Isaiah 55:9-11
Just as the heavens
are higher than the earth,
my thoughts and my ways
are higher than yours.
“Rain and snow fall from the sky.
But they don’t return
without watering the earth
that produces seeds to plant
and grain to eat.
That’s how it is with my words.
They don’t return to me
without doing everything
I send them to do.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A
49-year-old realtor left her home in central Arkansas to meet a
potential client at a nearby-but-secluded riverfront property and was
never heard from again. Her body was retrieved four days later from a
shallow grave - at a location nearly 30 miles away from the house she
was showing. The person believed to have kidnapped and murdered her was
apprehended, and people began to ask, “Why did this happen?
“Why?”
seems to be the pervading question in many of life’s circumstances. Why
does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Why are young
mothers and fathers with little ones to rear and so many obligations
taken from this earth? Why do children get cancer and other illnesses?
Why are babies born with defects? Why are there wars, famines,
droughts and other natural disasters? Why can’t I find a job, friend,
mate – or my “place” in this world? When a deranged person is about to
behead another...or a demented adult is begins to abuse or molest a
child, why doesn’t God stop it? If God loves us SO much, why doesn’t He
make our lives more comfortable and fix all of these things?
Recently,
we hired a painter to do some work at our house. One of the projects
was to repaint the front door. He worked for several hours to make our
metal door to look as if it were made of wood. The painter remarked to
me that there were always moments in the process where everything looked
like a giant mess...but as he kept working at it, the end result came
into focus. I’ve done a few faux finish projects, and I shared with him
that I once purchased a wall sconce on clearance at a home decorating
store. Friends who were with me asked, “Why in the world would you want
that? What will you do with it?” I assured them that by the time I
finished my project, they would not recognize the original piece. And
just as this painter noted in his project, there were moments when I
thought, “This is the biggest mess...it will never look like anything!”
But I kept working...adding and removing...daubing here and patting
there...and the beauty of the piece began to come through. Before I
knew it, I the sconce looked just as I had envisioned – or even better!
And my friends could not believe it was the same ugly item I had
purchased.
I use these illustrations to show you that God has a
“vision” that we cannot comprehend. He can take what appears to be a
“total mess” and turn it into a masterpiece. Like the faux finishes,
there may be times when things look like they are in such a state that we
feel as if they are beyond repair. But God uses His strength and power
to create something beautiful...and His handiwork is fully displayed.
So
many people get bogged down in the question...“Why me, LORD?” Why
can’t we skip the “ugly” steps in the “faux finish” of life and go
straight to the pretty results? Surely we are missing something
here...but what? And that is the crux of this passage from Isaiah...”My
thoughts and my ways are higher than yours”. This is where we have to
truly exercise our faith as Christians. We have to step out and trust
that God has a perfect plan...and believe that even in the most heinous
of situations or our deepest grief and heartache, He will produce
something positive and beautiful.
Will we ever see the final
product – God’s “vision”? Yes...but maybe not in this lifetime.
Someday, we will understand all of this. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul
assures us that “Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a
mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything,
but then we will, just as God completely understands us.” I have no clue
what God intended for this realtor and her family. It occurs to me that
at the very least, realtors everywhere may change how they show
property. They may become more cautious and/or meet clients in
pairs...particularly when the property is in a remote location.
I
know that in my own life, I have been kept from getting a job I wanted –
only to be granted a better one! Twenty-four-year-old Blessing Offor
took the stage on NBC’s “The Voice” and sang his way into the
competition. Judges were astonished to learn that Offor was born blind
in one eye, and an accident took his vision in the other eye before he
was eleven. He explained that “I had to figure out what God meant by
this”...adding, “This is just another thing to work through.”
We’ve
all got things to work through...and we won’t understand “what God
meant by this” much of the time. But we can be assured that nothing is
wasted. We can trust that God - our great provider, protector and
healer – is using the “rain” in our lives to “water seeds and produce
good fruit”. Our real question should not be “Why me, LORD?”...but
rather, “What are You showing me?” Shouldn’t we be asking God to reveal
to us how to accomplish His will with each and every circumstance of
our lives? Don’t you think it’s time we did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label believing Gods promises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label believing Gods promises. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 28, 2014
Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid. I am with you.
Don’t tremble with fear.
I am your God.
I will make you strong,
as I protect you with my arm
and give you victories.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On a recent edition of ABC’s 20/20, I heard the story of 12-year-old Payton Leutner, who was stabbed 19 times on May 31, 2014, by two classmates who had invited her for a sleepover in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The morning after celebrating the 12th birthday of one of the girls, they invited Payton to join them for a game of “hide-and-seek” in the woods. Payton reluctantly went along, and soon one of the girls was sitting on her and holding her down, while the other stabbed her in an attempt to kill her. This was all a plot by these two young girls to do something they thought would please “Slender Man”, a fictitious online character who supposedly lives in the woods in a mansion. These girls convinced themselves that Slender Man is real, and that they would commit this murder, and then escape into the woods to find him and his mansion...and live there forever.
In a story of heroics (and an untold story of God’s grace), Payton Leutner willed herself to live. She crawled out of the woods to a sidewalk-like trail in the park that had been blocked off to the public with a chain. Remarkably, a bicyclist chose to ignore the signs and chain and take this trail on that very morning, and he discovered little Payton lying in the grass - clinging to life. Doctors told her parents, Joe and Stacie Leutner, that one of the stab wounds missed Payton’s heart by less than a hair’s breadth. Had this wound been less than a millimeter farther in one direction, it would have been almost instantly fatal.
When Stacie Leutner first saw Payton in the hospital, she said that she was very pale. Stacie told ABC news anchor David Muir that Payton put her hand out, and she rushed over to her. She said, “I put my arms around her and I laid next to her, and I hugged her and I said, ‘You're gonna be okay. It's gonna be fine.’" As the doctors and nurses wheeled Payton away for surgery, her mother told her that she loved her...and that she would be okay.
Virtually any mother would have said and done the same thing. But Stacie Leutner could not be sure that her reassurances were accurate. She really didn’t know with certainty that Payton would be okay...that the surgeon and his team could repair all of the damage. Truthfully, Joe and Stacie Leutner do not know yet whether Payton will fully recover mentally and emotionally. She seems to be doing well...but who knows what long-term effects such a traumatic experience will have on this child. Still, in the moment, reassurance was all they had...and it’s all they have now as they hope and pray that Payton truly won’t suffer any lasting damage.
You and I often face situations that are fraught with opportunities for fear to take over. We receive unsettling news...we face challenges of a physical, mental or emotional nature...we have cause to worry to the point of making ourselves sick! And in all of these circumstances, God says, “Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you victories.” The difference between these words as spoken by a mortal parent and those of our Heavenly father is important. Our earthly parents want this to be so...they hope that the outcome will be as they spoke of it. But God guarantees His promises! When He says that He will make us strong and give us victories, we can count on Him to make it happen!
I would bet that at one time or another in our lives, every single one of us heard our parents tell us that everything would be alright...and we believed them – even when a small part of us might have known that they could not be sure they were speaking the truth. So why would we doubt or question God when He promises to heal us and give us strength and victory? Don’t we know that God’s word is infallible? Don’t we believe that God’s promises are steadfast and certain?
One of the hardest things for Payton Leutner to process has been the knowledge that her two friends meant to kill her. She is still wrestling with this profound betrayal. And her parents acknowledge that they are concerned for these two little girls and their families. But they believe that Payton was rescued for a reason...that she is here for a purpose and meant to do something special. Perhaps God is using this little girl and her story to remind parents to pay a little closer attention to what their children are doing...and to remind us of His presence and power.
Where is God telling you today that He will heal you...protect you...make you strong and give you victories? Do you trust Him and believe His promises? Isn’t it time you did? How would your life be different if you “let go and let God” have control? Wouldn’t you like to find out?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Don’t be afraid. I am with you.
Don’t tremble with fear.
I am your God.
I will make you strong,
as I protect you with my arm
and give you victories.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On a recent edition of ABC’s 20/20, I heard the story of 12-year-old Payton Leutner, who was stabbed 19 times on May 31, 2014, by two classmates who had invited her for a sleepover in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The morning after celebrating the 12th birthday of one of the girls, they invited Payton to join them for a game of “hide-and-seek” in the woods. Payton reluctantly went along, and soon one of the girls was sitting on her and holding her down, while the other stabbed her in an attempt to kill her. This was all a plot by these two young girls to do something they thought would please “Slender Man”, a fictitious online character who supposedly lives in the woods in a mansion. These girls convinced themselves that Slender Man is real, and that they would commit this murder, and then escape into the woods to find him and his mansion...and live there forever.
In a story of heroics (and an untold story of God’s grace), Payton Leutner willed herself to live. She crawled out of the woods to a sidewalk-like trail in the park that had been blocked off to the public with a chain. Remarkably, a bicyclist chose to ignore the signs and chain and take this trail on that very morning, and he discovered little Payton lying in the grass - clinging to life. Doctors told her parents, Joe and Stacie Leutner, that one of the stab wounds missed Payton’s heart by less than a hair’s breadth. Had this wound been less than a millimeter farther in one direction, it would have been almost instantly fatal.
When Stacie Leutner first saw Payton in the hospital, she said that she was very pale. Stacie told ABC news anchor David Muir that Payton put her hand out, and she rushed over to her. She said, “I put my arms around her and I laid next to her, and I hugged her and I said, ‘You're gonna be okay. It's gonna be fine.’" As the doctors and nurses wheeled Payton away for surgery, her mother told her that she loved her...and that she would be okay.
Virtually any mother would have said and done the same thing. But Stacie Leutner could not be sure that her reassurances were accurate. She really didn’t know with certainty that Payton would be okay...that the surgeon and his team could repair all of the damage. Truthfully, Joe and Stacie Leutner do not know yet whether Payton will fully recover mentally and emotionally. She seems to be doing well...but who knows what long-term effects such a traumatic experience will have on this child. Still, in the moment, reassurance was all they had...and it’s all they have now as they hope and pray that Payton truly won’t suffer any lasting damage.
You and I often face situations that are fraught with opportunities for fear to take over. We receive unsettling news...we face challenges of a physical, mental or emotional nature...we have cause to worry to the point of making ourselves sick! And in all of these circumstances, God says, “Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you victories.” The difference between these words as spoken by a mortal parent and those of our Heavenly father is important. Our earthly parents want this to be so...they hope that the outcome will be as they spoke of it. But God guarantees His promises! When He says that He will make us strong and give us victories, we can count on Him to make it happen!
I would bet that at one time or another in our lives, every single one of us heard our parents tell us that everything would be alright...and we believed them – even when a small part of us might have known that they could not be sure they were speaking the truth. So why would we doubt or question God when He promises to heal us and give us strength and victory? Don’t we know that God’s word is infallible? Don’t we believe that God’s promises are steadfast and certain?
One of the hardest things for Payton Leutner to process has been the knowledge that her two friends meant to kill her. She is still wrestling with this profound betrayal. And her parents acknowledge that they are concerned for these two little girls and their families. But they believe that Payton was rescued for a reason...that she is here for a purpose and meant to do something special. Perhaps God is using this little girl and her story to remind parents to pay a little closer attention to what their children are doing...and to remind us of His presence and power.
Where is God telling you today that He will heal you...protect you...make you strong and give you victories? Do you trust Him and believe His promises? Isn’t it time you did? How would your life be different if you “let go and let God” have control? Wouldn’t you like to find out?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 17, 2014
Acts 10:37-38
“You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we think of “healing”, we think of some sort of physical illness or injury. But everywhere you look, people are in need of “healing” from all kinds of “ailments”. Students are struggling with homework assignments and concepts they can’t seem to grasp and retain. Parents are concerned about every aspect of the lives of their children. There are people struggling with bills, jobs, physical illnesses and injuries, loneliness, relationship issues, and grief. Seniors have a plethora of troubles related to aging and declining health. And we haven’t even mentioned those “sicknesses” that grip our headlines...abuse of children and spouses..., conflict and combat in American cities and on foreign soil...retaliatory beheadings and senseless brutality...and even natural disasters like drought, wildfires and flooding. We truly are a sick world in need of healing!
What struck me instantly about the scripture passage today was this sentence...”He was able to do all this because God was with him.” Even Jesus - the Great Healer and Physician - needed God’s power and presence. If Jesus Christ needed God with Him in order to be well and heal others, don’t you think we certainly need Him in our lives?
