John 3:16-18
“This is how much God loved the
world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that
no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole
and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son
merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He
came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is
acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under
the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s
failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to
him.
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.
Suppose you really wanted to spend
your weekend relaxing and doing as you pleased…but someone you loved
desperately needed you to do something with them. So you gave up what
YOU wanted in favor of what this person wanted or needed. And then that
person acted totally ungrateful. Let’s say you drove this person to a
class reunion…spent your time and gas money to get him/her there…and
then he/she acted as if you didn’t exist. You were not introduced to
anyone…this person didn’t give you as much as the time of day. You
pretty well spent the whole event sitting in the corner…or maybe even in
your car!
How would you feel? Would you be eager to help this
person out again in the future? Even though you might not stop loving
this individual – particularly if he/she was a relative…you probably
would not feel very generous toward him/her.
Now imagine the
sacrifice that God made for us. He gave His ONLY SON to DIE for our
sins. He allowed Jesus to suffer unimaginably for each of us…totally
out of love and a desire to help us and care for us. And many of us
treat Him like that person who drove us to the class reunion. We act
as if we don’t know Him…we pretend that He is not important – that we
don’t need Him. And in some cases, we act like He doesn’t exist – if we
don’t claim as much directly.
It’s no wonder that God doesn’t
take too kindly to this kind of treatment! Who among us would accept
rejection from others and continue to lavish them with love and
attention? Unless you enjoy being a doormat for people, I suspect that
there comes a point where you cut your losses in such situations and
move on. So why would we expect God to continue to give us a pass?
Let’s
be clear…God will pursue us to the bitter end. As long as we draw a
breath, He will love us and want us to belong to Him…to accept salvation
in Jesus Christ, surrender our sins to Him, and become His disciple.
But God will not be mocked – or denied – and wave His hand and say,
“It’s okay…there is still a place for you in Heaven. I’ll continue to
bless you on this earth and prepare an Eternal mansion for you. Just do
your thing and be YOU, and don’t worry about serving me!”
God
has given us more than we can ever imagine – for no reason other than
that He loves us more than we can ever comprehend. What’s not to love
in return? Why would we ever not want to serve Him with all of the
gratitude and humility we can muster? How could we willingly and
deliberately turn our backs on such a gift? Yet some do. I pray that
you are not among them…and if you are, I pray that you will change this –
now…today…this minute!
God loves us SO MUCH that He sent Jesus to die for us. How are you responding?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label acknowledging God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label acknowledging God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for February 27, 2015
Jeremiah 31:33-34
Here is the new agreement that I, the Lord, will make with the people of Israel:
“I will write my laws
on their hearts and minds.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
“No longer will they have to teach one another to obey me. I, the Lord, promise that all of them will obey me, ordinary people and rulers alike. I will forgive their sins and forget the evil things they have done.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning on Facebook, I read a sweet essay about the history of aprons…why people wore them and the many uses they have. I can still picture my Mam-ma Polly in her apron. She rarely set foot in the kitchen without first tying one around her waist. And many of the purposes listed for aprons in this essay were lived out by my grandmother.
In recent months, I’ve begun to wear an apron more often…not because I’m getting old and turning into my grandmother - at least not in the way you think! I’ve found that many of the advantages an apron provides are legitimate…from keeping your clothes clean to providing a handy “potholder”, pocket, or place to wipe your hands. And every time I wear an apron, I feel my Mam-ma Polly’s presence.
This is how it is for us with God. There have been people in our lives who have introduced us to Him…there are plenty of resources for Bible study, Christian fellowship, and service. The formal “lessons” may have changed – or ceased altogether. But God’s presence prevails. Like the apron we tie around our body, God’s love and care surround us…remind us of the lessons He has given us…and protect us from the “dangers, toils and snares” of the world.
When you think about it, an apron is a pretty basic, universal item. All kinds of people from all walks of life wear an apron…for a myriad of purposes. God’s love and care are totally like a “Spiritual apron”…available to the ordinary and rulers alike…”one size fits all”. This versatile, protective garment is the right accessory for virtually any situation…and a wonderful reminder that “I am your God – and you are my people.”
You may not wear an apron in your everyday life…but if you aren’t covered by God’s “Spiritual apron,” you are missing out on the blessings of His covenant and the promises He has given us. Will this be the day that you “put on an apron” and feel God’s presence? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Here is the new agreement that I, the Lord, will make with the people of Israel:
“I will write my laws
on their hearts and minds.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
“No longer will they have to teach one another to obey me. I, the Lord, promise that all of them will obey me, ordinary people and rulers alike. I will forgive their sins and forget the evil things they have done.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning on Facebook, I read a sweet essay about the history of aprons…why people wore them and the many uses they have. I can still picture my Mam-ma Polly in her apron. She rarely set foot in the kitchen without first tying one around her waist. And many of the purposes listed for aprons in this essay were lived out by my grandmother.
In recent months, I’ve begun to wear an apron more often…not because I’m getting old and turning into my grandmother - at least not in the way you think! I’ve found that many of the advantages an apron provides are legitimate…from keeping your clothes clean to providing a handy “potholder”, pocket, or place to wipe your hands. And every time I wear an apron, I feel my Mam-ma Polly’s presence.
This is how it is for us with God. There have been people in our lives who have introduced us to Him…there are plenty of resources for Bible study, Christian fellowship, and service. The formal “lessons” may have changed – or ceased altogether. But God’s presence prevails. Like the apron we tie around our body, God’s love and care surround us…remind us of the lessons He has given us…and protect us from the “dangers, toils and snares” of the world.
When you think about it, an apron is a pretty basic, universal item. All kinds of people from all walks of life wear an apron…for a myriad of purposes. God’s love and care are totally like a “Spiritual apron”…available to the ordinary and rulers alike…”one size fits all”. This versatile, protective garment is the right accessory for virtually any situation…and a wonderful reminder that “I am your God – and you are my people.”
You may not wear an apron in your everyday life…but if you aren’t covered by God’s “Spiritual apron,” you are missing out on the blessings of His covenant and the promises He has given us. Will this be the day that you “put on an apron” and feel God’s presence? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 18, 2015
Isaiah 53:6
We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
We have all heard stories of people who were falsely accused of crimes they did not commit – and imprisoned for them – only to be acquitted through DNA testing years later. Sadly, I am sure that some of these persons were never vindicated…and some probably were put to death. I’ve seen television interviews with more than one victim of false accusation…and many have looked their accusers squarely in the eye and forgiven them. While some of those who pointed the finger genuinely believed they “had the right guy”, I still marvel at the grace and compassion of the accused who could say, “It’s alright…I understand…and I do not begrudge you.”
Were I to cause someone else to take punishment that he/she did not deserve, I imagine that I would be greatly grieved by this. And hopefully, you would feel the same way. But we don’t seem to understand that this is our exact relationship with Jesus! All of the horrific things that happened to Him are a direct result of OUR sins and wrongdoings. While none of us would stand up and say, “HE did it! Punish HIM!”…this is essentially what we do every day. God sent Jesus to take our sins…to stand in the gap for us and take on our guilts – and the consequences. And Jesus says, “It’s okay…I still love you.”
I am astounded that someone to Whom I have been so ugly could be so loving and kind. I cannot comprehend the grace, mercy and forgiveness of Someone who suffered so greatly in my stead. I cannot fathom that He would want a fellowship with ME! But this is in fact the case. We – who left God’s path to follow our own – are loved, loved, LOVED by Him…and He is available to us 24/7!
Let this soak into your soul today. As you make the choices of your day, consider the ramifications – and consequences – of each. Think of Jesus suffering for your guilts and sins…and check your words and actions accordingly. God is always with us...even when we are acting in a manner that causes Him to suffer. Don’t you think we owe it to Him to at least try to live up to His love and care?
©2015 Debbie Robus
We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
We have all heard stories of people who were falsely accused of crimes they did not commit – and imprisoned for them – only to be acquitted through DNA testing years later. Sadly, I am sure that some of these persons were never vindicated…and some probably were put to death. I’ve seen television interviews with more than one victim of false accusation…and many have looked their accusers squarely in the eye and forgiven them. While some of those who pointed the finger genuinely believed they “had the right guy”, I still marvel at the grace and compassion of the accused who could say, “It’s alright…I understand…and I do not begrudge you.”
Were I to cause someone else to take punishment that he/she did not deserve, I imagine that I would be greatly grieved by this. And hopefully, you would feel the same way. But we don’t seem to understand that this is our exact relationship with Jesus! All of the horrific things that happened to Him are a direct result of OUR sins and wrongdoings. While none of us would stand up and say, “HE did it! Punish HIM!”…this is essentially what we do every day. God sent Jesus to take our sins…to stand in the gap for us and take on our guilts – and the consequences. And Jesus says, “It’s okay…I still love you.”
I am astounded that someone to Whom I have been so ugly could be so loving and kind. I cannot comprehend the grace, mercy and forgiveness of Someone who suffered so greatly in my stead. I cannot fathom that He would want a fellowship with ME! But this is in fact the case. We – who left God’s path to follow our own – are loved, loved, LOVED by Him…and He is available to us 24/7!
Let this soak into your soul today. As you make the choices of your day, consider the ramifications – and consequences – of each. Think of Jesus suffering for your guilts and sins…and check your words and actions accordingly. God is always with us...even when we are acting in a manner that causes Him to suffer. Don’t you think we owe it to Him to at least try to live up to His love and care?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 1, 2015
1 Peter 3:18
Christ died once for our sins.
An innocent person died
for those who are guilty.
Christ did this
to bring you to God,
when his body
was put to death
and his spirit
was made alive.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a “Mayberry-esque” community where the streets were literally safe enough to play in, and pretty well everyone knew everybody else. I interacted with all four of my grandparents on an almost-daily basis. I knew many of their friends well, and our neighbors were like extended family.
