Philippians 4:15-20
You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I’ll never forget it, that when I first left Macedonia province, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped out in the give-and-take of this work except you. You were the only one. Even while I was in Thessalonica, you helped out—and not only once, but twice. Not that I’m looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity.
And now I have it all—and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with Epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes.
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’m busy.”
“I’m shy.”
“I’m sick/injured/disabled in some way.”
“I’m too old/young.”
“I’m not very smart.”
“I can’t even pay my own bills.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“I’m the wrong color/gender/ethnicity…or my political party or sexual orientation are different.”
“I’m not good with people…I can’t write/speak well.”
"There are things in my past of which I am ashamed."
“That’s none of my business!”
“What’s in it for me?”
How many of these excuses have you used to keep from getting involved with others or generously showing them that you care? If we are honest, each one of us has used some form of one or more of these throughout our lives in order to avoid full engagement in Christian service. And as a result, we have not only missed out on blessing others…we’ve blocked our own blessings!
Read the passage again. Note especially the part that says “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.” So every time you offer one of these excuses – or any other – you are essentially saying, “I don’t believe that God can equip me for His ministries and purposes!” You are denying Him the opportunity to bless you as He meets the needs of others through your efforts.
Sharing compassion and care doesn’t have to cost money. It doesn’t have to take HUGE chunks of your time. You don’t have to be able-bodied – or even physically well to offer a prayer on the behalf of someone else…or to pick up the phone or your keyboard and express concern. Young children can be taught to genuinely ask, “How are you doing?” and to be polite and kind to others. Older adults can offer encouragement and mentoring to young people - to the best of their abilities. Most people don’t care what color you are, who you vote for…or who you love – as long as you are showing them how much you care about them! Your past may be the very thing that equips you to truly relate to - and encourage - someone else!
God equips each of us with special “gifts” for His ministries and service. The choice to use them for His glory is ours. But understand clearly that when you fail to show love and compassion to others in Jesus’ name, you are in many ways denying your Christian faith…and you are blocking the blessings that God wants to bring you. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take every single blessing God has for me…because I am always strengthened, encouraged, uplifted and amazed! Who wouldn’t want an abundance of these things in their life?!
Let’s all agree that the excuses stop today...here…NOW! Let’s all get in on this “blessing” thing…let’s encourage and support one another - and glorify God in the process. Let’s bask in the glow of His blessings and abundance in our own lives as a result.
Will this be the day that you drop the justifications and get busy with the work of the LORD? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label being good stewards of Gods blessings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label being good stewards of Gods blessings. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 7, 2013
Colossians 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
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 and Zola have been staying with us for the better part of 4 days and three nights, while their mother has been under the weather. One night as we settled into bed, I said to Timothy, “Let’s say our prayers. What should we say to God?” Timothy instantly replied, “Let’s thank God for EVERYTHING!” And so we did. We sang our hearts out to God as we thanked Him for Timothy and Zola… their parents, their brother Nathan, their grandparents and great-grandparents and others – including Timothy’s teachers and friends at his new pre-K. Then Timothy thanked God for his Uncle Greg, Aunt Debbie, Lucy and Mabel (the cats), and he said, “God, thank you for letting me stay with Uncle Greg and Aunt Debbie. Thank you for letting me get to come here and play with my toys and see all my friends (his dinosaurs).” It doesn’t get much sweeter than that!
Here’s the thing…Greg and I never had children of our own. Somehow God saw fit to involve us quite actively in the lives of these three little ones… our great-nephews and niece. We do not take this lightly. Our roles in their lives are in direct response to the Master, Jesus… and He guides us every step of the way. I don’t know why God thought we would be suitable for this… but I’ve learned not to question His plans too much. I reminded myself today as Timothy and I headed to Wal-Mart for groceries (while Zola napped at home under Uncle Greg’s careful watch) that there are things “in the works” here that we cannot see and may never understand. Best-selling author Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) wrote in My Utmost for His Highest for September 6th… “A river reaches places which its source never knows.” Chambers explained that Jesus’ “rivers of living water” will flow from us and bless others even beyond any visible effects we may ever realize. He concluded… “God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.”
There are two profound thoughts here… 1) that we, like rivers, reach places beyond what we will ever know; and 2) that God rarely allows us to see the full impact of what we do in His name. Sit and think about these thoughts for a while. Let them really resonate with your heart. Consider the responsibility of each choice we make… in light of the ripple/river effect that it has – on us and on others. Do you see how important it becomes that we cultivate the peace of Christ in our heart, an attitude of thankfulness, and a heart for the message of Jesus? Can you even begin to appreciate the potential impact that every detail of our lives – words, actions, reactions, and gestures great and small – can have on others… and on the Kingdom of Heaven? When you choose to go one direction… and God chooses to send you another… what do you do? How you answer this makes all the difference.
Are you making wise choices? Are you serving God obediently and with your whole heart? Have you cultivated an attitude of thankfulness to God in all things and for all outcomes – both those you see and those you don’t? Are God’s “rivers of living water” flowing from you? Are you offering God the opportunity bless others through you? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
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 and Zola have been staying with us for the better part of 4 days and three nights, while their mother has been under the weather. One night as we settled into bed, I said to Timothy, “Let’s say our prayers. What should we say to God?” Timothy instantly replied, “Let’s thank God for EVERYTHING!” And so we did. We sang our hearts out to God as we thanked Him for Timothy and Zola… their parents, their brother Nathan, their grandparents and great-grandparents and others – including Timothy’s teachers and friends at his new pre-K. Then Timothy thanked God for his Uncle Greg, Aunt Debbie, Lucy and Mabel (the cats), and he said, “God, thank you for letting me stay with Uncle Greg and Aunt Debbie. Thank you for letting me get to come here and play with my toys and see all my friends (his dinosaurs).” It doesn’t get much sweeter than that!
Here’s the thing…Greg and I never had children of our own. Somehow God saw fit to involve us quite actively in the lives of these three little ones… our great-nephews and niece. We do not take this lightly. Our roles in their lives are in direct response to the Master, Jesus… and He guides us every step of the way. I don’t know why God thought we would be suitable for this… but I’ve learned not to question His plans too much. I reminded myself today as Timothy and I headed to Wal-Mart for groceries (while Zola napped at home under Uncle Greg’s careful watch) that there are things “in the works” here that we cannot see and may never understand. Best-selling author Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) wrote in My Utmost for His Highest for September 6th… “A river reaches places which its source never knows.” Chambers explained that Jesus’ “rivers of living water” will flow from us and bless others even beyond any visible effects we may ever realize. He concluded… “God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.”
There are two profound thoughts here… 1) that we, like rivers, reach places beyond what we will ever know; and 2) that God rarely allows us to see the full impact of what we do in His name. Sit and think about these thoughts for a while. Let them really resonate with your heart. Consider the responsibility of each choice we make… in light of the ripple/river effect that it has – on us and on others. Do you see how important it becomes that we cultivate the peace of Christ in our heart, an attitude of thankfulness, and a heart for the message of Jesus? Can you even begin to appreciate the potential impact that every detail of our lives – words, actions, reactions, and gestures great and small – can have on others… and on the Kingdom of Heaven? When you choose to go one direction… and God chooses to send you another… what do you do? How you answer this makes all the difference.
Are you making wise choices? Are you serving God obediently and with your whole heart? Have you cultivated an attitude of thankfulness to God in all things and for all outcomes – both those you see and those you don’t? Are God’s “rivers of living water” flowing from you? Are you offering God the opportunity bless others through you? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 20, 2013
Psalm 37:4
Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On Sundays, we usually take Timothy and Zola to lunch after church at a local fast-food restaurant. We’ve figured out that the kids are more interested in the “atmosphere” and the people in the restaurant (and the toys in their meal!) than they are in eating their actual food. So we have started ordering one child’s meal for them to share – plus an extra drink. Even at that, neither child ate much last Sunday, and we ended up taking their lunch home for them to finish later. This did not stop Timothy from asking for ice cream. We are making an effort to support the children’s parents in not giving them dessert if they don’t eat their main meal… so the answer was “Not today.”
Here’s the thing… we would walk across hot coals for our little ones. We would never fail to meet their needs…to see that they are fed, clothed, clean, protected, and healthy. But there are things we can – and will – do for them that go above and beyond their necessities… as rewards for good behavior. This is not a way to selfishly control the children. We are teaching them that positive actions and constructive efforts will be rewarded. And this is the message for us in Psalm 37:4.
God loves us. He wants us to succeed… to be healthy, happy, safe, fed, clothed, and protected. But He has SO much more that He wants to give us… if only we will listen, obey, and serve as He has commanded. When we begin to operate fully in doing what the LORD wants, the rewards sometimes flow so abundantly that we cannot even tie them directly to a specific thing we have said or done. Do not misunderstand me… I’m not necessarily speaking of tangible gifts that we can see, touch and feel. I’m talking about the subtle blessings, like joy and peace in your heart that comes from knowing that you helped someone else… did the right thing… or served when you really didn’t feel like doing so.
If you really want to experience your heart’s desire, do what the LORD wants…not expecting Him to bless you, but because you want to serve Him – because you are grateful for all He provides, and you love Him. The amazing part of this is that you will not only receive blessings, joy and peace… but you may actually be God’s vessel to deliver these rewards to someone else! Now that will truly give you your heart’s desire!
