Jeremiah 31:25
For I have given rest to the weary and joy to all the sorrowing.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Rick Warren, (author of The Purpose Driven Life*
and pastor at Saddleback Church) spoke to the Southern Baptist
Convention Pastors’ Conference at the Baltimore Convention Center
recently and shared his personal story of heartbreak in the death by
suicide of his son, Matthew, the week after Easter Sunday, 2013. Warren
noted that 27-year-old Matthew had struggled with depression and mental
illness most of his life. When he was seventeen, Matthew came to Rick
Warren and said, ““Why can’t I just go to heaven? Why can’t I just go
now?” Warren’s son was tired and in need of some serious rest.
According
to a newspaper account of Warren’s convention speech, he said that
Matthew coped with his weariness by reaching out to others – that he
seemed to have a heightened sense of which person in the room was in the
most pain – and encouraged him/her. But in the days after Easter
Sunday, as Warren preached a series of sermons on hope, Matthew’s hope
and energy ran out…and he chose to take his own life and enter into
eternal rest with his Heavenly Father.
Warren’s message to the
pastors at this annual convention was about rest. He told them, “God
has a plan for relief...and it's not just on the other side of eternity.
How do you choose joy when your world is falling apart? Use the pain
to draw closer to God. When something bad happens, we always want to
ask, 'Why did this happen?' Explanations never comfort. What comforts
is the glory of God." He continued… "If you want the blessing of God on
your life, if you want the power of God on your words, if you want the
anointing of God on your ministry, you must be willing to suffer. What
Jesus promised was trials, tribulations, testing, temptation and
thorns. Because pain is God's megaphone, there is no testimony without a
test. There is no message without a mess. There is no impact without
criticism."
So where does this leave us when we are
drained…whether the fatigue is physical, mental, emotional, or
spiritual? Warren has highlighted the answer…”God has a plan for relief.”
Rest is available for the weary…joy can be had by all who have
experienced sorrow…and God offers each of us these things in abundance.
Will God’s rest and joy come easily? Probably not! Does this mean
that we will never have suffering or setbacks! Most definitely NOT!
Will God allow tests and trials…temptation and “thorns”? Certainly!
Will all of our tribulations be worth it? Absolutely!
I
frequently receive prayer requests from friends and family members for
all sorts of challenges and concerns that contribute to weariness. Not
all of these involve illness, injury and loss of life. People are worn
out over school years and courses of study that seem never-ending, jobs
that don’t satisfy – or do not materialize in the first place, bills to
pay, houses to buy and sell, moves to make, and relationships that are
troubled…not to mention all kinds of daily activities that leave us
bone-tired and in need of a serious break! It took author Charles
Swindoll two book volumes to cover one of my favorite devotional Bible
studies - Living Beyond the Daily Grind**! Many people wake up in the morning counting the minutes before they can crawl back into bed and pull up the covers!
I
get it…I’ve been there…and some days, I’m STILL there! But I find rest
in God’s word…in conversations with Him…and in fellowship with others
who are also seeking His respite. And you can, too. It starts with a
prayer…an invitation for God to join you and help you shoulder the load
of your “daily grind”. The Bible is filled with examples of people who
overcame tests and suffering…and rested in the joy of the LORD. There
are countless believers who are more than willing to talk with you and
offer you reassurance and encouragement…to let you know that you are not
alone - or crazy!
So what are you waiting for? Throw back the
covers…get up and get going…and find the rest and joy that God is
longing to give you. God has a plan for relief to give you. Will this
be the day that you take Him up on His offer?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://purposedriven.com/books/pdlbook/#purpose
** http://www.amazon.com/Living-Beyond-Daily-Charles-Swindoll/dp/0884863727
Showing posts with label Purpose Driven Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Purpose Driven Life. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 16, 2014
Hebrews 10:25
Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We were eating dinner with family members this week, and cousins who attend another church began to tell us about their pastor and a sermon he preached shortly before Christmas Day. They said that this was the most moving worship service they had ever experienced. Let’s be honest…there are worship services, and there are worship services. And maybe you’ve never experienced the latter. Maybe you cannot recall a service or sermon that truly moved you. And that’s okay. If you look closely at this scripture passage, you will see that the goal of corporate worship is not necessarily to be inspired or physically “moved”.
In The Purpose Driven Life, pastor Rick Warren tells that we should not attend worship services expecting God to “move” us…that this really is not the reason for us to gather together. He says…“If you have ever said, ‘I didn't get anything out of worship today,’ you worshiped for the wrong reason. Worship isn't for you. It's for God.” Pastor Warren also reminds us that…“The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, trusting Him during a trial, surrendering while suffering, and loving Him when He seems distant.”
Let me break this down a little further…we may feel like we would rather do a zillion things with our Sunday (or whatever day you attend worship)…and getting up and out the door to attend a church service is not one of them. We may not like the music…the pastor’s sermons may be boring and uninspiring...we may feel like there is too much emphasis placed on adding new members, the church’s public image - or money. We may sit and tap our toe, check our watch, fidget and wish we were someplace else. We may even be accused of coming to church “to see and be seen”!
