Hebrews 11:6
You can never please God without
faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must
believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look
for him.
The Living Bible
copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights
reserved.
Last
night, I saw a commercial that featured Ron Reagan…son of President
Ronald Reagan, who was speaking for the Freedom From Religion
Foundation. In this 30-second spot, Reagan asks for support for “the
nation's largest and most effective association of atheists and
agnostics.” He ends his comments with this…”Ron Reagan…lifelong
atheist…not afraid of burning in hell.”
Don’t rush to judge Ron
Reagan…or his organization. If you go to the Freedom From Religion
Foundation’s website and poke around, you will see that their primary
mission is to protect the separation of church and state. Try to
understand why Reagan and other atheists do not believe that God
exists. Could this be in part because of how we Christians behave?
Could our words and actions…our judgments and the “causes” we fight for
so vehemently…actually belie God’s existence and fuel their thoughts?
Do
we demonstrate to others that God not only exists…but that He is the
Author and Finisher of our faith? Does our demeanor suggest that we
trust God in all things…or are we often observed wringing our hands and
worrying over every situation – even while calling on God to handle
things? Could it be that our model of Christian discipleship and faith
is anything but faithful and confident?
I will be honest…a lot of
what I see and hear from Christians is not all that faith-filled. It
doesn’t demonstrate a surety that God exists and is who He says He
is…that He can do everything the Bible says that He can do. Our words
and actions do not affirm that God is autonomous, supreme, omnipotent,
all-powerful…and that He loves His children and wants only what is best
for them.
I’m afraid that what others see from many of us
is someone who is fearful of everything and everyone – particularly
those who are different from us in some way. I’m concerned that others
look at many of us and see someone who falls apart at the first hint of
trouble…someone who is quick to judge, narrow-minded, and has an air of
superiority and special privilege because of Who we claim to serve. I
truly believe that we might be driving away those who are, at best, “on
the fence” about whether God exists…and fully confirming the suspicions
of those who have already decided this.
In countless instances,
we’ve become so busy making a point that we’re no longer making a
difference. And in doing so, I believe that we have also denied God, in
large part. But we can change this. We can start to examine our
lives…and our behaviors…and we can ask God to show us how and where we
need to make adjustments. We can start to operate more in faith and
confidence…and show the world Who our God really is – every single
minute of the day. It’s not up to us to change the minds of others…but
when we leave God room to work and give Him the opportunity, He can –
and will – show up in ways we never even imagined.
When others
look at you, what – and Who – do they see? Do you really, truly believe
in God…and are you depending on Him - for everything? Is this what
others see? Don’t you think it’s time they did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label believing in the unseen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label believing in the unseen. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for December 2, 2014
Luke 1:34-38
Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not married!”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. Nothing is impossible for God!”
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you think Elizabeth and Zachariah were surprised to learn that “they were pregnant” in their advanced years…imagine how little Mary must have felt when the angel Gabriel visited her with news that SHE was going to deliver a baby! Historians believe Mary could have been as young as twelve or thirteen. She lived with her parents, who are not mentioned by name in the Bible. Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, a carpenter in Nazareth.
I know we live in a very different time. But for the life of me, I cannot wrap my brain around an angel appearing to a teenage girl – even one who was engaged to be married – and telling her, “You are blessed…and even though you are a virgin, you are pregnant with a son.” I most certainly cannot fathom that same angel telling this girl that the baby would be the holy Son of God! I picture her initial reaction being one of fear…followed by total shock and disbelief…and then maybe even more fear and a hefty dose of embarrassment or shame! How would she ever explain this to her parents…much less Joseph? You can “do the math” and figure out pretty quickly what they would all assume.
Now picture this happening in a very small town…where reputation was EVERYTHING…especially to a young carpenter trying to establish himself in business. In a split second, Mary must have felt like her life was over – and just beginning at the same time. So her reaction as recorded in the Gospels moves me greatly. Some might say, “She was so young and naïve…her response was that of a gullible little girl.” But others will recognize the depth of faith and devotion to God that Mary’s reaction contained. In that instant, Mary recognized the hand of God upon her life. And when He spoke…she listened – and humbly obeyed.
Can we say the same about our own relationship with God? We have all entertained “angels unaware” at some point in our lives. The hand of God has touched us…maybe even rescued us from some trouble - or even a disaster. We have heard God call to us in some fashion – maybe not as boldly as the form of an angel named Gabriel who appeared in a bright light – but He has spoken to us. How have we responded? Are we so bold – and childlike – in our faith that we readily answer, “I am the Lord’s servant!” and accept what God asks of us?
Isn’t it time we took a second look at the courage and faithfulness of Mary and incorporated more of it into our own lives? If God can entrust a teenage girl with the delivery and motherhood of the Savior of the World…what might He be calling us to do? Will we be ready, willing and able to accept His assignment(s)? Don’t you think we should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not married!”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. Nothing is impossible for God!”
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you think Elizabeth and Zachariah were surprised to learn that “they were pregnant” in their advanced years…imagine how little Mary must have felt when the angel Gabriel visited her with news that SHE was going to deliver a baby! Historians believe Mary could have been as young as twelve or thirteen. She lived with her parents, who are not mentioned by name in the Bible. Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, a carpenter in Nazareth.
I know we live in a very different time. But for the life of me, I cannot wrap my brain around an angel appearing to a teenage girl – even one who was engaged to be married – and telling her, “You are blessed…and even though you are a virgin, you are pregnant with a son.” I most certainly cannot fathom that same angel telling this girl that the baby would be the holy Son of God! I picture her initial reaction being one of fear…followed by total shock and disbelief…and then maybe even more fear and a hefty dose of embarrassment or shame! How would she ever explain this to her parents…much less Joseph? You can “do the math” and figure out pretty quickly what they would all assume.
Now picture this happening in a very small town…where reputation was EVERYTHING…especially to a young carpenter trying to establish himself in business. In a split second, Mary must have felt like her life was over – and just beginning at the same time. So her reaction as recorded in the Gospels moves me greatly. Some might say, “She was so young and naïve…her response was that of a gullible little girl.” But others will recognize the depth of faith and devotion to God that Mary’s reaction contained. In that instant, Mary recognized the hand of God upon her life. And when He spoke…she listened – and humbly obeyed.
Can we say the same about our own relationship with God? We have all entertained “angels unaware” at some point in our lives. The hand of God has touched us…maybe even rescued us from some trouble - or even a disaster. We have heard God call to us in some fashion – maybe not as boldly as the form of an angel named Gabriel who appeared in a bright light – but He has spoken to us. How have we responded? Are we so bold – and childlike – in our faith that we readily answer, “I am the Lord’s servant!” and accept what God asks of us?
Isn’t it time we took a second look at the courage and faithfulness of Mary and incorporated more of it into our own lives? If God can entrust a teenage girl with the delivery and motherhood of the Savior of the World…what might He be calling us to do? Will we be ready, willing and able to accept His assignment(s)? Don’t you think we should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 1, 2013
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
This morning, the Facebook post of a friend reminded me that I had a few more Christmas decorations that I had not yet placed on display. I know…hard to imagine, for those who know me… but I opened a drawer upstairs and found the miniature tree with “nativity” ornaments… a few decorations for Greg’s office… and one more item - a golden school bus ornament. Last Christmas, my Mam-ma Polly’s pastor, Bro. JR – who was like a grandson to her – gave her a painted glass “school bus” ornament. My grandmother was a school bus driver in our community for eleven years. That bus was a nod to days when she was vibrant and active – and in my mind – able to do virtually anything!
When Mam-ma died in March, we placed the school bus with her until after the funeral… and I brought it home to hang on our tree… fulfilling a promise I made to her last Christmas that I would hang it each year and think of her. And hang it I did – this morning, alongside the handmade doily ornament that holds a photograph of my grandparents and my dad when he was a boy.
This was a bittersweet moment for me… but also one filled with hope. Because I believe in the promises of God… because I operate fully in the faith that Jesus came to earth to live and die for me – and that I will be with Him forever in Heaven someday… because I know that my Mam-ma Polly and countless others who believed wait there for me… I can have hope. I can anticipate a time that I truly cannot “see”… but most certainly am assured will happen. And this fills me with joy.
We all know the “let-down” of realizing that another Christmas season has come and gone. For many of us, the anticipation of Christmas Day will build over the next twenty-five days… until many of us are in nothing short of a total frenzy. And by December 31st, Christmas will all but be a distant memory for most. Decorations will come down, the gifts will be put away, diets will commence, and we will be “over it” and on to the next big event.
We can anticipate another holiday season in eleven months. But ultimately, Christmas Days will cease for each of us – at least in the earthly sense. I will admit that I am a big kid when it comes to Christmas. Truthfully, I’m hanging my hopes and dreams on a “Christmas” that never ends… the promise I have been given of endless days in the presence of Jesus – celebrating Him with family members, friends, and “brothers and sisters in Christ” who will join me at His feet again and again. I cannot see/touch/feel this… but I believe in it all the same.
Until my earthly days are over, I will celebrate Christmas in the traditional manner. I will hang the school bus ornament and others…decorate for the holidays… bake and shop, wrap gifts, send cards, and sing Christmas carols. And I will do my best to live in a manner that honors the promises of Jesus… the incredible sacrifices He has made for me. I will share His Good News with others and encourage them to share in my confidence that an eternity in Jesus’ presence is a part of our future. In essence, I will try to live like each earthly Christmas might be my last… and I say this without sorrow or trepidation.
I have faith that heaven awaits me…hope that it will actually happen… and assurance about my eternal future. Do you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
This morning, the Facebook post of a friend reminded me that I had a few more Christmas decorations that I had not yet placed on display. I know…hard to imagine, for those who know me… but I opened a drawer upstairs and found the miniature tree with “nativity” ornaments… a few decorations for Greg’s office… and one more item - a golden school bus ornament. Last Christmas, my Mam-ma Polly’s pastor, Bro. JR – who was like a grandson to her – gave her a painted glass “school bus” ornament. My grandmother was a school bus driver in our community for eleven years. That bus was a nod to days when she was vibrant and active – and in my mind – able to do virtually anything!
When Mam-ma died in March, we placed the school bus with her until after the funeral… and I brought it home to hang on our tree… fulfilling a promise I made to her last Christmas that I would hang it each year and think of her. And hang it I did – this morning, alongside the handmade doily ornament that holds a photograph of my grandparents and my dad when he was a boy.
This was a bittersweet moment for me… but also one filled with hope. Because I believe in the promises of God… because I operate fully in the faith that Jesus came to earth to live and die for me – and that I will be with Him forever in Heaven someday… because I know that my Mam-ma Polly and countless others who believed wait there for me… I can have hope. I can anticipate a time that I truly cannot “see”… but most certainly am assured will happen. And this fills me with joy.
We all know the “let-down” of realizing that another Christmas season has come and gone. For many of us, the anticipation of Christmas Day will build over the next twenty-five days… until many of us are in nothing short of a total frenzy. And by December 31st, Christmas will all but be a distant memory for most. Decorations will come down, the gifts will be put away, diets will commence, and we will be “over it” and on to the next big event.
