Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This time of year, we sometimes have trouble planning too many things because of our weather. One day it’s sunny and in the upper 40s or low 50s, and the next, we have four or five inches of snow on the ground and our streets are icy. The weather can change quickly. I’ve seen tornadoes come through one evening, and a big snow follow the next day. We preface a lot of our plans with, “If it snows…” or “If the roads don’t get icy.” Let’s face it, weather is ever changing, and we have to adjust our own lives accordingly.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that God doesn’t change like the weather? Don’t you find comfort in knowing that you can always count on God to be the same… yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The only thing that really changes is how we respond and react to Him. When we pull away, it feels like God changed… but in truth, we were the ones who moved. When everything seems to be going very well in our lives, we are right there to thank God for the changes.
What we have to recognize is that changes in our life may be orchestrated or influenced by God and/or our relationship with Him. But HE never, ever, ever changes. God is always with us. God is always guiding us and working things together for His good. God is always ready to help us and make a way, even where we see none. God’s love never fails… never falters… never hesitates. His care never ceases.
If you sense a change, examine your life and see where and how YOU moved. If the change was positive, thank God for helping you to find your way toward that outcome. If the change was not a good one, ask God for help to restore you on the right path. Thank God for being constant… for never changing or waffling in our lives. Give Him glory for his steadfast love and care… and ask Him to keep you on the right path, so that all of your changes are ones that draw you closer to Him. Check your “Spiritual weather” today and make sure the forecast is one that reflects clear skies and a God-filled relationship.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 21, 2011
Ephesians 4:20-24
But that isn't what you were taught about Jesus Christ. He is the truth, and you heard about him and learned about him. You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Change is hard… even when we know it is good for us. We know that exercising and eating right will help us live a healthier life – and give us a slimmer, more toned physique. But knowing this and actually doing the work are two different things. Often, overeating and lack of exercise become habits, and any habit can be hard to break. But equally as often, once we get in the groove and change the habit, we wonder what took us so long to make the change. Haven’t you ever known a smoker who said, “I’ll never smoke again!” – or someone who lost a lot of weight and maybe took up running or some other form of exercise and said, “I can’t believe I was ever like that!”?
The same can be said of our Christian faith. There are a lot of factors that keep us from being all we can be and changing into a new person… fear, laziness, procrastination, and more. And if we are honest, we will admit that all of these boil down to listening to the devil. HE plants these doubts, fears and excuses in our mind.
If we can just call upon the Holy Spirit and ask Him to fill us… to change our heart and mind… to help us to be more like God… He will do so. And over time, with careful attention, dedication, and determination, we will begin to lose the old habits that hold us back and keep us in the dark. We will become more sure of our “new self,” and we’ll be saying, “What was I thinking?!” We will struggle to recognize the old person and find it easier and easier to leave him/her in the dust.
We were created for so much more. We were created by God to be like Him… to please Him and be truly holy. And God sent His Holy Spirit to change our way of thinking and help us become this new person. Have you recognized the Holy Spirit in your life? Have you acknowledged Him and called on Him for help to become the new you? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
But that isn't what you were taught about Jesus Christ. He is the truth, and you heard about him and learned about him. You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Change is hard… even when we know it is good for us. We know that exercising and eating right will help us live a healthier life – and give us a slimmer, more toned physique. But knowing this and actually doing the work are two different things. Often, overeating and lack of exercise become habits, and any habit can be hard to break. But equally as often, once we get in the groove and change the habit, we wonder what took us so long to make the change. Haven’t you ever known a smoker who said, “I’ll never smoke again!” – or someone who lost a lot of weight and maybe took up running or some other form of exercise and said, “I can’t believe I was ever like that!”?
The same can be said of our Christian faith. There are a lot of factors that keep us from being all we can be and changing into a new person… fear, laziness, procrastination, and more. And if we are honest, we will admit that all of these boil down to listening to the devil. HE plants these doubts, fears and excuses in our mind.
If we can just call upon the Holy Spirit and ask Him to fill us… to change our heart and mind… to help us to be more like God… He will do so. And over time, with careful attention, dedication, and determination, we will begin to lose the old habits that hold us back and keep us in the dark. We will become more sure of our “new self,” and we’ll be saying, “What was I thinking?!” We will struggle to recognize the old person and find it easier and easier to leave him/her in the dust.
We were created for so much more. We were created by God to be like Him… to please Him and be truly holy. And God sent His Holy Spirit to change our way of thinking and help us become this new person. Have you recognized the Holy Spirit in your life? Have you acknowledged Him and called on Him for help to become the new you? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 18, 2011
1 Corinthians 7:20
So don't try to change what you were when God chose you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we got our first kitten, she was extremely wild. A friend “caught” her as she and her litter mates followed their mother across busy Highway 7 just north of Arkansas Tech. Tigger was clearly the runt of the litter, and she was just slow enough for our friend to rescue. The others made it safely across the road and into thick brush. For weeks after Tigger came to our home, she would hide under the couch, scared to death of her enormous owners. This tiny kitten fit in the palm of our hand. I would reach under the couch and drag her out… then wrap her in a dish towel to protect myself from her tiny, razor-sharp claws… and I would hold her tightly to my chest and talk soothingly to her.
I don’t remember exactly how long it took, but eventually, Tigger was no longer afraid of us or our little mobile home. She snuggled with us voluntarily, played and romped through the place, and generally became “Queen of the Castle.” When we would drive home to visit our family on weekends, she road on the dashboard of our car… perfectly content to doze there – even oblivious to the motion of the windshield wipers when it rained.
Then Tigger had kittens… and she changed again. She was still loving and fearless, but her contentment in the car was gone forever. All it took was one long, miserable ride home with her babies in a basket… crying, sick, and unhappy… and she had forever had enough of the car. From that point forward, there was no changing her. She was totally disgusted with the car and would let us know it! We might have succeeded in changing her from a terrified kitten on the side of the road into a loving, nurturing house cat… but we would never get her to ride on our dashboard again!
