Matthew 26:36-41
Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. He was very sad and troubled, and he said to them, "I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me." Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want." He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, "Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever heard someone discuss a particular situation and say, “All we can do is pray.”? The truth of the matter is… prayer is often all that is needed. We tend to underestimate the power of our prayers… and I include myself when I say that for many of us, our prayer life needs some work! We are like James and John… we let “life” get in the way. We are too tired, too busy, or even too disinterested to make time for communication with God.
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying we can change the will of God with prayer any more than Jesus could… nor am I saying that God might have changed His mind, had James and John stayed awake and prayed with Jesus. But quite often, we gain more from praying even when we don’t get the outcome we desire. Notice I said it was our desired outcome, not God’s. To pray for God’s will, understanding that it may be different from our own, signifies a complete trust in His plans… and a surrender of our own.
At the same time, we really have no room to complain about any outcome if we didn’t pray at all. Prayer does change things. God hears our prayers. I believe that quite often, what God is really seeking from us in prayer is a total leap of faith and trust in His decision for the outcome. Many times we may feel helpless about things that are happening in our life or the lives of those for whom we care. Sometimes, all we feel we can do is pray. And often, our prayers are, indeed, enough… and all that God requires of us in that particular situation.
Once we begin to understand the power of prayer… and its importance for our lives and the lives of others in our circle… we may find it easier to make time to communicate with God. Sometimes, we don’t fully grasp this power and importance until we actually give prayer a try. Why not see for yourself how God responds to your prayers? Show Him that you trust His will for your life and are ready to seek it. You have nothing to lose… and you might just have everything to gain. Stay for awhile and talk to God… He’s waiting to hear from you!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label communicating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label communicating. Show all posts
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 October 18, 2010
Proverbs 21:23
Watching what you say can save you a lot of trouble.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend posted a comment on Facebook about how a couple of his college professors were two of the most despised instructors on campus. This may seem like a harmless comment, but think about it … on the off chance that one of these instructors saw your post, do you really think this would make them go easier on you?
Most of us have probably shared something with someone in confidence and asked them not to repeat it … only to discover later that the person did just that. Or, we have gotten in stressful situations where we spoke nervously and said things we regretted later. The result of both is a lousy feeling.
You have no idea how God has used this scripture to speak to me … and maybe He is doing the same with you. More than ever, we are living in an age where every word we speak can be monitored, recorded, preserved for posterity, and misconstrued. In my case, I often encounter miscommunication challenges with my grandmother and her friends. I say one thing … she hears another. Or, she forgets what I told her and repeats her version of the conversation to family members and friends. In this situation, even watching what you say can still result in trouble!
For many of you, the current challenge is watching what you say online, via text and chat, and in social settings with your friends. Many innocent statements made using electronic media take on a completely different connotation when posted. Context is lost. Voice tone and inflection are not present … and the words take on a very different meaning. So “jokes” passed back and forth on a friend’s Facebook wall are seen by others and taken as an insult. A seemingly harmless rant about a college professor gets shown to him/her, and chances are good that things will be more difficult for you in that class.
Worse yet, trusting a wide circle of “friends” and sharing every detail of your personal life can lead to misunderstandings, gossip, and potentially hurtful untruths being spread. A good example is when you start dating someone. Sure, you want to get to know the person – especially if you really like him/her. But sharing your whole life history on the first few dates is probably going too far and could cause serious heartache and trouble down the road - particularly if this relationship doesn’t last.
I have been having a serious conversation with God in recent days, asking Him to help me to moderate my speech – and to give me more wisdom and discernment in this area. I am asking Him to show me how to be more cautious, less trusting, and far less naïve. I am asking for wisdom in my communication, so that my words and their meaning are not misunderstood or misconstrued by others. And I am asking that what I speak would always be the truth, spoken with love, care and respect … and exactly what HE wants me to say.
I have a long ways to go, but I know that God can perform miracles where I make messes. I know that He can accomplish things I never dreamed possible. And I know that He can guide our thoughts, our words, and how they are interpreted by others. The key is to ask for His help … and then to listen for His guidance - and take it! This honors our relationship with God, which should be motivation enough. But if this also keeps us from getting into trouble, wouldn’t you agree that it’s even more worth the effort?
