Isaiah 66:2
I have made everything;
that’s how it all came to be.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
The people I treasure most
are the humble—
they depend only on me
and tremble when I speak.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have
you ever gone into a room and forgotten why you were there? I know I
have. I will stop and stand still and say to myself, “Now, I know I
came in here for something!” In my case, it might be a bit of
simple forgetfulness that comes with age! But often, the problem is that
we are trying to do too much at once.
I know it sounds cliché, but this is one of the busiest times of the year. We are consumed with decorations,
parties, gifts and festivities…musical programs and parades…food galore
and opportunities at every turn for revelry. And in the midst of all of
this, we find it very easy to forget “why we came into the room.” In
other words, we get so caught up in the merriment and celebration that
we forget WHO we are celebrating.
This scripture passage from
Isaiah reminds us that God treasures most those who are humble…the ones
who depend on Him and “tremble when I speak.” In other words, God
treasures the ones who maintain focus…listen for His voice…and pay
attention to His message. God treasures those who are more interested
in what He thinks and has to say than what the world says…the ones who care more about seeking Him
in the everyday, ordinary things of life than making sure everything is
just perfect in their holiday celebrations and décor. He values those
who care more about meeting the physical, mental and spiritual needs of
others than buying the perfect gift for Aunt Sue.
At the end of
the day…we need to stop, take a breath, and refocus. Two weeks from
Friday (if not sooner) a lot of people will pack away the decorations,
undress the tree, and close the book on Christmas for another eleven
months. And more than a few will pack away their relationship with
Jesus, too.
Let’s promise right now that we won’t do this! Let’s
get our priorities straight now…today…December 16th. Let’s humble
ourselves before God and thank Him for all that He has made…for
everything that He has given us. And let’s ask Him to show us what is
most important…”why we came into the room” in the first place!
I
want to be among those whom God treasures most…don’t you? Are you
taking the necessary steps to make it so? Don’t you think it’s time you
did?
© Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label depending on God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label depending on God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 7, 2014
John 15:5
I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, I went and got my outdoor potted plants out of my niece’s basement, where they have spent the winter. It’s warm enough now to set them out on our back porch again. Over the last few months, these plants grew spindly…and some even developed dead wood. So I first set them out on the driveway and gave them all a good pruning before placing them in their spots for the summer.
As I cut away thick, leggy begonia stems, I saved a couple of sprouts to put back into the dirt and hopefully add a little fullness to the pot. But many of the branches went into the trash can. Without soil and water, they will wither and die there. Apart from the vine that sustained them, these stems are pretty much worthless. Now here’s the thing about begonia plants in particular. These cut sprigs can do fairly well for a while apart from the vine. They are hardy (or are they stubborn?)...and I could probably keep them in a vase with just a little water for several days – or even weeks. But to really thrive, they need the vine…and the soil.
If you back up and read the first few verses of John 15, you hear him talk about how God prunes back the branches that are not producing good fruit…much as I pruned back the wiry twigs of these house plants. In just a few short weeks, what was left after the pruning will fill out and flourish – and be better than ever!
This is how it is with us and God. We are like the begonia plant that has a lot of “useless fruit” – or “spindly legs” that take us nowhere. Apart from God, we might manage okay for a while…or at least we will think we are doing okay! But eventually, we will start to realize that we are not reaching our full potential…that things are not going as well as we hoped…or maybe even that our lives are falling apart. We may stubbornly attempt to persevere on our own…but this will never work for long.
We need the Vine. In order to thrive, we need God’s nurture and ever-present care and attention. With God, all things are possible. Without Him…our efforts are no more valuable than the discarded begonia stems I threw in the trash. What we accomplish on our own will never measure up. It won’t satisfy…and more importantly, it won’t please God. We either stay joined to Him, or we waste our time and energy…and God’s.
I’ll be honest…it pained me a little to cut those vines and blossoms from my plants. And it pains God to cut out the “dead wood”, too. But I know what is coming. I have done this before, and I know that the results will soon be beautiful and lush and delightful. And God knows this, too. He is ready to support you and watch you soar. Are you ready to cling to Him and produce “good fruit”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, I went and got my outdoor potted plants out of my niece’s basement, where they have spent the winter. It’s warm enough now to set them out on our back porch again. Over the last few months, these plants grew spindly…and some even developed dead wood. So I first set them out on the driveway and gave them all a good pruning before placing them in their spots for the summer.
As I cut away thick, leggy begonia stems, I saved a couple of sprouts to put back into the dirt and hopefully add a little fullness to the pot. But many of the branches went into the trash can. Without soil and water, they will wither and die there. Apart from the vine that sustained them, these stems are pretty much worthless. Now here’s the thing about begonia plants in particular. These cut sprigs can do fairly well for a while apart from the vine. They are hardy (or are they stubborn?)...and I could probably keep them in a vase with just a little water for several days – or even weeks. But to really thrive, they need the vine…and the soil.
If you back up and read the first few verses of John 15, you hear him talk about how God prunes back the branches that are not producing good fruit…much as I pruned back the wiry twigs of these house plants. In just a few short weeks, what was left after the pruning will fill out and flourish – and be better than ever!