When we start to consciously ask God to show us what He wants… and act on the answers He gives us… this becomes second nature. Soon, our selfish motives and desires take a backseat to God’s plans… and we begin to operate in His abundance - His peace and joy. I don’t know about you, but these are pretty near the top of my list of “heart’s desires”… they are my “ice cream after lunch” - and I’m ready to do whatever I can to acquire them. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On Sundays, we usually take Timothy and Zola to lunch after church at a local fast-food restaurant. We’ve figured out that the kids are more interested in the “atmosphere” and the people in the restaurant (and the toys in their meal!) than they are in eating their actual food. So we have started ordering one child’s meal for them to share – plus an extra drink. Even at that, neither child ate much last Sunday, and we ended up taking their lunch home for them to finish later. This did not stop Timothy from asking for ice cream. We are making an effort to support the children’s parents in not giving them dessert if they don’t eat their main meal… so the answer was “Not today.”
Here’s the thing… we would walk across hot coals for our little ones. We would never fail to meet their needs…to see that they are fed, clothed, clean, protected, and healthy. But there are things we can – and will – do for them that go above and beyond their necessities… as rewards for good behavior. This is not a way to selfishly control the children. We are teaching them that positive actions and constructive efforts will be rewarded. And this is the message for us in Psalm 37:4.
God loves us. He wants us to succeed… to be healthy, happy, safe, fed, clothed, and protected. But He has SO much more that He wants to give us… if only we will listen, obey, and serve as He has commanded. When we begin to operate fully in doing what the LORD wants, the rewards sometimes flow so abundantly that we cannot even tie them directly to a specific thing we have said or done. Do not misunderstand me… I’m not necessarily speaking of tangible gifts that we can see, touch and feel. I’m talking about the subtle blessings, like joy and peace in your heart that comes from knowing that you helped someone else… did the right thing… or served when you really didn’t feel like doing so.
If you really want to experience your heart’s desire, do what the LORD wants…not expecting Him to bless you, but because you want to serve Him – because you are grateful for all He provides, and you love Him. The amazing part of this is that you will not only receive blessings, joy and peace… but you may actually be God’s vessel to deliver these rewards to someone else! Now that will truly give you your heart’s desire!
When we start to consciously ask God to show us what He wants… and act on the answers He gives us… this becomes second nature. Soon, our selfish motives and desires take a backseat to God’s plans… and we begin to operate in His abundance - His peace and joy. I don’t know about you, but these are pretty near the top of my list of “heart’s desires”… they are my “ice cream after lunch” - and I’m ready to do whatever I can to acquire them. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 11, 2013
1 Peter 3:10
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.
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.
You never know what children – or old people – will say! My Mam-ma Polly, who weighed in at a petite less-than-120 pounds, had a fixation with the weight of other people… and she often spoke about it! I will never forget taking her to a birthday luncheon. The grandson of one of her dear friends hugged her and paid her a big compliment about how pretty she looked…and she replied, “Well, I haven’t seen you since you got so fat!” I wanted the floor to swallow me! This came so naturally to my grandmother that she didn’t even blink. And because she was almost 100 years old, she was forgiven… excused…and people chalked such comments up to her age and secretly assumed that perhaps she was becoming a little senile. This was not the case… my grandmother remained sharp as a tack to virtually her dying day! Anyone who really knew my grandmother knew that she always spoke her mind… although this certainly did not improve with age!
I do not mean to belittle my grandmother – or to criticize her. She was who she was… and she was a blessing to more people that we could begin to count. And that’s my point… any one of us can be guilty of this type of behavior at any moment! I wonder… how many of us are speaking without thinking on a daily basis. How often do we make a critical or snarky comment – maybe in an attempt to be funny – with little to no regard for how these words will affect the other guy? When was the last time you stopped yourself from making a remark… realizing that it might not be perceived the way you intended – or that it could be downright hurtful to others?
We have all said or done something that was unkind – or even misinterpreted – then felt unsettled because of it for hours/days/weeks. This is not a pleasant feeling and certainly doesn’t leave us operating in peace and calm. And if we have said or done something that really caused a stir, the ramifications can create turmoil, hurt, and disappointment for a long time… with the potential for permanent damage.
This is not what God wants for us… and He offers us a way out! Some of us need to tattoo these scripture verses to our forearm, tape them to the bathroom mirror, and post them on our refrigerator! “Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. Say nothing evil or hurtful, snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth.” If we will just remember this… and ask God to show us how to bless others, we can “see the day fill up with good.”
I don’t know about you, but I want to fill up my days with peace and contentment in God’s blessings. Regardless of my age, I must be on guard to make sure that my words and actions please God at every turn… or I can expect some times of incredible turmoil and discord. Everyone has a bad moment – or even a bad day – at some point. But we can greatly reduce the instances of this if we will remain aware of our behavior – and in touch with God. He will help us to guard our comments and behaviors… He will help us to operate in blessings rather than unkindness… and we will be blessed – and peaceful in the bargain. Where do you fit in to this picture? How will you fill up this day with good?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.
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.
You never know what children – or old people – will say! My Mam-ma Polly, who weighed in at a petite less-than-120 pounds, had a fixation with the weight of other people… and she often spoke about it! I will never forget taking her to a birthday luncheon. The grandson of one of her dear friends hugged her and paid her a big compliment about how pretty she looked…and she replied, “Well, I haven’t seen you since you got so fat!” I wanted the floor to swallow me! This came so naturally to my grandmother that she didn’t even blink. And because she was almost 100 years old, she was forgiven… excused…and people chalked such comments up to her age and secretly assumed that perhaps she was becoming a little senile. This was not the case… my grandmother remained sharp as a tack to virtually her dying day! Anyone who really knew my grandmother knew that she always spoke her mind… although this certainly did not improve with age!
I do not mean to belittle my grandmother – or to criticize her. She was who she was… and she was a blessing to more people that we could begin to count. And that’s my point… any one of us can be guilty of this type of behavior at any moment! I wonder… how many of us are speaking without thinking on a daily basis. How often do we make a critical or snarky comment – maybe in an attempt to be funny – with little to no regard for how these words will affect the other guy? When was the last time you stopped yourself from making a remark… realizing that it might not be perceived the way you intended – or that it could be downright hurtful to others?
We have all said or done something that was unkind – or even misinterpreted – then felt unsettled because of it for hours/days/weeks. This is not a pleasant feeling and certainly doesn’t leave us operating in peace and calm. And if we have said or done something that really caused a stir, the ramifications can create turmoil, hurt, and disappointment for a long time… with the potential for permanent damage.
This is not what God wants for us… and He offers us a way out! Some of us need to tattoo these scripture verses to our forearm, tape them to the bathroom mirror, and post them on our refrigerator! “Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. Say nothing evil or hurtful, snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth.” If we will just remember this… and ask God to show us how to bless others, we can “see the day fill up with good.”
I don’t know about you, but I want to fill up my days with peace and contentment in God’s blessings. Regardless of my age, I must be on guard to make sure that my words and actions please God at every turn… or I can expect some times of incredible turmoil and discord. Everyone has a bad moment – or even a bad day – at some point. But we can greatly reduce the instances of this if we will remain aware of our behavior – and in touch with God. He will help us to guard our comments and behaviors… He will help us to operate in blessings rather than unkindness… and we will be blessed – and peaceful in the bargain. Where do you fit in to this picture? How will you fill up this day with good?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 26, 2012
Ephesians 1:3-6
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
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 the time came for my high school class to celebrate a 20-year reunion, two other classmates and I did most of the planning. We didn’t mind… it was fun! We were excited about seeing everyone again, and we eagerly arranged for a venue, food, entertainment, decorations, and more. We contacted classmates and gathered “where-have-you-been-for-twenty-years” information to compile into a booklet. We collected old photos and enhanced the memory book with fun pictures of class members in poses from our childhood. We worked for almost a year to create this party, which lasted only a few hours one Saturday evening.
As the date for our reunion neared, we grew even more excited about making sure everyone had a good time... ensuring that each attendee got plenty of food, some take-home souvenirs, and plenty of memories. Outside of the small circle of us who had directly planned the event, none of the classmates knew what to expect. And when they arrived, I’m fairly confident that everyone had a great time.
The event was fun. But I must admit, those of us who did the planning experienced something of a let-down. The classmates didn’t respond as we had hoped. Some were appreciative of our efforts. Others acted as if they wished they were somewhere else. In the end, we all vowed we would never plan another class reunion! Actually, I think we were all just a little bit glad to go back to our “regular” lives the next day and forget about the party.
I don’t regret working so hard on this reunion, but I do recognize that often we are more excited about the planning and preparation… the anticipation… than we are the actual series of events. Think about Christmas morning, when all of the gifts are open, the meal is eaten, and you are left with a pile of wrapping paper, leftovers, and sleepy guests! We still decorate, purchase gifts, cook and plan all over again the next Christmas… but sometimes, the greatest joy was in the planning.
Paul tells us in this letter to the Ephesians how lovingly God planned for each of us… how He anticipated so much… planned for our bright futures, and lavished love and attention on every detail. But God also instilled free will in each of us - the ultimate gift of love - and we are not always good stewards of this gift. So often, we are the “after-Christmas-Day” to God’s great plan… we are ungrateful, lazy, or downright rebellious. It’s enough to make God say, “That’s it! I love So-and-So… but I’m never doing anything nice for him/her again!”
I’m glad that God does not react to us in precisely this way… although I do think there are times He must surely temper His blessings according to how we are behaving. But the point is that we serve a God who gives great gifts… who loves us far beyond what we could ever imagine – much less deserve. And for this we should be eternally grateful and filled with praise. We should “make the Christmas party or class reunion last forever,” so to speak…with our service, obedience, and loyalty to Him. We should live in such a way that says to everyone we meet… “I am a child of God… blessed beyond measure, designed and carefully planned, wonderfully made, and loved unconditionally… and I am incredibly grateful! I want to celebrate each and every day in God’s honor!”
