James 1:16-18
So don’t be misled, dear brothers.
But
whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God, the Creator of all
light, and he shines forever without change or shadow. And it was a
happy day for him when he gave us our new lives through the truth of his
Word, and we became, as it were, the first children in his new family.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
The last time Timothy and
Nathan visited for the day, we had a surprise for them…an odd assortment
of Lego® pieces and accessories to add to their collection. There was
an anchor…a “police” car hood, some cool tubes and extensions, and much
more. The boys were thrilled with this surprise…and Greg and I
delighted in THEIR joy and excitement.
More than once, Timothy
has asked Greg and me, “WHY are you so nice to me?” This usually comes
on the heels of getting something he really wants…like a new Lego® set.
But sometimes it is the result of extra attention or praise. There are
also times when things are not quite going their way and one of the
children will say to us…”You NEVER do anything nice for me!” Yes, kids
can be quite fickle!
Thankfully, God is never inconsistent…and He loves
to give us gifts and blessings. I can just imagine the joy He finds in
watching us revel in the wonder of an unexpected gift…everything from a
friendly word or gesture from another person to some kind of “windfall”
that we were not anticipating. My mother called such surprise
blessings “silver boxes.” I would tell her about something wonderful
that happened out of the blue, and she would say, “There’s your ‘silver
box’ for today!”
God loves to give us “silver boxes.” These are
the “Lego® sets” of His universe. “Shadows” do come into our lives from
time to time…and like little children, we often question God about
them. But these are not His doing. God is never fickle...His light never falters. The
“clouds” that occasionally block our awareness of His presence come from
our own sin - and are the devil’s doing. But God is still there…loving
us…blessing us…caring about our every breath!
“Silver boxes” are
all around us. We never know when we will receive one…but God has an
unending stash of them just waiting to be shared. As we grow in our
faith, let’s learn to recognize these more readily…to stomp down any
notions that God would withhold His gifts from us or ever mistreat us in
any way. Let’s understand that God is in the business of giving His
children all that they need…and then some!
When God gives you a
“silver box,” will you recognize that it came from Him? Do you fully
appreciate ALL of God’s good gifts…and have you told Him so lately?
Isn’t this the perfect day to get your “attitude of gratitude” right,
once and for all? What will God give you today? Are you really ready to
for His light to shine?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label blocking Gods blessings and answers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blocking Gods blessings and answers. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 21, 2016
Matthew 6:14-15
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
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.
Often when Timothy and Nathan work with Legos® or other blocks, something will not fit together, and they will growl and say, “Awww…I can’t figure this out!” When I am sewing or creating a craft pattern, there are many times that I stop and ask, “What am I missing?” In most of these instances, we are getting in a hurry and trying to do things “our way,” or we have not considered the big picture. And this same principle applies to how we treat others – and whether or not we forgive them.
If we are honest, we have asked God at least once, “Why are you not answering me?” Now this can have a lot of different implications. We can be asking, “Why didn’t you give me what I wanted?” We can be saying, “I feel cut off from you – lonely and afraid." Or we can simply be asking, “Lord, what is taking so long?” In all cases, the answer may lie more with OUR behaviors than with God’s responses.
I will be the first to say that I have felt God tell me, “You are holding a grudge,” or “You’ve not done your part yet.” I realized that the very answers I needed…the help I so desperately sought…was blocked because of my unwillingness to forgive another. It is amazing what can happen when we slow down, fully assess the situation, and make the necessary corrections on our end!
So stop and take a hard look at your life today. Where are you holding grudges? Who do you need to forgive? What answers do you seek that don’t seem to come…and the only explanation seems to be that YOU are blocking the responses with your attitudes and behaviors. Isn’t it time to open the floodgates of heaven…to forgive those as God has forgiven you…to fully bask in His blessings and abundance? Will this be the day that you get started?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
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.
Often when Timothy and Nathan work with Legos® or other blocks, something will not fit together, and they will growl and say, “Awww…I can’t figure this out!” When I am sewing or creating a craft pattern, there are many times that I stop and ask, “What am I missing?” In most of these instances, we are getting in a hurry and trying to do things “our way,” or we have not considered the big picture. And this same principle applies to how we treat others – and whether or not we forgive them.
If we are honest, we have asked God at least once, “Why are you not answering me?” Now this can have a lot of different implications. We can be asking, “Why didn’t you give me what I wanted?” We can be saying, “I feel cut off from you – lonely and afraid." Or we can simply be asking, “Lord, what is taking so long?” In all cases, the answer may lie more with OUR behaviors than with God’s responses.
I will be the first to say that I have felt God tell me, “You are holding a grudge,” or “You’ve not done your part yet.” I realized that the very answers I needed…the help I so desperately sought…was blocked because of my unwillingness to forgive another. It is amazing what can happen when we slow down, fully assess the situation, and make the necessary corrections on our end!
So stop and take a hard look at your life today. Where are you holding grudges? Who do you need to forgive? What answers do you seek that don’t seem to come…and the only explanation seems to be that YOU are blocking the responses with your attitudes and behaviors. Isn’t it time to open the floodgates of heaven…to forgive those as God has forgiven you…to fully bask in His blessings and abundance? Will this be the day that you get started?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 30, 2015
Luke 1:18-20
Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.”
The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, God’s servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news. You have not believed what I have said. So you will not be able to say a thing until all this happens. But everything will take place when it is supposed to.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The children and I went swimming yesterday at our Aquatic Center. Timothy asked if he could be on the local swim team someday. I told him maybe…IF he learned to swim! I asked Timothy if he would like to remove his life jacket and practice what he learned in swim lessons this summer. He shook his head “no” and said, “I will drown!” I assured him that he would not drown – that I would never let that happen to him. I will always do my best to keep him safe. So he agreed to try, and with the first “lap”, he sunk a little – and panicked a LOT!
We put the life jacket back on...but before long, Timothy said that he would like to try again to “swim” – but not so far this time. So we started with very short distances of only a couple or three feet from me to the wall and back. And soon, he was going farther…and even practicing his breathing skills by pushing himself down to the pool floor and holding his breath for several seconds. He was so proud of his progress and asked me to please text his swim lesson teacher, Miss Amy, and let her know that he can almost swim!
At one point, I said to Timothy, “You really don’t trust me very much, do you?!” I reminded him that I would never let anything bad happen to him if I could help it – in the water or otherwise. And I reminded him that in order to learn to swim, he had to try – and to trust me to help him stay afloat.
As Gabriel talked with Zechariah, I have to imagine that God was thinking…”You really don’t trust me very much, do you?!” I can tell you, it gets a little exasperating at times when we are trying to persuade one of the children to trust us and try something – a new food or activity that we know they will enjoy or do well at…and they cannot “cut loose” and see what happens. It must be that way – and then some – for God when we fail to trust Him…when we continue to “worry” our worries…when we won’t step out and try what He is calling us to do because we are scared stiff of failure!
