned to Arkansas almost two years ago, so we have all been reunited in the same community and see each other often. And someday, we believers will be reunited with Jesus. But in the meantime, we can carry His Holy Spirit in our hearts. We know that wherever we go…whatever we do…He is with us. We can feel His love and presence and know that He is near. Like the moon reminded a toddler that he was loved from afar, we have reminders of Christ’s love and care at every turn.
I realize that not every “Good-bye” comes with the assurance that there will be a reunion…at least not an earthly one. Many of us have said a necessary “Good-bye” to loved ones who have passed from this earthly life to a heavenly one…if only our “four-legged” family members. We carry memories of them in our hearts and remind ourselves of their physical existence through photos, conversations with others, and thoughts of the times we shared together. For the most part, these give us comfort…and honestly, I believe these reminders are a gift from God…another way that He assures us that “I’ve got this! This is how I’m helping you handle your grief and loss.”
As I look back over the events of my life, I can see that there are more times that God has handled things for me than I can count. Every day, I realize even more just how near to me the Holy Spirit is…how often and effectively He works in and through me…and provides for my every need. I can’t imagine anyone will be happier to meet Jesus face-to-face than I…but in the meantime, I know that I am never alone. The Spirit has come to me…and every hour of my day, He says, “I’ll handle it!”…and He does! Has the Holy Spirit come to your heart to handle things? Don’t you think it’s time you invited Him to do just that?
©2014 Debbie Robus
But I tell you that I am going to do what is best for you. That is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We took the kiddos to Pizza Hut for lunch after church yesterday. When Greg went to pay the bill, Timothy wanted to go with him. At first I told him to stay in his seat. But Timothy persisted, and I could see Greg standing at the cash register…so I decided it was safe for Timmy to join him. Plus, Timothy kept saying in a confident-but-not-bossy tone, “I’ll handle it! I can handle it!” So I let him go. And several times in the 10 or 20-foot walk to his uncle, Timothy looked back with a smile and said, “I’ll handle it!”
I’ll be honest…there have been a couple of times in this little guy’s short life when letting him go was truly heart-rending. Twice he came to visit his grandparents and us for extended stays, and then we returned him to Texas to live with his family. We all knew that he needed to be with his parents and his siblings…and he would talk about “going home to Mom and Dad”. But the head and heart are often in conflict – and these experiences were no exception!
We assured Timothy that even though he was separated from us by hundreds of miles, we would always love him…that he would forever be in our hearts. We told him, “Look at the moon and remember that we are seeing the same moon…and we love you to the moon and back!” When we would talk on the phone, we would ask him, “Did you see the moon? Do you remember how much we love you?” More importantly, we reminded him countless times of how much God loved him…and that God would never leave him, no matter where he went. I truly believe this 5-year-old boy comprehends God’s presence, love and care - as much as a child can grasp any intangible concept! He knows that God will “handle it”…no matter where he is or what happens.
Saying “Good-bye” is difficult sometimes…maybe even gut-wrenching…but often necessary. It was important that Timothy return to his parents and siblings. And it was necessary for Jesus to physically leave earth and return to Heaven. Thankfully, Timothy and his family returned to Arkansas almost two years ago, so we have all been reunited in the same community and see each other often. And someday, we believers will be reunited with Jesus. But in the meantime, we can carry His Holy Spirit in our hearts. We know that wherever we go…whatever we do…He is with us. We can feel His love and presence and know that He is near. Like the moon reminded a toddler that he was loved from afar, we have reminders of Christ’s love and care at every turn.
I realize that not every “Good-bye” comes with the assurance that there will be a reunion…at least not an earthly one. Many of us have said a necessary “Good-bye” to loved ones who have passed from this earthly life to a heavenly one…if only our “four-legged” family members. We carry memories of them in our hearts and remind ourselves of their physical existence through photos, conversations with others, and thoughts of the times we shared together. For the most part, these give us comfort…and honestly, I believe these reminders are a gift from God…another way that He assures us that “I’ve got this! This is how I’m helping you handle your grief and loss.”
As I look back over the events of my life, I can see that there are more times that God has handled things for me than I can count. Every day, I realize even more just how near to me the Holy Spirit is…how often and effectively He works in and through me…and provides for my every need. I can’t imagine anyone will be happier to meet Jesus face-to-face than I…but in the meantime, I know that I am never alone. The Spirit has come to me…and every hour of my day, He says, “I’ll handle it!”…and He does! Has the Holy Spirit come to your heart to handle things? Don’t you think it’s time you invited Him to do just that?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 15, 2014
John 16:33
I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other day, Timothy and I were paddling around in the pool before his swim lesson, and he began to yell, “Help! Help!” I explained to him that the only time when this was acceptable was when he truly was in trouble and needed help…that yelling “Help!” when none was needed could cause people to stop watching and listening for true danger. We have talked to him before about the story of the little boy who “cried wolf”, and we probably should revisit this story sometime soon!
I always think of “crying wolf” when I hear the word “suffer”, because when I was a child, my maternal grandmother used this word often. I loved my grandmother and believed her when she said she “really suffered” with some ailment or injury. When I got older and learned more about human suffering, I realized that her “afflictions” might not have completely qualified – at least in the minds of other people, and especially in Biblical terms! Nonetheless, my grandmother believed that she suffered often in this earthly life…and I’m sure she delights in the rest of Heaven and the relief that is offered her there.
“Suffering” is relative. Young people may be bullied and genuinely suffer mental and/or physical anguish – or they may experience the typical “agonies” and indignations that come with childhood. Teenagers “suffer” the emotional roller-coaster of friendships and school work and extra-curricular activities and coping with the frequent “oppression” of parents and other adults. Young adults sometimes “suffer” as they make their way in the world and find the job market less than welcoming…or learn to be “grown-ups” and handle all of the responsibilities that come with this stage of life.
Parents “suffer” as they cope with the inevitable stresses of rearing children. Older adults “suffer” under a myriad of pressures…from the stress of dealing with aging and all that comes with it, adjusting to retirement and “empty nests”, loneliness, health issues, loss of loved ones, and more. And Christians “suffer” when they are ostracized by family members and friends, or they have to give up old habits and activities in favor of more Godly behaviors…or their schedules must now include time for prayer, Bible study, and corporate worship and ministry efforts.