Even if you don’t feel this is an issue for you, I invite you to ask God to “double-check your work” – and your thoughts and speech. Make sure He is guiding your words and keeping you in agreement with His plans … and safe from the trouble that comes from dropping your guard.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Watching what you say can save you a lot of trouble.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend posted a comment on Facebook about how a couple of his college professors were two of the most despised instructors on campus. This may seem like a harmless comment, but think about it … on the off chance that one of these instructors saw your post, do you really think this would make them go easier on you?
Most of us have probably shared something with someone in confidence and asked them not to repeat it … only to discover later that the person did just that. Or, we have gotten in stressful situations where we spoke nervously and said things we regretted later. The result of both is a lousy feeling.
You have no idea how God has used this scripture to speak to me … and maybe He is doing the same with you. More than ever, we are living in an age where every word we speak can be monitored, recorded, preserved for posterity, and misconstrued. In my case, I often encounter miscommunication challenges with my grandmother and her friends. I say one thing … she hears another. Or, she forgets what I told her and repeats her version of the conversation to family members and friends. In this situation, even watching what you say can still result in trouble!
For many of you, the current challenge is watching what you say online, via text and chat, and in social settings with your friends. Many innocent statements made using electronic media take on a completely different connotation when posted. Context is lost. Voice tone and inflection are not present … and the words take on a very different meaning. So “jokes” passed back and forth on a friend’s Facebook wall are seen by others and taken as an insult. A seemingly harmless rant about a college professor gets shown to him/her, and chances are good that things will be more difficult for you in that class.
Worse yet, trusting a wide circle of “friends” and sharing every detail of your personal life can lead to misunderstandings, gossip, and potentially hurtful untruths being spread. A good example is when you start dating someone. Sure, you want to get to know the person – especially if you really like him/her. But sharing your whole life history on the first few dates is probably going too far and could cause serious heartache and trouble down the road - particularly if this relationship doesn’t last.
I have been having a serious conversation with God in recent days, asking Him to help me to moderate my speech – and to give me more wisdom and discernment in this area. I am asking Him to show me how to be more cautious, less trusting, and far less naïve. I am asking for wisdom in my communication, so that my words and their meaning are not misunderstood or misconstrued by others. And I am asking that what I speak would always be the truth, spoken with love, care and respect … and exactly what HE wants me to say.
I have a long ways to go, but I know that God can perform miracles where I make messes. I know that He can accomplish things I never dreamed possible. And I know that He can guide our thoughts, our words, and how they are interpreted by others. The key is to ask for His help … and then to listen for His guidance - and take it! This honors our relationship with God, which should be motivation enough. But if this also keeps us from getting into trouble, wouldn’t you agree that it’s even more worth the effort?
Even if you don’t feel this is an issue for you, I invite you to ask God to “double-check your work” – and your thoughts and speech. Make sure He is guiding your words and keeping you in agreement with His plans … and safe from the trouble that comes from dropping your guard.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 16, 2010
Proverbs 15:28
Good people think before they answer, but the wicked speak evil without ever thinking.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched an episode of The View recently where one of the guests was a television commentator who has written a new book. I won’t name him here, because I don’t feel he deserves further recognition. I will preface my comments by saying that I understand that controversial talk show guests sell books and boost ratings. But this man made such vile statements about certain people in relation to the events of 9.11 that two of the hosts of The View – Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg – stood and left the studio in protest. While they may have used language and behavior that was less than stellar themselves, their visible protest to the wicked statements of this man were the only recourse they felt possible at the moment.
Aside from the fact that what the man said was wrong – and he did somewhat apologize and rephrase his remarks – the basic intent of his statements was evil. This man didn’t necessarily think about what he was saying … at least I hope he didn’t. He didn’t give his answer to the interviewers’ questions any thought … he just spouted off an opinion and comments he thought would be popular among the viewers – or generate controversy. His comments were designed to sell books and promote his own agenda.
Do you know people who do this? Do you know people who make outlandish statements, and when called on them, defend them with comments like, “Well, it’s true,” (whether they know it is or not) or “That’s what I heard!” It’s sort of like the crazy things that are printed on those tabloids sold in the supermarket check-out aisles. You know those claims are ridiculous. You know that those words are designed to sell the rags on which they are printed. You know that the claims are hurtful, absurd, and downright evil. But people still buy these publications – and buy into the lies they contain.