As the years have come and gone, many of these dear ones have passed away. Often, there has been an estate sale or auction to liquidate their belongings. While some might find this sad or morbid, I have attended many of these sales and purchased at least one item that could hold special meaning for me. So I have nativities and Madonna figurines that once graced the shelves of people I knew and loved. I serve my cakes and cookies on beautiful glass trays once were used by ladies who nurtured me as a youngster to serve refreshments to their guests and loved ones. I have two “prayer books” that belonged to a dear local optometrist who sat on the pew in front of us at church for over a decade.
I know these are just “things”…but every time I look at them, I am reminded of the person to whom they once belonged. In this manner, I carry their spirit in my heart. This past Christmas, a stranger stopped me in the checkout line at Wal-Mart to admire a pin I was wearing on my coat. It had belonged to my Mam-ma Polly. For a brief moment, my grandmother was with me…I felt her presence and the warmth of her beautiful smile. She loved her pretty pins, and I could almost hear HER acknowledging the compliment as I uttered a polite “Thank you!”
My point is that people often wonder where God is. Because God is not physically visible…because we cannot tangibly see or hear Him…many have a hard time feeling His presence. But we are told in this verse from 1 Peter that when Jesus died in the flesh, His spirit was made alive…and He is very much with us in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Every time we see certain things or hear particular words…every time we read our Bible or sit and marvel at the intricacies of our children or a beautiful animal or plant, we are reminded of Him.
When we are saved from that distracted person who ran the red light and almost t-boned us at an intersection, we feel the presence of Jesus. When we review a set of circumstances and events and can find no reasonable explanation for how or why they worked out so well, we can know that He was guiding each step of these incidents.
I treasure the reminders of those I knew and loved who are no longer physically present on this earth. But even more, I cherish the daily reminders of Jesus – His amazing, incomprehensible love and care for me. And I thank Him for the presence of His spirit and how He is so very alive and well within my heart. Do you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Christ died once for our sins.
An innocent person died
for those who are guilty.
Christ did this
to bring you to God,
when his body
was put to death
and his spirit
was made alive.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a “Mayberry-esque” community where the streets were literally safe enough to play in, and pretty well everyone knew everybody else. I interacted with all four of my grandparents on an almost-daily basis. I knew many of their friends well, and our neighbors were like extended family.
As the years have come and gone, many of these dear ones have passed away. Often, there has been an estate sale or auction to liquidate their belongings. While some might find this sad or morbid, I have attended many of these sales and purchased at least one item that could hold special meaning for me. So I have nativities and Madonna figurines that once graced the shelves of people I knew and loved. I serve my cakes and cookies on beautiful glass trays once were used by ladies who nurtured me as a youngster to serve refreshments to their guests and loved ones. I have two “prayer books” that belonged to a dear local optometrist who sat on the pew in front of us at church for over a decade.
I know these are just “things”…but every time I look at them, I am reminded of the person to whom they once belonged. In this manner, I carry their spirit in my heart. This past Christmas, a stranger stopped me in the checkout line at Wal-Mart to admire a pin I was wearing on my coat. It had belonged to my Mam-ma Polly. For a brief moment, my grandmother was with me…I felt her presence and the warmth of her beautiful smile. She loved her pretty pins, and I could almost hear HER acknowledging the compliment as I uttered a polite “Thank you!”
My point is that people often wonder where God is. Because God is not physically visible…because we cannot tangibly see or hear Him…many have a hard time feeling His presence. But we are told in this verse from 1 Peter that when Jesus died in the flesh, His spirit was made alive…and He is very much with us in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Every time we see certain things or hear particular words…every time we read our Bible or sit and marvel at the intricacies of our children or a beautiful animal or plant, we are reminded of Him.
When we are saved from that distracted person who ran the red light and almost t-boned us at an intersection, we feel the presence of Jesus. When we review a set of circumstances and events and can find no reasonable explanation for how or why they worked out so well, we can know that He was guiding each step of these incidents.
I treasure the reminders of those I knew and loved who are no longer physically present on this earth. But even more, I cherish the daily reminders of Jesus – His amazing, incomprehensible love and care for me. And I thank Him for the presence of His spirit and how He is so very alive and well within my heart. Do you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 30, 2014
Ruth 2:10-11
She thanked him warmly. “How can you be so kind to me?” she asked. “You must know I am only a foreigner.”
“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied, “and I also know about all the love and kindness you have shown your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you left your father and mother in your own land and have come here to live among strangers.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Boaz didn’t really know Ruth. She was little more than a foreigner who had moved into town – and she asked Boaz’s foreman if she could tag along to the wheat fields and pick up the leftovers. Yet something about Ruth intrigued Boaz. He told her to stay close to the other women – and he told the men to stay away from Ruth. And Boaz made sure that she had plenty of wheat to take home at the end of the day.
There are two things happening in this scripture passage that are noteworthy…1) Boaz was moved by the way Ruth sacrificed her own desires and happiness for that of her mother-in-law, Naomi - how she gave up her homeland and her family to move from Moab to Bethlehem; and 2) Boaz extended his gratitude to Ruth for her dedication by treating her kindly and generously.
Here’s how we can apply these things to our own life. First, we can ask God to make us more aware of what is happening in our midst. We can look for opportunities to be kind to others – even when we don’t know them or they are a “foreigner” or different in some way. Additionally, we can make a concerted effort to show our gratitude to those who do things for us and for those we care about – just to let them know that we notice – and appreciate - their efforts. And finally, we can thank God for blessing us – so that we might be a blessing to others.
I believe God placed Ruth and Boaz together. The Bible tells us that their marriage and the birth of a son, Obed, was a blessing not only to them – but also to Naomi and others. We have no clue who God might be putting in our path on any given day – or for what purpose. Don’t miss a chance to bless them…and to show gratitude to God – and to others – in the process. Be thankful for all of the opportunities that God provides for us to be kind and show gratitude – and for the “foreigners” who may deliver them!
©2014 Debbie Robus
She thanked him warmly. “How can you be so kind to me?” she asked. “You must know I am only a foreigner.”
“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied, “and I also know about all the love and kindness you have shown your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you left your father and mother in your own land and have come here to live among strangers.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Boaz didn’t really know Ruth. She was little more than a foreigner who had moved into town – and she asked Boaz’s foreman if she could tag along to the wheat fields and pick up the leftovers. Yet something about Ruth intrigued Boaz. He told her to stay close to the other women – and he told the men to stay away from Ruth. And Boaz made sure that she had plenty of wheat to take home at the end of the day.
There are two things happening in this scripture passage that are noteworthy…1) Boaz was moved by the way Ruth sacrificed her own desires and happiness for that of her mother-in-law, Naomi - how she gave up her homeland and her family to move from Moab to Bethlehem; and 2) Boaz extended his gratitude to Ruth for her dedication by treating her kindly and generously.
Here’s how we can apply these things to our own life. First, we can ask God to make us more aware of what is happening in our midst. We can look for opportunities to be kind to others – even when we don’t know them or they are a “foreigner” or different in some way. Additionally, we can make a concerted effort to show our gratitude to those who do things for us and for those we care about – just to let them know that we notice – and appreciate - their efforts. And finally, we can thank God for blessing us – so that we might be a blessing to others.
I believe God placed Ruth and Boaz together. The Bible tells us that their marriage and the birth of a son, Obed, was a blessing not only to them – but also to Naomi and others. We have no clue who God might be putting in our path on any given day – or for what purpose. Don’t miss a chance to bless them…and to show gratitude to God – and to others – in the process. Be thankful for all of the opportunities that God provides for us to be kind and show gratitude – and for the “foreigners” who may deliver them!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 31, 2014
Psalm 103:12
How far has the Lord taken
our sins from us?
Farther than the distance
from east to west!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I strapped Timothy into his car seat after church today, he said, “Momma says when we come home, we need to have a good attitude...forever and ever!” We took the children home after lunch, and Greg and I laughed that my niece had probably told them to come home with a good attitude, and Timothy asked her “for how long?”...hence, the “forever and ever” comment!
I think sometimes, we ask a version of this same question with regard to the grace, mercy, forgiveness and love of God...”LORD, how long will you love me? Father, how many times will you forgive my sins? Is my name really written in the Lamb’s Book of Life just because I surrendered my heart to Jesus and accepted His gift of salvation?” And the answer comes back over and again...”as far as east is to west...that’s how far I’ve taken your sins. This is how much I love you...this is the depth and breadth of My grace and compassion for you as one of My children.”
We need to let this soak in a while. We need to really stop and think about how much God loves us...how much He gives us...all that has been sacrificed on our behalf, and just how vast His care for us really is. Honestly, the magnitude and extent of God’s mercy over us is astounding...incomprehensible...beyond all that we can ever fully understand – but incredibly unending, all the same.
Now here’s a question for us to consider...how is OUR attitude in return? Do we behave in a way that respects these gifts? Do we honor God’s commitment to us with a reciprocal dedication – or the best that we can possibly muster? Do we reflect God’s extraordinary grace, mercy and forgiveness in our daily living...and in how we interact with others? Do we model a Christian discipleship that reflects a love of Christ for His church so great that it scatters sins farther than the distance from east to west? Isn’t it time we did?
Will this be the day that you develop a “good attitude forever and ever”...one that truly displays God’s handiwork in your life each and every minute? How far HAS the Lord taken your sins from you? Is this reflected in your life as a Christian? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
How far has the Lord taken
our sins from us?
Farther than the distance
from east to west!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I strapped Timothy into his car seat after church today, he said, “Momma says when we come home, we need to have a good attitude...forever and ever!” We took the children home after lunch, and Greg and I laughed that my niece had probably told them to come home with a good attitude, and Timothy asked her “for how long?”...hence, the “forever and ever” comment!