What does your attitude reflect? How are you behaving toward the God who has given you everything… planned for your life for eons…and lavished His amazing and unending love upon you? Do you need to make a change in how you treat Him today? Isn’t this the perfect time to recognize how blessed you are… and start living accordingly? Will today be the day you truly “get the party started”… and keep it rolling?
©2012 Debbie Robus
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
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 the time came for my high school class to celebrate a 20-year reunion, two other classmates and I did most of the planning. We didn’t mind… it was fun! We were excited about seeing everyone again, and we eagerly arranged for a venue, food, entertainment, decorations, and more. We contacted classmates and gathered “where-have-you-been-for-twenty-years” information to compile into a booklet. We collected old photos and enhanced the memory book with fun pictures of class members in poses from our childhood. We worked for almost a year to create this party, which lasted only a few hours one Saturday evening.
As the date for our reunion neared, we grew even more excited about making sure everyone had a good time... ensuring that each attendee got plenty of food, some take-home souvenirs, and plenty of memories. Outside of the small circle of us who had directly planned the event, none of the classmates knew what to expect. And when they arrived, I’m fairly confident that everyone had a great time.
The event was fun. But I must admit, those of us who did the planning experienced something of a let-down. The classmates didn’t respond as we had hoped. Some were appreciative of our efforts. Others acted as if they wished they were somewhere else. In the end, we all vowed we would never plan another class reunion! Actually, I think we were all just a little bit glad to go back to our “regular” lives the next day and forget about the party.
I don’t regret working so hard on this reunion, but I do recognize that often we are more excited about the planning and preparation… the anticipation… than we are the actual series of events. Think about Christmas morning, when all of the gifts are open, the meal is eaten, and you are left with a pile of wrapping paper, leftovers, and sleepy guests! We still decorate, purchase gifts, cook and plan all over again the next Christmas… but sometimes, the greatest joy was in the planning.
Paul tells us in this letter to the Ephesians how lovingly God planned for each of us… how He anticipated so much… planned for our bright futures, and lavished love and attention on every detail. But God also instilled free will in each of us - the ultimate gift of love - and we are not always good stewards of this gift. So often, we are the “after-Christmas-Day” to God’s great plan… we are ungrateful, lazy, or downright rebellious. It’s enough to make God say, “That’s it! I love So-and-So… but I’m never doing anything nice for him/her again!”
I’m glad that God does not react to us in precisely this way… although I do think there are times He must surely temper His blessings according to how we are behaving. But the point is that we serve a God who gives great gifts… who loves us far beyond what we could ever imagine – much less deserve. And for this we should be eternally grateful and filled with praise. We should “make the Christmas party or class reunion last forever,” so to speak…with our service, obedience, and loyalty to Him. We should live in such a way that says to everyone we meet… “I am a child of God… blessed beyond measure, designed and carefully planned, wonderfully made, and loved unconditionally… and I am incredibly grateful! I want to celebrate each and every day in God’s honor!”
What does your attitude reflect? How are you behaving toward the God who has given you everything… planned for your life for eons…and lavished His amazing and unending love upon you? Do you need to make a change in how you treat Him today? Isn’t this the perfect time to recognize how blessed you are… and start living accordingly? Will today be the day you truly “get the party started”… and keep it rolling?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 18, 2012
Ephesians 2:8-9
You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you get a job and make enough money to buy a new car, you have every right to say… “I deserve this… I worked hard for it. I earned it!” If someone gives you a new car as a gift, you have nothing to brag about, except possibly to say, “Look what So-and-So gave me!” You did nothing to earn this car. It was all the doing of the person who gave it to you.
The same can be said of our salvation… our promise of Eternal Life in Heaven… or for that matter, any blessings we receive on this earth. They are gifts from God, and we didn’t do a single thing to earn them. We can’t… it’s impossible! Moreover, we don’t deserve any of these gifts… yet they are freely given.
We can earn enough money to buy a car, but we can never “earn” the gifts of God. This is the difference… what makes our Christian faith unique. We can’t be good enough, serve sufficiently, love amply, light an adequate number of candles, say abundant prayers, or atone in any way for our salvation. God gave this gift to us completely – without merit or any expectation of repayment. We cannot brag about this, but we can tell everyone else how generous and loving, gracious and merciful our God is… and we should do this at every turn.
From time to time, we need to be reminded of God’s incredible gifts… and humbled with regard to receiving them. We need to remember that we cannot out-give God… nor can we earn our salvation and His blessings. The only thing we can do is accept Jesus… receive God’s gifts… and respect His favor by living in a way that honors and glorifies Him.
In the 1960s, there was a television show called “The Guns of Will Sonnet.” The lead character was played by Walter Brennan, who liked to brag about his prowess with guns. In the first episode, he told someone that his grandson was a better shot than his son… and that he was better than both of them, adding, “no brag, just fact.” Our salvation is a glorious blessing… and something of which we should be proud and grateful. We should tell everyone we know how to get in on this amazing, incredible gift! But we should also tell them that a new life in Christ cannot be bought… nor will it ever be deserved. Our promise of Eternal Life truly is “no brag, just fact.” Have you thanked God lately for such a generous gift? Isn’t this a good day to start?
©2012 Debbie Robus
You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you get a job and make enough money to buy a new car, you have every right to say… “I deserve this… I worked hard for it. I earned it!” If someone gives you a new car as a gift, you have nothing to brag about, except possibly to say, “Look what So-and-So gave me!” You did nothing to earn this car. It was all the doing of the person who gave it to you.
The same can be said of our salvation… our promise of Eternal Life in Heaven… or for that matter, any blessings we receive on this earth. They are gifts from God, and we didn’t do a single thing to earn them. We can’t… it’s impossible! Moreover, we don’t deserve any of these gifts… yet they are freely given.
We can earn enough money to buy a car, but we can never “earn” the gifts of God. This is the difference… what makes our Christian faith unique. We can’t be good enough, serve sufficiently, love amply, light an adequate number of candles, say abundant prayers, or atone in any way for our salvation. God gave this gift to us completely – without merit or any expectation of repayment. We cannot brag about this, but we can tell everyone else how generous and loving, gracious and merciful our God is… and we should do this at every turn.
From time to time, we need to be reminded of God’s incredible gifts… and humbled with regard to receiving them. We need to remember that we cannot out-give God… nor can we earn our salvation and His blessings. The only thing we can do is accept Jesus… receive God’s gifts… and respect His favor by living in a way that honors and glorifies Him.
In the 1960s, there was a television show called “The Guns of Will Sonnet.” The lead character was played by Walter Brennan, who liked to brag about his prowess with guns. In the first episode, he told someone that his grandson was a better shot than his son… and that he was better than both of them, adding, “no brag, just fact.” Our salvation is a glorious blessing… and something of which we should be proud and grateful. We should tell everyone we know how to get in on this amazing, incredible gift! But we should also tell them that a new life in Christ cannot be bought… nor will it ever be deserved. Our promise of Eternal Life truly is “no brag, just fact.” Have you thanked God lately for such a generous gift? Isn’t this a good day to start?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 30, 2012
Galatians 4:1-3
Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance, he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation. That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives.
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.
Like many people, I have family heirlooms that I plan to pass on to my nieces and nephews someday. However, many times, the heirs are too young to fully appreciate the inheritance – or to properly care for the items. For example nobody would give a three-year-old boy his Grandpa’s gun or expect a 12-year-old girl to be trusted with an expensive piece of diamond jewelry. Young children have neither the maturity nor the capacity for housing Grandma’s china or a piece of furniture that has been handed down for generations. So the benefactor often holds onto these things – or places them in a “trust” - until the heirs mature.
What does this have to do with our Christian faith? God has so much that He wants to give us. We are truly the “heirs to His kingdom.” But most of us are not spiritually mature enough to handle this gift… at least not all of it. So we must be tutored and guided until we reach a level of Christian maturity. As we get to certain points in our “faith walk,” God grants us more gifts and blessings.
My grandparents and other relatives taught me about many of the heirlooms that I treasure today… who made them, how they were used, and more. I am trying to do the same for my nieces and nephews… teaching them to appreciate these pieces and why they are significant. I am not saving everything to be dispensed when I die. As they grow and mature enough to care for these heirlooms, I am sharing some of them. I get a kick out of watching these “children” enjoy my gifts. And it’s the same with God. He loves to see us reach a level of maturity that enables us to enjoy and fully appreciate His gifts and blessings.
Some of us want to resist God’s teaching. We think we already know far more than we truly do. Don’t be like this. Get over yourself, and accept God’s instruction and guidance. The sooner you grow and mature in your faith, the sooner you can receive more of the blessings of your inheritance. Listen to God… learn from Him… and get ready to be rewarded with His good gifts!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance, he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation. That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives.
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.
Like many people, I have family heirlooms that I plan to pass on to my nieces and nephews someday. However, many times, the heirs are too young to fully appreciate the inheritance – or to properly care for the items. For example nobody would give a three-year-old boy his Grandpa’s gun or expect a 12-year-old girl to be trusted with an expensive piece of diamond jewelry. Young children have neither the maturity nor the capacity for housing Grandma’s china or a piece of furniture that has been handed down for generations. So the benefactor often holds onto these things – or places them in a “trust” - until the heirs mature.
What does this have to do with our Christian faith? God has so much that He wants to give us. We are truly the “heirs to His kingdom.” But most of us are not spiritually mature enough to handle this gift… at least not all of it. So we must be tutored and guided until we reach a level of Christian maturity. As we get to certain points in our “faith walk,” God grants us more gifts and blessings.