Let’s be honest...we can’t do this on our own or under our own power! The only way we even have a CHANCE is to embrace God and ask Him to wield His power in our lives. Our “healing” starts with a liberal dose of the anointing by God with the Holy Spirit - who will dwell in our heart and guide our steps. Again, if it was important for Jesus, it surely is vital for us!
Does this guarantee that we will have “smooth sailing?” Is this an instant “cure” for all that ails us? Yes...and NO! Think of it this way...if you have allergies, you take an antihistamine to alleviate the symptoms. This drug doesn’t remove your condition – but you are able to manage it. If something causes you pain - like a splinter in your hand or a broken toe - you determine the problem and take measures to address it. Sometimes these ailments or injuries can be fully cured and alleviated. At other times, we determine methods of coping with these challenges and relieving some of the symptoms.
This is how it is with God’s power and care. There are burdens and “ailments” that He will remove from you completely. In other cases, He will show you how to cope with your circumstances...and grow and learn from the experience. But God will never leave you to flounder and struggle without any hope of relief. He will never allow you to be completely beaten down by the devil.
So think about what “ails” you today. Consider the “sicknesses” of this world and how the devil attempts to beat us down each and every day. Then turn to God and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit...to “inoculate” you against Satan’s attempts to capture you and destroy your “health” – in every area of life. Trust God to know the right “prescription” for you and your circumstances...and never, ever let go of His power and presence! If Jesus needed God with Him...surely we do, as well. Who is your “Great Physician”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we think of “healing”, we think of some sort of physical illness or injury. But everywhere you look, people are in need of “healing” from all kinds of “ailments”. Students are struggling with homework assignments and concepts they can’t seem to grasp and retain. Parents are concerned about every aspect of the lives of their children. There are people struggling with bills, jobs, physical illnesses and injuries, loneliness, relationship issues, and grief. Seniors have a plethora of troubles related to aging and declining health. And we haven’t even mentioned those “sicknesses” that grip our headlines...abuse of children and spouses..., conflict and combat in American cities and on foreign soil...retaliatory beheadings and senseless brutality...and even natural disasters like drought, wildfires and flooding. We truly are a sick world in need of healing!
What struck me instantly about the scripture passage today was this sentence...”He was able to do all this because God was with him.” Even Jesus - the Great Healer and Physician - needed God’s power and presence. If Jesus Christ needed God with Him in order to be well and heal others, don’t you think we certainly need Him in our lives?
Let’s be honest...we can’t do this on our own or under our own power! The only way we even have a CHANCE is to embrace God and ask Him to wield His power in our lives. Our “healing” starts with a liberal dose of the anointing by God with the Holy Spirit - who will dwell in our heart and guide our steps. Again, if it was important for Jesus, it surely is vital for us!
Does this guarantee that we will have “smooth sailing?” Is this an instant “cure” for all that ails us? Yes...and NO! Think of it this way...if you have allergies, you take an antihistamine to alleviate the symptoms. This drug doesn’t remove your condition – but you are able to manage it. If something causes you pain - like a splinter in your hand or a broken toe - you determine the problem and take measures to address it. Sometimes these ailments or injuries can be fully cured and alleviated. At other times, we determine methods of coping with these challenges and relieving some of the symptoms.
This is how it is with God’s power and care. There are burdens and “ailments” that He will remove from you completely. In other cases, He will show you how to cope with your circumstances...and grow and learn from the experience. But God will never leave you to flounder and struggle without any hope of relief. He will never allow you to be completely beaten down by the devil.
So think about what “ails” you today. Consider the “sicknesses” of this world and how the devil attempts to beat us down each and every day. Then turn to God and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit...to “inoculate” you against Satan’s attempts to capture you and destroy your “health” – in every area of life. Trust God to know the right “prescription” for you and your circumstances...and never, ever let go of His power and presence! If Jesus needed God with Him...surely we do, as well. Who is your “Great Physician”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 13, 2014
1 John 5:14-15
We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“Can you hear me now?” We’re all familiar with this question and its pop-culture reference. But who among us has not asked some form of this question of God? Surely you have wondered at least once in your life whether He really heard you or not when you asked Him for something.
What about that time you needed help with your studies...your job...your bills...your health...your children...your relationships? What did you ask of Him? Did you ask Him to give you XYZ...did you give God a list of demands? Or did you come to God with a humble, trusting spirit and ask Him to do what He felt was best?
Do we say to God, “LORD, I need you to do this!” Or do we ask, “LORD, will you give me what you know that I need?” The first question reflects our will...the second reflects His...and there IS a difference!
One of the hardest things for Christians to master is the confidence to ask God for His will, rather than their own. It’s one thing to come to God and say, “I’m struggling with my bills...what should I do?” It’s quite another to say, “Lord, please pay my bills!” We can beseech God to “please heal me of this cancer”...but only if we add...”in YOUR way and in Your timing.” We must fully understand that God’s healing may not come in this earthly lifetime...and His answers may not be what we want to hear!
Many of us receive frequent prayer requests from others...and of course, we agree to pray. But rather than telling someone, “Yes, I will pray that you get pregnant, and you and your husband finally have the family you want,” or “Yes, I will pray that you are selected for that prestigious recognition you seek,” or “Yes, I will pray that you win the game/election/prize”...I tell them, “Yes, I will pray for you.” And I do...but I pray for God’s will in these situations...and for that person’s acceptance of His answers.
Here’s the thing...God wants us to solicit His time, attention and care...but He wants us to accept His methods and timetable. He hears us...He really does. But sometimes, what we ask for and what He knows to be best for us are entirely different things. Rather than give us what we want and deal with the potential perils and fallout, God occasionally appears to be silent. Take this as a sign. Carefully study your path and your motives, and make sure they are in line with God’s. I assure you that He is working on your behalf...but maybe not in the way you expected. Will you trust Him to do what He has said...to meet your needs...show you the right direction to take...to heal you completely?
You know that God hears and answers prayers that please Him. What are you asking of Him today? Do you need to change your attitude toward your petitions - and God’s answers? Do you have the right mindset to ask, “LORD...can you hear me now?”
©2014 Debbie Robus
We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“Can you hear me now?” We’re all familiar with this question and its pop-culture reference. But who among us has not asked some form of this question of God? Surely you have wondered at least once in your life whether He really heard you or not when you asked Him for something.
What about that time you needed help with your studies...your job...your bills...your health...your children...your relationships? What did you ask of Him? Did you ask Him to give you XYZ...did you give God a list of demands? Or did you come to God with a humble, trusting spirit and ask Him to do what He felt was best?
Do we say to God, “LORD, I need you to do this!” Or do we ask, “LORD, will you give me what you know that I need?” The first question reflects our will...the second reflects His...and there IS a difference!
One of the hardest things for Christians to master is the confidence to ask God for His will, rather than their own. It’s one thing to come to God and say, “I’m struggling with my bills...what should I do?” It’s quite another to say, “Lord, please pay my bills!” We can beseech God to “please heal me of this cancer”...but only if we add...”in YOUR way and in Your timing.” We must fully understand that God’s healing may not come in this earthly lifetime...and His answers may not be what we want to hear!
Many of us receive frequent prayer requests from others...and of course, we agree to pray. But rather than telling someone, “Yes, I will pray that you get pregnant, and you and your husband finally have the family you want,” or “Yes, I will pray that you are selected for that prestigious recognition you seek,” or “Yes, I will pray that you win the game/election/prize”...I tell them, “Yes, I will pray for you.” And I do...but I pray for God’s will in these situations...and for that person’s acceptance of His answers.
Here’s the thing...God wants us to solicit His time, attention and care...but He wants us to accept His methods and timetable. He hears us...He really does. But sometimes, what we ask for and what He knows to be best for us are entirely different things. Rather than give us what we want and deal with the potential perils and fallout, God occasionally appears to be silent. Take this as a sign. Carefully study your path and your motives, and make sure they are in line with God’s. I assure you that He is working on your behalf...but maybe not in the way you expected. Will you trust Him to do what He has said...to meet your needs...show you the right direction to take...to heal you completely?
You know that God hears and answers prayers that please Him. What are you asking of Him today? Do you need to change your attitude toward your petitions - and God’s answers? Do you have the right mindset to ask, “LORD...can you hear me now?”
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 2, 2014
Psalm 86:1-7
Bend down and hear my prayer, O Lord, and answer me, for I am deep in trouble.
Protect me from death, for I try to follow all your laws. Save me, for I am serving you and trusting you. Be merciful, O Lord, for I am looking up to you in constant hope. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I worship only you. O Lord, you are so good and kind, so ready to forgive, so full of mercy for all who ask your aid.
Listen closely to my prayer, O God. Hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever trouble strikes, and you will help me.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
We’re a couple of weeks into the school year...and already, you’re struggling to keep up in a class or two. The doctor just told you that you have a major illness and gave you treatment options to consider. You (or an elderly friend or loved one) are experiencing difficulty in managing your daily living on your own, and it may be time to consider getting some help or moving into a facility where assistance is available. Someone has betrayed you – at school, in the workplace, at church, or even at home – and you don’t quite know what to do with these feelings. Your aging pet is in constant pain or has become quite ill, and you must make a gut-wrenching choice about his/her life. A certain set of circumstances has resulted in your need to make major decisions that could potentially cost you dearly in terms of time, money, relationships, and more.
Every day, many of us face some pretty big challenges. They may not actually be “life or death” situations...but a lot of them will certainly feel like it! We will find ourselves at least whispering under our breath, “I am deep trouble.” We will call on God to help us...to relieve us of these issues and give us hope and happiness. And our merciful God hears our pleas...and He so wants to help.
Here’s the thing...we ask for help, and then we often tie God’s hands. We do this by not completely trusting Him to do what we have asked – and what He has promised. We say, “Lord, help me!” And then we act in a way that says, “I need Your help, but I’m not sure you really can provide it.” We wring our hands and wallow in our fears, disappointments, frustrations, and concerns...and God essentially folds His arms and asks, “Do you really want My help...or not?”
I get it! I do this, too. But I am determined to stop, because I am convinced that I block God’s answers and blessings, to some degree. I believe that there are times when we wonder why God has not given us clear answers or direction...and when you really take a hard look at the situation, you see that YOU were the roadblock. Think of a time when you have asked God to help you with something, and then all you did was “worry the problem to death” with talk and thoughts that clearly indicated that you did not truly trust Him to handle things.
We have to give God room to work. We have to step aside and let Him have control. Imagine that you are in one room, God is in another...and there is a door between you. God hears your pleas for help...but in order for Him to work, you have to step away from the doorway and allow Him to step through. You continue to stand at the door holding onto the handle, crying for help and wondering aloud just how this situation could possibly be resolved...what would be the best option...who you should consult or how you should proceed. All you have to do is step aside and let God come through the door, and He will handle everything – perfectly. But you have to move out of His way first.
Isn’t today the perfect day to step aside and allow God to “come through the door”? Aren’t you ready to experience his mercy, grace and compassion...to truly operate in the hope and happiness of allowing God to offer help and protection? Will you “let go and let God”...and feel the joy and peace that comes from trusting Him completely? Or will you continue to stand on “the other side of the door” and whisper, “Lord, I am in deep trouble.”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Bend down and hear my prayer, O Lord, and answer me, for I am deep in trouble.
Protect me from death, for I try to follow all your laws. Save me, for I am serving you and trusting you. Be merciful, O Lord, for I am looking up to you in constant hope. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I worship only you. O Lord, you are so good and kind, so ready to forgive, so full of mercy for all who ask your aid.
Listen closely to my prayer, O God. Hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever trouble strikes, and you will help me.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
We’re a couple of weeks into the school year...and already, you’re struggling to keep up in a class or two. The doctor just told you that you have a major illness and gave you treatment options to consider. You (or an elderly friend or loved one) are experiencing difficulty in managing your daily living on your own, and it may be time to consider getting some help or moving into a facility where assistance is available. Someone has betrayed you – at school, in the workplace, at church, or even at home – and you don’t quite know what to do with these feelings. Your aging pet is in constant pain or has become quite ill, and you must make a gut-wrenching choice about his/her life. A certain set of circumstances has resulted in your need to make major decisions that could potentially cost you dearly in terms of time, money, relationships, and more.
