Matthew 11:28-30
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned
out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your
life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with
me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay
anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll
learn to live freely and lightly.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
There was a story on CBS This Morning about how couples are leaving traditional religion, particularly with
regard to weddings. Instead of marrying in the church, they are asking
friends and acquaintances to officiate at their nuptials. Many of those
who are presiding at such weddings are getting their “ordination
papers” online. Yes, YOU can become an ordained minister and perform
your friends’ ceremonies.
But that’s not the part of the story
that resonated with me. The reporter noted that Millenials (those who
reached young adulthood around the year 2000) are leaving the organized
church in record numbers…and “seeking a different path. She noted that
Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) seem to be growing in
their faith – and that many claim to “pray every day.”
I have to
tell you…while I do not discount such reports, they do dishearten me.
Yes, I am a “Baby Boomer” – and yes, I pray every day. I have grown to
know the power and strength of a life lived under the yoke of Jesus
rather than the burden of my own worries and fears.
What I want
to say to people of any age is this...don’t “throw the baby out with the
bath water.” If you have not found a corporate worship setting (or
church family) that is right for you, don’t stop looking! Most
certainly, do not give up on Jesus…because I can assure you that He has
not given up on YOU! There will be plenty of situations and
circumstances in life that have us all scratching our heads at best –
and often wringing our hands in desperation. And Jesus can help us
handle all of them. None of our burdens or concerns are too
insignificant – or too heavy – for Jesus to bear.
Trade your
“yoke” for that of Jesus. Let Him do the heavy lifting and carry the
big stuff…and let Him help you with the smaller issues, also. Even if
“church” has left you burned out, discouraged and/or disillusioned,
don’t walk away from Jesus! Get away with Him and really get to know
Him. Rest in His gentle rhythms of grace – and surrender to His
strength.
Jesus is calling, “Come to me, and I will give you
rest.” Aren’t you ready to take Him up on His offer? Wouldn’t this be a
good day to get started?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label casting our cares on God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label casting our cares on God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 1, 2015
Luke 12:22-31
Jesus said to his disciples:
I tell you not to worry about your life! Don’t worry about having something to eat or wear. Life is more than food or clothing. Look at the crows! They don’t plant or harvest, and they don’t have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. Can worry make you live longer? If you don’t have power over small things, why worry about everything else?
Look how the wild flowers grow! They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of these flowers. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won’t he do even more for you? You have such little faith!
Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need. But put God’s work first, and these things will be yours as well.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My first encounter with this directive from Jesus actually involved the account as recorded in Matthew 6:25-34. Greg and I were engaged to be married in August 1974, and he was attending college in Little Rock. I was set to join him there in the fall. But late in the spring semester, Greg realized that he wanted to make a change in his major field of study…one that was not offered at his present university. He broke the news to me and showed me these verses from his pocket Gideon Bible. And he explained that he was not worried…that this would all be okay. The move to another university and city took a lot of work and finagling…but it also was the best plan for both of us.
Fast forward 13 years, and we once again considered a life-changing move - one that involved changing careers and cities. And again, the words of Jesus echoed in our hearts and minds…”don’t worry about what you will eat, drink or wear. God knows what you need, and He will see that you are cared for perfectly.” And once again, this was the best plan for our lives.
I wish I could say that I have done a perfect job of trusting God with my worries…but none of us can say this. We are all works in progress. But I do find that it gets a little easier on any given day…and the times that I worry – and God shows me how powerful and capable He really is – I am embarrassed and humbled for doubting this for even one second!
So whatever is worrying you today, ask God to handle it. Sometimes I simply say, “God, I cannot fix this, so you’re going to have to do it!” I know fully well that this was His intention all along. God needs to hear us say that we understand completely that He is in control…and we are not. Won’t you ask Him to handle your worries and cares today…and start trusting Him to meet all of your needs, and more. Isn’t this the perfect time to get started?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Jesus said to his disciples:
I tell you not to worry about your life! Don’t worry about having something to eat or wear. Life is more than food or clothing. Look at the crows! They don’t plant or harvest, and they don’t have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. Can worry make you live longer? If you don’t have power over small things, why worry about everything else?