In these verses from Luke 1, we are reminded that God blesses those who trust Him. I pointed out to Timothy that “You cannot be on the swim team if you don’t know how to swim!” And in life, there are many things that we cannot enjoy – at least not as fully as God would like – because we refuse to trust Him in all circumstances.
What are you holding back from God these days? Where are you failing to be totally obedient…to give Him your troubles and concerns…to trust Him to do what He has promised? Are you ready to join His “swim team” and receive all of the blessings that come along with it…or are you content to paddle around like a toddler in a “puddle jumper” and live in the land of “good enough?” The choice is totally yours…what will you decide to do?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.”
The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, God’s servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news. You have not believed what I have said. So you will not be able to say a thing until all this happens. But everything will take place when it is supposed to.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The children and I went swimming yesterday at our Aquatic Center. Timothy asked if he could be on the local swim team someday. I told him maybe…IF he learned to swim! I asked Timothy if he would like to remove his life jacket and practice what he learned in swim lessons this summer. He shook his head “no” and said, “I will drown!” I assured him that he would not drown – that I would never let that happen to him. I will always do my best to keep him safe. So he agreed to try, and with the first “lap”, he sunk a little – and panicked a LOT!
We put the life jacket back on...but before long, Timothy said that he would like to try again to “swim” – but not so far this time. So we started with very short distances of only a couple or three feet from me to the wall and back. And soon, he was going farther…and even practicing his breathing skills by pushing himself down to the pool floor and holding his breath for several seconds. He was so proud of his progress and asked me to please text his swim lesson teacher, Miss Amy, and let her know that he can almost swim!
At one point, I said to Timothy, “You really don’t trust me very much, do you?!” I reminded him that I would never let anything bad happen to him if I could help it – in the water or otherwise. And I reminded him that in order to learn to swim, he had to try – and to trust me to help him stay afloat.
As Gabriel talked with Zechariah, I have to imagine that God was thinking…”You really don’t trust me very much, do you?!” I can tell you, it gets a little exasperating at times when we are trying to persuade one of the children to trust us and try something – a new food or activity that we know they will enjoy or do well at…and they cannot “cut loose” and see what happens. It must be that way – and then some – for God when we fail to trust Him…when we continue to “worry” our worries…when we won’t step out and try what He is calling us to do because we are scared stiff of failure!
In these verses from Luke 1, we are reminded that God blesses those who trust Him. I pointed out to Timothy that “You cannot be on the swim team if you don’t know how to swim!” And in life, there are many things that we cannot enjoy – at least not as fully as God would like – because we refuse to trust Him in all circumstances.
What are you holding back from God these days? Where are you failing to be totally obedient…to give Him your troubles and concerns…to trust Him to do what He has promised? Are you ready to join His “swim team” and receive all of the blessings that come along with it…or are you content to paddle around like a toddler in a “puddle jumper” and live in the land of “good enough?” The choice is totally yours…what will you decide to do?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 9, 2015
Matthew 6:14-15
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
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.
The children have a habit of walking up to the back door of our car, and standing right in front of it. We are unable to open the door until they move…otherwise, they would bump their heads. As many times as we get in and out of the car, you would think that they would have this figured out and stand back far enough for the door to be opened. But often, we have to say, “Step back, so we can open the door!” because they are blocking the pathway.
This pretty well describes how we act with God. We say and do things we shouldn’t. We fail to forgive others. In short, we sin - over and over - without any remorse…and essentially, we stand in the doorway and prevent God from opening it. I honestly believe that a lot of us are like our three little ones who truly do not make this connection...at least, not yet! We have not given careful consideration to how our words, actions – and “position” relative to an open connection with God – directly correlate to our relationship with Him.
We don’t seem to understand that in order to hear from God…in order to feel His presence – and to receive His forgiveness in our own lives – we have to forgive others and obey Him in every way. We have to be humble, compliant, and ready to operate in grace and mercy toward others…because our sins are no bigger or smaller than anyone else’s, and God’s love and blessings are available to everyone. When we “move away from the door” and stop blocking communication with God, He clears the pathway.
Years ago, I cross-stitched a little sampler that said, “If you don’t feel close to God…guess who moved.” I’ve always thought of this as moving away from God…but in light of this scripture passage, I see that sometimes, I have moved toward Him in such a way that I’ve effectively blocked Him and denied myself direct access. I’ve smugly thought I was in complete communion with Him, when all the while, I was blocking the door with my actions and attitudes. With this in mind, I plan to be more careful about my “position”…to operate more thoughtfully in grace, mercy, compassion, love, kindness…and forgiveness…so that the doorway to an intimate relationship with God is always open.
Are you blocking the doorway to complete communion with God today? Isn’t it time for you to do whatever it takes to move in the right direction? Will this be the day that you “step out of the way” so that He can open the door?
©2015 Debbie Robus
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
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.
The children have a habit of walking up to the back door of our car, and standing right in front of it. We are unable to open the door until they move…otherwise, they would bump their heads. As many times as we get in and out of the car, you would think that they would have this figured out and stand back far enough for the door to be opened. But often, we have to say, “Step back, so we can open the door!” because they are blocking the pathway.
This pretty well describes how we act with God. We say and do things we shouldn’t. We fail to forgive others. In short, we sin - over and over - without any remorse…and essentially, we stand in the doorway and prevent God from opening it. I honestly believe that a lot of us are like our three little ones who truly do not make this connection...at least, not yet! We have not given careful consideration to how our words, actions – and “position” relative to an open connection with God – directly correlate to our relationship with Him.
We don’t seem to understand that in order to hear from God…in order to feel His presence – and to receive His forgiveness in our own lives – we have to forgive others and obey Him in every way. We have to be humble, compliant, and ready to operate in grace and mercy toward others…because our sins are no bigger or smaller than anyone else’s, and God’s love and blessings are available to everyone. When we “move away from the door” and stop blocking communication with God, He clears the pathway.
Years ago, I cross-stitched a little sampler that said, “If you don’t feel close to God…guess who moved.” I’ve always thought of this as moving away from God…but in light of this scripture passage, I see that sometimes, I have moved toward Him in such a way that I’ve effectively blocked Him and denied myself direct access. I’ve smugly thought I was in complete communion with Him, when all the while, I was blocking the door with my actions and attitudes. With this in mind, I plan to be more careful about my “position”…to operate more thoughtfully in grace, mercy, compassion, love, kindness…and forgiveness…so that the doorway to an intimate relationship with God is always open.
