Isaiah 49:8-10
God also says:
“When the time’s ripe, I answer you.
When victory’s due, I help you.
I form you and use you
to reconnect the people with me,
To put the land in order,
to resettle families on the ruined properties.
I tell prisoners, ‘Come on out. You’re free!’
and those huddled in fear, ‘It’s all right. It’s safe now.’
There’ll be foodstands along all the roads,
picnics on all the hills—
Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty,
shade from the sun, shelter from the wind,
For the Compassionate One guides them,
takes them to the best springs.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
One of the questions little
kids ask a lot is, “When?” We adults hear countless questions, like…
“When will lunch be ready? When can I go outside? When can I get up
from this ‘rest’? When will I be big enough?" and “When will this be
over?” And our answer is pretty much always…”When it’s the right time.”
Isn’t
it interesting that we understand the concept of “timing” when we are
talking to little children…but when we want something from God - all
bets are off! And let’s be honest…we often get aggravated when God
doesn’t answer as quickly as we would like – or in the manner we
preferred! We start to make assumptions about how He must not care
about us…we are being punished for something…or that our prayers are not
reaching Him. And none of these are anywhere near the truth.
Read this passage again. “When the time’s ripe, I answer you.” Hear these words…”When victory’s due,
I help you.” God truly is the “parent” – or “adult” – and we are the
child. And just as small children must learn patience and trust, we
must develop these same characteristics in our fellowship with our
Heavenly Father.
This is a rich passage. The message is hopeful
and encouraging…positive and purposeful. God is with us…He is feeding
us, sheltering us, and meeting our every need…in His perfect timing!
How we respond and react defines our relationship…and our Christian
discipleship. What are your words and actions saying about your faith?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label Gods rhythms and timing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gods rhythms and timing. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for July 8, 2014
Revelation 6:11
White robes were given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer until their other brothers, fellow servants of Jesus, had been martyred on the earth and joined them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When my sister, brother and I were little, I remember having to lie down to rest on summer afternoons while our “kiddie pool” filled with water…and said water warmed a bit. Sometimes we napped, but often, we tossed and turned and waited until our parents allowed us to get up and go outside to play in the water. If you have spent any time with a toddler or young child, you know how hard it can be to persuade him/her to rest for a while and/or wait on an upcoming event…like a swim at the pool, a play date, or maybe a treat of some sort. In the words of the evil magician in the movie, “Frosty the Snowman” - who wanted his “magic” hat back - “I want it [that hat]…and I want it NOW!”
We are impatient people. And the wonderful thing is that God understands that! Even the martyrs of the Bible who were killed for preaching the Good News about Jesus were told in John’s Revelation dream…”rest a little longer until more martyrs join you!” Hopefully whatever we are waiting for does not involve the peril of others. But often, God calls on us to wait for something. And in this waiting, He calls upon us to rest – to chill out, relax, be patient, and to be content where we are in this moment.
This is really a big order for a lot of us. We want everything to be resolved right away. We don’t want to feel better in a few days…we want to be well NOW! We can’t wait for “Mr. or Miss Right”…we have to have a companion this week! We have asked God to answer our prayers…and we meant TODAY…not some nebulous date in the future that He chooses! And all the while, God often gently listens to us and whispers, “There, there…rest just a little while longer!”
Where is God calling you to rest a little longer today? Where do you need to trust His timing more and demand less? Are there areas of your life in which you have failed to exercise patience? How content are you this day with how God is orchestrating your circumstances? How sure are you of God’s presence and timing?
If the martyrs who suffered and died to share the Gospel of Jesus can wait…don’t you think we can hang on a little longer, too? Let’s “put on a white robe” and rest in God’s love and care. His answers will come…the time of rest will end. You will have plenty of time to “dip in the pool” of God’s promises and the good things He holds in store for you!