Look how the wild flowers grow! They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of these flowers. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won’t he do even more for you? You have such little faith!
Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need. But put God’s work first, and these things will be yours as well.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My first encounter with this directive from Jesus actually involved the account as recorded in Matthew 6:25-34. Greg and I were engaged to be married in August 1974, and he was attending college in Little Rock. I was set to join him there in the fall. But late in the spring semester, Greg realized that he wanted to make a change in his major field of study…one that was not offered at his present university. He broke the news to me and showed me these verses from his pocket Gideon Bible. And he explained that he was not worried…that this would all be okay. The move to another university and city took a lot of work and finagling…but it also was the best plan for both of us.
Fast forward 13 years, and we once again considered a life-changing move - one that involved changing careers and cities. And again, the words of Jesus echoed in our hearts and minds…”don’t worry about what you will eat, drink or wear. God knows what you need, and He will see that you are cared for perfectly.” And once again, this was the best plan for our lives.
I wish I could say that I have done a perfect job of trusting God with my worries…but none of us can say this. We are all works in progress. But I do find that it gets a little easier on any given day…and the times that I worry – and God shows me how powerful and capable He really is – I am embarrassed and humbled for doubting this for even one second!
So whatever is worrying you today, ask God to handle it. Sometimes I simply say, “God, I cannot fix this, so you’re going to have to do it!” I know fully well that this was His intention all along. God needs to hear us say that we understand completely that He is in control…and we are not. Won’t you ask Him to handle your worries and cares today…and start trusting Him to meet all of your needs, and more. Isn’t this the perfect time to get started?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 3, 2014
Psalm 91:1
We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Many areas of Arkansas have experienced the wettest June on record. Even on days when the sun popped out through the clouds, it seems like at some point in the day, it rained. So it came as no surprise when we exited the church doors Sunday and discovered that rain was once again falling. Greg used our big floral umbrella to safely shuttle us (in groups of 2) into Pizza Hut for lunch.
A few years ago, our friend Olive died, and her daughter, Julie, put Olive’s house on the market and held an estate sale to clear out all of the belongings and “stuff” that Olive had collected over her 97 years of life. Hanging on one of the door knobs were two very large umbrellas, and I eagerly purchased both of them. These days, the trend in umbrellas seems to be toward small, compact gizmos that fold up and fit into your purse or a small bag. The trouble with these is that they don’t provide much coverage from the rain – or sun.
“Sun?” you may ask. Yes, SUN. When I was little, people carried umbrellas as “parasols” to protect themselves from the heat and harmful rays of the sun. In recent years, I’ve used one of Olive’s umbrellas as a “parasol”…especially at summer auctions. I know some people think I’m crazy…but hey, that was a given! These apparatuses really do work as “instant shade”!
But Sunday, our umbrella provided a little protection from the rain. Since there was wind, too, there was not a 100% shield from nature’s elements…but it was better than making a dash for it uncovered. Since Greg is six feet tall, he towered over us and carried the umbrella so that it encompassed Grandma E and Timothy…and then Zola and me.
Think of God’s love and care as a giant umbrella. He can shelter us from the rain and storms of life…and shield us from the sun and heat of things like insults and offenses, peer pressure, worries and concerns, indecisiveness, illness and injury, and so much more. Yes, there will be occasional “winds” that dampen us. There will be times when we feel like God’s “umbrella” blew inside out, as some models are wont to do in strong gusts. But for the most part, we are sheltered, shaded and protected perfectly.
We keep “Olive’s umbrellas” in our car. We have smaller umbrellas for individual use or times when we think we can manage with just a hint of protection…much like we tend to try to handle “life” on our own from time to time. But when we know we need “full coverage”, we bring out the “big guns”! And that is how it should be in our faith walk. We should always have God with us…His “big umbrella” should always be over us to shield us from life’s storms - both great and small. We should “rest well” in His care, knowing that God is always with us – ready to handle whatever comes our way.