Are you blocking the doorway to complete communion with God today? Isn’t it time for you to do whatever it takes to move in the right direction? Will this be the day that you “step out of the way” so that He can open the door?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 27, 2014
Philippians 4:15-20
You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I’ll never forget it, that when I first left Macedonia province, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped out in the give-and-take of this work except you. You were the only one. Even while I was in Thessalonica, you helped out—and not only once, but twice. Not that I’m looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity.
And now I have it all—and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with Epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
“I’m busy.”
“I’m shy.”
“I’m sick/injured/disabled in some way.”
“I’m too old/young.”
“I’m not very smart.”
“I can’t even pay my own bills.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“I’m the wrong color/gender/ethnicity…or my political party or sexual orientation are different.”
“I’m not good with people…I can’t write/speak well.”
"There are things in my past of which I am ashamed."
“That’s none of my business!”
“What’s in it for me?”
How many of these excuses have you used to keep from getting involved with others or generously showing them that you care? If we are honest, each one of us has used some form of one or more of these throughout our lives in order to avoid full engagement in Christian service. And as a result, we have not only missed out on blessing others…we’ve blocked our own blessings!
Read the passage again. Note especially the part that says “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.” So every time you offer one of these excuses – or any other – you are essentially saying, “I don’t believe that God can equip me for His ministries and purposes!” You are denying Him the opportunity to bless you as He meets the needs of others through your efforts.
Sharing compassion and care doesn’t have to cost money. It doesn’t have to take HUGE chunks of your time. You don’t have to be able-bodied – or even physically well to offer a prayer on the behalf of someone else…or to pick up the phone or your keyboard and express concern. Young children can be taught to genuinely ask, “How are you doing?” and to be polite and kind to others. Older adults can offer encouragement and mentoring to young people - to the best of their abilities. Most people don’t care what color you are, who you vote for…or who you love – as long as you are showing them how much you care about them! Your past may be the very thing that equips you to truly relate to - and encourage - someone else!
God equips each of us with special “gifts” for His ministries and service. The choice to use them for His glory is ours. But understand clearly that when you fail to show love and compassion to others in Jesus’ name, you are in many ways denying your Christian faith…and you are blocking the blessings that God wants to bring you. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take every single blessing God has for me…because I am always strengthened, encouraged, uplifted and amazed! Who wouldn’t want an abundance of these things in their life?!
Let’s all agree that the excuses stop today...here…NOW! Let’s all get in on this “blessing” thing…let’s encourage and support one another - and glorify God in the process. Let’s bask in the glow of His blessings and abundance in our own lives as a result.
Will this be the day that you drop the justifications and get busy with the work of the LORD? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I’ll never forget it, that when I first left Macedonia province, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped out in the give-and-take of this work except you. You were the only one. Even while I was in Thessalonica, you helped out—and not only once, but twice. Not that I’m looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity.
And now I have it all—and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with Epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
“I’m busy.”
“I’m shy.”
“I’m sick/injured/disabled in some way.”
“I’m too old/young.”
“I’m not very smart.”
“I can’t even pay my own bills.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“I’m the wrong color/gender/ethnicity…or my political party or sexual orientation are different.”
“I’m not good with people…I can’t write/speak well.”
"There are things in my past of which I am ashamed."
“That’s none of my business!”
“What’s in it for me?”
How many of these excuses have you used to keep from getting involved with others or generously showing them that you care? If we are honest, each one of us has used some form of one or more of these throughout our lives in order to avoid full engagement in Christian service. And as a result, we have not only missed out on blessing others…we’ve blocked our own blessings!
Read the passage again. Note especially the part that says “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.” So every time you offer one of these excuses – or any other – you are essentially saying, “I don’t believe that God can equip me for His ministries and purposes!” You are denying Him the opportunity to bless you as He meets the needs of others through your efforts.
Sharing compassion and care doesn’t have to cost money. It doesn’t have to take HUGE chunks of your time. You don’t have to be able-bodied – or even physically well to offer a prayer on the behalf of someone else…or to pick up the phone or your keyboard and express concern. Young children can be taught to genuinely ask, “How are you doing?” and to be polite and kind to others. Older adults can offer encouragement and mentoring to young people - to the best of their abilities. Most people don’t care what color you are, who you vote for…or who you love – as long as you are showing them how much you care about them! Your past may be the very thing that equips you to truly relate to - and encourage - someone else!
God equips each of us with special “gifts” for His ministries and service. The choice to use them for His glory is ours. But understand clearly that when you fail to show love and compassion to others in Jesus’ name, you are in many ways denying your Christian faith…and you are blocking the blessings that God wants to bring you. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take every single blessing God has for me…because I am always strengthened, encouraged, uplifted and amazed! Who wouldn’t want an abundance of these things in their life?!
Let’s all agree that the excuses stop today...here…NOW! Let’s all get in on this “blessing” thing…let’s encourage and support one another - and glorify God in the process. Let’s bask in the glow of His blessings and abundance in our own lives as a result.
Will this be the day that you drop the justifications and get busy with the work of the LORD? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 29, 2013
Romans 15:30-33
Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the believers there will be willing to accept the donation I am taking to Jerusalem. Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other.
And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.
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.
One of the themes of a recent episode of A&E’s Duck Dynasty was helping out friends and family members. Jase Robertson noted that a perk of being part of the Robertson clan is that if you need help… all you have to do is ask for it. It’s no different in the Christian family…we help each other out in ways great and small. And one of the greatest ways we can help one another is through prayer.
I know that some of you hesitate to ask others to pray for you. You may be too embarrassed… or too proud. You may feel that your request would be an imposition. You may say, “He/she is so busy or has so many burdens. I can’t bother them to pray for me.” You may feel that you don’t need others prayers - that God hears you, and He will answer – and this is sufficient. You may feel that the intercessions of others are not necessary.
Here’s the deal. Praying for others is one of the privileges of being a Christian. When you don’t call on others to pray for you, a blessing is blocked. Christians do not have ESP… they cannot always discern when a friend or family member needs – or wants – prayers to be offered on their behalf. We must be open and honest… and ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us. By the same token… we must stay awake and alert. When we see a friend or family member with a need, we must offer to pray for them.
In Genesis 12:2 and 3, God tells Abram, “You will become famous and be a blessing to others. I will bless anyone who blesses you…” Prayer is a great tool for creating blessings – and peace. I have experienced both as I prayed for others… and as others prayed for me. So join your circle of friends and family in their struggle by praying to God for them out of Christian love. In the words of Duck Dynasty’s Uncle Si Robertson, “the buddy or family system means we help each other out.” The buddy system exists for Christians, as well. Are you praying for others and asking them to pray for you? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the believers there will be willing to accept the donation I am taking to Jerusalem. Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other.