We can anticipate another holiday season in eleven months. But ultimately, Christmas Days will cease for each of us – at least in the earthly sense. I will admit that I am a big kid when it comes to Christmas. Truthfully, I’m hanging my hopes and dreams on a “Christmas” that never ends… the promise I have been given of endless days in the presence of Jesus – celebrating Him with family members, friends, and “brothers and sisters in Christ” who will join me at His feet again and again. I cannot see/touch/feel this… but I believe in it all the same.
Until my earthly days are over, I will celebrate Christmas in the traditional manner. I will hang the school bus ornament and others…decorate for the holidays… bake and shop, wrap gifts, send cards, and sing Christmas carols. And I will do my best to live in a manner that honors the promises of Jesus… the incredible sacrifices He has made for me. I will share His Good News with others and encourage them to share in my confidence that an eternity in Jesus’ presence is a part of our future. In essence, I will try to live like each earthly Christmas might be my last… and I say this without sorrow or trepidation.
I have faith that heaven awaits me…hope that it will actually happen… and assurance about my eternal future. Do you?
©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 October 13, 2013
Psalm 139:1-6
You have looked deep
into my heart, Lord,
and you know all about me.
You know when I am resting
or when I am working,
and from heaven
you discover my thoughts.
You notice everything I do
and everywhere I go.
Before I even speak a word,
you know what I will say,
and with your powerful arm
you protect me
from every side.
I can’t understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge
is far above me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We recently attended a high school reunion, where we visited with fellow students and alumni. I greeted my cousin, Jim, who is about 8 years older than I. As he gave me a hug, someone snapped our picture, and Jim said, “I used to sit on the couch at her grandmother’s on stormy nights and hold her in a blanket.” Indeed, I remember those nights and snuggling in my cousin’s lap.
Like countless children throughout the South, I spent many night-time hours of my childhood sheltered in my grandparent’s storm cellar. The women and children would hunker down in the cellar as a storm approached, while the men stood on my grandparents’ screened porch and “watched the clouds”. Those summer nights got long and tiresome, and the cellar was cool and damp.
My sister, brother and I had to make a few trips inside to use the restroom, and often, my cousin Jim was recruited to wrap one of us in a quilt or blanket and carry us inside and back. Jim was in high school then, and I thought he was the bravest, most handsome guy around. I especially loved it when he would sit on the couch with me for a while and delay my return to the dark, dank cellar! All Jim had to do was hold out his arms, and I was ready to crawl up in his lap and snuggle!
When you are little, the powerful arms of someone older and stronger are comforting… and most of us readily accepted this protection. But here’s the thing… we understood the security firsthand. We felt it. We could reach out and physically touch these people. We knew them in the flesh… we fully trusted them because we could literally be in their presence and under their care.
God offers us a love and protection that far exceeds anything a precious cousin, parent, grandparent or other caring human being could offer. He knows us – inside and out – and He knows everything about us. His powerful arms are outstretched to embrace and protect us, and He wants to be there for us in all things. But we have a choice. He stands with his arms open wide… but we decide whether to crawl into His lap and snuggle there.
The amazing, incredible, inexplicable fact is that God has chosen us! He wants to give us His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, protection… and even Eternal Life in His presence! But the question is…will we choose Him in return? Do we fully trust Him… and are we willing to let go and allow Him to love us in this manner? It sounds like an easy question to answer… but in truth, many find the choice difficult to make. What about you? Are you ready to surrender to God and allow Him to fully love and protect you? Is today the day you truly “let go and let God”? Shouldn’t it be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
You have looked deep
into my heart, Lord,
and you know all about me.
You know when I am resting
or when I am working,
and from heaven
you discover my thoughts.
You notice everything I do
and everywhere I go.
Before I even speak a word,
you know what I will say,
and with your powerful arm
you protect me
from every side.
I can’t understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge
is far above me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We recently attended a high school reunion, where we visited with fellow students and alumni. I greeted my cousin, Jim, who is about 8 years older than I. As he gave me a hug, someone snapped our picture, and Jim said, “I used to sit on the couch at her grandmother’s on stormy nights and hold her in a blanket.” Indeed, I remember those nights and snuggling in my cousin’s lap.
Like countless children throughout the South, I spent many night-time hours of my childhood sheltered in my grandparent’s storm cellar. The women and children would hunker down in the cellar as a storm approached, while the men stood on my grandparents’ screened porch and “watched the clouds”. Those summer nights got long and tiresome, and the cellar was cool and damp.
My sister, brother and I had to make a few trips inside to use the restroom, and often, my cousin Jim was recruited to wrap one of us in a quilt or blanket and carry us inside and back. Jim was in high school then, and I thought he was the bravest, most handsome guy around. I especially loved it when he would sit on the couch with me for a while and delay my return to the dark, dank cellar! All Jim had to do was hold out his arms, and I was ready to crawl up in his lap and snuggle!
When you are little, the powerful arms of someone older and stronger are comforting… and most of us readily accepted this protection. But here’s the thing… we understood the security firsthand. We felt it. We could reach out and physically touch these people. We knew them in the flesh… we fully trusted them because we could literally be in their presence and under their care.
God offers us a love and protection that far exceeds anything a precious cousin, parent, grandparent or other caring human being could offer. He knows us – inside and out – and He knows everything about us. His powerful arms are outstretched to embrace and protect us, and He wants to be there for us in all things. But we have a choice. He stands with his arms open wide… but we decide whether to crawl into His lap and snuggle there.
The amazing, incredible, inexplicable fact is that God has chosen us! He wants to give us His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, protection… and even Eternal Life in His presence! But the question is…will we choose Him in return? Do we fully trust Him… and are we willing to let go and allow Him to love us in this manner? It sounds like an easy question to answer… but in truth, many find the choice difficult to make. What about you? Are you ready to surrender to God and allow Him to fully love and protect you? Is today the day you truly “let go and let God”? Shouldn’t it be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 16, 2013
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
Today, a lot of people around the world are wondering what the future holds. They find it impossible to see how things can ever be alright again. Particularly those who were in Boston… the injured and maimed… the participants and spectators… and those who lost loved ones must be asking, “What possible meaning can be given to this experience?” Federal agents, detectives, and experts in terrorism and explosives search for evidence… proof of what type of bomb was detonated, possible DNA from the bomber, and more. Unless and until they have more to go on, they cannot fully explain this situation - much less identify those responsible.
So we are left to wait and wonder. There is the possibility we might never fully know what happened – or how. The identity of the bomber(s) might never be discovered. If this is the case, we will be left feeling unsettled and uncertain. We are a “show me” people… we want proof. We want God to give us a “sign” of the validity of His miracles and promises. We want people to prove their loyalty, respect, and honesty. We want our significant others, family members and friends to demonstrate their love and care for us with undeniable words and gestures. We do not operate well in the abstract.
As a result, many of us find it hard to trust God – and lack of proof becomes our excuse. A whole lot of people will say, “Well, God allowed this horrific tragedy to occur in Boston. How can we serve a God who would do such a thing?!” Many will fail to recognize His hand in this situation… how emergency personnel were already in place to rush to the scene and begin offering first aid and assistance… how a runner had just shifted from one side of the street to the other to greet her family as they watched her finish – and in doing so, she ran right out of the path of the blast… how a runner from Arkansas who had finished the race “happened” to have a friend in nearby New Hampshire who said, “Get a cab, leave the city, and come here!” He and a fellow runner friend collected family members and did exactly that. These are only a few of what will be hundreds of examples of how God worked in and through this situation to bring about positive outcomes.
In all kinds of situations, we could readily excuse our skepticism… we could easily say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But Christians are called to trust God for the unseen… to operate with full confidence that God takes care of His children. He knows our needs even before we do… and He has always been on the scene… orchestrating things perfectly. We can trust God to make some sense of even a tragedy like the bombing in Boston… to create opportunities for us to glorify Him… to show us how He is always at work…and to give us hope that we can move forward with anticipation for a brighter tomorrow.
The odds are pretty good that you woke up healthy, safe, and comfortable this morning. On any given day, this could change. The Bible tells us that we are not promised tomorrow. But we are promised God’s love and care, if only we will trust Him. We must stop using the “show me” excuse and fully accept that God keeps His promises… makes perfect plans… and never stops caring for us. What unseen outcomes will you believe for today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
Today, a lot of people around the world are wondering what the future holds. They find it impossible to see how things can ever be alright again. Particularly those who were in Boston… the injured and maimed… the participants and spectators… and those who lost loved ones must be asking, “What possible meaning can be given to this experience?” Federal agents, detectives, and experts in terrorism and explosives search for evidence… proof of what type of bomb was detonated, possible DNA from the bomber, and more. Unless and until they have more to go on, they cannot fully explain this situation - much less identify those responsible.
So we are left to wait and wonder. There is the possibility we might never fully know what happened – or how. The identity of the bomber(s) might never be discovered. If this is the case, we will be left feeling unsettled and uncertain. We are a “show me” people… we want proof. We want God to give us a “sign” of the validity of His miracles and promises. We want people to prove their loyalty, respect, and honesty. We want our significant others, family members and friends to demonstrate their love and care for us with undeniable words and gestures. We do not operate well in the abstract.
As a result, many of us find it hard to trust God – and lack of proof becomes our excuse. A whole lot of people will say, “Well, God allowed this horrific tragedy to occur in Boston. How can we serve a God who would do such a thing?!” Many will fail to recognize His hand in this situation… how emergency personnel were already in place to rush to the scene and begin offering first aid and assistance… how a runner had just shifted from one side of the street to the other to greet her family as they watched her finish – and in doing so, she ran right out of the path of the blast… how a runner from Arkansas who had finished the race “happened” to have a friend in nearby New Hampshire who said, “Get a cab, leave the city, and come here!” He and a fellow runner friend collected family members and did exactly that. These are only a few of what will be hundreds of examples of how God worked in and through this situation to bring about positive outcomes.
In all kinds of situations, we could readily excuse our skepticism… we could easily say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But Christians are called to trust God for the unseen… to operate with full confidence that God takes care of His children. He knows our needs even before we do… and He has always been on the scene… orchestrating things perfectly. We can trust God to make some sense of even a tragedy like the bombing in Boston… to create opportunities for us to glorify Him… to show us how He is always at work…and to give us hope that we can move forward with anticipation for a brighter tomorrow.
The odds are pretty good that you woke up healthy, safe, and comfortable this morning. On any given day, this could change. The Bible tells us that we are not promised tomorrow. But we are promised God’s love and care, if only we will trust Him. We must stop using the “show me” excuse and fully accept that God keeps His promises… makes perfect plans… and never stops caring for us. What unseen outcomes will you believe for today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 4, 2012
Romans 8:18-27
I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth.
The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it.
In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God’s people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I took Timothy and his younger sister, Zola, to play at the park. On the way home afterward, Timmy started a little mantra… “I don’t want to go home! I don’t want to go home! I want to go back to your house! I don’t want to go home!” Finally, I said, “Timothy, you have to go home, because tomorrow when you wake up, there will be a surprise for you there.” We had left an advent gift for the children… something to unwrap every day until Christmas - and the next day was December 1st.
Immediately, Timmy asked, “What is the surprise?” I replied, “I can’t tell you.” “But what is it?” he persisted. “I’m not telling you… it’s a secret.” “But what IS the secret?” he changed his tactic. “I can’t tell you… then it wouldn’t be a secret.” “But you have to tell me!” he insisted. I assured him I did not have to tell… and I wouldn’t… he would just have to wait until the next morning to see the surprise.