This is how it is with us and God. We are like the begonia plant that has a lot of “useless fruit” – or “spindly legs” that take us nowhere. Apart from God, we might manage okay for a while…or at least we will think we are doing okay! But eventually, we will start to realize that we are not reaching our full potential…that things are not going as well as we hoped…or maybe even that our lives are falling apart. We may stubbornly attempt to persevere on our own…but this will never work for long.
We need the Vine. In order to thrive, we need God’s nurture and ever-present care and attention. With God, all things are possible. Without Him…our efforts are no more valuable than the discarded begonia stems I threw in the trash. What we accomplish on our own will never measure up. It won’t satisfy…and more importantly, it won’t please God. We either stay joined to Him, or we waste our time and energy…and God’s.
I’ll be honest…it pained me a little to cut those vines and blossoms from my plants. And it pains God to cut out the “dead wood”, too. But I know what is coming. I have done this before, and I know that the results will soon be beautiful and lush and delightful. And God knows this, too. He is ready to support you and watch you soar. Are you ready to cling to Him and produce “good fruit”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 9, 2013
Lamentations 3:24-26
Deep in my heart I say,
“The Lord is all I need;
I can depend on him!”
The Lord is kind to everyone
who trusts and obeys him.
It is good to wait patiently
for the Lord to save us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Friends had just arrived for a holiday get-together last night when my mother phoned to tell me that a childhood friend, Darvin, had suffered a heart attack and died. In June, we said “Goodbye” to Darvin’s brother, Donnie, who died as the result of a cancerous brain tumor. One month later, Donnie and Darvin’s cousin Kenny died unexpectedly. These three men, now in their 50s and early 60s, grew up on “my street” – within 2 blocks of my house. We played together as children… and kept up with one another into adulthood. Their parents were friends with my parents… and those still living are dear friends to all of even today.
My mother was clearly shaken as she delivered this latest news to me, and she mused aloud that she didn’t know how the brothers’ parents would survive this latest shock and the loss of two sons in six months. I assured her that these dear people are tougher than they realize. I know that at the end of the day… they depend on the LORD and wait patiently for Him to save them.
In the midst of this festive holiday season, where we are surrounded by beautiful decorations, sparkling lights, and more than enough Christmas goodies to eat… even in the middle of a fun, happy evening with friends…people are hurting and suffering. Devastating, life-changing events are occurring. Not everything is coming up roses for all people just because it is the Christmas Season. And yet, the core message of the holidays is that there is hope… that all can be well, even as life crumbles and seems to come crashing down all around us.
While my heart is broken for those I love who are suffering such agony and loss, I also am filled with peace and confidence… because I know WHO they trust to get them through this. And He will do the same for you… whatever you might be enduring. I pray that this is a season in your life that has little to no commotion… that “Life is Good” for you and filled with happiness and calm. But in reality, a lot of people are smack in the middle of situations that are anything but reassuring. They face seemingly insurmountable obstacles…devastating heartaches…incredible loneliness and/or conflict… and there are times when it seems there is no solution.
Please read these verses from Lamentations again. There IS hope in the LORD. Deep in your heart, don’t you know this? Do you have the assurance and confidence that God will save you… that He will offer you kindness and answers where you can find none? If you are not fully certain that God is in complete control… if you lack hope and faith that God is planning a future for you that is filled with joy and resolution… spend some time with Him today. Search His word and spend time in His presence. Believe that He is working out a perfect plan for you… one that offers you His peace and comfort.
Find God for yourself… and find hope even in the most hopeless of hours. God is still with us! God is still in control! He still loves you… He is still the God of Hope! Is He yours?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Deep in my heart I say,
“The Lord is all I need;
I can depend on him!”
The Lord is kind to everyone
who trusts and obeys him.
It is good to wait patiently
for the Lord to save us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Friends had just arrived for a holiday get-together last night when my mother phoned to tell me that a childhood friend, Darvin, had suffered a heart attack and died. In June, we said “Goodbye” to Darvin’s brother, Donnie, who died as the result of a cancerous brain tumor. One month later, Donnie and Darvin’s cousin Kenny died unexpectedly. These three men, now in their 50s and early 60s, grew up on “my street” – within 2 blocks of my house. We played together as children… and kept up with one another into adulthood. Their parents were friends with my parents… and those still living are dear friends to all of even today.
My mother was clearly shaken as she delivered this latest news to me, and she mused aloud that she didn’t know how the brothers’ parents would survive this latest shock and the loss of two sons in six months. I assured her that these dear people are tougher than they realize. I know that at the end of the day… they depend on the LORD and wait patiently for Him to save them.
In the midst of this festive holiday season, where we are surrounded by beautiful decorations, sparkling lights, and more than enough Christmas goodies to eat… even in the middle of a fun, happy evening with friends…people are hurting and suffering. Devastating, life-changing events are occurring. Not everything is coming up roses for all people just because it is the Christmas Season. And yet, the core message of the holidays is that there is hope… that all can be well, even as life crumbles and seems to come crashing down all around us.
