Psalms 25:1-5
I offer you my heart, Lord God,
and I trust you.
Don’t make me ashamed
or let enemies defeat me.
Don’t disappoint any
of your worshipers,
but disappoint all
deceitful liars.
Show me your paths
and teach me to follow;
guide me by your truth
and instruct me.
You keep me safe,
and I always trust you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our great-niece Erin, a high school junior, plays varsity softball. We attended a game that would probably
decide the conference championship. The opponents were very good…and
the game was a tight one. With a 3-3 tie in the last inning, the game
went into extra innings. The opposing coach vehemently protested a
called out at first base. The home plate umpire told the coach to take
it up with the outfield umpire (who made the call)…and he did. For
several minutes, they argued…but ultimately, the call stood.
There
was a runner on third base, and next batter hit a ball directly to the
pitcher - who threw the hitter out at first base. The first “baseman”
threw the ball back to home plate, and from all indications, the runner
from third base was tagged “out” at the plate. But the umpire declared
her “safe”…and the runner scored for this team to take the lead.
Our
girls were able to get the third out without any more scoring by the
opponents, and it was our team’s turn to bat in the bottom of the 8th
inning. We managed to score a run to tie the score once again…and to
make successive hits that moved Erin to third base. With the next hit,
Erin was able to sprint over home plate – and secure the win for our
team! I don’t have to tell you that we were all excited about this…and
so happy for our girl and her teammates!
Here’s what this has
to do with us as Christians. The coach did what coaches do…he
complained about one call in hopes of getting the next call to go his
way…and it appeared to have worked! But in the end, this tactic did not
win him the game. I’m not in any way saying that this coach or the
opposing team did anything wrong. In fact, it was a really good, fun
game in which both teams played very hard.
I also do not mean to
imply that God impacted the victory in our team’s favor…or that God
cares all that much about high school girls’ softball in the first
place! But God does care about our efforts. He cares that we do our
very best in every endeavor…that we keep our heads down and persevere,
just as our team did yesterday. It would have been so easy to fold
after the opponents took the lead on that controversial call. And in
life, there are plenty of times when we could give up, based on what
others have said about us or done toward us. Honestly, in many
instances, no one would blame us.
But God doesn’t operate like
the world. He calls us to “keep on keepin’ on”…to live with integrity,
faith - and confidence that He will guide us in truth and keep us safe.
How we handle adversity – even on a varsity softball field – says a lot
about us as Christian disciples. Our actions – and reactions –
matter. They can make a point – or make a difference. We can decide
whether we want to be champions with God…or give up when things get
tough and muddle through with an attitude of defeat. God will love us
either way. But what will this say about our heart – and our level of
faith?
I wish you could have seen our Erin after she scored.
She jumped up and down behind home plate with exuberance – then ran into
the arms of a volunteer coach who spun her around with sheer
exhilaration. And this is how I picture God welcoming us when we offer
Him our heart and our very best.
What about you…how are you
operating these days? Are you offering God your best and trusting Him
to do amazing things? Are you “sprinting across home plate” in victory
and enjoying the thrill of His delight? Don’t you think it’s time you
were?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label allowing God to use us for His glory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label allowing God to use us for His glory. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 3, 2014
1 Corinthians 15:10
But whatever I am now it is all because God poured out such kindness and grace upon me—and not without results: for I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet actually I wasn’t doing it, but God working in me, to bless me.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Children of the Lord
Do you remember this song we sang as kids? It starts off…”The lord said to Noah: there's gonna be a floody, floody” - and “Rise and shine” is the chorus of this little song that has been around for decades. I was unable to find its origin, although there are derivations of it sung as “spirituals” that may be centuries old. But the theme seems to originate from Isaiah 60:1, which says, “Arise, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you.”
My Mam-ma Polly was a notoriously early riser. She could accomplish more before 9:00 a.m. than most people get done in a day or more! And a common question that she asked me a zillion times, it seems, was…”What have you done today?” Often, this was asked as I had my first or second cup of coffee - while still wearing my pajamas! She was not necessarily asking to make a point…I think she just assumed that the whole world “got up and at ‘em” like she did! To be perfectly honest…my idea of “rise and shine” occurs somewhere later in the morning!
The thing is…while I marveled at all that my grandmother was able to accomplish each day, she brushed it off as “business as usual”…merely “all in a day’s work”. In other word, her deeds were nothing special or extraordinary – certainly nothing that she would brag about! My grandmother did not seek the praise of others for what she had done – especially if it involved helping someone else! She was grateful for the energy and ability to do these things – and she knew WHO gave her the strength and power to accomplish them.
