Ephesians 3:7-10
This is my life work: helping people
understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a
real surprise, God handling all the details. When it came to presenting
the Message to people who had no background in God’s way, I was the
least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I
was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my
natural abilities.
And so here I am, preaching and writing about
things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and
generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain
what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in
secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like
yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is
becoming known and talked about even among the angels!
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.
This morning, I began a
7-week Bible study at my church. The “facilitator” for this study is my
cousin, Natalie. Let me tell you, these Bible studies are well
attended…and my “facilitating cousin” is a large part of the reason.
Natalie begins her Bible studies by telling us how she fought God on
this for many years…how He kept nudging her to “lead” a Bible study, and
she kept saying, “I’m not qualified.” Then she said the notion of
being a “facilitator” came along, which she interpreted to mean that she
would turn on the DVD player for the opening video, and ask the
questions in the study guide…and she said, “I can do this!”
Let
me assure you, Natalie does far more than operate the DVD player and ask
questions! God uses her in an amazing way, and as we like to say in my
family, “A good time is had by all.” We also learn and grow in God’s
word and in the fellowship of Christian women.
My cousin is
incredibly capable. She has a Master’s Degree in education…she is an
18-year veteran of the public school classroom (kindergarten, no less!),
the mother of two beautiful children…a wife, daughter, friend and
servant in ways that I cannot count. And she has a knack for engaging
people. To even suggest that God might not be able to use her seems
ludicrous to those who know and love her.
Natalie will tell you
that she grew up “in the Bible”…that she was “practically born on the
third pew on the left” in the sanctuary of our church. She will also
tell you that she didn’t really KNOW the Bible until she started
attending Bible studies some twelve years ago…and then her knowledge
grew as she helped her own children with their own Bible drills.
Natalie states all of this to qualify that she felt terribly inadequate
to lead Bible studies…and yet God clearly showed her that this was one
of her “callings.” So she answered His call.
What is God calling
you to do? Where is He showing you a need that only you can fill –
even though you feel incredibly unqualified to do so? When will we
learn that with God, all things are possible…that HE makes the
difference in these situations and fills in the gaps? I’m not saying
that we are all called to facilitate Bible studies…because that is most
certainly not the case! But God can use you somewhere…in ways you
probably never imagined. And whatever He calls you to do, He will equip
you to handle!
God has a plan and a purpose for your life…and He
is working out each and every detail. Are you paying attention? Are
you ready to answer His call? Will this be the week that you do?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label all things are possible with Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label all things are possible with Christ. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 19, 2014
Philippians 4:13
Christ gives me the strength to face anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine took her ten-year-old dog to the vet for extensive knee surgery. She posted pictures on Facebook of the little dog cowering under a chair in the clinic waiting room. My friend expressed concern over the safety and well-being of her beloved pet – and relief when the procedure was over and all was well.
If you have ever had surgery – or any medical procedure that required anesthesia – you probably know those moments of trepidation right before they “put you under”. There is a sense of apprehension and dread…maybe even a “Wait a minute! I’m not ready!” instant of panic! The next thing you know, the drugs take effect, and you wake up in a recovery room. At least that is how it’s supposed to work! Nothing is certain, and surgery is a risky proposition under even the best of circumstances.
Whether this happened to you – or to someone you know and love (even a pet) – you most likely understand what I am describing…that “gentle fear” (or maybe it wasn’t so gentle?) that grips us in moments when we know that something is coming…and we cannot stop it. And if we are honest, we will admit that this can scare the pants off us! Here’s what I tell myself…”You (or they) will wake up – either here or in heaven.”
Now you may be thinking…”That’s pretty dramatic!” Yes…but it’s the truth. Because I know that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything!” And if you go back and read the last part of verse 11, you will see that Paul says…”I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little.” What I hear in this passage is the additional message that “Wherever I am…Christ is with me.” And I take that to include on this earth AND in heaven!
If I could only learn to apply these thoughts to every situation of my life, I would be so much more settled. If only I could say in every worrisome or “hard” situation, “Christ gives me the strength to handle this,” I would find such a peace and calm. And I can do this…and so can you! We can learn to fully embrace the confidence that Jesus will help us through those mid-terms. He will get us through the holidays – the meal planning and preparation, gift-giving, rushing around, entertaining of guests, grief over the absence of loved ones, and general “stress” of the season.