I think sometimes, we ask a version of this same question with regard to the grace, mercy, forgiveness and love of God...”LORD, how long will you love me? Father, how many times will you forgive my sins? Is my name really written in the Lamb’s Book of Life just because I surrendered my heart to Jesus and accepted His gift of salvation?” And the answer comes back over and again...”as far as east is to west...that’s how far I’ve taken your sins. This is how much I love you...this is the depth and breadth of My grace and compassion for you as one of My children.”
We need to let this soak in a while. We need to really stop and think about how much God loves us...how much He gives us...all that has been sacrificed on our behalf, and just how vast His care for us really is. Honestly, the magnitude and extent of God’s mercy over us is astounding...incomprehensible...beyond all that we can ever fully understand – but incredibly unending, all the same.
Now here’s a question for us to consider...how is OUR attitude in return? Do we behave in a way that respects these gifts? Do we honor God’s commitment to us with a reciprocal dedication – or the best that we can possibly muster? Do we reflect God’s extraordinary grace, mercy and forgiveness in our daily living...and in how we interact with others? Do we model a Christian discipleship that reflects a love of Christ for His church so great that it scatters sins farther than the distance from east to west? Isn’t it time we did?
Will this be the day that you develop a “good attitude forever and ever”...one that truly displays God’s handiwork in your life each and every minute? How far HAS the Lord taken your sins from you? Is this reflected in your life as a Christian? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 17, 2014
Psalm 148:1-6
Praise the Lord, O heavens! Praise him from the skies! Praise him, all his angels, all the armies of heaven. Praise him, sun and moon and all you twinkling stars. Praise him, skies above. Praise him, vapors high above the clouds.
Let everything he has made give praise to him. For he issued his command, and they came into being; he established them forever and forever. His orders will never be revoked.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I saw a Facebook link to a video* about Larissa and Ian Murphy, one of the most amazing married couples you will probably meet anytime soon. Ian and Larissa began dating in 2005 while attending college. Larissa says that she knew they were headed toward marriage – Ian had even been shopping for a ring. Then Ian suffered a brain injury in a serious car accident. Larissa moved in with Ian’s family and helped them with his therapies. Over time, Ian recovered to the point that the couple made plans to marry. Today, the Murphys have been husband and wife for three years. They have written a book about their journey… Eight Twenty Eight: When Love Didn't Give Up**, which will be available for purchase in August 2014.
The couple keeps a “board of gratefulness” on their living room wall, where they post daily notes that list what they are thankful for…and they encourage visitors to post a note, also. Larissa jots down simple things like “Saturday mornings”. She says more than half of Ian’s say, “my wifey”. Larissa says this is a way that they have found to practice gratefulness.
The Murphys agreed that they would consider marriage when Ian could once again talk to Larissa. His communication skills – and his physical abilities – have progressed tremendously, especially in the three years since their wedding. In the video, Larissa says that she knew if the roles were reversed, Ian would not have left her…and that they know that God will be faithful to their marriage. She asked Ian, “What about God enables you to have a happy marriage?” Ian responded…”He’s awesome.” This may sound like an oversimplification. But when you boil it all down…isn’t this the crux of our relationship with God?
Doesn’t an abiding, forever-and-ever relationship with God begin with acknowledging that He is awesome…magnificent…powerful…almighty…loving…caring…persistent and consistent? Would you ask someone who was NOT all of these things to mold and shape you…to meet your every need? Even if you did…could you depend on the outcome?
I’m not sure I could be as strong as Larissa Murphy. I cannot say with certainty that I would be as courageous…that I could take on the difficulties she added to the normal day-to-day demands and challenges that come with marriage. I am not sure that I would have the determination of Ian Murphy…that I would work as hard to come back from such a debilitating injury. But I know that without God in my life, none of it would be possible in the least…it simply would not happen!
Situations like this one humble me. They help me to see how blessed I am…that on my worst day, things are not nearly as bad as I think! And yet, I see that God is with me in my circumstances…and also in those of people who have so much more to address. If these folks can start their days with notes of gratitude and praise…surely so can I!
Finding God begins in large part with acknowledging His power and blessings. The first step in truly getting to know God is to recognize His hand in your life and the lives of those around you…to see His handiwork in places and things…and to give Him glory and praise for all of it! If you were able to post a note on the Murphy’s wall today expressing your gratefulness…what would you list? Are you fully cognizant and appreciative of God’s artistry? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://vimeo.com/88485530
**http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Twenty-When-Love-Didnt/dp/143368182X
Praise the Lord, O heavens! Praise him from the skies! Praise him, all his angels, all the armies of heaven. Praise him, sun and moon and all you twinkling stars. Praise him, skies above. Praise him, vapors high above the clouds.
Let everything he has made give praise to him. For he issued his command, and they came into being; he established them forever and forever. His orders will never be revoked.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I saw a Facebook link to a video* about Larissa and Ian Murphy, one of the most amazing married couples you will probably meet anytime soon. Ian and Larissa began dating in 2005 while attending college. Larissa says that she knew they were headed toward marriage – Ian had even been shopping for a ring. Then Ian suffered a brain injury in a serious car accident. Larissa moved in with Ian’s family and helped them with his therapies. Over time, Ian recovered to the point that the couple made plans to marry. Today, the Murphys have been husband and wife for three years. They have written a book about their journey… Eight Twenty Eight: When Love Didn't Give Up**, which will be available for purchase in August 2014.
The couple keeps a “board of gratefulness” on their living room wall, where they post daily notes that list what they are thankful for…and they encourage visitors to post a note, also. Larissa jots down simple things like “Saturday mornings”. She says more than half of Ian’s say, “my wifey”. Larissa says this is a way that they have found to practice gratefulness.
The Murphys agreed that they would consider marriage when Ian could once again talk to Larissa. His communication skills – and his physical abilities – have progressed tremendously, especially in the three years since their wedding. In the video, Larissa says that she knew if the roles were reversed, Ian would not have left her…and that they know that God will be faithful to their marriage. She asked Ian, “What about God enables you to have a happy marriage?” Ian responded…”He’s awesome.” This may sound like an oversimplification. But when you boil it all down…isn’t this the crux of our relationship with God?
Doesn’t an abiding, forever-and-ever relationship with God begin with acknowledging that He is awesome…magnificent…powerful…almighty…loving…caring…persistent and consistent? Would you ask someone who was NOT all of these things to mold and shape you…to meet your every need? Even if you did…could you depend on the outcome?
I’m not sure I could be as strong as Larissa Murphy. I cannot say with certainty that I would be as courageous…that I could take on the difficulties she added to the normal day-to-day demands and challenges that come with marriage. I am not sure that I would have the determination of Ian Murphy…that I would work as hard to come back from such a debilitating injury. But I know that without God in my life, none of it would be possible in the least…it simply would not happen!
Situations like this one humble me. They help me to see how blessed I am…that on my worst day, things are not nearly as bad as I think! And yet, I see that God is with me in my circumstances…and also in those of people who have so much more to address. If these folks can start their days with notes of gratitude and praise…surely so can I!
Finding God begins in large part with acknowledging His power and blessings. The first step in truly getting to know God is to recognize His hand in your life and the lives of those around you…to see His handiwork in places and things…and to give Him glory and praise for all of it! If you were able to post a note on the Murphy’s wall today expressing your gratefulness…what would you list? Are you fully cognizant and appreciative of God’s artistry? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://vimeo.com/88485530
**http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Twenty-When-Love-Didnt/dp/143368182X
Daily Devotional for May 12, 2012
Luke 10:17-20
When the seventy-two followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!” Jesus told them: I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. But don’t be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
More than once, an actor or entertainer has stood before a crowd to accept an award and thanked numerous people… only to realize later they forgot to thank their spouse, family, parents, or someone else who was vital to their success. The excuse is always that they got caught up in the excitement of the moment. But the fact remains they failed to give credit where it was due.
As Christians, we do this a lot. We get so caught up in the “power trip” that we forget to credit the Power Source! We overcome a temptation or an addiction and we revel in our success. We praise God for His deliverance from difficult situations, trials and tribulations… and we should. But how often do we simply say, “LORD, thank You for saving me. Thank You for writing my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life! Thank You for preparing a place in Your kingdom for me for all Eternity!”?
I am as happy as anyone that the devil has no authority over me. He is a wannabe God, and he cannot hurt me. The devil is the last person I will fear or respect. And Satan is most certainly not the object of my focus! Offense is the devil’s number one tool… and distraction… and I am working diligently to remove all evidence of this menace from my life. At the same time, I am renewing my determination to totally live in Christ… to wake up every day grateful for what He has done for me… to recognize His beauty and blessings that surround me. Call it focusing on the positive more than the negative, if you will.
We have no trouble running to God when there is trouble or we are in need. But how often do we run to Him “just because?” Isn’t it time we focused more on what God does for us each and every day? Let’s acknowledge God’s power over the devil and his agents. But let’s leave the bragging and bravado behind in favor of a focus on genuine praise and appreciation for all that He has given us. Let’s concentrate on less on our victory over Satan and more on the promise of Heaven… and all that is yet to come!
©2012 Debbie Robus
When the seventy-two followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!” Jesus told them: I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. But don’t be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
More than once, an actor or entertainer has stood before a crowd to accept an award and thanked numerous people… only to realize later they forgot to thank their spouse, family, parents, or someone else who was vital to their success. The excuse is always that they got caught up in the excitement of the moment. But the fact remains they failed to give credit where it was due.
As Christians, we do this a lot. We get so caught up in the “power trip” that we forget to credit the Power Source! We overcome a temptation or an addiction and we revel in our success. We praise God for His deliverance from difficult situations, trials and tribulations… and we should. But how often do we simply say, “LORD, thank You for saving me. Thank You for writing my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life! Thank You for preparing a place in Your kingdom for me for all Eternity!”?