We’re seeing a lot of this in e-mails about the state of our country, politics and politicians, and personal lifestyle choices. We’re hearing a lot of this on those “comedy” shows on cable television. Sadly, we’ve elevated some of those “comedians” to the status of “expert analyst” and begun to actually listen to their opinions. And worse yet, we’re learning from them in many cases – and beginning to speak without thinking, just as they do.
It’s time for us to “get a grip” – on the hand of Jesus. It’s time for us to firmly root ourselves in the word of God and time spent in His presence … to ask for wisdom, discernment, patience and a protective cover over our mouths as we speak. We need to ask God to protect us from the wicked speech and evil thinking of others as Satan attempts to permeate our mind and our heart with it. We should be busy every day asking God to fill us with His love, grace, mercy, kindness, and peace … and to control our every thought and word accordingly.
Quite frankly, more of us need to stand and walk out of the room (albeit quietly and without profanity) when we are confronted with the evil speech of others. At best, we should become confident in the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lovingly let the person speaking know that we do not agree. I have had to say to others, “I do not agree with you on this,” or “We will have to agree to disagree on this subject and talk about something else.” We do not have to tolerate evil or wicked speech in our presence, but we cannot descend to the level of such talk in an effort to confront it.
Ask God to guide your thoughts and your speech. Ask Him to send the Holy Spirit to fill your heart, guide and protect you as you go about your day. And pray for those who speak evil without thinking. Ask God to change their hearts and minds, to fill them with His presence and goodness … and to give each of us loving, positive thoughts and words to share with others.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Good people think before they answer, but the wicked speak evil without ever thinking.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched an episode of The View recently where one of the guests was a television commentator who has written a new book. I won’t name him here, because I don’t feel he deserves further recognition. I will preface my comments by saying that I understand that controversial talk show guests sell books and boost ratings. But this man made such vile statements about certain people in relation to the events of 9.11 that two of the hosts of The View – Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg – stood and left the studio in protest. While they may have used language and behavior that was less than stellar themselves, their visible protest to the wicked statements of this man were the only recourse they felt possible at the moment.
Aside from the fact that what the man said was wrong – and he did somewhat apologize and rephrase his remarks – the basic intent of his statements was evil. This man didn’t necessarily think about what he was saying … at least I hope he didn’t. He didn’t give his answer to the interviewers’ questions any thought … he just spouted off an opinion and comments he thought would be popular among the viewers – or generate controversy. His comments were designed to sell books and promote his own agenda.
Do you know people who do this? Do you know people who make outlandish statements, and when called on them, defend them with comments like, “Well, it’s true,” (whether they know it is or not) or “That’s what I heard!” It’s sort of like the crazy things that are printed on those tabloids sold in the supermarket check-out aisles. You know those claims are ridiculous. You know that those words are designed to sell the rags on which they are printed. You know that the claims are hurtful, absurd, and downright evil. But people still buy these publications – and buy into the lies they contain.
We’re seeing a lot of this in e-mails about the state of our country, politics and politicians, and personal lifestyle choices. We’re hearing a lot of this on those “comedy” shows on cable television. Sadly, we’ve elevated some of those “comedians” to the status of “expert analyst” and begun to actually listen to their opinions. And worse yet, we’re learning from them in many cases – and beginning to speak without thinking, just as they do.
It’s time for us to “get a grip” – on the hand of Jesus. It’s time for us to firmly root ourselves in the word of God and time spent in His presence … to ask for wisdom, discernment, patience and a protective cover over our mouths as we speak. We need to ask God to protect us from the wicked speech and evil thinking of others as Satan attempts to permeate our mind and our heart with it. We should be busy every day asking God to fill us with His love, grace, mercy, kindness, and peace … and to control our every thought and word accordingly.
Quite frankly, more of us need to stand and walk out of the room (albeit quietly and without profanity) when we are confronted with the evil speech of others. At best, we should become confident in the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lovingly let the person speaking know that we do not agree. I have had to say to others, “I do not agree with you on this,” or “We will have to agree to disagree on this subject and talk about something else.” We do not have to tolerate evil or wicked speech in our presence, but we cannot descend to the level of such talk in an effort to confront it.