Jesus will help us figure out how to make ends meet. He will care for our health – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Jesus will guard our hearts and strengthen us in wisdom and courage as we serve Him and witness to others. He will make us bold in places where we feel terribly week and inadequate.
Wherever we “wake up”…Jesus will be there. The question is…will we recognize His presence? Will we trust Him to give us the strength to face anything? Are we truly grateful for such a magnificent and extravagant gift? Do you understand that the best way to acknowledge and honor this blessing is to accept it and believe in it daily? Are you ready to dive into life with the confidence – and gratitude – that Jesus is always with you…ready to handle anything? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Christ gives me the strength to face anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine took her ten-year-old dog to the vet for extensive knee surgery. She posted pictures on Facebook of the little dog cowering under a chair in the clinic waiting room. My friend expressed concern over the safety and well-being of her beloved pet – and relief when the procedure was over and all was well.
If you have ever had surgery – or any medical procedure that required anesthesia – you probably know those moments of trepidation right before they “put you under”. There is a sense of apprehension and dread…maybe even a “Wait a minute! I’m not ready!” instant of panic! The next thing you know, the drugs take effect, and you wake up in a recovery room. At least that is how it’s supposed to work! Nothing is certain, and surgery is a risky proposition under even the best of circumstances.
Whether this happened to you – or to someone you know and love (even a pet) – you most likely understand what I am describing…that “gentle fear” (or maybe it wasn’t so gentle?) that grips us in moments when we know that something is coming…and we cannot stop it. And if we are honest, we will admit that this can scare the pants off us! Here’s what I tell myself…”You (or they) will wake up – either here or in heaven.”
Now you may be thinking…”That’s pretty dramatic!” Yes…but it’s the truth. Because I know that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything!” And if you go back and read the last part of verse 11, you will see that Paul says…”I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little.” What I hear in this passage is the additional message that “Wherever I am…Christ is with me.” And I take that to include on this earth AND in heaven!
If I could only learn to apply these thoughts to every situation of my life, I would be so much more settled. If only I could say in every worrisome or “hard” situation, “Christ gives me the strength to handle this,” I would find such a peace and calm. And I can do this…and so can you! We can learn to fully embrace the confidence that Jesus will help us through those mid-terms. He will get us through the holidays – the meal planning and preparation, gift-giving, rushing around, entertaining of guests, grief over the absence of loved ones, and general “stress” of the season.
Jesus will help us figure out how to make ends meet. He will care for our health – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Jesus will guard our hearts and strengthen us in wisdom and courage as we serve Him and witness to others. He will make us bold in places where we feel terribly week and inadequate.
Wherever we “wake up”…Jesus will be there. The question is…will we recognize His presence? Will we trust Him to give us the strength to face anything? Are we truly grateful for such a magnificent and extravagant gift? Do you understand that the best way to acknowledge and honor this blessing is to accept it and believe in it daily? Are you ready to dive into life with the confidence – and gratitude – that Jesus is always with you…ready to handle anything? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 13, 2013
Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Last week I had one of those “what-have-I-gotten-myself-into” moments that we all have occasionally. I discovered that my cousin’s in-laws were coming to Arkansas from Indiana and Tennessee for his wife’s funeral… 20-25 of them or better. I asked my cousin if he needed any food while they were visiting. He sent word that they could use meals for Friday night, Saturday breakfast, and Saturday evening… and possibly Sunday. I had some organizing to do! So I went over to my mom’s house, and she and I sat down and made a menu for three meals… dinner Friday night, breakfast Saturday morning, and dinner again Saturday evening. That wasn’t everything the family had asked for, but it was a good start!
We made a list of people we felt would want to help, and we got out the telephone directory and began calling them. The first half dozen calls we made were unanswered. We made a plan to “divide and conquer” the list, and I headed for the grocery store. Before I left, I told my mom, “I’m not worried about this… I’ve done it before, and we always have a ‘fish and five loaves’ situation. We’ll probably end up with more than enough. I know we will be okay.” On the way to the store, I prayed that God would make it so. And he did!
