Ruth 2:10-11
She thanked him warmly. “How can you be so kind to me?” she asked. “You must know I am only a foreigner.”
“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied, “and I also know about all the love and kindness you have shown your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you left your father and mother in your own land and have come here to live among strangers.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Boaz didn’t really know Ruth. She was little more than a foreigner who had moved into town – and she asked Boaz’s foreman if she could tag along to the wheat fields and pick up the leftovers. Yet something about Ruth intrigued Boaz. He told her to stay close to the other women – and he told the men to stay away from Ruth. And Boaz made sure that she had plenty of wheat to take home at the end of the day.
There are two things happening in this scripture passage that are noteworthy…1) Boaz was moved by the way Ruth sacrificed her own desires and happiness for that of her mother-in-law, Naomi - how she gave up her homeland and her family to move from Moab to Bethlehem; and 2) Boaz extended his gratitude to Ruth for her dedication by treating her kindly and generously.
Here’s how we can apply these things to our own life. First, we can ask God to make us more aware of what is happening in our midst. We can look for opportunities to be kind to others – even when we don’t know them or they are a “foreigner” or different in some way. Additionally, we can make a concerted effort to show our gratitude to those who do things for us and for those we care about – just to let them know that we notice – and appreciate - their efforts. And finally, we can thank God for blessing us – so that we might be a blessing to others.
I believe God placed Ruth and Boaz together. The Bible tells us that their marriage and the birth of a son, Obed, was a blessing not only to them – but also to Naomi and others. We have no clue who God might be putting in our path on any given day – or for what purpose. Don’t miss a chance to bless them…and to show gratitude to God – and to others – in the process. Be thankful for all of the opportunities that God provides for us to be kind and show gratitude – and for the “foreigners” who may deliver them!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 29, 2014
Romans 8:28
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few weeks ago, the Arkansas Razorbacks football team beat the LSU Tigers 17-0 to snap a 17-game losing streak in Southeastern Conference play. The following Saturday, the team shut out then-8th-ranked Ole Miss, 30-0. I wish I could say the streak continued with a win over the University of Missouri, but this was not to be. However, the basketball team was able to secure a win on the same day against North Texas State that gave the squad their first 5-0 start since 2006-2007.
In both cases, the coaches have been quoted in the media as saying, essentially, that “wins will come – when they are supposed to.” Coach Bret Bielema has said often that his team would win when they earned it. Both coaches are relatively new to the University of Arkansas – and there has been a “learning curve” for all involved. Now, things seem to be starting to “jell”.
I’ve heard a lot of people who have endured hardships or difficult times say that they would not trade them for an easier time. I’ve heard amputees say that the loss of a limb taught them how to appreciate life – and God’s hand in theirs. I’ve known countless people who looked back on troublesome or unpleasant experiences and said, “This is where God helped me”…or “God really worked in this situation”…or even, “This was a huge turning point for me.” And I am among them.
You may be in the fight of your life. You may simply be in a 17-0 losing streak. But wherever you are…whatever is happening…God is with you - working out every detail for His perfect purposes. OUR JOB is to recognize Him…to give Him room to work…and to be grateful for His presence. He will do the rest…I promise. Will it be easy and painless? Probably not…but any day or experience with God is far better than a single minute without Him!
Keep this scripture passage handy. Read it often, and remind yourself of God’s presence in your life – and how He is perfectly orchestrating all of the details. Keep the faith...stay humble and grateful. Allow God to be GOD in your life…and watch what amazing things He brings to bear.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few weeks ago, the Arkansas Razorbacks football team beat the LSU Tigers 17-0 to snap a 17-game losing streak in Southeastern Conference play. The following Saturday, the team shut out then-8th-ranked Ole Miss, 30-0. I wish I could say the streak continued with a win over the University of Missouri, but this was not to be. However, the basketball team was able to secure a win on the same day against North Texas State that gave the squad their first 5-0 start since 2006-2007.
In both cases, the coaches have been quoted in the media as saying, essentially, that “wins will come – when they are supposed to.” Coach Bret Bielema has said often that his team would win when they earned it. Both coaches are relatively new to the University of Arkansas – and there has been a “learning curve” for all involved. Now, things seem to be starting to “jell”.
I’ve heard a lot of people who have endured hardships or difficult times say that they would not trade them for an easier time. I’ve heard amputees say that the loss of a limb taught them how to appreciate life – and God’s hand in theirs. I’ve known countless people who looked back on troublesome or unpleasant experiences and said, “This is where God helped me”…or “God really worked in this situation”…or even, “This was a huge turning point for me.” And I am among them.
You may be in the fight of your life. You may simply be in a 17-0 losing streak. But wherever you are…whatever is happening…God is with you - working out every detail for His perfect purposes. OUR JOB is to recognize Him…to give Him room to work…and to be grateful for His presence. He will do the rest…I promise. Will it be easy and painless? Probably not…but any day or experience with God is far better than a single minute without Him!
Keep this scripture passage handy. Read it often, and remind yourself of God’s presence in your life – and how He is perfectly orchestrating all of the details. Keep the faith...stay humble and grateful. Allow God to be GOD in your life…and watch what amazing things He brings to bear.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 28, 2014
Psalm 136:1-3
Thank God! He deserves your thanks.
His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods,
His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
His love never quits
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.
No sooner did we swallow the last bites of turkey and pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving Day than the Christmas frenzy began…including the seasonal televisions programs. There is no need to record them at our house…we’ve probably watched “Frosty the Snowman” at least once every month (or more) for the last two or years. And last Christmas season, we recorded “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer”, also. Greg likes to say that “It’s always Christmas at the Robus house!
I would have to say that we are pretty “up” on our “Frosty” around here…and from where I stand, “Frosty the Snowman” is anything but a quitter! He does everything possible to stay alive…but not at the expense of others. He is quite concerned with a little friend, Karen, who gets too cold. He worries about her feelings – and her health. Frosty is kind and loving to the children in the village…and he is even nicer than most would be to the evil magician who wants to steal his magic hat!
Now, I know what you are thinking…surely she isn’t comparing “Frosty the Snowman” to God! Absolutely not! But here’s the deal…we have little to no problem accepting that a make-believe snowman can do these things. We readily accept that he can be kind to others and see after their needs – sometimes at the expense of his own. We trust that Frosty really will come to life again someday…and with childlike wonder, we swallow this hook, line, and sinker.
But when it comes to all that God does for us…all of the gazillions of ways that He NEVER quits on our behalf…the tremendous sacrifice that He made for us in giving us Jesus to die for our sins…it seems like we often more readily trust in “Frosty the Snowman”! We certainly do not treat God with the respect and care that He deserves - much less give Him the gratitude.
This holiday season – and throughout the coming year – let’s focus more on the unending love and care that God provides for us. Let’s remind ourselves often how He never quits on our behalf. And let’s be grateful…really, truly, genuinely, visibly grateful. Doesn’t the One who named and numbered the stars - yet has time to hear and answer our every prayer - deserve our thanks and praise?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Thank God! He deserves your thanks.
His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods,
His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
His love never quits
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.
No sooner did we swallow the last bites of turkey and pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving Day than the Christmas frenzy began…including the seasonal televisions programs. There is no need to record them at our house…we’ve probably watched “Frosty the Snowman” at least once every month (or more) for the last two or years. And last Christmas season, we recorded “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer”, also. Greg likes to say that “It’s always Christmas at the Robus house!
I would have to say that we are pretty “up” on our “Frosty” around here…and from where I stand, “Frosty the Snowman” is anything but a quitter! He does everything possible to stay alive…but not at the expense of others. He is quite concerned with a little friend, Karen, who gets too cold. He worries about her feelings – and her health. Frosty is kind and loving to the children in the village…and he is even nicer than most would be to the evil magician who wants to steal his magic hat!
Now, I know what you are thinking…surely she isn’t comparing “Frosty the Snowman” to God! Absolutely not! But here’s the deal…we have little to no problem accepting that a make-believe snowman can do these things. We readily accept that he can be kind to others and see after their needs – sometimes at the expense of his own. We trust that Frosty really will come to life again someday…and with childlike wonder, we swallow this hook, line, and sinker.
But when it comes to all that God does for us…all of the gazillions of ways that He NEVER quits on our behalf…the tremendous sacrifice that He made for us in giving us Jesus to die for our sins…it seems like we often more readily trust in “Frosty the Snowman”! We certainly do not treat God with the respect and care that He deserves - much less give Him the gratitude.
This holiday season – and throughout the coming year – let’s focus more on the unending love and care that God provides for us. Let’s remind ourselves often how He never quits on our behalf. And let’s be grateful…really, truly, genuinely, visibly grateful. Doesn’t the One who named and numbered the stars - yet has time to hear and answer our every prayer - deserve our thanks and praise?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 27, 2014
November 27 ~ Psalm 118:28-29
Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—
from God’s house we bless you!
God is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands,
hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
His love never quits!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, we visited Greg’s brother and sister-in-law in another city. Their son and his family came from Tennessee for Thanksgiving, so we got to play with our great-nieces, Kelsey Lynn and Ellie Grace. Our sister-in-law had filled the house from top to bottom with Thanksgiving décor. Today, we will have lunch at my mother’s house, and I am sure there will be a few pumpkins and turkeys sitting around – and maybe a cornucopia or two!
I also got the “holiday decorating gene”, and I have sprinkled quite a bit of fall décor throughout our home. In a few days, our house will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland (or as my other sister-in-law put it last year, it will look “like someone threw up Christmas” around here!). There will be “garlands and banners” of sorts…mini Christmas lights, a tree – or three!...snowmen and Santas…and dozens of nativity scenes on display throughout our house.
Not everyone decorates for the holidays - certainly not to the extent that I do! And I have a feeling that my efforts pale in comparison to those of many! The reasons for over-the-top decorating and festivities are varied. Some may understandably ask, “Why do people make themselves crazy at Thanksgiving and Christmas with cooking, decorating, shopping and ‘getting out the good stuff’ to set a holiday table?” Why do people fly halfway across the country …endure crowded lines, packed-like-sardines aircraft, buses and highways…and put up with lost luggage, delayed or cancelled flights, and unbelievable traffic jams – just to get to Grandma’s house?
At the core of it all, I believe the answer is…love. Our homes are “festooned” in holiday finery to say, “Welcome! Love abounds amidst this cozy chaos!” I would HOPE that these decorations and festivities celebrate the love of God for His people…and that this is the focus rather than commercialism. If this is not the case, it should be. We should decorate and celebrate our gratitude for God’s amazing, incredible, perfect gift of Jesus. And while every day should be Thanksgiving Day…on this particular one, we should pause somewhere between the turkey and the pumpkin pie to count our blessings…and to thank God for every one of them!
Whether you hang a banner or garland - or not…remember to celebrate God’s blessings in your life. Thank Him for giving us Jesus…and for covering us in His unfailing love and care each and every day. From my house to yours…may God bless you this Thanksgiving Day - and in each day of the coming year! May you be bathed in His light and love today – and always. Happy Thanksgiving!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—
from God’s house we bless you!