And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.
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.
One of the themes of a recent episode of A&E’s Duck Dynasty was helping out friends and family members. Jase Robertson noted that a perk of being part of the Robertson clan is that if you need help… all you have to do is ask for it. It’s no different in the Christian family…we help each other out in ways great and small. And one of the greatest ways we can help one another is through prayer.
I know that some of you hesitate to ask others to pray for you. You may be too embarrassed… or too proud. You may feel that your request would be an imposition. You may say, “He/she is so busy or has so many burdens. I can’t bother them to pray for me.” You may feel that you don’t need others prayers - that God hears you, and He will answer – and this is sufficient. You may feel that the intercessions of others are not necessary.
Here’s the deal. Praying for others is one of the privileges of being a Christian. When you don’t call on others to pray for you, a blessing is blocked. Christians do not have ESP… they cannot always discern when a friend or family member needs – or wants – prayers to be offered on their behalf. We must be open and honest… and ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us. By the same token… we must stay awake and alert. When we see a friend or family member with a need, we must offer to pray for them.
In Genesis 12:2 and 3, God tells Abram, “You will become famous and be a blessing to others. I will bless anyone who blesses you…” Prayer is a great tool for creating blessings – and peace. I have experienced both as I prayed for others… and as others prayed for me. So join your circle of friends and family in their struggle by praying to God for them out of Christian love. In the words of Duck Dynasty’s Uncle Si Robertson, “the buddy or family system means we help each other out.” The buddy system exists for Christians, as well. Are you praying for others and asking them to pray for you? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 25, 2013
Galatians 5:22-23
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
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.
Sunday morning after church, we got everyone fastened into car seats and started to drive out of the church parking lot. I asked Timothy, “What did you learn in Sunday school today?” He replied, “We learned that you have to listen to GOD (emphasis here on the Father’s name in a dramatic drawl).” “Really?” I quizzed. “Yes!” he continued, “and some people ate the fruit of the tree, and they got in TROUBLE!” Later, when we took the children home, Timothy repeated this story to his mother. But he added… “And the lady and that girl ate the fruit, and they can’t ever go into the jungle again!”
This is what happens when we don’t listen to God! Well, okay… maybe we will still be able to “go into the jungle” – which means that God continues to love us, and we Christians can still enjoy the blessings of Salvation…even when we sin. But this kind of thinking focuses on settling for “adequate” rather than operating in “abundance.” I don’t know about you… but I’d rather have operate in the latter!
Do you really want a life of “good enough”… of barely getting by… of living in the relative drudgery of putting one foot in front of the other each day and doing the same old thing for years on end? I’m not just talking about your physical assets – home, car, clothing and possessions – or your job. I’m also talking about having relationships that are stale – or always in some sort of state of discord or high drama… living with a poor self-image…and worst of all, lacking in joy and confidence with regard to your relationship with the Holy Spirit… or feeling like you don’t even have a relationship with the Holy Spirit in the first place.
When we live God’s way, scripture describes how all sorts of things come into full view for us… how we find ourselves feeling more complete and satisfied… functioning at a higher level in all areas of life. My dad would call this “running on all cylinders”… and hopefully you get this picture! God has perfect plans for each of us. All we have to do is seek them – and follow through! Clearly, our little four-year-old has a few things to learn yet about sin and disobedience… or does he? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to chance being exiled from the “jungle” of God’s gifts forever.
Will you listen to GOD and live His way? Aren’t you ready to experience His peace? Are you ready to eat the “good fruit” He wishes to give you? Isn’t today the perfect time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
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.
Sunday morning after church, we got everyone fastened into car seats and started to drive out of the church parking lot. I asked Timothy, “What did you learn in Sunday school today?” He replied, “We learned that you have to listen to GOD (emphasis here on the Father’s name in a dramatic drawl).” “Really?” I quizzed. “Yes!” he continued, “and some people ate the fruit of the tree, and they got in TROUBLE!” Later, when we took the children home, Timothy repeated this story to his mother. But he added… “And the lady and that girl ate the fruit, and they can’t ever go into the jungle again!”
This is what happens when we don’t listen to God! Well, okay… maybe we will still be able to “go into the jungle” – which means that God continues to love us, and we Christians can still enjoy the blessings of Salvation…even when we sin. But this kind of thinking focuses on settling for “adequate” rather than operating in “abundance.” I don’t know about you… but I’d rather have operate in the latter!
Do you really want a life of “good enough”… of barely getting by… of living in the relative drudgery of putting one foot in front of the other each day and doing the same old thing for years on end? I’m not just talking about your physical assets – home, car, clothing and possessions – or your job. I’m also talking about having relationships that are stale – or always in some sort of state of discord or high drama… living with a poor self-image…and worst of all, lacking in joy and confidence with regard to your relationship with the Holy Spirit… or feeling like you don’t even have a relationship with the Holy Spirit in the first place.
When we live God’s way, scripture describes how all sorts of things come into full view for us… how we find ourselves feeling more complete and satisfied… functioning at a higher level in all areas of life. My dad would call this “running on all cylinders”… and hopefully you get this picture! God has perfect plans for each of us. All we have to do is seek them – and follow through! Clearly, our little four-year-old has a few things to learn yet about sin and disobedience… or does he? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to chance being exiled from the “jungle” of God’s gifts forever.
Will you listen to GOD and live His way? Aren’t you ready to experience His peace? Are you ready to eat the “good fruit” He wishes to give you? Isn’t today the perfect time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 19, 2013
Hebrews 10:32-39
Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.
It won’t be long now, he’s on the way;
he’ll show up most any minute.
But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust;
if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy.
But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On the television show “The Biggest Loser,” contestants discover that losing weight and seeing results happens more quickly at the beginning than the end. In fact, as these participants become lighter and leaner, it becomes harder with each passing week to shed the last pounds and inches. Progress is still possible, but the thrill of those first few weeks and the truly drastic changes are gone. This is where the real work begins.
It’s easy to become discouraged… or at least complacent. After all, some of these contestants have dropped 100 pounds or more. Losing that last stubborn 15 to 50 seems akin to climbing Mt. Everest. There is a temptation to reward all of the hard work with a favorite dessert… or to skip a workout here and there. After all, the entrant has come so far… what would it hurt? OR… the challenge may be finishing. The desire to keep going and lose the rest may wane… settling for the current weight and size may seem appealing. This is when the patient endurance must kick in and keep these contestants going. They have made it this far… reached countless milestones… and they must keep going and finish strong!