My grandparents and other relatives taught me about many of the heirlooms that I treasure today… who made them, how they were used, and more. I am trying to do the same for my nieces and nephews… teaching them to appreciate these pieces and why they are significant. I am not saving everything to be dispensed when I die. As they grow and mature enough to care for these heirlooms, I am sharing some of them. I get a kick out of watching these “children” enjoy my gifts. And it’s the same with God. He loves to see us reach a level of maturity that enables us to enjoy and fully appreciate His gifts and blessings.
Some of us want to resist God’s teaching. We think we already know far more than we truly do. Don’t be like this. Get over yourself, and accept God’s instruction and guidance. The sooner you grow and mature in your faith, the sooner you can receive more of the blessings of your inheritance. Listen to God… learn from Him… and get ready to be rewarded with His good gifts!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 28, 2012
April 28 ~ Psalm 34:7-9
God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.
Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My husband and I have been watching Discovery Channel’s “Frozen Planet” about life in the Arctic and Antarctica. On one episode, hungry wolves approached a herd of bison, hoping to capture a slower, weaker yearling for dinner. The older bison encircled the young calf and protected it. The wolves were intimidated and retreated. I was reminded that, even in nature, God offers His circle of protection. I am comforted to think that when I pray to Him, His angels encircle me and protect me. I am grateful to think that I am ministered to by these agents of God as I pour out my heart to Him.
A few weeks ago, we went to a local steak house for dinner. We had eaten at this restaurant years ago, but they recently re-opened after being out of business for several years. We ordered our favorite – filet mignon – and when the food arrived and we tasted the first bite, we were both transported back in time. We savored the flavorful, tender beef and smiled at how delicious it tasted. We felt blessed!
Do you think of angels surrounding you… encircling you with protection when you pray? Do you savor God’s goodness like a well-cooked steak? Do you run to Him and seek His very best for you… worship Him and praise His blessings over your life? What do you suppose would change in your life if you did this? Are you ready and willing to find out?
©2012 Debbie Robus
God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.
Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My husband and I have been watching Discovery Channel’s “Frozen Planet” about life in the Arctic and Antarctica. On one episode, hungry wolves approached a herd of bison, hoping to capture a slower, weaker yearling for dinner. The older bison encircled the young calf and protected it. The wolves were intimidated and retreated. I was reminded that, even in nature, God offers His circle of protection. I am comforted to think that when I pray to Him, His angels encircle me and protect me. I am grateful to think that I am ministered to by these agents of God as I pour out my heart to Him.
A few weeks ago, we went to a local steak house for dinner. We had eaten at this restaurant years ago, but they recently re-opened after being out of business for several years. We ordered our favorite – filet mignon – and when the food arrived and we tasted the first bite, we were both transported back in time. We savored the flavorful, tender beef and smiled at how delicious it tasted. We felt blessed!
Do you think of angels surrounding you… encircling you with protection when you pray? Do you savor God’s goodness like a well-cooked steak? Do you run to Him and seek His very best for you… worship Him and praise His blessings over your life? What do you suppose would change in your life if you did this? Are you ready and willing to find out?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2012
Psalm 34:9
Honor the Lord! You are his special people. No one who honors the Lord will ever be in need.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I launched Workamper News… a business that assists people in finding work while traveling and living in an RV (recreational vehicle). The world of RVing is like a lot of other things – the difference between the level of “need” and the level of “want” is vast. Some RVers are content to travel the country and Workamp, while living in a tent or a pop-up camper. Others would never consider taking a job of any sort and must have a top-of-the-line motorhome or fifth-wheel with granite counter tops, leather upholstery, and all of the latest electronic bells and whistles. You can find wonderful people in both categories – and all of the levels in between.
Some of the Workampers who sold their home and almost all of their belongings to move into a small RV and travel the country are among the happiest people I’ve ever met. They truly enjoy doing a great job for their employer in any situation… from taking tickets at an amusement park to packing orders for shipment at Amazon.com, working in a sugar beet harvest operation in the Midwest or volunteering in a federal or state park or wildlife preserve, or scrubbing shower houses in a campground, and MUCH more. These folks recognize that serving others and doing fair work for fair compensation… then enjoying the area in which they live and all of God’s creations and blessings… is more valuable than owning a lot of “stuff” and feeling “prestigious.”
The problem many of us have is discerning whether we are in “want” or honestly in need. And more than a few of us don’t realize how or when we are truly blessed. We think we have to have lots and lots of “stuff” to be happy. We have to be recognized by our peers as “successful”… and we aspire to be monetarily and materially “rich.” I always look to my grandmother, who lived modestly on an income that would have been a challenge for many of us to stretch each month. Her first payment was always to the church… and somehow, she always had money left over at the end of the month… if only a few dollars. God blessed her – and continues to bless her – by meeting all of her needs. Surely, SHE is one of the richest people I know.
I have seen firsthand how God blesses those who honor Him. I’ve watched God more than meet the needs of those who put Him first and sought to serve Him at every turn. I’ve also watched some pretty “rich” people suffer and struggle because of where they placed God in their list of priorities. And I know a LOT of people who are totally confused about what constitutes true needs and what are mere wants in their lives.
I challenge you to examine your life and discover your true needs. Make sure that you put God first… that everything you do honors Him. See for yourself how this ensures that God will meet your needs…and probably bless you far beyond this measure. Figure out what “needs” you have that are truly more in the “want” category, and ask yourself how critical these really are to you. Are they honestly worth pursuing at the cost of your relationship with God? I am quite certain that when we honor God in all things and put Him first, we will have more than enough of everything else.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Honor the Lord! You are his special people. No one who honors the Lord will ever be in need.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I launched Workamper News… a business that assists people in finding work while traveling and living in an RV (recreational vehicle). The world of RVing is like a lot of other things – the difference between the level of “need” and the level of “want” is vast. Some RVers are content to travel the country and Workamp, while living in a tent or a pop-up camper. Others would never consider taking a job of any sort and must have a top-of-the-line motorhome or fifth-wheel with granite counter tops, leather upholstery, and all of the latest electronic bells and whistles. You can find wonderful people in both categories – and all of the levels in between.
Some of the Workampers who sold their home and almost all of their belongings to move into a small RV and travel the country are among the happiest people I’ve ever met. They truly enjoy doing a great job for their employer in any situation… from taking tickets at an amusement park to packing orders for shipment at Amazon.com, working in a sugar beet harvest operation in the Midwest or volunteering in a federal or state park or wildlife preserve, or scrubbing shower houses in a campground, and MUCH more. These folks recognize that serving others and doing fair work for fair compensation… then enjoying the area in which they live and all of God’s creations and blessings… is more valuable than owning a lot of “stuff” and feeling “prestigious.”
The problem many of us have is discerning whether we are in “want” or honestly in need. And more than a few of us don’t realize how or when we are truly blessed. We think we have to have lots and lots of “stuff” to be happy. We have to be recognized by our peers as “successful”… and we aspire to be monetarily and materially “rich.” I always look to my grandmother, who lived modestly on an income that would have been a challenge for many of us to stretch each month. Her first payment was always to the church… and somehow, she always had money left over at the end of the month… if only a few dollars. God blessed her – and continues to bless her – by meeting all of her needs. Surely, SHE is one of the richest people I know.
I have seen firsthand how God blesses those who honor Him. I’ve watched God more than meet the needs of those who put Him first and sought to serve Him at every turn. I’ve also watched some pretty “rich” people suffer and struggle because of where they placed God in their list of priorities. And I know a LOT of people who are totally confused about what constitutes true needs and what are mere wants in their lives.
I challenge you to examine your life and discover your true needs. Make sure that you put God first… that everything you do honors Him. See for yourself how this ensures that God will meet your needs…and probably bless you far beyond this measure. Figure out what “needs” you have that are truly more in the “want” category, and ask yourself how critical these really are to you. Are they honestly worth pursuing at the cost of your relationship with God? I am quite certain that when we honor God in all things and put Him first, we will have more than enough of everything else.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 19, 2012
Hebrews 3:15-19
For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed.
Scripture quotations from The Message. ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Have you ever tried to tell give a person advice – or directions – or you tried to show someone how to do a particular task… and the whole time, you knew they were not listening? In the end, all you could do was stand by and watch this person go the wrong way… or make a poor choice… or royally botch whatever he/she was trying to accomplish.
Imagine how this feels for God… because we do these same things to Him all the time! He has shown us the way. He has given us His word, His Holy Spirit, fellow believers to minister and encourage us, and much more… and still we tune it all out and try to do things on our own. God has given us the beauty of His creation, yet we doubt His existence. He has blessed us immeasurably, still we gripe and complain and have some pretty big pity parties!
We are our own worst enemy (with the devil’s help, of course). We block hearing from God… and in doing so, we block His blessings – and for some, salvation and the promise of an eternity spent in Heaven. We make the same mistakes over and again… then wonder why nothing ever works out for us like we had hoped.
The secret of success is hearing from God. I don’t necessarily mean success in a financial or material manner… although not listening to God could block these, also. I am talking about the success that comes from finding the joy, peace, hope and encouragement that God stands ready to give us… the life-altering health and wealth of living in the abundance of His blessings. We can all still enjoy this! All it takes is a shift of attitude… a willingness to pay attention, seek God’s word and will, and truly LISTEN to what He is telling us.
God’s word blesses us… empowers us… allows us to excel in all things. Don’t you want that for yourself? Won’t you stop, look and listen… and learn what God has in store for you in the days to come?
©2012 Debbie Robus
For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed.