Man! Do we ever do this with God! “But you have to show us… now!” we groan. “We need answers! We need to see what is coming next! We need to know, LORD!” We are impatient… we want what we hope for, and we want it… TODAY!
As I read this passage, I thought of Timothy. Oh, how I love him! I so wanted to tell him what was in store. I wanted to scoop him up, hug him and wipe away his tears and say, “It’s okay, buddy. Here’s how this is going to go. We’re taking care of you.” But there are times when we must allow our children to develop patience… and wait. And God knows that great, exciting things are in store for us… but we have to cultivate our faith, develop endurance, and practice perseverance before He delivers.
Timothy’s pleas grew louder and louder, as if our silence indicated that we didn’t hear him. And our prayers often take on a sense of urgency and a louder tone. We need to realize that God hears us… He knows our thoughts… He understands our every need. And He is on the job… working things out perfectly. OUR JOB is to trust God… to continue to walk in faith… to never lose hope…and to wait patiently on His answers and outcomes. This is a tall order for most of us. But as surely as Christmas surprises come for three-year-old boys who hang in there… God delivers on our behalf.
What are you hoping for these days? How patiently are you waiting on God’s response?
©2012 Debbie Robus
I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth.
The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it.
In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God’s people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I took Timothy and his younger sister, Zola, to play at the park. On the way home afterward, Timmy started a little mantra… “I don’t want to go home! I don’t want to go home! I want to go back to your house! I don’t want to go home!” Finally, I said, “Timothy, you have to go home, because tomorrow when you wake up, there will be a surprise for you there.” We had left an advent gift for the children… something to unwrap every day until Christmas - and the next day was December 1st.
Immediately, Timmy asked, “What is the surprise?” I replied, “I can’t tell you.” “But what is it?” he persisted. “I’m not telling you… it’s a secret.” “But what IS the secret?” he changed his tactic. “I can’t tell you… then it wouldn’t be a secret.” “But you have to tell me!” he insisted. I assured him I did not have to tell… and I wouldn’t… he would just have to wait until the next morning to see the surprise.
Man! Do we ever do this with God! “But you have to show us… now!” we groan. “We need answers! We need to see what is coming next! We need to know, LORD!” We are impatient… we want what we hope for, and we want it… TODAY!
As I read this passage, I thought of Timothy. Oh, how I love him! I so wanted to tell him what was in store. I wanted to scoop him up, hug him and wipe away his tears and say, “It’s okay, buddy. Here’s how this is going to go. We’re taking care of you.” But there are times when we must allow our children to develop patience… and wait. And God knows that great, exciting things are in store for us… but we have to cultivate our faith, develop endurance, and practice perseverance before He delivers.
Timothy’s pleas grew louder and louder, as if our silence indicated that we didn’t hear him. And our prayers often take on a sense of urgency and a louder tone. We need to realize that God hears us… He knows our thoughts… He understands our every need. And He is on the job… working things out perfectly. OUR JOB is to trust God… to continue to walk in faith… to never lose hope…and to wait patiently on His answers and outcomes. This is a tall order for most of us. But as surely as Christmas surprises come for three-year-old boys who hang in there… God delivers on our behalf.
What are you hoping for these days? How patiently are you waiting on God’s response?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 1, 2012
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
How many times do you suppose you have said – either to yourself or aloud – “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” in the context of worrying about an outcome or stressing over a challenging situation? It is human nature to over-analyze… to worry, stress, fret, and feel uncertain. This also demonstrates an immature level of faith and confidence.
As we grow in Christian faith and develop our trust in God to meet our needs, we learn that operating in fear, trepidation, worry and frustration is a waste of our time. We realize that we don’t have to always know the outcome… all we really need to understand is that God is handling everything for us. When we get to the point where we can confidently sit back and say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out… and that’s okay!”… everything in life changes.
I wish I could say that I am totally there. But I must admit I still have my moments. However, they are less frequent, and I have even said to others in recent months, “I feel amazingly calm about this!” I am not used to this feeling – yet! But I want to be!
We are so blessed to serve a God who meets our every need… Almighty God, who can truly handle each situation in our life so perfectly that we are assured of outcomes we cannot even predict. We can operate in the confidence of expectation that God will take care of us… orchestrate every detail perfectly… and leave us free to spend our time and energy serving Him by serving others. Don’t you want this faith for yourself? Isn’t it time you began to trust God for your outcomes and rested in His assurance?
The next time you say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” I pray you have developed the confidence and level of faith that allows you to add… “but God does - and that’s enough!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
How many times do you suppose you have said – either to yourself or aloud – “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” in the context of worrying about an outcome or stressing over a challenging situation? It is human nature to over-analyze… to worry, stress, fret, and feel uncertain. This also demonstrates an immature level of faith and confidence.
As we grow in Christian faith and develop our trust in God to meet our needs, we learn that operating in fear, trepidation, worry and frustration is a waste of our time. We realize that we don’t have to always know the outcome… all we really need to understand is that God is handling everything for us. When we get to the point where we can confidently sit back and say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out… and that’s okay!”… everything in life changes.
I wish I could say that I am totally there. But I must admit I still have my moments. However, they are less frequent, and I have even said to others in recent months, “I feel amazingly calm about this!” I am not used to this feeling – yet! But I want to be!
We are so blessed to serve a God who meets our every need… Almighty God, who can truly handle each situation in our life so perfectly that we are assured of outcomes we cannot even predict. We can operate in the confidence of expectation that God will take care of us… orchestrate every detail perfectly… and leave us free to spend our time and energy serving Him by serving others. Don’t you want this faith for yourself? Isn’t it time you began to trust God for your outcomes and rested in His assurance?
The next time you say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” I pray you have developed the confidence and level of faith that allows you to add… “but God does - and that’s enough!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 30, 2012
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
When I was an infant at my mother’s breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
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 any given day, most of us would say we are pretty loving people. Notice I didn’t say loveable… but I believe we all want to at least think we are fairly loving toward others. But if you read the list of qualities in this passage, you will find that we all fall short on quite a few of them. The very people we love are those with whom we are often impatient. We often want what others have, and more than a few of us insist on our own way. We love conditionally… we try to make ourselves look better than the next guy…we fly off the handle more times than we care to count!
These are not the actions of someone who loves genuinely… but they are very human actions. I don’t mean to excuse our behavior… and honestly, one of the great mysteries of Christian faith is how/why God continues to love us when we are so unlovely – particularly toward each other. As the Apostle Paul has aptly pointed out, we see things in a fog for now. Someday we will have all the answers, but for now, we must trust that God is handling things for us perfectly.
I’m pretty sure that we mortals would not be able to handle knowing what God knows. He has allowed us to sort of sugarcoat a lot of things about ourselves and others that allows us to love each other… and yet, God loves us warts and all! Now that’s pure love!
Having said all of this, I like to think that I am a loving person… that I treat others with kindness and respect… and that God is pleased with my efforts. In reading this passage again, I can clearly see that I fall short a lot of the time. Thankfully, my challenge – and yours – is to keep trying… to trust God, to hope that He will continue to grant us grace and mercy, and to work harder at loving more deeply and generously. Without love in action, our faith is hollow. How extravagant is your love these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
When I was an infant at my mother’s breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
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 any given day, most of us would say we are pretty loving people. Notice I didn’t say loveable… but I believe we all want to at least think we are fairly loving toward others. But if you read the list of qualities in this passage, you will find that we all fall short on quite a few of them. The very people we love are those with whom we are often impatient. We often want what others have, and more than a few of us insist on our own way. We love conditionally… we try to make ourselves look better than the next guy…we fly off the handle more times than we care to count!
These are not the actions of someone who loves genuinely… but they are very human actions. I don’t mean to excuse our behavior… and honestly, one of the great mysteries of Christian faith is how/why God continues to love us when we are so unlovely – particularly toward each other. As the Apostle Paul has aptly pointed out, we see things in a fog for now. Someday we will have all the answers, but for now, we must trust that God is handling things for us perfectly.
I’m pretty sure that we mortals would not be able to handle knowing what God knows. He has allowed us to sort of sugarcoat a lot of things about ourselves and others that allows us to love each other… and yet, God loves us warts and all! Now that’s pure love!
Having said all of this, I like to think that I am a loving person… that I treat others with kindness and respect… and that God is pleased with my efforts. In reading this passage again, I can clearly see that I fall short a lot of the time. Thankfully, my challenge – and yours – is to keep trying… to trust God, to hope that He will continue to grant us grace and mercy, and to work harder at loving more deeply and generously. Without love in action, our faith is hollow. How extravagant is your love these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 10, 2012
John 20:24-24
Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn’t with the others when Jesus appeared to them. So they told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But Thomas said, “First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won’t believe unless I do this!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In August, our nephew Timothy came to Arkansas for a visit. My husband and I returned him to his family in Texas after a couple of weeks. We told him we were going on an adventure. It never occurred to us that he would think we had tricked him, but when he saw his apartment in Texas and realized that his visit with us was over, he was very upset. So when we recently traveled to Texas to move him and his family back to Arkansas, Timothy was understandably skeptical. All the way home he kept saying, “But I don’t want to live in Texas!”
Despite our best efforts to reassure him that none of us would be living in Texas, Timothy was not convinced. He thought this was another trick. We told him about his new house and big yard. He didn’t believe us. I took him out in his new yard and let him run from one end to the other. Only then did he say, “This is my new yard. It’s BIG!” We showed him every room in the house and told him these were all for his family. He came to our house and saw that all of his toys were still here and everything was pretty much as he had left it. Only then did he start to settle in and relax. And he’s still working through it all. For a three-year-old, such a change is a process…and his trust is not easily earned!
What about you? Are there things about God’s promises that you don’t believe because you have not physically seen proof? Are there areas where you cannot seem to trust what you have read in scripture? Have these passages and the claims of others failed to convince you that God is in control of your worries and cares? Do you still feel that you need concrete evidence? Are you waiting on the “nail scars” and the “spear in the side” to convince you that God is real… or that He truly answers our prayers?
Too many of us are “Doubting Thomases.” We can’t seem to get to a point where we trust God completely… regardless of our circumstances, how well things are going in our lives, or a thousand people telling us that God will never leave us! We need proof! We need evidence! We need “nail scars” and “spears in the side!”
When we come to the place where we trust God implicitly - proof or not - we have arrived, to a large degree, as Christians. When we can honestly say, “I’m giving my life – warts, problems and all – to God,” we can finally begin to grow and serve as we should. This doesn’t happen overnight. For some of us, it’s a lifelong process. For those who are willing to surrender – to “let go and let God,” amazing things begin to happen. When God has full control and our complete trust, even our worst day is better.
Where are you in this picture? Do you say you trust God, then worry and fret and try to fix things yourself? Are you a full-fledged “Doubting Thomas?” Or have you committed to trust God and believe in Him, sight unseen? Your answer matters. Your choice is critical! Timothy may not live in Texas any more, but I’m not totally sure he is convinced yet. I look forward to the day he believes us when we tell him that he is home for good.