If we are honest, a lot of what we consider “suffering” is more akin to inconvenience and “growing pains” than true suffering. Yet children’s hospitals across the world are filled with little ones who truly do endure physical ailments and injuries – and difficult or painful procedures to treat them. Adults of all ages and in all stages of life really are tormented and/or miserable because of homelessness, hunger, serious illnesses and injuries, abuses, persecution, and more. Christians around the world suffer greatly – and even die – because they profess their belief in Jesus Christ and dare to share His GOOD NEWS with others.
Jesus has told us that life will not be a bed of roses in our earthly lifetime. He didn’t tell us to what degree we will suffer…and for some, the torment and afflictions are definitely worse than for others. And I don’t have a good explanation for this, because I know that God loves each of His children fervently – and equally. I also know that He never wastes an opportunity – or an experience. Whether your suffering is real…or you are essentially “crying wolf”…I have good news for you. None of this will matter when we get to Heaven! There will be no suffering there…real or imagined!
This is good news! This is a message of hope…promise…and joy! Rest lies ahead – for each of us. And in the meantime, Jesus is with us…always! Read the four Gospels in the New Testament again (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Study how Jesus suffered…for you and for me. There is nothing we can experience that He cannot understand…there is no agony we can endure that He will not go through with us. And in the end, He will give us rest and respite from all of our trials and travails.
Hear the Good News and remind yourself of it daily…Jesus has defeated the world. We can rest in Him for ever and ever! He is with us! He is with us! There is nothing we cannot handle with His help. Are you resting in the LORD and clinging to His promises? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other day, Timothy and I were paddling around in the pool before his swim lesson, and he began to yell, “Help! Help!” I explained to him that the only time when this was acceptable was when he truly was in trouble and needed help…that yelling “Help!” when none was needed could cause people to stop watching and listening for true danger. We have talked to him before about the story of the little boy who “cried wolf”, and we probably should revisit this story sometime soon!
I always think of “crying wolf” when I hear the word “suffer”, because when I was a child, my maternal grandmother used this word often. I loved my grandmother and believed her when she said she “really suffered” with some ailment or injury. When I got older and learned more about human suffering, I realized that her “afflictions” might not have completely qualified – at least in the minds of other people, and especially in Biblical terms! Nonetheless, my grandmother believed that she suffered often in this earthly life…and I’m sure she delights in the rest of Heaven and the relief that is offered her there.
“Suffering” is relative. Young people may be bullied and genuinely suffer mental and/or physical anguish – or they may experience the typical “agonies” and indignations that come with childhood. Teenagers “suffer” the emotional roller-coaster of friendships and school work and extra-curricular activities and coping with the frequent “oppression” of parents and other adults. Young adults sometimes “suffer” as they make their way in the world and find the job market less than welcoming…or learn to be “grown-ups” and handle all of the responsibilities that come with this stage of life.
Parents “suffer” as they cope with the inevitable stresses of rearing children. Older adults “suffer” under a myriad of pressures…from the stress of dealing with aging and all that comes with it, adjusting to retirement and “empty nests”, loneliness, health issues, loss of loved ones, and more. And Christians “suffer” when they are ostracized by family members and friends, or they have to give up old habits and activities in favor of more Godly behaviors…or their schedules must now include time for prayer, Bible study, and corporate worship and ministry efforts.
If we are honest, a lot of what we consider “suffering” is more akin to inconvenience and “growing pains” than true suffering. Yet children’s hospitals across the world are filled with little ones who truly do endure physical ailments and injuries – and difficult or painful procedures to treat them. Adults of all ages and in all stages of life really are tormented and/or miserable because of homelessness, hunger, serious illnesses and injuries, abuses, persecution, and more. Christians around the world suffer greatly – and even die – because they profess their belief in Jesus Christ and dare to share His GOOD NEWS with others.
Jesus has told us that life will not be a bed of roses in our earthly lifetime. He didn’t tell us to what degree we will suffer…and for some, the torment and afflictions are definitely worse than for others. And I don’t have a good explanation for this, because I know that God loves each of His children fervently – and equally. I also know that He never wastes an opportunity – or an experience. Whether your suffering is real…or you are essentially “crying wolf”…I have good news for you. None of this will matter when we get to Heaven! There will be no suffering there…real or imagined!
This is good news! This is a message of hope…promise…and joy! Rest lies ahead – for each of us. And in the meantime, Jesus is with us…always! Read the four Gospels in the New Testament again (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Study how Jesus suffered…for you and for me. There is nothing we can experience that He cannot understand…there is no agony we can endure that He will not go through with us. And in the end, He will give us rest and respite from all of our trials and travails.
Hear the Good News and remind yourself of it daily…Jesus has defeated the world. We can rest in Him for ever and ever! He is with us! He is with us! There is nothing we cannot handle with His help. Are you resting in the LORD and clinging to His promises? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 14, 2014
John 14:27
I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Greg and I do not “go out to eat” very often. We take the children to a local restaurant or fast food place after church on Sundays…and we get “take-out” a few times a month. But for the most part, I’m pretty content to prepare our meals at home…and bless his heart, Greg always eats them – even when I experiment on us with a new Pinterest recipe!
But once in a while, we get hungry for steak. And while we have tried the offerings at several restaurants, there is only one that truly satisfies us – and it comes from a tiny “mom-and-pop” restaurant in our community known as “Chuck’s”. We’ve eaten at Chuck’s off and on for decades, because for a span of several years, the owners closed the restaurant and pursued another business venture. Boy, were we ever happy when they re-opened their steak house a few years ago!
Like I said, we’ve tried steaks at several establishments…from franchises to those privately owned. And none compare to Chuck’s. We are never disappointed there…the meal always satisfies and leaves us filled to the brim - and happy (albeit often needing a nap!). Did I mention their rolls? Those little pillows of deliciousness are more akin to a cupcake than a piece of bread…and we enjoy every morsel. In case you have not eaten a steak dinner lately, these are not the cheapest offerings on most menus. So when I hand over that kind of money for one meal, I want it to be the best thing I have put in my mouth in a long, long time! And that’s always the case when we eat steak at Chuck’s!