Scripture quotations from The Message. ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Have you ever tried to tell give a person advice – or directions – or you tried to show someone how to do a particular task… and the whole time, you knew they were not listening? In the end, all you could do was stand by and watch this person go the wrong way… or make a poor choice… or royally botch whatever he/she was trying to accomplish.
Imagine how this feels for God… because we do these same things to Him all the time! He has shown us the way. He has given us His word, His Holy Spirit, fellow believers to minister and encourage us, and much more… and still we tune it all out and try to do things on our own. God has given us the beauty of His creation, yet we doubt His existence. He has blessed us immeasurably, still we gripe and complain and have some pretty big pity parties!
We are our own worst enemy (with the devil’s help, of course). We block hearing from God… and in doing so, we block His blessings – and for some, salvation and the promise of an eternity spent in Heaven. We make the same mistakes over and again… then wonder why nothing ever works out for us like we had hoped.
The secret of success is hearing from God. I don’t necessarily mean success in a financial or material manner… although not listening to God could block these, also. I am talking about the success that comes from finding the joy, peace, hope and encouragement that God stands ready to give us… the life-altering health and wealth of living in the abundance of His blessings. We can all still enjoy this! All it takes is a shift of attitude… a willingness to pay attention, seek God’s word and will, and truly LISTEN to what He is telling us.
God’s word blesses us… empowers us… allows us to excel in all things. Don’t you want that for yourself? Won’t you stop, look and listen… and learn what God has in store for you in the days to come?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 10, 2012
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.
The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others. Some of us can speak with wisdom, while others can speak with knowledge, but these gifts come from the same Spirit. To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God's Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean. But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The last week or so, I’ve been sewing with fabrics in the same color family – a base of black or grey, with hues of deep teal, fuchsia, white, and celadon green. It may sound awful, but it’s really nice fabric. I’ve sewn stripes, “groovy guitars,” zoo animals, various sized circle outlines, mod daisy-like flowers, and polka dots. Now you are probably really thinking I’m nuts! But trust me, all of these fabrics work together in various combinations – with pleasing results!
And that’s the thing… I can combine stripes and guitars or zoo animals… but not stripes and flowers. Zoo animals and guitars don’t work in the same outfit, but they both work great with the stripes or polka dots… and maybe the circles, depending on how I use them. For instance, I made my great-niece Zola a striped dress with a border of guitars… and I made Timothy shorts in both the guitar and stripes fabrics. I made my cousin a sundress in the mod flowers… and her daughter is getting a blouse that has flowers bordered in polka dots!
Each fabric is very different. On the surface, they don’t appear to have much in common. But when I combine them thoughtfully, the end result is something quite surprising and pleasant… and the recipients are blessed by the outcome. All I have to do is stand back, look at the fabrics, and take time to consider how they might work best together… and the ideas begin to flow!
We all have gifts and abilities that may not seem to work well together. But when the Holy Spirit is involved in combining them and orchestrating things, the end result is always a blessing to others – and to God. And often the outcome is quite surprising and pleasant. You may feel you that have no “Spiritual gift,” but I assure you that this is not the case. Maybe you have not opened your heart to the Holy Spirit’s guidance… and maybe He has held your gift in reserve. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman… He will not force Himself upon us. We must invite Him in… and make Him welcome.
Whatever your “Spiritual gifts” may be, it would be such a shame not to receive them – and to use them for God’s glory. I encourage you to step back and look at the “fabrics” of your life and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how they go together. Invite Him to dwell in your heart, and listen for His voice each and every day. Call upon the Holy Spirit to bless you with your Spiritual gifts… and get busy using them. You will be amazed – and delighted – at the outcomes… and so will those who receive a blessing as a result.
©2012 Debbie Robus
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.
The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others. Some of us can speak with wisdom, while others can speak with knowledge, but these gifts come from the same Spirit. To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God's Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean. But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The last week or so, I’ve been sewing with fabrics in the same color family – a base of black or grey, with hues of deep teal, fuchsia, white, and celadon green. It may sound awful, but it’s really nice fabric. I’ve sewn stripes, “groovy guitars,” zoo animals, various sized circle outlines, mod daisy-like flowers, and polka dots. Now you are probably really thinking I’m nuts! But trust me, all of these fabrics work together in various combinations – with pleasing results!
And that’s the thing… I can combine stripes and guitars or zoo animals… but not stripes and flowers. Zoo animals and guitars don’t work in the same outfit, but they both work great with the stripes or polka dots… and maybe the circles, depending on how I use them. For instance, I made my great-niece Zola a striped dress with a border of guitars… and I made Timothy shorts in both the guitar and stripes fabrics. I made my cousin a sundress in the mod flowers… and her daughter is getting a blouse that has flowers bordered in polka dots!
Each fabric is very different. On the surface, they don’t appear to have much in common. But when I combine them thoughtfully, the end result is something quite surprising and pleasant… and the recipients are blessed by the outcome. All I have to do is stand back, look at the fabrics, and take time to consider how they might work best together… and the ideas begin to flow!
We all have gifts and abilities that may not seem to work well together. But when the Holy Spirit is involved in combining them and orchestrating things, the end result is always a blessing to others – and to God. And often the outcome is quite surprising and pleasant. You may feel you that have no “Spiritual gift,” but I assure you that this is not the case. Maybe you have not opened your heart to the Holy Spirit’s guidance… and maybe He has held your gift in reserve. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman… He will not force Himself upon us. We must invite Him in… and make Him welcome.
Whatever your “Spiritual gifts” may be, it would be such a shame not to receive them – and to use them for God’s glory. I encourage you to step back and look at the “fabrics” of your life and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how they go together. Invite Him to dwell in your heart, and listen for His voice each and every day. Call upon the Holy Spirit to bless you with your Spiritual gifts… and get busy using them. You will be amazed – and delighted – at the outcomes… and so will those who receive a blessing as a result.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 4, 2012
Romans 5:3-5
There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In a regional “lifestyles” section of our newspaper, I read an article today about Lorrie Thiel of Jacksonville, Arkansas, who was injured in a serious car wreck nearly 10 years ago. As a result, Lorrie suffers frequent seizures. She obtained a service dog named Schultzy to alert her when a seizure is about to occur. She and Schultzy later adopted Galahad from the local animal shelter and trained him to become Lorrie’s service companion.
Galahad can not only alert Lorrie when a seizure is forthcoming, he also wears a special backpack which contains her medications on one side, and her purse (hidden) on the other. When a seizure is eminent, Galahad lets Lorrie know so that she can find a safe, comfortable chair and sit down – and she can take medication to lessen the seizure’s effects. If Lorrie is unable to take her medications, and other people are present, Galahad will rub against someone’s leg with the side of the pack that contains the medication. If they don’t respond, he stops and starts this process until they look in his pack. He is also trained not to let anyone look in the side of his pack containing Lorrie’s purse unless they are wearing a police or paramedic uniform.
Lorrie now trains service dogs for others in need. She still suffers two to three seizures a week, but she has used the troubles that once hemmed her in to develop a passion for helping others who may be in a similar situation. She was alert for what God was going to do next in her life, and as a result, her blessings are abundant and have poured over into the lives of many others.
So often, we are so busy living in fear of what might or might not happen in our lives that we fail to recognize the opportunities God is presenting us with at this very moment. We impatiently anticipate big things from God at the expense of what He may be showing us… if only we would sit still and pay attention. When we are hemmed in by troubles on all sides, we panic. How could this happen to us? Where is God? What will become of us… how will we ever get past this?
I would be willing to bet that Lorrie Thiel didn’t dream that her life would take this turn. I feel pretty sure that this mother of two teenagers never saw herself experiencing such a life-changing event… or allowing God to use her to bless so many other people out of her own troubles. I don’t know what God has planned today, tomorrow, next week or next year – for any of us. But I know that through the Holy Spirit, He wants to generously pour into our lives an abundance of love, grace, mercy and blessings that we can’t possibly gather enough containers to hold!
We have two choices… 1) we can operate in fear and impatience, worrying continually about what will happen each day to us and those we love… we can allow Satan to fill us with dread and dissatisfaction and stay stagnant in our faith walk, or 2) we can take the daily experiences of life and steel ourselves with patience and passion as God pours into us. We can anticipate what amazing, incredible things He has in store for us… believe for them, watch and listen for them to arrive… and act on them to pay forward what He stands ready to deliver. The choice is 100% ours. I don’t know about you, but I’ve already started looking for bigger containers!
©2012 Debbie Robus
There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In a regional “lifestyles” section of our newspaper, I read an article today about Lorrie Thiel of Jacksonville, Arkansas, who was injured in a serious car wreck nearly 10 years ago. As a result, Lorrie suffers frequent seizures. She obtained a service dog named Schultzy to alert her when a seizure is about to occur. She and Schultzy later adopted Galahad from the local animal shelter and trained him to become Lorrie’s service companion.
Galahad can not only alert Lorrie when a seizure is forthcoming, he also wears a special backpack which contains her medications on one side, and her purse (hidden) on the other. When a seizure is eminent, Galahad lets Lorrie know so that she can find a safe, comfortable chair and sit down – and she can take medication to lessen the seizure’s effects. If Lorrie is unable to take her medications, and other people are present, Galahad will rub against someone’s leg with the side of the pack that contains the medication. If they don’t respond, he stops and starts this process until they look in his pack. He is also trained not to let anyone look in the side of his pack containing Lorrie’s purse unless they are wearing a police or paramedic uniform.
Lorrie now trains service dogs for others in need. She still suffers two to three seizures a week, but she has used the troubles that once hemmed her in to develop a passion for helping others who may be in a similar situation. She was alert for what God was going to do next in her life, and as a result, her blessings are abundant and have poured over into the lives of many others.