I will tell you right now… people will try to change you all of your life. Friends will want you to like what they like… to enjoy their same tastes in everything from fashion to sports to video games and music. Love interests may try to get you to become more like them. They may tell others, “He would be perfect if I could just get him to like musicals…” or “She is great except for being so disorganized… if I can just change that, we’ll get along fine.” Still others may say, “You need to come to this Bible study we are having – if you were serious about your walk with God, you would come to more things like this.”
Go back and read the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 7:20. Clearly, God has a plan for our lives, and while some changes are positive – and there is nothing wrong with a Bible study, becoming more organizing, or deciding you like musicals – we can’t become someone else. We are who God made us to be… and trying to change to suit anyone except Him is just plain wrong. It will only lead to misery and possible disaster. We are not feral kittens who can be “tamed” over time… and this is not God’s design for us!
Search your heart… and spend time every day talking to God. Ask Him in all circumstances… “Is this what You want me to do? Is this who You have called me to be?” Trust His answers. If you sense that God is telling you the changes you are about to make are not of His doing, stop immediately and move in another direction.
The devil will delight in using others to try to sway your opinions… and he’s really clever at making a convincing argument. Our job as Christians is to stay awake and alert – and in constant communication with our Heavenly Father, who chose us just as we were and doesn’t want anyone else. Be authentic… be who God chose…only change if HE says so!
©2011 Debbie Robus
So don't try to change what you were when God chose you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we got our first kitten, she was extremely wild. A friend “caught” her as she and her litter mates followed their mother across busy Highway 7 just north of Arkansas Tech. Tigger was clearly the runt of the litter, and she was just slow enough for our friend to rescue. The others made it safely across the road and into thick brush. For weeks after Tigger came to our home, she would hide under the couch, scared to death of her enormous owners. This tiny kitten fit in the palm of our hand. I would reach under the couch and drag her out… then wrap her in a dish towel to protect myself from her tiny, razor-sharp claws… and I would hold her tightly to my chest and talk soothingly to her.
I don’t remember exactly how long it took, but eventually, Tigger was no longer afraid of us or our little mobile home. She snuggled with us voluntarily, played and romped through the place, and generally became “Queen of the Castle.” When we would drive home to visit our family on weekends, she road on the dashboard of our car… perfectly content to doze there – even oblivious to the motion of the windshield wipers when it rained.
Then Tigger had kittens… and she changed again. She was still loving and fearless, but her contentment in the car was gone forever. All it took was one long, miserable ride home with her babies in a basket… crying, sick, and unhappy… and she had forever had enough of the car. From that point forward, there was no changing her. She was totally disgusted with the car and would let us know it! We might have succeeded in changing her from a terrified kitten on the side of the road into a loving, nurturing house cat… but we would never get her to ride on our dashboard again!
I will tell you right now… people will try to change you all of your life. Friends will want you to like what they like… to enjoy their same tastes in everything from fashion to sports to video games and music. Love interests may try to get you to become more like them. They may tell others, “He would be perfect if I could just get him to like musicals…” or “She is great except for being so disorganized… if I can just change that, we’ll get along fine.” Still others may say, “You need to come to this Bible study we are having – if you were serious about your walk with God, you would come to more things like this.”
Go back and read the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 7:20. Clearly, God has a plan for our lives, and while some changes are positive – and there is nothing wrong with a Bible study, becoming more organizing, or deciding you like musicals – we can’t become someone else. We are who God made us to be… and trying to change to suit anyone except Him is just plain wrong. It will only lead to misery and possible disaster. We are not feral kittens who can be “tamed” over time… and this is not God’s design for us!
Search your heart… and spend time every day talking to God. Ask Him in all circumstances… “Is this what You want me to do? Is this who You have called me to be?” Trust His answers. If you sense that God is telling you the changes you are about to make are not of His doing, stop immediately and move in another direction.
The devil will delight in using others to try to sway your opinions… and he’s really clever at making a convincing argument. Our job as Christians is to stay awake and alert – and in constant communication with our Heavenly Father, who chose us just as we were and doesn’t want anyone else. Be authentic… be who God chose…only change if HE says so!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 17, 2011
Romans 12:2
Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A student from my very first class of first graders wrote on Facebook over the weekend about a conversation with his 7-year-old, second-grade son. The conversation was about Martin Luther King, Jr. My now-grown student asked his son what he learned about Dr. King, and the little boy said he learned that “brown” people were not allowed to sit up front, had to use different bathrooms, and that the home of Dr. King’s parents was bombed. He asked, “Did you know that, Daddy?” My student asked his son, “Why do you think they did this?” and the little boy said, “Because they were mad at them.”
My student continued in his post – and again on his personal blog – to discuss how sad he is that like many of us, he grew up in a community where… “I never saw a face in school or anywhere else in town that was not Caucasian - unless you count the folks who owned the local Chinese restaurant.” He and I – and others – commiserated that our own childhood attitudes toward those of other races and ethnicities was influenced in large part by the racial isolation of our upbringing. Things are somewhat different in our area of the country now, but not greatly. For many, our true introduction to people of other races, ethnicities, and cultures comes when we move away to attend college.
Although I heard plenty of talk around me, I never grew up with negative feelings toward others of any race, creed, or color. When we moved to Oklahoma for a few months during my fifth-grade year, my best friend was a full-blooded Indian girl named Leona. In college, some of my closest friends were black. And while Dr. King had paved the way toward more tolerance and acceptance of others, I still saw tremendous evidence of inequality in the late 1970’s when I attended college.