Every time I use “Olive’s umbrella”, I think of her…and I am thankful for what she meant to me as a friend and role model. But I am even more grateful for the sheltering care of God and His “umbrella”. Are you resting in the shadow of God’s “umbrella protection” and care? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Many areas of Arkansas have experienced the wettest June on record. Even on days when the sun popped out through the clouds, it seems like at some point in the day, it rained. So it came as no surprise when we exited the church doors Sunday and discovered that rain was once again falling. Greg used our big floral umbrella to safely shuttle us (in groups of 2) into Pizza Hut for lunch.
A few years ago, our friend Olive died, and her daughter, Julie, put Olive’s house on the market and held an estate sale to clear out all of the belongings and “stuff” that Olive had collected over her 97 years of life. Hanging on one of the door knobs were two very large umbrellas, and I eagerly purchased both of them. These days, the trend in umbrellas seems to be toward small, compact gizmos that fold up and fit into your purse or a small bag. The trouble with these is that they don’t provide much coverage from the rain – or sun.
“Sun?” you may ask. Yes, SUN. When I was little, people carried umbrellas as “parasols” to protect themselves from the heat and harmful rays of the sun. In recent years, I’ve used one of Olive’s umbrellas as a “parasol”…especially at summer auctions. I know some people think I’m crazy…but hey, that was a given! These apparatuses really do work as “instant shade”!
But Sunday, our umbrella provided a little protection from the rain. Since there was wind, too, there was not a 100% shield from nature’s elements…but it was better than making a dash for it uncovered. Since Greg is six feet tall, he towered over us and carried the umbrella so that it encompassed Grandma E and Timothy…and then Zola and me.
Think of God’s love and care as a giant umbrella. He can shelter us from the rain and storms of life…and shield us from the sun and heat of things like insults and offenses, peer pressure, worries and concerns, indecisiveness, illness and injury, and so much more. Yes, there will be occasional “winds” that dampen us. There will be times when we feel like God’s “umbrella” blew inside out, as some models are wont to do in strong gusts. But for the most part, we are sheltered, shaded and protected perfectly.
We keep “Olive’s umbrellas” in our car. We have smaller umbrellas for individual use or times when we think we can manage with just a hint of protection…much like we tend to try to handle “life” on our own from time to time. But when we know we need “full coverage”, we bring out the “big guns”! And that is how it should be in our faith walk. We should always have God with us…His “big umbrella” should always be over us to shield us from life’s storms - both great and small. We should “rest well” in His care, knowing that God is always with us – ready to handle whatever comes our way.
Every time I use “Olive’s umbrella”, I think of her…and I am thankful for what she meant to me as a friend and role model. But I am even more grateful for the sheltering care of God and His “umbrella”. Are you resting in the shadow of God’s “umbrella protection” and care? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 22, 2012
1 Peter 5:7
God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas were a huge deal in my family. We gathered for gigantic potluck meals, rotating who served as host/hostess among the adult family members. In attendance were my parents and my siblings, both sets of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins… sometimes as many as 30 people. When I was small, my dad and some male cousins would go quail hunting right after lunch. In later years, we sat around and visited…and ate…looked at old pictures…and ate…watched football… and ate…played dominoes… and did I mention that we ate?! We would reheat what was left around dinner time and eat one last time, then say our good-byes and return to our individual homes.
As an adult, I have come to realize how much work this annual dinner was for the host/hostess… how long and hard others (who had regular day jobs) worked in the evenings and early morning of Thanksgiving Day to prepare the succulent dishes that always graced our tables and sideboards. But for me, it was a day when everyone got together to share food and fellowship without a care in the world. It was as if we cast all of our cares aside for that one day.