What about you? Do you believe in things you have not seen? Are you convinced that what God has said and done is real and true? Or is your faith level that of a three-year-old? Have you truly seen the LORD at work in your life? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn’t with the others when Jesus appeared to them. So they told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But Thomas said, “First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won’t believe unless I do this!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In August, our nephew Timothy came to Arkansas for a visit. My husband and I returned him to his family in Texas after a couple of weeks. We told him we were going on an adventure. It never occurred to us that he would think we had tricked him, but when he saw his apartment in Texas and realized that his visit with us was over, he was very upset. So when we recently traveled to Texas to move him and his family back to Arkansas, Timothy was understandably skeptical. All the way home he kept saying, “But I don’t want to live in Texas!”
Despite our best efforts to reassure him that none of us would be living in Texas, Timothy was not convinced. He thought this was another trick. We told him about his new house and big yard. He didn’t believe us. I took him out in his new yard and let him run from one end to the other. Only then did he say, “This is my new yard. It’s BIG!” We showed him every room in the house and told him these were all for his family. He came to our house and saw that all of his toys were still here and everything was pretty much as he had left it. Only then did he start to settle in and relax. And he’s still working through it all. For a three-year-old, such a change is a process…and his trust is not easily earned!
What about you? Are there things about God’s promises that you don’t believe because you have not physically seen proof? Are there areas where you cannot seem to trust what you have read in scripture? Have these passages and the claims of others failed to convince you that God is in control of your worries and cares? Do you still feel that you need concrete evidence? Are you waiting on the “nail scars” and the “spear in the side” to convince you that God is real… or that He truly answers our prayers?
Too many of us are “Doubting Thomases.” We can’t seem to get to a point where we trust God completely… regardless of our circumstances, how well things are going in our lives, or a thousand people telling us that God will never leave us! We need proof! We need evidence! We need “nail scars” and “spears in the side!”
When we come to the place where we trust God implicitly - proof or not - we have arrived, to a large degree, as Christians. When we can honestly say, “I’m giving my life – warts, problems and all – to God,” we can finally begin to grow and serve as we should. This doesn’t happen overnight. For some of us, it’s a lifelong process. For those who are willing to surrender – to “let go and let God,” amazing things begin to happen. When God has full control and our complete trust, even our worst day is better.
Where are you in this picture? Do you say you trust God, then worry and fret and try to fix things yourself? Are you a full-fledged “Doubting Thomas?” Or have you committed to trust God and believe in Him, sight unseen? Your answer matters. Your choice is critical! Timothy may not live in Texas any more, but I’m not totally sure he is convinced yet. I look forward to the day he believes us when we tell him that he is home for good.
What about you? Do you believe in things you have not seen? Are you convinced that what God has said and done is real and true? Or is your faith level that of a three-year-old? Have you truly seen the LORD at work in your life? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 21, 2012
John 20:29
Jesus said, “Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few nights ago, my husband and I spoke by phone with our three-year-old nephew, Timothy, who lives in another state. At one point, he said, “Debbie, I want to see you!” I replied, “I want to see you, too, Timothy.” He did not understand the concept of talking to someone on the phone and being unable to see them… and he kept trying to show us things – toys, movies, and more.
As we talked, Timothy’s mother got out a picture album and showed him photographs of us. He would say, “That’s probably you, Debbie. That’s probably you, Uncle Greg!” It seemed to help him to visualize us as we spoke… to remember what we looked like, based on our photos.
Doesn’t it seem like it would often be easier to communicate with God if we had a photograph of Him? Don’t we long to see Him? Yet Jesus tells us in this passage that the very fact that we accept Him on faith – even though we have never physically seen Him – is what makes our relationship so special and powerful. We trust in God solely on faith that He exists… and the evidence of His love, care, grace and mercy on our behalf. We trust completely that a man we’ve never seen died on a cross for our sins, was buried and rose again. We hold onto a promise that we will join Him in heaven someday for all eternity.
Timothy trusts that we are the same Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg who loved him unconditionally and lavished attention, food, clothes, shelter and time on him when he stayed with us. Conversely, Timothy’s little sister Zola does not know us. We have not seen her since she was three months old, so she has no recollection of us except for photos… no real basis for a connection. Yet somehow, I believe she will come to know us and love us, based solely on the words of her parents and brother – and our actions toward her. In a childlike manner, we Christians walk and live by faith… completely trusting God without ever having seen Him. Just like our little Zola, we operate purely on the word of others… and the actions and blessings of God on our behalf.
We humans tend to be such literal creatures. I find it truly amazing that we have the capacity to so deeply love and adore a God we have never seen, based on faith that He really exists. I find it even more incredible that God can love us with such a power and compulsion that we find this completely plausible - real and genuine. How can we deny His existence? How can we fail to trust and serve Him? After all, evidence of God is all around us… in nature, daily miracles and blessings, and answered prayers. With the confidence of a three-year-old looking at photographs, we can say, “That’s probably God’s handiwork!” – and know without question that we are correct.
Do you have “unseen” faith? Do you believe in God, even though you have never physically seen His picture? Do you require more proof that He exists, or are you ready to take a look around you and acknowledge that what you see is more than probably God at work in your life? He truly IS here… ready to meet your every need! What more do you require? What is holding you back from truly believing in Him? If a toddler can accept that the voices on the other end of a phone are those of people he loves (who love him, also) - yet he only sees them in photographs - can’t we accept that the God who is evident all around us truly exists? Are you ready to exercise the faith of a child… and be blessed accordingly?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Jesus said, “Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few nights ago, my husband and I spoke by phone with our three-year-old nephew, Timothy, who lives in another state. At one point, he said, “Debbie, I want to see you!” I replied, “I want to see you, too, Timothy.” He did not understand the concept of talking to someone on the phone and being unable to see them… and he kept trying to show us things – toys, movies, and more.
As we talked, Timothy’s mother got out a picture album and showed him photographs of us. He would say, “That’s probably you, Debbie. That’s probably you, Uncle Greg!” It seemed to help him to visualize us as we spoke… to remember what we looked like, based on our photos.
Doesn’t it seem like it would often be easier to communicate with God if we had a photograph of Him? Don’t we long to see Him? Yet Jesus tells us in this passage that the very fact that we accept Him on faith – even though we have never physically seen Him – is what makes our relationship so special and powerful. We trust in God solely on faith that He exists… and the evidence of His love, care, grace and mercy on our behalf. We trust completely that a man we’ve never seen died on a cross for our sins, was buried and rose again. We hold onto a promise that we will join Him in heaven someday for all eternity.
Timothy trusts that we are the same Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg who loved him unconditionally and lavished attention, food, clothes, shelter and time on him when he stayed with us. Conversely, Timothy’s little sister Zola does not know us. We have not seen her since she was three months old, so she has no recollection of us except for photos… no real basis for a connection. Yet somehow, I believe she will come to know us and love us, based solely on the words of her parents and brother – and our actions toward her. In a childlike manner, we Christians walk and live by faith… completely trusting God without ever having seen Him. Just like our little Zola, we operate purely on the word of others… and the actions and blessings of God on our behalf.
We humans tend to be such literal creatures. I find it truly amazing that we have the capacity to so deeply love and adore a God we have never seen, based on faith that He really exists. I find it even more incredible that God can love us with such a power and compulsion that we find this completely plausible - real and genuine. How can we deny His existence? How can we fail to trust and serve Him? After all, evidence of God is all around us… in nature, daily miracles and blessings, and answered prayers. With the confidence of a three-year-old looking at photographs, we can say, “That’s probably God’s handiwork!” – and know without question that we are correct.
Do you have “unseen” faith? Do you believe in God, even though you have never physically seen His picture? Do you require more proof that He exists, or are you ready to take a look around you and acknowledge that what you see is more than probably God at work in your life? He truly IS here… ready to meet your every need! What more do you require? What is holding you back from truly believing in Him? If a toddler can accept that the voices on the other end of a phone are those of people he loves (who love him, also) - yet he only sees them in photographs - can’t we accept that the God who is evident all around us truly exists? Are you ready to exercise the faith of a child… and be blessed accordingly?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 3, 2012
2 Corinthians 4:16
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.
I don’t know about you, but I have had a few life experiences that left me feeling as if things were falling apart on me. It was hard to say goodbye to loved ones… to bury my pets… to let our little Timothy go home after spending so much time with us. I was frustrated when I broke my ankle and had to spend three months sitting on the couch, asking for help with everything – even a shower! I was deeply disappointed when I truly believed I was in line for a new job… then I wasn’t selected. I’ve felt the sting of conceding that “enough is enough” and letting go of toxic relationships and unhealthy habits. There have been times when I spent a few days or longer merely going through the motions of getting through the day… and I bet you have been there, too!
I don’t like to compare myself to others. I believe God wants us to examine our own lives and consider how we stack up to His desires and expectations for us. However, in this instance, I think we should momentarily make an exception. If we look around, we can see examples in every life situation of people who are handling similar experiences… or far worse. We may grieve for loved ones who now live in Heaven, but that is nothing compared to those who grieve for loved ones who never professed to know Jesus. We may have lost a beloved pet… others have lost a child – or several children. We may not get the new job… others don’t have a job in the first place. We may have broken a bone or two - or suffered a temporary, treatable illness… others face a lifelong, chronic condition or an incurable disease.
We may have setbacks in relationships, challenges in the workplace and at school, or face a temporary separation from someone we love… others face complete estrangement from their families and friends, do not have the opportunity to work or study, or experience permanent banishment from their loved ones.
And if that isn’t enough… consider all that Jesus suffered - entirely on our behalf - and everything that is promised because of His suffering. No matter what we are facing… however difficult, sad, or disappointing life may seem today… we cannot wallow in self-pity. We must look to the cross, and beyond, and realize that even on our worst day, God is blessing us and equipping us in ways we can’t begin to imagine. We must realize that our hearts are not breaking – at least not in the way we think. While we feel like our heart is bursting open and everything is falling apart, God is at work… filling us with love, grace and new mercies – and mending our hearts in a way that strengthens us for another day.
I could cite countless examples of people who have lived with hope and courage in spite of incredible, seemingly impossible challenges and roadblocks. I could tell you about many persons I know who have endured one tragedy after another with a positive spirit that seems incredulous. I am guessing you could make your own list of inspiring individuals. Instead, I want to encourage you to work on adding your name to that list. Open your heart to all that God wants to give you… acknowledge that He is working behind the scenes and healing you in ways you can’t begin to fully understand. Live with hope and courage that a better day is coming… lavish celebrations are on the way… and God is making a new life for each of us.
When challenges come – and they will! – don’t allow them to completely sap your faith and courage. You may suffer a momentary setback. Grief and sadness - for a season - is perfectly normal. But ultimately, remember Who is at work in your heart - storing up blessings to last forever. Never give up. Examine the depths of your heart and see how God is working… and live from this abundance. There truly is far more here than meets the eye. What has God placed in your heart today?
©2012 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.
I don’t know about you, but I have had a few life experiences that left me feeling as if things were falling apart on me. It was hard to say goodbye to loved ones… to bury my pets… to let our little Timothy go home after spending so much time with us. I was frustrated when I broke my ankle and had to spend three months sitting on the couch, asking for help with everything – even a shower! I was deeply disappointed when I truly believed I was in line for a new job… then I wasn’t selected. I’ve felt the sting of conceding that “enough is enough” and letting go of toxic relationships and unhealthy habits. There have been times when I spent a few days or longer merely going through the motions of getting through the day… and I bet you have been there, too!
