Daily Devotional for September 18, 2013

Isaiah 64:8
You, Lord, are our Father.
   We are nothing but clay,
but you are the potter
    who molded us.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Timothy and Zola love to play with Play-doh®.  Timothy, especially, likes to “make things” out of his.  Zola is more content to just roll “snakes” or “eggs”.  Sometimes I will make her a little “basket” and she puts her “eggs” into it.  Sometimes, she tries to eat the clay!  But Timothy wants sculptures… dinousaurs, “cuckoo birds” (a reference to an episode of Jack’s Big Music Show® on NickJr®).  The Play-doh® is nothing more than a colorful blob in the can… until we transform it into something recognizable or purposeful.  And what we make is our choice… and only as good as the skills of the creator whose hands form it.
 
There is no stretch to imagining where I am headed with this one!  As the scripture points out, God is the Potter… we are the Play-doh®.  God ultimately chooses how we will be fashioned and molded… but He allows us to dictate the options to a large degree.  Just as Timothy will say, “Make another ‘cuckoo bird’,” when I was thinking we might make something else… we tell God, “I think I will do this or that.”  And most of the time, He allows us to wander down the path of our own choosing… at least for awhile.
 
The neat thing about Play-doh® is that generally, nothing created with it is permanent.  Yes, creations can be allowed to air dry and become hard and rigid… just as our own hearts can harden for the long haul.  But just because we have made a decision that doesn’t line up with God’s… or chosen a path that ran counter to His desires for our lives… doesn’t mean we cannot change.  We can ask God to mold us again… to reform us into something more pleasing and beautiful…to “Have Thine Own Way, LORD”, as the old hymn pleads.
 
Where do you need a little “remodeling” today?  Where have you chosen to be molded into something that was not what God had in mind?  Are you beginning to harden around the edges?  It’s not too late… there is still time to ask God to “mold me and make me after Thy will”.  Won’t you take a look at the “sculpture” that is your life and see where you might need to ask Him for a little do-over?
 

Have Thine Own Way, LORD
Adelaide A. Pollard, 1907 ~ Public Domain

 

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

 

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow. 

 

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

 

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

 

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 28, 2013

Numbers 14:17-18
Show us your great power, Lord. You promised that you love to show mercy and kindness. And you said that you are very patient, but that you will punish everyone guilty of doing wrong—not only them but their children and grandchildren as well.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Last night, a cousin posted a photo on Facebook that I had never seen of my paternal great-grandfather, my great-grandmother, and five of their nine children.  The photo was probably taken in 1906.  I had never seen a picture of my great-grandfather Chandler… and none of my great-grandmother at such a young age (26).  I studied the photo and looked at their features… could I see any of my own in their faces?  My great-grandfather’s face reminded me of my uncle (his son - my grandfather’s brother).  If I looked carefully, I could see that my grandfather more closely resembled his own mother… and I probably have some of her features, as well.

I was discussing this picture with one of my cousins, and she said, “Now we know where we came from!”  Indeed, we are largely a compilation of our ancestors, from physical characteristics to mannerisms… and possibly even talents and abilities. We may belong to a “musical family,” or one that has a rich history of athleticism.  Our family may have a lineage of scholars who achieved great success in business and were respected in their roles as pillars of the community.  At the same time, we sometimes carry genes that make us prone to such things as heart disease, obesity, diabetes… and even alcoholism.  And all too sadly, some of us carry the “gene” or “family curse” for afflictions such as depression or mental illness, a variety of addictions, or even a propensity for physical abuse and more.
 
As I study my family’s photographs, I wonder… who do I resemble – both physically, and in other ways?  What was handed down to me?  It’s daunting to think that the things you and I do today could have such a powerful impact on the lives of our children, grandchildren and even our great-grandchildren and beyond.  But in some ways, I believe they do.
 
Am I saying that God looks at us and says, “I don’t like what Tom is doing, but I’m going to wait and punish his great-grand-daughter for it!”?  Not exactly.  But I believe very strongly that people are watching… especially our children… and they pick up our little peculiarities and habits, even when we don’t realize this is happening. This is why someone develops a sharp tongue just like his/her father or a “worry wart” attitude like Grandmother’s.  This is how families develop a mindset of bigotry and racism… how some become known collectively for such things as laziness, negativity, elitism… or even general sinfulness.  And this is how we pass these things on to future generations.
 
Inclinations toward certain attitudes and/or vices are often instigated by the adults in our circle, and the devil takes great delight in fanning the flames to cause a firestorm.  God allows us free will and the option to act and think whatever we choose.  How many times have you heard someone say, “If it was good enough for Mom or Dad, it’s good enough for me!” or “I can’t help it… I’m just like my Mom/Dad/Grandma/Grandpa/Uncle Joe…” (you fill in the names)?  God is patient with us and gives us the freedom to decide whether to be like Mom/Dad/Grandma/Grandpa… or to be like Him.  The ultimate decision is totally ours.  He allows us to choose… even when we elect poorly or follow the wrong examples.  But the stakes are high… the consequences can be costly… and the devil is ready to take even the smallest spark and ignite it for his own advantage.
 