In this scripture verse, we see two things: 1) meeting for corporate worship is a habit one can develop; and 2) we must keep attending and encouraging one another. Pastor Warren reminds us that we can find “worship” in many of the circumstances – and even distractions – of our routine attendance…if we look hard enough! The concept of attending worship “to see and be seen” can be both positive and negative. If we are merely showing up and going through the motions so that people will think we are truly “good” Christians…or they will patronize our business…or so that our friends will include us in their social circles…we are meeting for the wrong reasons.
However, if we use our attendance as an opportunity to greet friends and fellow believers with the love and peace of God…to learn of the needs and concerns of others that we might be able to address in some manner…to add our voice to the “choir” of attendees who praise God with song and recitation…to share in Holy Communion with others…we have demonstrated the compassion of Christ. And in doing so, we have worshipped. This may not give you the warm fuzzy feeling you seek…or even a jolt of energy or a spine-tingle from the Holy Spirit…but it does demonstrate obedience and service to God…and it serves as an act of encouragement to the body of Christ.
So yes, we can worship on a riverbank, in the deer woods, or while driving to the nearest shopping center. Most certainly we can worship in the privacy of our own home. But in order to truly encourage others and share compassion in the name of Jesus, we often have to get up and out of our comfort zone and physically come together as a group. You may not hear the best sermon of your life or even feel glad that you attended afterward…but that is really not the point. Corporate worship is a Biblically sanctioned act of obedience…and Christian service and compassion. Don’t go for “the show”. Go to show your love for Christ to others…and to allow others an opportunity to share His love with you.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We were eating dinner with family members this week, and cousins who attend another church began to tell us about their pastor and a sermon he preached shortly before Christmas Day. They said that this was the most moving worship service they had ever experienced. Let’s be honest…there are worship services, and there are worship services. And maybe you’ve never experienced the latter. Maybe you cannot recall a service or sermon that truly moved you. And that’s okay. If you look closely at this scripture passage, you will see that the goal of corporate worship is not necessarily to be inspired or physically “moved”.
In The Purpose Driven Life, pastor Rick Warren tells that we should not attend worship services expecting God to “move” us…that this really is not the reason for us to gather together. He says…“If you have ever said, ‘I didn't get anything out of worship today,’ you worshiped for the wrong reason. Worship isn't for you. It's for God.” Pastor Warren also reminds us that…“The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, trusting Him during a trial, surrendering while suffering, and loving Him when He seems distant.”
Let me break this down a little further…we may feel like we would rather do a zillion things with our Sunday (or whatever day you attend worship)…and getting up and out the door to attend a church service is not one of them. We may not like the music…the pastor’s sermons may be boring and uninspiring...we may feel like there is too much emphasis placed on adding new members, the church’s public image - or money. We may sit and tap our toe, check our watch, fidget and wish we were someplace else. We may even be accused of coming to church “to see and be seen”!
In this scripture verse, we see two things: 1) meeting for corporate worship is a habit one can develop; and 2) we must keep attending and encouraging one another. Pastor Warren reminds us that we can find “worship” in many of the circumstances – and even distractions – of our routine attendance…if we look hard enough! The concept of attending worship “to see and be seen” can be both positive and negative. If we are merely showing up and going through the motions so that people will think we are truly “good” Christians…or they will patronize our business…or so that our friends will include us in their social circles…we are meeting for the wrong reasons.
However, if we use our attendance as an opportunity to greet friends and fellow believers with the love and peace of God…to learn of the needs and concerns of others that we might be able to address in some manner…to add our voice to the “choir” of attendees who praise God with song and recitation…to share in Holy Communion with others…we have demonstrated the compassion of Christ. And in doing so, we have worshipped. This may not give you the warm fuzzy feeling you seek…or even a jolt of energy or a spine-tingle from the Holy Spirit…but it does demonstrate obedience and service to God…and it serves as an act of encouragement to the body of Christ.
So yes, we can worship on a riverbank, in the deer woods, or while driving to the nearest shopping center. Most certainly we can worship in the privacy of our own home. But in order to truly encourage others and share compassion in the name of Jesus, we often have to get up and out of our comfort zone and physically come together as a group. You may not hear the best sermon of your life or even feel glad that you attended afterward…but that is really not the point. Corporate worship is a Biblically sanctioned act of obedience…and Christian service and compassion. Don’t go for “the show”. Go to show your love for Christ to others…and to allow others an opportunity to share His love with you.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 16, 2013
James 2:14-24
Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.”
Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”? The full meaning of “believe” in the Scripture sentence, “Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named “God’s friend.” Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?
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 said to someone, “Call me if you need me!” and then secretly whispered, “Oh, LORD, please don’t let them really call!”? Or maybe you have told someone, “If there is anything I can do for you,” and hoped they wouldn’t take you up on the offer. When they DID, you griped and groaned (at least secretly) because you had to make good on your promise. I’m afraid we are all guilty of some form of this response at one time or another.