I am as happy as anyone that the devil has no authority over me. He is a wannabe God, and he cannot hurt me. The devil is the last person I will fear or respect. And Satan is most certainly not the object of my focus! Offense is the devil’s number one tool… and distraction… and I am working diligently to remove all evidence of this menace from my life. At the same time, I am renewing my determination to totally live in Christ… to wake up every day grateful for what He has done for me… to recognize His beauty and blessings that surround me. Call it focusing on the positive more than the negative, if you will.
We have no trouble running to God when there is trouble or we are in need. But how often do we run to Him “just because?” Isn’t it time we focused more on what God does for us each and every day? Let’s acknowledge God’s power over the devil and his agents. But let’s leave the bragging and bravado behind in favor of a focus on genuine praise and appreciation for all that He has given us. Let’s concentrate on less on our victory over Satan and more on the promise of Heaven… and all that is yet to come!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 13, 2012
Isaiah 45:18-21
God, Creator of the heavens - he is, remember, God. Maker of earth - he put it on its foundations, built it from scratch. He didn't go to all that trouble to just leave it empty, nothing in it. He made it to be lived in.
This God says: "I am God, the one and only. I don't just talk to myself or mumble under my breath. I never told Jacob, 'Seek me in emptiness, in dark nothingness.' I am God. I work out in the open, saying what's right, setting things right. So gather around, come on in, all you refugees and castoffs. They don't seem to know much, do they - those who carry around their no-god blocks of wood, praying for help to a dead stick?
So tell me what you think. Look at the evidence. Put your heads together. Make your case. Who told you, and a long time ago, what's going on here? Who made sense of things for you? Wasn't I the one? God? It had to be me. I'm the only God there is - The only God who does things right and knows how to help.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I packed my grandmother’s things last year to move her into an assisted living facility, I found more than one set of nice pajamas in a dresser drawer. They had never been worn. She was saving them “in case I have to go to the hospital.” In truth, the hospital staff prefers that patients wear the “gowns” they provide – for a variety of reasons. So these beautiful pajamas that had never been worn were in my grandmother’s dresser drawer, where time had taken a toll on the elastic in the pants. Before anyone could wear them, these “brand-spanking-new” pajamas would have to be repaired!
I made a point to sort through all of my grandmother’s clothes and only move her best things… and a handful of older items she simply refused to part with… and I told her she should wear her good things every day and not tuck anything in the back of her closet for a “rainy day.” She has not been entirely happy with this and claims that on some days she is “overdressed,” but she is making an effort to dress well.
Don’t we do this with our life as a Christian? Don’t we often tuck our best into a drawer or the back of our closet… to trot out only if and when we have a special occasion? Don’t we go through life pretty much taking God for granted… calling on Him only in a crisis… and “worshipping” other things – at least to some degree – much of the time? We can blame this on busyness, or admit to laziness, or even self-absorption. But the bottom line is that – for whatever reasons - many of us often neglect our relationship with our One True God and fail to fully live as good stewards of His blessings in the world He created.
I count myself among those who need to renew efforts to “wear the good stuff” every day – to truly give God my best in all things, at all times. Any less belies how important He is in my daily living… and WHO God truly is. Who – or what – have you placed ahead of God these days? What old habits and other “old stuff” have you pulled out of the closet? Isn’t it time for a good old-fashioned spring cleaning? Isn’t this a great time to bring God’s best to the forefront… to “wear” the blessings and His call to service for all to see – and to give Him the glory and recognition He deserves?
©2012 Debbie Robus
God, Creator of the heavens - he is, remember, God. Maker of earth - he put it on its foundations, built it from scratch. He didn't go to all that trouble to just leave it empty, nothing in it. He made it to be lived in.
This God says: "I am God, the one and only. I don't just talk to myself or mumble under my breath. I never told Jacob, 'Seek me in emptiness, in dark nothingness.' I am God. I work out in the open, saying what's right, setting things right. So gather around, come on in, all you refugees and castoffs. They don't seem to know much, do they - those who carry around their no-god blocks of wood, praying for help to a dead stick?
So tell me what you think. Look at the evidence. Put your heads together. Make your case. Who told you, and a long time ago, what's going on here? Who made sense of things for you? Wasn't I the one? God? It had to be me. I'm the only God there is - The only God who does things right and knows how to help.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I packed my grandmother’s things last year to move her into an assisted living facility, I found more than one set of nice pajamas in a dresser drawer. They had never been worn. She was saving them “in case I have to go to the hospital.” In truth, the hospital staff prefers that patients wear the “gowns” they provide – for a variety of reasons. So these beautiful pajamas that had never been worn were in my grandmother’s dresser drawer, where time had taken a toll on the elastic in the pants. Before anyone could wear them, these “brand-spanking-new” pajamas would have to be repaired!
I made a point to sort through all of my grandmother’s clothes and only move her best things… and a handful of older items she simply refused to part with… and I told her she should wear her good things every day and not tuck anything in the back of her closet for a “rainy day.” She has not been entirely happy with this and claims that on some days she is “overdressed,” but she is making an effort to dress well.
Don’t we do this with our life as a Christian? Don’t we often tuck our best into a drawer or the back of our closet… to trot out only if and when we have a special occasion? Don’t we go through life pretty much taking God for granted… calling on Him only in a crisis… and “worshipping” other things – at least to some degree – much of the time? We can blame this on busyness, or admit to laziness, or even self-absorption. But the bottom line is that – for whatever reasons - many of us often neglect our relationship with our One True God and fail to fully live as good stewards of His blessings in the world He created.
I count myself among those who need to renew efforts to “wear the good stuff” every day – to truly give God my best in all things, at all times. Any less belies how important He is in my daily living… and WHO God truly is. Who – or what – have you placed ahead of God these days? What old habits and other “old stuff” have you pulled out of the closet? Isn’t it time for a good old-fashioned spring cleaning? Isn’t this a great time to bring God’s best to the forefront… to “wear” the blessings and His call to service for all to see – and to give Him the glory and recognition He deserves?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 3, 2012
1 Chronicles 17:16-20
David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. He sat there and prayed: LORD God, my family and I don't deserve what you have already done for us, and yet you have promised to do even more for my descendants. You are treating me as if I am a very important person. I am your servant, and you know my thoughts. What else can I say, except that you have honored me? It was your choice to do these wonderful things for me and to make these promises. No other god is like you, LORD--you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Imagine if someone came to you and said, “You are very important… so important that I am going to do wonderful things in your life and the lives of your family members – and even the lives of your unborn children. You will never want for anything. All of your needs will be met. I’m going to give you mansions and wealth and keep you safe and protected. You will never have to worry about another thing.” What would you think? Would you believe it? Supposed this came from someone you knew to be rich and famous – powerful – and able to easily afford to take care of you and your family. Would you believe it then?
Now imagine that God is telling you this… that He is promising to meet all of your needs, protect you from enemies, do wonderful things in your life and the lives of your family… and give you all mansions for all Eternity. Imagine that you are very important to God. Do you believe this?
The first scenario is pie in the sky. Oh, it might happen, but the odds are clearly not in your favor – and most likely there would be strings attached. But God has already been doing this for us… and you can take His promises all the way to the bank! Does this mean you never have to work another day? Absolutely not! God will see that your needs are met, but that probably means He will help you find a job to earn money and pay your bills. He will give you talents, skills and abilities that enable you to work and earn a living. He will keep you healthy – and heal you when you are ill. He may also allow you to struggle in order to keep you humble and faithful to Him.
Are there strings attached to the honor and blessings of God? Only one… God wants you to trust Him… to love Him… to serve Him wholeheartedly. In return, He pretty much gives us “the keys to the Kingdom.” I’ve never heard of anyone else who promises this. I don’t know any other gods who offer eternal mansions on streets paved with gold – and certainly no mere mortals who can deliver this! I haven’t heard about any other gods who can keep us safe and meet all of our needs every minute of the day. I don’t know any other gods who have chosen us for such blessings – and delivered them continually.
Truly, our God is an awesome God. Surely, He alone is God Almighty, and there is none other like Him. Have you recognized this? Have you thanked Him for loving you and honoring you with such great gifts? Have you given Him your heart and soul in return? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. He sat there and prayed: LORD God, my family and I don't deserve what you have already done for us, and yet you have promised to do even more for my descendants. You are treating me as if I am a very important person. I am your servant, and you know my thoughts. What else can I say, except that you have honored me? It was your choice to do these wonderful things for me and to make these promises. No other god is like you, LORD--you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Imagine if someone came to you and said, “You are very important… so important that I am going to do wonderful things in your life and the lives of your family members – and even the lives of your unborn children. You will never want for anything. All of your needs will be met. I’m going to give you mansions and wealth and keep you safe and protected. You will never have to worry about another thing.” What would you think? Would you believe it? Supposed this came from someone you knew to be rich and famous – powerful – and able to easily afford to take care of you and your family. Would you believe it then?
Now imagine that God is telling you this… that He is promising to meet all of your needs, protect you from enemies, do wonderful things in your life and the lives of your family… and give you all mansions for all Eternity. Imagine that you are very important to God. Do you believe this?
The first scenario is pie in the sky. Oh, it might happen, but the odds are clearly not in your favor – and most likely there would be strings attached. But God has already been doing this for us… and you can take His promises all the way to the bank! Does this mean you never have to work another day? Absolutely not! God will see that your needs are met, but that probably means He will help you find a job to earn money and pay your bills. He will give you talents, skills and abilities that enable you to work and earn a living. He will keep you healthy – and heal you when you are ill. He may also allow you to struggle in order to keep you humble and faithful to Him.
Are there strings attached to the honor and blessings of God? Only one… God wants you to trust Him… to love Him… to serve Him wholeheartedly. In return, He pretty much gives us “the keys to the Kingdom.” I’ve never heard of anyone else who promises this. I don’t know any other gods who offer eternal mansions on streets paved with gold – and certainly no mere mortals who can deliver this! I haven’t heard about any other gods who can keep us safe and meet all of our needs every minute of the day. I don’t know any other gods who have chosen us for such blessings – and delivered them continually.