My student teaching experience was a prime example of this. The kindergarten teacher to whom I was assigned for a little more than four weeks left for maternity leave one week after I arrived in her classroom. Another teacher was hired to replace her, but in a dramatic shift on Friday afternoon, word came from the administration office that “a black face must be behind the desk on Monday.” The “quota” for an integrated faculty was low. A girl who had graduated just a few weeks earlier – and student taught the previous semester in this same elementary school – was flown in from South Carolina, where she had moved with her son. On Monday morning, Deborah was my new “mentor.”
The sad part is that Deborah had not had a good student teaching experience. The principal had tried to intervene and change this, but the attitudes were so strong that she faced an uphill battle. She told me, “You will have to help each other.” And that’s what we did. As I look back on this situation, I see how God orchestrated the details. My mother was already a kindergarten teacher, so making lesson plans and pulling the classroom together was easy for me. I knew Deborah from classes we had shared, and I liked her. There were some volatile situations with angry parents, and I was able to help mediate… to serve as a bridge in the gap. And all too soon, my time in that kindergarten classroom was over… but not before Deborah had settled in and some of the anger had diffused.
I honestly don’t know what happened to Deborah after that year. We moved back to Heber Springs, and I lost touch. But I do know that, sadly, a lot of attitudes have not changed much in 34 years. There would still be parents today who would throw a royal fit if this same situation occurred. Too many people are listening to the attitudes, prejudices and fears of the people of this world.
Maya Angelou says, “When you know better, you do better.” Unfortunately, in this arena, that’s not always the case. But it can be. We do know better. We know that God created people of all races, creeds and colors… and all are precious to Him. We are no different in God’s eyes than our neighbors from Africa, the Native Americans, those of Asian descent, and others. When we were little, we sang, “Jesus loves the little children… red and yellow, black and white - they are precious in His sight.” But do we believe this? Have we listened to God and let Him change our mind? Don’t we want to please our Heavenly Father and do everything that is good? Isn’t today a perfect time to let God change the way you think?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A student from my very first class of first graders wrote on Facebook over the weekend about a conversation with his 7-year-old, second-grade son. The conversation was about Martin Luther King, Jr. My now-grown student asked his son what he learned about Dr. King, and the little boy said he learned that “brown” people were not allowed to sit up front, had to use different bathrooms, and that the home of Dr. King’s parents was bombed. He asked, “Did you know that, Daddy?” My student asked his son, “Why do you think they did this?” and the little boy said, “Because they were mad at them.”
My student continued in his post – and again on his personal blog – to discuss how sad he is that like many of us, he grew up in a community where… “I never saw a face in school or anywhere else in town that was not Caucasian - unless you count the folks who owned the local Chinese restaurant.” He and I – and others – commiserated that our own childhood attitudes toward those of other races and ethnicities was influenced in large part by the racial isolation of our upbringing. Things are somewhat different in our area of the country now, but not greatly. For many, our true introduction to people of other races, ethnicities, and cultures comes when we move away to attend college.
Although I heard plenty of talk around me, I never grew up with negative feelings toward others of any race, creed, or color. When we moved to Oklahoma for a few months during my fifth-grade year, my best friend was a full-blooded Indian girl named Leona. In college, some of my closest friends were black. And while Dr. King had paved the way toward more tolerance and acceptance of others, I still saw tremendous evidence of inequality in the late 1970’s when I attended college.
My student teaching experience was a prime example of this. The kindergarten teacher to whom I was assigned for a little more than four weeks left for maternity leave one week after I arrived in her classroom. Another teacher was hired to replace her, but in a dramatic shift on Friday afternoon, word came from the administration office that “a black face must be behind the desk on Monday.” The “quota” for an integrated faculty was low. A girl who had graduated just a few weeks earlier – and student taught the previous semester in this same elementary school – was flown in from South Carolina, where she had moved with her son. On Monday morning, Deborah was my new “mentor.”
The sad part is that Deborah had not had a good student teaching experience. The principal had tried to intervene and change this, but the attitudes were so strong that she faced an uphill battle. She told me, “You will have to help each other.” And that’s what we did. As I look back on this situation, I see how God orchestrated the details. My mother was already a kindergarten teacher, so making lesson plans and pulling the classroom together was easy for me. I knew Deborah from classes we had shared, and I liked her. There were some volatile situations with angry parents, and I was able to help mediate… to serve as a bridge in the gap. And all too soon, my time in that kindergarten classroom was over… but not before Deborah had settled in and some of the anger had diffused.
I honestly don’t know what happened to Deborah after that year. We moved back to Heber Springs, and I lost touch. But I do know that, sadly, a lot of attitudes have not changed much in 34 years. There would still be parents today who would throw a royal fit if this same situation occurred. Too many people are listening to the attitudes, prejudices and fears of the people of this world.
Maya Angelou says, “When you know better, you do better.” Unfortunately, in this arena, that’s not always the case. But it can be. We do know better. We know that God created people of all races, creeds and colors… and all are precious to Him. We are no different in God’s eyes than our neighbors from Africa, the Native Americans, those of Asian descent, and others. When we were little, we sang, “Jesus loves the little children… red and yellow, black and white - they are precious in His sight.” But do we believe this? Have we listened to God and let Him change our mind? Don’t we want to please our Heavenly Father and do everything that is good? Isn’t today a perfect time to let God change the way you think?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 10, 2011
Jeremiah 13:23
Can you ever change and do what's right? Can people change the color of their skin, or can a leopard remove its spots? If so, then maybe you can change and learn to do right.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A decade ago, I was a sun worshipper. My skin is incredibly pale, and I thought a tan made me look better… younger, healthier, and more fit. In the winter, I would skip the tanning bed and give my skin a rest, and I did not like how it looked… pasty, freckled, and almost ghostly! But over time, I realized that I was not really changing my skin… I was just making it age faster. No matter how much time I spend in a tanning bed – or how much I am able to darken my skin – when I stop the process, my skin will once again be pasty white (albeit with more freckles and “sun/age spots” as a result).