Ask God to guide your thoughts and your speech. Ask Him to send the Holy Spirit to fill your heart, guide and protect you as you go about your day. And pray for those who speak evil without thinking. Ask God to change their hearts and minds, to fill them with His presence and goodness … and to give each of us loving, positive thoughts and words to share with others.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 12, 2010
Proverbs 12:18
Sharp words cut like a sword, but words of wisdom heal.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
About a year ago, my husband and I went to the Historic Arkansas Museum in downtown Little Rock. One of the permanent exhibits there is a collection of knives and swords from around the world. Some are centuries old. I am not a big fan of swords, but the intricacy and detail presented in some of these specimens was truly amazing … particularly in light of their age and the methods that must have been employed to create them. Someone put a lot of time and energy into creating something meant to be used as a lethal weapon!
Conversely, many of us don’t spend much time and effort at all thinking about what we say to others, so our words are often painful, cutting, or even lethal, i.e. they destroy the heart and soul of the person who hears them. And we toss them out without any care for how they will affect the other person. Or maybe we do care … but not as we should. Sometimes, we mean for our words to be hurtful and “cut like a sword.”
Just recently, I received a message from a young woman to whom I had sent a note of sympathy and encouragement a few years ago when she miscarried. She told me…”The words were perfect and I still have it. I read it from time to time and cry every time. It brought me a lot of comfort.” Today, she and her husband are the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl. I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I think I acknowledged the pain of their loss and assured her that God understood … and that their unborn baby would be waiting for them in heaven. The point is that whatever God laid on my heart to say to this young woman helped her to heal from her grief.
God gives us wisdom in many forms – through our own life experiences, through His word, through prayer, through study and fellowship with others. And we can prayerfully use this wisdom to help others in their struggles and even their daily living. God can use our words of wisdom to heal others. But words of wisdom do not come easily – they require as much time and energy as is needed for the craftsmanship of ancient swords.
We have a choice… lethal words that cut like a knife, or healing words filled with the wisdom of our Heavenly Father. From time to time, we all choose both. My prayer is that we devote the time and energy necessary to gain wisdom and cultivate a life filled with healing words … not those that hurt. Ask God to help you in this area. Let’s start to build up a community of believers who speak positive, healing, wise, faith-filled messages of hope and promise. Let’s leave the sharp words in the past and move ahead with care and kindness.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Sharp words cut like a sword, but words of wisdom heal.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
About a year ago, my husband and I went to the Historic Arkansas Museum in downtown Little Rock. One of the permanent exhibits there is a collection of knives and swords from around the world. Some are centuries old. I am not a big fan of swords, but the intricacy and detail presented in some of these specimens was truly amazing … particularly in light of their age and the methods that must have been employed to create them. Someone put a lot of time and energy into creating something meant to be used as a lethal weapon!
Conversely, many of us don’t spend much time and effort at all thinking about what we say to others, so our words are often painful, cutting, or even lethal, i.e. they destroy the heart and soul of the person who hears them. And we toss them out without any care for how they will affect the other person. Or maybe we do care … but not as we should. Sometimes, we mean for our words to be hurtful and “cut like a sword.”
Just recently, I received a message from a young woman to whom I had sent a note of sympathy and encouragement a few years ago when she miscarried. She told me…”The words were perfect and I still have it. I read it from time to time and cry every time. It brought me a lot of comfort.” Today, she and her husband are the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl. I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I think I acknowledged the pain of their loss and assured her that God understood … and that their unborn baby would be waiting for them in heaven. The point is that whatever God laid on my heart to say to this young woman helped her to heal from her grief.
God gives us wisdom in many forms – through our own life experiences, through His word, through prayer, through study and fellowship with others. And we can prayerfully use this wisdom to help others in their struggles and even their daily living. God can use our words of wisdom to heal others. But words of wisdom do not come easily – they require as much time and energy as is needed for the craftsmanship of ancient swords.
We have a choice… lethal words that cut like a knife, or healing words filled with the wisdom of our Heavenly Father. From time to time, we all choose both. My prayer is that we devote the time and energy necessary to gain wisdom and cultivate a life filled with healing words … not those that hurt. Ask God to help you in this area. Let’s start to build up a community of believers who speak positive, healing, wise, faith-filled messages of hope and promise. Let’s leave the sharp words in the past and move ahead with care and kindness.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 25, 2010
1 Corinthians 1:10
My dear friends, as a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, I beg you to get along with each other. Don't take sides. Always try to agree in what you think.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of the most difficult life experiences is the breakup of two friends. Whether they were married or not doesn’t really matter, although experiencing the divorce of friends is especially tough. If you were close to both persons, it almost always comes down to a matter of choosing “sides.” At least, both members of the couple and their “camps” usually want you to do this. To truly stay neutral and friendly with both parties is a tall order.