While my heart is broken for those I love who are suffering such agony and loss, I also am filled with peace and confidence… because I know WHO they trust to get them through this. And He will do the same for you… whatever you might be enduring. I pray that this is a season in your life that has little to no commotion… that “Life is Good” for you and filled with happiness and calm. But in reality, a lot of people are smack in the middle of situations that are anything but reassuring. They face seemingly insurmountable obstacles…devastating heartaches…incredible loneliness and/or conflict… and there are times when it seems there is no solution.
Please read these verses from Lamentations again. There IS hope in the LORD. Deep in your heart, don’t you know this? Do you have the assurance and confidence that God will save you… that He will offer you kindness and answers where you can find none? If you are not fully certain that God is in complete control… if you lack hope and faith that God is planning a future for you that is filled with joy and resolution… spend some time with Him today. Search His word and spend time in His presence. Believe that He is working out a perfect plan for you… one that offers you His peace and comfort.
Find God for yourself… and find hope even in the most hopeless of hours. God is still with us! God is still in control! He still loves you… He is still the God of Hope! Is He yours?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 19, 2011
Psalm 146:1-5
The LORD God of Jacob blesses everyone who trusts him and depends on him.
My last recollection of Santa Claus Mullen was 1977… my first year to teach after graduating from college. I am a little fuzzy on whether Santa Claus was making his annual visit to the school or whether I personally invited him to come to my classroom, but I do know he made a visit and passed out the candy canes. I have a picture to prove it! I was thrilled to be able to share the same fond memory of my own childhood with my little six-year-old students.
Preacher Mullen died in 1983 in a local nursing home. He had served as Santa Claus to a seven-county area for decades – and as the actual pastor to many congregations, as well. He truly believed that it was better to give than to receive… and he served his LORD well. I am amazed to consider how many lives he touched with the simple act of passing a candy cane to the hands of “children” of all ages. Santa Claus Mullen is being remembered on a local Facebook page by many generations of those children.
By my calculation, Preacher Mullen’s visit to my first-grade classroom was probably one of his last. We haven’t had such a “character” in our community since… and honestly, I don’t know if anyone could truly fill Preacher Mullen’s shoes, anyway. His was a service borne of a desire to share God’s deep abiding love with others. Santa Claus was merely his vehicle.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Shout praises to the LORD! With all that I am, I will shout his praises. I will sing and praise the LORD God for as long as I live. You can't depend on anyone, not even a great leader. Once they die and are buried, that will be the end of all their plans.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, there was a man in our community everyone knew as “Preacher Mullen”. I knew him better as Santa Claus. Long before I came into this world, Otis “Preacher” Mullen began dressing as Santa Claus each winter. His long white beard and hair were the real deal. He drove a Jeep… and attached to the front were two real, mounted deer. I was quite sure that one of them was Rudolph, even if he didn’t have a red, shiny nose. We would see Santa Claus around town, and he usually made a visit to the school to pass out candy canes to all of us.
My last recollection of Santa Claus Mullen was 1977… my first year to teach after graduating from college. I am a little fuzzy on whether Santa Claus was making his annual visit to the school or whether I personally invited him to come to my classroom, but I do know he made a visit and passed out the candy canes. I have a picture to prove it! I was thrilled to be able to share the same fond memory of my own childhood with my little six-year-old students.
Preacher Mullen died in 1983 in a local nursing home. He had served as Santa Claus to a seven-county area for decades – and as the actual pastor to many congregations, as well. He truly believed that it was better to give than to receive… and he served his LORD well. I am amazed to consider how many lives he touched with the simple act of passing a candy cane to the hands of “children” of all ages. Santa Claus Mullen is being remembered on a local Facebook page by many generations of those children.
By my calculation, Preacher Mullen’s visit to my first-grade classroom was probably one of his last. We haven’t had such a “character” in our community since… and honestly, I don’t know if anyone could truly fill Preacher Mullen’s shoes, anyway. His was a service borne of a desire to share God’s deep abiding love with others. Santa Claus was merely his vehicle.
There is such an important message in this passage of scripture. Life is ever changing. People are here one day and gone the next. The person we depended on for so much… a parent, grandparent, spouse, relative, teacher, friend, or even our church leaders… live in earthly bodies that will eventually die. We have to put our everlasting faith in Someone who will never leave us… Jesus Christ. There is nothing wrong with trusting those in our circle… sharing our hopes, fears, joys and burdens. But unless we place an even deeper trust in Jesus, we stand to be perpetually discouraged and disappointed.
I miss seeing Preacher Mullen during the Christmas season. I miss his little red Jeep and the “reindeer”. But more than that, I miss his spirit… his hearty laugh, his ever-present smile, and the genuine love that he seemed to radiate. In thinking of him each Christmas, I am reminded of the unconditional, unending love of Jesus Christ for all of His children. I am pretty sure that Otis “Preacher” Mullen – a.k.a. “Santa Claus” – would tell us to put our faith and trust in HIM… to depend on His love, grace and mercy to truly sustain us… and to praise Him each and every day as long as we live.