Now I realize that a lot of people come to the Thanksgiving Day table with a heavy heart… burdens that seem insurmountable…troubles of all kinds. There isn’t enough turkey, cranberries or pumpkin pie in the world to soothe what ails them. And I get it… I truly do. I will miss my grandparents today… the cousins who have long since gone to heaven and feast at the Heavenly table… my dad and my brother… my father-in-law who loved to see his family gathered around the table… and my little grandmother who is physically unable to leave her apartment and be with us. In the back of my mind I will be thinking about what I have to do next week, what’s going on in the world at large, those less fortunate, and the challenges that lie before me and my family.
But the GOOD NEWS is that I serve a God who is more than able to handle these worries and burdens. So today, I will make an extra effort to hand them to Him… to thank Him for such strong and sturdy shoulders that can carry the cares of the world. I will allow God to fill me with joy for the memories of times gone past… and the new traditions and memories we will begin to create this day with family members who are present… and our little great-niece and nephews, Zola, Timmy and Nathan. I will laugh and celebrate the joy and wonder of their presence… and the freedom to share a delicious meal with them in the cozy, festive home of their great-grandmother… my mom. I will cook the traditional green beans in my grandmother’s old iron Dutch oven. I’ll make other dishes that have come to be holiday favorites… as will others. And we will eat… and eat… and eat some more… because we can, praise God!
Wherever you are today… whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving Day officially, or you are merely counting your blessings because you can – and should… give God praise for carrying our worries and cares. Thank Him for being so powerful, loving, generous, gracious and merciful. Thank God for those who have filled your life in the past… and those who surround you today and in days to come. Recognize that your worst day WITH God is better than your best day without Him… and be incredibly thankful for that! Let go and let God… be thankful and blessed… and please pass the gravy… and the TUMS®!
©2012 Debbie Robus
God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas were a huge deal in my family. We gathered for gigantic potluck meals, rotating who served as host/hostess among the adult family members. In attendance were my parents and my siblings, both sets of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins… sometimes as many as 30 people. When I was small, my dad and some male cousins would go quail hunting right after lunch. In later years, we sat around and visited…and ate…looked at old pictures…and ate…watched football… and ate…played dominoes… and did I mention that we ate?! We would reheat what was left around dinner time and eat one last time, then say our good-byes and return to our individual homes.
As an adult, I have come to realize how much work this annual dinner was for the host/hostess… how long and hard others (who had regular day jobs) worked in the evenings and early morning of Thanksgiving Day to prepare the succulent dishes that always graced our tables and sideboards. But for me, it was a day when everyone got together to share food and fellowship without a care in the world. It was as if we cast all of our cares aside for that one day.
Now I realize that a lot of people come to the Thanksgiving Day table with a heavy heart… burdens that seem insurmountable…troubles of all kinds. There isn’t enough turkey, cranberries or pumpkin pie in the world to soothe what ails them. And I get it… I truly do. I will miss my grandparents today… the cousins who have long since gone to heaven and feast at the Heavenly table… my dad and my brother… my father-in-law who loved to see his family gathered around the table… and my little grandmother who is physically unable to leave her apartment and be with us. In the back of my mind I will be thinking about what I have to do next week, what’s going on in the world at large, those less fortunate, and the challenges that lie before me and my family.
But the GOOD NEWS is that I serve a God who is more than able to handle these worries and burdens. So today, I will make an extra effort to hand them to Him… to thank Him for such strong and sturdy shoulders that can carry the cares of the world. I will allow God to fill me with joy for the memories of times gone past… and the new traditions and memories we will begin to create this day with family members who are present… and our little great-niece and nephews, Zola, Timmy and Nathan. I will laugh and celebrate the joy and wonder of their presence… and the freedom to share a delicious meal with them in the cozy, festive home of their great-grandmother… my mom. I will cook the traditional green beans in my grandmother’s old iron Dutch oven. I’ll make other dishes that have come to be holiday favorites… as will others. And we will eat… and eat… and eat some more… because we can, praise God!
Wherever you are today… whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving Day officially, or you are merely counting your blessings because you can – and should… give God praise for carrying our worries and cares. Thank Him for being so powerful, loving, generous, gracious and merciful. Thank God for those who have filled your life in the past… and those who surround you today and in days to come. Recognize that your worst day WITH God is better than your best day without Him… and be incredibly thankful for that! Let go and let God… be thankful and blessed… and please pass the gravy… and the TUMS®!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 11, 2012
Matthew 11:28-30
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
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.