Truly, our God is an awesome God. Surely, He alone is God Almighty, and there is none other like Him. Have you recognized this? Have you thanked Him for loving you and honoring you with such great gifts? Have you given Him your heart and soul in return? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 30, 2011
John 20:28-29
Thomas said, "My Master! My God!" Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy loves to look at the moon. Ever since he first learned to say the word “moon” and realized that the yellow orb in his storybooks was the same moon we see in the sky, he has been mesmerized. He loves to go outside in “the dawk”, as he calls it, and look for the moon. On clear nights when the moon is readily visible, he will point and squeal, “There it is!” But on cloudy nights – or the days of the month when the moon rises during daylight hours – he has a hard time accepting that the moon is truly there. For a long time, he believed only because he had seen with his own eyes. As he grows and becomes able to understand more high-level concepts, he is learning to accept that the moon is still there, even when we cannot see it.
I believe that of the greatest milestones in our growth as a Christian is when we fully begin to accept God in the form of His only Son, Jesus, and to believe in all that He can accomplish in and through us, purely on faith. Certainly none of us has ever physically seen Jesus in human form. We weren’t here for His birth, death, or resurrection. But as surely as we know the moon is still in the sky, we should know that Jesus is real.
This is a hard concept for so many. How can we be so sure that Jesus exists if we’ve never seen Him? How can we be certain that He will usher us into His presence in Heaven someday? How can we know that He is working on our behalf? All of these questions can be difficult to answer, unless we are growing in our own relationship with Jesus on a daily basis.
I can tell you from firsthand experience that these questions are easier for me to answer today than they were yesterday – and next week the answers will come even more quickly. As I allow God to work in my life each and every day… as I open my eyes and ears to the countless ways He is orchestrating every breath I take and all of the circumstances that make up my existence… my “proof” is strengthened as my faith increases.
I can cite example after example where I know for a fact that God had His hand on me and a specific situation. I can say with certainty that the only way things could have happened as they did is because God was in control. I can give skeptics dozens of instances where there is no question that God did what mere man could not… fixed things I could never fix on my own… opened doors… healed and restored… and blessed abundantly!
I like to think that I am living proof that God exists… because He has brought me to this place in my life despite everything I have done to try and screw it up! And if you don’t believe MY testimony, I have Christian brothers and sisters who will be happy to share their own. I’ve seen God do some incredible things… yet I have never physically seen Him in the flesh. And I like what Jesus said in this passage…even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing! That sounds pretty good to me!
What about you? Do you believe? Have you “seen” the evidence of Jesus Christ in and around your own life? Are you paying attention… watching and listening for Him? Are you reaping the blessings of believing without seeing? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Thomas said, "My Master! My God!" Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy loves to look at the moon. Ever since he first learned to say the word “moon” and realized that the yellow orb in his storybooks was the same moon we see in the sky, he has been mesmerized. He loves to go outside in “the dawk”, as he calls it, and look for the moon. On clear nights when the moon is readily visible, he will point and squeal, “There it is!” But on cloudy nights – or the days of the month when the moon rises during daylight hours – he has a hard time accepting that the moon is truly there. For a long time, he believed only because he had seen with his own eyes. As he grows and becomes able to understand more high-level concepts, he is learning to accept that the moon is still there, even when we cannot see it.
I believe that of the greatest milestones in our growth as a Christian is when we fully begin to accept God in the form of His only Son, Jesus, and to believe in all that He can accomplish in and through us, purely on faith. Certainly none of us has ever physically seen Jesus in human form. We weren’t here for His birth, death, or resurrection. But as surely as we know the moon is still in the sky, we should know that Jesus is real.
This is a hard concept for so many. How can we be so sure that Jesus exists if we’ve never seen Him? How can we be certain that He will usher us into His presence in Heaven someday? How can we know that He is working on our behalf? All of these questions can be difficult to answer, unless we are growing in our own relationship with Jesus on a daily basis.
I can tell you from firsthand experience that these questions are easier for me to answer today than they were yesterday – and next week the answers will come even more quickly. As I allow God to work in my life each and every day… as I open my eyes and ears to the countless ways He is orchestrating every breath I take and all of the circumstances that make up my existence… my “proof” is strengthened as my faith increases.
I can cite example after example where I know for a fact that God had His hand on me and a specific situation. I can say with certainty that the only way things could have happened as they did is because God was in control. I can give skeptics dozens of instances where there is no question that God did what mere man could not… fixed things I could never fix on my own… opened doors… healed and restored… and blessed abundantly!
I like to think that I am living proof that God exists… because He has brought me to this place in my life despite everything I have done to try and screw it up! And if you don’t believe MY testimony, I have Christian brothers and sisters who will be happy to share their own. I’ve seen God do some incredible things… yet I have never physically seen Him in the flesh. And I like what Jesus said in this passage…even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing! That sounds pretty good to me!
What about you? Do you believe? Have you “seen” the evidence of Jesus Christ in and around your own life? Are you paying attention… watching and listening for Him? Are you reaping the blessings of believing without seeing? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 14, 2011
Psalm 144:3-4, 15
I wonder why you care, God — why do you bother with us at all? All we are is a puff of air; we're like shadows in a campfire.
How blessed the people who have all this! How blessed the people who have God for God!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We are experiencing periods of heavy fog this week. When this happens, Greers Ferry Dam completely disappears from view out our back window. The dense fog keeps us from seeing even the bright lights that line the sides of the dam’s roadway and guide drivers safely from one end to the other. A visitor would never know that a big concrete dam was holding back the water on the river below our house. And the fog can rise very quickly on the river. Often the dam is visible one minute and gone the next.
We like to think about living a long life… and how important each and every minute, day, and year of our lives is in the scheme of things. But truly, we are here one day and gone the next. If you don’t believe me, just think about the past year and what has happened. I remarked to my husband a few days ago that I had to remove the names of several dear friends and loved ones from my Christmas card list, because they have gone to heaven since this time last year. Our lives are very much like a vaporous fog.
So why does God bother with us? He is, after all, GOD! In the time continuum and scheme of things, how can one of us be that important? And yet we are! Each one of us matters greatly to God. Our life, however lengthy or brief, matters. What happens to us – our hopes, dreams, needs, desires, the way we conduct ourselves and how we serve Him – all has significance. And we truly are blessed to have such a God.
Sadly, we take God for granted so much of the time. Amazingly, we fail to honor the One who has done such great things for someone as small as we are in the overall picture. But we can change this… and we can start today. Begin by thanking God in your prayer time for all He does in your life. Then start to live in a way that shows Him you mean what you said. Seek out ways to serve Him… to show kindness and love to others… and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ – in word and deed. Act like you are as important as God thinks you are… and praise Him for choosing us… and for being such a great and mighty God to each of His “vaporous puffs”!
©2011 Debbie Robus
I wonder why you care, God — why do you bother with us at all? All we are is a puff of air; we're like shadows in a campfire.
How blessed the people who have all this! How blessed the people who have God for God!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We are experiencing periods of heavy fog this week. When this happens, Greers Ferry Dam completely disappears from view out our back window. The dense fog keeps us from seeing even the bright lights that line the sides of the dam’s roadway and guide drivers safely from one end to the other. A visitor would never know that a big concrete dam was holding back the water on the river below our house. And the fog can rise very quickly on the river. Often the dam is visible one minute and gone the next.
We like to think about living a long life… and how important each and every minute, day, and year of our lives is in the scheme of things. But truly, we are here one day and gone the next. If you don’t believe me, just think about the past year and what has happened. I remarked to my husband a few days ago that I had to remove the names of several dear friends and loved ones from my Christmas card list, because they have gone to heaven since this time last year. Our lives are very much like a vaporous fog.
So why does God bother with us? He is, after all, GOD! In the time continuum and scheme of things, how can one of us be that important? And yet we are! Each one of us matters greatly to God. Our life, however lengthy or brief, matters. What happens to us – our hopes, dreams, needs, desires, the way we conduct ourselves and how we serve Him – all has significance. And we truly are blessed to have such a God.
Sadly, we take God for granted so much of the time. Amazingly, we fail to honor the One who has done such great things for someone as small as we are in the overall picture. But we can change this… and we can start today. Begin by thanking God in your prayer time for all He does in your life. Then start to live in a way that shows Him you mean what you said. Seek out ways to serve Him… to show kindness and love to others… and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ – in word and deed. Act like you are as important as God thinks you are… and praise Him for choosing us… and for being such a great and mighty God to each of His “vaporous puffs”!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 6, 2011
John 18:15-18
Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That disciple knew the high priest, and he followed Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest's house. Peter stayed outside near the gate. But the other disciple came back out and spoke to the girl at the gate. She let Peter go in, but asked him, "Aren't you one of that man's followers?"
"No, I am not!" Peter answered.
It was cold, and the servants and temple police had made a charcoal fire. They were warming themselves around it, when Peter went over and stood near the fire to warm himself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is the time of year when we are all keenly aware of those around us who are in need. There are food and toy drives, programs to donate old coats to those who don’t have one, and “angel trees” that offer a chance to pick a child to provide with Christmas gifts. The Salvation Army bell ringers stand outside our department stores and urge us to drop in our spare change. And we do all of these things… and more… and go on our way feeling smug and satisfied with our own generosity.
The trouble is… many of us don’t operate with the same generous spirit the rest of the year. We develop an “it’s not my problem” attitude, and in doing so, we are no better than Peter. “Can you help?” we are asked over and again, and our answer is, “I don’t know them…” or “They don’t go to my church…” or quite literally, “That is simply not my problem.”
I will be the first to tell you that I do not donate to every cause for which I am asked. I toss plenty of solicitation letters in the trash, and I prayerfully choose who – and how – to help others. But this is the key… I try very hard to listen to God and follow His lead. If I feel God is telling me to put money in the Salvation Army bucket, I do it! If someone asks me to help a needy family in our area, and I feel that God expects me to do this, I step up to ask what is needed. Every time we fail to listen to God’s direction, we are denying our relationship with Him, just as Peter did.