We would also do well to try to emulate Santa Claus Mullen in some small way… to share God’s love with others in something as seemingly small as a candy cane - or whatever vehicle God gives us. The best way to honor the blessings of God is to share them with others, just as Otis “Preacher” Mullen did. How will you accomplish this? How will you praise God this Christmas season… and always?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 31, 2011
Psalm 90:14
When morning comes, let your love satisfy all our needs. Then we can celebrate and be glad for what time we have left.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you are like me – and most people – you probably are in the habit of using three products to do a task, when one would have been sufficient. I used to have a whole basket of cleaning products – scrub for the shower tile, disinfectant for surfaces, window cleaner for the windows and mirrors, furniture polish for the wood, and many more products that commercials and advertisements told me we simply could not stay clean unless we purchased them!
But then I stumbled onto a recipe at my grandmother’s for a cleaning solution she called “Glass Plus.” I’m not talking about the commercial brand by the same name… this was a concoction of 2 tablespoons ammonia, 1 teaspoon of dish detergent, and 2 cups of rubbing alcohol. You put all of this in a clean plastic gallon milk jug, and fill it with water. Not only does this solution clean mirrors and windows beautifully… it also disinfects surfaces at the same time.
When I fill a spray bottle with this solution, I don’t need a bottle of disinfectant AND a bottle of window cleaner. I can use this solution on all sorts of spills… in virtually every room of the house, and even on outside surfaces… and it’s far cheaper than those store brands! One spray bottle of this concoction satisfies virtually all of my household cleaning needs!
Do you see the correlation with our Spiritual life? We run around trying to get all of these “aids” that we think we need to make us more Spiritual, when God has already given us all that we need. We have Jesus… we have the Bible… we can go to God in prayer any time of the night or day. The Holy Spirit is always with us, ready to give us wisdom, courage, and comfort. God has given us an “all-in-One” product!
Most of us will still try other products from time to time. We’ll be lured in by the commercials and ads, and we will wonder… is this “glass plus” cleaner really enough to get the job done? And honestly, a lot of us will get caught up in external things Spiritually, too. We’ll become fascinated with a particular set of Bible study aids or a certain speaker. We’ll listen non-stop to the music of a favorite Christian musical artist or group… or we’ll decide that hymns are old school, and we need Contemporary Christian music to really “feel the Holy Spirit” in our lives. We’ll become so absorbed in this or that ministry in our church or community and fail to recognize that God is at work all around us – in people and ministries of all sizes, shapes and colors.
The bottom line is that we need to remind ourselves that God truly is an “All-in-One” solution Who satisfies every single one of our needs. If we wake each morning and give our day – and our needs to Him, think of how much extra time and energy we will have… and how much better things will go. Are you still trying extra products and gadgets? Or have you settled in for the long haul with God and let Him handle things for you? Isn’t it time you simplified your life and put Him in charge? Are you ready to let go… and let God?
©2011 Debbie Robus
When morning comes, let your love satisfy all our needs. Then we can celebrate and be glad for what time we have left.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you are like me – and most people – you probably are in the habit of using three products to do a task, when one would have been sufficient. I used to have a whole basket of cleaning products – scrub for the shower tile, disinfectant for surfaces, window cleaner for the windows and mirrors, furniture polish for the wood, and many more products that commercials and advertisements told me we simply could not stay clean unless we purchased them!
But then I stumbled onto a recipe at my grandmother’s for a cleaning solution she called “Glass Plus.” I’m not talking about the commercial brand by the same name… this was a concoction of 2 tablespoons ammonia, 1 teaspoon of dish detergent, and 2 cups of rubbing alcohol. You put all of this in a clean plastic gallon milk jug, and fill it with water. Not only does this solution clean mirrors and windows beautifully… it also disinfects surfaces at the same time.
When I fill a spray bottle with this solution, I don’t need a bottle of disinfectant AND a bottle of window cleaner. I can use this solution on all sorts of spills… in virtually every room of the house, and even on outside surfaces… and it’s far cheaper than those store brands! One spray bottle of this concoction satisfies virtually all of my household cleaning needs!
Do you see the correlation with our Spiritual life? We run around trying to get all of these “aids” that we think we need to make us more Spiritual, when God has already given us all that we need. We have Jesus… we have the Bible… we can go to God in prayer any time of the night or day. The Holy Spirit is always with us, ready to give us wisdom, courage, and comfort. God has given us an “all-in-One” product!
Most of us will still try other products from time to time. We’ll be lured in by the commercials and ads, and we will wonder… is this “glass plus” cleaner really enough to get the job done? And honestly, a lot of us will get caught up in external things Spiritually, too. We’ll become fascinated with a particular set of Bible study aids or a certain speaker. We’ll listen non-stop to the music of a favorite Christian musical artist or group… or we’ll decide that hymns are old school, and we need Contemporary Christian music to really “feel the Holy Spirit” in our lives. We’ll become so absorbed in this or that ministry in our church or community and fail to recognize that God is at work all around us – in people and ministries of all sizes, shapes and colors.