Okay…commercial over! But here’s the thing. There are lots of experiences in life that give us pleasure. Plenty of things will satisfy us for a little while…good food, the company of others, exhilarating encounters and “thrills” of all kinds. We can find joy in the victory of our favorite sports team over their opponent…and comfort in the happiness of a long and fruitful marriage or relationship. We can relish a job that we love – or a home that provides us with all of the “creature comforts”…or the peace and tranquility of visiting a beautiful lake, forest, or National Park. We can be cozy and content to attend worship on Sunday and fellowship with family and friends…and we can revel in the pleasures of the community in which we live.
But for the long haul, there is only one “meal” that truly satisfies and never disappoints…and that is the “Bread of Life”. The peace of Jesus Christ cannot be found in this world. No one else can give us this peace and gratification. And while Jesus’ gift of salvation is totally free, the “cost” of being His faithful follower can sometimes seem a little high. We may face tests and trials…it may seem that we “lose” some people who don’t agree with us…we may be ridiculed and challenged. But in the end, the peace and rest we find in Jesus is the only kind that is worth the price.
So if you are dabbling with other avenues to peace…if you have “tried out other restaurants”, so to speak…I encourage you to come back to Jesus. He never closes…He will never “go out of business”…and He will never disappoint. If you want true, perpetual, everlasting, quenching peace and rest…Jesus is your answer. The time has come to stop wasting your Spiritual “dining experiences” and receive the “meal” that satisfies like no other. From now on...Who will feed your soul?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Greg and I do not “go out to eat” very often. We take the children to a local restaurant or fast food place after church on Sundays…and we get “take-out” a few times a month. But for the most part, I’m pretty content to prepare our meals at home…and bless his heart, Greg always eats them – even when I experiment on us with a new Pinterest recipe!
But once in a while, we get hungry for steak. And while we have tried the offerings at several restaurants, there is only one that truly satisfies us – and it comes from a tiny “mom-and-pop” restaurant in our community known as “Chuck’s”. We’ve eaten at Chuck’s off and on for decades, because for a span of several years, the owners closed the restaurant and pursued another business venture. Boy, were we ever happy when they re-opened their steak house a few years ago!
Like I said, we’ve tried steaks at several establishments…from franchises to those privately owned. And none compare to Chuck’s. We are never disappointed there…the meal always satisfies and leaves us filled to the brim - and happy (albeit often needing a nap!). Did I mention their rolls? Those little pillows of deliciousness are more akin to a cupcake than a piece of bread…and we enjoy every morsel. In case you have not eaten a steak dinner lately, these are not the cheapest offerings on most menus. So when I hand over that kind of money for one meal, I want it to be the best thing I have put in my mouth in a long, long time! And that’s always the case when we eat steak at Chuck’s!
Okay…commercial over! But here’s the thing. There are lots of experiences in life that give us pleasure. Plenty of things will satisfy us for a little while…good food, the company of others, exhilarating encounters and “thrills” of all kinds. We can find joy in the victory of our favorite sports team over their opponent…and comfort in the happiness of a long and fruitful marriage or relationship. We can relish a job that we love – or a home that provides us with all of the “creature comforts”…or the peace and tranquility of visiting a beautiful lake, forest, or National Park. We can be cozy and content to attend worship on Sunday and fellowship with family and friends…and we can revel in the pleasures of the community in which we live.
But for the long haul, there is only one “meal” that truly satisfies and never disappoints…and that is the “Bread of Life”. The peace of Jesus Christ cannot be found in this world. No one else can give us this peace and gratification. And while Jesus’ gift of salvation is totally free, the “cost” of being His faithful follower can sometimes seem a little high. We may face tests and trials…it may seem that we “lose” some people who don’t agree with us…we may be ridiculed and challenged. But in the end, the peace and rest we find in Jesus is the only kind that is worth the price.
So if you are dabbling with other avenues to peace…if you have “tried out other restaurants”, so to speak…I encourage you to come back to Jesus. He never closes…He will never “go out of business”…and He will never disappoint. If you want true, perpetual, everlasting, quenching peace and rest…Jesus is your answer. The time has come to stop wasting your Spiritual “dining experiences” and receive the “meal” that satisfies like no other. From now on...Who will feed your soul?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 13, 2014
John 14:1-4
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
A few days ago, I saw a report on my Facebook feed about a house in Whitney, Texas, that sat on Lake Whitney (located between Ft. Worth and Waco). The home was, quite literally, falling into the lake. The 75-foot high limestone cliff near this structure had cracked and given way…and a large section of the house – and all of its back yard – were now gone…kaput…hugging the floor of the lake below! Today, authorities stuffed the garage of the house with hay bales soaked in diesel fuel...and burned it to the ground. This was deemed to be the safest method of removing the home…the ground was not secure enough to risk the weight of bulldozers.
This $700,000 home was constructed in 2007, and purchased in 2012 by Robert and Denise Webb, who also own a home in Miami Beach, Florida. The Webbs insist that inspectors and geologists had assured them that the 4,000-square-foot house was perfectly safe. A few weeks ago, they noticed large cracks along the walls and determined that the bluff near the house was breaking away and causing their house to collapse. So they moved out, shortly before a section did indeed fall into the lake below.
One news reporter indicated that the Webb’s insurance policy will not cover this disastrous event…that they will be financially responsible for the demolition and cleanup. The couple says they planned to leave the home to their grandchildren, and while they know it is just a house, there is a lot of sadness surrounding these events.
Honestly, I would feel the same way. No one wants to think of their home being destroyed, by any means. But if events like this one – and the April 27th tornado that ravaged central Arkansas – and other devastating events have taught us anything, we should surely know by now that “it’s just stuff”…that our earthly “mansions” are only temporary anyway. Frankly, Jesus made it pretty clear that anything we can create with our mortal hands pales in comparison to the amazing homes that await us in Heaven.
While we are scrambling to create earthly homes that range from compact and cozy to magnificent mansions, we often misplace our focus. We get so caught up in what we have or don’t have that we miss out on the true joy that comes from serving God. We get so worked up over “things” and earthly situations that we bring on everything from restlessness and exhaustion – to poor health and physical destruction.
I am very sorry for the loss that the Webbs have suffered. No one should have to endure that kind of physical, mental, emotional, and financial hardship. But I hope they know where their true “mansion” awaits them…and where to find genuine rest and comfort. If they place their trust in God…if they serve Him with their whole hearts…if they are focused on Eternity and the “bigger picture” of their lives in Christ…this will be a mere blip on the screen.