Every day, many of us face some pretty big challenges. They may not actually be “life or death” situations...but a lot of them will certainly feel like it! We will find ourselves at least whispering under our breath, “I am deep trouble.” We will call on God to help us...to relieve us of these issues and give us hope and happiness. And our merciful God hears our pleas...and He so wants to help.
Here’s the thing...we ask for help, and then we often tie God’s hands. We do this by not completely trusting Him to do what we have asked – and what He has promised. We say, “Lord, help me!” And then we act in a way that says, “I need Your help, but I’m not sure you really can provide it.” We wring our hands and wallow in our fears, disappointments, frustrations, and concerns...and God essentially folds His arms and asks, “Do you really want My help...or not?”
I get it! I do this, too. But I am determined to stop, because I am convinced that I block God’s answers and blessings, to some degree. I believe that there are times when we wonder why God has not given us clear answers or direction...and when you really take a hard look at the situation, you see that YOU were the roadblock. Think of a time when you have asked God to help you with something, and then all you did was “worry the problem to death” with talk and thoughts that clearly indicated that you did not truly trust Him to handle things.
We have to give God room to work. We have to step aside and let Him have control. Imagine that you are in one room, God is in another...and there is a door between you. God hears your pleas for help...but in order for Him to work, you have to step away from the doorway and allow Him to step through. You continue to stand at the door holding onto the handle, crying for help and wondering aloud just how this situation could possibly be resolved...what would be the best option...who you should consult or how you should proceed. All you have to do is step aside and let God come through the door, and He will handle everything – perfectly. But you have to move out of His way first.
Isn’t today the perfect day to step aside and allow God to “come through the door”? Aren’t you ready to experience his mercy, grace and compassion...to truly operate in the hope and happiness of allowing God to offer help and protection? Will you “let go and let God”...and feel the joy and peace that comes from trusting Him completely? Or will you continue to stand on “the other side of the door” and whisper, “Lord, I am in deep trouble.”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 26, 2014
2 Samuel 7:18-29
David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. Then he sat there and prayed:
Lord All-Powerful, my family and I don’t deserve what you have already done for us, and yet you have promised to do even more. Is this the way you usually treat people? I am your servant, and you know my thoughts, so there is nothing more that I need to say. You have done this wonderful thing, and you have let me know about it, because you wanted to keep your promise.
Lord All-Powerful, you are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true. And there is no other nation on earth like Israel, the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and their gods out of your land, so your people could live here. You have chosen Israel to be your people forever, and you have become their God.
And now, Lord God, please do what you have promised me and my descendants. Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, “The Lord God All-Powerful rules Israel, and David’s descendants are his chosen kings.” After all, you really are Israel’s God, the Lord All-Powerful. You’ve told me that you will let my descendants be kings. That’s why I have the courage to pray to you like this, even though I am only your servant.
Lord All-Powerful, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise. Please bless my descendants and let them always be your chosen kings. You have already promised, and I’m sure that you will bless my family forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep!” You have probably heard this adage or some form of it. And maybe you have heard this one…”You can tell a lot about a man by the promises he keeps – and breaks.” Both of these quotes have their basis in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5…”God doesn’t like fools. So don’t be slow to keep your promises to God. It’s better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it.”
I bet if you are honest, you’ve probably forgotten a lot of promises that were made to you and never kept. But over the course of your life, there are probably at least one or two promises you were given that never happened. And you remember this like it happened yesterday. I try to be very careful about promises – especially to my little ones. They have memories like elephants! If I promise that the next time they visit, we will make s’mores, they remind me. If I promise Owen that I will make him a surprise, his first question is, “What did you bring me?” Sometimes, they add…”But you promised!” Sometimes it is implied. Either way, I feel like I let them down – if even in a small way.
See, the trouble with “small” broken promises is that they have a way of mushrooming into big ones. It’s sort of like “little white lies”. Once you get comfortable telling them, you find it exponentially easier to lie about more significant things. The next thing you know, your life is anything but peaceful, as you struggle to remember who you told or promised what…and you wrestle to figure out how to get out of the mess you’ve created!
Thankfully, God never breaks a promise. So we need look no further than His word for countless examples of promises made…and kept. I love the verses in this passage where David tells God that “even though I am only your servant, I have the courage to pray to you like this,” because he knows that God has promised to hear his prayers – and to bless him and his family. David can truly “rest in the LORD” because He knows that God will never fail him.
Do you know this sort of “rest”? Do you believe in the steadfastness of God’s promises…the surety that He will never say one thing and then do another? Are you a faithful model of this in your own life? Are you a person of your word, or are you restless and irritable as you scramble to “keep all of the balls – and stories – in the air” in your relationships with others? Isn’t it time to lay aside all of the excuses, doubts and fears – and truly operate in a restful relationship of kept promises with God? Wouldn’t this be the perfect day to start? You won’t regret it…I promise!
©2014 Debbie Robus
David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. Then he sat there and prayed:
Lord All-Powerful, my family and I don’t deserve what you have already done for us, and yet you have promised to do even more. Is this the way you usually treat people? I am your servant, and you know my thoughts, so there is nothing more that I need to say. You have done this wonderful thing, and you have let me know about it, because you wanted to keep your promise.
Lord All-Powerful, you are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true. And there is no other nation on earth like Israel, the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and their gods out of your land, so your people could live here. You have chosen Israel to be your people forever, and you have become their God.
And now, Lord God, please do what you have promised me and my descendants. Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, “The Lord God All-Powerful rules Israel, and David’s descendants are his chosen kings.” After all, you really are Israel’s God, the Lord All-Powerful. You’ve told me that you will let my descendants be kings. That’s why I have the courage to pray to you like this, even though I am only your servant.
Lord All-Powerful, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise. Please bless my descendants and let them always be your chosen kings. You have already promised, and I’m sure that you will bless my family forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep!” You have probably heard this adage or some form of it. And maybe you have heard this one…”You can tell a lot about a man by the promises he keeps – and breaks.” Both of these quotes have their basis in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5…”God doesn’t like fools. So don’t be slow to keep your promises to God. It’s better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it.”
I bet if you are honest, you’ve probably forgotten a lot of promises that were made to you and never kept. But over the course of your life, there are probably at least one or two promises you were given that never happened. And you remember this like it happened yesterday. I try to be very careful about promises – especially to my little ones. They have memories like elephants! If I promise that the next time they visit, we will make s’mores, they remind me. If I promise Owen that I will make him a surprise, his first question is, “What did you bring me?” Sometimes, they add…”But you promised!” Sometimes it is implied. Either way, I feel like I let them down – if even in a small way.
See, the trouble with “small” broken promises is that they have a way of mushrooming into big ones. It’s sort of like “little white lies”. Once you get comfortable telling them, you find it exponentially easier to lie about more significant things. The next thing you know, your life is anything but peaceful, as you struggle to remember who you told or promised what…and you wrestle to figure out how to get out of the mess you’ve created!
Thankfully, God never breaks a promise. So we need look no further than His word for countless examples of promises made…and kept. I love the verses in this passage where David tells God that “even though I am only your servant, I have the courage to pray to you like this,” because he knows that God has promised to hear his prayers – and to bless him and his family. David can truly “rest in the LORD” because He knows that God will never fail him.
Do you know this sort of “rest”? Do you believe in the steadfastness of God’s promises…the surety that He will never say one thing and then do another? Are you a faithful model of this in your own life? Are you a person of your word, or are you restless and irritable as you scramble to “keep all of the balls – and stories – in the air” in your relationships with others? Isn’t it time to lay aside all of the excuses, doubts and fears – and truly operate in a restful relationship of kept promises with God? Wouldn’t this be the perfect day to start? You won’t regret it…I promise!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 30, 2013
Titus 1:1-2
From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.
I encourage God’s own people to have more faith and to understand the truth about religion. Then they will have the hope of eternal life that God promised long ago. And God never tells a lie!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Yesterday when I picked Timothy up, he said (as he often does), “I waited and waited for you to come, and I was worried that you weren’t coming!” I reminded him that his Uncle Greg and I will always come to get him when we say we will… that when we make a promise to him, we will not break it. He can trust us to keep our word. And for the record, I don’t think his mother even told him that we were coming after him until right before I arrived! But he always tells us that he waited and worried that we might not come. And I have to tell you…even if that is a manipulative ploy on the part of a 4-year-old boy… it tugs at my heart to think that he might actually fear that we won’t keep a promise.
As I read this passage and thought about Timothy’s comments, it struck me that God must feel much the same way. He has promised so much to us… and He would never lie to His children. So when we question and doubt… worry and wonder… it has to bother Him. And it also robs us of our hope, faith, confidence and peace.
So how can we combat this? Paul is very clear in his letter to Titus. He challenges us to understand God’s truths… which means to study His word, to spend time in communication with Him through prayer and meditation (listening for God’s voice), and to observe the words and actions of faith-filled Christian disciples in our midst. The old adage that “knowledge is power” has never been more profound than in this instance.
I reminded Timothy again yesterday that he never has to worry that we won’t come for him as promised… or that we will fail to keep any other promises we make to him. The timing may not be to his liking… and the circumstances may not line up perfectly with his expectations, but we will always respond. And God will also respond… to each of us who hopes, trusts, and believes in Him. As Timothy grows older, he will understand more about trust and who keeps their word and makes good on promises… including God. And as we study and understand more about God and the teachings of Jesus, the more our faith and hope will increase.
Are you studying and learning about God? Are you making efforts to increase your knowledge… and to grow your faith and hope in Him? Isn’t it time you did exactly this? As we move toward the New Year and make resolutions about everything under the sun, wouldn’t this be the perfect time to resolve to get to know God better? Will this be the year that you begin to really believe His promises for your life? Shouldn’t it be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.
I encourage God’s own people to have more faith and to understand the truth about religion. Then they will have the hope of eternal life that God promised long ago. And God never tells a lie!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Yesterday when I picked Timothy up, he said (as he often does), “I waited and waited for you to come, and I was worried that you weren’t coming!” I reminded him that his Uncle Greg and I will always come to get him when we say we will… that when we make a promise to him, we will not break it. He can trust us to keep our word. And for the record, I don’t think his mother even told him that we were coming after him until right before I arrived! But he always tells us that he waited and worried that we might not come. And I have to tell you…even if that is a manipulative ploy on the part of a 4-year-old boy… it tugs at my heart to think that he might actually fear that we won’t keep a promise.
As I read this passage and thought about Timothy’s comments, it struck me that God must feel much the same way. He has promised so much to us… and He would never lie to His children. So when we question and doubt… worry and wonder… it has to bother Him. And it also robs us of our hope, faith, confidence and peace.
So how can we combat this? Paul is very clear in his letter to Titus. He challenges us to understand God’s truths… which means to study His word, to spend time in communication with Him through prayer and meditation (listening for God’s voice), and to observe the words and actions of faith-filled Christian disciples in our midst. The old adage that “knowledge is power” has never been more profound than in this instance.
I reminded Timothy again yesterday that he never has to worry that we won’t come for him as promised… or that we will fail to keep any other promises we make to him. The timing may not be to his liking… and the circumstances may not line up perfectly with his expectations, but we will always respond. And God will also respond… to each of us who hopes, trusts, and believes in Him. As Timothy grows older, he will understand more about trust and who keeps their word and makes good on promises… including God. And as we study and understand more about God and the teachings of Jesus, the more our faith and hope will increase.
Are you studying and learning about God? Are you making efforts to increase your knowledge… and to grow your faith and hope in Him? Isn’t it time you did exactly this? As we move toward the New Year and make resolutions about everything under the sun, wouldn’t this be the perfect time to resolve to get to know God better? Will this be the year that you begin to really believe His promises for your life? Shouldn’t it be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 12, 2013
Numbers 23:19
God is no mere human!
He doesn’t tell lies
or change his mind.
God always keeps his promises.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy has a memory like an elephant! Last year after Christmas, I inadvertently erased “Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer” from our DVR. In the nearly 12-months since, he has mentioned it every time he visited… “You’re going to record Rudolph again… and you’re NOT going to erase it this time… RIGHT?” I have assured him that I would do this. So when the iconic children’s program aired last week on a local channel, I was ready! And when he visits later this week, I am quite certain that we will watch “Rudolph” more than once!
We try to keep our promises to Timothy and his siblings. But there have been times when we told them they could visit… or that we would go to the park to play…or that we would watch one more episode of a program on televisions… and things just did not work out the way we had hoped. We can’t control illness, icy weather, and other unexpected interruptions that are simply a part of mortal life.