God is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands,
hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
His love never quits!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, we visited Greg’s brother and sister-in-law in another city. Their son and his family came from Tennessee for Thanksgiving, so we got to play with our great-nieces, Kelsey Lynn and Ellie Grace. Our sister-in-law had filled the house from top to bottom with Thanksgiving décor. Today, we will have lunch at my mother’s house, and I am sure there will be a few pumpkins and turkeys sitting around – and maybe a cornucopia or two!
I also got the “holiday decorating gene”, and I have sprinkled quite a bit of fall décor throughout our home. In a few days, our house will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland (or as my other sister-in-law put it last year, it will look “like someone threw up Christmas” around here!). There will be “garlands and banners” of sorts…mini Christmas lights, a tree – or three!...snowmen and Santas…and dozens of nativity scenes on display throughout our house.
Not everyone decorates for the holidays - certainly not to the extent that I do! And I have a feeling that my efforts pale in comparison to those of many! The reasons for over-the-top decorating and festivities are varied. Some may understandably ask, “Why do people make themselves crazy at Thanksgiving and Christmas with cooking, decorating, shopping and ‘getting out the good stuff’ to set a holiday table?” Why do people fly halfway across the country …endure crowded lines, packed-like-sardines aircraft, buses and highways…and put up with lost luggage, delayed or cancelled flights, and unbelievable traffic jams – just to get to Grandma’s house?
At the core of it all, I believe the answer is…love. Our homes are “festooned” in holiday finery to say, “Welcome! Love abounds amidst this cozy chaos!” I would HOPE that these decorations and festivities celebrate the love of God for His people…and that this is the focus rather than commercialism. If this is not the case, it should be. We should decorate and celebrate our gratitude for God’s amazing, incredible, perfect gift of Jesus. And while every day should be Thanksgiving Day…on this particular one, we should pause somewhere between the turkey and the pumpkin pie to count our blessings…and to thank God for every one of them!
Whether you hang a banner or garland - or not…remember to celebrate God’s blessings in your life. Thank Him for giving us Jesus…and for covering us in His unfailing love and care each and every day. From my house to yours…may God bless you this Thanksgiving Day - and in each day of the coming year! May you be bathed in His light and love today – and always. Happy Thanksgiving!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 26, 2014
Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Twenty-four hours. We all get the same amount of time in each and every day. Yet how we choose to live in those 24 hours differs greatly. Some of us will live with joy and purpose…some of us will gripe and grumble our way through the day. Others will sleep away a big chunk of it…after all, the “Thanksgiving Holiday break” has already begun for many!
Almost 30 years ago, I had major surgery a few days before Thanksgiving. I remember getting a phone call from my parents on Thanksgiving Day, as family members gathered at their house some 90 miles away for feasting and fun. I have to admit that I felt a little sorry for myself and Greg as I heard the laughs and chatter of family members arriving for that special get-together. But our precious neighbors brought huge plates of food to us from their family feast…and they returned with MORE full plates that evening from another family dinner! Our hearts – and our bellies – were FULL! We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
About a decade later, my mother ate her Thanksgiving Dinner in a hospital cafeteria in another city, as she sat with my dad, who was too sick from renal failure to even smell food. At their insistence, we carried on with the traditional “family dinner” at our house…and we made the best of things, given the circumstances. We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
This year, our “Thanksgiving Holiday break” will include visits with family and friends…including the squeals and giggles of several little children, which always add to the fun. We will have our traditional favorite foods…and honor those who have gone before us - and the role they played in holiday gatherings of the past. And in all of it, we will recognize that the LORD made this day – and every day – and we will “rejoice and be glad in it”.
I don’t know what your next 24 hours will be like…or how you will celebrate Thanksgiving Day – or IF you will even celebrate. But when you know and love Jesus, every day is part of a “Thanksgiving Holiday break”…or at least, it should be. Whatever your circumstances…wherever “life” takes you today and in the days ahead…will you recognize that this is the day that the Lord has made? Will you thank Him for His love and care for every single minute of it? Will you find a way to “rejoice and be glad”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Twenty-four hours. We all get the same amount of time in each and every day. Yet how we choose to live in those 24 hours differs greatly. Some of us will live with joy and purpose…some of us will gripe and grumble our way through the day. Others will sleep away a big chunk of it…after all, the “Thanksgiving Holiday break” has already begun for many!
Almost 30 years ago, I had major surgery a few days before Thanksgiving. I remember getting a phone call from my parents on Thanksgiving Day, as family members gathered at their house some 90 miles away for feasting and fun. I have to admit that I felt a little sorry for myself and Greg as I heard the laughs and chatter of family members arriving for that special get-together. But our precious neighbors brought huge plates of food to us from their family feast…and they returned with MORE full plates that evening from another family dinner! Our hearts – and our bellies – were FULL! We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
About a decade later, my mother ate her Thanksgiving Dinner in a hospital cafeteria in another city, as she sat with my dad, who was too sick from renal failure to even smell food. At their insistence, we carried on with the traditional “family dinner” at our house…and we made the best of things, given the circumstances. We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
This year, our “Thanksgiving Holiday break” will include visits with family and friends…including the squeals and giggles of several little children, which always add to the fun. We will have our traditional favorite foods…and honor those who have gone before us - and the role they played in holiday gatherings of the past. And in all of it, we will recognize that the LORD made this day – and every day – and we will “rejoice and be glad in it”.
I don’t know what your next 24 hours will be like…or how you will celebrate Thanksgiving Day – or IF you will even celebrate. But when you know and love Jesus, every day is part of a “Thanksgiving Holiday break”…or at least, it should be. Whatever your circumstances…wherever “life” takes you today and in the days ahead…will you recognize that this is the day that the Lord has made? Will you thank Him for His love and care for every single minute of it? Will you find a way to “rejoice and be glad”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 25, 2014
November 25 ~ Psalm 107:1
Say thank you to the Lord for being so good, for always being so loving and kind.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, I went to Timothy’s elementary school to watch the kindergarten “Pow-wow Parade”. Approximately 100 kindergarten students and their teachers and helpers paraded through the school’s hallways in full “Indian” regalia. The children wore brown paper “ponchos” that they had decorated, along with headbands lined in paper “feathers”. Each child had selected an Indian name, which was written across the front of their poncho. Timothy chose “Black Horse”! The children shook noise makers and whooped and hollered as they rustled past us. The event was over in a matter of minutes, but the memories will last for years to come.
Timothy and his siblings have been so excited about Thanksgiving Day. They have been learning about the holiday and its traditions. Even at 2 years old, Nathan has made hats in his pre-school class to depict pilgrims, Indians, and a turkey. Timothy gave us a long “lesson” about Indians and pilgrims as we drove home from church on Sunday.
And speaking of church…the children are learning valuable lessons there, also. They are loved and nurtured as they learn about Jesus and how much HE loves them. Each Sunday when we get back into the car, I ask them, “What did you learn today?” Sometimes, they will recite the Bible verse (or a form of it) or the “phrase of the day” – like “God loves us all the time.” Other times, Zola will shout “Jesus!” in response to my inquiry! It’s all good!
I am thankful for all of the people who love and nurture children. I am grateful that God has placed it on the hearts of many to spend time with little ones…to tell them about His love for them…and to spend each weekday teaching them to read, write, sing, play and discover countless wonders. As a former kindergarten/first grade teacher, I am especially appreciative of the efforts of those who exercise patience with children as they rattle in paper “Indian ponchos” and headdresses…who understand the importance of these experiences – and including family members in the celebration. I am grateful for those who truly care about the mental, physical, and spiritual growth and development of young people.
So today, I thank God for being so good to me and to these precious children…for being so loving and kind. I thank Him for school - and for Sunday school - and the nurture that each of our children receives there. I see His orchestration in these blessings, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. What are you especially thankful for today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Say thank you to the Lord for being so good, for always being so loving and kind.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, I went to Timothy’s elementary school to watch the kindergarten “Pow-wow Parade”. Approximately 100 kindergarten students and their teachers and helpers paraded through the school’s hallways in full “Indian” regalia. The children wore brown paper “ponchos” that they had decorated, along with headbands lined in paper “feathers”. Each child had selected an Indian name, which was written across the front of their poncho. Timothy chose “Black Horse”! The children shook noise makers and whooped and hollered as they rustled past us. The event was over in a matter of minutes, but the memories will last for years to come.
Timothy and his siblings have been so excited about Thanksgiving Day. They have been learning about the holiday and its traditions. Even at 2 years old, Nathan has made hats in his pre-school class to depict pilgrims, Indians, and a turkey. Timothy gave us a long “lesson” about Indians and pilgrims as we drove home from church on Sunday.
And speaking of church…the children are learning valuable lessons there, also. They are loved and nurtured as they learn about Jesus and how much HE loves them. Each Sunday when we get back into the car, I ask them, “What did you learn today?” Sometimes, they will recite the Bible verse (or a form of it) or the “phrase of the day” – like “God loves us all the time.” Other times, Zola will shout “Jesus!” in response to my inquiry! It’s all good!
I am thankful for all of the people who love and nurture children. I am grateful that God has placed it on the hearts of many to spend time with little ones…to tell them about His love for them…and to spend each weekday teaching them to read, write, sing, play and discover countless wonders. As a former kindergarten/first grade teacher, I am especially appreciative of the efforts of those who exercise patience with children as they rattle in paper “Indian ponchos” and headdresses…who understand the importance of these experiences – and including family members in the celebration. I am grateful for those who truly care about the mental, physical, and spiritual growth and development of young people.
So today, I thank God for being so good to me and to these precious children…for being so loving and kind. I thank Him for school - and for Sunday school - and the nurture that each of our children receives there. I see His orchestration in these blessings, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. What are you especially thankful for today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 24, 2014
Psalm 106:1
We will celebrate
and praise you, Lord!
You are good to us,
and your love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, I thought about a dear lady in our community who was laid to rest yesterday. Mrs. Wanda was beautiful…inside and out. Yet every time I encountered her, she would say, “You look so pretty” and make me feel like a million bucks! I actually tried to “beat her to the punch” a couple of times…but you had to be pretty darn quick! And she didn’t just toss out compliments to be friendly…she always went on to express genuine interest…she really wanted to know how I was doing and what was new in my life. So when I thanked God this morning for my blessings, encounters with Mrs. Wanda were among them.
At the other end of the spectrum…I also thanked God today for a newborn baby boy named Max. His parents, Courtney and Aaron, brother Clark and sister Chloe welcomed him into this world today, and I know that he will be blessed – and a blessing. Max’s parents are Sunday school teachers for our niece, Zola…and last year our nephew Timothy was in their class. Courtney and Aaron are so kind and loving – and I know they love God and want to share Him with the little ones. So I know that Max will grow up in a Christian home and become a wonderful asset to our church family. And I thanked God for healthy babies and loving parents who nurture them…and their peers.
I also thanked God today for a lady who has been something of “another mother” to me for most of my life. I shared a phone visit with “Dot” – the mother of my childhood friend, Martha. Dot was one of my Girl Scout leaders, and she has just always been in my corner. We see each other at church, and we visit by phone every couple of months to “catch up” on what is happening in our lives and the community at large. She is one of my “go-to” people for advice on everything from cooking and sewing to ministry…and her demonstration of faithfulness and service to others truly encourages and motivates me.