When crises come in your life and your “house” begins to crumble into the water, where do you turn? Is your focus on the “mansion” that awaits you with Jesus – and serving Him until your rooms are ready? Or are you busy building up “earthly mansions”…and running yourself ragged in the process? Do you notice the “cracks in the wall” that signal trouble on the horizon? Have you convinced yourself that your foundation is secure…even while you see your “backyard” crumbling and falling over the side of the cliff? Aren’t you ready to take a deep breath and rest in the LORD? Isn’t this a good time to evaluate your priorities and see where you may need to make some adjustments…or even a move of sorts? Which “mansion” has your attention these days?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
A few days ago, I saw a report on my Facebook feed about a house in Whitney, Texas, that sat on Lake Whitney (located between Ft. Worth and Waco). The home was, quite literally, falling into the lake. The 75-foot high limestone cliff near this structure had cracked and given way…and a large section of the house – and all of its back yard – were now gone…kaput…hugging the floor of the lake below! Today, authorities stuffed the garage of the house with hay bales soaked in diesel fuel...and burned it to the ground. This was deemed to be the safest method of removing the home…the ground was not secure enough to risk the weight of bulldozers.
This $700,000 home was constructed in 2007, and purchased in 2012 by Robert and Denise Webb, who also own a home in Miami Beach, Florida. The Webbs insist that inspectors and geologists had assured them that the 4,000-square-foot house was perfectly safe. A few weeks ago, they noticed large cracks along the walls and determined that the bluff near the house was breaking away and causing their house to collapse. So they moved out, shortly before a section did indeed fall into the lake below.
One news reporter indicated that the Webb’s insurance policy will not cover this disastrous event…that they will be financially responsible for the demolition and cleanup. The couple says they planned to leave the home to their grandchildren, and while they know it is just a house, there is a lot of sadness surrounding these events.
Honestly, I would feel the same way. No one wants to think of their home being destroyed, by any means. But if events like this one – and the April 27th tornado that ravaged central Arkansas – and other devastating events have taught us anything, we should surely know by now that “it’s just stuff”…that our earthly “mansions” are only temporary anyway. Frankly, Jesus made it pretty clear that anything we can create with our mortal hands pales in comparison to the amazing homes that await us in Heaven.
While we are scrambling to create earthly homes that range from compact and cozy to magnificent mansions, we often misplace our focus. We get so caught up in what we have or don’t have that we miss out on the true joy that comes from serving God. We get so worked up over “things” and earthly situations that we bring on everything from restlessness and exhaustion – to poor health and physical destruction.
I am very sorry for the loss that the Webbs have suffered. No one should have to endure that kind of physical, mental, emotional, and financial hardship. But I hope they know where their true “mansion” awaits them…and where to find genuine rest and comfort. If they place their trust in God…if they serve Him with their whole hearts…if they are focused on Eternity and the “bigger picture” of their lives in Christ…this will be a mere blip on the screen.
When crises come in your life and your “house” begins to crumble into the water, where do you turn? Is your focus on the “mansion” that awaits you with Jesus – and serving Him until your rooms are ready? Or are you busy building up “earthly mansions”…and running yourself ragged in the process? Do you notice the “cracks in the wall” that signal trouble on the horizon? Have you convinced yourself that your foundation is secure…even while you see your “backyard” crumbling and falling over the side of the cliff? Aren’t you ready to take a deep breath and rest in the LORD? Isn’t this a good time to evaluate your priorities and see where you may need to make some adjustments…or even a move of sorts? Which “mansion” has your attention these days?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 12, 2014
John 10:6-10
Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.
Jesus said: I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.
A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ll be the first to admit that there are times when I read a scripture passage and ask, “What does this mean?” Thank goodness for commentaries and the Internet search engines! So let me see if I can give a quick synopsis of what I believe Jesus means in these verses from the Book of John.
In New Testament times, sheep were prized possessions. They provided wool for clothing and blankets – and milk and meat to feed the family. Sheep have been characterized as less than intelligent animals…subject to wandering away from the flock and getting lost. Each shepherd took his sheep out into the pastures to graze during the day, but at night, many shepherds housed their flocks together in a common, walled area where they could rest safely…known as a sheepfold.
As dumb as sheep could be, they did have one particularly important knack…they could discern their shepherd’s voice from that of any other person. So when the shepherds came each morning to gather their flock, all they had to do was speak, and their particular sheep would assemble around them.
The sheepfold had thick stone walls and only one gate, which was guarded overnight by a doorkeeper – sometimes known as a “porter”. This was a good system, unless the porter fell asleep. Robbers and thieves would scale the wall and steal the sheep…and carry them back over the wall.
Commentaries suggest that Jesus is comparing the Jewish leaders to the thieves who came in the night – men who have created their own religion and tried to infiltrate through a back way to acquire followers. Jesus represents the gate…the One Way in and out for genuine nurture and rest. The thieves are not interested in the sheep…other than for their own personal gain…and the sheep certainly do not recognize the voices of these robbers. So they do not “follow” of their own volition. Jesus suggested that the Jewish leaders convinced people (the “sheep”) to follow them with clever lies and deceptions.
By now you are probably wondering what this has to do with us. After all, we are not sheep…at least not in a literal sense. But here’s the thing…too many of us are easily swayed by outside influences. I read a news report just today about a 4-year-old boy in a very small northwest Arkansas community who was approached by two men in a mini-van. They offered the child an ice cream sandwich. Thankfully, this little boy had been taught what to do in such situations, and he loudly yelled, “NO!” This brought his mother running from around the corner of the house! Police have compared this incident with other recent events that bear striking similarities, and they have determined that someone is in the area who is dead-set on abducting children.
While this is a tangible example…there are plenty of subtle situations that occur in our lives to which we fall victim out of either ignorance, peer pressure, apathy, or a lack of due diligence. In essence, we are either like the porter who falls asleep – or the sheep who are captivated and/or captured by the robber – or both. Often, we never even saw it coming! So we fall prey to warped ideas about religion and morality…we are tempted to participate in sinful activities…we are convinced that this or that conversation or activity is really not that bad – or that nobody is looking, so it doesn’t matter. And in some instances, we actually can be persuaded that there is more than one “Gate”…that salvation through Jesus Christ is not necessary in order to be considered one of God’s children…or to secure a place in His Kingdom.
Often we know these things are not coming from our Shepherd…that the voice we hear is not God’s…but we follow along anyway. Other times, we are so out of touch with God…so blind, deaf and dumb to His wisdom and instruction…that we are “easy pickin’s” for the devil and his band of robbers and their propaganda!