When someone makes some form of these statements to me, I generally discard their comments. I assume that the person who made this offer was providing “lip service” and walked away feeling like, “My work is done here… I’m off the hook!” However, there are a few people I know who say this and mean it. I have seen their faith in action. When they tell me they are ready and willing to help me, I know they truly are! Do you know people like this? I hope so!
So what can you do if you are one of these people who “talk the talk” and don’t “walk the walk?” Start by making sincere offers to help others. Say…“Can I give you a ride… cook you a meal or go through a drive-thru and pick up lunch…come over and visit with you for a while (as you recuperate or because you are lonely)…help you with your house work or yard work… serve in XYZ ministry at church?” (You fill in the blanks!) Think of concrete offers to make… and stand behind them. As your reputation grows for keeping your word and your “works of faith,” people will begin to trust that you mean it when you offer to do something for them.
By the same token, James reminds us in this scripture passage that we cannot say we trust God to care for us and then “trouble our troubles” to death! We cannot ask God to help us with such-and-such and then tell everyone we meet how worried we are about this situation. It is one thing to say, “Would you join me in prayer over a concern”… believing that God is listening and will handle the situation. It is quite another to ask others to pray out of fear and apprehension that your prayers are not sufficient on their own merits!
On his Facebook page, Pastor Rick Warren (Saddleback Church – author of The Purpose Driven Life) said…” Every time you make a bad choice, it becomes harder to make a good one.” Today, start making good choices… faith-filled choices that bring you the peace and joy of a complete relationship with Jesus Christ. Don’t just offer Him “lip service”. Go “all in” with your mindset and your acts of faith!
How “fruitful in works” is your relationship with Jesus? Is it time for an attitude adjustment? Isn’t today a good time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.”
Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”? The full meaning of “believe” in the Scripture sentence, “Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named “God’s friend.” Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?
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 said to someone, “Call me if you need me!” and then secretly whispered, “Oh, LORD, please don’t let them really call!”? Or maybe you have told someone, “If there is anything I can do for you,” and hoped they wouldn’t take you up on the offer. When they DID, you griped and groaned (at least secretly) because you had to make good on your promise. I’m afraid we are all guilty of some form of this response at one time or another.
When someone makes some form of these statements to me, I generally discard their comments. I assume that the person who made this offer was providing “lip service” and walked away feeling like, “My work is done here… I’m off the hook!” However, there are a few people I know who say this and mean it. I have seen their faith in action. When they tell me they are ready and willing to help me, I know they truly are! Do you know people like this? I hope so!
So what can you do if you are one of these people who “talk the talk” and don’t “walk the walk?” Start by making sincere offers to help others. Say…“Can I give you a ride… cook you a meal or go through a drive-thru and pick up lunch…come over and visit with you for a while (as you recuperate or because you are lonely)…help you with your house work or yard work… serve in XYZ ministry at church?” (You fill in the blanks!) Think of concrete offers to make… and stand behind them. As your reputation grows for keeping your word and your “works of faith,” people will begin to trust that you mean it when you offer to do something for them.
By the same token, James reminds us in this scripture passage that we cannot say we trust God to care for us and then “trouble our troubles” to death! We cannot ask God to help us with such-and-such and then tell everyone we meet how worried we are about this situation. It is one thing to say, “Would you join me in prayer over a concern”… believing that God is listening and will handle the situation. It is quite another to ask others to pray out of fear and apprehension that your prayers are not sufficient on their own merits!
On his Facebook page, Pastor Rick Warren (Saddleback Church – author of The Purpose Driven Life) said…” Every time you make a bad choice, it becomes harder to make a good one.” Today, start making good choices… faith-filled choices that bring you the peace and joy of a complete relationship with Jesus Christ. Don’t just offer Him “lip service”. Go “all in” with your mindset and your acts of faith!
How “fruitful in works” is your relationship with Jesus? Is it time for an attitude adjustment? Isn’t today a good time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 24, 2013
Ephesians 4:1-3
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren talks about how knowing your purpose simplifies your life. He says there is no way we can do all everyone wants us to do. We have a big enough challenge finding time to do God’s will! Pastor Warren says that if you can’t seem to get it all done, you’re probably trying to do too much! This sounds like a direct contradiction to the scripture passage you just read… right? Maybe not!
See, a lot of us aren’t necessarily sitting on our hands… but quite a few of us are strolling off down paths that go nowhere. We fill our lives with people who don’t encourage us or help us to grow in our faith. We spend too much time on meaningless activities. We start way too many projects that we never finish.
God wants us to figure out where to best spend our time… then get busy doing what He has called us to do. So rather than sign up for every activity at school, pick and choose those you feel God wants you to pursue… and really work hard to do your best. Instead of volunteering for every ministry at your church and not being able to serve well in any of them, ask God to show you where you can make the biggest impact for Him. Then pour your heart and soul into that ministry. Give 110% and be someone who is reliable, dependable, and accountable.