Did my grandmother work harder than most people? Perhaps. But she didn’t see it that way. My grandmother was not the richest woman in the world, but her needs were always met. She worked at more than one job out of necessity to pay her bills…but she gave of her time and talents out of the abundance of her heart and a spirit of gratitude for God’s blessings. There was always room for one more at her table – even when it appeared there was only enough food for her own plate. She always had a clean spare bed if someone needed a place to stay. She was ready to take food to a sick or grieving family…or to pack a shoebox for a Christmas mission project at her church. She shared flowers from her yard and her creative talents to decorate for parties and church functions. She sewed perfectly tailored garments and created amazing quits – totally by hand – and she shared many of these with others.
I will admit…my grandmother had talents and creativity in spades. But we all do in our own way…because God is “at the wheel”. You may not be able to cook a meal or grow a flower – much less arrange the cuttings beautiful in a vase or create a hand-sewn quilt. But God has plans to use you in some way…to bless you with “talents” and abilities that no one else has…to work through you to reach others in a way that nobody else ever could. OUR JOB is to open our hearts and minds to the endless possibilities…to look at the needs that surround us and “RISE AND SHINE” to meet them under God’s power…then “give God the glory” for what He can do with us.
If we would wake up every morning and say, “Here I am LORD…what would You like for me to do today?”…our lives would be so very different. I’m not suggesting that you start walking around telling everyone that you are something special…or that you are the hardest working disciple for Christ. But I am suggesting that you open your heart and mind to the possibilities with God…and that you work hard every single day to give Him your best - whether anyone else recognizes it or not. Operate from a place of incredible gratitude…as if you cannot possibly do enough to thank God for all that He has done for you…and see what happens!
“Rise and shine…and give God the glory!” If you are a child of the LORD…it’s time to act like it!
©2014 Debbie Robus
But whatever I am now it is all because God poured out such kindness and grace upon me—and not without results: for I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet actually I wasn’t doing it, but God working in me, to bless me.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Children of the Lord
Do you remember this song we sang as kids? It starts off…”The lord said to Noah: there's gonna be a floody, floody” - and “Rise and shine” is the chorus of this little song that has been around for decades. I was unable to find its origin, although there are derivations of it sung as “spirituals” that may be centuries old. But the theme seems to originate from Isaiah 60:1, which says, “Arise, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you.”
My Mam-ma Polly was a notoriously early riser. She could accomplish more before 9:00 a.m. than most people get done in a day or more! And a common question that she asked me a zillion times, it seems, was…”What have you done today?” Often, this was asked as I had my first or second cup of coffee - while still wearing my pajamas! She was not necessarily asking to make a point…I think she just assumed that the whole world “got up and at ‘em” like she did! To be perfectly honest…my idea of “rise and shine” occurs somewhere later in the morning!
The thing is…while I marveled at all that my grandmother was able to accomplish each day, she brushed it off as “business as usual”…merely “all in a day’s work”. In other word, her deeds were nothing special or extraordinary – certainly nothing that she would brag about! My grandmother did not seek the praise of others for what she had done – especially if it involved helping someone else! She was grateful for the energy and ability to do these things – and she knew WHO gave her the strength and power to accomplish them.
Did my grandmother work harder than most people? Perhaps. But she didn’t see it that way. My grandmother was not the richest woman in the world, but her needs were always met. She worked at more than one job out of necessity to pay her bills…but she gave of her time and talents out of the abundance of her heart and a spirit of gratitude for God’s blessings. There was always room for one more at her table – even when it appeared there was only enough food for her own plate. She always had a clean spare bed if someone needed a place to stay. She was ready to take food to a sick or grieving family…or to pack a shoebox for a Christmas mission project at her church. She shared flowers from her yard and her creative talents to decorate for parties and church functions. She sewed perfectly tailored garments and created amazing quits – totally by hand – and she shared many of these with others.
I will admit…my grandmother had talents and creativity in spades. But we all do in our own way…because God is “at the wheel”. You may not be able to cook a meal or grow a flower – much less arrange the cuttings beautiful in a vase or create a hand-sewn quilt. But God has plans to use you in some way…to bless you with “talents” and abilities that no one else has…to work through you to reach others in a way that nobody else ever could. OUR JOB is to open our hearts and minds to the endless possibilities…to look at the needs that surround us and “RISE AND SHINE” to meet them under God’s power…then “give God the glory” for what He can do with us.
If we would wake up every morning and say, “Here I am LORD…what would You like for me to do today?”…our lives would be so very different. I’m not suggesting that you start walking around telling everyone that you are something special…or that you are the hardest working disciple for Christ. But I am suggesting that you open your heart and mind to the possibilities with God…and that you work hard every single day to give Him your best - whether anyone else recognizes it or not. Operate from a place of incredible gratitude…as if you cannot possibly do enough to thank God for all that He has done for you…and see what happens!
“Rise and shine…and give God the glory!” If you are a child of the LORD…it’s time to act like it!
©2014 Debbie Robus
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