1 Peter 1:17
You call out to God for help and he
helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a
responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugeterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.
All rights reserved.
We’ve been practicing for the
children’s Christmas program at our church. I am helping with the music
this year…and this is Timothy’s first time to participate in the
program for children in elementary school. His sister and brother will
ring bells with the “Little Ringers” – which includes ages 3-5.
Our
practices for the program are on Sunday nights at 5:00. This is just
about the worst hour of the week for elementary school children to
rehearse for a program. They are weary…they are distracted...some are
hungry…they’ve had a big week, and some have had an even bigger weekend.
So
the children stand and halfway sing. They go through the motions, and I
wonder if, with two rehearsals left, the program will be even remotely
decent on December 13th. I almost know that it will be – that God will
provide. Still, I coach the children to sing louder…to “stand up
straight and do your best!” And I pray for a good outcome!
One
night, Timothy was especially tired, and I actually let him leave
practice early. He told his mother and me, “I don’t want to do this
anymore.” He loves the music, and his mother says that he practices at
home on his own and sings like a bird. And to her credit, she told him
that…”We finish what we start.” So he has been a good “soldier” and
marched to practice since – and I am confident that he will sing beautifully for the actual performance.
Here’s the thing. My heart
aches for those little kids who are weary and disinterested. But “rules
are rules”…and Timothy’s mother is right – “we finish what we start.”
And it’s that way with God, too. Yes, He meets our needs…and often, His
heart is broken for us and what wears us down. He has committed to
caring for us at all times…”through thick and thin.” But at the same
time, we’ve made a commitment to love and serve God in return…and there is no room in this covenant for sloppy living.
We
cannot have it both ways. We cannot take and take from God and expect
Him to keep on giving without any reservations. We cannot give less
than our best in “rehearsals” and expect a flawless “performance” at the
actual program!
I am so grateful for God’s love and care.
Today, my challenge for all of us is that we would examine our hearts –
and our thoughts, words and actions – and see where we have gotten a
little sloppy. Where do we need to “stand up straight and do our
best?” Where do we need to work a little harder to finish what we have
begun…even if it takes the rest of our lives? Will this be the day that
you recommit to your covenant with God? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label accepting responsibility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accepting responsibility. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 26, 2013
Romans 13:3-7
Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live.
That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.
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.
Greg and I were driving home the other day, and we pulled up to the stoplight at a major intersection. There was a car in front of us when the green arrow began flashing… indicating that we were cleared to “go”! The driver sat stock-still, until Greg honked the horn. Just as we suspected, this man was talking on his cell phone and not paying attention to his driving! We see this so often. We hear about the dangers of texting and driving… of becoming distracted by our phone, the radio, eating or some other non-driving-related activity. I kid you not… we passed a woman on a bridge approaching the Arkansas River entering Little Rock yesterday, and she had a pen and pad in her hands. She was making notes to herself as she drove along this incredibly busy stretch of interstate. The irony is that the traffic had just begun to move in this area again, following a major accident! Still, we always seem to think that calamity will strike “the other guy” and never ourselves.
In many areas of life, we try to “skate by” and dance around the fringe of the law… and reckless driving is only one of them. We fail to recognize that we are not only “breaking the rules”… we are also disrespecting God-sanctioned government and its officers. While there may be laws and rules with which we disagree, none of us is above them. Speed limits are not for the other guy. The payment of taxes is not arbitrary. Can you imagine checking out at Wal-Mart and telling the cashier…”Just leave off the sales tax today… I don’t feel like paying it!”? No! The privilege of living in a city/state/country comes with some conditions… and taxation is one of them! Respect for the laws and those who create and enforce them is another.
On a more personal level, we have to pay for what we purchase and/or consume. God calls us to show respect for those who employ us… and those whom we must pay, including our landlords, our lending agents, storekeepers, and persons who provide us with services. We should not expect anyone to be at our beck and call out of the goodness of their heart. People may do kind and generous things for us along the way, but to “ride their coat-tails” is incredibly disrespectful. And God is not pleased. I always go back to the family of a student I taught who depended on the assistance of Social Services for the basic necessities – food, clothing and shelter. The father told his caseworker one day that he needed a car – and he told her this in an “I-expect-you-to-get-this-for-me” voice. The caseworker calmly asked, “What color would you like?”
See, the demand was so preposterous… so disrespectful on every level imaginable, that the caseworker couldn’t help but answer with a ridiculous statement. I wonder how often we are telling God, in essence, “I need a car!” – and expecting Him to deliver? How often are we disobeying and disrespecting Him and those He has placed in our path? How frequently do we take everything that God has granted us and pretty well throw it back at Him and say, “I need more!”? When and where have you essentially said to God, “I deserve everything You do for me…but don’t expect me to do anything for You in return.”?
Do you see that this is about so much more than obeying law enforcement officers, paying taxes… and paying your bills in general? Do you understand that God has blessed us exceedingly above all that we could ever deserve… that the very least we can offer Him in return is our respect and appreciation? Does it make sense to you that anytime you disrespect someone else, you have insulted God? What do you have to say for yourself? How can you rectify this situation going forward? Are you ready to humble yourself before God and thank Him for His many blessings… are you ready to live in obedience and reverence – to honor Him and behave responsibly in all things? Isn’t today the perfect day to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live.
That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.
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.
Greg and I were driving home the other day, and we pulled up to the stoplight at a major intersection. There was a car in front of us when the green arrow began flashing… indicating that we were cleared to “go”! The driver sat stock-still, until Greg honked the horn. Just as we suspected, this man was talking on his cell phone and not paying attention to his driving! We see this so often. We hear about the dangers of texting and driving… of becoming distracted by our phone, the radio, eating or some other non-driving-related activity. I kid you not… we passed a woman on a bridge approaching the Arkansas River entering Little Rock yesterday, and she had a pen and pad in her hands. She was making notes to herself as she drove along this incredibly busy stretch of interstate. The irony is that the traffic had just begun to move in this area again, following a major accident! Still, we always seem to think that calamity will strike “the other guy” and never ourselves.