As this scripture passage emphasizes… God is no mere human! Unexpected interruptions are not in His wheelhouse! He doesn’t change His mind or make promises He cannot – or will not – keep! So when we read in the word of God that He will hear our prayers… and answer them… we can take that to the bank! When we hear God telling us, “I am not going to desert you. I’ve got this!”… we can believe it! When Jesus tells us that He has gone to prepare a place for us…with “many mansions” and streets of gold, we who have made Him the LORD of our life can trust that this is most assuredly in our future! You may live in a shanty in this life…but Baby, you’re destined for opulence in Paradise!
Each one of us is at a totally different point today. For some, life is on an even keel and everything is seems incredibly positive and peaceful. I know people who are looking forward to a wedding in coming months… others who are anticipating the arrival of a precious new baby…and folks who just got an exciting new job, a promotion, a new house, or a clean bill of health - and a “new lease on life” in the bargain! For others, the road is rocky and uncertain. I have friends who have openly admitted on Facebook that they are reminding themselves to breathe and put one foot in front of the other. I know people who would give anything to hear that a baby is in their future, and still others who wish they would receive a “forever home”. Some wish that a serious diagnosis – or a foreclosure bill – had never been delivered. Many in our community face a plant closing the end of this year and the loss of their employment… and all of the ramifications that come with it.
Wherever you are today… whatever is happening in your life…God is with you. He is fulfilling His promises… orchestrating the outcomes…and working on your mansion! He won’t change His mind… He will not abandon you…He will never make promises and fail to keep them! I know I sound like a broken record on this sometimes, but many of us need to hear this… several times a day! We need to imprint it on our hearts and minds and remind ourselves of these words often! We need to remember to breathe and put one foot in front of the other in the hard times… to be grateful and humble in the good times…and to remember that God is with us through all of them!
This is a message of hope! God will NEVER “erase the program on the DVR” or forget to do what He has promised. God will never have an excuse…He is forever and ever the REAL DEAL! Do you trust Him? Do you believe His word over your life? Are you confident that God is working on your mansion… and numbering every step of your life in the meantime? Will this be the day that you ask Him to remind you of His hand in your life? Will you begin to live with hope and confidence? Isn’t it this a great time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God is no mere human!
He doesn’t tell lies
or change his mind.
God always keeps his promises.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy has a memory like an elephant! Last year after Christmas, I inadvertently erased “Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer” from our DVR. In the nearly 12-months since, he has mentioned it every time he visited… “You’re going to record Rudolph again… and you’re NOT going to erase it this time… RIGHT?” I have assured him that I would do this. So when the iconic children’s program aired last week on a local channel, I was ready! And when he visits later this week, I am quite certain that we will watch “Rudolph” more than once!
We try to keep our promises to Timothy and his siblings. But there have been times when we told them they could visit… or that we would go to the park to play…or that we would watch one more episode of a program on televisions… and things just did not work out the way we had hoped. We can’t control illness, icy weather, and other unexpected interruptions that are simply a part of mortal life.
As this scripture passage emphasizes… God is no mere human! Unexpected interruptions are not in His wheelhouse! He doesn’t change His mind or make promises He cannot – or will not – keep! So when we read in the word of God that He will hear our prayers… and answer them… we can take that to the bank! When we hear God telling us, “I am not going to desert you. I’ve got this!”… we can believe it! When Jesus tells us that He has gone to prepare a place for us…with “many mansions” and streets of gold, we who have made Him the LORD of our life can trust that this is most assuredly in our future! You may live in a shanty in this life…but Baby, you’re destined for opulence in Paradise!
Each one of us is at a totally different point today. For some, life is on an even keel and everything is seems incredibly positive and peaceful. I know people who are looking forward to a wedding in coming months… others who are anticipating the arrival of a precious new baby…and folks who just got an exciting new job, a promotion, a new house, or a clean bill of health - and a “new lease on life” in the bargain! For others, the road is rocky and uncertain. I have friends who have openly admitted on Facebook that they are reminding themselves to breathe and put one foot in front of the other. I know people who would give anything to hear that a baby is in their future, and still others who wish they would receive a “forever home”. Some wish that a serious diagnosis – or a foreclosure bill – had never been delivered. Many in our community face a plant closing the end of this year and the loss of their employment… and all of the ramifications that come with it.
Wherever you are today… whatever is happening in your life…God is with you. He is fulfilling His promises… orchestrating the outcomes…and working on your mansion! He won’t change His mind… He will not abandon you…He will never make promises and fail to keep them! I know I sound like a broken record on this sometimes, but many of us need to hear this… several times a day! We need to imprint it on our hearts and minds and remind ourselves of these words often! We need to remember to breathe and put one foot in front of the other in the hard times… to be grateful and humble in the good times…and to remember that God is with us through all of them!
This is a message of hope! God will NEVER “erase the program on the DVR” or forget to do what He has promised. God will never have an excuse…He is forever and ever the REAL DEAL! Do you trust Him? Do you believe His word over your life? Are you confident that God is working on your mansion… and numbering every step of your life in the meantime? Will this be the day that you ask Him to remind you of His hand in your life? Will you begin to live with hope and confidence? Isn’t it this a great time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 4, 2013
Hebrews 6:13-20
When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, “I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!” Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.
We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.
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.
Nearly 35 years ago, Greg and I were living north of Russellville, Arkansas, in a rural area known as Linker Mountain. I had taken up jogging, and I would go for my daily run in the evenings after work. My route was along the road in front of our house… a seldom-traveled stretch that climbed up the “mountain” and looped around. I scaled a couple of pretty steep stretches before turning around and descending. It was a really good workout!
One evening I got a somewhat late start, and darkness began to settle in as I neared my last peak. A car came along and passed me… then the driver stopped and began to back up toward me. I am sure that this person probably wanted to ask if I was okay, but it really spooked me…and I just froze. I wanted to yell… tried to yell…but nothing came out of my mouth. And then I began to run… no, SPRINT… toward home. In my mind, I was running for my very life toward the safety and sanctuary of our house… and Greg.
The people in the car didn’t know where I lived. They didn’t know that I had someone waiting for me inside one of the handful of homes scattered along that road. But I knew that I could run straight through the door of our house to the shelter of a husband who would protect me! As I ran away from the car, the driver changed course and headed on up the hill and away from me… and ultimately, all was well.
I should have been a little better prepared. Because I was so close to home, I was overly confident. This was before cell phones were popular. I should have had a whistle or some other security devise with me – at least a flashlight, maybe. I trusted the safety and security of my home and Greg… but at the exact instant this happened, neither were within reach!
I’m sure I overreacted, but I was truly shaken. And if you are honest, there have been at least a few times when you have experienced something that shook you… rattled your cage… knocked you off balance. Where did you turn? Who did you trust? Even today, do you have an unbreakable spiritual lifeline with God? Do you have His promised hope and the assurance that gives you every reason to run for your very life toward God, grab Him with both hands and never let go? Are you truly prepared for whatever life throws your way?
This is not just idle talk. A lot of people SAY they have this kind of relationship with God… an unbreakable hope in His promises. But talk is cheap and doesn’t get you very far in a faith walk. You have to have some meat and muscle behind it. You have to know that you know that you KNOW that God’s promises concerning your life… and His power and authority over it… are rock-solid and above reproach! Sadly, many won’t truly know this until they are tested in some way… and for some of us, this can be a painful and costly lesson.
I hope you are not one of those who has to “learn by example.” I pray that you can truly grasp the integrity and power of God’s promises… that you can sincerely and wholeheartedly put your hope and trust in Him NOW… once and for all… that you are already hanging on with both hands to God and will never let Him go… that you are truly prepared for whatever “life” and the devil try to toss in your direction. Otherwise, you are pretty well running uphill in the dark… and subject to whatever potential troubles may come along.
It doesn’t have to be this way. God cannot lie. He has vowed to protect us… and to bless us. Since God does not lie, He cannot break these vows. There is no other about whom you can truly say the same. So what are you waiting for? Grab hold of God with both hands and NEVER EVER let Him go. Cling to His spiritual lifeline and operate each and every day in the hope of His love and care.
©2013 Debbie Robus
When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, “I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!” Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.
We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.
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.
Nearly 35 years ago, Greg and I were living north of Russellville, Arkansas, in a rural area known as Linker Mountain. I had taken up jogging, and I would go for my daily run in the evenings after work. My route was along the road in front of our house… a seldom-traveled stretch that climbed up the “mountain” and looped around. I scaled a couple of pretty steep stretches before turning around and descending. It was a really good workout!
One evening I got a somewhat late start, and darkness began to settle in as I neared my last peak. A car came along and passed me… then the driver stopped and began to back up toward me. I am sure that this person probably wanted to ask if I was okay, but it really spooked me…and I just froze. I wanted to yell… tried to yell…but nothing came out of my mouth. And then I began to run… no, SPRINT… toward home. In my mind, I was running for my very life toward the safety and sanctuary of our house… and Greg.
The people in the car didn’t know where I lived. They didn’t know that I had someone waiting for me inside one of the handful of homes scattered along that road. But I knew that I could run straight through the door of our house to the shelter of a husband who would protect me! As I ran away from the car, the driver changed course and headed on up the hill and away from me… and ultimately, all was well.
I should have been a little better prepared. Because I was so close to home, I was overly confident. This was before cell phones were popular. I should have had a whistle or some other security devise with me – at least a flashlight, maybe. I trusted the safety and security of my home and Greg… but at the exact instant this happened, neither were within reach!
I’m sure I overreacted, but I was truly shaken. And if you are honest, there have been at least a few times when you have experienced something that shook you… rattled your cage… knocked you off balance. Where did you turn? Who did you trust? Even today, do you have an unbreakable spiritual lifeline with God? Do you have His promised hope and the assurance that gives you every reason to run for your very life toward God, grab Him with both hands and never let go? Are you truly prepared for whatever life throws your way?
This is not just idle talk. A lot of people SAY they have this kind of relationship with God… an unbreakable hope in His promises. But talk is cheap and doesn’t get you very far in a faith walk. You have to have some meat and muscle behind it. You have to know that you know that you KNOW that God’s promises concerning your life… and His power and authority over it… are rock-solid and above reproach! Sadly, many won’t truly know this until they are tested in some way… and for some of us, this can be a painful and costly lesson.
I hope you are not one of those who has to “learn by example.” I pray that you can truly grasp the integrity and power of God’s promises… that you can sincerely and wholeheartedly put your hope and trust in Him NOW… once and for all… that you are already hanging on with both hands to God and will never let Him go… that you are truly prepared for whatever “life” and the devil try to toss in your direction. Otherwise, you are pretty well running uphill in the dark… and subject to whatever potential troubles may come along.
It doesn’t have to be this way. God cannot lie. He has vowed to protect us… and to bless us. Since God does not lie, He cannot break these vows. There is no other about whom you can truly say the same. So what are you waiting for? Grab hold of God with both hands and NEVER EVER let Him go. Cling to His spiritual lifeline and operate each and every day in the hope of His love and care.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 30, 2013
Hebrews 10:22-25
So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Every year of our 39+-year marriage – except maybe two of them – we’ve decorated our house for Christmas. One year I had surgery right before Thanksgiving, and I don’t think we even put up a tree. Another year, we were moving, and everything was in boxes. But aside from that, I think we have put up at least a small tree and gotten out some lights and decorations every single year… even in years when we truly weren’t in the mood.
I can tell you… decorating for Christmas is a lot of work… especially at our house! (HUGE nod to Greg for carrying most of the heavy boxes and our big tree down the stairs!) But it is also an act of love… for each other and for others who will visit our home this holiday season. Call it a way of making ourselves “presentable inside and out”…because there is a whole lot more going on with Christmas decorating and festivities than putting up a tree and getting out some decorations.
My friend John Birdsong noted last night how he and his family had spent the day decorating… and reminiscing. Each decoration held some memory or personal meaning for them. His wife Belinda - a school teacher far longer than I was - hung ornaments she had been given by former students. They put out nativities that they had purchased when the kids were little. And they laughed and smiled and remembered the hows/wheres/whens of these precious mementos that warm their home and encourage love and goodwill. And we’ve been doing the same thing.