©2014 Debbie Robus
White robes were given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer until their other brothers, fellow servants of Jesus, had been martyred on the earth and joined them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When my sister, brother and I were little, I remember having to lie down to rest on summer afternoons while our “kiddie pool” filled with water…and said water warmed a bit. Sometimes we napped, but often, we tossed and turned and waited until our parents allowed us to get up and go outside to play in the water. If you have spent any time with a toddler or young child, you know how hard it can be to persuade him/her to rest for a while and/or wait on an upcoming event…like a swim at the pool, a play date, or maybe a treat of some sort. In the words of the evil magician in the movie, “Frosty the Snowman” - who wanted his “magic” hat back - “I want it [that hat]…and I want it NOW!”
We are impatient people. And the wonderful thing is that God understands that! Even the martyrs of the Bible who were killed for preaching the Good News about Jesus were told in John’s Revelation dream…”rest a little longer until more martyrs join you!” Hopefully whatever we are waiting for does not involve the peril of others. But often, God calls on us to wait for something. And in this waiting, He calls upon us to rest – to chill out, relax, be patient, and to be content where we are in this moment.
This is really a big order for a lot of us. We want everything to be resolved right away. We don’t want to feel better in a few days…we want to be well NOW! We can’t wait for “Mr. or Miss Right”…we have to have a companion this week! We have asked God to answer our prayers…and we meant TODAY…not some nebulous date in the future that He chooses! And all the while, God often gently listens to us and whispers, “There, there…rest just a little while longer!”
Where is God calling you to rest a little longer today? Where do you need to trust His timing more and demand less? Are there areas of your life in which you have failed to exercise patience? How content are you this day with how God is orchestrating your circumstances? How sure are you of God’s presence and timing?
If the martyrs who suffered and died to share the Gospel of Jesus can wait…don’t you think we can hang on a little longer, too? Let’s “put on a white robe” and rest in God’s love and care. His answers will come…the time of rest will end. You will have plenty of time to “dip in the pool” of God’s promises and the good things He holds in store for you!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 23, 2013
Ecclesiastes 4:4-6
Then I realized that we work and do wonderful things just because we are jealous of others. This makes no more sense than chasing the wind.
Fools will fold their hands and starve to death. Yet a very little food eaten in peace is better than twice as much earned from overwork and chasing the wind.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I recently began taking Timothy and Zola with us to church on Sunday… and “out to lunch” afterward. We used to eat out at a local sit-down restaurant or cafeteria on Sundays… now we frequent McDonald’s or Burger King! Instead of an entrée, vegetables and possibly dessert, we now have a burger or chicken nuggets and fries… and dessert is usually an ice cream cone or a cookie! But the company is so entertaining! Truthfully, what we eat – or where we are – is not nearly as important as who is with us.
Today, we gathered around a small table at Burger King… my husband and me, Timothy, Zola, and Grandma “E” – my husband’s mother, who is adored by the children. We ate our burgers, nuggets and fries, followed by ice cream. Then I took Timothy to the restroom to clean his hands… sticky from the ice cream cone he had devoured. Once inside, he told me he needed to use the restroom. I told him I would wait outside the stall for him. I was wearing a brightly-colored long skirt that I repurposed from a dress I purchased at a local thrift store. But as I stood in front of the bathroom stall, I heard this little voice say, “I can still see your princess clothes and your sandals [under the door].” I stifled a laugh and stepped out of Timothy’s view.
We have eaten at gourmet restaurants and dined at banquet halls. We have paid “good money” for a nice steak dinner with all the trimmings. And we have tried taking the little children to a sit-down restaurant for a meal of “meat, potatoes and vegetables.” But I wouldn’t trade any of these for the time we spend crowded around a small table enjoying “happy meals” and watching these children smile and laugh. There is a peace and unpretentiousness about such a simple meal. The kids don’t eat much… they dribble soft drinks and ice cream down the front of their clothes and wriggle around on their seats. But it is the “exclamation point” on their Sunday morning… a time when they eagerly anticipate seeing their friends at church and spending time afterward with us and Grandma “E.” And I have to tell you, having a four-year-old describe my attire as “princess clothes” isn’t too shabby either!