In many areas of life, we try to “skate by” and dance around the fringe of the law… and reckless driving is only one of them. We fail to recognize that we are not only “breaking the rules”… we are also disrespecting God-sanctioned government and its officers. While there may be laws and rules with which we disagree, none of us is above them. Speed limits are not for the other guy. The payment of taxes is not arbitrary. Can you imagine checking out at Wal-Mart and telling the cashier…”Just leave off the sales tax today… I don’t feel like paying it!”? No! The privilege of living in a city/state/country comes with some conditions… and taxation is one of them! Respect for the laws and those who create and enforce them is another.
On a more personal level, we have to pay for what we purchase and/or consume. God calls us to show respect for those who employ us… and those whom we must pay, including our landlords, our lending agents, storekeepers, and persons who provide us with services. We should not expect anyone to be at our beck and call out of the goodness of their heart. People may do kind and generous things for us along the way, but to “ride their coat-tails” is incredibly disrespectful. And God is not pleased. I always go back to the family of a student I taught who depended on the assistance of Social Services for the basic necessities – food, clothing and shelter. The father told his caseworker one day that he needed a car – and he told her this in an “I-expect-you-to-get-this-for-me” voice. The caseworker calmly asked, “What color would you like?”
See, the demand was so preposterous… so disrespectful on every level imaginable, that the caseworker couldn’t help but answer with a ridiculous statement. I wonder how often we are telling God, in essence, “I need a car!” – and expecting Him to deliver? How often are we disobeying and disrespecting Him and those He has placed in our path? How frequently do we take everything that God has granted us and pretty well throw it back at Him and say, “I need more!”? When and where have you essentially said to God, “I deserve everything You do for me…but don’t expect me to do anything for You in return.”?
Do you see that this is about so much more than obeying law enforcement officers, paying taxes… and paying your bills in general? Do you understand that God has blessed us exceedingly above all that we could ever deserve… that the very least we can offer Him in return is our respect and appreciation? Does it make sense to you that anytime you disrespect someone else, you have insulted God? What do you have to say for yourself? How can you rectify this situation going forward? Are you ready to humble yourself before God and thank Him for His many blessings… are you ready to live in obedience and reverence – to honor Him and behave responsibly in all things? Isn’t today the perfect day to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 14, 2013
Genesis 39
The Ishmaelites took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the king’s official in charge of the palace guard. So Joseph lived in the home of Potiphar, his Egyptian owner.
Soon Potiphar realized that the Lord was helping Joseph to be successful in whatever he did. Potiphar liked Joseph and made him his personal assistant, putting him in charge of his house and all of his property. Because of Joseph, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s family and fields. Potiphar left everything up to Joseph, and with Joseph there, the only decision he had to make was what he wanted to eat.
Joseph was well-built and handsome, and Potiphar’s wife soon noticed him. She asked him to make love to her, but he refused and said, “My master isn’t worried about anything in his house, because he has placed me in charge of everything he owns. No one in my master’s house is more important than I am. The only thing he hasn’t given me is you, and that’s because you are his wife. I won’t sin against God by doing such a terrible thing as this.” She kept begging Joseph day after day, but he refused to do what she wanted or even to go near her.
One day, Joseph went to Potiphar’s house to do his work, and none of the other servants were there. Potiphar’s wife grabbed hold of his coat and said, “Make love to me!” Joseph ran out of the house, leaving her hanging onto his coat.
When this happened, she called in her servants and said, “Look! This Hebrew has come just to make fools of us. He tried to rape me, but I screamed for help. And when he heard me scream, he ran out of the house, leaving his coat with me.”
Potiphar’s wife kept Joseph’s coat until her husband came home. Then she said, “That Hebrew slave of yours tried to rape me! But when I screamed for help, he left his coat and ran out of the house.”
Potiphar became very angry and threw Joseph in the same prison where the king’s prisoners were kept.
While Joseph was in prison, the Lord helped him and was good to him. He even made the jailer like Joseph so much that he put him in charge of the other prisoners and of everything that was done in the jail. The jailer did not worry about anything, because the Lord was with Joseph and made him successful in all that he did.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A dear family friend is celebrating his 80th birthday today. My husband and I shared a lunch table at a local restaurant with him and his wife and another lifelong friend, and he told us that the way to keep from getting older is to lie about your age! Of course, he was joking… but how often do we make excuses – or lie – in order to avoid the truth? At our worship service today, the pastor said, “You can say ‘I don’t want to,’ but don’t tell me you don’t have time for ministries of the church and Bible study, because everybody is busy.” I cannot judge another person’s time constraints, but maybe it is time for us to merely say, “I do not feel that God is calling me to do this now,” or simply to answer with, “I don’t want to do this.” After all, nobody truly cares to hear our excuses – even if they are sound and fair.
As for lying and making up justifications to cover our tracks or relocate blame… this is never acceptable. And we do this all the time. Oh, maybe we don’t deliberately lie or blame someone else… but our “excuses” shift the responsibility all the same…
Who do you want to be like…Potiphar’s wife – or Joseph? Are your words and actions such that you want to blame them on someone else… or are you a trustworthy, upright servant? Spend some time today with God and talk to Him about this… and about your own situation. Discover where you need to operate with more honesty and genuineness… and leave excuse making to the devil, where it belongs.
©2013 Debbie Robus
The Ishmaelites took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the king’s official in charge of the palace guard. So Joseph lived in the home of Potiphar, his Egyptian owner.
Soon Potiphar realized that the Lord was helping Joseph to be successful in whatever he did. Potiphar liked Joseph and made him his personal assistant, putting him in charge of his house and all of his property. Because of Joseph, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s family and fields. Potiphar left everything up to Joseph, and with Joseph there, the only decision he had to make was what he wanted to eat.
Joseph was well-built and handsome, and Potiphar’s wife soon noticed him. She asked him to make love to her, but he refused and said, “My master isn’t worried about anything in his house, because he has placed me in charge of everything he owns. No one in my master’s house is more important than I am. The only thing he hasn’t given me is you, and that’s because you are his wife. I won’t sin against God by doing such a terrible thing as this.” She kept begging Joseph day after day, but he refused to do what she wanted or even to go near her.