Equally difficult is to be friends with people who believe differently than you about such issues as politics, religion, and lifestyle choices. Even being friends with people who smoke or drink when you do not is sometimes difficult.
Paul is not saying in this scripture passage that we should change our beliefs – or even compromise them for friendship. He is saying that there are many situations in which we simply have to “agree to disagree.” I feel one way – you feel another. We can still be friends and get along – we just don’t happen to agree on this issue. I’m not “for” you nor “against” you – I’m just your friend, and I love you.
If we applied this to a lot of different situations in our lives, things would go more smoothly. In a divorce situation, we could say, “He isn’t wrong, and she isn’t right. Clearly, there is conflict and division, but I still love them both and will continue to be cordial and kind toward both of them.” It may be that in order to maintain your neutrality, you have to stop hanging out with either party. But you can still be kind and friendly and love them both. I’ve lived through more than one election where my candidate did not win. That didn’t mean I stopped speaking to friends of mine who supported the winner. It also didn’t mean I changed my mind and supported their candidate(s). It just meant that I chose to love the person and not choose “sides” in particular issues.
We learn from an early age to “choose sides.” Everything from Red Rover games to kickball has teams that are usually chosen one person at a time. And we learn to “choose sides” in arguments, debates and controversies at a young age, too. But we can “unlearn” this habit. We can make a conscious, prayerful effort to be agreeable to all … kind and loving. We can keep our opinions to ourselves – or at least keep them from affecting our relationships with our friends and neighbors. We’ll have to ask God to help us with this one, because Satan will delight in playing the “human nature” card. But it can be done … and God is more than willing to give us the strength and wisdom for this task. The real question is … are you up to the challenge?
©2010 Debbie Robus
My dear friends, as a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, I beg you to get along with each other. Don't take sides. Always try to agree in what you think.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of the most difficult life experiences is the breakup of two friends. Whether they were married or not doesn’t really matter, although experiencing the divorce of friends is especially tough. If you were close to both persons, it almost always comes down to a matter of choosing “sides.” At least, both members of the couple and their “camps” usually want you to do this. To truly stay neutral and friendly with both parties is a tall order.
Equally difficult is to be friends with people who believe differently than you about such issues as politics, religion, and lifestyle choices. Even being friends with people who smoke or drink when you do not is sometimes difficult.
Paul is not saying in this scripture passage that we should change our beliefs – or even compromise them for friendship. He is saying that there are many situations in which we simply have to “agree to disagree.” I feel one way – you feel another. We can still be friends and get along – we just don’t happen to agree on this issue. I’m not “for” you nor “against” you – I’m just your friend, and I love you.
If we applied this to a lot of different situations in our lives, things would go more smoothly. In a divorce situation, we could say, “He isn’t wrong, and she isn’t right. Clearly, there is conflict and division, but I still love them both and will continue to be cordial and kind toward both of them.” It may be that in order to maintain your neutrality, you have to stop hanging out with either party. But you can still be kind and friendly and love them both. I’ve lived through more than one election where my candidate did not win. That didn’t mean I stopped speaking to friends of mine who supported the winner. It also didn’t mean I changed my mind and supported their candidate(s). It just meant that I chose to love the person and not choose “sides” in particular issues.
We learn from an early age to “choose sides.” Everything from Red Rover games to kickball has teams that are usually chosen one person at a time. And we learn to “choose sides” in arguments, debates and controversies at a young age, too. But we can “unlearn” this habit. We can make a conscious, prayerful effort to be agreeable to all … kind and loving. We can keep our opinions to ourselves – or at least keep them from affecting our relationships with our friends and neighbors. We’ll have to ask God to help us with this one, because Satan will delight in playing the “human nature” card. But it can be done … and God is more than willing to give us the strength and wisdom for this task. The real question is … are you up to the challenge?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 17, 2010
1 Peter 4:11
If you have the gift of speaking, preach God's message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve had some sort of virus for a few days that left me with acute laryngitis. I know some of you will find this incredibly amusing – or even “poetic justice” – so go ahead and laugh. The truth is, being unable to make a sound above a whisper for more than five days has given me time to reflect in depth on speech and communication … how and why we communicate – and what we are really saying.