Just as I encourage my friends who are parents of young children to review “stranger danger” rules with their little ones, I believe we need to essentially do the same. We need to stay awake and alert to attempts to be lured “over the wall” and into sinful behaviors. We must listen for our Shepherd’s voice, and stay near to Him. We must recognize that there is only ONE WAY into the “sheepfold” of God’s Kingdom – and it ain’t over the wall! Remembering this should make it easier to recognize and identify the “thieves and robbers” in our lives.
Jesus stands at the gate and beckons us to come in and rest. He calls on us to learn His voice – and learn it well…to know when it is He who calls to us, and when the thieves and robbers are near. This is a good day for all of us to review our “stranger danger” rules…whether they are the guidelines for keeping young children safe or those that guard our hearts and our souls. When the devil’s thieves and robbers attempt to scale the walls of your heart, do you know what to do? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.
Jesus said: I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.
A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ll be the first to admit that there are times when I read a scripture passage and ask, “What does this mean?” Thank goodness for commentaries and the Internet search engines! So let me see if I can give a quick synopsis of what I believe Jesus means in these verses from the Book of John.
In New Testament times, sheep were prized possessions. They provided wool for clothing and blankets – and milk and meat to feed the family. Sheep have been characterized as less than intelligent animals…subject to wandering away from the flock and getting lost. Each shepherd took his sheep out into the pastures to graze during the day, but at night, many shepherds housed their flocks together in a common, walled area where they could rest safely…known as a sheepfold.
As dumb as sheep could be, they did have one particularly important knack…they could discern their shepherd’s voice from that of any other person. So when the shepherds came each morning to gather their flock, all they had to do was speak, and their particular sheep would assemble around them.
The sheepfold had thick stone walls and only one gate, which was guarded overnight by a doorkeeper – sometimes known as a “porter”. This was a good system, unless the porter fell asleep. Robbers and thieves would scale the wall and steal the sheep…and carry them back over the wall.
Commentaries suggest that Jesus is comparing the Jewish leaders to the thieves who came in the night – men who have created their own religion and tried to infiltrate through a back way to acquire followers. Jesus represents the gate…the One Way in and out for genuine nurture and rest. The thieves are not interested in the sheep…other than for their own personal gain…and the sheep certainly do not recognize the voices of these robbers. So they do not “follow” of their own volition. Jesus suggested that the Jewish leaders convinced people (the “sheep”) to follow them with clever lies and deceptions.
By now you are probably wondering what this has to do with us. After all, we are not sheep…at least not in a literal sense. But here’s the thing…too many of us are easily swayed by outside influences. I read a news report just today about a 4-year-old boy in a very small northwest Arkansas community who was approached by two men in a mini-van. They offered the child an ice cream sandwich. Thankfully, this little boy had been taught what to do in such situations, and he loudly yelled, “NO!” This brought his mother running from around the corner of the house! Police have compared this incident with other recent events that bear striking similarities, and they have determined that someone is in the area who is dead-set on abducting children.
While this is a tangible example…there are plenty of subtle situations that occur in our lives to which we fall victim out of either ignorance, peer pressure, apathy, or a lack of due diligence. In essence, we are either like the porter who falls asleep – or the sheep who are captivated and/or captured by the robber – or both. Often, we never even saw it coming! So we fall prey to warped ideas about religion and morality…we are tempted to participate in sinful activities…we are convinced that this or that conversation or activity is really not that bad – or that nobody is looking, so it doesn’t matter. And in some instances, we actually can be persuaded that there is more than one “Gate”…that salvation through Jesus Christ is not necessary in order to be considered one of God’s children…or to secure a place in His Kingdom.
Often we know these things are not coming from our Shepherd…that the voice we hear is not God’s…but we follow along anyway. Other times, we are so out of touch with God…so blind, deaf and dumb to His wisdom and instruction…that we are “easy pickin’s” for the devil and his band of robbers and their propaganda!
Just as I encourage my friends who are parents of young children to review “stranger danger” rules with their little ones, I believe we need to essentially do the same. We need to stay awake and alert to attempts to be lured “over the wall” and into sinful behaviors. We must listen for our Shepherd’s voice, and stay near to Him. We must recognize that there is only ONE WAY into the “sheepfold” of God’s Kingdom – and it ain’t over the wall! Remembering this should make it easier to recognize and identify the “thieves and robbers” in our lives.
Jesus stands at the gate and beckons us to come in and rest. He calls on us to learn His voice – and learn it well…to know when it is He who calls to us, and when the thieves and robbers are near. This is a good day for all of us to review our “stranger danger” rules…whether they are the guidelines for keeping young children safe or those that guard our hearts and our souls. When the devil’s thieves and robbers attempt to scale the walls of your heart, do you know what to do? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 11, 2014
Jeremiah 6:16
Yet the Lord pleads with you still: Ask where the good road is, the godly paths you used to walk in, in the days of long ago. Travel there, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, “No, that is not the road we want!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My mom and her husband, Lee, are Workamping this summer in West Yellowstone, Montana. Four days a week, they work in a high-end retail shop, for which they are provided wages and a full hookup campsite for their motorhome. On their days off, they explore Yellowstone National Park and the scenery that surrounds it in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. This week, they decided to travel across the Bear Tooth Highway, which the late Charles Kuralt deemed “America’s most beautiful drive”.
According to the website http://beartoothhighway.com,...“[The Beartooth All-American Road/Highway] is one of the highest and most rugged areas in the lower 48 states, with 20 peaks reaching over 12,000 feet in elevation. In the surrounding mountains, glaciers are found on the north flank of nearly every mountain peak over 11,500 feet high. The Road itself is the highest elevation highway in Wyoming (10,947 feet) and Montana (10,350 feet), and is the highest elevation highway in the Northern Rockies.
A 54-mile section of the Beartooth Highway begins 8 miles south and east of Red Lodge, Montana, and ends just east of Cooke City, Montana. Since Mom and Lee approached from the west, they traveled 70 miles just to get on the Highway near Cooke City. Mom had been to “Yellowstone” many summers ago with my dad, and they approached this scenic roadway from the east, via the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway that travels southeast to Cody, Wyoming. She and Lee considered taking this cut-off and visiting Cody. They had some choices to make – especially about their return trip to West Yellowstone. They could travel to Cody and then go another 50-80 miles just to get to the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park…then drive across the Park and back to West Yellowstone. Or they could stay on the Beartooth Highway and drive to Red Lodge, Montana… then make their way “home”. In the end, they chose this option, then retraced their steps to get back to their home base.