One day, Joseph went to Potiphar’s house to do his work, and none of the other servants were there. Potiphar’s wife grabbed hold of his coat and said, “Make love to me!” Joseph ran out of the house, leaving her hanging onto his coat.
When this happened, she called in her servants and said, “Look! This Hebrew has come just to make fools of us. He tried to rape me, but I screamed for help. And when he heard me scream, he ran out of the house, leaving his coat with me.”
Potiphar’s wife kept Joseph’s coat until her husband came home. Then she said, “That Hebrew slave of yours tried to rape me! But when I screamed for help, he left his coat and ran out of the house.”
Potiphar became very angry and threw Joseph in the same prison where the king’s prisoners were kept.
While Joseph was in prison, the Lord helped him and was good to him. He even made the jailer like Joseph so much that he put him in charge of the other prisoners and of everything that was done in the jail. The jailer did not worry about anything, because the Lord was with Joseph and made him successful in all that he did.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A dear family friend is celebrating his 80th birthday today. My husband and I shared a lunch table at a local restaurant with him and his wife and another lifelong friend, and he told us that the way to keep from getting older is to lie about your age! Of course, he was joking… but how often do we make excuses – or lie – in order to avoid the truth? At our worship service today, the pastor said, “You can say ‘I don’t want to,’ but don’t tell me you don’t have time for ministries of the church and Bible study, because everybody is busy.” I cannot judge another person’s time constraints, but maybe it is time for us to merely say, “I do not feel that God is calling me to do this now,” or simply to answer with, “I don’t want to do this.” After all, nobody truly cares to hear our excuses – even if they are sound and fair.
As for lying and making up justifications to cover our tracks or relocate blame… this is never acceptable. And we do this all the time. Oh, maybe we don’t deliberately lie or blame someone else… but our “excuses” shift the responsibility all the same…
- We claim we can’t participate in a certain group or event because of our past, when in truth the only judgments being made about us are our own. We all get about 15 minutes of “fame,” and chances are good that yours was over a long time ago!
- We use our family, friends, work, school, and extracurricular activities as an “alibi”… as in “I had to study,” or “I had a softball practice and couldn’t get there”… even when we know we could have made arrangements to juggle our schedule.
- We tell a friend that “I wasn’t going to share your secret, but So-and-so pried it out of me,” knowing all the time that we couldn’t wait to spread the gossip.
- We know that a friend or fellow Christian is lovingly making suggestions to help us, but since we don’t want to hear them, we become upset and defensive… and declare that “I can’t handle all of his/her pressure!”
- We don’t like an activity in which we agreed to participate… we don’t like our coursework at school… or we’re dissatisfied in our job. So rather than admit this and try to work on an alternative, we deliberately perform poorly and secretly hope that we will be asked to step aside... we’ll flunk out... or our employer will ask us to leave. This self-sabotage somehow seems better and easier to swallow than admitting the truth!
Who do you want to be like…Potiphar’s wife – or Joseph? Are your words and actions such that you want to blame them on someone else… or are you a trustworthy, upright servant? Spend some time today with God and talk to Him about this… and about your own situation. Discover where you need to operate with more honesty and genuineness… and leave excuse making to the devil, where it belongs.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 12, 2013
April 12 ~ Exodus 4:10-17
Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”
He said, “Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!”
God got angry with Moses: “Don’t you have a brother, Aaron the Levite? He’s good with words, I know he is. He speaks very well. In fact, at this very moment he’s on his way to meet you. When he sees you he’s going to be glad. You’ll speak to him and tell him what to say. I’ll be right there with you as you speak and with him as he speaks, teaching you step by step. He will speak to the people for you. He’ll act as your mouth, but you’ll decide what comes out of it. Now take this staff in your hand; you’ll use it to do the signs.”
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 lot of Bible scholars believe that Moses stuttered. I KNOW! The man who said to Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” had a speech impediment! So when God commanded Him to lead the Israelites, this was his excuse for not stepping up to the plate. And God’s answer was, in essence, “Okay then… I’ll tell you what to say, and you have your brother, Aaron, say it for you!” You cannot outsmart God!
You and I have all sorts of excuses for not taking on any number of projects or tasks… some God-designed, and some created by mere mortals. You might even say that more than a few of us have become fairly expert at tossing around excuses. We’ve covered our tracks and bowed out of agreements and commitments for so long that we don’t even have to think about it these days…our justifications simply roll right off the tongue! And a few of them might work with regular folk. We might be able to talk our way out of serving on a committee or going to a party that we don’t care to attend. We can probably come up with a “good enough” reason for skipping a workout or eating that extra slice of pie. And everyone might have a good laugh over it… as in “I’m not fat… I’m just short for my height!”
But I’m willing to bet that God has nudged you to do something at least once or twice in your life, and you have made excuses to Him. Maybe He has whispered, “You need to call Tom or Sue…” and you said, “I wouldn’t know what to say,” or “I’ll do it later.” Perhaps God has created an opportunity for you to witness to someone and share the Good News of Jesus Christ… and you “froze” and reasoned that “I might embarrass this person,” or “This is not really the time and place…” Or maybe God has convicted your heart that what you are participating in – physically or verbally – is wrong, but you continued, with the defense that you would rather not risk ridicule, call attention to yourself, or suffer a temporary embarrassment.
Like I said, we all have our reasons for the things we do… and most of us feel fairly confident that they are sound. But we haven’t asked God what He thinks, because deep down, we know that there are a lot of holes in our alibis… our explanations are fairly flimsy… and our excuses are exactly that - a dodge and deception. We can make all of the apologies in the world… as if that makes the situation better or more plausible. But at the end of the day, God knows the truth. And if you care anything at all about what God thinks of you… or what He knows about you… then you have to admit that our excuses are completely ridiculous and unacceptable.