What does this have to do with you and your faith? The message I believe God wants to convey in this passage today is to slow down and find His peace in the simple things. Everything doesn’t have to be a lavish production. There is no shame in working hard, having nice things, or dining in fine restaurants. But don’t overlook the joy and serenity of something as simple as a cold drink shared on the porch with a neighbor or friend…a “staycation” with your family that involves swims at local beaches, popcorn and videos, and frozen pizzas or take-out vs. a week at an expensive resort…a morning cup of coffee while you sit in your favorite chair and simply listen to God for a few minutes or more… a fast-food meal with family and/or friends where everyone eats burgers and fries instead of an expensive, formal restaurant meal.
Many years ago, my mom and dad hosted a somewhat impromptu “family dinner” one evening. This time, instead of roasting some sort of meat like brisket or ham – or grilling burgers – Mom made sandwiches – tuna fish, and her famous pimiento cheese. Others brought chips, baked beans and “trimmings” from the store. I don’t remember what was served for dessert, but it was something quick and easy. Twenty years ago or more, my family had a lot of spur-of-the-moment gatherings…like wiener roasts at a local park near the lake. We’d all bring hot dogs and buns, chips, marshmallows and drinks and lawn chairs. In a matter of an hour, we would be gathered around a fire… talking and laughing and enjoying the scenery and the fellowship of one another. I particularly remember the sandwich dinner, because my dear cousin Eddie – who is now with Jesus – said, “This was great! We don’t need to go to a whole lot of trouble to get together… we just need to do it.” And he was right. In so many areas of life, it’s not about what “food you serve” as much as the spirit, or intention of those who gather.
So find God’s peace in the little things. Understand that He is in every detail… even the small ones. Settle into God’s rhythms and start to see things as He does… how much He cares about every tiny aspect of your life. Quit trying to keep up with everybody else… to pretend to be somebody you are not…to make everything such a production. Don’t miss out on the serenity of just “being”… whether in the company of others, or alone with God. Stop chasing the wind and relax a little. Give God a chance to show you just how peaceful a simpler life can be.
We can learn a lot from toddlers and four-year-olds. They see things with such purity – and often more clarity than any of us “grown-ups!” So they discover “princess clothes” in repurposed thrift-store finds…and peace and joy in an ice cream cone, some chicken nuggets and a cheap toy in a box! Where are you looking for peace these days? Have you been too busy chasing the wind to discover what is right in front of you? Will this be the day that you slow down and give God’s peace a chance?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Then I realized that we work and do wonderful things just because we are jealous of others. This makes no more sense than chasing the wind.
Fools will fold their hands and starve to death. Yet a very little food eaten in peace is better than twice as much earned from overwork and chasing the wind.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I recently began taking Timothy and Zola with us to church on Sunday… and “out to lunch” afterward. We used to eat out at a local sit-down restaurant or cafeteria on Sundays… now we frequent McDonald’s or Burger King! Instead of an entrée, vegetables and possibly dessert, we now have a burger or chicken nuggets and fries… and dessert is usually an ice cream cone or a cookie! But the company is so entertaining! Truthfully, what we eat – or where we are – is not nearly as important as who is with us.
Today, we gathered around a small table at Burger King… my husband and me, Timothy, Zola, and Grandma “E” – my husband’s mother, who is adored by the children. We ate our burgers, nuggets and fries, followed by ice cream. Then I took Timothy to the restroom to clean his hands… sticky from the ice cream cone he had devoured. Once inside, he told me he needed to use the restroom. I told him I would wait outside the stall for him. I was wearing a brightly-colored long skirt that I repurposed from a dress I purchased at a local thrift store. But as I stood in front of the bathroom stall, I heard this little voice say, “I can still see your princess clothes and your sandals [under the door].” I stifled a laugh and stepped out of Timothy’s view.