In this area of the country, there is no easy or quick route! Not only that, the highways are fraught with wildlife, i.e. buffalo, elk, bears and more…all of whom have the right-of-way. Mom says that when these animals cross the road, traffic comes to a standstill. So this “day-trip” ended somewhere south of 10:00 p.m., and she and Lee were both exhausted! Had they chosen to go to Cody or traverse the National Park itself, their “rest” might have been delayed even further!
Google Yellowstone National Park or visit the Beartooth Highway website - or any of several websites for attractions in the surrounding area - and study the maps. You will get a sense of how vast this area is…and how isolated, and even treacherous some of the stretches of road and forest expanses can be. There are no Interstate highways to speedily traverse from Point A to Point B...and distractions galore abound at every turn. If you are not carefully watching the road, you are probably busy ogling the incredibly scenery and photographing the remarkable flora and fauna! When visiting an area such as this, it pays to do your homework, read the maps, and listen to those who are experienced with the area and its terrain and roadways.
Our lives are like the glacial lakes, forests, mountain peaks and scenic vistas of a National Park…vast, sometimes remote and out-of-the-way, filled with peaks and valleys, and often carrying us along treacherous roadways. If we make reckless choices or do not pay attention – or simply choose the road we want rather than the one God ordains – we may find ourselves quite wearied. Worse yet, we might end up in something of a pickle! Imagine being lost in the expansive forests of Yellowstone National Park…and then think of being “Spiritually stranded” by comparison! It boggles the mind!
I pray that we are all “reading the maps” properly – on America’s Scenic By-ways, and in our spiritual lives. It is human nature to want to venture off on our own…to make our own decisions and travel the paths that seem most interesting and enjoyable – or those that our peers feel are right for us. But no one knows better than God which course is truly in our best interest. His paths may not be the ones we would choose…but they offer us the greatest opportunities for joy, peace…and rest. More importantly, these “roadways” lead us directly to Him and His favor…and ultimate respite with Him for all Eternity.
It’s so easy to get off-track…to take the wrong turn and travel far and away from the road that best leads to God’s blessings and perfect plan for our lives. Just as in the case of Mom and Lee’s trip, there may be several options…but one is always better than the others. Are you doing all you can to make sure you choose the best route in each area of your life? Will you select a path that leads to God’s rest and peace? Are you properly preparing for “safe travels” toward your ultimate destination? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Yet the Lord pleads with you still: Ask where the good road is, the godly paths you used to walk in, in the days of long ago. Travel there, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, “No, that is not the road we want!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My mom and her husband, Lee, are Workamping this summer in West Yellowstone, Montana. Four days a week, they work in a high-end retail shop, for which they are provided wages and a full hookup campsite for their motorhome. On their days off, they explore Yellowstone National Park and the scenery that surrounds it in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. This week, they decided to travel across the Bear Tooth Highway, which the late Charles Kuralt deemed “America’s most beautiful drive”.
According to the website http://beartoothhighway.com,...“[The Beartooth All-American Road/Highway] is one of the highest and most rugged areas in the lower 48 states, with 20 peaks reaching over 12,000 feet in elevation. In the surrounding mountains, glaciers are found on the north flank of nearly every mountain peak over 11,500 feet high. The Road itself is the highest elevation highway in Wyoming (10,947 feet) and Montana (10,350 feet), and is the highest elevation highway in the Northern Rockies.
A 54-mile section of the Beartooth Highway begins 8 miles south and east of Red Lodge, Montana, and ends just east of Cooke City, Montana. Since Mom and Lee approached from the west, they traveled 70 miles just to get on the Highway near Cooke City. Mom had been to “Yellowstone” many summers ago with my dad, and they approached this scenic roadway from the east, via the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway that travels southeast to Cody, Wyoming. She and Lee considered taking this cut-off and visiting Cody. They had some choices to make – especially about their return trip to West Yellowstone. They could travel to Cody and then go another 50-80 miles just to get to the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park…then drive across the Park and back to West Yellowstone. Or they could stay on the Beartooth Highway and drive to Red Lodge, Montana… then make their way “home”. In the end, they chose this option, then retraced their steps to get back to their home base.
In this area of the country, there is no easy or quick route! Not only that, the highways are fraught with wildlife, i.e. buffalo, elk, bears and more…all of whom have the right-of-way. Mom says that when these animals cross the road, traffic comes to a standstill. So this “day-trip” ended somewhere south of 10:00 p.m., and she and Lee were both exhausted! Had they chosen to go to Cody or traverse the National Park itself, their “rest” might have been delayed even further!
Google Yellowstone National Park or visit the Beartooth Highway website - or any of several websites for attractions in the surrounding area - and study the maps. You will get a sense of how vast this area is…and how isolated, and even treacherous some of the stretches of road and forest expanses can be. There are no Interstate highways to speedily traverse from Point A to Point B...and distractions galore abound at every turn. If you are not carefully watching the road, you are probably busy ogling the incredibly scenery and photographing the remarkable flora and fauna! When visiting an area such as this, it pays to do your homework, read the maps, and listen to those who are experienced with the area and its terrain and roadways.
Our lives are like the glacial lakes, forests, mountain peaks and scenic vistas of a National Park…vast, sometimes remote and out-of-the-way, filled with peaks and valleys, and often carrying us along treacherous roadways. If we make reckless choices or do not pay attention – or simply choose the road we want rather than the one God ordains – we may find ourselves quite wearied. Worse yet, we might end up in something of a pickle! Imagine being lost in the expansive forests of Yellowstone National Park…and then think of being “Spiritually stranded” by comparison! It boggles the mind!
I pray that we are all “reading the maps” properly – on America’s Scenic By-ways, and in our spiritual lives. It is human nature to want to venture off on our own…to make our own decisions and travel the paths that seem most interesting and enjoyable – or those that our peers feel are right for us. But no one knows better than God which course is truly in our best interest. His paths may not be the ones we would choose…but they offer us the greatest opportunities for joy, peace…and rest. More importantly, these “roadways” lead us directly to Him and His favor…and ultimate respite with Him for all Eternity.