What if we started making a concerted effort today to live differently… to polish and perfect the good characteristics we inherited... to combine them with God’s strength and power in order to combat the not-so-good traits?   What if we vowed to break the curses of past sins… and never to perpetuate them to future generations?  What if you and I lived – and served – in such a manner that we didn’t have to fear God’s retribution?  I don’t know about you, but if any of my “children” say, “Oh, I got that from my Aunt Debbie,” I want it to be something that pleases God rather than something of the devil!
 
What “curses” from your past do you struggle with even today?  Are there areas in which you need to say, “LORD, I know you have patiently waited for me to surrender this to you… and today is that day!”?  Wouldn’t this be a great time to wipe the slate clean… to allow God to have control over your past, present and future?  What are you waiting for?  Make this the day you more closely resemble Jesus Christ than anyone else.  Let this be the start of a brand new chapter… and a whole other story - for you and future generations.
 
What will you decide?  Who will you look like today?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 20, 2013

Proverbs 10:9
People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
In the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks where we live, there are dozens of hiking trails, scenic vistas, and breathtaking landscapes.  And the only way to enjoy many of them involves a hike!   In the immediate area surrounding my community, there are at least three designated hiking areas that lead to some incredible scenery… much of it along bluffs and steep trails.  As long as you stay on the designated - and well-worn - pathways, you should have no problem.  But more than one person has decided to make his/her own way… and more than a few accidents have resulted. 
 
At one particular landmark, there is a crevice in a steep rock formation commonly known as “Fat Man’s Squeeze.”  The rocks have been worn slick by the thousands of climbers who have traversed them over time. Still, this is the recognized path to the top of “Sugarloaf Mountain.”  But there will be those who decide to find another route to the top.  This may be the result of arrogance, a sense of daring and adventure, or ignorance.  But more than one person has fallen… there have been broken bones, and no doubt more than few bumps, scrapes and/or harrowing experiences.
 
I grew up visiting many of these local landmarks.  People who were older and wiser than I showed me the safest paths to take… and how to navigate them successfully.   As I visit these places now, I often wonder how those unfamiliar with this area manage to visit safely.  Who shows them the ropes?  Who tells them which crevice is “Fat Man’s Squeeze” (because there is more than one crevice!) and who reminds them to stay on the worn footpaths to avoid slipping and sliding? How do they know that there are potential dangers and pitfalls along the less-worn trails that lead to nowhere?
 
In our daily living, we need the same sort of guidance.  There are designated pathways… but there are also potential dangers and pitfalls.  Who shows us the ropes?  And who will show others?  Are we people of integrity who walk safely… or are we on crooked paths that leave us subject to a fall?  Are we paying attention to the signs and operating in honesty, morality and faithfulness?  Are we treating others as we would like to be treated?  Are we setting the best example possible in our daily living? Or are we on a collision course with disaster… wandering willy-nilly through life doing as we please and hoping for the best?
 
God put these beautiful vistas and scenic landmarks in our midst for us to enjoy…just as He wants us to enjoy our life in general.  But He also gave us clear pathways to follow… a moral compass… Biblical guidelines and Jesus’ example of how to conduct our lives and walk safely.  It is up to us to pay attention and stay on course.  How are you doing? Are you safely walking on the path to integrity… or are you headed up a crooked trail toward destruction?  Now is the time to turn around… to alter your course and get back on track.  Don’t risk your neck – physically, emotionally, or spiritually – for a thrill, a whim, or an attempt to exercise your independence!  Stay on the pathway…walk safely in all matters… and see what amazing vistas God shows you!
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 14, 2011

Proverbs 21:1
The LORD controls rulers, just as he determines the course of rivers.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow recently posted a photo on Facebook that featured a portion of Route 4 in Vermont before and after Tropical Storm Irene visited the area. You can see the photo at http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/13/7736973-route-4-in-vermont-after-hurricane-irene. The change in the roadway and nearby river is dramatic, to say the least… and gives illustration to how the LORD determines the course of such pathways!

Do not misunderstand me… I am in no way declaring that God caused Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene and the devastation it wrought… though clearly, He could. But the power of “nature” is God-given. He created the wind, rain, rivers, forests, and all that surrounds us… and He can surely change the course of a river whenever He chooses – and in a matter of minutes or hours! He can also bring about change in leadership in the same way – and just as quickly.

On the reality TV show Project Runway, host Heidi Klum declares, “One day you’re in, and the next, you’re out!” And in the Old Testament, we see this over and again with rulers and kings who are powerful and effective one moment… and the next thing you know, they are dead and gone – or ousted in favor of a new ruler. But we’re not rulers or leaders… so what does this mean for us?

The point is that God is in control… and He can bring about all kinds of shifts and changes in the blink of an eye. He can allow us to come to our knees in order to awaken us to His will for our lives… and He can rescue us in a heartbeat. We need to recognize that God can change the entire course of our life in an instant. Just as the graphic illustration of Vermont’s Route 4 shows us, the change can seem drastic and devastating… but God can bring tremendous growth – and even improvement – from such destruction. When you are in the middle of a crisis and a change in course, it may be hard to see this. But never underestimate God’s power… and His perfection!

I don’t know what course God is changing for you today. I don’t know what path He may be showing you… or what temporary “wash-out in the road” you may be facing. But I do know that the same God who controls rulers and the course of rivers stands ready to help you find the perfect track for your own life. Our job is to be awake and alert… to pay attention to God’s direction… and to trust Him when the “tropical storms” arise. Whose course are you on today?

©2011 Debbie Robus