We have eaten at gourmet restaurants and dined at banquet halls. We have paid “good money” for a nice steak dinner with all the trimmings. And we have tried taking the little children to a sit-down restaurant for a meal of “meat, potatoes and vegetables.” But I wouldn’t trade any of these for the time we spend crowded around a small table enjoying “happy meals” and watching these children smile and laugh. There is a peace and unpretentiousness about such a simple meal. The kids don’t eat much… they dribble soft drinks and ice cream down the front of their clothes and wriggle around on their seats. But it is the “exclamation point” on their Sunday morning… a time when they eagerly anticipate seeing their friends at church and spending time afterward with us and Grandma “E.” And I have to tell you, having a four-year-old describe my attire as “princess clothes” isn’t too shabby either!
What does this have to do with you and your faith? The message I believe God wants to convey in this passage today is to slow down and find His peace in the simple things. Everything doesn’t have to be a lavish production. There is no shame in working hard, having nice things, or dining in fine restaurants. But don’t overlook the joy and serenity of something as simple as a cold drink shared on the porch with a neighbor or friend…a “staycation” with your family that involves swims at local beaches, popcorn and videos, and frozen pizzas or take-out vs. a week at an expensive resort…a morning cup of coffee while you sit in your favorite chair and simply listen to God for a few minutes or more… a fast-food meal with family and/or friends where everyone eats burgers and fries instead of an expensive, formal restaurant meal.
Many years ago, my mom and dad hosted a somewhat impromptu “family dinner” one evening. This time, instead of roasting some sort of meat like brisket or ham – or grilling burgers – Mom made sandwiches – tuna fish, and her famous pimiento cheese. Others brought chips, baked beans and “trimmings” from the store. I don’t remember what was served for dessert, but it was something quick and easy. Twenty years ago or more, my family had a lot of spur-of-the-moment gatherings…like wiener roasts at a local park near the lake. We’d all bring hot dogs and buns, chips, marshmallows and drinks and lawn chairs. In a matter of an hour, we would be gathered around a fire… talking and laughing and enjoying the scenery and the fellowship of one another. I particularly remember the sandwich dinner, because my dear cousin Eddie – who is now with Jesus – said, “This was great! We don’t need to go to a whole lot of trouble to get together… we just need to do it.” And he was right. In so many areas of life, it’s not about what “food you serve” as much as the spirit, or intention of those who gather.
So find God’s peace in the little things. Understand that He is in every detail… even the small ones. Settle into God’s rhythms and start to see things as He does… how much He cares about every tiny aspect of your life. Quit trying to keep up with everybody else… to pretend to be somebody you are not…to make everything such a production. Don’t miss out on the serenity of just “being”… whether in the company of others, or alone with God. Stop chasing the wind and relax a little. Give God a chance to show you just how peaceful a simpler life can be.
We can learn a lot from toddlers and four-year-olds. They see things with such purity – and often more clarity than any of us “grown-ups!” So they discover “princess clothes” in repurposed thrift-store finds…and peace and joy in an ice cream cone, some chicken nuggets and a cheap toy in a box! Where are you looking for peace these days? Have you been too busy chasing the wind to discover what is right in front of you? Will this be the day that you slow down and give God’s peace a chance?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 8, 2013
Titus 2:1-6
Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Almost 30 years ago, my grandmother persuaded me to go dancing with her at a local barn dance. My grandmother came from a musical family, and she and her sisters were excellent dancers. My great-grandfather and his brother played the fiddle and other instruments at area dances “back in the day,” and their daughters learned to foxtrot, waltz, and two-step to their familiar folk tunes. On the other hand, I knew nothing of this sort of dance, save a semester of “folk dance” class in college. But my grandmother insisted I tag along… so I went with her. It wasn’t long before a very nice older gentleman friend of my grandmother’s named Jack asked me to dance. I politely declined, but my grandmother insisted I try. “He’s a good dancer,” she assured me. “Go on and dance with him.”
In the arms of an experienced lead dancer, even someone with two left feet like mine can do fairly well. Jack gave me a quick lesson in how the steps went and then said, “Just follow me.” He led me across the floor with ease… and I don’t think I stepped on his feet too many times! While I didn’t fare as well with a few other dance partners, Jack’s early guidance did make for a much more enjoyable night.