When God calls us to do something, we need to be front and center – asking “Where, when, and how?” We need to fully believe that whatever God calls us to do…He will equip us to handle. He may send an “Aaron” to help us… or He may provide us with strength and abilities we had no idea we possessed (and didn’t without Supernatural assistance!). Regardless of how the tasks are accomplished, we must be ready and willing to accept God’s assignments. What about you? Are you ready to step up – and out – for God… or are you still busy making excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”
He said, “Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!”
God got angry with Moses: “Don’t you have a brother, Aaron the Levite? He’s good with words, I know he is. He speaks very well. In fact, at this very moment he’s on his way to meet you. When he sees you he’s going to be glad. You’ll speak to him and tell him what to say. I’ll be right there with you as you speak and with him as he speaks, teaching you step by step. He will speak to the people for you. He’ll act as your mouth, but you’ll decide what comes out of it. Now take this staff in your hand; you’ll use it to do the signs.”
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 lot of Bible scholars believe that Moses stuttered. I KNOW! The man who said to Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” had a speech impediment! So when God commanded Him to lead the Israelites, this was his excuse for not stepping up to the plate. And God’s answer was, in essence, “Okay then… I’ll tell you what to say, and you have your brother, Aaron, say it for you!” You cannot outsmart God!
You and I have all sorts of excuses for not taking on any number of projects or tasks… some God-designed, and some created by mere mortals. You might even say that more than a few of us have become fairly expert at tossing around excuses. We’ve covered our tracks and bowed out of agreements and commitments for so long that we don’t even have to think about it these days…our justifications simply roll right off the tongue! And a few of them might work with regular folk. We might be able to talk our way out of serving on a committee or going to a party that we don’t care to attend. We can probably come up with a “good enough” reason for skipping a workout or eating that extra slice of pie. And everyone might have a good laugh over it… as in “I’m not fat… I’m just short for my height!”
But I’m willing to bet that God has nudged you to do something at least once or twice in your life, and you have made excuses to Him. Maybe He has whispered, “You need to call Tom or Sue…” and you said, “I wouldn’t know what to say,” or “I’ll do it later.” Perhaps God has created an opportunity for you to witness to someone and share the Good News of Jesus Christ… and you “froze” and reasoned that “I might embarrass this person,” or “This is not really the time and place…” Or maybe God has convicted your heart that what you are participating in – physically or verbally – is wrong, but you continued, with the defense that you would rather not risk ridicule, call attention to yourself, or suffer a temporary embarrassment.
Like I said, we all have our reasons for the things we do… and most of us feel fairly confident that they are sound. But we haven’t asked God what He thinks, because deep down, we know that there are a lot of holes in our alibis… our explanations are fairly flimsy… and our excuses are exactly that - a dodge and deception. We can make all of the apologies in the world… as if that makes the situation better or more plausible. But at the end of the day, God knows the truth. And if you care anything at all about what God thinks of you… or what He knows about you… then you have to admit that our excuses are completely ridiculous and unacceptable.
When God calls us to do something, we need to be front and center – asking “Where, when, and how?” We need to fully believe that whatever God calls us to do…He will equip us to handle. He may send an “Aaron” to help us… or He may provide us with strength and abilities we had no idea we possessed (and didn’t without Supernatural assistance!). Regardless of how the tasks are accomplished, we must be ready and willing to accept God’s assignments. What about you? Are you ready to step up – and out – for God… or are you still busy making excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 11, 2013
Exodus 22:22-24
Aaron said, “Master, don’t be angry. You know this people and how set on evil they are. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. This Moses, the man who brought us out of Egypt, we don’t know what’s happened to him.’
“So I said, ‘Who has gold?’ And they took off their jewelry and gave it to me. I threw it in the fire and out came this calf.”
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 day when I was visiting my niece and her children, Timothy said, “Mommy told me… ‘GO TO YOUR ROOM!’” (he said it in a very stern, loud voice). His mother said, “Tell Aunt Debbie the rest of the story!” “Well…” Timothy began… and with his mother’s help, he explained how he had gotten up early and helped himself to the cupcakes sitting atop the kitchen counter. I guess you could say this was his “golden calf” moment. In his mind, he was innocent… totally justified. His mother was the “bad guy” just as the Israelites were Aaron’s downfall. It certainly was not his fault at all! After all… she brought the cupcakes into the house to tempt him!
For many of us – in many circumstances - “the devil made us do it.” We have all sorts of excuses for the things we say and do… but none of them involve taking personal responsibility for them. We are persuaded by friends, co-workers, relatives, leaders, and even the media to believe one way or another… and to act accordingly. We blame anyone and everyone. It’s not our fault… it never is! And if another person is not directly responsible, we blame the environment, the weather, or even the economy! And we don’t have the luxury of claiming three-year-old innocence/ignorance! We know better… we just choose to do as we please and hope that we aren’t caught!
And if all of this is not enough, we have a whole other set of excuses to offer God about our life as a disciple of Christ. We blame our sins and lack of faithfulness on everything from the outside influences of others to a sense of inadequacy as a Christian to… yes… the devil! We are so busy charging ahead and living as we please that we don’t wait on the LORD for guidance and answers. We don’t give God a chance to fulfill His promises… we don’t allow Him room to work. We want a cupcake, so to speak… and we want it now! And when things go badly, we are always like Aaron or the errant child… we haven’t a clue how it happened. All we did was toss some “gold” into the fire, and out popped a “calf idol”! (You can substitute your own “gold” and “idols”… because I’m pretty sure we have all had them at one time or another!)
So where does this leave us? Hopefully, you can see that making excuses to God is ridiculous… and a waste of breath. He knows better – even if we don’t! It’s time for us to “come clean”… to own up to our mistakes and missteps… and to fervently and sincerely make every effort to do better. We need to spend some serious time in prayer and communication with God… to reaffirm our commitment to live for Him and to fulfill His purposes for our lives. And we need to ask for patience! In other words… it’s time for us to grow up!
We are called to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth… to share His Good News with others… and we can’t do this if we are constantly going off on tangents and doing as we please – or listening to the persuasions of others and addressing their agendas! Who are you serving these days? Are you waiting on a word from God before you act? Are you listening to the wrong people and then blaming someone else for your mistakes? Isn’t it time to pull the plug on all of that and start living the life to which God has called you? What do you say… aren’t you tired of making excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Aaron said, “Master, don’t be angry. You know this people and how set on evil they are. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. This Moses, the man who brought us out of Egypt, we don’t know what’s happened to him.’