By Thursday morning, we had so much food coming that we had to scale back and ask some people to provide drinks, ice and paper goods instead. As people began to drop by with desserts, bread and sandwich meat, we reduced the amount of those items on our list. Then the church that hosted the funeral decided to provide the family with an after-service meal… and the family made plans to return home Saturday evening. So we started thinking in terms of what to do with leftovers!
Just as I predicted, God provided more than enough physical sustenance for this family. As He provided for their nourishment and bodily strength, He showed me once again that I can do anything with His help. And whether you are organizing a food committee for a bereaved family or planning a move to another city, God can handle it for you. If you need to overcome an addiction or lose a few pounds, God will give you the strength to do so. When you are grieving, sick, frustrated, frightened, or stressed out over something happy and fun… call on God to meet all of your needs – and He will gladly answer!
This is one of my favorite scriptures, because truly the message of Jesus Christ is fully encompassed. I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength… who died for my sins and took them upon Himself. I can do everything through Christ, who loves me in ways I cannot begin to understand and gives me strength to love others in ways that seem daunting, if not impossible. I can do everything through Christ, who sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in me and be my constant companion until He calls me home to live forever in His glorious presence! Nothing is impossible because of Jesus!
When I have a “what-have-I-gotten-myself-into” moment, I’m learning to remind myself of this… to say, “Okay, LORD, buckle Your seatbelt! It may be a bumpy ride, but if You will drive, I know we will get there in one piece!” I am learning to operate in HIS strength – and believe that all things are possible. Can you say the same?
©2013 Debbie Robus
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Last week I had one of those “what-have-I-gotten-myself-into” moments that we all have occasionally. I discovered that my cousin’s in-laws were coming to Arkansas from Indiana and Tennessee for his wife’s funeral… 20-25 of them or better. I asked my cousin if he needed any food while they were visiting. He sent word that they could use meals for Friday night, Saturday breakfast, and Saturday evening… and possibly Sunday. I had some organizing to do! So I went over to my mom’s house, and she and I sat down and made a menu for three meals… dinner Friday night, breakfast Saturday morning, and dinner again Saturday evening. That wasn’t everything the family had asked for, but it was a good start!
We made a list of people we felt would want to help, and we got out the telephone directory and began calling them. The first half dozen calls we made were unanswered. We made a plan to “divide and conquer” the list, and I headed for the grocery store. Before I left, I told my mom, “I’m not worried about this… I’ve done it before, and we always have a ‘fish and five loaves’ situation. We’ll probably end up with more than enough. I know we will be okay.” On the way to the store, I prayed that God would make it so. And he did!
By Thursday morning, we had so much food coming that we had to scale back and ask some people to provide drinks, ice and paper goods instead. As people began to drop by with desserts, bread and sandwich meat, we reduced the amount of those items on our list. Then the church that hosted the funeral decided to provide the family with an after-service meal… and the family made plans to return home Saturday evening. So we started thinking in terms of what to do with leftovers!
Just as I predicted, God provided more than enough physical sustenance for this family. As He provided for their nourishment and bodily strength, He showed me once again that I can do anything with His help. And whether you are organizing a food committee for a bereaved family or planning a move to another city, God can handle it for you. If you need to overcome an addiction or lose a few pounds, God will give you the strength to do so. When you are grieving, sick, frustrated, frightened, or stressed out over something happy and fun… call on God to meet all of your needs – and He will gladly answer!
This is one of my favorite scriptures, because truly the message of Jesus Christ is fully encompassed. I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength… who died for my sins and took them upon Himself. I can do everything through Christ, who loves me in ways I cannot begin to understand and gives me strength to love others in ways that seem daunting, if not impossible. I can do everything through Christ, who sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in me and be my constant companion until He calls me home to live forever in His glorious presence! Nothing is impossible because of Jesus!
When I have a “what-have-I-gotten-myself-into” moment, I’m learning to remind myself of this… to say, “Okay, LORD, buckle Your seatbelt! It may be a bumpy ride, but if You will drive, I know we will get there in one piece!” I am learning to operate in HIS strength – and believe that all things are possible. Can you say the same?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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