It’s so easy to get off-track…to take the wrong turn and travel far and away from the road that best leads to God’s blessings and perfect plan for our lives. Just as in the case of Mom and Lee’s trip, there may be several options…but one is always better than the others. Are you doing all you can to make sure you choose the best route in each area of your life? Will you select a path that leads to God’s rest and peace? Are you properly preparing for “safe travels” toward your ultimate destination? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 10, 2014
Jeremiah 31:25
For I have given rest to the weary and joy to all the sorrowing.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Rick Warren, (author of The Purpose Driven Life* and pastor at Saddleback Church) spoke to the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference at the Baltimore Convention Center recently and shared his personal story of heartbreak in the death by suicide of his son, Matthew, the week after Easter Sunday, 2013. Warren noted that 27-year-old Matthew had struggled with depression and mental illness most of his life. When he was seventeen, Matthew came to Rick Warren and said, ““Why can’t I just go to heaven? Why can’t I just go now?” Warren’s son was tired and in need of some serious rest.
According to a newspaper account of Warren’s convention speech, he said that Matthew coped with his weariness by reaching out to others – that he seemed to have a heightened sense of which person in the room was in the most pain – and encouraged him/her. But in the days after Easter Sunday, as Warren preached a series of sermons on hope, Matthew’s hope and energy ran out…and he chose to take his own life and enter into eternal rest with his Heavenly Father.
Warren’s message to the pastors at this annual convention was about rest. He told them, “God has a plan for relief...and it's not just on the other side of eternity. How do you choose joy when your world is falling apart? Use the pain to draw closer to God. When something bad happens, we always want to ask, 'Why did this happen?' Explanations never comfort. What comforts is the glory of God." He continued… "If you want the blessing of God on your life, if you want the power of God on your words, if you want the anointing of God on your ministry, you must be willing to suffer. What Jesus promised was trials, tribulations, testing, temptation and thorns. Because pain is God's megaphone, there is no testimony without a test. There is no message without a mess. There is no impact without criticism."
So where does this leave us when we are drained…whether the fatigue is physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual? Warren has highlighted the answer…”God has a plan for relief.” Rest is available for the weary…joy can be had by all who have experienced sorrow…and God offers each of us these things in abundance. Will God’s rest and joy come easily? Probably not! Does this mean that we will never have suffering or setbacks! Most definitely NOT! Will God allow tests and trials…temptation and “thorns”? Certainly! Will all of our tribulations be worth it? Absolutely!
I frequently receive prayer requests from friends and family members for all sorts of challenges and concerns that contribute to weariness. Not all of these involve illness, injury and loss of life. People are worn out over school years and courses of study that seem never-ending, jobs that don’t satisfy – or do not materialize in the first place, bills to pay, houses to buy and sell, moves to make, and relationships that are troubled…not to mention all kinds of daily activities that leave us bone-tired and in need of a serious break! It took author Charles Swindoll two book volumes to cover one of my favorite devotional Bible studies - Living Beyond the Daily Grind**! Many people wake up in the morning counting the minutes before they can crawl back into bed and pull up the covers!
I get it…I’ve been there…and some days, I’m STILL there! But I find rest in God’s word…in conversations with Him…and in fellowship with others who are also seeking His respite. And you can, too. It starts with a prayer…an invitation for God to join you and help you shoulder the load of your “daily grind”. The Bible is filled with examples of people who overcame tests and suffering…and rested in the joy of the LORD. There are countless believers who are more than willing to talk with you and offer you reassurance and encouragement…to let you know that you are not alone - or crazy!
So what are you waiting for? Throw back the covers…get up and get going…and find the rest and joy that God is longing to give you. God has a plan for relief to give you. Will this be the day that you take Him up on His offer?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://purposedriven.com/books/pdlbook/#purpose
** http://www.amazon.com/Living-Beyond-Daily-Charles-Swindoll/dp/0884863727
For I have given rest to the weary and joy to all the sorrowing.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Rick Warren, (author of The Purpose Driven Life* and pastor at Saddleback Church) spoke to the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference at the Baltimore Convention Center recently and shared his personal story of heartbreak in the death by suicide of his son, Matthew, the week after Easter Sunday, 2013. Warren noted that 27-year-old Matthew had struggled with depression and mental illness most of his life. When he was seventeen, Matthew came to Rick Warren and said, ““Why can’t I just go to heaven? Why can’t I just go now?” Warren’s son was tired and in need of some serious rest.
According to a newspaper account of Warren’s convention speech, he said that Matthew coped with his weariness by reaching out to others – that he seemed to have a heightened sense of which person in the room was in the most pain – and encouraged him/her. But in the days after Easter Sunday, as Warren preached a series of sermons on hope, Matthew’s hope and energy ran out…and he chose to take his own life and enter into eternal rest with his Heavenly Father.
Warren’s message to the pastors at this annual convention was about rest. He told them, “God has a plan for relief...and it's not just on the other side of eternity. How do you choose joy when your world is falling apart? Use the pain to draw closer to God. When something bad happens, we always want to ask, 'Why did this happen?' Explanations never comfort. What comforts is the glory of God." He continued… "If you want the blessing of God on your life, if you want the power of God on your words, if you want the anointing of God on your ministry, you must be willing to suffer. What Jesus promised was trials, tribulations, testing, temptation and thorns. Because pain is God's megaphone, there is no testimony without a test. There is no message without a mess. There is no impact without criticism."
So where does this leave us when we are drained…whether the fatigue is physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual? Warren has highlighted the answer…”God has a plan for relief.” Rest is available for the weary…joy can be had by all who have experienced sorrow…and God offers each of us these things in abundance. Will God’s rest and joy come easily? Probably not! Does this mean that we will never have suffering or setbacks! Most definitely NOT! Will God allow tests and trials…temptation and “thorns”? Certainly! Will all of our tribulations be worth it? Absolutely!
I frequently receive prayer requests from friends and family members for all sorts of challenges and concerns that contribute to weariness. Not all of these involve illness, injury and loss of life. People are worn out over school years and courses of study that seem never-ending, jobs that don’t satisfy – or do not materialize in the first place, bills to pay, houses to buy and sell, moves to make, and relationships that are troubled…not to mention all kinds of daily activities that leave us bone-tired and in need of a serious break! It took author Charles Swindoll two book volumes to cover one of my favorite devotional Bible studies - Living Beyond the Daily Grind**! Many people wake up in the morning counting the minutes before they can crawl back into bed and pull up the covers!