“So I said, ‘Who has gold?’ And they took off their jewelry and gave it to me. I threw it in the fire and out came this calf.”
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 day when I was visiting my niece and her children, Timothy said, “Mommy told me… ‘GO TO YOUR ROOM!’” (he said it in a very stern, loud voice). His mother said, “Tell Aunt Debbie the rest of the story!” “Well…” Timothy began… and with his mother’s help, he explained how he had gotten up early and helped himself to the cupcakes sitting atop the kitchen counter. I guess you could say this was his “golden calf” moment. In his mind, he was innocent… totally justified. His mother was the “bad guy” just as the Israelites were Aaron’s downfall. It certainly was not his fault at all! After all… she brought the cupcakes into the house to tempt him!
For many of us – in many circumstances - “the devil made us do it.” We have all sorts of excuses for the things we say and do… but none of them involve taking personal responsibility for them. We are persuaded by friends, co-workers, relatives, leaders, and even the media to believe one way or another… and to act accordingly. We blame anyone and everyone. It’s not our fault… it never is! And if another person is not directly responsible, we blame the environment, the weather, or even the economy! And we don’t have the luxury of claiming three-year-old innocence/ignorance! We know better… we just choose to do as we please and hope that we aren’t caught!
And if all of this is not enough, we have a whole other set of excuses to offer God about our life as a disciple of Christ. We blame our sins and lack of faithfulness on everything from the outside influences of others to a sense of inadequacy as a Christian to… yes… the devil! We are so busy charging ahead and living as we please that we don’t wait on the LORD for guidance and answers. We don’t give God a chance to fulfill His promises… we don’t allow Him room to work. We want a cupcake, so to speak… and we want it now! And when things go badly, we are always like Aaron or the errant child… we haven’t a clue how it happened. All we did was toss some “gold” into the fire, and out popped a “calf idol”! (You can substitute your own “gold” and “idols”… because I’m pretty sure we have all had them at one time or another!)
So where does this leave us? Hopefully, you can see that making excuses to God is ridiculous… and a waste of breath. He knows better – even if we don’t! It’s time for us to “come clean”… to own up to our mistakes and missteps… and to fervently and sincerely make every effort to do better. We need to spend some serious time in prayer and communication with God… to reaffirm our commitment to live for Him and to fulfill His purposes for our lives. And we need to ask for patience! In other words… it’s time for us to grow up!
We are called to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth… to share His Good News with others… and we can’t do this if we are constantly going off on tangents and doing as we please – or listening to the persuasions of others and addressing their agendas! Who are you serving these days? Are you waiting on a word from God before you act? Are you listening to the wrong people and then blaming someone else for your mistakes? Isn’t it time to pull the plug on all of that and start living the life to which God has called you? What do you say… aren’t you tired of making excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 3, 2013
1 Kings 19:20-21
Elisha deserted the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please! Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye—then I’ll follow you.”
“Go ahead,” said Elijah, “but, mind you, don’t forget what I’ve just done to you.”
So Elisha left; he took his yoke of oxen and butchered them. He made a fire with the plow and tackle and then boiled the meat—a true farewell meal for the family. Then he left and followed Elijah, becoming his right-hand man.
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.
Excuses! Excuses! We’ve all got ‘em! “When I finish watching this program, I’ll get up and do XYZ… if I get the job I want, I will move out and get my own place… when I lose a few pounds, get a haircut, or all the stars align, I’ll start coming to church.” We have built a lifetime of “not nows,” “maybe laters” and “somedays.” Sometimes the ramifications seem to be rather benign… other times, we realize that our excuses will have major ramifications. Still, we make choices – and excuses – and generally, we just hope for the best.
Let me ask you… are you making excuses with God? Is he knocking on the door to your heart, but you have a ready list of justifications for hiding in the shadows? Are you one of those who says, “I’m coming with you LORD… but let me do this or that first.”? Do you have a zillion reasons – most of which you feel are good ones – that you just can’t follow Him completely today?
We all have a stash of ready excuses…at home, at work, in our personal relationships – and yes, for God. The question is… are they justifiable - especially when it comes to our faith walk? Is there ever truly a good excuse when God calls? Examine your heart – and your explanations. Are any of them really reasonable? When God reaches out to you, and you hesitate… what will be your excuse? Do you remember what He has done for you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Elisha deserted the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please! Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye—then I’ll follow you.”
“Go ahead,” said Elijah, “but, mind you, don’t forget what I’ve just done to you.”
So Elisha left; he took his yoke of oxen and butchered them. He made a fire with the plow and tackle and then boiled the meat—a true farewell meal for the family. Then he left and followed Elijah, becoming his right-hand man.
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.
Excuses! Excuses! We’ve all got ‘em! “When I finish watching this program, I’ll get up and do XYZ… if I get the job I want, I will move out and get my own place… when I lose a few pounds, get a haircut, or all the stars align, I’ll start coming to church.” We have built a lifetime of “not nows,” “maybe laters” and “somedays.” Sometimes the ramifications seem to be rather benign… other times, we realize that our excuses will have major ramifications. Still, we make choices – and excuses – and generally, we just hope for the best.
Let me ask you… are you making excuses with God? Is he knocking on the door to your heart, but you have a ready list of justifications for hiding in the shadows? Are you one of those who says, “I’m coming with you LORD… but let me do this or that first.”? Do you have a zillion reasons – most of which you feel are good ones – that you just can’t follow Him completely today?
We all have a stash of ready excuses…at home, at work, in our personal relationships – and yes, for God. The question is… are they justifiable - especially when it comes to our faith walk? Is there ever truly a good excuse when God calls? Examine your heart – and your explanations. Are any of them really reasonable? When God reaches out to you, and you hesitate… what will be your excuse? Do you remember what He has done for you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 17, 2012
Matthew 3:13-17
Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John kept objecting and said, “I ought to be baptized by you. Why have you come to me?”