I’ve considered my inability to talk – and the ramifications. What if my voice didn’t return … how would I manage? Thankfully, I can write notes by hand, send texts and e-mails, post on Facebook, and even use charades and sign language to get a message to my husband. But there are things that I cannot do … like respond to my cats when they call. I can’t read or sing to Timothy – and he isn’t old enough to understand laryngitis. I can’t telephone people who don’t have e-mail, like my grandmother and my sister. I can’t console a little friend I saw in Wal-Mart who had scraped her knee.
Satan may be having the biggest laugh over my inability to speak … but he has not won. I can still write devos. I can still mail notes of encouragement, sympathy, get well wishes, and congratulations. I can still work with my hands to do everything from housekeeping to meal prep to hugging husbands, kitties and babies. I can still give a grieving friend a hug and a smile in Wal-Mart. I can still pray.
I can still honor God in a number of ways, because we are none of us limited to one method. If God takes your hands, feet, speech, eyesight, hearing … whatever, ask Him to show you another way to serve Him. Because I assure you, with God there is always a way.
I know that in a few days my speech will return. But I won’t forget the lesson of my laryngitis. I won’t forget the blessing of being able to open your mouth and answer the telephone … or read/sing to a baby. I won’t underestimate the spoken words, “I love you.” I also won’t underestimate the power of God to use us in a variety of ways … and to bless us immensely. I will thank Him for good health and strong bodies … and a few days to learn more about Him in the peace and quiet of a raspy whisper.
How will God use you today? What will be your “tools” and gifts? Will you recognize them and ask God to give you strength and power to honor Him by their use?
©2010 Debbie Robus
If you have the gift of speaking, preach God's message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve had some sort of virus for a few days that left me with acute laryngitis. I know some of you will find this incredibly amusing – or even “poetic justice” – so go ahead and laugh. The truth is, being unable to make a sound above a whisper for more than five days has given me time to reflect in depth on speech and communication … how and why we communicate – and what we are really saying.
I’ve considered my inability to talk – and the ramifications. What if my voice didn’t return … how would I manage? Thankfully, I can write notes by hand, send texts and e-mails, post on Facebook, and even use charades and sign language to get a message to my husband. But there are things that I cannot do … like respond to my cats when they call. I can’t read or sing to Timothy – and he isn’t old enough to understand laryngitis. I can’t telephone people who don’t have e-mail, like my grandmother and my sister. I can’t console a little friend I saw in Wal-Mart who had scraped her knee.
Satan may be having the biggest laugh over my inability to speak … but he has not won. I can still write devos. I can still mail notes of encouragement, sympathy, get well wishes, and congratulations. I can still work with my hands to do everything from housekeeping to meal prep to hugging husbands, kitties and babies. I can still give a grieving friend a hug and a smile in Wal-Mart. I can still pray.
I can still honor God in a number of ways, because we are none of us limited to one method. If God takes your hands, feet, speech, eyesight, hearing … whatever, ask Him to show you another way to serve Him. Because I assure you, with God there is always a way.
I know that in a few days my speech will return. But I won’t forget the lesson of my laryngitis. I won’t forget the blessing of being able to open your mouth and answer the telephone … or read/sing to a baby. I won’t underestimate the spoken words, “I love you.” I also won’t underestimate the power of God to use us in a variety of ways … and to bless us immensely. I will thank Him for good health and strong bodies … and a few days to learn more about Him in the peace and quiet of a raspy whisper.
How will God use you today? What will be your “tools” and gifts? Will you recognize them and ask God to give you strength and power to honor Him by their use?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 5, 2010
1 Peter 3:15
Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know what is going on, but it seems I haven’t had to look very far lately to see plenty of negativity, despair, discouragement, and misery. People who claim to be Christians are bemoaning how our world is going down the tubes … complaining about everything from the economy to our political leaders to their next-door neighbor! You ask someone how they are doing, and they frown and say pitifully, “Oh, okay, I guess.”
C’mon, people! Is this really the way Christians are supposed to behave? Do we truly believe what we claim in the name of Jesus? Or are we just giving Him lip service?