Too many people bite off more than they can chew. I know… I’ve spread myself too thinly and tried to do too much. It’s not that I chose to participate in more than was physically possible… but I wasn’t very effective in many of the activities. When you are trying to do too much – even if it is God’s work – you can’t possibly be fully helpful in every ministry. Think of the phrase “jack-of-all-trades… master of none.” God wants us to pour ourselves out for each other in acts of love as He directs… but He wants us to be able to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually have the stamina to give our very best.
Won’t God equip us for such things? Yes. But God also gave us a brain… and He expects us to use it. He wants us to operate faithfully… to do His will. He also wants us to use the common sense that He gave us to know when to say “when.” We all know people who seem to have their finger in every pie… who seem to sign up for every committee, church and community project, hold down a fulltime class schedule or job (or both)… and maybe run a household, as well. But just how effective are they? Are they cutting corners and letting certain obligations or aspects of their ministries slide?
I encourage you to spend some time talking to God. Ask Him, “LORD, what is my purpose? Where do you want me to serve? What activities and ministries do I need to let go in order to be more successful at serving in your name? Where should I be focusing my efforts… and where have I strolled off down a path that goes nowhere?” Allow God to work in and through you. There is no shame in limiting your ministries, if you are giving your very best to those you keep and operating within the will of God. Where do you need to “trim the fat” or alter your course? Are you ready to run on the road God called you to travel?
©2013 Debbie Robus
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren talks about how knowing your purpose simplifies your life. He says there is no way we can do all everyone wants us to do. We have a big enough challenge finding time to do God’s will! Pastor Warren says that if you can’t seem to get it all done, you’re probably trying to do too much! This sounds like a direct contradiction to the scripture passage you just read… right? Maybe not!
See, a lot of us aren’t necessarily sitting on our hands… but quite a few of us are strolling off down paths that go nowhere. We fill our lives with people who don’t encourage us or help us to grow in our faith. We spend too much time on meaningless activities. We start way too many projects that we never finish.
God wants us to figure out where to best spend our time… then get busy doing what He has called us to do. So rather than sign up for every activity at school, pick and choose those you feel God wants you to pursue… and really work hard to do your best. Instead of volunteering for every ministry at your church and not being able to serve well in any of them, ask God to show you where you can make the biggest impact for Him. Then pour your heart and soul into that ministry. Give 110% and be someone who is reliable, dependable, and accountable.
Too many people bite off more than they can chew. I know… I’ve spread myself too thinly and tried to do too much. It’s not that I chose to participate in more than was physically possible… but I wasn’t very effective in many of the activities. When you are trying to do too much – even if it is God’s work – you can’t possibly be fully helpful in every ministry. Think of the phrase “jack-of-all-trades… master of none.” God wants us to pour ourselves out for each other in acts of love as He directs… but He wants us to be able to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually have the stamina to give our very best.
Won’t God equip us for such things? Yes. But God also gave us a brain… and He expects us to use it. He wants us to operate faithfully… to do His will. He also wants us to use the common sense that He gave us to know when to say “when.” We all know people who seem to have their finger in every pie… who seem to sign up for every committee, church and community project, hold down a fulltime class schedule or job (or both)… and maybe run a household, as well. But just how effective are they? Are they cutting corners and letting certain obligations or aspects of their ministries slide?
I encourage you to spend some time talking to God. Ask Him, “LORD, what is my purpose? Where do you want me to serve? What activities and ministries do I need to let go in order to be more successful at serving in your name? Where should I be focusing my efforts… and where have I strolled off down a path that goes nowhere?” Allow God to work in and through you. There is no shame in limiting your ministries, if you are giving your very best to those you keep and operating within the will of God. Where do you need to “trim the fat” or alter your course? Are you ready to run on the road God called you to travel?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 15, 2013
Colossians 3:12-13
God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For the last few years, I’ve studied The Purpose Driven Life, by Pastor Rick Warren, during the forty days of Lent. As I read the lesson for today, I found this quote… “When life has meaning, you can bear almost anything; without it, nothing is bearable.” I thought about my own life and how things have changed. A few years ago, I would never have dreamed that I would “put up with” toys scattered all over my house, crumbs on the floor, and a bedroom décor that included a crib, playpen, diapers, children’s toiletries, and stuffed animals. And then our nephews and great-niece came along and changed everything.
We had welcomed nieces and nephews to our family before. I kept a small box of children’s toys tucked away in the closet for when they occasionally visited. Ours was a “grown-up” world where we watched documentaries and paid close attention to world news, took hikes into nearby parks, bought vintage treasures at auctions, and slept late. Now, toys are stored along one wall of our living room, we watch almost as much NickJr. and PBS Kids as national news, “play” in local parks, and shop for second-hand toys, clothes and books. Sleep late? Probably not if there is a toddler in the house!