Jesus answered, “For now this is how it should be, because we must do all that God wants us to do.” Then John agreed.
So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever gotten an extravagant gift? Maybe someone did something for you that in no way could you repay or reciprocate. Perhaps you protested genuinely… “Oh, you shouldn’t have. I cannot accept.” Maybe the person persisted… “I insist! I want you to have this,” or “I want to do this for you.” Maybe someone offered to do something incredibly generous for you and said, “You must let me do this for you. I won’t allow you to refuse.”
Learning to accept gifts graciously is a big life lesson for many of us. And accepting Jesus’ gifts with obedience and gratitude is no exception. See, none of us deserves anything from Jesus. We truly are not worthy to even hear Him whisper our name, much less receive any of the blessings He bestows on us. Truly, John… the anointed forerunner of Christ… acknowledged that he was not worthy to baptize Jesus. But at the same time, John realized that obedience trumps worthiness. So when Jesus said, “… this is how it should be,” John listened.
I wonder…how well are we listening to God? Does it even occur to us that we really are not worthy of the things Jesus has done for us… the blessings, grace and mercy He continues to shower on us through His Holy Spirit each and every day? Have we grown so used to His gifts that we no longer feel the urge to protest? Do we act out of a sense of obedience to a God who has given so generously to us, or have we become complacent and now take Him for granted?
John’s baptism of Jesus was a major turning point in Christian history. Not only was Jesus’ significance to God emphasized, but both Jesus and John exemplified obedience. Jesus also demonstrated grace. In this moment, the importance of listening to God and doing what He commands was brought home in a profound way. We will never deserve a single thing from God. Yet He continues to shower us with His goodness. Our responsibility is to be obedient… even if it is to say, “Thank You for such a wonderful gift.”
With God, there is no need for “Oh, you shouldn’t have…” because that is a “given.” But a heartfelt, “Thank You, Master… how can I serve You?” is always appropriate. Have you stopped lately to thank God for what He does for you every minute of the day? Are you respectful and submissive? Do you attend to His will out of a sense of gratitude and faithfulness… or because you think you have to earn your way? When we come to a point in our Christian living where we operate from a profound sense of obedience and gratitude, we have turned a corner. When God calls on you to do something, how will you answer?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Jesus left Galilee and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John kept objecting and said, “I ought to be baptized by you. Why have you come to me?”
Jesus answered, “For now this is how it should be, because we must do all that God wants us to do.” Then John agreed.
So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever gotten an extravagant gift? Maybe someone did something for you that in no way could you repay or reciprocate. Perhaps you protested genuinely… “Oh, you shouldn’t have. I cannot accept.” Maybe the person persisted… “I insist! I want you to have this,” or “I want to do this for you.” Maybe someone offered to do something incredibly generous for you and said, “You must let me do this for you. I won’t allow you to refuse.”
Learning to accept gifts graciously is a big life lesson for many of us. And accepting Jesus’ gifts with obedience and gratitude is no exception. See, none of us deserves anything from Jesus. We truly are not worthy to even hear Him whisper our name, much less receive any of the blessings He bestows on us. Truly, John… the anointed forerunner of Christ… acknowledged that he was not worthy to baptize Jesus. But at the same time, John realized that obedience trumps worthiness. So when Jesus said, “… this is how it should be,” John listened.
I wonder…how well are we listening to God? Does it even occur to us that we really are not worthy of the things Jesus has done for us… the blessings, grace and mercy He continues to shower on us through His Holy Spirit each and every day? Have we grown so used to His gifts that we no longer feel the urge to protest? Do we act out of a sense of obedience to a God who has given so generously to us, or have we become complacent and now take Him for granted?
John’s baptism of Jesus was a major turning point in Christian history. Not only was Jesus’ significance to God emphasized, but both Jesus and John exemplified obedience. Jesus also demonstrated grace. In this moment, the importance of listening to God and doing what He commands was brought home in a profound way. We will never deserve a single thing from God. Yet He continues to shower us with His goodness. Our responsibility is to be obedient… even if it is to say, “Thank You for such a wonderful gift.”
With God, there is no need for “Oh, you shouldn’t have…” because that is a “given.” But a heartfelt, “Thank You, Master… how can I serve You?” is always appropriate. Have you stopped lately to thank God for what He does for you every minute of the day? Are you respectful and submissive? Do you attend to His will out of a sense of gratitude and faithfulness… or because you think you have to earn your way? When we come to a point in our Christian living where we operate from a profound sense of obedience and gratitude, we have turned a corner. When God calls on you to do something, how will you answer?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 20, 2012
Ephesians 4:26-28
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry - but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My daily calendar quote for yesterday was, “The man who can’t dance thinks the band is no good.” I think this probably describes a good number of people who are not taking ownership for their problems or responsibilities. It’s someone else’s fault… or another person’s problem… but certainly no fault of their own. In a way, this is the same thing as stealing. If we allow others to accept responsibility for our problems… debts… mistakes… or even unhappiness, we are making ends meet at their expense.
So when you “borrow” from your friends – a place to stay, food, clothing, money – with no agreement or plan for restitution… you are stealing from them. If the friends allow this, you are letting them to own your problems instead of taking responsibility for them yourself. When you say or do something you shouldn’t and try to pawn it off on another person – or make excuses – you have pretty much stolen that person’s integrity, as in the case of the man who can’t dance. It’s really not the band’s fault… but he doesn’t want to be honest and admit that he has shortcomings. He would rather allow the band to own the deficiencies.
The daily quote for today was, “When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt!” I think this is timely advice. When you are doing what God has called you to do… acting responsibly – even if it means admitting mistakes and making an effort to correct them… keep going. Don’t stop! Don’t get bogged down by anger, frustration, embarrassment, disappointment, or discouragement. Trust God to help you come out on top!