In other words, I didn’t really change my skin color, any more than bleaching my hair changes the fact that my “natural color” is a salt-and-pepper combo of dishwater blonde and snowy white. Once I stop spending time in the tanning bed or out in the sun – or going to a hairdresser and having my hair color adjusted – the original color returns. The change is only on the surface.
Sadly, there are some people who seem to treat their relationship with God like tanning or coloring their hair. The results are short-term, and fairly shallow. Once the “new” wears off, old habits and behaviors resurface. The “change” was not from deep within the heart. Maybe these people thought the change was real… maybe they convinced themselves that they had given their heart to God and were committed to following Him and serving as Christ’s disciple. And maybe nobody explained to them that salvation is not the end – it’s the beginning!
Accepting Jesus is the first step… inviting the Holy Spirit to dwell within your heart is vital… but Jesus’ words were, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” He also told us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” The rewards of a life in Christ are great… but so is the responsibility. And often, our commitment to God involves incredible, profound, permanent change. I’ll be the first to tell you that this is difficult… and there may be periods when we slip and fall and seem to lose our way for a time. But the key is to get back to God as quickly as possible, to admit your shortcomings and earnestly work to correct them.
Maybe we can’t change our ethnicity or the real color of our hair (at least not once and for all), but with work and dedication… faith and trust in God… we can change our heart to line up more closely with His. Are you willing to do what it takes to make the changes that matter? Is today the day you begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Can you ever change and do what's right? Can people change the color of their skin, or can a leopard remove its spots? If so, then maybe you can change and learn to do right.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A decade ago, I was a sun worshipper. My skin is incredibly pale, and I thought a tan made me look better… younger, healthier, and more fit. In the winter, I would skip the tanning bed and give my skin a rest, and I did not like how it looked… pasty, freckled, and almost ghostly! But over time, I realized that I was not really changing my skin… I was just making it age faster. No matter how much time I spend in a tanning bed – or how much I am able to darken my skin – when I stop the process, my skin will once again be pasty white (albeit with more freckles and “sun/age spots” as a result).
In other words, I didn’t really change my skin color, any more than bleaching my hair changes the fact that my “natural color” is a salt-and-pepper combo of dishwater blonde and snowy white. Once I stop spending time in the tanning bed or out in the sun – or going to a hairdresser and having my hair color adjusted – the original color returns. The change is only on the surface.
Sadly, there are some people who seem to treat their relationship with God like tanning or coloring their hair. The results are short-term, and fairly shallow. Once the “new” wears off, old habits and behaviors resurface. The “change” was not from deep within the heart. Maybe these people thought the change was real… maybe they convinced themselves that they had given their heart to God and were committed to following Him and serving as Christ’s disciple. And maybe nobody explained to them that salvation is not the end – it’s the beginning!
Accepting Jesus is the first step… inviting the Holy Spirit to dwell within your heart is vital… but Jesus’ words were, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” He also told us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” The rewards of a life in Christ are great… but so is the responsibility. And often, our commitment to God involves incredible, profound, permanent change. I’ll be the first to tell you that this is difficult… and there may be periods when we slip and fall and seem to lose our way for a time. But the key is to get back to God as quickly as possible, to admit your shortcomings and earnestly work to correct them.
Maybe we can’t change our ethnicity or the real color of our hair (at least not once and for all), but with work and dedication… faith and trust in God… we can change our heart to line up more closely with His. Are you willing to do what it takes to make the changes that matter? Is today the day you begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 8, 2011
Ecclesiastes 1:4
People come, and people go, but still the world never changes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, I had a small circle of close friends. I was friendly with other kids in my class and at church, but four girls – Becky, Carla, Martha and Robin – were especially dear. I didn’t have bridesmaids when we married, so these girls served cake and punch at our wedding. After high school, we did a fairly good job of staying in touch for several years… often getting together for brunch during Christmas break. But over time, we got together less often. We all married and moved in different directions… and as husbands and babies came along and lives got busy, we grew apart in some ways.
But the bond never left. We all grieved when breast cancer took Becky from us a few years ago… and when Robin’s daughter was tragically killed in a car wreck. We supported Carla through the illnesses and subsequent deaths of her parents. We celebrated the accomplishments of each other’s children along the way … and the birth of Becky’s grand-daughter and namesake.
On Christmas Eve, my friend Carla dropped in at our house to purchase a copy of a book my mother has written. We quickly snapped a couple of photos, not knowing when we will see each other again. I keep up with Robin on Facebook… and Martha sent a Christmas card with a photo of her two teenage sons. We don’t see each other very often any more, but I still feel a bond with these women. I have witnessed the ebb and flow of similar relationships between my mother and some of her childhood friends… and the underlying bond that remains.
We tend to romanticize the friendships of our childhood. We fondly remember long days spent playing together or working on a class project. We build up the conflicts and clashes, and they become epic events that forever shape our personalities. As we mature, we come to recognize that friends come and go in our lives. Some of my closest friends now are childhood friends with whom I lost touch for a number of years and have reconnected. Other people with whom I developed friendships as an adult have, for the moment, gone in different directions, and we seldom – if ever – communicate.
The thing is… we often treat our relationship with God like a friendship. And while Jesus is our “Forever Friend,” as we tell our children, the relationship we have with God and His Holy Spirit should not change. There should be no periods of distance… no need for reconnection. We should work hard to keep in constant touch with God, regardless of our circumstances… because I assure you, HE has not gone anywhere! Nothing has changed on God’s end… but we allow the things of this world to get in the way and affect our relationship.
If you need to reconnect with God today, I urge you to make this change. Rekindle your relationship with Him… rebuild your friendship… and NEVER, EVER move away again. People come and people go, but GOD is always there. The question is… where are YOU?