I don’t like to compare myself to others. I believe God wants us to examine our own lives and consider how we stack up to His desires and expectations for us. However, in this instance, I think we should momentarily make an exception. If we look around, we can see examples in every life situation of people who are handling similar experiences… or far worse. We may grieve for loved ones who now live in Heaven, but that is nothing compared to those who grieve for loved ones who never professed to know Jesus. We may have lost a beloved pet… others have lost a child – or several children. We may not get the new job… others don’t have a job in the first place. We may have broken a bone or two - or suffered a temporary, treatable illness… others face a lifelong, chronic condition or an incurable disease.
We may have setbacks in relationships, challenges in the workplace and at school, or face a temporary separation from someone we love… others face complete estrangement from their families and friends, do not have the opportunity to work or study, or experience permanent banishment from their loved ones.
And if that isn’t enough… consider all that Jesus suffered - entirely on our behalf - and everything that is promised because of His suffering. No matter what we are facing… however difficult, sad, or disappointing life may seem today… we cannot wallow in self-pity. We must look to the cross, and beyond, and realize that even on our worst day, God is blessing us and equipping us in ways we can’t begin to imagine. We must realize that our hearts are not breaking – at least not in the way we think. While we feel like our heart is bursting open and everything is falling apart, God is at work… filling us with love, grace and new mercies – and mending our hearts in a way that strengthens us for another day.
I could cite countless examples of people who have lived with hope and courage in spite of incredible, seemingly impossible challenges and roadblocks. I could tell you about many persons I know who have endured one tragedy after another with a positive spirit that seems incredulous. I am guessing you could make your own list of inspiring individuals. Instead, I want to encourage you to work on adding your name to that list. Open your heart to all that God wants to give you… acknowledge that He is working behind the scenes and healing you in ways you can’t begin to fully understand. Live with hope and courage that a better day is coming… lavish celebrations are on the way… and God is making a new life for each of us.
When challenges come – and they will! – don’t allow them to completely sap your faith and courage. You may suffer a momentary setback. Grief and sadness - for a season - is perfectly normal. But ultimately, remember Who is at work in your heart - storing up blessings to last forever. Never give up. Examine the depths of your heart and see how God is working… and live from this abundance. There truly is far more here than meets the eye. What has God placed in your heart today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 29, 2012
Genesis 15:1-6
After all these things, this word of God came to Abram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Abram. I'm your shield. Your reward will be grand!" Abram said, "God, Master, what use are your gifts as long as I'm childless and Eliezer of Damascus is going to inherit everything?" Abram continued, "See, you've given me no children, and now a mere house servant is going to get it all."
Then God's Message came: "Don't worry, he won't be your heir; a son from your body will be your heir." Then he took him outside and said, "Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it? Count your descendants! You're going to have a big family, Abram!" And he believed! Believed God! God declared him "Set-Right-with-God."
Romans 4:17-18
We call Abraham "father" not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn't that what we've always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, "I set you up as father of many peoples"? Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, "You're going to have a big family, Abraham!”
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 October 2010, I bought a workout video and told myself that I would do this… I would get in shape and become more healthy. The first day, I put the DVD in the machine and did as much of the workout as I could… and I honestly thought I might die. My legs shook like jelly for about an hour. I could not get my breath, my heart pounded, and I hurt – everywhere. The trainer on the DVD said, “If you are on Day Six or Seven, these exercises are probably already a little easier than on Day One.” Yeah, right! I wondered if I would ever even see Day Six or Seven. But her words encouraged me, and I took a giant leap of faith and trusted that in time, I truly would be able to do the workout routine… and hopefully I would become healthier and more fit.
More than a year later, I am able to do things I never dreamed I could do –pushups, jogging and weight lifting. I can balance and flex in ways I never thought possible at my age, and I’ve lowered my cholesterol and other “numbers” while becoming more fit and healthy. I listened to the trainer and kept the faith that she would deliver on her promises of strength and stamina. Now, when I face an exercise that seems daunting – or impossible – I look at how far I have come, and I realize that maybe I can actually do this! I know it is at least worth my best shot!
So often in life, we consider the problem… and not the promise. We look at the obstacles in our life… age, heritage, home life, health, economic status, race, level of education, and more… and we say, “There’s no way I can overcome this. I can never do what God is asking of me. I can never be what He thinks I can be. This is totally hopeless.” In truth, whatever God desires for you is entirely possible… from serving others in His name to serving on a committee at church or in your community to being a leader in your community, state, or country.
If God wants you to be a parent, head a major corporation, or serve as a missionary in a foreign land… He will equip you for the task. If He wants you to be able to purchase your own home and vehicle, overcome an addiction, or even lose a few pounds and get in shape, He can help you accomplish this. Our job is to focus on the promise… not the problem. Satan will try to trip us up at every turn by telling us that we are not good enough… that our situation is hopeless… that the promises are too grand, out of our league, and completely unattainable.
God has created a covenant partnership with us, as believers in Jesus Christ. He has promised that all things are possible, according to His will, when we trust Him. God NEVER defaults on a promise. The best thing we can do is continue to trust God even when we can’t see how things are going to come together. Just as it took several weeks of huffing and puffing and only being able to do small portions of the daily workout routine before I began to see any results, we often have to huff and puff along with God for a while before we catch a glimmer of the work He is doing in our lives.
We must not stagger… we must not backslide… and we most certainly must not give up! Have faith that God will deliver on His promises… keep plugging away at whatever path He has placed before you. Live on the basis of what God has said He will do… not what you can’t accomplish on your own. Pay attention to the small gains you make along the way, and stop to thank God for even small victories. When everything looks hopeless, listen for God’s voice… and keep going. Strengthen your faith as you grow in God’s promises. Focus on the potential for days when your “workout” will become easier… and all that you strived to accomplish has been delivered.
©2012 Debbie Robus
After all these things, this word of God came to Abram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Abram. I'm your shield. Your reward will be grand!" Abram said, "God, Master, what use are your gifts as long as I'm childless and Eliezer of Damascus is going to inherit everything?" Abram continued, "See, you've given me no children, and now a mere house servant is going to get it all."
Then God's Message came: "Don't worry, he won't be your heir; a son from your body will be your heir." Then he took him outside and said, "Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it? Count your descendants! You're going to have a big family, Abram!" And he believed! Believed God! God declared him "Set-Right-with-God."
Romans 4:17-18
We call Abraham "father" not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn't that what we've always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, "I set you up as father of many peoples"? Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, "You're going to have a big family, Abraham!”
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 October 2010, I bought a workout video and told myself that I would do this… I would get in shape and become more healthy. The first day, I put the DVD in the machine and did as much of the workout as I could… and I honestly thought I might die. My legs shook like jelly for about an hour. I could not get my breath, my heart pounded, and I hurt – everywhere. The trainer on the DVD said, “If you are on Day Six or Seven, these exercises are probably already a little easier than on Day One.” Yeah, right! I wondered if I would ever even see Day Six or Seven. But her words encouraged me, and I took a giant leap of faith and trusted that in time, I truly would be able to do the workout routine… and hopefully I would become healthier and more fit.
More than a year later, I am able to do things I never dreamed I could do –pushups, jogging and weight lifting. I can balance and flex in ways I never thought possible at my age, and I’ve lowered my cholesterol and other “numbers” while becoming more fit and healthy. I listened to the trainer and kept the faith that she would deliver on her promises of strength and stamina. Now, when I face an exercise that seems daunting – or impossible – I look at how far I have come, and I realize that maybe I can actually do this! I know it is at least worth my best shot!
So often in life, we consider the problem… and not the promise. We look at the obstacles in our life… age, heritage, home life, health, economic status, race, level of education, and more… and we say, “There’s no way I can overcome this. I can never do what God is asking of me. I can never be what He thinks I can be. This is totally hopeless.” In truth, whatever God desires for you is entirely possible… from serving others in His name to serving on a committee at church or in your community to being a leader in your community, state, or country.
If God wants you to be a parent, head a major corporation, or serve as a missionary in a foreign land… He will equip you for the task. If He wants you to be able to purchase your own home and vehicle, overcome an addiction, or even lose a few pounds and get in shape, He can help you accomplish this. Our job is to focus on the promise… not the problem. Satan will try to trip us up at every turn by telling us that we are not good enough… that our situation is hopeless… that the promises are too grand, out of our league, and completely unattainable.
God has created a covenant partnership with us, as believers in Jesus Christ. He has promised that all things are possible, according to His will, when we trust Him. God NEVER defaults on a promise. The best thing we can do is continue to trust God even when we can’t see how things are going to come together. Just as it took several weeks of huffing and puffing and only being able to do small portions of the daily workout routine before I began to see any results, we often have to huff and puff along with God for a while before we catch a glimmer of the work He is doing in our lives.
We must not stagger… we must not backslide… and we most certainly must not give up! Have faith that God will deliver on His promises… keep plugging away at whatever path He has placed before you. Live on the basis of what God has said He will do… not what you can’t accomplish on your own. Pay attention to the small gains you make along the way, and stop to thank God for even small victories. When everything looks hopeless, listen for God’s voice… and keep going. Strengthen your faith as you grow in God’s promises. Focus on the potential for days when your “workout” will become easier… and all that you strived to accomplish has been delivered.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 24, 2012
Acts 4:11-16
While the man kept holding on to Peter and John, the whole crowd ran to them in amazement at the place known as Solomon's Porch. Peter saw that a crowd had gathered, and he said: Friends, why are you surprised at what has happened? Why are you staring at us? Do you think we have some power of our own? Do you think we were able to make this man walk because we are so religious? The God that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our other ancestors worshiped has brought honor to his Servant Jesus. He is the one you betrayed. You turned against him when he was being tried by Pilate, even though Pilate wanted to set him free. You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free, and you killed the one who leads people to life. But God raised him from death, and all of us can tell you what he has done. You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus and was made strong. Faith in Jesus made this man completely well while everyone was watching.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
More than once, I’ve heard someone say to another person… “I know you have a direct line to heaven, so please pray for me,” or something to that effect. And I admit, I have said that a few times to someone who I thought was a strong disciple of Christ. The trouble with this concept is that the “direct line” to God is not exclusive to a select few people. God does not give more attention to one person over another. We all have the same “line” to God… the difference is in how we utilize it.
Honestly, most people probably say this to another person as a way of paying them a compliment or acknowledging the blessings of his/her faithfulness. But we really need to be careful what we say… even with the best of intentions. What makes the prayers of certain people seem more effective is a result of their level of faith and trust in God. In truth, their prayers are not heard more often than ours… ahead of ours… or instead of ours! But their trust in God to answer may trump ours any day of the week.
People who go to church every Sunday, sing in the choir, serve in leadership roles in the church, or do mission work do not have their prayers answered - or live a problem-free life - because of their actions. Your heart… and your faith… are what matters. The most powerful, faithful, devoted servant of God may be a little old lady in the nursing home who trusts God to meet her needs and prays daily – and faithfully – for the needs of others. The soldier stationed in a foreign country who trusts God for safety and “daily bread” – in the trenches and for his/her family back at home – may receive more of God’s blessings than the deacon or church leader who is always in “high profile” for his/her latest projects, missions, or acts of service. Some of the people you consider to be “strong Christians” may actually have fairly weak faith behind their public persona.