Pastor Joel Osteen paraphrases Philippians 4:13 in this manner… “It's not how you start that counts, it's how you finish. Shake off the past and keep running toward the prize!” Today is the day to stand up and accept responsibility for where we are in life… to do an honest day’s work in all arenas… and to move forward. There is no time for getting angry about the past… no room for the devil to get any pleasure in this! Let’s push on – with God’s help. Let’s ask God to show us how to quit focusing on the band and improve our “dancing!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry - but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My daily calendar quote for yesterday was, “The man who can’t dance thinks the band is no good.” I think this probably describes a good number of people who are not taking ownership for their problems or responsibilities. It’s someone else’s fault… or another person’s problem… but certainly no fault of their own. In a way, this is the same thing as stealing. If we allow others to accept responsibility for our problems… debts… mistakes… or even unhappiness, we are making ends meet at their expense.
So when you “borrow” from your friends – a place to stay, food, clothing, money – with no agreement or plan for restitution… you are stealing from them. If the friends allow this, you are letting them to own your problems instead of taking responsibility for them yourself. When you say or do something you shouldn’t and try to pawn it off on another person – or make excuses – you have pretty much stolen that person’s integrity, as in the case of the man who can’t dance. It’s really not the band’s fault… but he doesn’t want to be honest and admit that he has shortcomings. He would rather allow the band to own the deficiencies.
The daily quote for today was, “When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt!” I think this is timely advice. When you are doing what God has called you to do… acting responsibly – even if it means admitting mistakes and making an effort to correct them… keep going. Don’t stop! Don’t get bogged down by anger, frustration, embarrassment, disappointment, or discouragement. Trust God to help you come out on top!
Pastor Joel Osteen paraphrases Philippians 4:13 in this manner… “It's not how you start that counts, it's how you finish. Shake off the past and keep running toward the prize!” Today is the day to stand up and accept responsibility for where we are in life… to do an honest day’s work in all arenas… and to move forward. There is no time for getting angry about the past… no room for the devil to get any pleasure in this! Let’s push on – with God’s help. Let’s ask God to show us how to quit focusing on the band and improve our “dancing!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 23, 2011
1 Chronicles 9:28-33
Some of the Levites were responsible for the equipment used in worship at the temple, and they had to count everything before and after it was used. Others were responsible for the temple furnishings and its sacred objects, as well as the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices. But only the priests could mix the spices. Mattithiah, Shallum's oldest son, was a member of the Levite clan of Korah, and he was in charge of baking the bread used for offerings. The Levites from the Kohath clan were in charge of baking the sacred loaves of bread for each Sabbath. The Levite family leaders who were the musicians also lived at the temple. They had no other responsibilities, because they were on duty day and night.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Each holiday season, I am reminded of family traditions. A lot of those in our family centered around food and big holiday dinners! When I was growing up, my Mam-ma Polly always made the hot rolls for our big potluck feasts and cooked green beans in her cast iron Dutch oven. My Aunt Altha made giblet gravy and the cornbread dressing as long as she could – then her daughter Betty Rhea took over. When Betty had a stroke and could no longer make the dressing, her grand-daughter, Natalie, took up the torch!
My mom always made an assortment of cookies to be eaten throughout the holidays - especially on Christmas morning. These included rolled cookies cut into the shape of Christmas trees, bells, and Santa Claus himself. Some were iced and decorated with “red hot” candies. Others were left plain. This year, I made holiday cookies – not the rolled and iced kind, but a family favorite nonetheless.
My Mam-ma Polly was somewhat known as the “peanut brittle lady” – making as much as 50 pounds of the candy to give to family and friends at Christmas time. Like clockwork, the tins would go out in December with an admonition that “I’ll need those back for next year!” When she moved into an assisted living facility last winter, I found peanuts and corn syrup stashed all over her house!
Men had traditions, too. My cousin Eddie always supplied my mother with fresh greenery from the woods for her planters… fragrant pine boughs that made everything smell fresh and woodsy! My dad was in charge of setting up card tables and chairs to accommodate our large family for the main meal, as well as other “manly” duties assigned by my mother - like carving the turkey and ham, and getting the Christmas tree on the stand and in the house!
Things have changed in my family. Now I make the green beans in the cast iron pot… the rolls are Sister Schubert’s, and my husband built a large wooden top that he assembles over our dining table to “stretch” it to accommodate all who gather there. He also assembles our tallest artificial Christmas tree in our great room each year. My mother decided a few years ago to enjoy our Christmas decorations instead of getting out hers, and her husband does most of their holiday baking. My mother-in-law made peanut brittle this year – in the microwave oven instead of an open sauce pan atop the stove!
But what has not changed is our love for each other. We still get together and sit down to share a meal, although our number has dwindled by more than half. As I visited cousins recently to deliver Christmas gifts, I noticed that we each had some of the same ornaments on our Christmas trees… a “tie that binds” us together in a small, yet significant, way. We may do things a little differently these days, but the spirit of tradition is still there. I believe that God gives us traditions and the “keepers of certain duties” in order to create continuity, trust, and love among us.
There was something very comforting in knowing my Aunt Altha would always have the dressing and gravy. There was a love that flowed from my Mam-ma Polly through each buttery bite of peanut brittle. And as I look at my boxes of Christmas decorations each early December and consider whether to drag them all out again or not… I realize that creating a warm and cozy holiday home for my family is another way to share God’s love. Suddenly, I am rejuvenated for another season.
God has given each of us specific talents and abilities… designated responsibilities and “assignments” that are uniquely ours. He has put us directly in line to handle certain traditions… to carry them through to the next generation. And in doing so, He reminds us that His love is never-ending. He has called us to share these traditions with others to demonstrate our obedience and willingness to serve. Whether you are destined to be the family historian, the candy maker, the keeper of the cast iron Dutch oven, or the man in charge of turkeys, tables and chairs, and Christmas trees, God has set you in place for something. Ask Him to show you how and where He wants you to serve. It’s your job to find your spot and do your part. Will you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Some of the Levites were responsible for the equipment used in worship at the temple, and they had to count everything before and after it was used. Others were responsible for the temple furnishings and its sacred objects, as well as the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices. But only the priests could mix the spices. Mattithiah, Shallum's oldest son, was a member of the Levite clan of Korah, and he was in charge of baking the bread used for offerings. The Levites from the Kohath clan were in charge of baking the sacred loaves of bread for each Sabbath. The Levite family leaders who were the musicians also lived at the temple. They had no other responsibilities, because they were on duty day and night.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mom always made an assortment of cookies to be eaten throughout the holidays - especially on Christmas morning. These included rolled cookies cut into the shape of Christmas trees, bells, and Santa Claus himself. Some were iced and decorated with “red hot” candies. Others were left plain. This year, I made holiday cookies – not the rolled and iced kind, but a family favorite nonetheless.