Last week, my husband and I took Timothy and his little sister, Zola, to the park to play and have a “picnic.” If you want to learn to live freely and lightly, spend a couple of hours sliding down a slide with toddlers. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace by swinging while holding a little child on your lap. Get away from the worries and cares of your day and see even the tiniest stick or pine cone through their eyes. And rest? They know about that, too. After about the 90th trip down the slide, Timmy looked up and said, “Let’s rest a minute!”
At the end of the day, we were all tired… but also renewed. Yes, we all slept well that night… worn out from our physical exertion. But we set any burdens and worries aside and just enjoyed the sunshine and the simplicity of sharing love and joy with two little ones we love beyond description.
Have you ever stopped and considered that in terms of our Christian faith, we are the toddlers, and Jesus is the parent? But unlike the little children, who hopefully have no burdens or worries at such a young age, our lives are riddled with heaviness. We really are tired and worn out… exhausted from work and relationships and trying to juggle all the balls that make up our life. We are even weary of religion and the demands of the church… to conform to a certain set of guidelines and beliefs… to serve here or pay there or deal with all kinds of people who have their own agendas.
At the end of the day, don’t you just want to “rest a minute?” The GOOD NEWS is that you can… anytime, anywhere! You can call out to Jesus, and He will open His arms, scoop you up, and snuggle you to His chest. You can rest and relax…content and free in the safety He offers. And the more you take refuge with Jesus… the more you keep company with Him… the lighter your burdens and worries will become. You will feel more like a kid again… trusting your Heavenly Father to handle the big stuff for you.
Don’t you want this? Don’t you long to feel free and unencumbered… to know that Someone bigger than you is in control… perfectly managing your life so that you are able to focus on whatever God has designed you for? It’s time to leave our cares at the feet of Jesus. Aren’t you ready? Won’t you “slide down the slide” one last time… and rest?
©2012 Debbie Robus
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
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.
Last week, my husband and I took Timothy and his little sister, Zola, to the park to play and have a “picnic.” If you want to learn to live freely and lightly, spend a couple of hours sliding down a slide with toddlers. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace by swinging while holding a little child on your lap. Get away from the worries and cares of your day and see even the tiniest stick or pine cone through their eyes. And rest? They know about that, too. After about the 90th trip down the slide, Timmy looked up and said, “Let’s rest a minute!”
At the end of the day, we were all tired… but also renewed. Yes, we all slept well that night… worn out from our physical exertion. But we set any burdens and worries aside and just enjoyed the sunshine and the simplicity of sharing love and joy with two little ones we love beyond description.
Have you ever stopped and considered that in terms of our Christian faith, we are the toddlers, and Jesus is the parent? But unlike the little children, who hopefully have no burdens or worries at such a young age, our lives are riddled with heaviness. We really are tired and worn out… exhausted from work and relationships and trying to juggle all the balls that make up our life. We are even weary of religion and the demands of the church… to conform to a certain set of guidelines and beliefs… to serve here or pay there or deal with all kinds of people who have their own agendas.
At the end of the day, don’t you just want to “rest a minute?” The GOOD NEWS is that you can… anytime, anywhere! You can call out to Jesus, and He will open His arms, scoop you up, and snuggle you to His chest. You can rest and relax…content and free in the safety He offers. And the more you take refuge with Jesus… the more you keep company with Him… the lighter your burdens and worries will become. You will feel more like a kid again… trusting your Heavenly Father to handle the big stuff for you.
Don’t you want this? Don’t you long to feel free and unencumbered… to know that Someone bigger than you is in control… perfectly managing your life so that you are able to focus on whatever God has designed you for? It’s time to leave our cares at the feet of Jesus. Aren’t you ready? Won’t you “slide down the slide” one last time… and rest?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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