I pray that you will stay in contact with God and prayerfully consider how and where He is calling you to serve. Don’t be guilty of denying your Father. Recognize His voice and answer in whatever manner He directs… not just during the Christmas holidays – but all year long.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That disciple knew the high priest, and he followed Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest's house. Peter stayed outside near the gate. But the other disciple came back out and spoke to the girl at the gate. She let Peter go in, but asked him, "Aren't you one of that man's followers?"
"No, I am not!" Peter answered.
It was cold, and the servants and temple police had made a charcoal fire. They were warming themselves around it, when Peter went over and stood near the fire to warm himself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is the time of year when we are all keenly aware of those around us who are in need. There are food and toy drives, programs to donate old coats to those who don’t have one, and “angel trees” that offer a chance to pick a child to provide with Christmas gifts. The Salvation Army bell ringers stand outside our department stores and urge us to drop in our spare change. And we do all of these things… and more… and go on our way feeling smug and satisfied with our own generosity.
The trouble is… many of us don’t operate with the same generous spirit the rest of the year. We develop an “it’s not my problem” attitude, and in doing so, we are no better than Peter. “Can you help?” we are asked over and again, and our answer is, “I don’t know them…” or “They don’t go to my church…” or quite literally, “That is simply not my problem.”
I will be the first to tell you that I do not donate to every cause for which I am asked. I toss plenty of solicitation letters in the trash, and I prayerfully choose who – and how – to help others. But this is the key… I try very hard to listen to God and follow His lead. If I feel God is telling me to put money in the Salvation Army bucket, I do it! If someone asks me to help a needy family in our area, and I feel that God expects me to do this, I step up to ask what is needed. Every time we fail to listen to God’s direction, we are denying our relationship with Him, just as Peter did.
I pray that you will stay in contact with God and prayerfully consider how and where He is calling you to serve. Don’t be guilty of denying your Father. Recognize His voice and answer in whatever manner He directs… not just during the Christmas holidays – but all year long.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 27, 2011
Psalm 115:12-18
O God, remember us and bless us, bless the families of Israel and Aaron. And let God bless all who fear God—bless the small, bless the great. Oh, let God enlarge your families—giving growth to you, growth to your children. May you be blessed by God, by God, who made heaven and earth. The heaven of heavens is for God, but he put us in charge of the earth.
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.
Lately I have found myself torn in a dozen directions… hurrying here and there… spending time with Timothy… checking on my grandmother… taking care of my husband and our household… checking in with friends and other family members… grocery shopping, cleaning, and squeezing in a writing project or two here and there. The days are full… just like yours, perhaps! It’s easy to get caught up in the hectic bustle of daily living and forget to stop and count our blessings. But that is exactly what we need to do!
So today, while I bake banana bread, I will thank God for providing me with plenty to eat – and a beautiful, cozy kitchen in which to prepare our meals. While I drive to my grandmother’s apartment to visit her, I will thank God for blessing me with such faithful, Christian parents and grandparents. When I pick up Timothy at daycare, I will thank God for the loving teachers who care for him and help him grow and learn…and I will thank Him for the joy and laughter of children and how they enrich our lives.
All through the day, I will be thanking God for my wonderful husband and the abundance we share in our lives together. As I look around at the beauty of this glorious fall day, I will thank Him for blessing us with gorgeousautumn weather, bright sunshine, and cool, crisp mornings. I will praise God for blessing us with the gift of His Son – and the promise of eternity in Heaven.
Tomorrow, the world may seem to fall apart. There may be illnesses, death, disappointment, and certainly plenty of “busyness” to fill the day… all a part of life. But even then, I am going to make time to praise God for His blessings… because there will always be more blessings than challenges. What about you? Are you remembering to count your blessings… and to thank God for each of them? Isn’t today a good time to begin?
©2011 Debbie Robus
O God, remember us and bless us, bless the families of Israel and Aaron. And let God bless all who fear God—bless the small, bless the great. Oh, let God enlarge your families—giving growth to you, growth to your children. May you be blessed by God, by God, who made heaven and earth. The heaven of heavens is for God, but he put us in charge of the earth.
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.
Lately I have found myself torn in a dozen directions… hurrying here and there… spending time with Timothy… checking on my grandmother… taking care of my husband and our household… checking in with friends and other family members… grocery shopping, cleaning, and squeezing in a writing project or two here and there. The days are full… just like yours, perhaps! It’s easy to get caught up in the hectic bustle of daily living and forget to stop and count our blessings. But that is exactly what we need to do!
So today, while I bake banana bread, I will thank God for providing me with plenty to eat – and a beautiful, cozy kitchen in which to prepare our meals. While I drive to my grandmother’s apartment to visit her, I will thank God for blessing me with such faithful, Christian parents and grandparents. When I pick up Timothy at daycare, I will thank God for the loving teachers who care for him and help him grow and learn…and I will thank Him for the joy and laughter of children and how they enrich our lives.
All through the day, I will be thanking God for my wonderful husband and the abundance we share in our lives together. As I look around at the beauty of this glorious fall day, I will thank Him for blessing us with gorgeousautumn weather, bright sunshine, and cool, crisp mornings. I will praise God for blessing us with the gift of His Son – and the promise of eternity in Heaven.
Tomorrow, the world may seem to fall apart. There may be illnesses, death, disappointment, and certainly plenty of “busyness” to fill the day… all a part of life. But even then, I am going to make time to praise God for His blessings… because there will always be more blessings than challenges. What about you? Are you remembering to count your blessings… and to thank God for each of them? Isn’t today a good time to begin?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 22, 2011
John 6:34-40
The people said, "Lord, give us this bread and don't ever stop!"
Jesus replied: I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty. I have told you already that you have seen me and still do not have faith in me. Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won't turn any of them away.
I didn't come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day. My Father wants everyone who sees the Son to have faith in him and to have eternal life. Then I will raise them to life on the last day.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A youth pastor friend of mine conducted an experiment recently. He asked all of the youth in his group to do without certain things each day for eight days, in order to get a feel for those who are less fortunate. Here was their schedule:
• Day one: No bed
• Day two: Eat rice only
• Day three: Beg for lunch
• Day four: No shower/hygiene products
• Day four part two: No relying on parents/No eating out (they must take care of themselves)
• Day five: No media (no cell phones, no radio, no computer, no TV)
• Day six: No cars (you can bum a ride with someone else, bike or walk, but no cars)
• Day seven: Wear the same clothes you wore yesterday
• Day eight: Fast all day
At best, this experiment was mildly uncomfortable for the participants… and maybe it opened a few eyes to the challenges that many face every day. We cannot fathom needing food and water. We do not understand the concept of needing water… we truly have plenty of food to eat and water to drink. It probably doesn’t occur to us often – if at all – that others clamor for even one cup of water, or a small bowl of mealy mush to eat each day.
The GOOD NEWS is that there is not a single person on the planet who cannot have plenty of the “Bread of Life” and “Living Water” offered by Jesus Christ. Whether lying on a bare church floor with no bedding…or on the hot dusty desert floor of Somalia… we can all be assured that Jesus will never turn us away. He loves all of us and cares deeply about us.
What we don’t grasp… and what eluded the people in this passage from John… is that physical needs and Spiritual needs are not the same. “Why,” we ask…”must people go hungry and thirsty? Why must there be poor and needy among us? Why do bad things happen to good people?” I don’t have the whole answer… and maybe we’re not supposed to understand this fully. But what I do know is that sometimes, through our physical needs and suffering, we are better able to see the Spiritual food and provisions that God offers us through Jesus. Let’s remember, Jesus suffered, too. He understood hunger, thirst, abuse, and murder… firsthand!
What I want you to take away from this message today is that God offers us “food and water” that defies physical man… the sustenance that permeates our soul and matters for all eternity. This life, no matter how many years we are granted, is truly only a blip on the screen. But life in the presence of Almighty God lasts forever. I want in on it… don’t you? And I want to take as many people with me as I possibly can! I am grateful that I will probably never know true physical hunger or thirst. But I am even more grateful that, by God’s grace, I won’t know these needs Spiritually. Can you say the same?
©2011 Debbie Robus
The people said, "Lord, give us this bread and don't ever stop!"
Jesus replied: I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty. I have told you already that you have seen me and still do not have faith in me. Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won't turn any of them away.
I didn't come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day. My Father wants everyone who sees the Son to have faith in him and to have eternal life. Then I will raise them to life on the last day.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A youth pastor friend of mine conducted an experiment recently. He asked all of the youth in his group to do without certain things each day for eight days, in order to get a feel for those who are less fortunate. Here was their schedule:
• Day one: No bed
• Day two: Eat rice only
• Day three: Beg for lunch
• Day four: No shower/hygiene products
• Day four part two: No relying on parents/No eating out (they must take care of themselves)
• Day five: No media (no cell phones, no radio, no computer, no TV)
• Day six: No cars (you can bum a ride with someone else, bike or walk, but no cars)
• Day seven: Wear the same clothes you wore yesterday
• Day eight: Fast all day
At best, this experiment was mildly uncomfortable for the participants… and maybe it opened a few eyes to the challenges that many face every day. We cannot fathom needing food and water. We do not understand the concept of needing water… we truly have plenty of food to eat and water to drink. It probably doesn’t occur to us often – if at all – that others clamor for even one cup of water, or a small bowl of mealy mush to eat each day.
The GOOD NEWS is that there is not a single person on the planet who cannot have plenty of the “Bread of Life” and “Living Water” offered by Jesus Christ. Whether lying on a bare church floor with no bedding…or on the hot dusty desert floor of Somalia… we can all be assured that Jesus will never turn us away. He loves all of us and cares deeply about us.