What makes a Christian strong, confident, able and blessed is a matter of faith, not specific actions or mere talk. We can say all the right things… work in the church and serve in our community… be a “good person” and a friend to everyone we encounter… and still not operate in faith. Until we develop a deep, abiding faith in God… until we trust Him completely and operate from this foundation rather than the expectations and standards of the world… we will never truly experience all that God has for us.
Do not misunderstand me. Service is important… Jesus commanded us to love one another and to serve in His name. Corporate worship is important… we are called to fellowship with others – to come together to praise God and study His word. A positive attitude and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others is mandated by scripture. But all of these are fueled by a genuine faith in our Heavenly Father. Without a true faith in the promises of God, much of what we say and do is merely “lip service” to make us look good and feel better.
We cannot know for certain what is in another person’s heart… and we are not to judge anyway. We must cultivate our own relationship with God based entirely in faith that He will meet our every need, according to His will. We must trust Him to make us strong and well… and to always “take our calls.” People are watching… and they may see what appears to be a faith-filled Christian with a “direct line” to God. But God knows our hearts. He knows whether we are merely “religious” or truly operating in faith and trust. He hears our prayers… and more importantly, the intention behind them. What are your intentions… are you operating in faith, or merely “talking religion?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
While the man kept holding on to Peter and John, the whole crowd ran to them in amazement at the place known as Solomon's Porch. Peter saw that a crowd had gathered, and he said: Friends, why are you surprised at what has happened? Why are you staring at us? Do you think we have some power of our own? Do you think we were able to make this man walk because we are so religious? The God that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our other ancestors worshiped has brought honor to his Servant Jesus. He is the one you betrayed. You turned against him when he was being tried by Pilate, even though Pilate wanted to set him free. You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free, and you killed the one who leads people to life. But God raised him from death, and all of us can tell you what he has done. You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus and was made strong. Faith in Jesus made this man completely well while everyone was watching.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
More than once, I’ve heard someone say to another person… “I know you have a direct line to heaven, so please pray for me,” or something to that effect. And I admit, I have said that a few times to someone who I thought was a strong disciple of Christ. The trouble with this concept is that the “direct line” to God is not exclusive to a select few people. God does not give more attention to one person over another. We all have the same “line” to God… the difference is in how we utilize it.
Honestly, most people probably say this to another person as a way of paying them a compliment or acknowledging the blessings of his/her faithfulness. But we really need to be careful what we say… even with the best of intentions. What makes the prayers of certain people seem more effective is a result of their level of faith and trust in God. In truth, their prayers are not heard more often than ours… ahead of ours… or instead of ours! But their trust in God to answer may trump ours any day of the week.
People who go to church every Sunday, sing in the choir, serve in leadership roles in the church, or do mission work do not have their prayers answered - or live a problem-free life - because of their actions. Your heart… and your faith… are what matters. The most powerful, faithful, devoted servant of God may be a little old lady in the nursing home who trusts God to meet her needs and prays daily – and faithfully – for the needs of others. The soldier stationed in a foreign country who trusts God for safety and “daily bread” – in the trenches and for his/her family back at home – may receive more of God’s blessings than the deacon or church leader who is always in “high profile” for his/her latest projects, missions, or acts of service. Some of the people you consider to be “strong Christians” may actually have fairly weak faith behind their public persona.
What makes a Christian strong, confident, able and blessed is a matter of faith, not specific actions or mere talk. We can say all the right things… work in the church and serve in our community… be a “good person” and a friend to everyone we encounter… and still not operate in faith. Until we develop a deep, abiding faith in God… until we trust Him completely and operate from this foundation rather than the expectations and standards of the world… we will never truly experience all that God has for us.
Do not misunderstand me. Service is important… Jesus commanded us to love one another and to serve in His name. Corporate worship is important… we are called to fellowship with others – to come together to praise God and study His word. A positive attitude and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others is mandated by scripture. But all of these are fueled by a genuine faith in our Heavenly Father. Without a true faith in the promises of God, much of what we say and do is merely “lip service” to make us look good and feel better.
We cannot know for certain what is in another person’s heart… and we are not to judge anyway. We must cultivate our own relationship with God based entirely in faith that He will meet our every need, according to His will. We must trust Him to make us strong and well… and to always “take our calls.” People are watching… and they may see what appears to be a faith-filled Christian with a “direct line” to God. But God knows our hearts. He knows whether we are merely “religious” or truly operating in faith and trust. He hears our prayers… and more importantly, the intention behind them. What are your intentions… are you operating in faith, or merely “talking religion?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 6, 2012
Acts 1:1-5
Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon."
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.
During the holidays, I read a book called Two From Galilee by Marjorie Holmes. This little novel centered on Mary and Joseph and all of the controversy that surrounded not only their betrothal, but most certainly Mary’s pregnancy and the weeks and months that led to the birth of Jesus. It’s a great story, and Ms. Holmes does a great job of giving us insights into the lives of Mary and Joseph’s families… the religious laws and cultural customs of the day… and the waiting.
Waiting seems to be a frequent theme in the Bible. Joseph waited for Mary… and Mary waited for the birth of Jesus. Often in the Old Testament, we read where David, Moses, Abraham and others waited on a word or sign from the LORD. Mary, the mother of Jesus and others waited at Calvary as Jesus was crucified… and Mary Magdalene and others waited near the tomb after His body was placed there.
We spend a lot of time in life waiting. We wait on graduation from high school… and some wait again to finish college and graduate school. We wait on a wedding date, and the birth of our children. We wait for a call to say we got the job… or the house. We wait for loved ones to return from war… and we sit and wait with those who are dying. And let’s be honest, many of us are not very good at waiting. We lack patience… and faith. Even when we know that the day is coming when everything will be fulfilled, we have trouble trusting the promises and believing that it will truly arrive.
So it should come as no surprise that we have trouble waiting on the LORD. We have trouble waiting on His timing… and believing that He really hears our requests and plans to make good on His promises. But we have so much evidence that He does exactly what He says. The Bible is filled with one example after another where God made a promise to His children… and delivered. We ought to know by now that God keeps his promises… and when He tells us to wait, it’s with good reason!
I don’t know what you are waiting on these days, but I do know this… whatever God has promised you, He will bring. If you are waiting on healing…it’s coming. If you are waiting on rescue from personal or financial struggle, a relationship conflict, or a sense of peace and calm…hold on. The God who gave His only Son to save us from our sins… the same God who makes His Holy Spirit available to dwell in our hearts each and every day… will not keep us waiting forever.
Jesus’ teachings and instructions were a lot for His apostles to absorb in the forty days before his ascension into heaven. The words of the angel to Mary…that she - a virgin - would bear a son who would be the Savior of the world…were incredibly mind boggling. The promise of Eternity in heaven seems almost unfathomable to me. But I know that this promise is true… because I have seen evidence already of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises. And so I wait on the LORD… for His guidance, His direction, and His blessings and His constant care. Won’t you wait with me?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon."
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.
During the holidays, I read a book called Two From Galilee by Marjorie Holmes. This little novel centered on Mary and Joseph and all of the controversy that surrounded not only their betrothal, but most certainly Mary’s pregnancy and the weeks and months that led to the birth of Jesus. It’s a great story, and Ms. Holmes does a great job of giving us insights into the lives of Mary and Joseph’s families… the religious laws and cultural customs of the day… and the waiting.
Waiting seems to be a frequent theme in the Bible. Joseph waited for Mary… and Mary waited for the birth of Jesus. Often in the Old Testament, we read where David, Moses, Abraham and others waited on a word or sign from the LORD. Mary, the mother of Jesus and others waited at Calvary as Jesus was crucified… and Mary Magdalene and others waited near the tomb after His body was placed there.
We spend a lot of time in life waiting. We wait on graduation from high school… and some wait again to finish college and graduate school. We wait on a wedding date, and the birth of our children. We wait for a call to say we got the job… or the house. We wait for loved ones to return from war… and we sit and wait with those who are dying. And let’s be honest, many of us are not very good at waiting. We lack patience… and faith. Even when we know that the day is coming when everything will be fulfilled, we have trouble trusting the promises and believing that it will truly arrive.
So it should come as no surprise that we have trouble waiting on the LORD. We have trouble waiting on His timing… and believing that He really hears our requests and plans to make good on His promises. But we have so much evidence that He does exactly what He says. The Bible is filled with one example after another where God made a promise to His children… and delivered. We ought to know by now that God keeps his promises… and when He tells us to wait, it’s with good reason!
I don’t know what you are waiting on these days, but I do know this… whatever God has promised you, He will bring. If you are waiting on healing…it’s coming. If you are waiting on rescue from personal or financial struggle, a relationship conflict, or a sense of peace and calm…hold on. The God who gave His only Son to save us from our sins… the same God who makes His Holy Spirit available to dwell in our hearts each and every day… will not keep us waiting forever.
Jesus’ teachings and instructions were a lot for His apostles to absorb in the forty days before his ascension into heaven. The words of the angel to Mary…that she - a virgin - would bear a son who would be the Savior of the world…were incredibly mind boggling. The promise of Eternity in heaven seems almost unfathomable to me. But I know that this promise is true… because I have seen evidence already of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises. And so I wait on the LORD… for His guidance, His direction, and His blessings and His constant care. Won’t you wait with me?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 30, 2011
John 20:28-29
Thomas said, "My Master! My God!" Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy loves to look at the moon. Ever since he first learned to say the word “moon” and realized that the yellow orb in his storybooks was the same moon we see in the sky, he has been mesmerized. He loves to go outside in “the dawk”, as he calls it, and look for the moon. On clear nights when the moon is readily visible, he will point and squeal, “There it is!” But on cloudy nights – or the days of the month when the moon rises during daylight hours – he has a hard time accepting that the moon is truly there. For a long time, he believed only because he had seen with his own eyes. As he grows and becomes able to understand more high-level concepts, he is learning to accept that the moon is still there, even when we cannot see it.
I believe that of the greatest milestones in our growth as a Christian is when we fully begin to accept God in the form of His only Son, Jesus, and to believe in all that He can accomplish in and through us, purely on faith. Certainly none of us has ever physically seen Jesus in human form. We weren’t here for His birth, death, or resurrection. But as surely as we know the moon is still in the sky, we should know that Jesus is real.
This is a hard concept for so many. How can we be so sure that Jesus exists if we’ve never seen Him? How can we be certain that He will usher us into His presence in Heaven someday? How can we know that He is working on our behalf? All of these questions can be difficult to answer, unless we are growing in our own relationship with Jesus on a daily basis.
I can tell you from firsthand experience that these questions are easier for me to answer today than they were yesterday – and next week the answers will come even more quickly. As I allow God to work in my life each and every day… as I open my eyes and ears to the countless ways He is orchestrating every breath I take and all of the circumstances that make up my existence… my “proof” is strengthened as my faith increases.
I can cite example after example where I know for a fact that God had His hand on me and a specific situation. I can say with certainty that the only way things could have happened as they did is because God was in control. I can give skeptics dozens of instances where there is no question that God did what mere man could not… fixed things I could never fix on my own… opened doors… healed and restored… and blessed abundantly!