Our lives were perfectly complete before these children came along. We found meaning and purpose in the projects we pursued, time spent with our family and friends, and serving others through church and community projects. But as I pick raisins and cereal from the living room rug or scrub a dirty high chair tray coated with spaghetti and carrots, I think about these precious children. Any momentary irritation or frustration with their messy behaviors dissipates. I watched a screaming toddler at Wal-Mart one afternoon. I recognized his “melt-down” as I heard his mother say that it was naptime. He had “hit the wall” and totally run out of gas… and he had no clue how to handle this except to scream and cry.
There was a time when I would have been frustrated and aggravated by this noise and interruption to my shopping experience. I would have probably wondered to myself, “Why doesn’t this mother do something with her child?!” Now I get it… I’ve experienced some of these sudden-onset meltdowns, and I know how embarrassing they can be for the mom – and how frustrating they are for the child. I recognize the opportunity that my husband and I have been granted to participate in the early growth and nurture of our own little ones’ lives. My heart has softened with love and compassion for them… and acceptance of this new “life purpose!” I pray that God will help me to always operate in kindness, gentleness and patience!
When I thought about the scripture passage for today in this context, I considered what God must think about us. We are His children… and He “puts up with” each one. Yes, many of our actions and behaviors are juvenile… irritating and frustrating to Him. Still, God forgives us… He sees the potential that lies within each of His children. He may at times be firm or mete out consequences when we need them. But God is also gentle, kind, and patient with us. As Pastor Warren points out, “God specializes in giving people a fresh start.”
So as we encounter people who irritate us… as life changes and we are thrust into unfamiliar, uncomfortable – or even seemingly unbearable – situations… we must remember that God has given us a purpose. He has chosen us as His own special people, and it is up to us to find meaning in each setting and circumstance. Sometimes you may have to dig pretty deeply! There may be people who totally rub you the wrong way… those whose presence drives you bonkers and truly seems intrusive or unbearable. Remember… others may also feel the same way about you!
God sees something in each of us that others may not see. If He is willing to “put up with” us and grant us a fresh start, how can we do any less for others? Isn’t today a good day to examine your heart - and your life’s meaning and purpose… to discover where you need to treat others with a little patience, kindness, compassion and forgiveness? Maybe you need a fresh start… or maybe you need to offer one to someone else (at least in your heart). Wouldn’t this be a great day for both?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For the last few years, I’ve studied The Purpose Driven Life, by Pastor Rick Warren, during the forty days of Lent. As I read the lesson for today, I found this quote… “When life has meaning, you can bear almost anything; without it, nothing is bearable.” I thought about my own life and how things have changed. A few years ago, I would never have dreamed that I would “put up with” toys scattered all over my house, crumbs on the floor, and a bedroom décor that included a crib, playpen, diapers, children’s toiletries, and stuffed animals. And then our nephews and great-niece came along and changed everything.
We had welcomed nieces and nephews to our family before. I kept a small box of children’s toys tucked away in the closet for when they occasionally visited. Ours was a “grown-up” world where we watched documentaries and paid close attention to world news, took hikes into nearby parks, bought vintage treasures at auctions, and slept late. Now, toys are stored along one wall of our living room, we watch almost as much NickJr. and PBS Kids as national news, “play” in local parks, and shop for second-hand toys, clothes and books. Sleep late? Probably not if there is a toddler in the house!
Our lives were perfectly complete before these children came along. We found meaning and purpose in the projects we pursued, time spent with our family and friends, and serving others through church and community projects. But as I pick raisins and cereal from the living room rug or scrub a dirty high chair tray coated with spaghetti and carrots, I think about these precious children. Any momentary irritation or frustration with their messy behaviors dissipates. I watched a screaming toddler at Wal-Mart one afternoon. I recognized his “melt-down” as I heard his mother say that it was naptime. He had “hit the wall” and totally run out of gas… and he had no clue how to handle this except to scream and cry.
There was a time when I would have been frustrated and aggravated by this noise and interruption to my shopping experience. I would have probably wondered to myself, “Why doesn’t this mother do something with her child?!” Now I get it… I’ve experienced some of these sudden-onset meltdowns, and I know how embarrassing they can be for the mom – and how frustrating they are for the child. I recognize the opportunity that my husband and I have been granted to participate in the early growth and nurture of our own little ones’ lives. My heart has softened with love and compassion for them… and acceptance of this new “life purpose!” I pray that God will help me to always operate in kindness, gentleness and patience!
When I thought about the scripture passage for today in this context, I considered what God must think about us. We are His children… and He “puts up with” each one. Yes, many of our actions and behaviors are juvenile… irritating and frustrating to Him. Still, God forgives us… He sees the potential that lies within each of His children. He may at times be firm or mete out consequences when we need them. But God is also gentle, kind, and patient with us. As Pastor Warren points out, “God specializes in giving people a fresh start.”
So as we encounter people who irritate us… as life changes and we are thrust into unfamiliar, uncomfortable – or even seemingly unbearable – situations… we must remember that God has given us a purpose. He has chosen us as His own special people, and it is up to us to find meaning in each setting and circumstance. Sometimes you may have to dig pretty deeply! There may be people who totally rub you the wrong way… those whose presence drives you bonkers and truly seems intrusive or unbearable. Remember… others may also feel the same way about you!