In our Christian faith, we often seem to lose steam after a while. The spark and excitement of our initial salvation experience may pale. Our encouragement and support from others may wane… and our inner resolve to forge ahead and continue to grow with the Holy Spirit can fade. We’ve come so far… God has given us so much… maybe we could just stop and rest here a while! And many of us do exactly that. The trouble is… too many of us grow stale at our “resting point.” We settle for a “good enough” relationship with the Holy Spirit - and miss out on all He wants to give us by doing so.
Just as in a weight-loss program that we hope will bring permanent, lasting results, we must practice patient endurance as we grow in our faith. We must keep on “keepin’ on,” continue to study, pray, fellowship and learn. We must not “rest on our laurels” – or on the blessings we have received from God already. We cannot quit! We have to keep trusting God for outcomes, learning how He works, and expecting His promises to be fulfilled. We have to wait on the LORD in all things… and believe that He will show up, right on time!
This is a tall order… but such a “sure thing” as the blessings and rewards of a life in Christ is certainly worth it! Are you ready to press forward and persevere? Are you still “in the game” and trusting all the way? Will you make it to the Finish Line with Jesus… or will you give up and quit? The choice is yours… what will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.
It won’t be long now, he’s on the way;
he’ll show up most any minute.
But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust;
if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy.
But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On the television show “The Biggest Loser,” contestants discover that losing weight and seeing results happens more quickly at the beginning than the end. In fact, as these participants become lighter and leaner, it becomes harder with each passing week to shed the last pounds and inches. Progress is still possible, but the thrill of those first few weeks and the truly drastic changes are gone. This is where the real work begins.
It’s easy to become discouraged… or at least complacent. After all, some of these contestants have dropped 100 pounds or more. Losing that last stubborn 15 to 50 seems akin to climbing Mt. Everest. There is a temptation to reward all of the hard work with a favorite dessert… or to skip a workout here and there. After all, the entrant has come so far… what would it hurt? OR… the challenge may be finishing. The desire to keep going and lose the rest may wane… settling for the current weight and size may seem appealing. This is when the patient endurance must kick in and keep these contestants going. They have made it this far… reached countless milestones… and they must keep going and finish strong!
In our Christian faith, we often seem to lose steam after a while. The spark and excitement of our initial salvation experience may pale. Our encouragement and support from others may wane… and our inner resolve to forge ahead and continue to grow with the Holy Spirit can fade. We’ve come so far… God has given us so much… maybe we could just stop and rest here a while! And many of us do exactly that. The trouble is… too many of us grow stale at our “resting point.” We settle for a “good enough” relationship with the Holy Spirit - and miss out on all He wants to give us by doing so.
Just as in a weight-loss program that we hope will bring permanent, lasting results, we must practice patient endurance as we grow in our faith. We must keep on “keepin’ on,” continue to study, pray, fellowship and learn. We must not “rest on our laurels” – or on the blessings we have received from God already. We cannot quit! We have to keep trusting God for outcomes, learning how He works, and expecting His promises to be fulfilled. We have to wait on the LORD in all things… and believe that He will show up, right on time!
This is a tall order… but such a “sure thing” as the blessings and rewards of a life in Christ is certainly worth it! Are you ready to press forward and persevere? Are you still “in the game” and trusting all the way? Will you make it to the Finish Line with Jesus… or will you give up and quit? The choice is yours… what will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 18, 2013
May 18 ~ Genesis 6:3
Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.”
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.
In a few months, I hope our four-year-old Timothy will start to pre-K. Today, my almost-18-year-old cousin graduated from high school. My Jr/Sr-high Sunday school students from a few years ago are now graduating from college, beginning careers, getting married and starting their own families. All throughout these life stages, there will be rules and expectations… limits and consequences. For instance, young children have to be reminded over and again about certain things… don’t throw rocks, come when called, don’t hit your sister/brother! We try to be patient as they learn these lessons.
As children become teenagers, the “second chances” diminish. Older kids know that “No means no!” – or they should! By the time we are young adults, there are still instances in which we “test the waters”… but hopefully, most of us understand that life is full of choices, rules, and rewards. There are also consequences when we choose poorly or fail to comply.
This is no different for Christians. God is patient with us... to a point. He waits for us to choose to follow Jesus…granting us free will. He nurtures us in the first weeks/months/years after we become a Christian. God allows for our “humanness” – He understands that we are not perfect and never will be. But there comes a time when His patience wears thin. He will not tolerate “pre-K Christians” forever. And while God will not retract your salvation…He will withhold blessings and rewards.
God will not allow us to fully self-destruct… and possibly take down those around us… at least not indefinitely. He has given us clear guidelines for how to live… rules to follow and a distinct indication of the potential for blessings. God has also detailed the surety of consequences when we choose to go our own way. Just as our patience runs thin with children who don’t seem to learn as they grow… God loses patience with us when there is no progress in our Spiritual journey.
We all know the feeling when our patience wears thin with someone or something. This is not a sentiment that I want God to experience about me and my faith! What about you? Are you trying God’s patience? Isn’t it time you re-examined your life in Christ and determined where you need to make adjustments to get you back on track?
None of us will live forever. But let’s make the most of every minute God gives us on this earth. Let’s live in a way that indicates a deep desire to grow and serve Him each and every day. Let’s live a long, full life in Christ … and give God every reason to be pleased with our progress.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 15, 2013
May 15 ~ Ecclesiastes 8:11
Because the sentence against evil deeds is so long in coming, people in general think they can get by with murder.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When children are little, their parents tell them not to run into the street… to come back when they call to them…to answer them right away when they speak. And if they don’t, there are consequences. But generally, the parents cut the child a little slack, allowing for them to grow and learn. As children turn into teenagers and do not return phone calls or texts… do not pay attention to what is said… and do not follow certain rules, there are stiffer consequences. Still, it may seem the kids are “getting away with murder.”
When these teens leave home, become adults, and do not pay bills on time and/or answer creditor’s calls…when they do not show up for work and do a good job… when they don’t pay the rent and handle their responsibilities – or they break the law – the consequences are harsher. There comes a day when Mom and Dad can no longer make things okay in every situation… where there is no way to avoid the reality of owning up to misdeeds, irresponsibility, and the outright defiance of authority.
It’s no different for Christians. Too many of us coast along thinking we can play at our faith… that no matter what we do, God will still love us. We will still go to heaven, so it’s all good! But I’m here to tell you… God will only be patient with us so long. Just as patience runs out on the part of parents, friends and those in authority who have been disobeyed and/or disrespected… God’s patience will run out! He will become disgusted with our dishonor – and often our outright abuse of Him and His blessings. And we will not be allowed to continue in this manner forever without consequences.