I like to think that I am living proof that God exists… because He has brought me to this place in my life despite everything I have done to try and screw it up! And if you don’t believe MY testimony, I have Christian brothers and sisters who will be happy to share their own. I’ve seen God do some incredible things… yet I have never physically seen Him in the flesh. And I like what Jesus said in this passage…even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing! That sounds pretty good to me!
What about you? Do you believe? Have you “seen” the evidence of Jesus Christ in and around your own life? Are you paying attention… watching and listening for Him? Are you reaping the blessings of believing without seeing? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Thomas said, "My Master! My God!" Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy loves to look at the moon. Ever since he first learned to say the word “moon” and realized that the yellow orb in his storybooks was the same moon we see in the sky, he has been mesmerized. He loves to go outside in “the dawk”, as he calls it, and look for the moon. On clear nights when the moon is readily visible, he will point and squeal, “There it is!” But on cloudy nights – or the days of the month when the moon rises during daylight hours – he has a hard time accepting that the moon is truly there. For a long time, he believed only because he had seen with his own eyes. As he grows and becomes able to understand more high-level concepts, he is learning to accept that the moon is still there, even when we cannot see it.
I believe that of the greatest milestones in our growth as a Christian is when we fully begin to accept God in the form of His only Son, Jesus, and to believe in all that He can accomplish in and through us, purely on faith. Certainly none of us has ever physically seen Jesus in human form. We weren’t here for His birth, death, or resurrection. But as surely as we know the moon is still in the sky, we should know that Jesus is real.
This is a hard concept for so many. How can we be so sure that Jesus exists if we’ve never seen Him? How can we be certain that He will usher us into His presence in Heaven someday? How can we know that He is working on our behalf? All of these questions can be difficult to answer, unless we are growing in our own relationship with Jesus on a daily basis.
I can tell you from firsthand experience that these questions are easier for me to answer today than they were yesterday – and next week the answers will come even more quickly. As I allow God to work in my life each and every day… as I open my eyes and ears to the countless ways He is orchestrating every breath I take and all of the circumstances that make up my existence… my “proof” is strengthened as my faith increases.
I can cite example after example where I know for a fact that God had His hand on me and a specific situation. I can say with certainty that the only way things could have happened as they did is because God was in control. I can give skeptics dozens of instances where there is no question that God did what mere man could not… fixed things I could never fix on my own… opened doors… healed and restored… and blessed abundantly!
I like to think that I am living proof that God exists… because He has brought me to this place in my life despite everything I have done to try and screw it up! And if you don’t believe MY testimony, I have Christian brothers and sisters who will be happy to share their own. I’ve seen God do some incredible things… yet I have never physically seen Him in the flesh. And I like what Jesus said in this passage…even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing! That sounds pretty good to me!
What about you? Do you believe? Have you “seen” the evidence of Jesus Christ in and around your own life? Are you paying attention… watching and listening for Him? Are you reaping the blessings of believing without seeing? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 28, 2011
John 20:3-10
Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. They ran side by side, until the other disciple ran faster than Peter and got there first. He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in.
When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus' face. It was rolled up and in a place by itself. The disciple who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. At that time Peter and the other disciple did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise to life. So the two of them went back to the other disciples.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We have all probably had a time in our life where we said, “If I had not seen this with my own eyes, I never would have believed it.” Many of us are pretty skeptical, and we want proof before we will accept what we are told. And in some cases, we are wise to demand proof. We want receipts to show we have paid for merchandise and transcripts to verify our course work and grades. We depend on x-rays and scans to show us if a bone is broken or to determine other ailments and illnesses.
Everyone from physicians and attorneys to teachers, barbers, hairdressers, builders, plumbers and many other professionals have a license that declares he/she is certified (and hopefully qualified) to perform their assigned tasks… and we somehow are comforted and reassured by these documents. When a mechanic tells us something is wrong with our car, we often want to be shown exactly where the problem is before we agree to pay to have it fixed. Indeed, our concerns over proof are often totally valid.
When it comes to our relationship with Jesus, there just isn’t a lot of cold, hard physical evidence for us to examine. We can’t visit the tomb. We never saw Him in the flesh in the first place, so looking at linens in a cave would do us very little good. We must rely almost totally on faith and trust in the word of others as documented in the Bible… and the inanimate proof of Jesus’ existence and performance on our behalf. And that is a hard thing for many of us to accept.
My confidence and trust in the word of God grows daily. I believe in His promises more today than I did yesterday, and I have no doubt tomorrow my faith will be just a little stronger. Where is my proof? I find proof of the hope and grace of Jesus in everyday activities… the way He meets my needs and “shows up” in my life even when I least expect Him. And I am learning to expect Him more often! Why not ask God to help with the seemingly trite and insignificant issues of your day? Why don’t we believe that God will come to our rescue and make a way where none seems possible? Who says Jesus isn’t alive and well - and living within our hearts? Can anyone prove differently?
Until someone can show me with 100% confidence that Jesus is not real… that He is not working in and through me every minute of the day… I’m going to believe that He is doing exactly that! And honestly, I’m not looking for anyone to tell me otherwise. Trusting God is too wonderful. Allowing Him to handle the details of my day is too comforting and amazing… and not something I want to surrender!
So I guess I am “the other disciple” – the one who believes, based on limited proof. What about you? How much do you trust Jesus these days? Are you taking Him at His word and believing He can handle anything and everything in your life… or are you still running to others for reinforcement and confirmation? When we start to stand on our own two feet and believe in Christ Jesus to strengthen us in all things, we are truly growing in faith and headed toward complete victory and peace. Where are you on this journey? Have you seen and believed?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. They ran side by side, until the other disciple ran faster than Peter and got there first. He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in.
When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus' face. It was rolled up and in a place by itself. The disciple who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. At that time Peter and the other disciple did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise to life. So the two of them went back to the other disciples.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We have all probably had a time in our life where we said, “If I had not seen this with my own eyes, I never would have believed it.” Many of us are pretty skeptical, and we want proof before we will accept what we are told. And in some cases, we are wise to demand proof. We want receipts to show we have paid for merchandise and transcripts to verify our course work and grades. We depend on x-rays and scans to show us if a bone is broken or to determine other ailments and illnesses.
Everyone from physicians and attorneys to teachers, barbers, hairdressers, builders, plumbers and many other professionals have a license that declares he/she is certified (and hopefully qualified) to perform their assigned tasks… and we somehow are comforted and reassured by these documents. When a mechanic tells us something is wrong with our car, we often want to be shown exactly where the problem is before we agree to pay to have it fixed. Indeed, our concerns over proof are often totally valid.
When it comes to our relationship with Jesus, there just isn’t a lot of cold, hard physical evidence for us to examine. We can’t visit the tomb. We never saw Him in the flesh in the first place, so looking at linens in a cave would do us very little good. We must rely almost totally on faith and trust in the word of others as documented in the Bible… and the inanimate proof of Jesus’ existence and performance on our behalf. And that is a hard thing for many of us to accept.
My confidence and trust in the word of God grows daily. I believe in His promises more today than I did yesterday, and I have no doubt tomorrow my faith will be just a little stronger. Where is my proof? I find proof of the hope and grace of Jesus in everyday activities… the way He meets my needs and “shows up” in my life even when I least expect Him. And I am learning to expect Him more often! Why not ask God to help with the seemingly trite and insignificant issues of your day? Why don’t we believe that God will come to our rescue and make a way where none seems possible? Who says Jesus isn’t alive and well - and living within our hearts? Can anyone prove differently?
Until someone can show me with 100% confidence that Jesus is not real… that He is not working in and through me every minute of the day… I’m going to believe that He is doing exactly that! And honestly, I’m not looking for anyone to tell me otherwise. Trusting God is too wonderful. Allowing Him to handle the details of my day is too comforting and amazing… and not something I want to surrender!
So I guess I am “the other disciple” – the one who believes, based on limited proof. What about you? How much do you trust Jesus these days? Are you taking Him at His word and believing He can handle anything and everything in your life… or are you still running to others for reinforcement and confirmation? When we start to stand on our own two feet and believe in Christ Jesus to strengthen us in all things, we are truly growing in faith and headed toward complete victory and peace. Where are you on this journey? Have you seen and believed?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 21, 2011
John 14:1-7
Jesus said to his disciples, "Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going." Thomas said, "Lord, we don't even know where you are going! How can we know the way?"
"I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered. "Without me, no one can go to the Father. If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few years ago, a major shift in my life occurred. It seemed like as many – or more – people in my immediate “circle” were in heaven than here on earth. If I stop and list all of the close family members and friends who died within a span of five years or so, I’m overwhelmed… and it may be much the same for you and your circle of loved ones. When I was in my teens or twenties, this would have probably been incredibly devastating for me. In my mid-to-late thirties and forties, the “shock” was easier to absorb.
What shifted, besides my age – and possibly my maturity level? The answer for me is this… I had gotten to know the Father better. All of my life, I heard others quote the first part of this passage. I knew that Jesus returned to heaven to “get my mansion ready.” But this really didn’t comfort me much. That sounded great – when I was ninety! But I was young, full of life… and not ready to die… and I didn’t want to “lose” anyone dear to me, either.
Now I understand so much more about how God’s plans for us are supposed to work. I didn’t get this by lightning strike or a bump on the head… this understanding came to me through prayer, Bible study, meditation on God’s word, and fellowship with other believers… and lots of all of it! When we become Christians, we don’t instantly “get it” – we have to cultivate our relationship with God – and our understanding of His plans for us. And we must continue to work on this every day!
A few years ago I attended the funeral of a man who had died at a fairly young age after a tortuous battle with cancer. The pastor who conducted his funeral said that people talk about those they have “lost”. We say, “I’m sorry for your loss” when we console those who are grieving. The pastor reminded us that we didn’t truly lose these loved ones – if they are Christians, we know exactly where they are… and quite frankly, they are living the high life!
Do not misunderstand me. This doesn’t give you license to console others with trite phrases like, “It’s God’s will,” or “They are in a better place” … or “He/she is better off than we are!” God wants us to comfort others with His love and peace… but to temper it with grace and mercy. Grieving people are hurting. Yes, we do feel a sense of loss… the person we loved and cared about is no longer with us. But somehow, knowing that they have relocated to Jesus’ heavenly home… and a room is being prepared for us there, also… is incredibly meaningful to me these days.
My grandmother will celebrate her 99th birthday on November 5th. She told me recently that she has been asking God to take her home. She is tired and weary, feeling poorly… and ready for her heavenly mansion and the company of Jesus and those she has missed so dearly. Others have told me that they encourage her to “Keep going!”… “Hang in there!”… “Don’t give up!” I have simply told her that I promise to be happy for her when God has her room ready. I know that she knows the Father… and so do I… and this makes all the difference in my perspective.
My question for you is, “How well do YOU know the Father? Do you have His peace and comfort in all situations? Are you fearful of your ‘next home’ – or excited about the move someday?” I am not asking if you have a death wish… I’m asking if you know the “peace that passes all understanding.” Do YOU know Jesus…The Way to your heavenly home? May I introduce you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus said to his disciples, "Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going." Thomas said, "Lord, we don't even know where you are going! How can we know the way?"