There are sweet memories attached to many of our pieces. And even some of the newer ones are taking on a special meaning. As I sat out an inexpensive wooden snowman yesterday, I remembered how Timothy has loved to play with it these last few Christmases. It was one of several decorations that I knew he couldn’t break and would enjoy, so I set them on a low shelf for him to reach. I hung plastic and non-breakable ornaments on a little fiber-optic tree that twinkles and blinks. I picked it up at an estate sale for a dollar… so it’s nothing special. But when I remember how it makes the children’s eyes dance with delight, that tree is worth 100 times what I paid - or more.
There are ornaments on our tree that my Mam-ma Polly made – her felt birds, quilted “pillows” made from Santa faces I cross-stitched the Christmas my grandparents’ house burned, and a crocheted “doily” ornament that holds a picture of my grandparents and my dad when he was about four or five. There are nativities I have collected over the years... several given to me by loved ones, and others purchased at estate sales of friends I knew and loved. There is the trunk that belonged to Greg’s grandfather… laden with Christmas needlework I have done, vintage Santas, and a little ceramic Christmas tree that twinkles in the corner. And before Christmas Eve, Greg will put out twinkling “reindeer” in the front yard… a gift to me one Christmas - now a promise to the children that the reindeer who “went back to the North Pole” would return again at Christmas time. He’ll also set out a large plywood Santa that his dad cut out for us more than two decades ago. We painted the features to create a replica of the Santa that stood in the Robus family’s yard when Greg was a child.
I could continue my description of holiday traditions that we will continue. We could also just say, “Forget it!” and not do them! But Christmas is the season of hope… and in that spirit, we decorate and celebrate all over again each year. As we enter into the days of Advent, hear this message…Christmas is not the end, but the beginning… the reminder many of us need to keep putting one foot ahead of the other and moving forward. We were given a tremendous gift when Jesus Christ was born. While the true meaning of His life on earth is revealed in the story of Easter and His resurrection…it starts with His birth. God’s gift of Jesus on that starry night represents the promise of eternal salvation. That’s enough to keep me going… wouldn’t you agree?
Moreover, we have an incredible opportunity in the coming days to practice demonstrating Christ’s love to others… being the “real deal” for Jesus inside and out…worshipping together… and being inventive as we encourage others and help them. Then we can spend the other eleven months of the year putting our “practice” to good use. Maybe… just maybe… we can keep a spirit of hope in Jesus Christ alive past our earthly “Big Day”! Because you see… this is not where the story ends… it’s where it begins. The ultimate BIG DAY still lies ahead… when we meet Jesus face-to-face and spend the rest of eternity with Him.
So let’s decorate… let’s celebrate… let’s encourage and assist and demonstrate Christ’s love with gusto! Let’s operate in hope on the inside and outside… and make it as natural to our lives as breathing. Pour a cup of hot cocoa or spiced tea…put on your Christmas music…and get busy spreading hope in Jesus Christ as you “decorate” your life for the BIG DAY! He is coming… will you be ready?
©2013 Debbie Robus
So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Every year of our 39+-year marriage – except maybe two of them – we’ve decorated our house for Christmas. One year I had surgery right before Thanksgiving, and I don’t think we even put up a tree. Another year, we were moving, and everything was in boxes. But aside from that, I think we have put up at least a small tree and gotten out some lights and decorations every single year… even in years when we truly weren’t in the mood.
I can tell you… decorating for Christmas is a lot of work… especially at our house! (HUGE nod to Greg for carrying most of the heavy boxes and our big tree down the stairs!) But it is also an act of love… for each other and for others who will visit our home this holiday season. Call it a way of making ourselves “presentable inside and out”…because there is a whole lot more going on with Christmas decorating and festivities than putting up a tree and getting out some decorations.
My friend John Birdsong noted last night how he and his family had spent the day decorating… and reminiscing. Each decoration held some memory or personal meaning for them. His wife Belinda - a school teacher far longer than I was - hung ornaments she had been given by former students. They put out nativities that they had purchased when the kids were little. And they laughed and smiled and remembered the hows/wheres/whens of these precious mementos that warm their home and encourage love and goodwill. And we’ve been doing the same thing.
There are sweet memories attached to many of our pieces. And even some of the newer ones are taking on a special meaning. As I sat out an inexpensive wooden snowman yesterday, I remembered how Timothy has loved to play with it these last few Christmases. It was one of several decorations that I knew he couldn’t break and would enjoy, so I set them on a low shelf for him to reach. I hung plastic and non-breakable ornaments on a little fiber-optic tree that twinkles and blinks. I picked it up at an estate sale for a dollar… so it’s nothing special. But when I remember how it makes the children’s eyes dance with delight, that tree is worth 100 times what I paid - or more.
There are ornaments on our tree that my Mam-ma Polly made – her felt birds, quilted “pillows” made from Santa faces I cross-stitched the Christmas my grandparents’ house burned, and a crocheted “doily” ornament that holds a picture of my grandparents and my dad when he was about four or five. There are nativities I have collected over the years... several given to me by loved ones, and others purchased at estate sales of friends I knew and loved. There is the trunk that belonged to Greg’s grandfather… laden with Christmas needlework I have done, vintage Santas, and a little ceramic Christmas tree that twinkles in the corner. And before Christmas Eve, Greg will put out twinkling “reindeer” in the front yard… a gift to me one Christmas - now a promise to the children that the reindeer who “went back to the North Pole” would return again at Christmas time. He’ll also set out a large plywood Santa that his dad cut out for us more than two decades ago. We painted the features to create a replica of the Santa that stood in the Robus family’s yard when Greg was a child.
I could continue my description of holiday traditions that we will continue. We could also just say, “Forget it!” and not do them! But Christmas is the season of hope… and in that spirit, we decorate and celebrate all over again each year. As we enter into the days of Advent, hear this message…Christmas is not the end, but the beginning… the reminder many of us need to keep putting one foot ahead of the other and moving forward. We were given a tremendous gift when Jesus Christ was born. While the true meaning of His life on earth is revealed in the story of Easter and His resurrection…it starts with His birth. God’s gift of Jesus on that starry night represents the promise of eternal salvation. That’s enough to keep me going… wouldn’t you agree?
Moreover, we have an incredible opportunity in the coming days to practice demonstrating Christ’s love to others… being the “real deal” for Jesus inside and out…worshipping together… and being inventive as we encourage others and help them. Then we can spend the other eleven months of the year putting our “practice” to good use. Maybe… just maybe… we can keep a spirit of hope in Jesus Christ alive past our earthly “Big Day”! Because you see… this is not where the story ends… it’s where it begins. The ultimate BIG DAY still lies ahead… when we meet Jesus face-to-face and spend the rest of eternity with Him.
So let’s decorate… let’s celebrate… let’s encourage and assist and demonstrate Christ’s love with gusto! Let’s operate in hope on the inside and outside… and make it as natural to our lives as breathing. Pour a cup of hot cocoa or spiced tea…put on your Christmas music…and get busy spreading hope in Jesus Christ as you “decorate” your life for the BIG DAY! He is coming… will you be ready?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 26, 2013
Acts 24:14-15
“But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.
I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
If you go to Acts 14 and start reading forward, you will see that the Apostle Paul had been brought to Caesarea to stand trial before Governor Felix. He was accused of being a leader in the "Nazarene cult". And while Paul pled his case with Felix – and actually gained some ground – Felix ultimately deferred to others and chose to leave Paul in prison. Imagine how Paul must have felt. He knew where he stood… he was confident in his beliefs – hopeful and faithful that God would sustain him. And he also knew that deep down in their souls, Felix and others knew the truth, too. Still, they chose to allow Paul to be persecuted and imprisoned.
Haven’t you felt that way at one time or another? Do you know what it’s like to plead your case with others and get nowhere… to know that you both know the truth…but everything continues to go painfully wrong? My church’s bishop, Gary Mueller, posted this timely note today on Facebook. Hear his words and let them soak deeply into your soul…
©2013 Debbie Robus
“But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.
I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
If you go to Acts 14 and start reading forward, you will see that the Apostle Paul had been brought to Caesarea to stand trial before Governor Felix. He was accused of being a leader in the "Nazarene cult". And while Paul pled his case with Felix – and actually gained some ground – Felix ultimately deferred to others and chose to leave Paul in prison. Imagine how Paul must have felt. He knew where he stood… he was confident in his beliefs – hopeful and faithful that God would sustain him. And he also knew that deep down in their souls, Felix and others knew the truth, too. Still, they chose to allow Paul to be persecuted and imprisoned.
Haven’t you felt that way at one time or another? Do you know what it’s like to plead your case with others and get nowhere… to know that you both know the truth…but everything continues to go painfully wrong? My church’s bishop, Gary Mueller, posted this timely note today on Facebook. Hear his words and let them soak deeply into your soul…
“There’s probably something going on in your life right now so broken and painful you’re just not sure how things are going to work out. In fact, you’re not even sure if they are going to work out. All you know is that you would do almost anything to make things better. But you’ve already done everything you know how to do. And nothing’s worked – nothing at all.I cannot say it any better. We have the Biblical example of Paul’s faith, hope and perseverance. We have these words of encouragement… and we know deep in our hearts that they are true. God is at work right now… all will be well… we can count on Him to bring something new out of what is going on. And we know that the outcome will be perfect! Are you operating in God’s real hope today? Isn’t it time you did?
Don’t lose hope…because you can claim hope even in your moment of deepest despair. This isn’t pie-in-the-sky, God’s-going-to-miraculously-fix-it-and-everything’s-exactly-the-way-God-wants-it hope. It’s God’s real hope…in real life…for real people. It’s based on the reality that nothing will ever separate you from God’s love. That God is at work right now bringing something new out of what’s going on…and that all will be well.
So claim God’s hope right now. Hang onto it. And never let go.” ©2013 ~ Bishop Gary Mueller ~ http://www.arumc.org
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 23, 2013
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
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.
On NBC’s The Biggest Loser, there is a lot of discussion about what is taking place with contestants… both “on the outside” and internally. The coaches will readily point out that a mental shift is as important to permanent weight loss as the physical work. So when a contestant exercises vigorously all week and eats a careful diet… and then shows a very small reduction on the scale – or sometimes no weight loss at all – the coach is quick to note that we cannot always “see” the success that is taking place. Progress may still have been made… particularly in the form of an attitude adjustment. The primary focus is not on how many pounds are lost in any given week… but on what will be the final – and hopefully lasting – result. And the hope of making great strides in the long term is what keeps everyone from giving up.
In my lifetime, there have been many situations where I felt like things were falling apart on the outside… but I could not see the “new life” God was creating on the inside. When I taught a junior high Sunday school class, I came home discouraged most Sundays. I felt as if the kids didn’t understand what I was sharing with them… or care. People told me over and again, “You may never know the seeds you have planted.” There were similar feelings with some of my kindergarten and first grade students. Did I really teach them anything? Did God really use me to make a difference in their lives? Over time, I am realizing that the answer is a resounding… “YES!”
Some of the “results” are still questionable… while others are readily visible. I’ve reconnected with many of my students in recent years, particularly via Facebook. To see all that they have accomplished…to witness how they have developed into productive, upstanding, faith-filled adults... to hear them say, “I remember when you taught us this or that – or when we did such-and-such”… to hear a student say, “I was incredibly blessed to have a Sunday school teacher who cared so much for me and my classmates”…this tells me that something went right. God’s grace unfolds before me as I see how He has worked in these young lives.
In other situations, I am still waiting on answers and results… and I bet you are, too. Not everything in life will turn out like we anticipate or in the timetable we desire… and there will be plenty of times when we want to throw up our hands and say, “I simply cannot take this anymore.” But we must never give up! We must keep on listening for God’s wisdom and guidance… and doing what He wants us to do. We must trust Him to make the difference… to turn these “small potatoes hard times” into lavish good times through His amazing grace. We must have hope… and we must have it abundantly!
If we never physically “see” results from our efforts, we must have confidence that they still exist. If the scale never shows that we have lost an ounce, yet we are more fit and healthy than ever - and working hard to stay that way - we must trust that God’s not done with us yet. We must hope and wait on Him… and trust that what we can’t see is most certainly in the works – and built to last forever. Do you have this kind of hope in God’s power and promises? I'm not giving up... are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
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.