Does this mean that God will directly punish us for our mistreatment of Him and others? I believe it’s more of an “allowance” by God for some of the bad things that can happen. God is plenty capable of practicing “tough love.” He doesn’t want us to lose our home, car and belongings because we don’t make our payments. He doesn’t want to see children taken from families because the parents cannot properly care for them. God does not enjoy seeing someone behave in such a way that they lose their job or their health… family relationships and friendships. But sometimes, in order to get our attention, He has to allow these things to happen! When we push His patience too far…God will step in and take action! While we may escape an outright “punishment” from God…He most surely will withhold blessings that would have otherwise been bestowed upon us. Either way, we lose.
We all have our limits. Some of us will lie down and let others treat us like a doormat for a while longer than others. But at some point, pretty much everyone says, “That’s enough!” So why are we surprised that God would do the same? It may seem like the other guy “gets away with murder,” but I assure you… a day of reckoning is coming – for him/her, and for us. If you have tried God’s patience, at the very least your life will not have been filled with the joy and blessings that God had in store for you. You will not fully realize all of the wonderful plans He had designed to shower upon your life. And what will you have to say for yourself?
Have you tried God’s patience to the limit? Isn’t it time you began to make the necessary changes… to show Him the honor and respect that He deserves? Aren’t you ready to take responsibility for your actions and realize that the only way to truly be happy – in life in general, and in your Christian faith – is to do what God has asked of you… to be mature and accountable, reliable and trustworthy?
You may feel like God is giving others more than their share of second chances. You may feel that the other guy gets all the breaks and doesn’t have to “pay” for them. But I can assure you, nobody gets away with anything. God is watching for those who live with honor, sensibility, consistency… and obedience. At some point, He will act – one way or another! Don’t live for God because you are scared not to… do it because you want to please the One who has done more for us than we could ever imagine… much less deserve! God is so patient with each of us already. Are you doing all you can to please Him and earn His patience? Isn’t today a great day to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Because the sentence against evil deeds is so long in coming, people in general think they can get by with murder.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When children are little, their parents tell them not to run into the street… to come back when they call to them…to answer them right away when they speak. And if they don’t, there are consequences. But generally, the parents cut the child a little slack, allowing for them to grow and learn. As children turn into teenagers and do not return phone calls or texts… do not pay attention to what is said… and do not follow certain rules, there are stiffer consequences. Still, it may seem the kids are “getting away with murder.”
When these teens leave home, become adults, and do not pay bills on time and/or answer creditor’s calls…when they do not show up for work and do a good job… when they don’t pay the rent and handle their responsibilities – or they break the law – the consequences are harsher. There comes a day when Mom and Dad can no longer make things okay in every situation… where there is no way to avoid the reality of owning up to misdeeds, irresponsibility, and the outright defiance of authority.
It’s no different for Christians. Too many of us coast along thinking we can play at our faith… that no matter what we do, God will still love us. We will still go to heaven, so it’s all good! But I’m here to tell you… God will only be patient with us so long. Just as patience runs out on the part of parents, friends and those in authority who have been disobeyed and/or disrespected… God’s patience will run out! He will become disgusted with our dishonor – and often our outright abuse of Him and His blessings. And we will not be allowed to continue in this manner forever without consequences.
Does this mean that God will directly punish us for our mistreatment of Him and others? I believe it’s more of an “allowance” by God for some of the bad things that can happen. God is plenty capable of practicing “tough love.” He doesn’t want us to lose our home, car and belongings because we don’t make our payments. He doesn’t want to see children taken from families because the parents cannot properly care for them. God does not enjoy seeing someone behave in such a way that they lose their job or their health… family relationships and friendships. But sometimes, in order to get our attention, He has to allow these things to happen! When we push His patience too far…God will step in and take action! While we may escape an outright “punishment” from God…He most surely will withhold blessings that would have otherwise been bestowed upon us. Either way, we lose.
We all have our limits. Some of us will lie down and let others treat us like a doormat for a while longer than others. But at some point, pretty much everyone says, “That’s enough!” So why are we surprised that God would do the same? It may seem like the other guy “gets away with murder,” but I assure you… a day of reckoning is coming – for him/her, and for us. If you have tried God’s patience, at the very least your life will not have been filled with the joy and blessings that God had in store for you. You will not fully realize all of the wonderful plans He had designed to shower upon your life. And what will you have to say for yourself?
Have you tried God’s patience to the limit? Isn’t it time you began to make the necessary changes… to show Him the honor and respect that He deserves? Aren’t you ready to take responsibility for your actions and realize that the only way to truly be happy – in life in general, and in your Christian faith – is to do what God has asked of you… to be mature and accountable, reliable and trustworthy?
You may feel like God is giving others more than their share of second chances. You may feel that the other guy gets all the breaks and doesn’t have to “pay” for them. But I can assure you, nobody gets away with anything. God is watching for those who live with honor, sensibility, consistency… and obedience. At some point, He will act – one way or another! Don’t live for God because you are scared not to… do it because you want to please the One who has done more for us than we could ever imagine… much less deserve! God is so patient with each of us already. Are you doing all you can to please Him and earn His patience? Isn’t today a great day to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 4, 2013
April 4 ~ 1 Samuel 13:6-14
When the Israelites saw that they were way outnumbered and in deep trouble, they ran for cover, hiding in caves and pits, ravines and brambles and cisterns—wherever. They retreated across the Jordan River, refugees fleeing to the country of Gad and Gilead. But Saul held his ground in Gilgal, his soldiers still with him but scared to death.
He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel. Samuel failed to show up at Gilgal, and the soldiers were slipping away, right and left.
So Saul took charge: “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” He went ahead and sacrificed the burnt offering. No sooner had he done it than Samuel showed up! Saul greeted him. Samuel said, “What on earth are you doing?”
Saul answered, “When I saw I was losing my army from under me, and that you hadn’t come when you said you would, and that the Philistines were poised at Micmash, I said, ‘The Philistines are about to come down on me in Gilgal, and I haven’t yet come before God asking for his help.’ So I took things into my own hands, and sacrificed the burnt offering.”
“That was a fool thing to do,” Samuel said to Saul. “If you had kept the appointment that your God commanded, by now God would have set a firm and lasting foundation under your kingly rule over Israel. As it is, your kingly rule is already falling to pieces. God is out looking for your replacement right now. This time he’ll do the choosing. When he finds him, he’ll appoint him leader of his people. And all because you didn’t keep your appointment with God!”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My Mam-ma Polly had many virtues… patience was not one of them! When I was growing up, she would call my parents and say, “The peas need to be picked,” or “We’ve got beans to snap,” or “The corn is ready to shuck.” My parents would gather all of us together after work and head for my grandparents’ farm… and the peas would be picked, shelled and bagged for the freezer… the beans would be snapped and ready to can, and the corn would all be laid out nicely… ready to be frozen on the cob or scraped off for soups, stews and eating “cream-style.” And a nice hot supper with some of these delectable fresh veggies would be simmering on the stove!