God sees something in each of us that others may not see. If He is willing to “put up with” us and grant us a fresh start, how can we do any less for others? Isn’t today a good day to examine your heart - and your life’s meaning and purpose… to discover where you need to treat others with a little patience, kindness, compassion and forgiveness? Maybe you need a fresh start… or maybe you need to offer one to someone else (at least in your heart). Wouldn’t this be a great day for both?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 19, 2011
1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth. So I beg you not to surrender to those desires that fight against you. Always let others see you behaving properly, even though they may still accuse you of doing wrong. Then on the day of judgment, they will honor God by telling the good things they saw you do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother told us recently about visiting a “ghost-town-turned-tourist-trap” in Arizona, where they observed an interesting exchange between a man and a horse. It seems the man was trying to lead the horse across a roadway – and away from other horses – toward what appeared to be a large trough of water. (Interject “you can lead a horse to water…” joke here!)
The horse apparently did NOT want to go, and he reared up at the man and retreated to the point of origin and took his place with the other horses. The man tried again (remember our definition of insanity?!) and got the same results. Clearly the horse did not want to surrender to the man. This animal could not understand that the man’s intention (purpose) was a good one. His plans were to provide the horse with necessary nurture and care, i.e. water!
Aren’t we just like the horse? God is trying to give us so much, but for whatever reason… fear, selfishness, ego, stubbornness, sin, and more… we rear up, stomp and pitch a fit, dig in our heels and refuse to budge. We retreat to what we know… what is comfortable… even if it’s all wrong for us. We think we know better than God what is right for us… what we need… what will make the most sense in our lives.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren says “Surrender doesn’t weaken you, it strengthens you.” The Bible gives us tremendous examples of people who surrendered to God when it didn’t make a lick of sense… Noah, Moses, Queen Esther… even Jesus Christ. Surrender to God does not equal an admission of defeat… it reflects maturity in our faith and a true desire to live fully in the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father.
We are like the stubborn horse who foregoes life-sustaining water in favor of a comfortable stance on the sidelines. When we fail to surrender to God, we fail to enjoy a complete relationship with Him – and all that He wants to give us. Where are you standing today? Will you “cross the road” and surrender completely to God and start living in His grace, mercy, love… and abundance? Or are you kicking up your feet and taking a stand… stuck in the same old rut? Are you ready to let God take the reins and lead you to “the good stuff”? Are you ready to surrender completely?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth. So I beg you not to surrender to those desires that fight against you. Always let others see you behaving properly, even though they may still accuse you of doing wrong. Then on the day of judgment, they will honor God by telling the good things they saw you do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother told us recently about visiting a “ghost-town-turned-tourist-trap” in Arizona, where they observed an interesting exchange between a man and a horse. It seems the man was trying to lead the horse across a roadway – and away from other horses – toward what appeared to be a large trough of water. (Interject “you can lead a horse to water…” joke here!)
The horse apparently did NOT want to go, and he reared up at the man and retreated to the point of origin and took his place with the other horses. The man tried again (remember our definition of insanity?!) and got the same results. Clearly the horse did not want to surrender to the man. This animal could not understand that the man’s intention (purpose) was a good one. His plans were to provide the horse with necessary nurture and care, i.e. water!
Aren’t we just like the horse? God is trying to give us so much, but for whatever reason… fear, selfishness, ego, stubbornness, sin, and more… we rear up, stomp and pitch a fit, dig in our heels and refuse to budge. We retreat to what we know… what is comfortable… even if it’s all wrong for us. We think we know better than God what is right for us… what we need… what will make the most sense in our lives.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren says “Surrender doesn’t weaken you, it strengthens you.” The Bible gives us tremendous examples of people who surrendered to God when it didn’t make a lick of sense… Noah, Moses, Queen Esther… even Jesus Christ. Surrender to God does not equal an admission of defeat… it reflects maturity in our faith and a true desire to live fully in the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father.
We are like the stubborn horse who foregoes life-sustaining water in favor of a comfortable stance on the sidelines. When we fail to surrender to God, we fail to enjoy a complete relationship with Him – and all that He wants to give us. Where are you standing today? Will you “cross the road” and surrender completely to God and start living in His grace, mercy, love… and abundance? Or are you kicking up your feet and taking a stand… stuck in the same old rut? Are you ready to let God take the reins and lead you to “the good stuff”? Are you ready to surrender completely?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 14, 2011
Psalm 49:16-20
So don't be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune. They can't take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind. Just when they think they've arrived and folks praise them because they've made good, they enter the family burial plot, where they'll never see sunshine again.
We aren't immortal. We don't last long. Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.
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.