So often, we are so busy living in fear of what might or might not happen in our lives that we fail to recognize the opportunities God is presenting us with at this very moment. We impatiently anticipate big things from God at the expense of what He may be showing us… if only we would sit still and pay attention. When we are hemmed in by troubles on all sides, we panic. How could this happen to us? Where is God? What will become of us… how will we ever get past this?
I would be willing to bet that Lorrie Thiel didn’t dream that her life would take this turn. I feel pretty sure that this mother of two teenagers never saw herself experiencing such a life-changing event… or allowing God to use her to bless so many other people out of her own troubles. I don’t know what God has planned today, tomorrow, next week or next year – for any of us. But I know that through the Holy Spirit, He wants to generously pour into our lives an abundance of love, grace, mercy and blessings that we can’t possibly gather enough containers to hold!
We have two choices… 1) we can operate in fear and impatience, worrying continually about what will happen each day to us and those we love… we can allow Satan to fill us with dread and dissatisfaction and stay stagnant in our faith walk, or 2) we can take the daily experiences of life and steel ourselves with patience and passion as God pours into us. We can anticipate what amazing, incredible things He has in store for us… believe for them, watch and listen for them to arrive… and act on them to pay forward what He stands ready to deliver. The choice is 100% ours. I don’t know about you, but I’ve already started looking for bigger containers!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 25, 2012
Isaiah 43:19
I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve been spoiled lately by some pretty amazing days weather-wise. Temps have warmed to nearly 80 degrees – a rare treat for mid-to-late February. Trees have started to bud, and daffodils are blooming. This happens every winter, to some degree… but we seem to forget from year to year. So we are always enthralled with the promise of spring and all of the “newness” that will come with it.
A lot of our trouble is that we “wake up in a new world every day,” so to speak. We are not paying attention to our surroundings. We are “living in the moment” – but we are not truly soaking in each of these moments and living in them. We miss so many of God’s gifts because we are too busy hurrying from one to the next, and we fail to stop, breathe deeply, and inhale the blessings that His Holy Spirit bestows on us each and every day. Our mantra is “I don’t have time for this.”
Today, take time to “sit a spell”… to look around you and soak in what you see and hear… to breathe deeply. God has indeed made all things new… from the tiny flowers of spring to His gift of Jesus Christ to pay for our sins. Unlike God’s children of the Old Testament, we do not have to spend our time making sacrifices, burning offerings, and more. We can concentrate on truly serving God and sharing His message with others. When we are bogged down with “busyness”, we often miss the true blessings.
Today, my prayer is that you will find even a few minutes to stop and “be”… to soak in what God is trying to give you… to enjoy your blessings… to communicate with God… and to truly thank Him for all of this. Ask God, “What am I supposed to do with Your blessings? What is Your plan for me?” Then LISTEN for His direction. God is trying to do new things in and through us each and every day… our job is to pay attention so that we don’t miss this. Are you “living in the moment”… or are you “living in this moment?” There is a difference… do you get it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve been spoiled lately by some pretty amazing days weather-wise. Temps have warmed to nearly 80 degrees – a rare treat for mid-to-late February. Trees have started to bud, and daffodils are blooming. This happens every winter, to some degree… but we seem to forget from year to year. So we are always enthralled with the promise of spring and all of the “newness” that will come with it.
A lot of our trouble is that we “wake up in a new world every day,” so to speak. We are not paying attention to our surroundings. We are “living in the moment” – but we are not truly soaking in each of these moments and living in them. We miss so many of God’s gifts because we are too busy hurrying from one to the next, and we fail to stop, breathe deeply, and inhale the blessings that His Holy Spirit bestows on us each and every day. Our mantra is “I don’t have time for this.”
Today, take time to “sit a spell”… to look around you and soak in what you see and hear… to breathe deeply. God has indeed made all things new… from the tiny flowers of spring to His gift of Jesus Christ to pay for our sins. Unlike God’s children of the Old Testament, we do not have to spend our time making sacrifices, burning offerings, and more. We can concentrate on truly serving God and sharing His message with others. When we are bogged down with “busyness”, we often miss the true blessings.
Today, my prayer is that you will find even a few minutes to stop and “be”… to soak in what God is trying to give you… to enjoy your blessings… to communicate with God… and to truly thank Him for all of this. Ask God, “What am I supposed to do with Your blessings? What is Your plan for me?” Then LISTEN for His direction. God is trying to do new things in and through us each and every day… our job is to pay attention so that we don’t miss this. Are you “living in the moment”… or are you “living in this moment?” There is a difference… do you get it?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 23, 2012
Colossians 1:3-5
Our prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings. We can't quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you! We keep getting reports on your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and the love you continuously extend to all Christians. The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope.
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.
You may have heard the saying that “Iron sharpens iron.” We’ve all heard coaches talk about a team leader who strengthens other players as he/she “leads by example.” Perhaps there are people in your own circle of influence who have strengthened and encouraged you by their perseverance and faith that never seems to waver.
This passage reminds us that God has already delivered us from our sins, if we have claimed Jesus as our Savior. He has already paved the way and anchored the “lines of purpose” in our lives. We can be strengthened and blessed by God’s abundant blessings. We can prosper in all areas of life because of what He has established in and for us. The hope of spending an eternity in His presence keeps those “ropes” taut.
God is using people all around you to bless and strengthen you in His name… and He wants to use you to do this for others, as well. Look around and see who is strengthening and encouraging you. What examples of faith has God placed before you? How is He working in your own life to keep the “ropes” taut… and how can you lead by example? When was the last time you thanked God for those who bless and encourage you… and when was the last time you thanked them for being so faithful and strong?
Just as God can strengthen and bless you through His blessings, He can use you to do the same for others. Are you open to the possibilities? Remember, people are watching you! The question is… what sort of “lifelines” do they see? Are your “lines of purpose” tightly secured by hope and faith? Are you living as “God’s iron” to sharpen and encourage others in your circle? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Our prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings. We can't quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you! We keep getting reports on your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and the love you continuously extend to all Christians. The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope.
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.
You may have heard the saying that “Iron sharpens iron.” We’ve all heard coaches talk about a team leader who strengthens other players as he/she “leads by example.” Perhaps there are people in your own circle of influence who have strengthened and encouraged you by their perseverance and faith that never seems to waver.
This passage reminds us that God has already delivered us from our sins, if we have claimed Jesus as our Savior. He has already paved the way and anchored the “lines of purpose” in our lives. We can be strengthened and blessed by God’s abundant blessings. We can prosper in all areas of life because of what He has established in and for us. The hope of spending an eternity in His presence keeps those “ropes” taut.
God is using people all around you to bless and strengthen you in His name… and He wants to use you to do this for others, as well. Look around and see who is strengthening and encouraging you. What examples of faith has God placed before you? How is He working in your own life to keep the “ropes” taut… and how can you lead by example? When was the last time you thanked God for those who bless and encourage you… and when was the last time you thanked them for being so faithful and strong?
Just as God can strengthen and bless you through His blessings, He can use you to do the same for others. Are you open to the possibilities? Remember, people are watching you! The question is… what sort of “lifelines” do they see? Are your “lines of purpose” tightly secured by hope and faith? Are you living as “God’s iron” to sharpen and encourage others in your circle? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 12, 2012
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet 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.
There is a new commercial airing for StraightTalk cell phone service that has people talking like they are rich and worldly, while they look for their clunker car in the parking lot. In this commercial, a lady is talking on her cell phone to someone about serving Cornish game hen versus chicken, because “everyone gets their own baby chicken on their own baby plate” and an endive salad. She then argues about the pronunciation of the word “endive” as she tries to open a very expensive car that is dubbed “the car of a hip-hop music mogul.” She asks her husband why her keyless remote will not open the car door, and he points across the lot and says, “… because we drive a station wagon.” The point of the commercial is that saving money on her cell phone bill has made the woman feel rich and important - and speak to others with arrogance.
A lot of us are trying to be something or someone we aren’t. Even more of us are failing to recognize who we truly are! We are the chosen heirs of God Almighty, which makes each a prince or a princess… our Father is the King of Kings! Too many of us make excuses… “I’m not smart enough… thin enough, rich enough… from the right family. I’m the wrong color or the wrong gender. I didn’t go to college. I’m different… people don’t like me. I’m ugly, my hair is too curly (or straight)… my nose is too big… I’m too short or too tall.” We give up quickly and let poor health, our social, economic, and educational status (or lack of one), and more limit what God can do with us. We fail to recognize the power of positive thinking and speaking… a need to change our words!
Today, let’s start speaking positively. Let’s “call things that be not as though they were.” In other words, try saying “I can,” instead of “I can’t.” Recognize that God wants to do amazing things in and through you… and if He believes you are good enough, this is all that matters. Don’t start talking like someone else and pretending to be more important than you already are. Realize that you are amazing, incredible, and perfectly formed by God Almighty… and that’s more than enough. Ask God to show you how and where to use what He has given you - for His glory. Blow a trumpet for God, and get ready for Him to knock your socks off with blessings.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet 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.
There is a new commercial airing for StraightTalk cell phone service that has people talking like they are rich and worldly, while they look for their clunker car in the parking lot. In this commercial, a lady is talking on her cell phone to someone about serving Cornish game hen versus chicken, because “everyone gets their own baby chicken on their own baby plate” and an endive salad. She then argues about the pronunciation of the word “endive” as she tries to open a very expensive car that is dubbed “the car of a hip-hop music mogul.” She asks her husband why her keyless remote will not open the car door, and he points across the lot and says, “… because we drive a station wagon.” The point of the commercial is that saving money on her cell phone bill has made the woman feel rich and important - and speak to others with arrogance.