What we don’t grasp… and what eluded the people in this passage from John… is that physical needs and Spiritual needs are not the same. “Why,” we ask…”must people go hungry and thirsty? Why must there be poor and needy among us? Why do bad things happen to good people?” I don’t have the whole answer… and maybe we’re not supposed to understand this fully. But what I do know is that sometimes, through our physical needs and suffering, we are better able to see the Spiritual food and provisions that God offers us through Jesus. Let’s remember, Jesus suffered, too. He understood hunger, thirst, abuse, and murder… firsthand!
What I want you to take away from this message today is that God offers us “food and water” that defies physical man… the sustenance that permeates our soul and matters for all eternity. This life, no matter how many years we are granted, is truly only a blip on the screen. But life in the presence of Almighty God lasts forever. I want in on it… don’t you? And I want to take as many people with me as I possibly can! I am grateful that I will probably never know true physical hunger or thirst. But I am even more grateful that, by God’s grace, I won’t know these needs Spiritually. Can you say the same?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 21, 2011
John 6:30-33
They replied, "What miracle will you work, so that we can have faith in you? What will you do? For example, when our ancestors were in the desert, they were given manna to eat. It happened just as the Scriptures say, `God gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "Jesus then told them, "I tell you for certain that Moses wasn't the one who gave you bread from heaven. My Father is the one who gives you the true bread from heaven. And the bread that God gives is the one who came down from heaven to give life to the world."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Most of us are probably familiar with the scene in the movie “Jerry Maguire” where Cuba Gooding, Jr. screams, “Show me the money!” Gooding portrays a pro football player who is disgruntled with his contract. As his agent (played by Tom Cruise) tries to appease him, Gooding’s character is totally dissatisfied with the explanation. He wants proof of what Cruise’s character is promising… he wants more… he wants Cruise to “show me the money!”
Isn’t this how we operate with God many times? If we are really honest, don’t we want God to “show me the money!”? Oh, I don’t mean we literally want money… though some do! We are not satisfied with the things God does for us every minute of the day… the subtle mercies He offers us… the way He loves us when we don’t deserve it… the grace He extends as we muddle through our lives. We want Him to bring lightning bolts and thunder and pull out the BIG guns and really do miraculous things that are clearly visible. Maybe then we will really recognize Him and give Him due credit!
Does this sound familiar? How many times have you said, “LORD, I need a miracle!”? We fail to recognize that the fact that God loves us in the first place is probably one of the biggest miracles ever! Beyond this, we don’t stop to acknowledge all of the countless ways He is present in our lives on a daily basis. In essence, we don’t really recognize GOD! Unless He “shows us the money” in a grand way that makes a spectacular production for the world to see, we aren’t interested.
Look around. Take a good, hard look at your life in the light of what God has done – and continues to do – for you every day. See His hand in the smallest of events, as well as those larger ones. Get a grip on how much God loves us, and understand that He really does “show you the money” every minute of the day. Now humble yourself and thank Him… really thank Him for His tender love, grace and mercy… and start to operate in a spirit of full awareness of His presence – and gratitude for His blessings.
©2011 Debbie Robus
They replied, "What miracle will you work, so that we can have faith in you? What will you do? For example, when our ancestors were in the desert, they were given manna to eat. It happened just as the Scriptures say, `God gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "Jesus then told them, "I tell you for certain that Moses wasn't the one who gave you bread from heaven. My Father is the one who gives you the true bread from heaven. And the bread that God gives is the one who came down from heaven to give life to the world."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Most of us are probably familiar with the scene in the movie “Jerry Maguire” where Cuba Gooding, Jr. screams, “Show me the money!” Gooding portrays a pro football player who is disgruntled with his contract. As his agent (played by Tom Cruise) tries to appease him, Gooding’s character is totally dissatisfied with the explanation. He wants proof of what Cruise’s character is promising… he wants more… he wants Cruise to “show me the money!”
Isn’t this how we operate with God many times? If we are really honest, don’t we want God to “show me the money!”? Oh, I don’t mean we literally want money… though some do! We are not satisfied with the things God does for us every minute of the day… the subtle mercies He offers us… the way He loves us when we don’t deserve it… the grace He extends as we muddle through our lives. We want Him to bring lightning bolts and thunder and pull out the BIG guns and really do miraculous things that are clearly visible. Maybe then we will really recognize Him and give Him due credit!
Does this sound familiar? How many times have you said, “LORD, I need a miracle!”? We fail to recognize that the fact that God loves us in the first place is probably one of the biggest miracles ever! Beyond this, we don’t stop to acknowledge all of the countless ways He is present in our lives on a daily basis. In essence, we don’t really recognize GOD! Unless He “shows us the money” in a grand way that makes a spectacular production for the world to see, we aren’t interested.
Look around. Take a good, hard look at your life in the light of what God has done – and continues to do – for you every day. See His hand in the smallest of events, as well as those larger ones. Get a grip on how much God loves us, and understand that He really does “show you the money” every minute of the day. Now humble yourself and thank Him… really thank Him for His tender love, grace and mercy… and start to operate in a spirit of full awareness of His presence – and gratitude for His blessings.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 19, 2011
Psalm 96:1-4
Sing a new song to the LORD! Everyone on this earth, sing praises to the LORD, sing and praise his name. Day after day announce, "The LORD has saved us!" Tell every nation on earth, "The LORD is wonderful and does marvelous things! The LORD is great and deserves our greatest praise! He is the only God worthy of our worship.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One morning recently I got up early and headed for the farmer’s market and the grocery store, before the heat of the day set in and made being in and out of a car quite miserable. I stopped at Spring Park, where a farmer’s truck bed was laden with vegetables like potatoes, onions, squash, and tomatoes. He had cantaloupes and watermelons, too. As he placed the tomatoes and squash I had purchased into a bag, a strong breeze stirred through the trees.
I looked at those trees… tall and mighty – standing in that park for decades, if not centuries. And later, I stood and looked at old oak trees in the yard of our former office across the street from my grandparents’ house, where all but one massive oak tree that shaded the property have succumbed to time and mankind. I thought about how God had placed these trees in our yards and parks to shade us and carry cool breezes on a hot summer day.
I thought about how God provides us with delicious summer garden vegetables and fruits… how He carefully orchestrates every detail of our lives and continually does “wonderful and marvelous things.” And I realized… none of us praise Him enough! We should get up every morning and sing a new song to the LORD. We should praise His name day after day.
Even on our worst day… when nothing seems to be going right, we didn’t sleep well (or overslept), and life is really getting us down… we should still give God continual praise, because He never stops working on our behalf. So the challenge for each of us is this… let’s begin each day with praise to God for all that He does for us. Let’s make a concerted effort to praise Him throughout the day for all of his marvelous works and wonders that surround us. Let’s get in the habit of praising God continually for being our Savior and the only God worthy of our worship.
It’s time we stopped taking God for granted. Have you given Him praise today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Sing a new song to the LORD! Everyone on this earth, sing praises to the LORD, sing and praise his name. Day after day announce, "The LORD has saved us!" Tell every nation on earth, "The LORD is wonderful and does marvelous things! The LORD is great and deserves our greatest praise! He is the only God worthy of our worship.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One morning recently I got up early and headed for the farmer’s market and the grocery store, before the heat of the day set in and made being in and out of a car quite miserable. I stopped at Spring Park, where a farmer’s truck bed was laden with vegetables like potatoes, onions, squash, and tomatoes. He had cantaloupes and watermelons, too. As he placed the tomatoes and squash I had purchased into a bag, a strong breeze stirred through the trees.
I looked at those trees… tall and mighty – standing in that park for decades, if not centuries. And later, I stood and looked at old oak trees in the yard of our former office across the street from my grandparents’ house, where all but one massive oak tree that shaded the property have succumbed to time and mankind. I thought about how God had placed these trees in our yards and parks to shade us and carry cool breezes on a hot summer day.
I thought about how God provides us with delicious summer garden vegetables and fruits… how He carefully orchestrates every detail of our lives and continually does “wonderful and marvelous things.” And I realized… none of us praise Him enough! We should get up every morning and sing a new song to the LORD. We should praise His name day after day.
Even on our worst day… when nothing seems to be going right, we didn’t sleep well (or overslept), and life is really getting us down… we should still give God continual praise, because He never stops working on our behalf. So the challenge for each of us is this… let’s begin each day with praise to God for all that He does for us. Let’s make a concerted effort to praise Him throughout the day for all of his marvelous works and wonders that surround us. Let’s get in the habit of praising God continually for being our Savior and the only God worthy of our worship.
It’s time we stopped taking God for granted. Have you given Him praise today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 29, 2011
Psalm 139:7-12
Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight?
If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there.
If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.
Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean.
Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.
Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over.”
But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was sharing with a group of friends recently about how children take things so literally, and often they don’t understand concepts like “the blood of Jesus,” or “How can Jesus live in my heart – how does He get in there?” One of my friends said she heard about a child who leaned over to his mother in church and said, “If this is God’s house, why ain’t He ever home?”
I know, I know… it’s probably just a joke. But let’s give it a serious look for a minute or two. Just exactly where is God? More importantly, where is He in your world? Do you find Him in your church sanctuary on Sunday? Do you feel His presence with you every day? Do you have such an intimate relationship with God that you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He is always with you? Do you get it that you could never hide from God… even if you wanted to do so?
Have you ever looked at the moon on a bright, clear night and considered that people halfway around the world are seeing the same bright orb in the sky? When a Sunday-school student of mine was deployed to Afghanistan, we talked about the moon … how our God made that moon and positioned it so that we could both see it! Our God is big enough to do a lot of things… and just as He is able to position the moon, He is able to follow us wherever we go and be with us at all times.
The trouble is… some of us keep trying to hide from God, for a number of reasons. Some of us want to “test the waters” and try a few things we know are sinful. Some of us feel we can’t measure up to what God desires for us or expects of us… so we want to “pull the covers over our head” and disappear from Him. Still others have decided that they know what is best for themselves… better than God does… and they wish He would just leave them alone.