My Mam-ma Polly was somewhat known as the “peanut brittle lady” – making as much as 50 pounds of the candy to give to family and friends at Christmas time. Like clockwork, the tins would go out in December with an admonition that “I’ll need those back for next year!” When she moved into an assisted living facility last winter, I found peanuts and corn syrup stashed all over her house!
Men had traditions, too. My cousin Eddie always supplied my mother with fresh greenery from the woods for her planters… fragrant pine boughs that made everything smell fresh and woodsy! My dad was in charge of setting up card tables and chairs to accommodate our large family for the main meal, as well as other “manly” duties assigned by my mother - like carving the turkey and ham, and getting the Christmas tree on the stand and in the house!
Things have changed in my family. Now I make the green beans in the cast iron pot… the rolls are Sister Schubert’s, and my husband built a large wooden top that he assembles over our dining table to “stretch” it to accommodate all who gather there. He also assembles our tallest artificial Christmas tree in our great room each year. My mother decided a few years ago to enjoy our Christmas decorations instead of getting out hers, and her husband does most of their holiday baking. My mother-in-law made peanut brittle this year – in the microwave oven instead of an open sauce pan atop the stove!
Traditions are tricky things. Some are easily carried from one generation to the next for eons, while others rock along very nicely for a while before ending abruptly. I failed my grandmother’s peanut brittle making lessons miserably, so that “tradition” will not be carried on in my kitchen. I can make the delicious yeast rolls… but the heat-and-serve variety is so much easier. If you have not found your roles in life changing at least a little… you will at some point.
There was something very comforting in knowing my Aunt Altha would always have the dressing and gravy. There was a love that flowed from my Mam-ma Polly through each buttery bite of peanut brittle. And as I look at my boxes of Christmas decorations each early December and consider whether to drag them all out again or not… I realize that creating a warm and cozy holiday home for my family is another way to share God’s love. Suddenly, I am rejuvenated for another season.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 25, 2011
Proverbs 20:4
If you are too lazy to plow, don't expect a harvest.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other day I caught part of a commercial for yet another fat-burning solution that comes in a little capsule. No exercise is necessary… no dietary changes are needed. All we have to do is take these little capsules, and they will miraculously attach to our belly fat and burn it into oblivion for us! Yippee!!! As my “personal trainer” Jillian Michaels says, this is a message of lethargy and laziness… and it won’t work. She also says that so many people truly do not show up their own lives. In other words, they don’t take responsibility for their actions… or the outcomes. And she is right! We want the harvest, but we don’t want to plow!
We see this in every arena of life. Some students never study and barely get by then wonder why their GPA is so poor and they can’t get into good graduate schools - or potential employers are less than impressed. People apply for job after job and wonder why nobody will hire them... yet they fail to realize they present a lazy, “I-could-care-less” attitude and a sloppy appearance. We all know someone who has been on one diet after another, joined every gym in town and has a cabinet full of workout videos – right next to the treadmill/clothes rack. Every Monday is going to be the first day of a diet… until Monday actually arrives.
We also see this in the lives of many Christians. We make excuses with comments like, “I have nothing to offer. I’m not smart/capable/talented/outgoing… and more. I don’t have time. I don’t want to be a pest.” Sometimes, these are code for “I’m too lazy to get involved.” We often hear God nudging us into service and witness, but we either tune Him out or turn away. Some of us are so out of step with God that we really, truly don’t recognize His voice when He speaks and gives us an assignment!
The time has come for us to show up… to be truly present in our own lives… and as Christians and Disciples of Christ. We need to get up and get going… to clean up our act, polish our appearance, and get in line to accept whatever challenges we are presented… with all of the enthusiasm and energy we can muster. If you are really ready for a harvest, are you ready to plow?
©2011 Debbie Robus
If you are too lazy to plow, don't expect a harvest.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other day I caught part of a commercial for yet another fat-burning solution that comes in a little capsule. No exercise is necessary… no dietary changes are needed. All we have to do is take these little capsules, and they will miraculously attach to our belly fat and burn it into oblivion for us! Yippee!!! As my “personal trainer” Jillian Michaels says, this is a message of lethargy and laziness… and it won’t work. She also says that so many people truly do not show up their own lives. In other words, they don’t take responsibility for their actions… or the outcomes. And she is right! We want the harvest, but we don’t want to plow!
We see this in every arena of life. Some students never study and barely get by then wonder why their GPA is so poor and they can’t get into good graduate schools - or potential employers are less than impressed. People apply for job after job and wonder why nobody will hire them... yet they fail to realize they present a lazy, “I-could-care-less” attitude and a sloppy appearance. We all know someone who has been on one diet after another, joined every gym in town and has a cabinet full of workout videos – right next to the treadmill/clothes rack. Every Monday is going to be the first day of a diet… until Monday actually arrives.
We also see this in the lives of many Christians. We make excuses with comments like, “I have nothing to offer. I’m not smart/capable/talented/outgoing… and more. I don’t have time. I don’t want to be a pest.” Sometimes, these are code for “I’m too lazy to get involved.” We often hear God nudging us into service and witness, but we either tune Him out or turn away. Some of us are so out of step with God that we really, truly don’t recognize His voice when He speaks and gives us an assignment!
The time has come for us to show up… to be truly present in our own lives… and as Christians and Disciples of Christ. We need to get up and get going… to clean up our act, polish our appearance, and get in line to accept whatever challenges we are presented… with all of the enthusiasm and energy we can muster. If you are really ready for a harvest, are you ready to plow?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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