©2010 Debbie Robus
People come, and people go, but still the world never changes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, I had a small circle of close friends. I was friendly with other kids in my class and at church, but four girls – Becky, Carla, Martha and Robin – were especially dear. I didn’t have bridesmaids when we married, so these girls served cake and punch at our wedding. After high school, we did a fairly good job of staying in touch for several years… often getting together for brunch during Christmas break. But over time, we got together less often. We all married and moved in different directions… and as husbands and babies came along and lives got busy, we grew apart in some ways.
But the bond never left. We all grieved when breast cancer took Becky from us a few years ago… and when Robin’s daughter was tragically killed in a car wreck. We supported Carla through the illnesses and subsequent deaths of her parents. We celebrated the accomplishments of each other’s children along the way … and the birth of Becky’s grand-daughter and namesake.
On Christmas Eve, my friend Carla dropped in at our house to purchase a copy of a book my mother has written. We quickly snapped a couple of photos, not knowing when we will see each other again. I keep up with Robin on Facebook… and Martha sent a Christmas card with a photo of her two teenage sons. We don’t see each other very often any more, but I still feel a bond with these women. I have witnessed the ebb and flow of similar relationships between my mother and some of her childhood friends… and the underlying bond that remains.
We tend to romanticize the friendships of our childhood. We fondly remember long days spent playing together or working on a class project. We build up the conflicts and clashes, and they become epic events that forever shape our personalities. As we mature, we come to recognize that friends come and go in our lives. Some of my closest friends now are childhood friends with whom I lost touch for a number of years and have reconnected. Other people with whom I developed friendships as an adult have, for the moment, gone in different directions, and we seldom – if ever – communicate.
The thing is… we often treat our relationship with God like a friendship. And while Jesus is our “Forever Friend,” as we tell our children, the relationship we have with God and His Holy Spirit should not change. There should be no periods of distance… no need for reconnection. We should work hard to keep in constant touch with God, regardless of our circumstances… because I assure you, HE has not gone anywhere! Nothing has changed on God’s end… but we allow the things of this world to get in the way and affect our relationship.
If you need to reconnect with God today, I urge you to make this change. Rekindle your relationship with Him… rebuild your friendship… and NEVER, EVER move away again. People come and people go, but GOD is always there. The question is… where are YOU?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 6, 2011
Psalm 102:25-27
In the beginning, LORD, you laid the earth's foundation and created the heavens. They will all disappear and wear out like clothes. You change them, as you would a coat, but you last forever. You are always the same. Years cannot change you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I gave my closet what I considered a “good cleaning.” I have items of clothing that are more than a decade old… and some jackets that are even older. I know that a few people are probably saying, “I believe it… no wonder you look so outdated!” But I do not like to get rid of things. And honestly, some of these items are still in style – or they have come back into style – and they have a lot of good “wear” left in them!
Some of my shoes are really well-made and appear to be headed toward lasting forever. Others… like my favorite pair of more-than-10-year-old fake leather boots… recently started to “flake” apart. I had to admit that they were worn out and needed to go. And on closer inspection, a lot of the items I thought I couldn’t live without had seen better days or no longer were right for me. So I sacked and sorted and donated and threw away. And I have to admit… I’m really happy with my “new” closet. Even though there are fewer items there, it seems more orderly and spacious… and what is left seems to make more sense.
This is a good time of year for us to clean our “Spiritual” closet, too. It’s time to let go of some old, outdated – or misinformed – concepts we have and seek a sleeker, cleaner, more organized relationship with God. Because you see, His truths are not going anywhere! The love, grace, mercy, and indisputable word of God will never change. But our level of faith… our attitudes and study habits… our level of communication and connection with God… seems to fluctuate. We appear to change our relationship with God often - like we change our wardrobe!
Wouldn’t it feel good to “clean out the closet” once and for all… to get rid of the old, worn-out habits and ideas that stymie your faith and your walk with God? Wouldn’t it be great to have a “Spiritual closet” filled with the “timeless classics” of a solid relationship with Almighty God and His Holy Spirit? Set aside some time to search your heart… to talk to God about what needs to stay, what is missing… and what needs to go. Then give your heart the “Spiritual cleaning” of a lifetime. This time, vow to keep things in order. With God’s help, we can do this… and our Spiritual life will always be in style.
©2010 Debbie Robus
In the beginning, LORD, you laid the earth's foundation and created the heavens. They will all disappear and wear out like clothes. You change them, as you would a coat, but you last forever. You are always the same. Years cannot change you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I gave my closet what I considered a “good cleaning.” I have items of clothing that are more than a decade old… and some jackets that are even older. I know that a few people are probably saying, “I believe it… no wonder you look so outdated!” But I do not like to get rid of things. And honestly, some of these items are still in style – or they have come back into style – and they have a lot of good “wear” left in them!
Some of my shoes are really well-made and appear to be headed toward lasting forever. Others… like my favorite pair of more-than-10-year-old fake leather boots… recently started to “flake” apart. I had to admit that they were worn out and needed to go. And on closer inspection, a lot of the items I thought I couldn’t live without had seen better days or no longer were right for me. So I sacked and sorted and donated and threw away. And I have to admit… I’m really happy with my “new” closet. Even though there are fewer items there, it seems more orderly and spacious… and what is left seems to make more sense.
This is a good time of year for us to clean our “Spiritual” closet, too. It’s time to let go of some old, outdated – or misinformed – concepts we have and seek a sleeker, cleaner, more organized relationship with God. Because you see, His truths are not going anywhere! The love, grace, mercy, and indisputable word of God will never change. But our level of faith… our attitudes and study habits… our level of communication and connection with God… seems to fluctuate. We appear to change our relationship with God often - like we change our wardrobe!