The bottom line is that we need to remind ourselves that God truly is an “All-in-One” solution Who satisfies every single one of our needs. If we wake each morning and give our day – and our needs to Him, think of how much extra time and energy we will have… and how much better things will go. Are you still trying extra products and gadgets? Or have you settled in for the long haul with God and let Him handle things for you? Isn’t it time you simplified your life and put Him in charge? Are you ready to let go… and let God?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2011
Luke 9:62
Jesus answered, "Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My grandmother has the staff at her assisted living facility jumping through hoops to help her “make a garden.” For as long as I can remember, my grandmother has had a garden of some sort every year. When I was a child, she and my grandfather grew nearly everything they ate. Each late winter/early spring, they would get out the little wheel plow and make the rows in their garden for the various vegetables. For the deeper furrows, my Pap-pa would hitch a mule to the plow and make his rows.
Like many good farmers I knew through the years, my grandparents’ rows were always neat and orderly, and incredibly straight. Oh, they tried to teach me and my siblings to plow the rows, but ours were never straight enough, and our attention span was probably not long enough… and we most likely looked back while plowing! I can still hear my grandmother fussing about those rows… and she told me just last week that she had chastised the maintenance guy at her senior residence because “he didn’t dig his trenches deep enough.”
What does this mean in the end? What does it really hurt? Maybe not much… but then again, maybe it hurts a lot. In a relatively square garden patch, one crooked row leads to another… and another… and ultimately, besides crooked rows, you could end up without enough space for everything you wanted or needed to grow. Also, crooked rows speak to the orderliness of the gardener. And serious gardeners like my grandmother take their planting personally… and feel any flaws reflect directly on their character!
In the context of our spiritual life, Jesus is saying that we have to leave the past in the past. We can’t be continually looking back at what we did or worrying about what we didn’t finish or fix. We have to be willing to say, “Jesus has called me to serve Him now… those things no longer matter. He is more important!”
So when people say, “I’ll give my heart to Jesus tomorrow… just let me have one more wild night,” this passage is for them. When someone says, “Lightning will strike if I darken the doors of the church sanctuary,” this passage says, “That’s not true.” When people tell you, I’ve got to get my life in better order before I can serve others,” that’s stinkin’ thinkin’! I remember very clearly believing that I could not attend a Walk to Emmaus until I had resolved some “issues” in my own heart first. I thought I had to fix myself before I could allow God to work… and nothing could be further from the truth!
God wants us right where we are… now… today… this minute! He wants us to say, “I want so badly to be in Your will and serving You with every fiber of my being that I am willing to drop everything and start immediately.” He doesn’t want us to hesitate… to even look back and wave “Good-bye” to our sinful past. He just wants us to move forward, plowing the straightest, neatest row of Christian faith and trust that we possibly can. He will give us the seeds to plant. He will fertilize and nurture our “garden” and handle the harvest. All we have to do is put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
I am so bad about hesitating. I am clearly one of those who wants to “tie up loose ends” first. I have a terribly hard time “letting go and letting God” sometimes… don’t you? But we can change! We can do better. We must learn to operate in faith and stop looking backward. Our spiritual “garden” depends on it!
During the Walk to Emmaus… we say to those who attend, “Christ is counting on you.” They reply, “And I am counting on Christ.” Are you counting on Christ today? Or are you looking backward, procrastinating, and trying to fix things yourself? Isn’t it time you started plowing forward? Can Christ count on you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus answered, "Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My grandmother has the staff at her assisted living facility jumping through hoops to help her “make a garden.” For as long as I can remember, my grandmother has had a garden of some sort every year. When I was a child, she and my grandfather grew nearly everything they ate. Each late winter/early spring, they would get out the little wheel plow and make the rows in their garden for the various vegetables. For the deeper furrows, my Pap-pa would hitch a mule to the plow and make his rows.
Like many good farmers I knew through the years, my grandparents’ rows were always neat and orderly, and incredibly straight. Oh, they tried to teach me and my siblings to plow the rows, but ours were never straight enough, and our attention span was probably not long enough… and we most likely looked back while plowing! I can still hear my grandmother fussing about those rows… and she told me just last week that she had chastised the maintenance guy at her senior residence because “he didn’t dig his trenches deep enough.”
What does this mean in the end? What does it really hurt? Maybe not much… but then again, maybe it hurts a lot. In a relatively square garden patch, one crooked row leads to another… and another… and ultimately, besides crooked rows, you could end up without enough space for everything you wanted or needed to grow. Also, crooked rows speak to the orderliness of the gardener. And serious gardeners like my grandmother take their planting personally… and feel any flaws reflect directly on their character!
In the context of our spiritual life, Jesus is saying that we have to leave the past in the past. We can’t be continually looking back at what we did or worrying about what we didn’t finish or fix. We have to be willing to say, “Jesus has called me to serve Him now… those things no longer matter. He is more important!”