No matter how bad things seem in our lives – and believe me, I know there are some really bad, hard things that happen to many of us – we basically have two choices:
How are you living today? Are people afraid to approach you for fear of the reaction they will get? Or are they eager to be around you … encouraged by your enthusiasm, hope and faith? Are they seeing your confidence in Christ Jesus and an attitude that honors Him? Who has your heart and your mind-set … the devil or the Holy Spirit? The choice is ours … whaddya say? Is your attitude a true reflection of your faith?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know what is going on, but it seems I haven’t had to look very far lately to see plenty of negativity, despair, discouragement, and misery. People who claim to be Christians are bemoaning how our world is going down the tubes … complaining about everything from the economy to our political leaders to their next-door neighbor! You ask someone how they are doing, and they frown and say pitifully, “Oh, okay, I guess.”
C’mon, people! Is this really the way Christians are supposed to behave? Do we truly believe what we claim in the name of Jesus? Or are we just giving Him lip service?
No matter how bad things seem in our lives – and believe me, I know there are some really bad, hard things that happen to many of us – we basically have two choices:
- We can wallow in self-pity, give the devil all the satisfaction, and drag those around us down, as well; or
- We can operate in the hope and confidence of the promises of Christ Jesus, believing that no matter how “bad” it seems, our worst day with Him is better than our best day without Him.
How are you living today? Are people afraid to approach you for fear of the reaction they will get? Or are they eager to be around you … encouraged by your enthusiasm, hope and faith? Are they seeing your confidence in Christ Jesus and an attitude that honors Him? Who has your heart and your mind-set … the devil or the Holy Spirit? The choice is ours … whaddya say? Is your attitude a true reflection of your faith?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 13, 2010
Psalm 84:9
You are the shield that protects your people, and I am your chosen one. Won't you smile on me?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know many people who don’t respond positively to a smile. I know it is one of the first gestures we develop. Even tiny babies smile. This has to be instinctive… they do it without prompting. And by the same token, they seem to understand a smile at a very early age. All we have to do is smile at Timothy, and he breaks into a wide grin or a giggle. He will often look toward us to see how we will react, and when we smile, it’s clear that he is very pleased and excited.
Have you ever felt God smile? Have you ever felt so covered in His love, protection and blessings that it seemed as if you were looking toward heaven and literally seeing Him smile back at you? Can you remember what you were doing at that moment? Does this happen often…sometimes…not at all?
God wants to smile on each of us. We are His chosen ones…His prize creations. He pours out blessings, protection, mercy, and grace on us in amazingly abundant quantities. What are we giving in return? Are we acting like His children? Are we behaving as if we were personally chosen by God? We should be feeling God’s smile often. We should be walking around feeling so protected – and blessed – that we almost glow with joy that Someone would love us that much. If our “smile quota” is low, it’s not God’s fault.
So what are we going to do to correct this? Examine your life, and ask God to show you where you can make changes that will be pleasing to Him. Everyone loves a smile… and God’s are the best of all. Be sure you are getting them every day!
©2010 Debbie Robus
You are the shield that protects your people, and I am your chosen one. Won't you smile on me?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know many people who don’t respond positively to a smile. I know it is one of the first gestures we develop. Even tiny babies smile. This has to be instinctive… they do it without prompting. And by the same token, they seem to understand a smile at a very early age. All we have to do is smile at Timothy, and he breaks into a wide grin or a giggle. He will often look toward us to see how we will react, and when we smile, it’s clear that he is very pleased and excited.
Have you ever felt God smile? Have you ever felt so covered in His love, protection and blessings that it seemed as if you were looking toward heaven and literally seeing Him smile back at you? Can you remember what you were doing at that moment? Does this happen often…sometimes…not at all?
God wants to smile on each of us. We are His chosen ones…His prize creations. He pours out blessings, protection, mercy, and grace on us in amazingly abundant quantities. What are we giving in return? Are we acting like His children? Are we behaving as if we were personally chosen by God? We should be feeling God’s smile often. We should be walking around feeling so protected – and blessed – that we almost glow with joy that Someone would love us that much. If our “smile quota” is low, it’s not God’s fault.
So what are we going to do to correct this? Examine your life, and ask God to show you where you can make changes that will be pleasing to Him. Everyone loves a smile… and God’s are the best of all. Be sure you are getting them every day!
©2010 Debbie Robus
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