There’s no place like your local Wal-Mart to meet up with old friends and share a few minutes of conversation…and today was no exception for me. I not only bumped into my mother-in-law, but I also visited with Kathryn, another classmate’s mother who is a long-time friend…a former co-worker - Ramona…and a lady named Tommie, who was one of my Sunday school teachers when I was a child – and who has been another one of those “go-to” friends for as long as I can remember. A lady from the water aerobics class I used to attend stopped me to say “Hi” and to tell me that I am missed – and that I am welcome to join them again any time.
I waved and said “Hello” to probably a half dozen other acquaintances and friends, exchanged pleasantries with the clerk who checked my groceries – and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving - and I left with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. There was a cold, brisk wind, but the sun was shining brightly as I loaded groceries into the car. I thanked God for dear friends, for money to buy the things that I had purchased, for a good car to get me where I needed to go – and gas to power it – and a zillion other things, both named and unspoken.
The bottom line is that in life and death and every season in between…from year to year and one holiday to the next…we have so much to celebrate – so many reasons to praise God. Not every day is filled with extraordinary blessings. Some days, we move along with our routine, and everything seems to be fairly “normal” – maybe even mundane. Sometimes, our days are filled with troubles, headaches and heartaches at every turn, and it’s hard to even SEE the blessings! But they are always there…just the same.
Every day, there is some reason to celebrate and praise God. Some days, you may have to dig a little deeper than others…but the reasons for gratitude are there. And if you think about it a little, I bet you can name more than a few people who God has placed in your life to bless, encourage and nurture you in some way…not because you are a family member and/or they feel an obligation – but because God has filled them with a deep and abiding love and care for you.
I challenge you to find someone and/or something to thank God for every single day. I’m talking about the extras…the blessings that you might not even consider all that often that enrich your life in ways you don’t even realize. Thank God for these, along with the things you normally list…but this time, ponder each blessing and truly offer up genuine gratitude. Let Him know that you appreciate how deeply He cares for you…profoundly enough to put these people and experiences in your life for enhancement and added “oomph”! Celebrate just how good God is to you…how unfailing His love is…and how He is always working on new ways to fill your life with blessings and joy.
We tend to rattle off a list of things for which we are grateful with little to no real consideration for them. Let’s change that today. Let’s examine our blessings – all of them – a little more closely…and truly celebrate God with some genuine praise. It’s about time…wouldn’t you agree?
©2014 Debbie Robus
We will celebrate
and praise you, Lord!
You are good to us,
and your love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, I thought about a dear lady in our community who was laid to rest yesterday. Mrs. Wanda was beautiful…inside and out. Yet every time I encountered her, she would say, “You look so pretty” and make me feel like a million bucks! I actually tried to “beat her to the punch” a couple of times…but you had to be pretty darn quick! And she didn’t just toss out compliments to be friendly…she always went on to express genuine interest…she really wanted to know how I was doing and what was new in my life. So when I thanked God this morning for my blessings, encounters with Mrs. Wanda were among them.
At the other end of the spectrum…I also thanked God today for a newborn baby boy named Max. His parents, Courtney and Aaron, brother Clark and sister Chloe welcomed him into this world today, and I know that he will be blessed – and a blessing. Max’s parents are Sunday school teachers for our niece, Zola…and last year our nephew Timothy was in their class. Courtney and Aaron are so kind and loving – and I know they love God and want to share Him with the little ones. So I know that Max will grow up in a Christian home and become a wonderful asset to our church family. And I thanked God for healthy babies and loving parents who nurture them…and their peers.
I also thanked God today for a lady who has been something of “another mother” to me for most of my life. I shared a phone visit with “Dot” – the mother of my childhood friend, Martha. Dot was one of my Girl Scout leaders, and she has just always been in my corner. We see each other at church, and we visit by phone every couple of months to “catch up” on what is happening in our lives and the community at large. She is one of my “go-to” people for advice on everything from cooking and sewing to ministry…and her demonstration of faithfulness and service to others truly encourages and motivates me.
There’s no place like your local Wal-Mart to meet up with old friends and share a few minutes of conversation…and today was no exception for me. I not only bumped into my mother-in-law, but I also visited with Kathryn, another classmate’s mother who is a long-time friend…a former co-worker - Ramona…and a lady named Tommie, who was one of my Sunday school teachers when I was a child – and who has been another one of those “go-to” friends for as long as I can remember. A lady from the water aerobics class I used to attend stopped me to say “Hi” and to tell me that I am missed – and that I am welcome to join them again any time.
I waved and said “Hello” to probably a half dozen other acquaintances and friends, exchanged pleasantries with the clerk who checked my groceries – and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving - and I left with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. There was a cold, brisk wind, but the sun was shining brightly as I loaded groceries into the car. I thanked God for dear friends, for money to buy the things that I had purchased, for a good car to get me where I needed to go – and gas to power it – and a zillion other things, both named and unspoken.
The bottom line is that in life and death and every season in between…from year to year and one holiday to the next…we have so much to celebrate – so many reasons to praise God. Not every day is filled with extraordinary blessings. Some days, we move along with our routine, and everything seems to be fairly “normal” – maybe even mundane. Sometimes, our days are filled with troubles, headaches and heartaches at every turn, and it’s hard to even SEE the blessings! But they are always there…just the same.
Every day, there is some reason to celebrate and praise God. Some days, you may have to dig a little deeper than others…but the reasons for gratitude are there. And if you think about it a little, I bet you can name more than a few people who God has placed in your life to bless, encourage and nurture you in some way…not because you are a family member and/or they feel an obligation – but because God has filled them with a deep and abiding love and care for you.
I challenge you to find someone and/or something to thank God for every single day. I’m talking about the extras…the blessings that you might not even consider all that often that enrich your life in ways you don’t even realize. Thank God for these, along with the things you normally list…but this time, ponder each blessing and truly offer up genuine gratitude. Let Him know that you appreciate how deeply He cares for you…profoundly enough to put these people and experiences in your life for enhancement and added “oomph”! Celebrate just how good God is to you…how unfailing His love is…and how He is always working on new ways to fill your life with blessings and joy.
We tend to rattle off a list of things for which we are grateful with little to no real consideration for them. Let’s change that today. Let’s examine our blessings – all of them – a little more closely…and truly celebrate God with some genuine praise. It’s about time…wouldn’t you agree?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 23, 2014
Psalm 103:1-5
O my soul, bless God.
From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
don’t forget a single blessing!
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we took the children to church today, we told them that we had “surprises” in the back of the car that we would give them after lunch. They tried to guess what the “surprises” were…but there was no dinosaur or crackers. But there were books and videos – and a new (to them) board game to play. There were also two bags of “Halos” - or as they called them, “baby oranges”! Since this will be a short school week because of the Thanksgiving holidays, the children will have an extended “vacation” at home, and the snacks and videos will no doubt come in handy!
In her book, One Thousand Gifts*, Ann Voskamp talks about her aunt, who traveled the world as an airline attendant. The aunt would visit Voskamp and her children from time to time. The aunt said that of all of the places she had visited…all of the things she had seen…one of the most joyful experiences had been that of rolling a ball back and forth on the floor with Voskamp’s toddler daughter. She wrote Ann Voskamp a letter and told her that she had never seen such happiness in all her travels…that this simple experience had brought her a glimpse of “wild joy” that she would never forget.
Voskamp noted that the secret to such joy lies in perspective. To a child, everything is large and wonderful. As I watch our little nephews and nieces discover new things, I am reminded of how “wonder”-filled the simplest of joys used to be for most of us. As we grow older, we seem to grow blind to many of the blessings that are right before our eyes.
So as we enter this week of Thanksgiving and begin to “count our blessings,” let’s read this scripture passage often and remind ourselves of all that God does for us. Let’s remember that every one of our sins are forgiven…that every one of our diseases are healed. Let’s never forget that Hell is not on our list of places to visit…that a “paradise crown” awaits us – and in the meantime, we wear His crowns of love and mercy. Let’s remind ourselves that we are forever beautiful – and young in God’s presence (which is all that truly matters)! We are clothed in His goodness.
God meets all of our needs…and He peppers our lives with incredible blessings. As we count the more obvious gifts like those listed in this scripture passage...let’s also list some of the “baby oranges” and “videos” that surprise and delight us. Let’s thank God for the friend who showed up right when we needed him/her the most. Let’s be grateful for a foggy, misty Sunday afternoon…or a glorious sunrise or sunset. Let’s When we can thank God for moments when something or someone makes us laugh or smile…and for times when we experience sadness or sorrow – and live through it!
Let’s thank God for smelly socks to wash and a dirty house to clean…for a second job to go to that leaves us dog tired but gives us adequate money to pay the rent…for a boring and/or difficult classes to attend so that we can get a degree or learn a trade and become self-sufficient. Let’s thank Him for caregivers who help us when we are no longer able to do things for ourselves…and for those who have “been there, done that” and can counsel us through the same experiences…for a few minutes spent in the floor rolling a ball to a toddler and listening to him/her squeal with excitement.
Go even deeper and thank God for the beauty of intricate patterns in your pet’s fur…that amazingly unique freckle on your kids’ nose…and the predictably irritating way that your sibling or friend is habitually late. In other words, open your eyes and ears…use ALL of your senses to fully acknowledge God’s presence and blessings in even the most mundane parts of your everyday life - and offer a heartfelt “Thank You!”
A few years ago, there was a trend for some people to say, “Love you – mean it!” – as if those last two words gave credibility to the first two. My challenge for all of us in the days to come is to offer God our gratitude…and to truly mean it! Let’s tell Him - in words and actions - just how much we appreciate all that He does for us…how He blesses us from head to toe. Let’s not miss a single blessing – or a chance to be grateful. How is God blessing YOU these days? Does He know that you appreciate His efforts? Isn’t it time that He did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
O my soul, bless God.
From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
don’t forget a single blessing!
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we took the children to church today, we told them that we had “surprises” in the back of the car that we would give them after lunch. They tried to guess what the “surprises” were…but there was no dinosaur or crackers. But there were books and videos – and a new (to them) board game to play. There were also two bags of “Halos” - or as they called them, “baby oranges”! Since this will be a short school week because of the Thanksgiving holidays, the children will have an extended “vacation” at home, and the snacks and videos will no doubt come in handy!
In her book, One Thousand Gifts*, Ann Voskamp talks about her aunt, who traveled the world as an airline attendant. The aunt would visit Voskamp and her children from time to time. The aunt said that of all of the places she had visited…all of the things she had seen…one of the most joyful experiences had been that of rolling a ball back and forth on the floor with Voskamp’s toddler daughter. She wrote Ann Voskamp a letter and told her that she had never seen such happiness in all her travels…that this simple experience had brought her a glimpse of “wild joy” that she would never forget.
Voskamp noted that the secret to such joy lies in perspective. To a child, everything is large and wonderful. As I watch our little nephews and nieces discover new things, I am reminded of how “wonder”-filled the simplest of joys used to be for most of us. As we grow older, we seem to grow blind to many of the blessings that are right before our eyes.