So when people say, “I’ll give my heart to Jesus tomorrow… just let me have one more wild night,” this passage is for them. When someone says, “Lightning will strike if I darken the doors of the church sanctuary,” this passage says, “That’s not true.” When people tell you, I’ve got to get my life in better order before I can serve others,” that’s stinkin’ thinkin’! I remember very clearly believing that I could not attend a Walk to Emmaus until I had resolved some “issues” in my own heart first. I thought I had to fix myself before I could allow God to work… and nothing could be further from the truth!
God wants us right where we are… now… today… this minute! He wants us to say, “I want so badly to be in Your will and serving You with every fiber of my being that I am willing to drop everything and start immediately.” He doesn’t want us to hesitate… to even look back and wave “Good-bye” to our sinful past. He just wants us to move forward, plowing the straightest, neatest row of Christian faith and trust that we possibly can. He will give us the seeds to plant. He will fertilize and nurture our “garden” and handle the harvest. All we have to do is put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
I am so bad about hesitating. I am clearly one of those who wants to “tie up loose ends” first. I have a terribly hard time “letting go and letting God” sometimes… don’t you? But we can change! We can do better. We must learn to operate in faith and stop looking backward. Our spiritual “garden” depends on it!
During the Walk to Emmaus… we say to those who attend, “Christ is counting on you.” They reply, “And I am counting on Christ.” Are you counting on Christ today? Or are you looking backward, procrastinating, and trying to fix things yourself? Isn’t it time you started plowing forward? Can Christ count on you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 23, 2011
Psalm 35:9-28
I will celebrate and be joyful because you, LORD, have saved me. Every bone in my body will shout: "No one is like the LORD!" You protect the helpless from those in power; you save the poor and needy from those who hurt them. Liars accuse me of crimes I know nothing about. They repay evil for good, and I feel all alone. When they were sick, I wore sackcloth and went without food. I truly prayed for them, as I would for a friend or a relative. I was in sorrow and mourned, as I would for my mother.
I have stumbled, and worthless liars I don't even know surround me and sneer. Worthless people make fun and never stop laughing. But all you do is watch! When will you do something? Save me from the attack of those vicious lions. And when your people meet, I will praise you and thank you, Lord, in front of them all. Don't let my brutal enemies be glad because of me. They hate me for no reason. Don't let them wink behind my back. They say hurtful things, and they lie to people who want to live in peace. They are quick to accuse me. They say, "You did it! We saw you ourselves."
You see everything, LORD! Please don't keep silent or stay so far away. Fight to defend me, Lord God, and prove that I am right by your standards. Don't let them laugh at me or say to each other, "Now we've got what we want! We'll gobble him down!" Disappoint and confuse all who are glad to see me in trouble, but disgrace and embarrass my proud enemies who say to me, "You are nothing!"
Let all who want me to win be happy and joyful. From now on let them say, "The LORD is wonderful! God is glad when all goes well for his servant." Then I will shout all day, "Praise the LORD God! He did what was right."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In his recent “Sweet Tea” column for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Jay Grelen writes about Otus the Head Cat, the now-deceased “writer” of a weekly column in the same newspaper. Through his owner, Otus “channeled” his column, and while it was pure satire, the writing was just believable enough that many thought the comments made there were true. So it was that Otus credited former President Richard Nixon with creating “President’s Day,” and a writer for USA Today, believed this and perpetuated the story. It took some research by a skeptical law student to discern that “President’s Day” was actually initiated by former President Bill Clinton during his tenure.
We are a gullible group! We are also prone to making quick judgments, lying, and believing the fabrications of others. At best, we often operate with less than half of the facts and make our decisions accordingly. So is it any wonder that we often find ourselves being falsely accused or judged by others? A reporter asked President Obama, “Does it disturb you that so many people hate you?” The President replied, “The people who dislike you don't know you. What they hate is whatever funhouse mirror image of you that's out there. And they don't know you. And so, you don't take it personally.”
But most of us do take it personally. We are hurt – sometimes deeply – by the slings and arrows of others… the misunderstandings and judgments… the personal attacks (even if delivered behind our backs). And nobody is immune… from school-age nicknames to disgruntled co-workers to false assumptions about sporting and political opponents and more. It’s a pretty sure bet you have felt the disdain, misunderstandings, or ungrateful attitude of someone at some point in your life.
So what are we to do? The answer comes in the last few lines of this passage. We are to keep on doing what we know is right. We are to keep on loving and serving and behaving well… to take the high road and hold our shoulders back and our chin out. We are to honor our faith in God… and leave the rest to Him. Because He will defend us. He will defeat our enemies and make things right. Never forget this!
When you are hurt and disappointed… when you are wrongly accused or judged… when you are talked about and treated thanklessly… remember WHO is in charge. The only One you have to worry about – the only One to whom you have to answer – is Almighty God. He will get to the bottom of things and set things right for you. It may seem a long time coming, but it will happen. So hang in there! Be who God has called you to be, and trust Him to fight on your behalf. And one other thing… remember to give God praise and glory for loving you so well. Give Him a shout out and the credit He is due!