In later life, it was things like light bulbs that needed changing or a gutter that needed cleaning. My grandmother would call and ask for my husband or me, and before we could get to her house, she would have had the chore completed by her deacon or another church member, a neighbor, or even a friend who stopped by for a visit! Her “excuse” was always, “Well, I decided you weren’t coming!” Not only did her impatience keep us from truly helping her… it often made for unnecessary hard feelings on both sides – and blocked the blessing!
We try to hurry up all sorts of things, and like Saul, we often do a “fool thing” and block a blessing. Does this mean that God will punish us for our impatience and/or excuses? Maybe not in the way you think. See, when we get in God’s way and try to handle things on our own, we often throw a kink in His plans and force Him to move in another direction. So the person that God was grooming to witness to someone for whom you were praying may never get this opportunity, because you stepped in and tried to orchestrate things yourself. God might give the joy that you would derive from seeing His perfect timing in action to someone else. Your reputation for faithfulness and “waiting faithfully on the LORD” might change to that of a person who “jumps the gun” and is impulsive – and your true faithfulness might be questionable.
We all have our own excuses… we were trying to help… we didn’t think anyone was coming…we thought this was what God wanted us to do. But the truth is that we often fail to keep our appointments with God. We ask for His help and guidance… and then we go right ahead and do as we please. Not all of God’s answers and instructions are instantaneous. Some take days/weeks/years. And in that waiting period, we often become impatient and try to take control. This is never a good idea!
Spend some time today with God and talk to Him about the situations and circumstances in your life… and in the lives of those for whom you pray. Ask Him where – and how – you should be proceeding. Call on Him to clearly reveal to you where you should be waiting on Him. Don’t block a blessing… or miss an assignment! Don’t try to hurry God… or to take matters into your own hands. There really is no good excuse for either.
©2013 Debbie Robus
When the Israelites saw that they were way outnumbered and in deep trouble, they ran for cover, hiding in caves and pits, ravines and brambles and cisterns—wherever. They retreated across the Jordan River, refugees fleeing to the country of Gad and Gilead. But Saul held his ground in Gilgal, his soldiers still with him but scared to death.
He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel. Samuel failed to show up at Gilgal, and the soldiers were slipping away, right and left.
So Saul took charge: “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” He went ahead and sacrificed the burnt offering. No sooner had he done it than Samuel showed up! Saul greeted him. Samuel said, “What on earth are you doing?”
Saul answered, “When I saw I was losing my army from under me, and that you hadn’t come when you said you would, and that the Philistines were poised at Micmash, I said, ‘The Philistines are about to come down on me in Gilgal, and I haven’t yet come before God asking for his help.’ So I took things into my own hands, and sacrificed the burnt offering.”
“That was a fool thing to do,” Samuel said to Saul. “If you had kept the appointment that your God commanded, by now God would have set a firm and lasting foundation under your kingly rule over Israel. As it is, your kingly rule is already falling to pieces. God is out looking for your replacement right now. This time he’ll do the choosing. When he finds him, he’ll appoint him leader of his people. And all because you didn’t keep your appointment with God!”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My Mam-ma Polly had many virtues… patience was not one of them! When I was growing up, she would call my parents and say, “The peas need to be picked,” or “We’ve got beans to snap,” or “The corn is ready to shuck.” My parents would gather all of us together after work and head for my grandparents’ farm… and the peas would be picked, shelled and bagged for the freezer… the beans would be snapped and ready to can, and the corn would all be laid out nicely… ready to be frozen on the cob or scraped off for soups, stews and eating “cream-style.” And a nice hot supper with some of these delectable fresh veggies would be simmering on the stove!
In later life, it was things like light bulbs that needed changing or a gutter that needed cleaning. My grandmother would call and ask for my husband or me, and before we could get to her house, she would have had the chore completed by her deacon or another church member, a neighbor, or even a friend who stopped by for a visit! Her “excuse” was always, “Well, I decided you weren’t coming!” Not only did her impatience keep us from truly helping her… it often made for unnecessary hard feelings on both sides – and blocked the blessing!
We try to hurry up all sorts of things, and like Saul, we often do a “fool thing” and block a blessing. Does this mean that God will punish us for our impatience and/or excuses? Maybe not in the way you think. See, when we get in God’s way and try to handle things on our own, we often throw a kink in His plans and force Him to move in another direction. So the person that God was grooming to witness to someone for whom you were praying may never get this opportunity, because you stepped in and tried to orchestrate things yourself. God might give the joy that you would derive from seeing His perfect timing in action to someone else. Your reputation for faithfulness and “waiting faithfully on the LORD” might change to that of a person who “jumps the gun” and is impulsive – and your true faithfulness might be questionable.
We all have our own excuses… we were trying to help… we didn’t think anyone was coming…we thought this was what God wanted us to do. But the truth is that we often fail to keep our appointments with God. We ask for His help and guidance… and then we go right ahead and do as we please. Not all of God’s answers and instructions are instantaneous. Some take days/weeks/years. And in that waiting period, we often become impatient and try to take control. This is never a good idea!
Spend some time today with God and talk to Him about the situations and circumstances in your life… and in the lives of those for whom you pray. Ask Him where – and how – you should be proceeding. Call on Him to clearly reveal to you where you should be waiting on Him. Don’t block a blessing… or miss an assignment! Don’t try to hurry God… or to take matters into your own hands. There really is no good excuse for either.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 24, 2012
Matthew 6:14-15
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.”
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.
The other day, I tried to open a utensil drawer in my kitchen, and I couldn’t get it to budge. Something inside was sticking up and blocking the drawer from opening fully. Until I removed whatever was in the way, I was not going to be able to get to the tool I ultimately needed.
As Christians, we do this a lot… we block God’s blessings by refusing to forgive others. We fail to recognize that God loves the person with whom we have a beef of some sort just as much as He loves us. God has commanded us to “love one another” – and even to “love your enemies.” So when we fail to be obedient… when we harbor feelings of anger, resentment, disappointment, disgust, jealousy, frustration – or even rage… we effectively “block the drawer” of God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness and blessings from opening.
I understand… I get it. There are times when we get so upset with someone else that we cannot even utter their name to pray for them – much less offer forgiveness. And the devil absolutely goes ape with delight over this! But God is not amused. He understands… He really does… because He sees us in our human form (warts and all!). And He loves us and is willing to forgive us for these emotions – when we humbly ask for pardon. But God also expects us to turn around and share that same mercy with the person for whom we expressed such disdain.