So as we enter this week of Thanksgiving and begin to “count our blessings,” let’s read this scripture passage often and remind ourselves of all that God does for us. Let’s remember that every one of our sins are forgiven…that every one of our diseases are healed. Let’s never forget that Hell is not on our list of places to visit…that a “paradise crown” awaits us – and in the meantime, we wear His crowns of love and mercy. Let’s remind ourselves that we are forever beautiful – and young in God’s presence (which is all that truly matters)! We are clothed in His goodness.
God meets all of our needs…and He peppers our lives with incredible blessings. As we count the more obvious gifts like those listed in this scripture passage...let’s also list some of the “baby oranges” and “videos” that surprise and delight us. Let’s thank God for the friend who showed up right when we needed him/her the most. Let’s be grateful for a foggy, misty Sunday afternoon…or a glorious sunrise or sunset. Let’s When we can thank God for moments when something or someone makes us laugh or smile…and for times when we experience sadness or sorrow – and live through it!
Let’s thank God for smelly socks to wash and a dirty house to clean…for a second job to go to that leaves us dog tired but gives us adequate money to pay the rent…for a boring and/or difficult classes to attend so that we can get a degree or learn a trade and become self-sufficient. Let’s thank Him for caregivers who help us when we are no longer able to do things for ourselves…and for those who have “been there, done that” and can counsel us through the same experiences…for a few minutes spent in the floor rolling a ball to a toddler and listening to him/her squeal with excitement.
Go even deeper and thank God for the beauty of intricate patterns in your pet’s fur…that amazingly unique freckle on your kids’ nose…and the predictably irritating way that your sibling or friend is habitually late. In other words, open your eyes and ears…use ALL of your senses to fully acknowledge God’s presence and blessings in even the most mundane parts of your everyday life - and offer a heartfelt “Thank You!”
A few years ago, there was a trend for some people to say, “Love you – mean it!” – as if those last two words gave credibility to the first two. My challenge for all of us in the days to come is to offer God our gratitude…and to truly mean it! Let’s tell Him - in words and actions - just how much we appreciate all that He does for us…how He blesses us from head to toe. Let’s not miss a single blessing – or a chance to be grateful. How is God blessing YOU these days? Does He know that you appreciate His efforts? Isn’t it time that He did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
Daily Devotional for November 22, 2014
Psalm 100:1-5
Shout praises to the Lord,
everyone on this earth.
Be joyful and sing
as you come in
to worship the Lord!
You know the Lord is God!
He created us,
and we belong to him;
we are his people,
the sheep in his pasture.
Be thankful and praise the Lord
as you enter his temple.
The Lord is good!
His love and faithfulness
will last forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My friend put up a Christmas tree and let her three young grandchildren (a boy and two girls - ages 5 and under) decorate it. One of the little girls methodically hung ornaments while singing, “O Mistmas Twee, O MISTmas Twee!” It was adorable. She sang her heart out for the joy of Christmas and decorating the tree in her Honey’s bedroom.
I’ve often said that we can learn so much from little children. They are truly pure and unadulterated…able to find the joy in little things like decorating a “Mistmas twee” with cousins at Grandma’s house. They get excited over presents…sometimes as much about the box as what was inside. For the most part, they have no doubt that they are loved and belong to someone…and in their own way, they are thankful.
Somehow, as we grow up, we seem to somewhat “outgrow God”. We’re not nearly as unabashed in our singing of His praises. We question who we are, where we fit in – and sometimes, WHOSE we are! We take God for granted…and when we do thank Him, it’s often hurried or superficial. We fail to truly acknowledge His gifts…and when we do, we’re much more concerned with what is given than the packaging or the Deliverer.
I have to wonder…are our “songs of praise” to God as sweet and dear to Him as the humbly offered “Oh, Mistmas Twee” of a toddler? Are our words of gratitude a “joyful noise” in His ears, or the same old “yadda, yadda, yadda” we’ve offered Him for ages? Isn’t it time we got this right? Wouldn’t this be a great day to begin?
Make a joyful noise. Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before His presence with Thanksgiving. For the LORD is good…His mercies are everlasting…and His truth endures forever. If that doesn’t merit a grown-up “O Mistmas tree” praise, I don’t know what will…do you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Shout praises to the Lord,
everyone on this earth.
Be joyful and sing
as you come in
to worship the Lord!
You know the Lord is God!
He created us,
and we belong to him;
we are his people,
the sheep in his pasture.
Be thankful and praise the Lord
as you enter his temple.
The Lord is good!
His love and faithfulness
will last forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My friend put up a Christmas tree and let her three young grandchildren (a boy and two girls - ages 5 and under) decorate it. One of the little girls methodically hung ornaments while singing, “O Mistmas Twee, O MISTmas Twee!” It was adorable. She sang her heart out for the joy of Christmas and decorating the tree in her Honey’s bedroom.
I’ve often said that we can learn so much from little children. They are truly pure and unadulterated…able to find the joy in little things like decorating a “Mistmas twee” with cousins at Grandma’s house. They get excited over presents…sometimes as much about the box as what was inside. For the most part, they have no doubt that they are loved and belong to someone…and in their own way, they are thankful.
Somehow, as we grow up, we seem to somewhat “outgrow God”. We’re not nearly as unabashed in our singing of His praises. We question who we are, where we fit in – and sometimes, WHOSE we are! We take God for granted…and when we do thank Him, it’s often hurried or superficial. We fail to truly acknowledge His gifts…and when we do, we’re much more concerned with what is given than the packaging or the Deliverer.
I have to wonder…are our “songs of praise” to God as sweet and dear to Him as the humbly offered “Oh, Mistmas Twee” of a toddler? Are our words of gratitude a “joyful noise” in His ears, or the same old “yadda, yadda, yadda” we’ve offered Him for ages? Isn’t it time we got this right? Wouldn’t this be a great day to begin?
Make a joyful noise. Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before His presence with Thanksgiving. For the LORD is good…His mercies are everlasting…and His truth endures forever. If that doesn’t merit a grown-up “O Mistmas tree” praise, I don’t know what will…do you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 21, 2014
Psalm 35:9
I will celebrate and be joyful
because you, Lord,
have saved me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
No doubt you have watched at least one football game where a player broke free from the blocks and tackles of defenders and sprinted down the field for a touchdown…perhaps with an opponent or two hot on his heels - yet unable to catch him. When the ball carrier realizes that he is going to make it safely into the end zone, you can almost read the sense of “wild abandon” in his body language. It is as if he sees an imaginary “savior” waiting for him…arms outstretched…saying, “Come to Poppa!” The runner scores…the crowd goes wild with celebration and exuberance…and the opponents lick their wounds and regroup for another play!
Maybe it’s because we’re in the throes of football season, but this was the image I got as I read this verse from Psalm 35. I pictured myself running toward God… arms outstretched to receive me…the worries and pressures of the world nipping at my heels from behind – yet unable to take me to the ground. I know that the “enemy” is continually regrouping…plotting and planning his next move. But I also know that God is always several steps ahead of the opponent!
So I celebrate my rescue and redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ. I thank God for His wisdom, protection, grace, mercy, love and care…for planning for my future and always keeping me safe from the schemes and snares of the devil and his cohorts. For me, every day represents “touchdowns” and “extra points”…a veritable “party in the end zone” with God Almighty!
Recently, the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrated a victory over the LSU Tigers…breaking a 17-game losing streak in conference play. When the game ended, Razorback fans stormed the field, reveling in the joy, relief and release of this monumental win. If only we could celebrate God’s victories in our lives half as much!
It says something about us as Christians that we can’t seem to muster even a portion of this excitement over something so precious and vital in our lives. We will talk about a big sports play for days/weeks/months. We will replay it on “highlight reels” for years to come. Yet we can hardly mention God’s name and acknowledge His importance in our lives…much less give Him even a portion of the praise and recognition that He so richly deserves.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a good football game…or with celebrating a great play. These happy moments are blessings from God just as much as any other. But we need to take inventory of our priorities and make sure that God is at the forefront…that in our jubilation over things of this world, we don’t neglect our gratitude for Him.
Sometimes only the length of an outstretched arm separates us from a tackle by the devil…and the grip of God’s grace. Won’t you thank God today for giving you that last burst of energy to sprint toward the “end zone” and the safety of His love and care? Isn’t it time to celebrate our victory in Jesus Christ? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I will celebrate and be joyful
because you, Lord,
have saved me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
No doubt you have watched at least one football game where a player broke free from the blocks and tackles of defenders and sprinted down the field for a touchdown…perhaps with an opponent or two hot on his heels - yet unable to catch him. When the ball carrier realizes that he is going to make it safely into the end zone, you can almost read the sense of “wild abandon” in his body language. It is as if he sees an imaginary “savior” waiting for him…arms outstretched…saying, “Come to Poppa!” The runner scores…the crowd goes wild with celebration and exuberance…and the opponents lick their wounds and regroup for another play!
Maybe it’s because we’re in the throes of football season, but this was the image I got as I read this verse from Psalm 35. I pictured myself running toward God… arms outstretched to receive me…the worries and pressures of the world nipping at my heels from behind – yet unable to take me to the ground. I know that the “enemy” is continually regrouping…plotting and planning his next move. But I also know that God is always several steps ahead of the opponent!
So I celebrate my rescue and redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ. I thank God for His wisdom, protection, grace, mercy, love and care…for planning for my future and always keeping me safe from the schemes and snares of the devil and his cohorts. For me, every day represents “touchdowns” and “extra points”…a veritable “party in the end zone” with God Almighty!
Recently, the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrated a victory over the LSU Tigers…breaking a 17-game losing streak in conference play. When the game ended, Razorback fans stormed the field, reveling in the joy, relief and release of this monumental win. If only we could celebrate God’s victories in our lives half as much!
It says something about us as Christians that we can’t seem to muster even a portion of this excitement over something so precious and vital in our lives. We will talk about a big sports play for days/weeks/months. We will replay it on “highlight reels” for years to come. Yet we can hardly mention God’s name and acknowledge His importance in our lives…much less give Him even a portion of the praise and recognition that He so richly deserves.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a good football game…or with celebrating a great play. These happy moments are blessings from God just as much as any other. But we need to take inventory of our priorities and make sure that God is at the forefront…that in our jubilation over things of this world, we don’t neglect our gratitude for Him.
Sometimes only the length of an outstretched arm separates us from a tackle by the devil…and the grip of God’s grace. Won’t you thank God today for giving you that last burst of energy to sprint toward the “end zone” and the safety of His love and care? Isn’t it time to celebrate our victory in Jesus Christ? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 20, 2014
Psalm 92:1-3
What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks,
to sing an anthem to you, the High God!
To announce your love each daybreak,
sing your faithful presence all through the night,
Accompanied by dulcimer and harp,
the full-bodied music of strings.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy and I were sitting in my office, and he was watching “Wubbzy” videos on my computer. The TV was on, but I was not paying any attention. A NASCAR race was about to begin, and they sang the “Star Spangled Banner”. Timothy suddenly shouted, "BOW YOUR HEAD!" I looked over, and he had his head bowed. A minister was praying at the race venue. So I bowed my head, and when the minister was done, Timothy said, "A-MEN!" Then he muttered, "Man…that was a long one!”