I get it…I’ve been there…and some days, I’m STILL there! But I find rest in God’s word…in conversations with Him…and in fellowship with others who are also seeking His respite. And you can, too. It starts with a prayer…an invitation for God to join you and help you shoulder the load of your “daily grind”. The Bible is filled with examples of people who overcame tests and suffering…and rested in the joy of the LORD. There are countless believers who are more than willing to talk with you and offer you reassurance and encouragement…to let you know that you are not alone - or crazy!
So what are you waiting for? Throw back the covers…get up and get going…and find the rest and joy that God is longing to give you. God has a plan for relief to give you. Will this be the day that you take Him up on His offer?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://purposedriven.com/books/pdlbook/#purpose
** http://www.amazon.com/Living-Beyond-Daily-Charles-Swindoll/dp/0884863727
Daily Devotional for June 9, 2014
Isaiah 66:1
The Lord said:
Heaven is my throne;
the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house
could you build for me?
In what place will I rest?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A couple of days ago, one of my dad’s dearest friends joined him in Heaven. Mr. Donald was also one of my grandmother’s favorite people. She would be “on Cloud Nine” for days after a phone call or visit from Donald, who lived in Springfield, Missouri. So I said to Mom, “I have no doubt that Mr. Donald was not in heaven very long before Mam-ma Polly fired up the stove and cooked him a pot of chicken and dumplings and made him a pan of hot rolls.” She replied, “Oh, if we only knew that heaven is like that. We try to comprehend it in our physical terms, but we truly do not know. I just know it’s wonderful — and we will all be happy.”
It is no secret that I watch a lot of “house and garden” shows. My particular favorites are the ones where a house with “good bones” is revamped to create something modern, fresh, beautiful…and inviting. The end result is not always perfect…sometimes not every room gets a makeover. But the home is welcoming…restful…and a place where one wants to spend time.
We are like those “flipped” or remodeled homes. Our hearts will never be as perfect as heaven. There will always be a room or two that could use work. But in total, we can do enough updating and refurbishing to make an inviting and respectable home in which the Holy Spirit can rest.
In my mind, Heaven is a place where there is continual joy, peace, and plenty of chicken and dumplings, hot rolls, and chocolate! Everything is perfect in Heaven – the Bible assures us of that. I picture my loved ones there, happily serving the LORD and enjoying impeccable health, fitness and perpetual youthfulness. Everyone is rested and relaxed – and filled with joy. All of our pets are there, and everyone gets along…all the time! Nobody is stressed or frustrated…and most certainly, no one is angry or heartbroken! No wonder Jesus says, “I have perfection,” and asks us…”How can you compete? What do YOU bring to the table?”
So the question for today is… “What DO we bring to the LORD’s table?” Have we made every effort to clean up, refresh and refurbish our heart so that it is a suitable dwelling place for the Holy Spirit?
You know how you go somewhere overnight and stop at a hotel or motel…and maybe it’s not as neat and clean as you would prefer – or certainly as nice and comfortable as your own home? If you go to a five-star hotel, you may rest and relax in the lap of luxury…but it still won’t be perfect. Think of this as you prepare your heart for Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Don’t offer Jesus a “just-good-enough” room in your heart. Give Him “five-star” accommodations! Mom is right…we truly do not know what Heaven is like, for certain. But we know it is perfect…home to our Heavenly Father – and hopefully, our ultimate destination! For now, we cannot be there with Him…but His Holy Spirit can rest in our heart...if we will offer Him our very best rooms. What sort of lodging have you prepared for God? Is your heart a place where He wants to rest?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The Lord said:
Heaven is my throne;
the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house
could you build for me?
In what place will I rest?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A couple of days ago, one of my dad’s dearest friends joined him in Heaven. Mr. Donald was also one of my grandmother’s favorite people. She would be “on Cloud Nine” for days after a phone call or visit from Donald, who lived in Springfield, Missouri. So I said to Mom, “I have no doubt that Mr. Donald was not in heaven very long before Mam-ma Polly fired up the stove and cooked him a pot of chicken and dumplings and made him a pan of hot rolls.” She replied, “Oh, if we only knew that heaven is like that. We try to comprehend it in our physical terms, but we truly do not know. I just know it’s wonderful — and we will all be happy.”
It is no secret that I watch a lot of “house and garden” shows. My particular favorites are the ones where a house with “good bones” is revamped to create something modern, fresh, beautiful…and inviting. The end result is not always perfect…sometimes not every room gets a makeover. But the home is welcoming…restful…and a place where one wants to spend time.
We are like those “flipped” or remodeled homes. Our hearts will never be as perfect as heaven. There will always be a room or two that could use work. But in total, we can do enough updating and refurbishing to make an inviting and respectable home in which the Holy Spirit can rest.
In my mind, Heaven is a place where there is continual joy, peace, and plenty of chicken and dumplings, hot rolls, and chocolate! Everything is perfect in Heaven – the Bible assures us of that. I picture my loved ones there, happily serving the LORD and enjoying impeccable health, fitness and perpetual youthfulness. Everyone is rested and relaxed – and filled with joy. All of our pets are there, and everyone gets along…all the time! Nobody is stressed or frustrated…and most certainly, no one is angry or heartbroken! No wonder Jesus says, “I have perfection,” and asks us…”How can you compete? What do YOU bring to the table?”
So the question for today is… “What DO we bring to the LORD’s table?” Have we made every effort to clean up, refresh and refurbish our heart so that it is a suitable dwelling place for the Holy Spirit?
You know how you go somewhere overnight and stop at a hotel or motel…and maybe it’s not as neat and clean as you would prefer – or certainly as nice and comfortable as your own home? If you go to a five-star hotel, you may rest and relax in the lap of luxury…but it still won’t be perfect. Think of this as you prepare your heart for Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Don’t offer Jesus a “just-good-enough” room in your heart. Give Him “five-star” accommodations! Mom is right…we truly do not know what Heaven is like, for certain. But we know it is perfect…home to our Heavenly Father – and hopefully, our ultimate destination! For now, we cannot be there with Him…but His Holy Spirit can rest in our heart...if we will offer Him our very best rooms. What sort of lodging have you prepared for God? Is your heart a place where He wants to rest?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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