Wouldn’t it feel good to “clean out the closet” once and for all… to get rid of the old, worn-out habits and ideas that stymie your faith and your walk with God? Wouldn’t it be great to have a “Spiritual closet” filled with the “timeless classics” of a solid relationship with Almighty God and His Holy Spirit? Set aside some time to search your heart… to talk to God about what needs to stay, what is missing… and what needs to go. Then give your heart the “Spiritual cleaning” of a lifetime. This time, vow to keep things in order. With God’s help, we can do this… and our Spiritual life will always be in style.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 2, 2011
Deuteronomy 10:17
The LORD your God is more powerful than all other gods and lords, and his tremendous power is to be feared. His decisions are always fair, and you cannot bribe him to change his mind.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“I’ll make you a deal…” If we had a nickel for every time we have said or heard this phrase, we would all have hefty bank accounts! We humans often operate in bargains, manipulations, and bribes… for everything from paying kids to make good grades to getting your spouse to help with the dishes or put gas in the car to promising the police officer we will never speed again if he/she will agree not to write us a ticket. We operate in “if you will do this, I will do that” on a daily basis… if not more frequently.
Our Spiritual life is no exception. We tell God, “If you will just grant me this one thing, I will do XYZ for you.” We promise to serve Him in unbelievable ways in exchange for good health, prosperity, a certain relationship, and even tangible things like a new job or a new car. “Lord, just make me skinny, and I will serve you night and day. Give me a new SUV, and I will hall the children’s choir around for You! Let our team win the championship, and I’ll organize a new chapter of FCA in your honor! Lord, please don’t let me lose this job, and I promise I will give you all the glory.” The sad part is that we really think this sort of tactic can work!
Apparently many of us have not paid attention to Deuteronomy 10:17. We cannot bribe God. We cannot make Him change His mind by making outrageous promises. We can’t earn God’s grace and mercy… or salvation through Jesus Christ… and we can’t bargain with God.
“So why bother?” you may ask. If God has made up His mind already, what difference does it make what we say or do? The key is to understand that God may very well change His mind… but not because of our ridiculous displays of desperation and conniving. If God sees us earnestly working to serve Him and honor His blessings upon our lives, He may extend additional grace and mercy to us out of unconditional love for one of His children.
We’ve all experienced a time when we changed our mind out because we felt a deep love and compassion for someone else… a time when we did something nice for them “just because” we wanted to make their day. God wants to do things for His children… to bless us “just because.” But trying to bribe Him can actually serve to question His judgment… and God’s judgment is always fair.
We would do well to learn how to operate without bribes, manipulations, and con games - certainly when it comes to God, but also in our everyday lives. We should live in way that God – and others - want to work with us and do things for us because of who we are and how we conduct our lives.
God may change His mind from time to time… but it won’t be because of any bribe we may offer. Cons and bribes are for the devil and his gang. Instead of trying to change God’s mind, let’s concentrate on changing our attitudes and behavior to line up with His will. Let’s offer God our very best every day… and trust His decisions to always be perfect and fair.
©2010 Debbie Robus
The LORD your God is more powerful than all other gods and lords, and his tremendous power is to be feared. His decisions are always fair, and you cannot bribe him to change his mind.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“I’ll make you a deal…” If we had a nickel for every time we have said or heard this phrase, we would all have hefty bank accounts! We humans often operate in bargains, manipulations, and bribes… for everything from paying kids to make good grades to getting your spouse to help with the dishes or put gas in the car to promising the police officer we will never speed again if he/she will agree not to write us a ticket. We operate in “if you will do this, I will do that” on a daily basis… if not more frequently.
Our Spiritual life is no exception. We tell God, “If you will just grant me this one thing, I will do XYZ for you.” We promise to serve Him in unbelievable ways in exchange for good health, prosperity, a certain relationship, and even tangible things like a new job or a new car. “Lord, just make me skinny, and I will serve you night and day. Give me a new SUV, and I will hall the children’s choir around for You! Let our team win the championship, and I’ll organize a new chapter of FCA in your honor! Lord, please don’t let me lose this job, and I promise I will give you all the glory.” The sad part is that we really think this sort of tactic can work!
Apparently many of us have not paid attention to Deuteronomy 10:17. We cannot bribe God. We cannot make Him change His mind by making outrageous promises. We can’t earn God’s grace and mercy… or salvation through Jesus Christ… and we can’t bargain with God.
“So why bother?” you may ask. If God has made up His mind already, what difference does it make what we say or do? The key is to understand that God may very well change His mind… but not because of our ridiculous displays of desperation and conniving. If God sees us earnestly working to serve Him and honor His blessings upon our lives, He may extend additional grace and mercy to us out of unconditional love for one of His children.
We’ve all experienced a time when we changed our mind out because we felt a deep love and compassion for someone else… a time when we did something nice for them “just because” we wanted to make their day. God wants to do things for His children… to bless us “just because.” But trying to bribe Him can actually serve to question His judgment… and God’s judgment is always fair.
We would do well to learn how to operate without bribes, manipulations, and con games - certainly when it comes to God, but also in our everyday lives. We should live in way that God – and others - want to work with us and do things for us because of who we are and how we conduct our lives.
God may change His mind from time to time… but it won’t be because of any bribe we may offer. Cons and bribes are for the devil and his gang. Instead of trying to change God’s mind, let’s concentrate on changing our attitudes and behavior to line up with His will. Let’s offer God our very best every day… and trust His decisions to always be perfect and fair.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 1, 2011
Genesis 17:4
I promise that you will be the father of many nations. That's why I now change your name from Abram to Abraham.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When couples marry, the bride often changes her surname to that of the groom to signify her commitment and the beginning of a new life. While we don’t go to the extreme of changing our name on January 1st, many of us will vow to make significant changes in our lives… weight loss, kicking habits, getting a degree, starting an exercise program… maybe even starting a new career or moving to a new location! Change is inevitable… and often, change is good!