It was a precious moment, and I have to admit that I was proud that our little 5-year-old nephew respected a prayer enough to bow his head – even one offered over the television airwaves! But here’s the thing…we wouldn’t think of attending a sporting event and not singing the national anthem before it began. A lot of public sporting events also begin with a prayer. MANY of us don’t give this a second thought…unless it doesn’t happen!
I don’t know about you, but when I place my hand across my heart and listen to – or sing along with – “The Star Spangled Banner”, something is stirred in my heart. I am reminded of the privileges we enjoy in this country…and the unity of standing as a group and singing an anthem for the nation we love and the freedoms we enjoy. I am humbled by how blessed we are.
But I wonder…how many of us are as concerned about singing an anthem to God each day? How many of us stop to consider the awesome privilege it is to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ – to belong to God for all eternity and rest in the assurance of spending Eternity with Him in heaven? How many of us are humbled and stirred by the tremendous blessings we enjoy because of Jesus…and how often are we moved to sing out to Him in gratitude?
Somehow, I have a feeling we are more diligent about singing the national anthem and offering a prayer at a sporting event than we are about praising God for His incredible love and care. And as kids like to say, “that’s messed up!” And there is no time like the present to start making amends.
Stop today and look around you. Thank God for ALL that He does for you 24/7/365. Give Him some of your time. BOW YOUR HEAD and tell Him just how grateful you are for His love and care…for His wisdom and power…for JESUS! God deserves our songs of gratitude and praise…our prayers of love and allegiance. Will this be the day that you begin to sing an anthem for Him? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks,
to sing an anthem to you, the High God!
To announce your love each daybreak,
sing your faithful presence all through the night,
Accompanied by dulcimer and harp,
the full-bodied music of strings.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy and I were sitting in my office, and he was watching “Wubbzy” videos on my computer. The TV was on, but I was not paying any attention. A NASCAR race was about to begin, and they sang the “Star Spangled Banner”. Timothy suddenly shouted, "BOW YOUR HEAD!" I looked over, and he had his head bowed. A minister was praying at the race venue. So I bowed my head, and when the minister was done, Timothy said, "A-MEN!" Then he muttered, "Man…that was a long one!”
It was a precious moment, and I have to admit that I was proud that our little 5-year-old nephew respected a prayer enough to bow his head – even one offered over the television airwaves! But here’s the thing…we wouldn’t think of attending a sporting event and not singing the national anthem before it began. A lot of public sporting events also begin with a prayer. MANY of us don’t give this a second thought…unless it doesn’t happen!
I don’t know about you, but when I place my hand across my heart and listen to – or sing along with – “The Star Spangled Banner”, something is stirred in my heart. I am reminded of the privileges we enjoy in this country…and the unity of standing as a group and singing an anthem for the nation we love and the freedoms we enjoy. I am humbled by how blessed we are.
But I wonder…how many of us are as concerned about singing an anthem to God each day? How many of us stop to consider the awesome privilege it is to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ – to belong to God for all eternity and rest in the assurance of spending Eternity with Him in heaven? How many of us are humbled and stirred by the tremendous blessings we enjoy because of Jesus…and how often are we moved to sing out to Him in gratitude?
Somehow, I have a feeling we are more diligent about singing the national anthem and offering a prayer at a sporting event than we are about praising God for His incredible love and care. And as kids like to say, “that’s messed up!” And there is no time like the present to start making amends.
Stop today and look around you. Thank God for ALL that He does for you 24/7/365. Give Him some of your time. BOW YOUR HEAD and tell Him just how grateful you are for His love and care…for His wisdom and power…for JESUS! God deserves our songs of gratitude and praise…our prayers of love and allegiance. Will this be the day that you begin to sing an anthem for Him? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 19, 2014
Philippians 4:13
Christ gives me the strength to face anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine took her ten-year-old dog to the vet for extensive knee surgery. She posted pictures on Facebook of the little dog cowering under a chair in the clinic waiting room. My friend expressed concern over the safety and well-being of her beloved pet – and relief when the procedure was over and all was well.
If you have ever had surgery – or any medical procedure that required anesthesia – you probably know those moments of trepidation right before they “put you under”. There is a sense of apprehension and dread…maybe even a “Wait a minute! I’m not ready!” instant of panic! The next thing you know, the drugs take effect, and you wake up in a recovery room. At least that is how it’s supposed to work! Nothing is certain, and surgery is a risky proposition under even the best of circumstances.
Whether this happened to you – or to someone you know and love (even a pet) – you most likely understand what I am describing…that “gentle fear” (or maybe it wasn’t so gentle?) that grips us in moments when we know that something is coming…and we cannot stop it. And if we are honest, we will admit that this can scare the pants off us! Here’s what I tell myself…”You (or they) will wake up – either here or in heaven.”
Now you may be thinking…”That’s pretty dramatic!” Yes…but it’s the truth. Because I know that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything!” And if you go back and read the last part of verse 11, you will see that Paul says…”I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little.” What I hear in this passage is the additional message that “Wherever I am…Christ is with me.” And I take that to include on this earth AND in heaven!
If I could only learn to apply these thoughts to every situation of my life, I would be so much more settled. If only I could say in every worrisome or “hard” situation, “Christ gives me the strength to handle this,” I would find such a peace and calm. And I can do this…and so can you! We can learn to fully embrace the confidence that Jesus will help us through those mid-terms. He will get us through the holidays – the meal planning and preparation, gift-giving, rushing around, entertaining of guests, grief over the absence of loved ones, and general “stress” of the season.
Jesus will help us figure out how to make ends meet. He will care for our health – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Jesus will guard our hearts and strengthen us in wisdom and courage as we serve Him and witness to others. He will make us bold in places where we feel terribly week and inadequate.
Wherever we “wake up”…Jesus will be there. The question is…will we recognize His presence? Will we trust Him to give us the strength to face anything? Are we truly grateful for such a magnificent and extravagant gift? Do you understand that the best way to acknowledge and honor this blessing is to accept it and believe in it daily? Are you ready to dive into life with the confidence – and gratitude – that Jesus is always with you…ready to handle anything? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Christ gives me the strength to face anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine took her ten-year-old dog to the vet for extensive knee surgery. She posted pictures on Facebook of the little dog cowering under a chair in the clinic waiting room. My friend expressed concern over the safety and well-being of her beloved pet – and relief when the procedure was over and all was well.
If you have ever had surgery – or any medical procedure that required anesthesia – you probably know those moments of trepidation right before they “put you under”. There is a sense of apprehension and dread…maybe even a “Wait a minute! I’m not ready!” instant of panic! The next thing you know, the drugs take effect, and you wake up in a recovery room. At least that is how it’s supposed to work! Nothing is certain, and surgery is a risky proposition under even the best of circumstances.
Whether this happened to you – or to someone you know and love (even a pet) – you most likely understand what I am describing…that “gentle fear” (or maybe it wasn’t so gentle?) that grips us in moments when we know that something is coming…and we cannot stop it. And if we are honest, we will admit that this can scare the pants off us! Here’s what I tell myself…”You (or they) will wake up – either here or in heaven.”
Now you may be thinking…”That’s pretty dramatic!” Yes…but it’s the truth. Because I know that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything!” And if you go back and read the last part of verse 11, you will see that Paul says…”I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little.” What I hear in this passage is the additional message that “Wherever I am…Christ is with me.” And I take that to include on this earth AND in heaven!
If I could only learn to apply these thoughts to every situation of my life, I would be so much more settled. If only I could say in every worrisome or “hard” situation, “Christ gives me the strength to handle this,” I would find such a peace and calm. And I can do this…and so can you! We can learn to fully embrace the confidence that Jesus will help us through those mid-terms. He will get us through the holidays – the meal planning and preparation, gift-giving, rushing around, entertaining of guests, grief over the absence of loved ones, and general “stress” of the season.
Jesus will help us figure out how to make ends meet. He will care for our health – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Jesus will guard our hearts and strengthen us in wisdom and courage as we serve Him and witness to others. He will make us bold in places where we feel terribly week and inadequate.
Wherever we “wake up”…Jesus will be there. The question is…will we recognize His presence? Will we trust Him to give us the strength to face anything? Are we truly grateful for such a magnificent and extravagant gift? Do you understand that the best way to acknowledge and honor this blessing is to accept it and believe in it daily? Are you ready to dive into life with the confidence – and gratitude – that Jesus is always with you…ready to handle anything? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 18, 2014
Matthew 11:28-30
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Have you ever been so tired that you could barely put one foot in front of the other? Maybe you stayed up all night studying…or sitting with a child who was sick, fussy, or simply would not sleep. Maybe you were so worried about something that you could not sleep – or eat – and then you were not only worried, but exhausted as well. Perhaps you were traveling for an extended time…trying to get somewhere to someone or to an important event. Maybe you had a project due at school or work, so you pulled an “all-nighter” to get it done.
MAYBE you are mentally tired. You have wrestled with personal issues and the worries and concerns of others – in your immediate circle, your community and the world at large – and everywhere you turn, there seem to be problems, hurts, burdens and heartaches. Just thinking and praying about all of this has left you bone weary and totally drained.
Or maybe you are exhausted by all of the talk about how you should live out your Christian faith. Do this…don’t do that…believe this…don’t believe that…give more…serve more…love more…join a Bible study and sing in the choir…serve on this committee or in this ministry…come to church every time the doors are open…if you say “No!”, you’re turning your back on Jesus…be kind and generous to everyone…never have a “bad day”! It is enough to make our heads spin and cause us to “burn out on religion”!
These thoughts did not come from our gracious, loving God! They are man-made concepts and pressures that have nothing to do with true Christian faith. God sent Jesus to earth to die for our sins…to take our burdens and teach us His gentle, graceful rhythms of unconditional love and care for others. The last thing He wants is for us to run around like chickens with our heads cut off…to wear ourselves out with worry and “busyness”, pressures and guilt over how much we have or have not done.
It’s really very simple…all we have to focus on is Jesus. We may still have to sit up all night with a sick child or loved one…there may be times when we are physically taxed for a while and must operate without adequate sleep. But when we focus on Jesus, He gives us supernatural strength in these moments. And when we “walk with Him and watch how He does it,” all of those “woulda, coulda, shouldas” that play over and over in our head disappear.
Hallelujah! Praise Jesus! He is ready, willing, and able to lighten our load…to show us how to live more freely! He will give us rest of the most important kind and teach us how to live every day for Him - with grace and joy! It doesn’t matter how old you are, where you are in life, how long you have been a Christian – or even if you ARE a Christian yet! This can be the day that things begin to change. This can be the start of the best “rest” you will ever enjoy!
Won’t you shift your focus to Jesus today? Will you spend some time in prayer and conversation with Him and lay whatever exhausts you at His feet? Will you exchange your “yokes and burdens” for His and start to walk in the freedoms and lightness of His unforced rhythms and grace? Aren’t you grateful for God's gift of Jesus? Will this be the day you truly start to show it? Will this be the start of the “best rest” you ever had? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Have you ever been so tired that you could barely put one foot in front of the other? Maybe you stayed up all night studying…or sitting with a child who was sick, fussy, or simply would not sleep. Maybe you were so worried about something that you could not sleep – or eat – and then you were not only worried, but exhausted as well. Perhaps you were traveling for an extended time…trying to get somewhere to someone or to an important event. Maybe you had a project due at school or work, so you pulled an “all-nighter” to get it done.