On NBC’s The Biggest Loser, there is a lot of discussion about what is taking place with contestants… both “on the outside” and internally. The coaches will readily point out that a mental shift is as important to permanent weight loss as the physical work. So when a contestant exercises vigorously all week and eats a careful diet… and then shows a very small reduction on the scale – or sometimes no weight loss at all – the coach is quick to note that we cannot always “see” the success that is taking place. Progress may still have been made… particularly in the form of an attitude adjustment. The primary focus is not on how many pounds are lost in any given week… but on what will be the final – and hopefully lasting – result. And the hope of making great strides in the long term is what keeps everyone from giving up.
In my lifetime, there have been many situations where I felt like things were falling apart on the outside… but I could not see the “new life” God was creating on the inside. When I taught a junior high Sunday school class, I came home discouraged most Sundays. I felt as if the kids didn’t understand what I was sharing with them… or care. People told me over and again, “You may never know the seeds you have planted.” There were similar feelings with some of my kindergarten and first grade students. Did I really teach them anything? Did God really use me to make a difference in their lives? Over time, I am realizing that the answer is a resounding… “YES!”
Some of the “results” are still questionable… while others are readily visible. I’ve reconnected with many of my students in recent years, particularly via Facebook. To see all that they have accomplished…to witness how they have developed into productive, upstanding, faith-filled adults... to hear them say, “I remember when you taught us this or that – or when we did such-and-such”… to hear a student say, “I was incredibly blessed to have a Sunday school teacher who cared so much for me and my classmates”…this tells me that something went right. God’s grace unfolds before me as I see how He has worked in these young lives.
In other situations, I am still waiting on answers and results… and I bet you are, too. Not everything in life will turn out like we anticipate or in the timetable we desire… and there will be plenty of times when we want to throw up our hands and say, “I simply cannot take this anymore.” But we must never give up! We must keep on listening for God’s wisdom and guidance… and doing what He wants us to do. We must trust Him to make the difference… to turn these “small potatoes hard times” into lavish good times through His amazing grace. We must have hope… and we must have it abundantly!
If we never physically “see” results from our efforts, we must have confidence that they still exist. If the scale never shows that we have lost an ounce, yet we are more fit and healthy than ever - and working hard to stay that way - we must trust that God’s not done with us yet. We must hope and wait on Him… and trust that what we can’t see is most certainly in the works – and built to last forever. Do you have this kind of hope in God’s power and promises? I'm not giving up... are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 12, 2013
Deuteronomy 30:9-10
“The Lord your God will then make you successful in everything you do. He will give you many children and numerous livestock, and he will cause your fields to produce abundant harvests, for the Lord will again delight in being good to you as he was to your ancestors. The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Friends of ours have just sold their house and pretty much everything in it, bought a motorhome and car to tow behind, and made plans to “hit the road”! Every day, countless people across the country sell or give away virtually all that they own, buy an RV (recreational vehicle) and begin traveling America’s highways. At the very least, many of them downsize tremendously… pare their belongings to just what will fit into less than 350 square feet of living space… and trade a conventional lifestyle for the lure of travel, adventure, and a relatively simpler way of life. This can be a daunting choice… but for some, it’s an easy one. For others, the thought of giving up all of their “stuff,” leaving their home and virtually starting over is just too much. It seems difficult, fraught with challenges, and downright fearful.
A lot of people go through the same struggles as they wrestle with the thought of giving up an old, sin-filled life and choosing to live for Jesus. It’s tough to set aside deep-rooted lifestyles… long-time friends…and “fun” habits. The fear of the unknown looms large on the horizon. Will it be as good as promised? Will there truly be abundance, blessings, and delights? Or will serving God be boring, lonely, and sad? This is a question thousands have asked… and one that exponentially more will ask in the days/weeks/years to come. There is no “crystal ball” to see into the future and know for sure that what God has promised will come true. That’s why it’s called “FAITH!”
So how do you know what to choose? How do you know with anything in life? In a lot of cases, you talk to people who have already made a choice. You ask them about the challenges… the “pros and cons”… you get a “testimonial” for how their lives have been since they made the move. This applies to everything from picking a college – or fraternity or sorority – to choosing a career, deciding who to marry, having children, buying a house and/or car… and yes… choosing whether to follow Jesus. There is no shame in asking around and talking to those with experience. Having all the facts before you make a choice is a wise move.
In the end, I hope you will find that those who have chosen to serve God shore up your confidence and build your faith. I hope that those of us who have chosen Jesus serve as active examples of His abundance, blessings, and the joy of living for Him. I pray that you decide to “downsize” your baggage and lighten your load… to step out and take a chance on Jesus and all that He offers.
Anyone who has ever owned an RV will tell you that, “the minute you leave your driveway, something will go wrong.” It’s part of the lifestyle. RVing, like most things in life, is not 100% smooth sailing. There are challenges, breakdowns, limits to how much you can carry, and more. But most take these in stride and rely on a strong support network in the RVing community and industry to keep the wheels turning… just as we Christians rely on our Heavenly Father to help us through any and all challenges we encounter.
So whaddya say? Are you ready to take a giant leap of faith and serve God with your whole heart? If you’re already a Christian, can you truly say you are “all in” for Jesus? Do you need to recommit to serving Him completely – to say, “LORD, here I am, ready to give my heart fully to you and receive all that you are offering!”? Isn’t this the perfect time to “hit the road” with God and see where He takes you? Will this be the day you start your new adventure with Him?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“The Lord your God will then make you successful in everything you do. He will give you many children and numerous livestock, and he will cause your fields to produce abundant harvests, for the Lord will again delight in being good to you as he was to your ancestors. The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Friends of ours have just sold their house and pretty much everything in it, bought a motorhome and car to tow behind, and made plans to “hit the road”! Every day, countless people across the country sell or give away virtually all that they own, buy an RV (recreational vehicle) and begin traveling America’s highways. At the very least, many of them downsize tremendously… pare their belongings to just what will fit into less than 350 square feet of living space… and trade a conventional lifestyle for the lure of travel, adventure, and a relatively simpler way of life. This can be a daunting choice… but for some, it’s an easy one. For others, the thought of giving up all of their “stuff,” leaving their home and virtually starting over is just too much. It seems difficult, fraught with challenges, and downright fearful.
A lot of people go through the same struggles as they wrestle with the thought of giving up an old, sin-filled life and choosing to live for Jesus. It’s tough to set aside deep-rooted lifestyles… long-time friends…and “fun” habits. The fear of the unknown looms large on the horizon. Will it be as good as promised? Will there truly be abundance, blessings, and delights? Or will serving God be boring, lonely, and sad? This is a question thousands have asked… and one that exponentially more will ask in the days/weeks/years to come. There is no “crystal ball” to see into the future and know for sure that what God has promised will come true. That’s why it’s called “FAITH!”
So how do you know what to choose? How do you know with anything in life? In a lot of cases, you talk to people who have already made a choice. You ask them about the challenges… the “pros and cons”… you get a “testimonial” for how their lives have been since they made the move. This applies to everything from picking a college – or fraternity or sorority – to choosing a career, deciding who to marry, having children, buying a house and/or car… and yes… choosing whether to follow Jesus. There is no shame in asking around and talking to those with experience. Having all the facts before you make a choice is a wise move.
In the end, I hope you will find that those who have chosen to serve God shore up your confidence and build your faith. I hope that those of us who have chosen Jesus serve as active examples of His abundance, blessings, and the joy of living for Him. I pray that you decide to “downsize” your baggage and lighten your load… to step out and take a chance on Jesus and all that He offers.
Anyone who has ever owned an RV will tell you that, “the minute you leave your driveway, something will go wrong.” It’s part of the lifestyle. RVing, like most things in life, is not 100% smooth sailing. There are challenges, breakdowns, limits to how much you can carry, and more. But most take these in stride and rely on a strong support network in the RVing community and industry to keep the wheels turning… just as we Christians rely on our Heavenly Father to help us through any and all challenges we encounter.
So whaddya say? Are you ready to take a giant leap of faith and serve God with your whole heart? If you’re already a Christian, can you truly say you are “all in” for Jesus? Do you need to recommit to serving Him completely – to say, “LORD, here I am, ready to give my heart fully to you and receive all that you are offering!”? Isn’t this the perfect time to “hit the road” with God and see where He takes you? Will this be the day you start your new adventure with Him?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 18, 2013
Psalm 17:15
I am innocent, Lord, and I will see your face! When I awake, all I want is to see you as you are.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy and I lay down last night to read stories and prepare for bed. He asked me several questions about “when I wake up”… when he woke up, would we go to church? (yes!)… when he woke up, could he play with his toys again? (absolutely!)… when he woke up, could he have something to eat (certainly!)… when he woke up, would he see Uncle Greg and his “friends” (stuffed animals) again? (most definitely!). Each time I assured him, he would smile and relax…and sometimes he would let out a heavy sigh as if he were greatly relieved to hear my answer.
Timothy struggled to surrender to sleep…even after admitting that he was very tired and that all of his energy was gone and he needed to rest to fill up with more. I kept stroking his hair, singing softly to him, rubbing his back and snuggling him. Finally, he drifted off to sweet slumber and rested soundly. This morning, he awoke refreshed and eager to see his Uncle Greg and his “friends”… to play with toys and eat breakfast. He had trusted that my promises were true… and he was delighted to confirm this.
In our spiritual life, we are every bit like a 4-year-old child. We struggle with letting God have control… with letting go and trusting Him to recharge our batteries, so to speak – to renew our energy and meet our needs. We know in reason that we will wake up in heaven someday and meet Him face-to-face. Still, we often toss and turn, as God tries to soothe us and offer us comfort. We think of a zillion things that need to be done or experienced… and we live in a way that says, “I want to trust You and believe in YOU, LORD… I want to serve You and follow Your commands. I trust that You are waiting for me and will deliver on all of Your promises. But I’m having a little trouble giving everything over to You.”
If only we could have a glimpse of what lies ahead… if only we could get a little “sneak preview” of heaven! Then, maybe we would be able to relax and rest in the LORD. Maybe we wouldn’t struggle so much with the things of this world… with indecision, temptation, worry and nagging doubts. Perhaps we would be able to truly take God at His word… and to serve Him out of pure faith and expectation.
Here’s the deal… until we learn to operate in faith and expectation… until we fully embrace the promise of heaven and live in a way that honors our anticipation of life there at the feet of Jesus… we will never truly experience the peace of God. We will always be restless… we will always have trouble with the temptations and challenges of this world… we will always find it hard to truly relax and allow God to energize us. We must learn to recognize God’s presence in our lives on this earth… and to anticipate His presence in person for all Eternity.
Aren’t you ready to “sleep like a baby”… to rest in the peace of the LORD… to operate energetically in the confidence that God is numbering your steps on this earth – and waits to greet you in person when you arrive at Heaven’s gate? Will this be the day that you take Him at His word… with the conviction of a four-year-old who believes that morning will bring new vitality and adventures? When you awake tomorrow, what – and WHO – will you see?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I am innocent, Lord, and I will see your face! When I awake, all I want is to see you as you are.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy and I lay down last night to read stories and prepare for bed. He asked me several questions about “when I wake up”… when he woke up, would we go to church? (yes!)… when he woke up, could he play with his toys again? (absolutely!)… when he woke up, could he have something to eat (certainly!)… when he woke up, would he see Uncle Greg and his “friends” (stuffed animals) again? (most definitely!). Each time I assured him, he would smile and relax…and sometimes he would let out a heavy sigh as if he were greatly relieved to hear my answer.
Timothy struggled to surrender to sleep…even after admitting that he was very tired and that all of his energy was gone and he needed to rest to fill up with more. I kept stroking his hair, singing softly to him, rubbing his back and snuggling him. Finally, he drifted off to sweet slumber and rested soundly. This morning, he awoke refreshed and eager to see his Uncle Greg and his “friends”… to play with toys and eat breakfast. He had trusted that my promises were true… and he was delighted to confirm this.
In our spiritual life, we are every bit like a 4-year-old child. We struggle with letting God have control… with letting go and trusting Him to recharge our batteries, so to speak – to renew our energy and meet our needs. We know in reason that we will wake up in heaven someday and meet Him face-to-face. Still, we often toss and turn, as God tries to soothe us and offer us comfort. We think of a zillion things that need to be done or experienced… and we live in a way that says, “I want to trust You and believe in YOU, LORD… I want to serve You and follow Your commands. I trust that You are waiting for me and will deliver on all of Your promises. But I’m having a little trouble giving everything over to You.”