©2011 Debbie Robus
I will celebrate and be joyful because you, LORD, have saved me. Every bone in my body will shout: "No one is like the LORD!" You protect the helpless from those in power; you save the poor and needy from those who hurt them. Liars accuse me of crimes I know nothing about. They repay evil for good, and I feel all alone. When they were sick, I wore sackcloth and went without food. I truly prayed for them, as I would for a friend or a relative. I was in sorrow and mourned, as I would for my mother.
I have stumbled, and worthless liars I don't even know surround me and sneer. Worthless people make fun and never stop laughing. But all you do is watch! When will you do something? Save me from the attack of those vicious lions. And when your people meet, I will praise you and thank you, Lord, in front of them all. Don't let my brutal enemies be glad because of me. They hate me for no reason. Don't let them wink behind my back. They say hurtful things, and they lie to people who want to live in peace. They are quick to accuse me. They say, "You did it! We saw you ourselves."
You see everything, LORD! Please don't keep silent or stay so far away. Fight to defend me, Lord God, and prove that I am right by your standards. Don't let them laugh at me or say to each other, "Now we've got what we want! We'll gobble him down!" Disappoint and confuse all who are glad to see me in trouble, but disgrace and embarrass my proud enemies who say to me, "You are nothing!"
Let all who want me to win be happy and joyful. From now on let them say, "The LORD is wonderful! God is glad when all goes well for his servant." Then I will shout all day, "Praise the LORD God! He did what was right."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In his recent “Sweet Tea” column for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Jay Grelen writes about Otus the Head Cat, the now-deceased “writer” of a weekly column in the same newspaper. Through his owner, Otus “channeled” his column, and while it was pure satire, the writing was just believable enough that many thought the comments made there were true. So it was that Otus credited former President Richard Nixon with creating “President’s Day,” and a writer for USA Today, believed this and perpetuated the story. It took some research by a skeptical law student to discern that “President’s Day” was actually initiated by former President Bill Clinton during his tenure.
We are a gullible group! We are also prone to making quick judgments, lying, and believing the fabrications of others. At best, we often operate with less than half of the facts and make our decisions accordingly. So is it any wonder that we often find ourselves being falsely accused or judged by others? A reporter asked President Obama, “Does it disturb you that so many people hate you?” The President replied, “The people who dislike you don't know you. What they hate is whatever funhouse mirror image of you that's out there. And they don't know you. And so, you don't take it personally.”
But most of us do take it personally. We are hurt – sometimes deeply – by the slings and arrows of others… the misunderstandings and judgments… the personal attacks (even if delivered behind our backs). And nobody is immune… from school-age nicknames to disgruntled co-workers to false assumptions about sporting and political opponents and more. It’s a pretty sure bet you have felt the disdain, misunderstandings, or ungrateful attitude of someone at some point in your life.
So what are we to do? The answer comes in the last few lines of this passage. We are to keep on doing what we know is right. We are to keep on loving and serving and behaving well… to take the high road and hold our shoulders back and our chin out. We are to honor our faith in God… and leave the rest to Him. Because He will defend us. He will defeat our enemies and make things right. Never forget this!
When you are hurt and disappointed… when you are wrongly accused or judged… when you are talked about and treated thanklessly… remember WHO is in charge. The only One you have to worry about – the only One to whom you have to answer – is Almighty God. He will get to the bottom of things and set things right for you. It may seem a long time coming, but it will happen. So hang in there! Be who God has called you to be, and trust Him to fight on your behalf. And one other thing… remember to give God praise and glory for loving you so well. Give Him a shout out and the credit He is due!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 22, 2011
Hebrews 6:18
God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Imagine how you would feel if you were a young person waiting for your mom or dad to pick you up somewhere… say after school… and they never came for you. What if they told you, “I promise I will be at your ballgame, play, band concert…” or another event… and they didn’t make it. It’s bad enough that other people lie and don’t keep promises and vows, but when we think about our own mother or father, we expect things to be different. These are the people to whom we have hopefully run for safety, encouragement, and assurance that everything will be okay.
The truth of the matter is that, sadly, there are parents who break promises and vows to their children every day – about issues that are both great and small. There are parents who flatly lie to their children. For some, there is no safety, encouragement, or assurance to be found in the arms of a parent. As heartbreaking as this seems, it is reality for far too many.
The GOOD NEWS is that our HEAVENLY FATHER will never lie to us. He will never break a promise or a vow. What God has told us He will do for us is 100% the truth – guaranteed. His arms are open to receive us, and we can run to Him for safety any time. He is always available to encourage us and reassure us that everything will be okay, if we just stick close to Him.
God offers us hope when no one else can. If you are fortunate enough to have – or to have had – parents who were honest and dependable, thank God for such a blessing… and thank them for honoring their responsibility to God as a parent. If you have experienced disappointment from mere humans, remember that you can always count on God. He never changes or disappoints. I promise!
©2011 Debbie Robus
God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Imagine how you would feel if you were a young person waiting for your mom or dad to pick you up somewhere… say after school… and they never came for you. What if they told you, “I promise I will be at your ballgame, play, band concert…” or another event… and they didn’t make it. It’s bad enough that other people lie and don’t keep promises and vows, but when we think about our own mother or father, we expect things to be different. These are the people to whom we have hopefully run for safety, encouragement, and assurance that everything will be okay.