The truth is… God is always at home… and He wants to be wherever we are. And we should want God to be with us at all times. He’s not interested in making us feel badly about ourselves. He wants to give us courage, strength, peace and comfort. God doesn’t want us to hide from Him or try to make a go of it alone. He knows the struggles and challenges that we face, and He wants to face them with us! And just like the Psalmist made clear… we really can’t hide from God in the first place. So why not invite Him into our heart and take advantage of the love, grace and mercy He offers?!
God loves us so much. He doesn’t want to nag and pester us to love and serve Him in return. That’s really not how He rolls! Why don’t you invite Him to be where you are and find out for yourself just how amazing life can be when you recognize His presence! Isn’t it time you gave God a permanent residence in your heart? Isn’t it time you recognized God and welcomed Him home?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight?
If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there.
If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.
Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean.
Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.
Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over.”
But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was sharing with a group of friends recently about how children take things so literally, and often they don’t understand concepts like “the blood of Jesus,” or “How can Jesus live in my heart – how does He get in there?” One of my friends said she heard about a child who leaned over to his mother in church and said, “If this is God’s house, why ain’t He ever home?”
I know, I know… it’s probably just a joke. But let’s give it a serious look for a minute or two. Just exactly where is God? More importantly, where is He in your world? Do you find Him in your church sanctuary on Sunday? Do you feel His presence with you every day? Do you have such an intimate relationship with God that you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He is always with you? Do you get it that you could never hide from God… even if you wanted to do so?
Have you ever looked at the moon on a bright, clear night and considered that people halfway around the world are seeing the same bright orb in the sky? When a Sunday-school student of mine was deployed to Afghanistan, we talked about the moon … how our God made that moon and positioned it so that we could both see it! Our God is big enough to do a lot of things… and just as He is able to position the moon, He is able to follow us wherever we go and be with us at all times.
The trouble is… some of us keep trying to hide from God, for a number of reasons. Some of us want to “test the waters” and try a few things we know are sinful. Some of us feel we can’t measure up to what God desires for us or expects of us… so we want to “pull the covers over our head” and disappear from Him. Still others have decided that they know what is best for themselves… better than God does… and they wish He would just leave them alone.
The truth is… God is always at home… and He wants to be wherever we are. And we should want God to be with us at all times. He’s not interested in making us feel badly about ourselves. He wants to give us courage, strength, peace and comfort. God doesn’t want us to hide from Him or try to make a go of it alone. He knows the struggles and challenges that we face, and He wants to face them with us! And just like the Psalmist made clear… we really can’t hide from God in the first place. So why not invite Him into our heart and take advantage of the love, grace and mercy He offers?!
God loves us so much. He doesn’t want to nag and pester us to love and serve Him in return. That’s really not how He rolls! Why don’t you invite Him to be where you are and find out for yourself just how amazing life can be when you recognize His presence! Isn’t it time you gave God a permanent residence in your heart? Isn’t it time you recognized God and welcomed Him home?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 26, 2011
Luke 12:6-10
What's the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.
"Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God's angels. But if you pretend you don't know me, do you think I'll defend you before God's angels?
"If you bad-mouth the Son of Man out of misunderstanding or ignorance, that can be overlooked. But if you're knowingly attacking God himself, taking aim at the Holy Spirit, that won't be overlooked.
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.
Take a look at yourself in the mirror. Imagine it… God knows exactly how many hairs are on your head… and mine… and his… and hers… and theirs. Incredible, isn’t it?! “So what?” you may say… “Why would God even care about my hair?” Because God cares about everything about you! You are the apple of His eye. He knows every single detail of your life… and He loves you anyway!
So often – and for a number of reasons – people start to feel like nobody cares. Nobody is paying attention…nobody notices. I’m talking about more than self-pity… I’m talking about a feeling that we are incredibly insignificant in the scheme of things. If we died tomorrow, would it matter? The truth is that God created each of us for a purpose… and if we are not around to fulfill that purpose, it matters greatly!
God is always ready to meet you where you are… to stand with you – and to stand up for you! If someone tries to tell you that you don’t matter… or if the devil tries to plant those thoughts in your head, do not listen! Stand up, square your shoulders and say, “I’m worth more than a million canaries!” Because honestly, if God cares about every feather of a tiny canary, He surely cares about each of us even more.
There’s one other thing… because God is so loving, gracious, and merciful, and always willing to stand up for us… we must be willing to do the same. If we turn our back on God and try to make a go of things on our own terms, we can’t expect Him to bail us out of the mess we make! God is not Burger King… we can’t have it our way… and we can’t pick and choose when to serve Him and when we want to try something different! We really don’t want to do that anyway… because we’ve all seen how badly things go when we try to do them without God in control.
So thank God today for valuing you so highly – for caring about every intricate detail of your life. Ask Him to show you how to serve Him better… and take a stab at caring about the details of HIS life in return. Stand proudly knowing you are so important to Almighty God… and always remember who has your back!
©2011 Debbie Robus
What's the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.
"Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God's angels. But if you pretend you don't know me, do you think I'll defend you before God's angels?
"If you bad-mouth the Son of Man out of misunderstanding or ignorance, that can be overlooked. But if you're knowingly attacking God himself, taking aim at the Holy Spirit, that won't be overlooked.
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.
Take a look at yourself in the mirror. Imagine it… God knows exactly how many hairs are on your head… and mine… and his… and hers… and theirs. Incredible, isn’t it?! “So what?” you may say… “Why would God even care about my hair?” Because God cares about everything about you! You are the apple of His eye. He knows every single detail of your life… and He loves you anyway!
So often – and for a number of reasons – people start to feel like nobody cares. Nobody is paying attention…nobody notices. I’m talking about more than self-pity… I’m talking about a feeling that we are incredibly insignificant in the scheme of things. If we died tomorrow, would it matter? The truth is that God created each of us for a purpose… and if we are not around to fulfill that purpose, it matters greatly!
God is always ready to meet you where you are… to stand with you – and to stand up for you! If someone tries to tell you that you don’t matter… or if the devil tries to plant those thoughts in your head, do not listen! Stand up, square your shoulders and say, “I’m worth more than a million canaries!” Because honestly, if God cares about every feather of a tiny canary, He surely cares about each of us even more.
There’s one other thing… because God is so loving, gracious, and merciful, and always willing to stand up for us… we must be willing to do the same. If we turn our back on God and try to make a go of things on our own terms, we can’t expect Him to bail us out of the mess we make! God is not Burger King… we can’t have it our way… and we can’t pick and choose when to serve Him and when we want to try something different! We really don’t want to do that anyway… because we’ve all seen how badly things go when we try to do them without God in control.
So thank God today for valuing you so highly – for caring about every intricate detail of your life. Ask Him to show you how to serve Him better… and take a stab at caring about the details of HIS life in return. Stand proudly knowing you are so important to Almighty God… and always remember who has your back!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 16, 2011
Proverbs 12:25
Worry is a heavy burden, but a kind word always brings cheer.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Legendary news anchor Barbara Walters says that when she underwent open heart surgery last year, she recalls that she was not anxious (worried) as she was wheeled into the operating room. She thought to herself… “If I die on the operating table, I won’t know it.” If only it were always that simple to free ourselves of worry and anxiety! This scripture is right… worry is a heavy burden… and Satan makes sure most of us get a big dose of it daily.
We worry about everything from the weather to tests to whether or not our jeans will fit or we will have the right outfit for an upcoming event. We worry about big things in our lives… and the seemingly insignificant ones, as well. Many of us carry the burden of worry like a badge of honor. We’ve made a career out of brooding over worries.
God wants us to give our worries to Him. He wants us to lighten up… to be more trusting and faithful in His ability to work and bring about good in our lives. And He wants us to share that positive energy and outlook with others. We must offer a word of cheer and encouragement whenever we can, to lighten the burden of worry for the other guy.
Worry and anxiety truly do not change the outcome… but God does! The sooner we learn to rest in God and give Him control over our lives, the sooner we can become a cheerleader for others… and encourage them to do the same. Worry is a tool of the devil… designed to drag us down and keep us from experiencing the richest blessings of God. Are you really going to let him have that sort of satisfaction? Isn’t today a good day to “cast all your cares upon the LORD” and let Him do His job? Let’s focus on being the cheerleader instead of the worry-wort. Let’s see what amazing things God has in store for us when we let Him handle our day!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Worry is a heavy burden, but a kind word always brings cheer.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Legendary news anchor Barbara Walters says that when she underwent open heart surgery last year, she recalls that she was not anxious (worried) as she was wheeled into the operating room. She thought to herself… “If I die on the operating table, I won’t know it.” If only it were always that simple to free ourselves of worry and anxiety! This scripture is right… worry is a heavy burden… and Satan makes sure most of us get a big dose of it daily.
We worry about everything from the weather to tests to whether or not our jeans will fit or we will have the right outfit for an upcoming event. We worry about big things in our lives… and the seemingly insignificant ones, as well. Many of us carry the burden of worry like a badge of honor. We’ve made a career out of brooding over worries.
God wants us to give our worries to Him. He wants us to lighten up… to be more trusting and faithful in His ability to work and bring about good in our lives. And He wants us to share that positive energy and outlook with others. We must offer a word of cheer and encouragement whenever we can, to lighten the burden of worry for the other guy.
Worry and anxiety truly do not change the outcome… but God does! The sooner we learn to rest in God and give Him control over our lives, the sooner we can become a cheerleader for others… and encourage them to do the same. Worry is a tool of the devil… designed to drag us down and keep us from experiencing the richest blessings of God. Are you really going to let him have that sort of satisfaction? Isn’t today a good day to “cast all your cares upon the LORD” and let Him do His job? Let’s focus on being the cheerleader instead of the worry-wort. Let’s see what amazing things God has in store for us when we let Him handle our day!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)