If only we could have a glimpse of what lies ahead… if only we could get a little “sneak preview” of heaven! Then, maybe we would be able to relax and rest in the LORD. Maybe we wouldn’t struggle so much with the things of this world… with indecision, temptation, worry and nagging doubts. Perhaps we would be able to truly take God at His word… and to serve Him out of pure faith and expectation.
Here’s the deal… until we learn to operate in faith and expectation… until we fully embrace the promise of heaven and live in a way that honors our anticipation of life there at the feet of Jesus… we will never truly experience the peace of God. We will always be restless… we will always have trouble with the temptations and challenges of this world… we will always find it hard to truly relax and allow God to energize us. We must learn to recognize God’s presence in our lives on this earth… and to anticipate His presence in person for all Eternity.
Aren’t you ready to “sleep like a baby”… to rest in the peace of the LORD… to operate energetically in the confidence that God is numbering your steps on this earth – and waits to greet you in person when you arrive at Heaven’s gate? Will this be the day that you take Him at His word… with the conviction of a four-year-old who believes that morning will bring new vitality and adventures? When you awake tomorrow, what – and WHO – will you see?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 21, 2013
Job 5:20-26
“In famine, he’ll keep you from starving,
in war, from being gutted by the sword.
You’ll be protected from vicious gossip
and live fearless through any catastrophe.
You’ll shrug off disaster and famine,
and stroll fearlessly among wild animals.
You’ll be on good terms with rocks and mountains;
wild animals will become your good friends.
You’ll know that your place on earth is safe,
you’ll look over your goods and find nothing amiss.
You’ll see your children grow up,
your family lovely and lissome as orchard grass.
You’ll arrive at your grave ripe with many good years,
like sheaves of golden grain at harvest.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We got in the car after church, and I asked Timothy, “What did you learn today?” He replied, “God keeps His promises.” The children had heard the story of Noah today and how “he kept the animals safe from the water,” as Timothy related. Over and again in the Bible, we read stories of how God kept – and keeps – His promises. And here in Job 5, we read this once more. Beginning in verse 8 of this chapter, we read… “If I were in your shoes, I’d go straight to God…I’d throw myself on the mercy of God. After all, he’s famous for great and unexpected acts; there’s no end to his surprises.” Still, we doubt… we worry… we often live in a state of unsettled confusion.
All around me today, I have been receiving messages reminding me to be thankful and grateful to God. The Bishop’s post on Facebook this morning was a prayer of thanks… our pastor’s message was “Thanksgiving in July”… Timothy’s Bible lesson was on how God keeps His promises… this afternoon my husband and I attended the baptism of several children and adults…and this passage reminded me of all the things that God will do for me. Surely my “lesson” for today is how to operate in gratitude… to find peace in trusting that God will take care of things for me.
So what do you say? Are you thankful today for the countless ways God has blessed you… the awesome manner in which He meets your every need and keeps His promises? Do you trust Him and find peace in the confidence that He is working 24/7 on your behalf? Have you offered a prayer of gratitude to God today for loving you far above and beyond what you deserve? Isn’t this a perfect time to do so?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“In famine, he’ll keep you from starving,
in war, from being gutted by the sword.
You’ll be protected from vicious gossip
and live fearless through any catastrophe.
You’ll shrug off disaster and famine,
and stroll fearlessly among wild animals.
You’ll be on good terms with rocks and mountains;
wild animals will become your good friends.
You’ll know that your place on earth is safe,
you’ll look over your goods and find nothing amiss.
You’ll see your children grow up,
your family lovely and lissome as orchard grass.
You’ll arrive at your grave ripe with many good years,
like sheaves of golden grain at harvest.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We got in the car after church, and I asked Timothy, “What did you learn today?” He replied, “God keeps His promises.” The children had heard the story of Noah today and how “he kept the animals safe from the water,” as Timothy related. Over and again in the Bible, we read stories of how God kept – and keeps – His promises. And here in Job 5, we read this once more. Beginning in verse 8 of this chapter, we read… “If I were in your shoes, I’d go straight to God…I’d throw myself on the mercy of God. After all, he’s famous for great and unexpected acts; there’s no end to his surprises.” Still, we doubt… we worry… we often live in a state of unsettled confusion.
All around me today, I have been receiving messages reminding me to be thankful and grateful to God. The Bishop’s post on Facebook this morning was a prayer of thanks… our pastor’s message was “Thanksgiving in July”… Timothy’s Bible lesson was on how God keeps His promises… this afternoon my husband and I attended the baptism of several children and adults…and this passage reminded me of all the things that God will do for me. Surely my “lesson” for today is how to operate in gratitude… to find peace in trusting that God will take care of things for me.
So what do you say? Are you thankful today for the countless ways God has blessed you… the awesome manner in which He meets your every need and keeps His promises? Do you trust Him and find peace in the confidence that He is working 24/7 on your behalf? Have you offered a prayer of gratitude to God today for loving you far above and beyond what you deserve? Isn’t this a perfect time to do so?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 9, 2013
Isaiah 54:9-10
“This exile is just like the days of Noah for me:
I promised then that the waters of Noah
would never again flood the earth.
I’m promising now no more anger,
no more dressing you down.
For even if the mountains walk away
and the hills fall to pieces,
My love won’t walk away from you,
my covenant commitment of peace won’t fall apart.”
The God who has compassion on you says so.
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.
On the way home from church Sunday, Timothy was telling us about his Sunday school lesson. “God wants us to do our BEST!” he would say emphatically. He elaborated… “God wants us to pick up our toys when we pour them out. If we don’t, He will be so disappointed in us… maybe even angry!” Our little four-year-old can be pretty dramatic! But he kept talking about disappointing God and making Him angry, so I reminded him… “We talked about this… when you think you have done something that will disappoint God, talk to Him and tell Him you are sorry.” He lifted his eyes to the roof of the car, and we heard, “God, I’m sorry I didn’t pick up my blocks. Please don’t be disappointed.”
My husband and I stifled our grins from the front seat, and I reminded Timothy that you have to really be sorry… you can’t just say you are and go on misbehaving. But I also reassured Him that God always…ALWAYS loves us – even when we disappoint Him or make Him angry. Explaining compassion and unconditional love to a small child is a challenge. On one hand, we are trying to teach them to follow rules and be obedient and respectful… to their parents, teachers, other adults – and to GOD. But we also want them to understand that they can be forgiven… that their love and value is not based solely on their words and actions. We must make sure that we portray God in the proper light … as a loving, gracious, merciful Father Who has high expectations for each of us – but also as Someone who will never walk away.
I don’t know about you, but I grew up with more than healthy dose of fear about my relationship with God. I do not believe this was intentional…the people who nurtured me in my faith were loving, caring, well-meaning Christians. But the emphasis was on God’s retribution far more than His mercy and kindheartedness. I am so thankful that I have come to know the compassionate side of God… that I operate from a place of peace. I respect God and His authority over my life… but I no longer picture Him waiting like a lion tamer with a whip and a chair to chastise me for my every transgression!
The thought of God as someone who will not walk away from me when things get tough is incredibly comforting. The assurance that God loves me no matter what – that His promises are the real deal - makes me want to love Him and serve Him faithfully in return. In my book, a faith built on mutual trust and peace trumps one based in fear every time!
I know that there are times when God truly is disappointed with us… or possibly angry. I also know that He will never leave us or stop loving us, even in our worst moments. This is an incredibly peaceful – and powerful – guarantee! I pray that your faith is based in God’s peaceful promises rather than fear of His retribution… that His unconditional love makes you want to serve Him obediently- with your whole heart - and to always do your BEST. But you’ll still have to pick up your toys!
©2013 Debbie Robus
“This exile is just like the days of Noah for me:
I promised then that the waters of Noah
would never again flood the earth.
I’m promising now no more anger,
no more dressing you down.
For even if the mountains walk away
and the hills fall to pieces,
My love won’t walk away from you,
my covenant commitment of peace won’t fall apart.”
The God who has compassion on you says so.
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.
On the way home from church Sunday, Timothy was telling us about his Sunday school lesson. “God wants us to do our BEST!” he would say emphatically. He elaborated… “God wants us to pick up our toys when we pour them out. If we don’t, He will be so disappointed in us… maybe even angry!” Our little four-year-old can be pretty dramatic! But he kept talking about disappointing God and making Him angry, so I reminded him… “We talked about this… when you think you have done something that will disappoint God, talk to Him and tell Him you are sorry.” He lifted his eyes to the roof of the car, and we heard, “God, I’m sorry I didn’t pick up my blocks. Please don’t be disappointed.”
My husband and I stifled our grins from the front seat, and I reminded Timothy that you have to really be sorry… you can’t just say you are and go on misbehaving. But I also reassured Him that God always…ALWAYS loves us – even when we disappoint Him or make Him angry. Explaining compassion and unconditional love to a small child is a challenge. On one hand, we are trying to teach them to follow rules and be obedient and respectful… to their parents, teachers, other adults – and to GOD. But we also want them to understand that they can be forgiven… that their love and value is not based solely on their words and actions. We must make sure that we portray God in the proper light … as a loving, gracious, merciful Father Who has high expectations for each of us – but also as Someone who will never walk away.
I don’t know about you, but I grew up with more than healthy dose of fear about my relationship with God. I do not believe this was intentional…the people who nurtured me in my faith were loving, caring, well-meaning Christians. But the emphasis was on God’s retribution far more than His mercy and kindheartedness. I am so thankful that I have come to know the compassionate side of God… that I operate from a place of peace. I respect God and His authority over my life… but I no longer picture Him waiting like a lion tamer with a whip and a chair to chastise me for my every transgression!
The thought of God as someone who will not walk away from me when things get tough is incredibly comforting. The assurance that God loves me no matter what – that His promises are the real deal - makes me want to love Him and serve Him faithfully in return. In my book, a faith built on mutual trust and peace trumps one based in fear every time!
I know that there are times when God truly is disappointed with us… or possibly angry. I also know that He will never leave us or stop loving us, even in our worst moments. This is an incredibly peaceful – and powerful – guarantee! I pray that your faith is based in God’s peaceful promises rather than fear of His retribution… that His unconditional love makes you want to serve Him obediently- with your whole heart - and to always do your BEST. But you’ll still have to pick up your toys!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 1, 2013
Revelation 13:10
Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.
This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I often end these devotionals with the question… “What are you waiting for?” Today, I want to pose this question again… but not in the context of “What is taking you so long?”… but rather, “What are you waiting for?” Some of us are waiting for a life event… a wedding, the birth of a baby… or even the death of a loved one. Still others are waiting on a new job, a new house, or that high school or college diploma. Even more are waiting on something less tangible…a relationship change… the loss of that last few pounds or inches… or even the check in the mail from a major sweepstakes that we know isn’t really coming (but we dream big anyway!).
We are all waiting on something, whether we realize it or not. Along the way, “life” happens… joys, sorrows, seasons of growth and great prosperity… and those of illness, despair, and deep despondency. There are times when we wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” – or even “Where is God?” There are times when everything seems to go right, and we feel the presence and blessings of God so profoundly…and “Life is Good,” as the t-shirt proclaims. Then there are times when everything falls apart… when we may or may not feel God’s presence… and life seems anything but good. And many of us give up – at least temporarily – on God.
Regardless of the “season,” our job as Christians is to keep on waiting… to continue to call on God to draw near to us, guide our steps and protect our course… and to keep believing that He will do exactly this. On any given day, you or I could find ourselves at the top of the heap, so to speak… or buried at the bottom. We could feel incredibly protected and euphoric… or persecuted and disheartened. But still… we wait.
We wait for God to come to us… to show us His perfect wisdom and designs for our life. We trust that He will never leave us… we remain faithful to Him and believe in His power as our God of answered prayers and fulfilled promises. This week, a lifelong friend of mine buried his father. At the funeral, he said his dad had compared his future to that of the Apostle Paul… if he stayed on this earth and got to enjoy his children and grandchildren – great! If God called him to heaven to be with his wife, parents, and others who preceded him… to sit daily at the feet of Jesus for the rest of eternity – even better! Either way, he was a winner. And so he waited. And with perfect timing and precision, God called him home a few days ago.