Making changes of a Spiritual nature are often just what The Doctor ordered. This is a great time to take stock of our Christian life and see where we need to make a few changes. Maybe we need to reinforce our prayer life. Maybe we need to confess a few sins and start living more like a disciple of Christ and less like the devil’s agent. Maybe we need to commit to serving God more and ourself a little less. Or maybe there are some who still need to make major changes – give their heart to Jesus and invite the Holy Spirit to dwell within their heart.
Whatever Spiritual changes you make, today is the perfect time to begin. The other changes you want to incorporate may be important – and positive – but nothing will trump your efforts to become more in tune with God’s will for your life. Spend some time today talking to Him about how and where to start… and Happy New Year! May the coming year be the best, most blessed year you’ve experienced yet!
©2010 Debbie Robus
I promise that you will be the father of many nations. That's why I now change your name from Abram to Abraham.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When couples marry, the bride often changes her surname to that of the groom to signify her commitment and the beginning of a new life. While we don’t go to the extreme of changing our name on January 1st, many of us will vow to make significant changes in our lives… weight loss, kicking habits, getting a degree, starting an exercise program… maybe even starting a new career or moving to a new location! Change is inevitable… and often, change is good!
Making changes of a Spiritual nature are often just what The Doctor ordered. This is a great time to take stock of our Christian life and see where we need to make a few changes. Maybe we need to reinforce our prayer life. Maybe we need to confess a few sins and start living more like a disciple of Christ and less like the devil’s agent. Maybe we need to commit to serving God more and ourself a little less. Or maybe there are some who still need to make major changes – give their heart to Jesus and invite the Holy Spirit to dwell within their heart.
Whatever Spiritual changes you make, today is the perfect time to begin. The other changes you want to incorporate may be important – and positive – but nothing will trump your efforts to become more in tune with God’s will for your life. Spend some time today talking to Him about how and where to start… and Happy New Year! May the coming year be the best, most blessed year you’ve experienced yet!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 22, 2010
Colossians 2:20
[ Christ Brings New Life ] You died with Christ. Now the forces of the universe don't have any power over you. Why do you live as if you had to obey such rules…
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever been around someone who was looking for their eye glasses or sunglasses… and all the while they were atop their head? Or maybe you have gotten out of your car and thought, “I locked my keys inside,” then looked down and discovered your keys were in your hand! Okay, so maybe that’s just me… but the point is, sometimes we are not aware of what is right in front of us, and we continue to act just like we did beforehand.
Many people who have lost a lot of weight say that they continue to think of themselves as heavy long after they are thin. Their subconscious mind tells them, “You can’t wear that,” or “You can’t fit into that seat,” when truthfully, now they can. Or maybe you just got your learner’s permit, and from time to time (okay, maybe not often!) you may forget that you can now legally drive with a licensed adult. You may even get in the passenger side of the car before you remember that… hey… you can drive!
Old habits die hard… and sinful habits sometimes die the slowest! But we must be careful to remember that, as new creatures in Christ, we don’t follow the rules of society any more. We are part of a Higher Order. “Everyone else is doing it”… but we’re no longer “everyone else!” We’re part of the Kingdom of Heaven, and we take our orders from Jesus Christ. “That doesn’t sound very pleasant,” you may be thinking.
“If everyone else is doing things and we won’t, we’re going to be singled out, criticized, and more…” Maybe… and maybe not. Maybe you will start a new “trend” by bucking the old one. Because I assure you, if you listen to God instead of the world, you will be far happier, more contented, and peaceful… and God will protect you. Others will see this, and they just may want what you have! Being a Christian isn’t always easy, but in the long run, it represents freedom like you can’t begin to imagine!
It’s time to realize who we are… that we have been changed by the blood of Jesus, and we don’t follow the world’s rules any longer. We are new creatures in Jesus Christ. Have your transformation been completed? Whose rules are you following?
©2010 Debbie Robus
[ Christ Brings New Life ] You died with Christ. Now the forces of the universe don't have any power over you. Why do you live as if you had to obey such rules…
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever been around someone who was looking for their eye glasses or sunglasses… and all the while they were atop their head? Or maybe you have gotten out of your car and thought, “I locked my keys inside,” then looked down and discovered your keys were in your hand! Okay, so maybe that’s just me… but the point is, sometimes we are not aware of what is right in front of us, and we continue to act just like we did beforehand.
Many people who have lost a lot of weight say that they continue to think of themselves as heavy long after they are thin. Their subconscious mind tells them, “You can’t wear that,” or “You can’t fit into that seat,” when truthfully, now they can. Or maybe you just got your learner’s permit, and from time to time (okay, maybe not often!) you may forget that you can now legally drive with a licensed adult. You may even get in the passenger side of the car before you remember that… hey… you can drive!
Old habits die hard… and sinful habits sometimes die the slowest! But we must be careful to remember that, as new creatures in Christ, we don’t follow the rules of society any more. We are part of a Higher Order. “Everyone else is doing it”… but we’re no longer “everyone else!” We’re part of the Kingdom of Heaven, and we take our orders from Jesus Christ. “That doesn’t sound very pleasant,” you may be thinking.
“If everyone else is doing things and we won’t, we’re going to be singled out, criticized, and more…” Maybe… and maybe not. Maybe you will start a new “trend” by bucking the old one. Because I assure you, if you listen to God instead of the world, you will be far happier, more contented, and peaceful… and God will protect you. Others will see this, and they just may want what you have! Being a Christian isn’t always easy, but in the long run, it represents freedom like you can’t begin to imagine!