A lot of us are trying to be something or someone we aren’t. Even more of us are failing to recognize who we truly are! We are the chosen heirs of God Almighty, which makes each a prince or a princess… our Father is the King of Kings! Too many of us make excuses… “I’m not smart enough… thin enough, rich enough… from the right family. I’m the wrong color or the wrong gender. I didn’t go to college. I’m different… people don’t like me. I’m ugly, my hair is too curly (or straight)… my nose is too big… I’m too short or too tall.” We give up quickly and let poor health, our social, economic, and educational status (or lack of one), and more limit what God can do with us. We fail to recognize the power of positive thinking and speaking… a need to change our words!
Today, let’s start speaking positively. Let’s “call things that be not as though they were.” In other words, try saying “I can,” instead of “I can’t.” Recognize that God wants to do amazing things in and through you… and if He believes you are good enough, this is all that matters. Don’t start talking like someone else and pretending to be more important than you already are. Realize that you are amazing, incredible, and perfectly formed by God Almighty… and that’s more than enough. Ask God to show you how and where to use what He has given you - for His glory. Blow a trumpet for God, and get ready for Him to knock your socks off with blessings.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 24, 2011
Psalm 138
With all my heart I praise you, LORD. In the presence of angels I sing your praises. I worship at your holy temple and praise you for your love and your faithfulness. You were true to your word and made yourself more famous than ever before. When I asked for your help, you answered my prayer and gave me courage.
All kings on this earth have heard your promises, LORD, and they will praise you. You are so famous that they will sing about the things you have done. Though you are above us all, you care for humble people, and you keep a close watch on everyone who is proud.
I am surrounded by trouble, but you protect me against my angry enemies. With your own powerful arm you keep me safe. You, LORD, will always treat me with kindness. Your love never fails. You have made us what we are. Don't give up on us now!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Since the first of this month, many have been posting a daily list on Facebook of things for which they are thankful. Truly we all have a lot to be thankful for every day of the year… and so much for which to sing praises to the LORD.
Today, many of us will pause to gather with family and friends, stuff ourselves silly with rich food and far too many calories, and spend the day watching football or movies, playing games, visiting, and participating in whatever activities are part of our Thanksgiving Day tradition. But let’s also take time to consider the words of this passage and give praise to God for all He does for us. Let’s thank Him for being true to His word, and giving us courage, love and faithfulness.
Let’s honor God for protecting us from our enemies and keeping us safe… and for never giving up on us. And let’s be sure to thank Him for sending Jesus to die for our sins, so that we will feast at His table in Heaven someday.
We don’t deserve the great love and care of our Almighty God… and this is what makes it so special. The beauty of our relationship with God is that He loves us unconditionally… freely… and in spite of ourselves. I pray that you will enjoy your Thanksgiving Day… and that you will find time to praise God for His unending blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!
©2011 Debbie Robus
With all my heart I praise you, LORD. In the presence of angels I sing your praises. I worship at your holy temple and praise you for your love and your faithfulness. You were true to your word and made yourself more famous than ever before. When I asked for your help, you answered my prayer and gave me courage.
All kings on this earth have heard your promises, LORD, and they will praise you. You are so famous that they will sing about the things you have done. Though you are above us all, you care for humble people, and you keep a close watch on everyone who is proud.
I am surrounded by trouble, but you protect me against my angry enemies. With your own powerful arm you keep me safe. You, LORD, will always treat me with kindness. Your love never fails. You have made us what we are. Don't give up on us now!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Since the first of this month, many have been posting a daily list on Facebook of things for which they are thankful. Truly we all have a lot to be thankful for every day of the year… and so much for which to sing praises to the LORD.
Today, many of us will pause to gather with family and friends, stuff ourselves silly with rich food and far too many calories, and spend the day watching football or movies, playing games, visiting, and participating in whatever activities are part of our Thanksgiving Day tradition. But let’s also take time to consider the words of this passage and give praise to God for all He does for us. Let’s thank Him for being true to His word, and giving us courage, love and faithfulness.
Let’s honor God for protecting us from our enemies and keeping us safe… and for never giving up on us. And let’s be sure to thank Him for sending Jesus to die for our sins, so that we will feast at His table in Heaven someday.
We don’t deserve the great love and care of our Almighty God… and this is what makes it so special. The beauty of our relationship with God is that He loves us unconditionally… freely… and in spite of ourselves. I pray that you will enjoy your Thanksgiving Day… and that you will find time to praise God for His unending blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 19, 2011
Proverbs 22:4
Respect and serve the LORD! Your reward will be wealth, a long life, and honor.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine recently shared an amazing story with me. She said that on the morning of her aunt’s funeral, she awoke to a clear voice from the LORD saying, “Get up and make two pecan pies and TWO batches of chicken salad. Leave one salad at home… take the other to the church to be served for lunch.” She said the instructions were crystal clear. She told her sister about this and said, “I’ve made a grocery list, and we have to get busy.” Her sister trusted this word and helped make the pies and chicken salad.
When the family arrived at the church for the pre-funeral luncheon, my friend told one of the condolence committee volunteers, “I know you will think I’m crazy, but the LORD told me to bring this salad, so I did.” As it turned out, as many as twenty-five extra people showed up for lunch. Without the salad, there would not have been enough food. And as people returned to my friend’s house after the service, she served thin slices of the pecan pie and the second bowl of chicken salad to hungry guests. She told me, “I’m trying to pay attention when the LORD speaks… and I’m glad I did.”
My friend respects and serves the LORD. And while she may not be what some would consider wealthy or rich, all of her needs are met, and she lives in abundance. She is honorable… and on track to live a long, blessed life. I am taking a page from her book and listening to the LORD. I told her that I have really been trying to pay closer attention – and to do what God tells me to do. But her example has given me added inspiration to do this!
God is more than worthy of our respect and our obedience. So often we hear His voice and turn a deaf ear… or fail to pay close attention. And we miss out on so many blessings and opportunities to bless others in His name. It’s time to fine tune our listening skills. We need to open our hearts and minds to the voice of the LORD… to show Him our utmost respect… and to serve Him with everything we have. I’m in… are you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Respect and serve the LORD! Your reward will be wealth, a long life, and honor.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine recently shared an amazing story with me. She said that on the morning of her aunt’s funeral, she awoke to a clear voice from the LORD saying, “Get up and make two pecan pies and TWO batches of chicken salad. Leave one salad at home… take the other to the church to be served for lunch.” She said the instructions were crystal clear. She told her sister about this and said, “I’ve made a grocery list, and we have to get busy.” Her sister trusted this word and helped make the pies and chicken salad.
When the family arrived at the church for the pre-funeral luncheon, my friend told one of the condolence committee volunteers, “I know you will think I’m crazy, but the LORD told me to bring this salad, so I did.” As it turned out, as many as twenty-five extra people showed up for lunch. Without the salad, there would not have been enough food. And as people returned to my friend’s house after the service, she served thin slices of the pecan pie and the second bowl of chicken salad to hungry guests. She told me, “I’m trying to pay attention when the LORD speaks… and I’m glad I did.”
My friend respects and serves the LORD. And while she may not be what some would consider wealthy or rich, all of her needs are met, and she lives in abundance. She is honorable… and on track to live a long, blessed life. I am taking a page from her book and listening to the LORD. I told her that I have really been trying to pay closer attention – and to do what God tells me to do. But her example has given me added inspiration to do this!
God is more than worthy of our respect and our obedience. So often we hear His voice and turn a deaf ear… or fail to pay close attention. And we miss out on so many blessings and opportunities to bless others in His name. It’s time to fine tune our listening skills. We need to open our hearts and minds to the voice of the LORD… to show Him our utmost respect… and to serve Him with everything we have. I’m in… are you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 26, 2011
Psalm 115:1-8
Not for our sake, GOD, no, not for our sake, but for your name's sake, show your glory. Do it on account of your merciful love, do it on account of your faithful ways. Do it so none of the nations can say, "Where now, oh where is their God?"
Our God is in heaven doing whatever he wants to do. Their gods are metal and wood, handmade in a basement shop: Carved mouths that can't talk, painted eyes that can't see, tin ears that can't hear, molded noses that can't smell, hands that can't grasp, feet that can't walk or run, throats that never utter a sound. Those who make them have become just like them, have become just like the gods they trust.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Have you ever known someone who had a collection of things… coins, stamps, memorabilia, and more… and the items in the collection became so important to the collector that he/she talked about them as if they were precious children? Whatever the person focused on became an obsession… and the objects of his/her affection became almost like a god. It is very hard to talk to someone who is so focused on such things, and a lot of people would say this fixation made this person strange at best… and downright frustrating to try to relate with for certain!
Yet we do the very same thing, in a lot of ways. We become so obsessed with a sport, video games, hobbies, and more - or even another person - and we make this our god and devote all of our time and attention toward cultivating this relationship. If we were half as devoted to God as we are some of the people and things that consume us, we would accomplish unbelievable things in His name and for His glory. And we can’t begin to imagine the blessings that would flow in our direction!
I don’t know about you, but I want to serve a God who can talk to me – and hear me when I speak to Him! I want to serve the God of Heaven who loves me faithfully and mercifully… and holds me in the palm of His hand. I want to serve a God who I can trust to always have perfect plans for my life… answers to my problems… and protection for me 24/7. Do you serve the God of Heaven… or a god (or gods) you have made for yourself? Have you seen the glory of the One True God in your own life and the lives of those around you lately? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Not for our sake, GOD, no, not for our sake, but for your name's sake, show your glory. Do it on account of your merciful love, do it on account of your faithful ways. Do it so none of the nations can say, "Where now, oh where is their God?"