MAYBE you are mentally tired. You have wrestled with personal issues and the worries and concerns of others – in your immediate circle, your community and the world at large – and everywhere you turn, there seem to be problems, hurts, burdens and heartaches. Just thinking and praying about all of this has left you bone weary and totally drained.
Or maybe you are exhausted by all of the talk about how you should live out your Christian faith. Do this…don’t do that…believe this…don’t believe that…give more…serve more…love more…join a Bible study and sing in the choir…serve on this committee or in this ministry…come to church every time the doors are open…if you say “No!”, you’re turning your back on Jesus…be kind and generous to everyone…never have a “bad day”! It is enough to make our heads spin and cause us to “burn out on religion”!
These thoughts did not come from our gracious, loving God! They are man-made concepts and pressures that have nothing to do with true Christian faith. God sent Jesus to earth to die for our sins…to take our burdens and teach us His gentle, graceful rhythms of unconditional love and care for others. The last thing He wants is for us to run around like chickens with our heads cut off…to wear ourselves out with worry and “busyness”, pressures and guilt over how much we have or have not done.
It’s really very simple…all we have to focus on is Jesus. We may still have to sit up all night with a sick child or loved one…there may be times when we are physically taxed for a while and must operate without adequate sleep. But when we focus on Jesus, He gives us supernatural strength in these moments. And when we “walk with Him and watch how He does it,” all of those “woulda, coulda, shouldas” that play over and over in our head disappear.
Hallelujah! Praise Jesus! He is ready, willing, and able to lighten our load…to show us how to live more freely! He will give us rest of the most important kind and teach us how to live every day for Him - with grace and joy! It doesn’t matter how old you are, where you are in life, how long you have been a Christian – or even if you ARE a Christian yet! This can be the day that things begin to change. This can be the start of the best “rest” you will ever enjoy!
Won’t you shift your focus to Jesus today? Will you spend some time in prayer and conversation with Him and lay whatever exhausts you at His feet? Will you exchange your “yokes and burdens” for His and start to walk in the freedoms and lightness of His unforced rhythms and grace? Aren’t you grateful for God's gift of Jesus? Will this be the day you truly start to show it? Will this be the start of the “best rest” you ever had? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 17, 2014
Matthew 6:19-21
“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being."
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’ve been watching episodes of a show on the FYI network called “Tiny House Nation”. The “concept” offered in the show’s introduction is that all across the nation, people are rethinking their housing and downsizing from homes that average 2300 square feet to something that only has a few HUNDRED feet of space! Each show features the construction of one “tiny house” that is created for a family or an individual.
The builders assess the homeowner’s needs and wants and then produce a “tiny house” that hopefully addresses these in an esthetically pleasing manner – and somewhere around 400 square feet or less! One of the hosts also works with the homeowner(s) to downsize clothing and other possessions and whittle the number of these items to an amount that will fit inside the new abode. The theory is that the “tiny house” owners will focus more on other things in life - and less on material possessions – while they trim their expenses and save money in the process.
It’s a novel – and perhaps noble – concept. Let’s be honest. Try as we might to be less materialistic, I bet any one of us could open a closet or cabinet right now, and we would have to admit that we have plenty…if not a little more than we truly need. I get it…having extra underwear so you don’t have to do laundry as often is convenient. Extra cans of soup in the pantry come in handy when we have an ice storm and you can’t get to the store. That ricer you store in your cupboard and use twice a year is a nifty gadget when you need it! It’s fun to have “stuff”! I love my home – and everything in it!
I understand that people have to work to pay bills…sometimes more than one job and crazy hours and/or schedules. I realize that a lot of people work at jobs they don’t particularly enjoy just so said bills can be paid…while others love their jobs so much that they don’t want to stop working! But when we begin to focus on material wealth and possessions…when making money to buy more “stuff” is more important to us than spending time with family and friends - or God…this is a problem.
When it is more important to us to play with our “toys” or “do something fun” than to fellowship with others and worship God, things are out of whack. When we have time for movies, television programs, sporting events, video games, bridge club and Bunco, hunting, fishing, golfing and more…but we don’t have time to pick up our Bibles and study God’s word or to talk with Him about what He desires for us, there is an issue. When we have all manner of time to Google everything under the sun, but we can’t look up the number of someone who hasn’t shown up at church or in our other “circles” for awhile and ask “How are you doing?”…we’ve pretty well gotten our priorities out of balance. When we are more focused on “growing” our churches – in membership numbers and facilities – than we are in nurturing those who are on the rolls and filling every chair and pew in our present space, something is terribly wrong.
God wants us to enjoy our lives. And I am grateful for every single material thing He has allowed me to acquire. But I am more thankful that He taps me on the shoulder quite often and says, “Hey! Remember ME! Include ME in your list of treasures and work on what’s in your ‘heavenly closet’ for a change!”
I don’t want to live in a “tiny house” anytime soon…and I hope that is not what God has planned for me. But I am really trying to store up more in heaven…and less here on earth. Aren’t you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being."
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’ve been watching episodes of a show on the FYI network called “Tiny House Nation”. The “concept” offered in the show’s introduction is that all across the nation, people are rethinking their housing and downsizing from homes that average 2300 square feet to something that only has a few HUNDRED feet of space! Each show features the construction of one “tiny house” that is created for a family or an individual.
The builders assess the homeowner’s needs and wants and then produce a “tiny house” that hopefully addresses these in an esthetically pleasing manner – and somewhere around 400 square feet or less! One of the hosts also works with the homeowner(s) to downsize clothing and other possessions and whittle the number of these items to an amount that will fit inside the new abode. The theory is that the “tiny house” owners will focus more on other things in life - and less on material possessions – while they trim their expenses and save money in the process.
It’s a novel – and perhaps noble – concept. Let’s be honest. Try as we might to be less materialistic, I bet any one of us could open a closet or cabinet right now, and we would have to admit that we have plenty…if not a little more than we truly need. I get it…having extra underwear so you don’t have to do laundry as often is convenient. Extra cans of soup in the pantry come in handy when we have an ice storm and you can’t get to the store. That ricer you store in your cupboard and use twice a year is a nifty gadget when you need it! It’s fun to have “stuff”! I love my home – and everything in it!
I understand that people have to work to pay bills…sometimes more than one job and crazy hours and/or schedules. I realize that a lot of people work at jobs they don’t particularly enjoy just so said bills can be paid…while others love their jobs so much that they don’t want to stop working! But when we begin to focus on material wealth and possessions…when making money to buy more “stuff” is more important to us than spending time with family and friends - or God…this is a problem.
When it is more important to us to play with our “toys” or “do something fun” than to fellowship with others and worship God, things are out of whack. When we have time for movies, television programs, sporting events, video games, bridge club and Bunco, hunting, fishing, golfing and more…but we don’t have time to pick up our Bibles and study God’s word or to talk with Him about what He desires for us, there is an issue. When we have all manner of time to Google everything under the sun, but we can’t look up the number of someone who hasn’t shown up at church or in our other “circles” for awhile and ask “How are you doing?”…we’ve pretty well gotten our priorities out of balance. When we are more focused on “growing” our churches – in membership numbers and facilities – than we are in nurturing those who are on the rolls and filling every chair and pew in our present space, something is terribly wrong.
God wants us to enjoy our lives. And I am grateful for every single material thing He has allowed me to acquire. But I am more thankful that He taps me on the shoulder quite often and says, “Hey! Remember ME! Include ME in your list of treasures and work on what’s in your ‘heavenly closet’ for a change!”
I don’t want to live in a “tiny house” anytime soon…and I hope that is not what God has planned for me. But I am really trying to store up more in heaven…and less here on earth. Aren’t you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 16, 2014
Luke 12:29-34
“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.
“Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we were children, people would often ask us, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My friend Martha would always reply, “I’m going to be an entrepreneur.” None of us really knew what that was at the time – except Martha, maybe! – but it surely sounded impressive. I had no clue then that someday, Greg and I would be “entrepreneurs” and build our own business…or where God would take us in the process!
I can tell you firsthand that it is easy to become preoccupied with the inner workings of your own business…to concentrate on making that next dollar so that you can pay the bills and expand your operations. But relationships with people lie at the very core of pretty much every business you can imagine…customers, employees, suppliers, and auxiliary staff. Our own business relied on daily interaction with all of these groups, and a breakdown in communication at any point could create a ripple effect of major proportions.
One of the things that Greg and I determined from the outcome was that we were not “in this” to become wealthy. Our business was about serving people…specifically, helping people who lived in recreational vehicles (RVs) find opportunities for work as they traveled. It was strange at first to meet people who would say, “You changed our lives”…but as we cultivated our business and its relationships over eighteen years, we realized that this was truly the case for thousands of folks. There were retirees who wondered “What’s next?”…young families who wanted to take their children on the road and give them a “hands-on” education but didn’t know how they could afford it…and every demographic in between.
We also supplied employers of all kinds with a mature, reliable, diverse workforce. We literally spent every day for 18 years putting people together…generally in a positive way. And in doing so, we were never hungry…our bills were always paid…and we always had enough. I don’t tell you this to “toot my own horn”…but to make a point related to this scripture passage. Here goes…
If your goal in life is to make millions and “be rich and famous,” you have not studied Jesus’ words in Luke 12. If you are so preoccupied with your own life and “getting”…getting ahead…getting a new house, car, boat, piece of jewelry, or whatever personal “stuff” you wish to acquire…getting recognition and accolades for your “success”…or whatever you have established as your goal to “get”…you cannot possibly be paying enough attention to God’s giving. If you have made it all about you (even if you say that you haven’t) and are wholly focused on achieving that next rung on the ladder…you are probably missing out on the biggest rewards of all. I would suspect that your mental and physical health are both suffering…and you are probably not where you would like to be in your personal relationship with God – or with others!
This is all fixable…and it can begin today! Look around at those in your midst who are most contented and fulfilled. Notice I didn’t say “successful”, because most people only think in monetary terms when we use this word. Look for people who don’t seem stressed…who seem to always be doing something for someone else…whose every conversation is not about money – how to get it, spend it, or how hard it is to pay the bills. Look for the person who is more concerned with meeting the needs of others than driving the newest car or “movin’ on up to that deluxe apartment in the sky”.
Look for people who are more concerned with serving others in their profession than how much money they are making. There are more than a few people in this world who make life more comfortable for you and me every single day and are grossly underpaid for doing so. Yet they find satisfaction and joy in their work, because they don’t focus solely on money and acquisitions. These people have most likely learned to store their treasure in heaven rather than on this earth. They have learned to bless others in order to be blessed. They understand that “God-provisions” trump earthly possessions and accolades any day of the week. And they are grateful for what He has given and where He is taking them. They know that their future includes the “keys to the Kingdom”…and they are focused on getting there… in God’s style!
We can all enjoy this same “success”. God desperately wants us all to be on this path…to be His “entrepreneur’s”…not the world’s. I am so grateful for God’s stewardship and blessings. I am forever indebted to Him for giving us Jesus...for guiding our steps as we built a business that focuses on helping others. I am thankful that every day, God shows me ways to serve Him by serving others…and I hope I am sufficiently faithful and obedient in my efforts on His behalf.