So my question today is once again, “What are you waiting for?” What are you anticipating… how are you meeting the challenges and the “ups and downs” of each and every minute of the day? Do you “count it all gain” like the Apostle Paul and my friend’s dad? Or do you find that you often question the events that shape your day? Are you waiting on God’s answers? Are you eagerly anticipating how He will create beauty out of chaos… and basking in the blessings He gives you on a “good day?” Again I ask… “What are you waiting for?” How you answer makes all the difference.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.
This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I often end these devotionals with the question… “What are you waiting for?” Today, I want to pose this question again… but not in the context of “What is taking you so long?”… but rather, “What are you waiting for?” Some of us are waiting for a life event… a wedding, the birth of a baby… or even the death of a loved one. Still others are waiting on a new job, a new house, or that high school or college diploma. Even more are waiting on something less tangible…a relationship change… the loss of that last few pounds or inches… or even the check in the mail from a major sweepstakes that we know isn’t really coming (but we dream big anyway!).
We are all waiting on something, whether we realize it or not. Along the way, “life” happens… joys, sorrows, seasons of growth and great prosperity… and those of illness, despair, and deep despondency. There are times when we wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” – or even “Where is God?” There are times when everything seems to go right, and we feel the presence and blessings of God so profoundly…and “Life is Good,” as the t-shirt proclaims. Then there are times when everything falls apart… when we may or may not feel God’s presence… and life seems anything but good. And many of us give up – at least temporarily – on God.
Regardless of the “season,” our job as Christians is to keep on waiting… to continue to call on God to draw near to us, guide our steps and protect our course… and to keep believing that He will do exactly this. On any given day, you or I could find ourselves at the top of the heap, so to speak… or buried at the bottom. We could feel incredibly protected and euphoric… or persecuted and disheartened. But still… we wait.
We wait for God to come to us… to show us His perfect wisdom and designs for our life. We trust that He will never leave us… we remain faithful to Him and believe in His power as our God of answered prayers and fulfilled promises. This week, a lifelong friend of mine buried his father. At the funeral, he said his dad had compared his future to that of the Apostle Paul… if he stayed on this earth and got to enjoy his children and grandchildren – great! If God called him to heaven to be with his wife, parents, and others who preceded him… to sit daily at the feet of Jesus for the rest of eternity – even better! Either way, he was a winner. And so he waited. And with perfect timing and precision, God called him home a few days ago.
So my question today is once again, “What are you waiting for?” What are you anticipating… how are you meeting the challenges and the “ups and downs” of each and every minute of the day? Do you “count it all gain” like the Apostle Paul and my friend’s dad? Or do you find that you often question the events that shape your day? Are you waiting on God’s answers? Are you eagerly anticipating how He will create beauty out of chaos… and basking in the blessings He gives you on a “good day?” Again I ask… “What are you waiting for?” How you answer makes all the difference.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 11, 2013
2 Peter 3:8-9
Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
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 few days, our little Timothy will be four years old. We are celebrating his birthday tomorrow with an afternoon party. A few days ago, he told my niece, “Mother, my friends need to come for my party. When will they be here?” She explained that his party was not for several days, and he would have to wait. When you are almost four, several days can seem like several years! At the other end of the spectrum, my grandmother used to tell me often, “I don’t know why the LORD doesn’t take me.” She longed for heaven, and the last two years, especially, seemed like two hundred years to her. We would talk about how God still had plans for her... she still had work to do… but knowing this really made the waiting no easier.
One of the hardest things for us to understand in our Christian faith is God’s timing. We have a terrible time understanding that God’s “day” may be far longer than our 24-hours/1440 minutes. We may wonder why He doesn’t answer quickly – but on His timetable, He did exactly that! We may ask, “Why hasn’t the LORD healed me?” When we get to Heaven, He may say, I healed you in the same day – by my calculations! When we feel that God is not answering us… or that He is not working quickly, we need to stop and remind ourselves that we operate on very different schedules!
As this passage illustrates, we must also remember that what we observe as God’s reluctance to act quickly may actually be His patience as we find our way to him. He may very well operate with restraint in order to give us “space and time to change.” And we should be incredibly grateful for this!
Patience is not my strong suit. But if I wish to truly grow in my faith and my relationship with God, I need to cultivate endurance, tolerance, and staying power. I need to learn to “be still and know” that God is on my side… to rest in His timing and operate with confidence as I wait on Him to work. And when God seems “late,” I need to recognize His self-control on my behalf.
If we stop and look closely, we can often see the perfection in God’s timing. We can understand that He always has our best interests in mind. This may not make waiting for a fourth birthday party any easier, but it can help us to wait for the LORD to work – according to His perfect timing. Don’t you think it’s worth a try?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
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 few days, our little Timothy will be four years old. We are celebrating his birthday tomorrow with an afternoon party. A few days ago, he told my niece, “Mother, my friends need to come for my party. When will they be here?” She explained that his party was not for several days, and he would have to wait. When you are almost four, several days can seem like several years! At the other end of the spectrum, my grandmother used to tell me often, “I don’t know why the LORD doesn’t take me.” She longed for heaven, and the last two years, especially, seemed like two hundred years to her. We would talk about how God still had plans for her... she still had work to do… but knowing this really made the waiting no easier.
One of the hardest things for us to understand in our Christian faith is God’s timing. We have a terrible time understanding that God’s “day” may be far longer than our 24-hours/1440 minutes. We may wonder why He doesn’t answer quickly – but on His timetable, He did exactly that! We may ask, “Why hasn’t the LORD healed me?” When we get to Heaven, He may say, I healed you in the same day – by my calculations! When we feel that God is not answering us… or that He is not working quickly, we need to stop and remind ourselves that we operate on very different schedules!
As this passage illustrates, we must also remember that what we observe as God’s reluctance to act quickly may actually be His patience as we find our way to him. He may very well operate with restraint in order to give us “space and time to change.” And we should be incredibly grateful for this!
Patience is not my strong suit. But if I wish to truly grow in my faith and my relationship with God, I need to cultivate endurance, tolerance, and staying power. I need to learn to “be still and know” that God is on my side… to rest in His timing and operate with confidence as I wait on Him to work. And when God seems “late,” I need to recognize His self-control on my behalf.
If we stop and look closely, we can often see the perfection in God’s timing. We can understand that He always has our best interests in mind. This may not make waiting for a fourth birthday party any easier, but it can help us to wait for the LORD to work – according to His perfect timing. Don’t you think it’s worth a try?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 18, 2013
Jeremiah 1:4-10
This is what God said:
“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations - that’s what I had in mind for you.”
But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me. I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”
God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’ I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there. I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it. Don’t be afraid of a soul. I’ll be right there, looking after you.” God’s Decree.
God reached out, touched my mouth, and said, “Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered! See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do among nations and governments—a red-letter day! Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish,
And then start over, building and planting.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
One of the earliest lessons we teach our children is how to speak and do things for themselves. Timothy will say to me, “I want Uncle Greg to come downstairs and see what I built with blocks.” For a long time, he was not permitted to go upstairs alone, because we were afraid he would fall on the steps. Now he is big enough to go up and down independently. Still, when I tell him to go and ask his Uncle Greg to come and have a look, he sometimes says, “But I can’t!” When I either ignore this or remind him that he can indeed do it himself, he usually decides to go alone to summon his uncle. Sometimes he will ask, “Come with me?” And I will usually oblige. My point is not to make him do things by himself as much as to teach him that he is developing capabilities for accomplishing new things.
We will start to walk somewhere together, and Timothy will say, “Carry me!” I often remind him that he is a big boy – almost too big now for me to carry – that he is perfectly capable of walking. Sometimes, he will come back with… “But I’m too little… I’m just a little boy!” And I have to laugh at this ploy for my sympathies and concession. This is exactly what Jeremiah said to God. But God had equipped Jeremiah for these tasks and knew his capabilities – and He was not buying this excuse for one minute!
If we are truly serving God, there will be plenty of times when we feel inadequate to accomplish what He has called us to do – in our own strength and wisdom. We will want to throw up our hands and say, “But I am too young/old/poor/sick… I’m not smart enough… I don’t have time… I don’t have any talent for this. But with God, all things are possible. He has equipped us to do far beyond what we ever dreamed possible. And it is time for us to realize just how ridiculous our excuses must sound to Him.
God has called me to do several things in even the last few months that I would never have dreamed were possible. There is no way I could have accomplished many of them under my own power… or even with the help of my husband, family members, friends and acquaintances. There have been too many instances where I had to stop and say, “Only God can get this done.” And I will admit… there were a few times when I wanted to throw up my hands and say, “But wait! I’m only human…I’m not strong enough… this is too hard… there is NO WAY this can ever work… I am ‘just a boy!’” And yet, God has proven to me over and again that HIS power and purpose far exceed mine. With God behind me (and beside me), I can do far more than I ever expected!
So what is God calling you to do today that seems daunting and/or impossible? Where is He sending you and equipping you to serve, even though you feel anything but adequate for the task? What is your excuse for turning Him down… and have you considered how preposterous you seem to Him for doing so? Will this be the day you step up and out - and ask, “Where, when and how, LORD?” instead of merely “Why me?” Or will you leave Him shaking His head in disappointment as you offer yet another argument as you try to justify your hesitance or refusal?
Do you really believe in the power of God to do all things? Are you confident that He formed you for His purposes… that He will equip you to handle anything and everything to which He calls you? Isn’t it time to tear down the walls of insecurity, uncertainty, and excuses… to allow God to work in and through you? Are you ready to build and plant wherever God sends you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
This is what God said:
“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations - that’s what I had in mind for you.”
But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me. I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”
God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’ I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there. I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it. Don’t be afraid of a soul. I’ll be right there, looking after you.” God’s Decree.
God reached out, touched my mouth, and said, “Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered! See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do among nations and governments—a red-letter day! Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish,
And then start over, building and planting.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
One of the earliest lessons we teach our children is how to speak and do things for themselves. Timothy will say to me, “I want Uncle Greg to come downstairs and see what I built with blocks.” For a long time, he was not permitted to go upstairs alone, because we were afraid he would fall on the steps. Now he is big enough to go up and down independently. Still, when I tell him to go and ask his Uncle Greg to come and have a look, he sometimes says, “But I can’t!” When I either ignore this or remind him that he can indeed do it himself, he usually decides to go alone to summon his uncle. Sometimes he will ask, “Come with me?” And I will usually oblige. My point is not to make him do things by himself as much as to teach him that he is developing capabilities for accomplishing new things.
We will start to walk somewhere together, and Timothy will say, “Carry me!” I often remind him that he is a big boy – almost too big now for me to carry – that he is perfectly capable of walking. Sometimes, he will come back with… “But I’m too little… I’m just a little boy!” And I have to laugh at this ploy for my sympathies and concession. This is exactly what Jeremiah said to God. But God had equipped Jeremiah for these tasks and knew his capabilities – and He was not buying this excuse for one minute!
If we are truly serving God, there will be plenty of times when we feel inadequate to accomplish what He has called us to do – in our own strength and wisdom. We will want to throw up our hands and say, “But I am too young/old/poor/sick… I’m not smart enough… I don’t have time… I don’t have any talent for this. But with God, all things are possible. He has equipped us to do far beyond what we ever dreamed possible. And it is time for us to realize just how ridiculous our excuses must sound to Him.
God has called me to do several things in even the last few months that I would never have dreamed were possible. There is no way I could have accomplished many of them under my own power… or even with the help of my husband, family members, friends and acquaintances. There have been too many instances where I had to stop and say, “Only God can get this done.” And I will admit… there were a few times when I wanted to throw up my hands and say, “But wait! I’m only human…I’m not strong enough… this is too hard… there is NO WAY this can ever work… I am ‘just a boy!’” And yet, God has proven to me over and again that HIS power and purpose far exceed mine. With God behind me (and beside me), I can do far more than I ever expected!
So what is God calling you to do today that seems daunting and/or impossible? Where is He sending you and equipping you to serve, even though you feel anything but adequate for the task? What is your excuse for turning Him down… and have you considered how preposterous you seem to Him for doing so? Will this be the day you step up and out - and ask, “Where, when and how, LORD?” instead of merely “Why me?” Or will you leave Him shaking His head in disappointment as you offer yet another argument as you try to justify your hesitance or refusal?
Do you really believe in the power of God to do all things? Are you confident that He formed you for His purposes… that He will equip you to handle anything and everything to which He calls you? Isn’t it time to tear down the walls of insecurity, uncertainty, and excuses… to allow God to work in and through you? Are you ready to build and plant wherever God sends you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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