This is a hard, hard lesson… one that takes many of us years to learn. We are bullied as children, and we harbor grudges. We may have teachers who are hard on us… parents who frustrate us… bosses who make going to work every day downright miserable…and friends, family and church family members who never seem to give us a break. So of course, we go to God and ask, “Can you please help me here?” And God will gladly do this. But we have to do our part, too.
You know that stuck drawer I mentioned? Have you ever been able to reach in and grab something – maybe even what you wanted or needed – but the drawer stayed stuck and you couldn’t get to everything? This is what I’m talking about. God may allow you a few things. But He has so much more “in the drawer” that He wants to share with you. Why on earth would you want to miss out on a single blessing or opportunity that God has for you?
Stop what you are doing for a few minutes today and examine your heart. Ask God to reveal to you the areas where you are blocking a blessing and/or a pardon because of your unwillingness to offer the same to others. Figure out how to get unstuck, so that you can free yourself from the burdens of an unforgiving heart… and bask in the joy of receiving all of God’s grace, mercy and abundance.
©2012 Debbie Robus
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.”
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.
The other day, I tried to open a utensil drawer in my kitchen, and I couldn’t get it to budge. Something inside was sticking up and blocking the drawer from opening fully. Until I removed whatever was in the way, I was not going to be able to get to the tool I ultimately needed.
As Christians, we do this a lot… we block God’s blessings by refusing to forgive others. We fail to recognize that God loves the person with whom we have a beef of some sort just as much as He loves us. God has commanded us to “love one another” – and even to “love your enemies.” So when we fail to be obedient… when we harbor feelings of anger, resentment, disappointment, disgust, jealousy, frustration – or even rage… we effectively “block the drawer” of God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness and blessings from opening.
I understand… I get it. There are times when we get so upset with someone else that we cannot even utter their name to pray for them – much less offer forgiveness. And the devil absolutely goes ape with delight over this! But God is not amused. He understands… He really does… because He sees us in our human form (warts and all!). And He loves us and is willing to forgive us for these emotions – when we humbly ask for pardon. But God also expects us to turn around and share that same mercy with the person for whom we expressed such disdain.
This is a hard, hard lesson… one that takes many of us years to learn. We are bullied as children, and we harbor grudges. We may have teachers who are hard on us… parents who frustrate us… bosses who make going to work every day downright miserable…and friends, family and church family members who never seem to give us a break. So of course, we go to God and ask, “Can you please help me here?” And God will gladly do this. But we have to do our part, too.
You know that stuck drawer I mentioned? Have you ever been able to reach in and grab something – maybe even what you wanted or needed – but the drawer stayed stuck and you couldn’t get to everything? This is what I’m talking about. God may allow you a few things. But He has so much more “in the drawer” that He wants to share with you. Why on earth would you want to miss out on a single blessing or opportunity that God has for you?
Stop what you are doing for a few minutes today and examine your heart. Ask God to reveal to you the areas where you are blocking a blessing and/or a pardon because of your unwillingness to offer the same to others. Figure out how to get unstuck, so that you can free yourself from the burdens of an unforgiving heart… and bask in the joy of receiving all of God’s grace, mercy and abundance.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 14, 2012
Luke 1:18-20
Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.”
But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.”
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.
Several years ago, I stopped getting e-mail messages from my cousin. I knew that he sent out a lot of e-mail… you know - those forwards (jokes, interesting stories, cartoons, etc.). I realized that I was no longer receiving them – but, I also was not receiving personal messages from him. While these were more infrequent than the “canned” messages, it dawned on me one day that I was not getting anything from this dear cousin.
I started doing a little digging and discovered that somehow, my cousin’s e-mail address had gotten on my “block sender” list. I was inadvertently blocking his messages. While the “canned” transactions were not all that critical, the personal messages and information I failed to receive during this time were significant. I immediately removed my cousin’s address from the “block sender” file and restored our connection!
So often, we block the connection to God. We fail to believe in His promises… or to trust His timing. And in essence, we block our blessings and answers from God. I heard a pastor say recently that sometimes God has to sort of “rattle our cage” a bit in order to get our attention. Just as He rendered Zechariah unable to speak until after his baby was born, God may allow us to go through a few things in order to teach us about faith and obedience. I sometimes look at situations in my own life and wonder, “If I had trusted God for this sooner, might I have avoided so much stress and heartache?” I look at some of the sleepless nights I have had… times when my stomach was in knots over a certain situation. I almost have to shake my head at I realize how ridiculous – and incredulous – my lack of faith was.
Over and over, we create roadblocks to success and blessings…we produce an atmosphere in which God refuses to work. We leave Him with no choice but to teach us a lesson… to squelch our voices, like Zechariah... to allow us to wallow in our own misery and disbelief.
Haven’t you had enough of this? Isn’t it time we grow up as Christians and act like the children of God we are called to be? Are you ready to walk in faith and stop blocking God’s efforts in your lives… and the lives of those you are impacting on His behalf? When will we truly “let go and let God”? Isn’t today the perfect time to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.”
But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.”
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.
Several years ago, I stopped getting e-mail messages from my cousin. I knew that he sent out a lot of e-mail… you know - those forwards (jokes, interesting stories, cartoons, etc.). I realized that I was no longer receiving them – but, I also was not receiving personal messages from him. While these were more infrequent than the “canned” messages, it dawned on me one day that I was not getting anything from this dear cousin.
I started doing a little digging and discovered that somehow, my cousin’s e-mail address had gotten on my “block sender” list. I was inadvertently blocking his messages. While the “canned” transactions were not all that critical, the personal messages and information I failed to receive during this time were significant. I immediately removed my cousin’s address from the “block sender” file and restored our connection!
So often, we block the connection to God. We fail to believe in His promises… or to trust His timing. And in essence, we block our blessings and answers from God. I heard a pastor say recently that sometimes God has to sort of “rattle our cage” a bit in order to get our attention. Just as He rendered Zechariah unable to speak until after his baby was born, God may allow us to go through a few things in order to teach us about faith and obedience. I sometimes look at situations in my own life and wonder, “If I had trusted God for this sooner, might I have avoided so much stress and heartache?” I look at some of the sleepless nights I have had… times when my stomach was in knots over a certain situation. I almost have to shake my head at I realize how ridiculous – and incredulous – my lack of faith was.
Over and over, we create roadblocks to success and blessings…we produce an atmosphere in which God refuses to work. We leave Him with no choice but to teach us a lesson… to squelch our voices, like Zechariah... to allow us to wallow in our own misery and disbelief.
Haven’t you had enough of this? Isn’t it time we grow up as Christians and act like the children of God we are called to be? Are you ready to walk in faith and stop blocking God’s efforts in your lives… and the lives of those you are impacting on His behalf? When will we truly “let go and let God”? Isn’t today the perfect time to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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