What about you? Where is your focus? What sort of “entrepreneur” are you…and where are you storing your treasure? Have you recognized God’s tremendous blessings in your life…and are you genuinely grateful. Will this be the day that you begin to shift your attention to the things that are important to Him…and reap His rewards in the bargain? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.
“Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we were children, people would often ask us, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My friend Martha would always reply, “I’m going to be an entrepreneur.” None of us really knew what that was at the time – except Martha, maybe! – but it surely sounded impressive. I had no clue then that someday, Greg and I would be “entrepreneurs” and build our own business…or where God would take us in the process!
I can tell you firsthand that it is easy to become preoccupied with the inner workings of your own business…to concentrate on making that next dollar so that you can pay the bills and expand your operations. But relationships with people lie at the very core of pretty much every business you can imagine…customers, employees, suppliers, and auxiliary staff. Our own business relied on daily interaction with all of these groups, and a breakdown in communication at any point could create a ripple effect of major proportions.
One of the things that Greg and I determined from the outcome was that we were not “in this” to become wealthy. Our business was about serving people…specifically, helping people who lived in recreational vehicles (RVs) find opportunities for work as they traveled. It was strange at first to meet people who would say, “You changed our lives”…but as we cultivated our business and its relationships over eighteen years, we realized that this was truly the case for thousands of folks. There were retirees who wondered “What’s next?”…young families who wanted to take their children on the road and give them a “hands-on” education but didn’t know how they could afford it…and every demographic in between.
We also supplied employers of all kinds with a mature, reliable, diverse workforce. We literally spent every day for 18 years putting people together…generally in a positive way. And in doing so, we were never hungry…our bills were always paid…and we always had enough. I don’t tell you this to “toot my own horn”…but to make a point related to this scripture passage. Here goes…
If your goal in life is to make millions and “be rich and famous,” you have not studied Jesus’ words in Luke 12. If you are so preoccupied with your own life and “getting”…getting ahead…getting a new house, car, boat, piece of jewelry, or whatever personal “stuff” you wish to acquire…getting recognition and accolades for your “success”…or whatever you have established as your goal to “get”…you cannot possibly be paying enough attention to God’s giving. If you have made it all about you (even if you say that you haven’t) and are wholly focused on achieving that next rung on the ladder…you are probably missing out on the biggest rewards of all. I would suspect that your mental and physical health are both suffering…and you are probably not where you would like to be in your personal relationship with God – or with others!
This is all fixable…and it can begin today! Look around at those in your midst who are most contented and fulfilled. Notice I didn’t say “successful”, because most people only think in monetary terms when we use this word. Look for people who don’t seem stressed…who seem to always be doing something for someone else…whose every conversation is not about money – how to get it, spend it, or how hard it is to pay the bills. Look for the person who is more concerned with meeting the needs of others than driving the newest car or “movin’ on up to that deluxe apartment in the sky”.
Look for people who are more concerned with serving others in their profession than how much money they are making. There are more than a few people in this world who make life more comfortable for you and me every single day and are grossly underpaid for doing so. Yet they find satisfaction and joy in their work, because they don’t focus solely on money and acquisitions. These people have most likely learned to store their treasure in heaven rather than on this earth. They have learned to bless others in order to be blessed. They understand that “God-provisions” trump earthly possessions and accolades any day of the week. And they are grateful for what He has given and where He is taking them. They know that their future includes the “keys to the Kingdom”…and they are focused on getting there… in God’s style!
We can all enjoy this same “success”. God desperately wants us all to be on this path…to be His “entrepreneur’s”…not the world’s. I am so grateful for God’s stewardship and blessings. I am forever indebted to Him for giving us Jesus...for guiding our steps as we built a business that focuses on helping others. I am thankful that every day, God shows me ways to serve Him by serving others…and I hope I am sufficiently faithful and obedient in my efforts on His behalf.
What about you? Where is your focus? What sort of “entrepreneur” are you…and where are you storing your treasure? Have you recognized God’s tremendous blessings in your life…and are you genuinely grateful. Will this be the day that you begin to shift your attention to the things that are important to Him…and reap His rewards in the bargain? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 15, 2014
Lamentations 3:21-23
Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day.
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 sister was going through some things she had stored away, and she found our maternal great-grandmother Hassell’s family Bible. Tucked into the pages was a small envelope of photograph negatives and a couple of tiny pictures of my mom as a toddler. My sister asked me to scan the negatives and invert them for printing. I have done this before with other old negatives we found amongst family photos, and the “reveal” is always fascinating.
This set was no exception and provided us with a couple of new photos of my favorite uncle, Frank…husband to my great-aunt Altha. My mother refers to little blessings like this as a “silver box”…and mine for today was new pictures of my Uncle Frank, my mom as a small girl, and the houses that made up my grandparents’ neighborhood only a block from the home in which I was reared. Today, the land where these houses once sat is cleared…a vacant lot offers little to no evidence that three homes and a garage once occupied that particular plot of land.
I have to admit, when I look out on that bare parcel and remember when there were houses there - filled with people who shaped my childhood - I can get a little sad. Yet here today was this “silver box” of photos and memories…confirmation that there was once “life” on that block…that people lived, loved, and no doubt “cussed and discussed” in those tiny homes that seemed so big back then…that little girls and collie dogs stood in the street or sat on porch steps and had their picture snapped for posterity…that their memory lives on, thanks to photographs and those of us who are old enough to remember them and tell the next generation.
As I looked at these photos and read this scripture passage, I thought of the biggest “silver box” of all…God’s faithfulness. I considered His mercies and compassion – new every day for each of us. I thought about how these gifts keep us from complete destruction and give us hope and courage to live another day, no matter what is happening in our immediate world – or the world at large. And I was filled with a heart of gratitude.
See, God didn’t have to do any of this for you and me. He doesn’t have to keep picking us up and setting us back on track day after day. There is no reason for Him to care so deeply about us other than an amazing, abiding, unconditional love that we cannot even begin to comprehend. The least we can do is to offer Him our thanks and praise. It’s all we have…because we can never match Him…not in any way, shape or form.
So I want you to think about your day and figure out where you might have overlooked a “silver box”. Consider how God has blessed you and refreshed your hope and energy today…how He has granted you His mercy and compassion, lifted you out of a mess, or soothed your weary and broken soul in some situation. Spend some time telling God how much this means to you…how full your heart is at the very thought of His love and care…how grateful you are that He loves you this much.
Like images that come to life when negatives are inverted and edited, God has refreshed us this very day with His amazing and capable handiwork. Don’t you think He deserves a few minutes of our time spent in gratitude and praise? Won’t you stop and thank Him for His fresh and tender mercies this day…and in every day to come? Isn’t it time you thanked God for His “silver boxes” in your life? Wouldn’t this be a perfect time to start?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day.
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 sister was going through some things she had stored away, and she found our maternal great-grandmother Hassell’s family Bible. Tucked into the pages was a small envelope of photograph negatives and a couple of tiny pictures of my mom as a toddler. My sister asked me to scan the negatives and invert them for printing. I have done this before with other old negatives we found amongst family photos, and the “reveal” is always fascinating.
This set was no exception and provided us with a couple of new photos of my favorite uncle, Frank…husband to my great-aunt Altha. My mother refers to little blessings like this as a “silver box”…and mine for today was new pictures of my Uncle Frank, my mom as a small girl, and the houses that made up my grandparents’ neighborhood only a block from the home in which I was reared. Today, the land where these houses once sat is cleared…a vacant lot offers little to no evidence that three homes and a garage once occupied that particular plot of land.
I have to admit, when I look out on that bare parcel and remember when there were houses there - filled with people who shaped my childhood - I can get a little sad. Yet here today was this “silver box” of photos and memories…confirmation that there was once “life” on that block…that people lived, loved, and no doubt “cussed and discussed” in those tiny homes that seemed so big back then…that little girls and collie dogs stood in the street or sat on porch steps and had their picture snapped for posterity…that their memory lives on, thanks to photographs and those of us who are old enough to remember them and tell the next generation.
As I looked at these photos and read this scripture passage, I thought of the biggest “silver box” of all…God’s faithfulness. I considered His mercies and compassion – new every day for each of us. I thought about how these gifts keep us from complete destruction and give us hope and courage to live another day, no matter what is happening in our immediate world – or the world at large. And I was filled with a heart of gratitude.
See, God didn’t have to do any of this for you and me. He doesn’t have to keep picking us up and setting us back on track day after day. There is no reason for Him to care so deeply about us other than an amazing, abiding, unconditional love that we cannot even begin to comprehend. The least we can do is to offer Him our thanks and praise. It’s all we have…because we can never match Him…not in any way, shape or form.
So I want you to think about your day and figure out where you might have overlooked a “silver box”. Consider how God has blessed you and refreshed your hope and energy today…how He has granted you His mercy and compassion, lifted you out of a mess, or soothed your weary and broken soul in some situation. Spend some time telling God how much this means to you…how full your heart is at the very thought of His love and care…how grateful you are that He loves you this much.
Like images that come to life when negatives are inverted and edited, God has refreshed us this very day with His amazing and capable handiwork. Don’t you think He deserves a few minutes of our time spent in gratitude and praise? Won’t you stop and thank Him for His fresh and tender mercies this day…and in every day to come? Isn’t it time you thanked God for His “silver boxes” in your life? Wouldn’t this be a perfect time to start?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 14, 2014
John 11:41
After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, “Father, I thank you for answering my prayer.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my cousin J.D. lost his wife, Angie, to breast cancer a few years ago, he went to the funeral home and prayed over her dead body for more an hour and asked God to bring her back to life. He told me later, “Lazarus had been dead in the tomb for four days, and God raised him. I had to try…surely He could bring Angie back to me if He wanted.”
Lazarus was restored to life and my cousin’s wife was not. Does this mean that God gave Jesus’ prayer special consideration? Does God really hear our prayers and praises…and is it “worth our time” to offer them?
If you continue reading in John 11, you will see that Jesus offered this prayer of thanksgiving to God in front of a crowd of people, to demonstrate that He was the Son of God. He said in verse 42…”I know that you always answer my prayers. But I said this, so that the people here would believe that you sent me.”
One thing that I find interesting…and possibly very important…is that scripture does not tell us exactly what Jesus said to God in His prayer. Jesus thanked God for answering…but we can only assume that He asked for the resurrection of Lazarus. Did Jesus pray for God’s will? Did Jesus ask God to do what He felt was best in this situation? We simply do not know. All we have is John’s account that Jesus thanked our Heavenly Father for answering His prayer…and then He ordered Lazarus to come forth from the tomb.
I recently served on a jury in a civil trial. The judge admonished us to only consider the evidence we were presented…and our own common sense and personal experiences as related to the case. We were not to add or remove anything else. We could only rule based on the facts that we were given. When we petition God and ask for a “verdict”, we must understand that He considers man factors and decides what is best for His plans – and for us. So if we apply this to the Biblical account of Lazarus’s resurrection - and to our own prayers and praises - we can present our “case” to God…but we must trust Him to answer in a way that is best for His purposes – and ours.