Our God is in heaven doing whatever he wants to do. Their gods are metal and wood, handmade in a basement shop: Carved mouths that can't talk, painted eyes that can't see, tin ears that can't hear, molded noses that can't smell, hands that can't grasp, feet that can't walk or run, throats that never utter a sound. Those who make them have become just like them, have become just like the gods they trust.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Have you ever known someone who had a collection of things… coins, stamps, memorabilia, and more… and the items in the collection became so important to the collector that he/she talked about them as if they were precious children? Whatever the person focused on became an obsession… and the objects of his/her affection became almost like a god. It is very hard to talk to someone who is so focused on such things, and a lot of people would say this fixation made this person strange at best… and downright frustrating to try to relate with for certain!
Yet we do the very same thing, in a lot of ways. We become so obsessed with a sport, video games, hobbies, and more - or even another person - and we make this our god and devote all of our time and attention toward cultivating this relationship. If we were half as devoted to God as we are some of the people and things that consume us, we would accomplish unbelievable things in His name and for His glory. And we can’t begin to imagine the blessings that would flow in our direction!
I don’t know about you, but I want to serve a God who can talk to me – and hear me when I speak to Him! I want to serve the God of Heaven who loves me faithfully and mercifully… and holds me in the palm of His hand. I want to serve a God who I can trust to always have perfect plans for my life… answers to my problems… and protection for me 24/7. Do you serve the God of Heaven… or a god (or gods) you have made for yourself? Have you seen the glory of the One True God in your own life and the lives of those around you lately? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 20, 2011
Psalm 111:5-9
The LORD God is famous for his wonderful deeds, and he is kind and merciful. He gives food to his worshipers and always keeps his agreement with them. He has shown his mighty power to his people and has given them the lands of other nations. God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted. They are true and right and will stand forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We recently decided our two twelve-year-old cats, Mabel and Lucy, could use a little boost to their digestive systems, so we started giving them a small saucer of skim milk each night, and just a couple of teaspoons of moist cat food in the morning to supplement the dry chow they have eaten all their lives. Lucy turned up her nose at the milk, but Mabel laps it up each night. However, in the mornings, Lucy has become obsessed with her canned food. She starts a “dance” about an hour before we arise, as if to say, “Hey, you! Remember my breakfast!” Then she stands under my feet while I prepare the bowls… sometimes quite literally causing me to stumble to the mat where they are fed.
If I go into the kitchen during the day, Lucy comes right away and begs for more food. We have stuck to our guns and only fed them this moist treat in the mornings… but that doesn’t stop Lucy from begging. She stands up on the back of my legs and does a dance. She cries and whines and glares at me. She hopes I will be merciful and relent. But I’m sticking to the rules and doing what I know is right and fair – and in her best interest!
So often, we are the “Mabel and Lucy”. We stand at God’s feet and beg and plead… just get us out of one more mess, LORD. Just look the other way this once and pretend we didn’t commit this sin. Let us have our way and make it right for us. We want the mercy and kindness of God… but we also want Him to bend the rules in our favor.
Our cats cannot truly comprehend that we have their best interests at heart. But we humans know better about God. We know that He is right and fair… kind and merciful… and still we beg, plead and try to “fudge” – or outright cheat – and hope God will rule as we wish.
We need to start recognizing God’s sovereignty. We must fully acknowledge that He knows best… that His laws are perfect for us… fully trustworthy… and right on target. We must operate in the assurance that God will show us kindness and mercy… but He will also do what is fair and right – and at times we may not totally like His response.
The mark of spiritual maturity is developing a trust in God for His answers and plans… and accepting them, whether we like them or not. Are you trusting God completely and operating under His laws? Or are you dancing at His feet, whining and complaining… hoping He will bend to your will instead? How mature are you in your faith these days? God will never stumble in His steadfast devotion to you… can you say the same in return?
©2011 Debbie Robus
The LORD God is famous for his wonderful deeds, and he is kind and merciful. He gives food to his worshipers and always keeps his agreement with them. He has shown his mighty power to his people and has given them the lands of other nations. God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted. They are true and right and will stand forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We recently decided our two twelve-year-old cats, Mabel and Lucy, could use a little boost to their digestive systems, so we started giving them a small saucer of skim milk each night, and just a couple of teaspoons of moist cat food in the morning to supplement the dry chow they have eaten all their lives. Lucy turned up her nose at the milk, but Mabel laps it up each night. However, in the mornings, Lucy has become obsessed with her canned food. She starts a “dance” about an hour before we arise, as if to say, “Hey, you! Remember my breakfast!” Then she stands under my feet while I prepare the bowls… sometimes quite literally causing me to stumble to the mat where they are fed.
If I go into the kitchen during the day, Lucy comes right away and begs for more food. We have stuck to our guns and only fed them this moist treat in the mornings… but that doesn’t stop Lucy from begging. She stands up on the back of my legs and does a dance. She cries and whines and glares at me. She hopes I will be merciful and relent. But I’m sticking to the rules and doing what I know is right and fair – and in her best interest!
So often, we are the “Mabel and Lucy”. We stand at God’s feet and beg and plead… just get us out of one more mess, LORD. Just look the other way this once and pretend we didn’t commit this sin. Let us have our way and make it right for us. We want the mercy and kindness of God… but we also want Him to bend the rules in our favor.
Our cats cannot truly comprehend that we have their best interests at heart. But we humans know better about God. We know that He is right and fair… kind and merciful… and still we beg, plead and try to “fudge” – or outright cheat – and hope God will rule as we wish.
We need to start recognizing God’s sovereignty. We must fully acknowledge that He knows best… that His laws are perfect for us… fully trustworthy… and right on target. We must operate in the assurance that God will show us kindness and mercy… but He will also do what is fair and right – and at times we may not totally like His response.
The mark of spiritual maturity is developing a trust in God for His answers and plans… and accepting them, whether we like them or not. Are you trusting God completely and operating under His laws? Or are you dancing at His feet, whining and complaining… hoping He will bend to your will instead? How mature are you in your faith these days? God will never stumble in His steadfast devotion to you… can you say the same in return?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 16, 2011
Proverbs 21:20
Be sensible and store up precious treasures-- don't waste them like a fool.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We all know people whose money “burns a hole in their pocket.” If they have a dollar, they will find something to buy with it. Early on, I became a tightwad. Some probably consider me “cheap”… I prefer to think I am conscientious and thrifty. Or maybe I have gone to one too many estate sales and seen a lifetime of “treasures” be sold in a matter of hours for pennies on the dollar. But I truly believe that God expects us to be good stewards of our money and possessions.
God wants us to be smart and honest… to work hard for a fair wage, and then pay our bills with our earnings. God doesn’t want us to live beyond our means… to max out credit cards and live on borrowed money – or the kindness and sympathy of others. To do this makes us a slave to money and possessions – and potentially to other people. And it takes our focus in the wrong direction.
God wants us to be realistic and responsible. He wants us to “save for a rainy day,” and to pay our own way. We can’t do this if we are wasteful and mis-manage our assets. A lot of people are struggling to make ends meet these days. And through no fault of their own, some are finding that there isn’t enough “month in the money.” Still others seem to be “fiddling while Rome burns”… continuing to live and spend like they once did, even though their job is in jeopardy and they can’t pay the mortgage.
Regardless of your age or your income, I encourage you to spend some time in prayer and ask God to help you prepare a budget. With His guidance, determine exactly how much you need to save… and what you can afford to spend. Do this with the intangible things, too… like your time, your talents, and your abilities – and even your relationships. Ask God where you need to spend your resources… and where to conserve them.
At the end of the day, remember that everything belongs to God. He has placed us in charge of certain things, but we need to be very careful how we handle them. Are you being a good steward of what God has placed in your care? Or are you foolishly spending everything you have… and wasting precious treasures in the process?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Be sensible and store up precious treasures-- don't waste them like a fool.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We all know people whose money “burns a hole in their pocket.” If they have a dollar, they will find something to buy with it. Early on, I became a tightwad. Some probably consider me “cheap”… I prefer to think I am conscientious and thrifty. Or maybe I have gone to one too many estate sales and seen a lifetime of “treasures” be sold in a matter of hours for pennies on the dollar. But I truly believe that God expects us to be good stewards of our money and possessions.
God wants us to be smart and honest… to work hard for a fair wage, and then pay our bills with our earnings. God doesn’t want us to live beyond our means… to max out credit cards and live on borrowed money – or the kindness and sympathy of others. To do this makes us a slave to money and possessions – and potentially to other people. And it takes our focus in the wrong direction.
God wants us to be realistic and responsible. He wants us to “save for a rainy day,” and to pay our own way. We can’t do this if we are wasteful and mis-manage our assets. A lot of people are struggling to make ends meet these days. And through no fault of their own, some are finding that there isn’t enough “month in the money.” Still others seem to be “fiddling while Rome burns”… continuing to live and spend like they once did, even though their job is in jeopardy and they can’t pay the mortgage.
Regardless of your age or your income, I encourage you to spend some time in prayer and ask God to help you prepare a budget. With His guidance, determine exactly how much you need to save… and what you can afford to spend. Do this with the intangible things, too… like your time, your talents, and your abilities – and even your relationships. Ask God where you need to spend your resources… and where to conserve them.
At the end of the day, remember that everything belongs to God. He has placed us in charge of certain things, but we need to be very careful how we handle them. Are you being a good steward of what God has placed in your care? Or are you foolishly spending everything you have… and wasting precious treasures in the process?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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