Paul challenges Titus in these first few verses to be an agent of God… an earthly, physical “lead” for God’s Spiritual dance. He gives Titus a list of character traits and qualities that will mold men and women into great “dancers” for God’s chorus line… temperance, dignity, wisdom, faith, love, endurance (patience), reverence, goodness…people of order who don’t gossip or drink to excess…people who are disciplined and conscientious.
You and I are the dancers in life… and God is our “lead.” If we pay attention and allow Him to guide us… if we learn His rhythm and follow His instructions… we can deliver a pretty solid performance. In His arms, we will glide across the “floor” of life. There will be some missteps… some bruised toes… and maybe even a stumble or two. But in all, we can rest in God’s rhythm with the assurance of things turning out as He intended. We will encounter other “dance partners” – most of whom the devil plants in front of us – but the outcome will usually be far less than stellar… with more than a few sore toes created in the process!
The question becomes… Who is your lead? How are you “dancing” through life? Do you have a solid grasp of God’s timing… or are you bumbling your way through with what are often spastic results? Are you patiently seeking your God-given dreams, or do you birth things prematurely. Is your life one of solid doctrine, as Paul describes to Titus… or are you impatiently trying to orchestrate things on your own? The choice is ours... we’ve been given a perfect example of how to live in Jesus… and reminders through scripture, in case we have any questions. What will you do with all of this? How well will you “dance?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
“Timing is so important! If you are going to be successful in dance, you must be able to respond to rhythm and timing. It’s the same in the Spirit. People who don’t understand God’s timing can become spiritually spastic, trying to make the right things happen at the wrong time. They don’t get His rhythm – and everyone can tell they are out of step. They birth things prematurely, threatening the very lives of their God-given dreams.” ~ T. D. Jakes
Almost 30 years ago, my grandmother persuaded me to go dancing with her at a local barn dance. My grandmother came from a musical family, and she and her sisters were excellent dancers. My great-grandfather and his brother played the fiddle and other instruments at area dances “back in the day,” and their daughters learned to foxtrot, waltz, and two-step to their familiar folk tunes. On the other hand, I knew nothing of this sort of dance, save a semester of “folk dance” class in college. But my grandmother insisted I tag along… so I went with her. It wasn’t long before a very nice older gentleman friend of my grandmother’s named Jack asked me to dance. I politely declined, but my grandmother insisted I try. “He’s a good dancer,” she assured me. “Go on and dance with him.”
In the arms of an experienced lead dancer, even someone with two left feet like mine can do fairly well. Jack gave me a quick lesson in how the steps went and then said, “Just follow me.” He led me across the floor with ease… and I don’t think I stepped on his feet too many times! While I didn’t fare as well with a few other dance partners, Jack’s early guidance did make for a much more enjoyable night.
Paul challenges Titus in these first few verses to be an agent of God… an earthly, physical “lead” for God’s Spiritual dance. He gives Titus a list of character traits and qualities that will mold men and women into great “dancers” for God’s chorus line… temperance, dignity, wisdom, faith, love, endurance (patience), reverence, goodness…people of order who don’t gossip or drink to excess…people who are disciplined and conscientious.
You and I are the dancers in life… and God is our “lead.” If we pay attention and allow Him to guide us… if we learn His rhythm and follow His instructions… we can deliver a pretty solid performance. In His arms, we will glide across the “floor” of life. There will be some missteps… some bruised toes… and maybe even a stumble or two. But in all, we can rest in God’s rhythm with the assurance of things turning out as He intended. We will encounter other “dance partners” – most of whom the devil plants in front of us – but the outcome will usually be far less than stellar… with more than a few sore toes created in the process!
The question becomes… Who is your lead? How are you “dancing” through life? Do you have a solid grasp of God’s timing… or are you bumbling your way through with what are often spastic results? Are you patiently seeking your God-given dreams, or do you birth things prematurely. Is your life one of solid doctrine, as Paul describes to Titus… or are you impatiently trying to orchestrate things on your own? The choice is ours... we’ve been given a perfect example of how to live in Jesus… and reminders through scripture, in case we have any questions. What will you do with all of this? How well will you “dance?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
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