"I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered. "Without me, no one can go to the Father. If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few years ago, a major shift in my life occurred. It seemed like as many – or more – people in my immediate “circle” were in heaven than here on earth. If I stop and list all of the close family members and friends who died within a span of five years or so, I’m overwhelmed… and it may be much the same for you and your circle of loved ones. When I was in my teens or twenties, this would have probably been incredibly devastating for me. In my mid-to-late thirties and forties, the “shock” was easier to absorb.
What shifted, besides my age – and possibly my maturity level? The answer for me is this… I had gotten to know the Father better. All of my life, I heard others quote the first part of this passage. I knew that Jesus returned to heaven to “get my mansion ready.” But this really didn’t comfort me much. That sounded great – when I was ninety! But I was young, full of life… and not ready to die… and I didn’t want to “lose” anyone dear to me, either.
Now I understand so much more about how God’s plans for us are supposed to work. I didn’t get this by lightning strike or a bump on the head… this understanding came to me through prayer, Bible study, meditation on God’s word, and fellowship with other believers… and lots of all of it! When we become Christians, we don’t instantly “get it” – we have to cultivate our relationship with God – and our understanding of His plans for us. And we must continue to work on this every day!
A few years ago I attended the funeral of a man who had died at a fairly young age after a tortuous battle with cancer. The pastor who conducted his funeral said that people talk about those they have “lost”. We say, “I’m sorry for your loss” when we console those who are grieving. The pastor reminded us that we didn’t truly lose these loved ones – if they are Christians, we know exactly where they are… and quite frankly, they are living the high life!
Do not misunderstand me. This doesn’t give you license to console others with trite phrases like, “It’s God’s will,” or “They are in a better place” … or “He/she is better off than we are!” God wants us to comfort others with His love and peace… but to temper it with grace and mercy. Grieving people are hurting. Yes, we do feel a sense of loss… the person we loved and cared about is no longer with us. But somehow, knowing that they have relocated to Jesus’ heavenly home… and a room is being prepared for us there, also… is incredibly meaningful to me these days.
My grandmother will celebrate her 99th birthday on November 5th. She told me recently that she has been asking God to take her home. She is tired and weary, feeling poorly… and ready for her heavenly mansion and the company of Jesus and those she has missed so dearly. Others have told me that they encourage her to “Keep going!”… “Hang in there!”… “Don’t give up!” I have simply told her that I promise to be happy for her when God has her room ready. I know that she knows the Father… and so do I… and this makes all the difference in my perspective.
My question for you is, “How well do YOU know the Father? Do you have His peace and comfort in all situations? Are you fearful of your ‘next home’ – or excited about the move someday?” I am not asking if you have a death wish… I’m asking if you know the “peace that passes all understanding.” Do YOU know Jesus…The Way to your heavenly home? May I introduce you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 12, 2011
1 Kings 4:12-13
If you obey my commands and do what I say, I will keep the promise I made to your father David. I will live among my people Israel in this temple you are building, and I will not desert them.
Psalm 111:7-8
God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted. They are true and right and will stand forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In many ways, two-year-olds trust no one! I promise Timothy that he can play outside when he wakes from a nap, but he doesn’t believe me. I tell him that he cannot play on the stairs unattended, because he might fall… but he has to take a little tumble to be convinced. We tell him that the kitties don’t want to be bothered, but he has to get a spit and a swat from them to believe it.
We always have Timothy’s very best interest at heart… but he doesn’t see it that way at all! In this little two-year-old’s mind, every time we leave without him, we’ve deserted him forever. We have broken every promise we ever made… and he is crushed. The good news is that we do honor our promises, and his trust is always restored. He forgets all about being upset with us and showers us with hugs and kisses and giggles.
Do you think God sees us as His very own two-year-olds? Don’t we behave much like little Timothy? Do we not act as if God’s promises are unbelievable and unworthy of our trust? Don’t we treat God like He has completely deserted us at the first sign of trouble? Aren’t we crushed the second God tells us to stand on our own two feet and operate in faith that He will carry us through whatever we are facing?
Timothy will grow up soon enough. Hopefully, he will learn who to trust… and when he is being told the truth. For us as Christians, the time to grow up is NOW! We can no longer act like fickle two-year-olds. God has told us… shown us… demonstrated over and again His power, love, grace, and mercy. He has delivered on countless promises already… and assured us that He will make good on hundreds more.
We must mature in our faith and trust God to do what He says. We must recognize His laws as honest, fair, and in our best interest. We must believe that He will hear our prayers and answer in a way that is perfect for our situation. And we must shower Him with “hugs, kisses and giggles” in the form of our praise and devotion… our service and gratitude.
Growing up is never easy… whether you are a two-year-old just learning the ropes or a Christian trying to operate in total surrender of self. Both are a process… but you have to start somewhere. Are you ready to trust God and believe Him? Are you growing in your faith… or are stuck in the “terrible twos”?
©2011 Debbie Robus
If you obey my commands and do what I say, I will keep the promise I made to your father David. I will live among my people Israel in this temple you are building, and I will not desert them.
Psalm 111:7-8
God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted. They are true and right and will stand forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In many ways, two-year-olds trust no one! I promise Timothy that he can play outside when he wakes from a nap, but he doesn’t believe me. I tell him that he cannot play on the stairs unattended, because he might fall… but he has to take a little tumble to be convinced. We tell him that the kitties don’t want to be bothered, but he has to get a spit and a swat from them to believe it.
We always have Timothy’s very best interest at heart… but he doesn’t see it that way at all! In this little two-year-old’s mind, every time we leave without him, we’ve deserted him forever. We have broken every promise we ever made… and he is crushed. The good news is that we do honor our promises, and his trust is always restored. He forgets all about being upset with us and showers us with hugs and kisses and giggles.
Do you think God sees us as His very own two-year-olds? Don’t we behave much like little Timothy? Do we not act as if God’s promises are unbelievable and unworthy of our trust? Don’t we treat God like He has completely deserted us at the first sign of trouble? Aren’t we crushed the second God tells us to stand on our own two feet and operate in faith that He will carry us through whatever we are facing?
Timothy will grow up soon enough. Hopefully, he will learn who to trust… and when he is being told the truth. For us as Christians, the time to grow up is NOW! We can no longer act like fickle two-year-olds. God has told us… shown us… demonstrated over and again His power, love, grace, and mercy. He has delivered on countless promises already… and assured us that He will make good on hundreds more.
We must mature in our faith and trust God to do what He says. We must recognize His laws as honest, fair, and in our best interest. We must believe that He will hear our prayers and answer in a way that is perfect for our situation. And we must shower Him with “hugs, kisses and giggles” in the form of our praise and devotion… our service and gratitude.
Growing up is never easy… whether you are a two-year-old just learning the ropes or a Christian trying to operate in total surrender of self. Both are a process… but you have to start somewhere. Are you ready to trust God and believe Him? Are you growing in your faith… or are stuck in the “terrible twos”?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 13, 2011
John 3:11-12
I tell you for certain that we know what we are talking about because we have seen it ourselves. But none of you will accept what we say. If you don't believe when I talk to you about things on earth, how can you possibly believe if I talk to you about things in heaven?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
How many times have you tried to tell someone something, and they simply refused to believe you? I bet I’ve shown our little Timothy several dozen times that his square block doesn’t go in the hole for the one with the triangular shape. Yet he still seems to try to force the wrong blocks in the wrong openings. I don’t get upset with him – he will learn. But for now, it can be somewhat frustrating… especially when I just showed him the correct place for each block shape.
As we grow, we are still told things that we don’t believe. Sometimes we have to make mistakes for ourselves in order to truly learn the lesson involved… and some of those lessons are really difficult ones! If we never mature to a level where we can accept certain truths – much less believe what others tell us – how will we ever believe in something as nebulous as heaven?
A lot of us have been reading the book Heaven is for Real lately. This is the story of a four-year-old boy who had a near-death experience and “went to heaven.” He tells in vivid detail of his encounter with Jesus and loved ones – and how glorious everything was. As my mother-in-law said, “I surely hope he’s right!” We won’t know for sure until we get there. But I have to admit, I’ve been greatly encouraged by this little boy’s account.
Why is it that I am more willing to believe after hearing a “firsthand” account than I was by merely reading the accounts in the Bible? Does this truly make heaven any more real because a four-year-old child supposedly saw it and can speak from experience about what he observed there? Do we have to wait until Jesus stands right in front of us and shows us his hands and feet before we believe He truly died on the cross for our sins? What does this say about our faith? Do we even have any?
I am not ashamed to say that I was encouraged by the account of heaven given in the book Heaven is for Real. But I am not dependent on such “physical proof” in order to believe that heaven exists… or that Jesus lived and died for me and waits there to welcome each of us home. I cannot see the Holy Spirit, but I know that He is with me every second of the day.
The miracles, signs and wonders of God are all around us… and some are more readily recognizable than others - though not necessarily more significant. Until we “believe in unseen things” with God, we are not fully enjoying a deep, abundant relationship with Him based on unabashed faith. This is where He delights… this is what pleases God… when we unconditionally trust Him – especially for that which we have not seen. What is your level of faith these days? Do you need physical proof before you can truly believe… or is God’s word and promise good enough?
©2011 Debbie Robus
I tell you for certain that we know what we are talking about because we have seen it ourselves. But none of you will accept what we say. If you don't believe when I talk to you about things on earth, how can you possibly believe if I talk to you about things in heaven?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
How many times have you tried to tell someone something, and they simply refused to believe you? I bet I’ve shown our little Timothy several dozen times that his square block doesn’t go in the hole for the one with the triangular shape. Yet he still seems to try to force the wrong blocks in the wrong openings. I don’t get upset with him – he will learn. But for now, it can be somewhat frustrating… especially when I just showed him the correct place for each block shape.
As we grow, we are still told things that we don’t believe. Sometimes we have to make mistakes for ourselves in order to truly learn the lesson involved… and some of those lessons are really difficult ones! If we never mature to a level where we can accept certain truths – much less believe what others tell us – how will we ever believe in something as nebulous as heaven?
A lot of us have been reading the book Heaven is for Real lately. This is the story of a four-year-old boy who had a near-death experience and “went to heaven.” He tells in vivid detail of his encounter with Jesus and loved ones – and how glorious everything was. As my mother-in-law said, “I surely hope he’s right!” We won’t know for sure until we get there. But I have to admit, I’ve been greatly encouraged by this little boy’s account.
Why is it that I am more willing to believe after hearing a “firsthand” account than I was by merely reading the accounts in the Bible? Does this truly make heaven any more real because a four-year-old child supposedly saw it and can speak from experience about what he observed there? Do we have to wait until Jesus stands right in front of us and shows us his hands and feet before we believe He truly died on the cross for our sins? What does this say about our faith? Do we even have any?
I am not ashamed to say that I was encouraged by the account of heaven given in the book Heaven is for Real. But I am not dependent on such “physical proof” in order to believe that heaven exists… or that Jesus lived and died for me and waits there to welcome each of us home. I cannot see the Holy Spirit, but I know that He is with me every second of the day.
The miracles, signs and wonders of God are all around us… and some are more readily recognizable than others - though not necessarily more significant. Until we “believe in unseen things” with God, we are not fully enjoying a deep, abundant relationship with Him based on unabashed faith. This is where He delights… this is what pleases God… when we unconditionally trust Him – especially for that which we have not seen. What is your level of faith these days? Do you need physical proof before you can truly believe… or is God’s word and promise good enough?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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