All my life I have heard the phrase, “You can’t take it with you.” When I was a teenager, my dad was a funeral director, and I heard him talk often about this. At the end of the day, the poor farmer who toiled all his life just to put food on the table was buried pretty much the same way as the rich man who couldn’t begin to count all of his money. Outwardly, what we accumulate or become in this life really won’t matter in the end. But what we have in our heart makes all the difference.
In The Purpose Driven Life, author Rick Warren says, “God watches how we use money to see how trustworthy we are.” Citing Luke 16:11, Pastor Warren says, “… there is a direct relationship between how I use my money and the quality of my Spiritual life.” So does this mean that we can’t have nice clothes or drive a nice car… that we should give that money to missions instead? Not at all.
God does not mind that we have nice things, if we can afford them. In fact, when we get to heaven, our streets will be paved with gold… and that’s the tip of the iceberg! The problem is how we act with money… and how we react to it. If money and the things we buy with it is all we think about, we are not putting God’s priorities first in our life. If we wait more impatiently for the newest release of the iPad or iPhone, the latest sneaker from our favorite athlete or the next album from our favorite entertainer to be released than we do for our next opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone else or a chance to learn more about Jesus, we’ve got some work to do.
If we think more about money and “things” than we do about Jesus and ways to worship Him, serve Him, and grown in His wisdom and love… God can’t trust us to manage the blessings (and Spiritual wealth) He wants to give us. Luke 16:11 says (paraphrased) that if God can’t trust us with earthly wealth… what Luke calls “wicked wealth” – how will He be able to trust us with true wealth – the wealth of a life lived in and for Him? If we work night and day on this earth for the almighty dollar more than Almighty God, we have totally missed our purpose.
It’s all about priorities. Many “rich” people have done amazing things with their earthly wealth. Many “poor” people have done as much – or more. Search your heart – and your motives. See what drives you these days. What are your goals for the future… to acquire more wealth and earthly “success” – or to “store up treasure for heaven?” See where you need to adjust your focus and concentrate on what you can take with you into Eternity. Ask God to help you adjust your attitude and start using what you have to accumulate “wealth” that really matters.
©2011 Debbie Robus
So don't be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune. They can't take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind. Just when they think they've arrived and folks praise them because they've made good, they enter the family burial plot, where they'll never see sunshine again.
We aren't immortal. We don't last long. Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.
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.
All my life I have heard the phrase, “You can’t take it with you.” When I was a teenager, my dad was a funeral director, and I heard him talk often about this. At the end of the day, the poor farmer who toiled all his life just to put food on the table was buried pretty much the same way as the rich man who couldn’t begin to count all of his money. Outwardly, what we accumulate or become in this life really won’t matter in the end. But what we have in our heart makes all the difference.
In The Purpose Driven Life, author Rick Warren says, “God watches how we use money to see how trustworthy we are.” Citing Luke 16:11, Pastor Warren says, “… there is a direct relationship between how I use my money and the quality of my Spiritual life.” So does this mean that we can’t have nice clothes or drive a nice car… that we should give that money to missions instead? Not at all.
God does not mind that we have nice things, if we can afford them. In fact, when we get to heaven, our streets will be paved with gold… and that’s the tip of the iceberg! The problem is how we act with money… and how we react to it. If money and the things we buy with it is all we think about, we are not putting God’s priorities first in our life. If we wait more impatiently for the newest release of the iPad or iPhone, the latest sneaker from our favorite athlete or the next album from our favorite entertainer to be released than we do for our next opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone else or a chance to learn more about Jesus, we’ve got some work to do.
If we think more about money and “things” than we do about Jesus and ways to worship Him, serve Him, and grown in His wisdom and love… God can’t trust us to manage the blessings (and Spiritual wealth) He wants to give us. Luke 16:11 says (paraphrased) that if God can’t trust us with earthly wealth… what Luke calls “wicked wealth” – how will He be able to trust us with true wealth – the wealth of a life lived in and for Him? If we work night and day on this earth for the almighty dollar more than Almighty God, we have totally missed our purpose.
It’s all about priorities. Many “rich” people have done amazing things with their earthly wealth. Many “poor” people have done as much – or more. Search your heart – and your motives. See what drives you these days. What are your goals for the future… to acquire more wealth and earthly “success” – or to “store up treasure for heaven?” See where you need to adjust your focus and concentrate on what you can take with you into Eternity. Ask God to help you adjust your attitude and start using what you have to accumulate “wealth” that really matters.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 9, 2011
Mark 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, will you do us a favor?" Jesus asked them what they wanted, and they answered, "When you come into your glory, please let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left." Jesus told them, "You don't really know what you're asking! Are you able to drink from the cup that I must soon drink from or be baptized as I must be baptized?" "Yes, we are!" James and John answered.
Then Jesus replied, "You certainly will drink from the cup from which I must drink. And you will be baptized just as I must! But it isn't for me to say who will sit at my right side and at my left. That is for God to decide." When the ten other disciples heard this, they were angry with James and John.