It’s time to realize who we are… that we have been changed by the blood of Jesus, and we don’t follow the world’s rules any longer. We are new creatures in Jesus Christ. Have your transformation been completed? Whose rules are you following?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 20, 2010
Romans 15:7
[The Good News Is for Jews and Gentiles] Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever gone into a store that sold expensive things… clothes, home décor, furniture, or even jewelry… and you felt others looking at you because you were under-dressed? I have told you before about seeing dirty, disheveled people in the store and momentarily judging them to be something (or someone) they were not… and then recognizing them as a friend who had been working in the yard and got grungy.
Or maybe you know someone who recently became a Christian, and you remember when they lived a sinful… even wild… lifestyle. Maybe you find it hard to shake this image of the person and see them as a holy Christian, anointed and blessed by God. Maybe you look at this person and wonder, “Who does he/she think she is?”
Let’s be honest… we are all that dirty, disheveled, sinful person… even if we “clean up well.” What God did for us… and continues to do for us… He does for every single one of His children, as much as they will allow. We need to learn to be more accepting of one another… and we must pray that others do the same. We must ask God to provide care and nurture for His children in all situations… kind store clerks… gentle, caring medical and emergency personnel… loving teachers and bosses, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers… fair judges and lawmakers… attentive friends and co-workers… Spirit-filled ministers and Christian believers who share Christ’s love with others… and much more.
What about you? Do you accept others as Christ has accepted you? Or do you have criteria that others must meet… a checklist of sorts for deciding whether or not you will show kindness and mercy to those you encounter? Read Romans 15:7 again…it starts off “The good News is for Jews and Gentiles.” In other words, Christ died on the cross for all of us… not just a certain few. If we are to be His followers, we must be accepting of everyone. How accepting of others have you been lately?
©2010 Debbie Robus
[The Good News Is for Jews and Gentiles] Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever gone into a store that sold expensive things… clothes, home décor, furniture, or even jewelry… and you felt others looking at you because you were under-dressed? I have told you before about seeing dirty, disheveled people in the store and momentarily judging them to be something (or someone) they were not… and then recognizing them as a friend who had been working in the yard and got grungy.
Or maybe you know someone who recently became a Christian, and you remember when they lived a sinful… even wild… lifestyle. Maybe you find it hard to shake this image of the person and see them as a holy Christian, anointed and blessed by God. Maybe you look at this person and wonder, “Who does he/she think she is?”
Let’s be honest… we are all that dirty, disheveled, sinful person… even if we “clean up well.” What God did for us… and continues to do for us… He does for every single one of His children, as much as they will allow. We need to learn to be more accepting of one another… and we must pray that others do the same. We must ask God to provide care and nurture for His children in all situations… kind store clerks… gentle, caring medical and emergency personnel… loving teachers and bosses, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers… fair judges and lawmakers… attentive friends and co-workers… Spirit-filled ministers and Christian believers who share Christ’s love with others… and much more.
What about you? Do you accept others as Christ has accepted you? Or do you have criteria that others must meet… a checklist of sorts for deciding whether or not you will show kindness and mercy to those you encounter? Read Romans 15:7 again…it starts off “The good News is for Jews and Gentiles.” In other words, Christ died on the cross for all of us… not just a certain few. If we are to be His followers, we must be accepting of everyone. How accepting of others have you been lately?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Romans 6:4
When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I wash Timothy’s hair in the bath tub, I scoop up water in a plastic dish pan and pour it over his head to rinse his hair. He loves this… it’s a game to him. The water washes his soapy hair squeaky clean, and he is changed by it.
Some people feel an almost “magical” transformation when they become a Christian – or when they are baptized. Others don’t feel anything drastic at first… their changes are more gradual, but no less significant.
As we grow in our faith and service to God, we do change. We find that the things we once considered “fun” or acceptable are no longer interesting… and may even be offensive. We find that our focus and our priorities change… usually from ourselves to the love and service of others. We think more about how we can worship God and serve Him than what we are going to do… today, tomorrow, next day - or next year.
Recently I had some sort of cold “bug.” The first few days, I didn’t feel so well. I had no appetite… I was tired all day… and very little interested me. As I began to feel better, I was able to do more without resting. I even began to get hungry again! And as my energy returned, I had more enthusiasm for all sorts of things. Sometimes it’s like that with our Christian life. Some of us were sick in sin for a long time…healing and recovery may take a while! But it will happen – if we stay focused on Jesus.
We do have the opportunity to become a new creature in Christ. Our past is behind us, and we have been given new life… a second chance. Let’s not waste it. Let’s be the people God called us to be and honor Him with everything we’ve got. Let the healing begin… here and now… for each of us! And may we all be “well” soon!
©2010 Debbie Robus
When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I wash Timothy’s hair in the bath tub, I scoop up water in a plastic dish pan and pour it over his head to rinse his hair. He loves this… it’s a game to him. The water washes his soapy hair squeaky clean, and he is changed by it.
Some people feel an almost “magical” transformation when they become a Christian – or when they are baptized. Others don’t feel anything drastic at first… their changes are more gradual, but no less significant.
As we grow in our faith and service to God, we do change. We find that the things we once considered “fun” or acceptable are no longer interesting… and may even be offensive. We find that our focus and our priorities change… usually from ourselves to the love and service of others. We think more about how we can worship God and serve Him than what we are going to do… today, tomorrow, next day - or next year.
Recently I had some sort of cold “bug.” The first few days, I didn’t feel so well. I had no appetite… I was tired all day… and very little interested me. As I began to feel better, I was able to do more without resting. I even began to get hungry again! And as my energy returned, I had more enthusiasm for all sorts of things. Sometimes it’s like that with our Christian life. Some of us were sick in sin for a long time…healing and recovery may take a while! But it will happen – if we stay focused on Jesus.
We do have the opportunity to become a new creature in Christ. Our past is behind us, and we have been given new life… a second chance. Let’s not waste it. Let’s be the people God called us to be and honor Him with everything we’ve got. Let the healing begin… here and now… for each of us! And may we all be “well” soon!
©2010 Debbie Robus
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