The key to this passage is the timing of our prayers. Do we have the faith and confidence in God to offer a prayer of thanks and gratitude before we know the outcome? Do we demonstrate our Christian faith…and do we genuinely believe that God will answer in the best possible manner – even before He does so?
Anyone can thank God after the fact. But when we begin to trust God in all things…and to operate in gratitude for His perfect plans in all circumstances and outcomes before they are evidenced…our Christian discipleship takes a leap to a whole other level. This is my goal…my desire…to be grateful in all things, even before I know the results. I want to operate in faith so profound that I never doubt God’s power and presence in my life. I want to believe that God could bring loved ones back to life if He desired…and to trust His wisdom in these decisions and others – no matter how great or small.
In John 11:40, Jesus asked Lazarus’ sister Martha…“Didn’t I tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?” I want to see God’s glory more clearly in all situations and circumstances…and I am working to grow in my faith so that I can. What about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, “Father, I thank you for answering my prayer.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my cousin J.D. lost his wife, Angie, to breast cancer a few years ago, he went to the funeral home and prayed over her dead body for more an hour and asked God to bring her back to life. He told me later, “Lazarus had been dead in the tomb for four days, and God raised him. I had to try…surely He could bring Angie back to me if He wanted.”
Lazarus was restored to life and my cousin’s wife was not. Does this mean that God gave Jesus’ prayer special consideration? Does God really hear our prayers and praises…and is it “worth our time” to offer them?
If you continue reading in John 11, you will see that Jesus offered this prayer of thanksgiving to God in front of a crowd of people, to demonstrate that He was the Son of God. He said in verse 42…”I know that you always answer my prayers. But I said this, so that the people here would believe that you sent me.”
One thing that I find interesting…and possibly very important…is that scripture does not tell us exactly what Jesus said to God in His prayer. Jesus thanked God for answering…but we can only assume that He asked for the resurrection of Lazarus. Did Jesus pray for God’s will? Did Jesus ask God to do what He felt was best in this situation? We simply do not know. All we have is John’s account that Jesus thanked our Heavenly Father for answering His prayer…and then He ordered Lazarus to come forth from the tomb.
I recently served on a jury in a civil trial. The judge admonished us to only consider the evidence we were presented…and our own common sense and personal experiences as related to the case. We were not to add or remove anything else. We could only rule based on the facts that we were given. When we petition God and ask for a “verdict”, we must understand that He considers man factors and decides what is best for His plans – and for us. So if we apply this to the Biblical account of Lazarus’s resurrection - and to our own prayers and praises - we can present our “case” to God…but we must trust Him to answer in a way that is best for His purposes – and ours.
The key to this passage is the timing of our prayers. Do we have the faith and confidence in God to offer a prayer of thanks and gratitude before we know the outcome? Do we demonstrate our Christian faith…and do we genuinely believe that God will answer in the best possible manner – even before He does so?
Anyone can thank God after the fact. But when we begin to trust God in all things…and to operate in gratitude for His perfect plans in all circumstances and outcomes before they are evidenced…our Christian discipleship takes a leap to a whole other level. This is my goal…my desire…to be grateful in all things, even before I know the results. I want to operate in faith so profound that I never doubt God’s power and presence in my life. I want to believe that God could bring loved ones back to life if He desired…and to trust His wisdom in these decisions and others – no matter how great or small.
In John 11:40, Jesus asked Lazarus’ sister Martha…“Didn’t I tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?” I want to see God’s glory more clearly in all situations and circumstances…and I am working to grow in my faith so that I can. What about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 13, 2014
James 1:16-18
So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine recently had to surrender the 4-month-old foster child she and her family had nurtured since he was just seven days old. The court apparently determined that it was in this baby’s best interest to be placed with another family who had adopted his older sibling. Imagine this couple’s anguish as they counted off the days until the precious child that they had hoped to possibly adopt was set to leave their home…probably forever. I am sure that they pled with God to change this. I have no doubt that they hoped that even at the eleventh hour, they would get a phone call and learn that this was all a mistake…that they could keep “their” baby. But in the end, the child was taken from their home and placed in the care of another family.
It would be easy to question God on this one…to wring hands and cry out, “Why, LORD…WHY?” There are plenty of situations and circumstances where we are tempted to ask God, “Why?”…
This scripture passage reminds us to “keep the faith” and “stay the course”! We may not see desirable and beneficial gifts coming out of heaven like rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light…but they are there, all the same. We may not understand God’s thought process - or His methods. He may seem to be fickle and two-faced…aloof and apathetic. But nothing could be further from the truth.
God loves us…always and forever. He wants nothing but His very best for us…we just don’t always know what that is! When God allows us to experience a heartache or a challenge, it isn’t because He wants to hurt us. God wants us to lean on Him…to trust Him in all things…to understand that He can work anything and everything together for His good purposes.
This is so hard…I wouldn’t for a minute suggest that there is anything easy about hurtful or difficult situations of any kind – nor diminish what you are experiencing in any way. But I can tell you from personal experience that even in your worst pain, God is working. He is preparing gifts and blessings for you that you cannot even imagine. The outcome may not be at all what you had hoped or planned…but it will be perfect – and it might just be better! Ultimately, God will prevail and bring about His flawlessness. If we can just trust in this and continue to believe in Him, we will see this displayed in our own lives.
We can find it incredibly hard to be grateful in times of trouble, hardship and suffering. But these are the times when we should double our efforts to thank God for His amazing love and care. He will meet our needs and bless us in this more than we can ever imagine. Where is God working for your good in a potentially hurtful or hopeless situation? Have you thanked Him for His presence and precision? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine recently had to surrender the 4-month-old foster child she and her family had nurtured since he was just seven days old. The court apparently determined that it was in this baby’s best interest to be placed with another family who had adopted his older sibling. Imagine this couple’s anguish as they counted off the days until the precious child that they had hoped to possibly adopt was set to leave their home…probably forever. I am sure that they pled with God to change this. I have no doubt that they hoped that even at the eleventh hour, they would get a phone call and learn that this was all a mistake…that they could keep “their” baby. But in the end, the child was taken from their home and placed in the care of another family.
It would be easy to question God on this one…to wring hands and cry out, “Why, LORD…WHY?” There are plenty of situations and circumstances where we are tempted to ask God, “Why?”…
- When a relationship is “circling the drain” or a loved one is terminally ill…
- When you are bullied or cannot find a job and the bill collectors are at your door like wolves…
- When you cannot a handle on the balance of studies, work, and extracurricular life…
- When you cannot seem to lose those last pounds and inches despite your best efforts…or you have health issues and can’t seem to get well and stay that way…
- When children of all ages get Ebola in an African country and die…
- When pets and people are abused and neglected…
- When people in your own community are homeless and hungry…
This scripture passage reminds us to “keep the faith” and “stay the course”! We may not see desirable and beneficial gifts coming out of heaven like rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light…but they are there, all the same. We may not understand God’s thought process - or His methods. He may seem to be fickle and two-faced…aloof and apathetic. But nothing could be further from the truth.
God loves us…always and forever. He wants nothing but His very best for us…we just don’t always know what that is! When God allows us to experience a heartache or a challenge, it isn’t because He wants to hurt us. God wants us to lean on Him…to trust Him in all things…to understand that He can work anything and everything together for His good purposes.
This is so hard…I wouldn’t for a minute suggest that there is anything easy about hurtful or difficult situations of any kind – nor diminish what you are experiencing in any way. But I can tell you from personal experience that even in your worst pain, God is working. He is preparing gifts and blessings for you that you cannot even imagine. The outcome may not be at all what you had hoped or planned…but it will be perfect – and it might just be better! Ultimately, God will prevail and bring about His flawlessness. If we can just trust in this and continue to believe in Him, we will see this displayed in our own lives.
We can find it incredibly hard to be grateful in times of trouble, hardship and suffering. But these are the times when we should double our efforts to thank God for His amazing love and care. He will meet our needs and bless us in this more than we can ever imagine. Where is God working for your good in a potentially hurtful or hopeless situation? Have you thanked Him for His presence and precision? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 12, 2014
Hebrews 13:13-15
So let us go out to him beyond the city walls (that is, outside the interests of this world, being willing to be despised) to suffer with him there, bearing his shame. For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.
With Jesus’ help we will continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by telling others of the glory of his name.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In one way or another, we Christians have probably all stepped “outside of the box” at one time or another. Maybe you paid the bill of the person behind you in the line at McDonald’s…or maybe you stepped up to serve on a committee when you weren’t sure you had adequate knowledge and expertise – but you felt led to do so anyway. Maybe you intervened in a situation where many would have said…”Not my circus; not my monkeys.” Maybe you loaned someone money when others said, “Don’t do it.” Or perhaps you stepped up to someone you didn’t know very well and asked, “Have you met Jesus?”
The point is that there will be times in all of our lives when God will call on us to do something daring…unconventional…maybe even a little bit crazy – and most certainly daunting or uncomfortable! He will ask us to step over the line and stand on His side, rather than the world’s. God will essentially ask us, “Are you really with me? Do you trust me? Do you genuinely appreciate what I have done for you…enough to demonstrate it with courage and just a bit of abandon?
How we answer will say a lot about our level of faith…and our gratitude. Do we really have confidence in God to stand in the gap and make the difference between our perceived abilities and circumstances – and what He can do with the least of our efforts? Are we honestly grateful for what God has done in our lives…and what He promises to do in the days/weeks/years/eternity yet to be? Will we “cross the line” of faith and thankfulness and demonstrate to God - and to others - just how much our salvation means to us?
Are we truly willing to offer a sacrifice of praise to God by telling – and showing – others the glory of His name? Isn’t it time we were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
So let us go out to him beyond the city walls (that is, outside the interests of this world, being willing to be despised) to suffer with him there, bearing his shame. For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.
With Jesus’ help we will continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by telling others of the glory of his name.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In one way or another, we Christians have probably all stepped “outside of the box” at one time or another. Maybe you paid the bill of the person behind you in the line at McDonald’s…or maybe you stepped up to serve on a committee when you weren’t sure you had adequate knowledge and expertise – but you felt led to do so anyway. Maybe you intervened in a situation where many would have said…”Not my circus; not my monkeys.” Maybe you loaned someone money when others said, “Don’t do it.” Or perhaps you stepped up to someone you didn’t know very well and asked, “Have you met Jesus?”
The point is that there will be times in all of our lives when God will call on us to do something daring…unconventional…maybe even a little bit crazy – and most certainly daunting or uncomfortable! He will ask us to step over the line and stand on His side, rather than the world’s. God will essentially ask us, “Are you really with me? Do you trust me? Do you genuinely appreciate what I have done for you…enough to demonstrate it with courage and just a bit of abandon?
How we answer will say a lot about our level of faith…and our gratitude. Do we really have confidence in God to stand in the gap and make the difference between our perceived abilities and circumstances – and what He can do with the least of our efforts? Are we honestly grateful for what God has done in our lives…and what He promises to do in the days/weeks/years/eternity yet to be? Will we “cross the line” of faith and thankfulness and demonstrate to God - and to others - just how much our salvation means to us?
Are we truly willing to offer a sacrifice of praise to God by telling – and showing – others the glory of His name? Isn’t it time we were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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