But Jesus called the disciples together and said: You know that those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over the people they rule. But don't act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. And if you want to be first, you must be everyone's slave. The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Ego is a powerful thing… and Satan uses our ego to trip us up more often than most of us want to admit. Look no further than the nightly news to see examples of people whose egos have run amuck… from television and movie stars to politicians to everyday ordinary citizens. Many people often think they are better, smarter, more attractive, or superior to others in some way.
Christians are not immune. We want to be first! We want to sit to the right or left of Jesus! We want others to recognize what great faithful servants we are and revere us in some way. But when we are faced with the ultimate question… “Are you able to drink from the same cup that Jesus drank (i.e. suffer, bleed and die on a cross)?” we become humble in a hurry!
If we want to serve God as well as we possibly can… if we want to model Christian behavior for others and walk the walk of faith that we like to talk about so much, we have to humble ourselves. We have to serve others with absolutely no thought of what is in it for us. We have to focus on Jesus, no matter the cost… and toss our own desires and agendas aside. Every time we start to ask ourselves “What’s in this for me?” we must turn around and ask, “Could I drink from Jesus’ cup?”
Today we start the season of Lent… a time when Christians traditionally sacrifice something to become more like Christ. When we think about what Jesus sacrificed for us, this “traditional purpose” of Lent sounds kinda silly, doesn’t it?! This year, instead of “giving up” something for Lent, why not do what my pastor suggested… why not add something… like an extra fifteen minutes of prayer and Bible study each day.
For me, Lent means it’s time to get out my copy of The Purpose Driven Life and begin studying “40 Days of Purpose.” I renew my relationship in Christ by reminding myself just how important I am to Him… and how much He sacrificed on my behalf (and on yours, as well!). If you don’t have a copy of this book, check your church library. Or choose another way to spend time each of the next 40 days in worship and closer communion with Christ.
At the end of this 40-day season of Lent, we will celebrate Easter… and hopefully you will have developed a new habit of spending more time in humble communion with Christ. Could you drink the cup of Christ? Jesus tells us that in some ways, we will do just that. We will have to sacrifice our earthly, sinful life and humbly come before Christ to serve in His name. Sounds like a bargain to me! I pray that we will all become more humble… more faithful… more willing to serve. Are you prepared to do what it takes to make this happen?
©2011 Debbie Robus
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, will you do us a favor?" Jesus asked them what they wanted, and they answered, "When you come into your glory, please let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left." Jesus told them, "You don't really know what you're asking! Are you able to drink from the cup that I must soon drink from or be baptized as I must be baptized?" "Yes, we are!" James and John answered.
Then Jesus replied, "You certainly will drink from the cup from which I must drink. And you will be baptized just as I must! But it isn't for me to say who will sit at my right side and at my left. That is for God to decide." When the ten other disciples heard this, they were angry with James and John.
But Jesus called the disciples together and said: You know that those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over the people they rule. But don't act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. And if you want to be first, you must be everyone's slave. The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Ego is a powerful thing… and Satan uses our ego to trip us up more often than most of us want to admit. Look no further than the nightly news to see examples of people whose egos have run amuck… from television and movie stars to politicians to everyday ordinary citizens. Many people often think they are better, smarter, more attractive, or superior to others in some way.
Christians are not immune. We want to be first! We want to sit to the right or left of Jesus! We want others to recognize what great faithful servants we are and revere us in some way. But when we are faced with the ultimate question… “Are you able to drink from the same cup that Jesus drank (i.e. suffer, bleed and die on a cross)?” we become humble in a hurry!
If we want to serve God as well as we possibly can… if we want to model Christian behavior for others and walk the walk of faith that we like to talk about so much, we have to humble ourselves. We have to serve others with absolutely no thought of what is in it for us. We have to focus on Jesus, no matter the cost… and toss our own desires and agendas aside. Every time we start to ask ourselves “What’s in this for me?” we must turn around and ask, “Could I drink from Jesus’ cup?”
Today we start the season of Lent… a time when Christians traditionally sacrifice something to become more like Christ. When we think about what Jesus sacrificed for us, this “traditional purpose” of Lent sounds kinda silly, doesn’t it?! This year, instead of “giving up” something for Lent, why not do what my pastor suggested… why not add something… like an extra fifteen minutes of prayer and Bible study each day.
For me, Lent means it’s time to get out my copy of The Purpose Driven Life and begin studying “40 Days of Purpose.” I renew my relationship in Christ by reminding myself just how important I am to Him… and how much He sacrificed on my behalf (and on yours, as well!). If you don’t have a copy of this book, check your church library. Or choose another way to spend time each of the next 40 days in worship and closer communion with Christ.
At the end of this 40-day season of Lent, we will celebrate Easter… and hopefully you will have developed a new habit of spending more time in humble communion with Christ. Could you drink the cup of Christ? Jesus tells us that in some ways, we will do just that. We will have to sacrifice our earthly, sinful life and humbly come before Christ to serve in His name. Sounds like a bargain to me! I pray that we will all become more humble… more faithful… more willing to serve. Are you prepared to do what it takes to make this happen?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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