The truth of the matter is that, sadly, there are parents who break promises and vows to their children every day – about issues that are both great and small. There are parents who flatly lie to their children. For some, there is no safety, encouragement, or assurance to be found in the arms of a parent. As heartbreaking as this seems, it is reality for far too many.
The GOOD NEWS is that our HEAVENLY FATHER will never lie to us. He will never break a promise or a vow. What God has told us He will do for us is 100% the truth – guaranteed. His arms are open to receive us, and we can run to Him for safety any time. He is always available to encourage us and reassure us that everything will be okay, if we just stick close to Him.
God offers us hope when no one else can. If you are fortunate enough to have – or to have had – parents who were honest and dependable, thank God for such a blessing… and thank them for honoring their responsibility to God as a parent. If you have experienced disappointment from mere humans, remember that you can always count on God. He never changes or disappoints. I promise!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 22, 2010
Proverbs 3:21-24
My child, use common sense and sound judgment! Always keep them in mind. They will help you to live a long and beautiful life. You will walk safely and never stumble; you will rest without a worry and sleep soundly.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Insomnia has become a huge problem in recent years for many people. Or maybe we are just more aware of how widespread this problem is for a number of people. In any case, there are now a lot of medications that are reputed to help with insomnia… from Ambien to Lunesta to over-the-counter solutions like Tylenol P.M. and more. Who knew that perhaps one of the best “cures” for insomnia could be found in Proverbs 3 … and why are we surprised?!
“But you don’t have any idea how many worries and stresses I have,” you may be saying. “When my head hits the pillow at night, my mind just races.” I do know… I’ve been there myself.
Proverbs 3:21-24 and scripture passages such as Psalm 127:2, which says in the King James Version…”It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep,” tell us clearly that God wants us to clear our mind, to give our worries and cares to HIM, and to sleep and rest soundly. I know this is hard… and I’m not saying some of us don’t need a little something to help us over the hump with this from time to time.
I do believe that we often fail to give our worries and burdens, stresses and “busyness” completely to God. We give Him our troubles to hold for a few minutes – and then we pick them back up again. As for common sense and sound judgment, I know firsthand that I make the mistake of failing to consult God often enough… in all situations. How hard would it be to stop and take five seconds to say, “Lord, help me to say the right things,” or to ask, “Lord, what should I do?” Even if you have to put down the phone, or raise your hand and say to someone, “Excuse me for a second,” then close your eyes and silently pray for guidance… imagine how this could affect the outcome!
If we spent more time involving God in our lives and consulting Him about even the smallest choices and decisions, our sleep might be more restful and sound… and come more easily. Our life would most certainly be more beautiful and peaceful, and we would stumble far less often.
My prayer for all of us is that we would commit to involving God more completely in our day-to-day living, and that we would experience more rest and peace in our sleep… and more safety, comfort, and blessings in our very lives. Do you have a few seconds to spare to communicate with God? Are you willing to see what a difference it can make?
©2010 Debbie Robus
My child, use common sense and sound judgment! Always keep them in mind. They will help you to live a long and beautiful life. You will walk safely and never stumble; you will rest without a worry and sleep soundly.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Insomnia has become a huge problem in recent years for many people. Or maybe we are just more aware of how widespread this problem is for a number of people. In any case, there are now a lot of medications that are reputed to help with insomnia… from Ambien to Lunesta to over-the-counter solutions like Tylenol P.M. and more. Who knew that perhaps one of the best “cures” for insomnia could be found in Proverbs 3 … and why are we surprised?!
“But you don’t have any idea how many worries and stresses I have,” you may be saying. “When my head hits the pillow at night, my mind just races.” I do know… I’ve been there myself.
Proverbs 3:21-24 and scripture passages such as Psalm 127:2, which says in the King James Version…”It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep,” tell us clearly that God wants us to clear our mind, to give our worries and cares to HIM, and to sleep and rest soundly. I know this is hard… and I’m not saying some of us don’t need a little something to help us over the hump with this from time to time.
I do believe that we often fail to give our worries and burdens, stresses and “busyness” completely to God. We give Him our troubles to hold for a few minutes – and then we pick them back up again. As for common sense and sound judgment, I know firsthand that I make the mistake of failing to consult God often enough… in all situations. How hard would it be to stop and take five seconds to say, “Lord, help me to say the right things,” or to ask, “Lord, what should I do?” Even if you have to put down the phone, or raise your hand and say to someone, “Excuse me for a second,” then close your eyes and silently pray for guidance… imagine how this could affect the outcome!
If we spent more time involving God in our lives and consulting Him about even the smallest choices and decisions, our sleep might be more restful and sound… and come more easily. Our life would most certainly be more beautiful and peaceful, and we would stumble far less often.
My prayer for all of us is that we would commit to involving God more completely in our day-to-day living, and that we would experience more rest and peace in our sleep… and more safety, comfort, and blessings in our very lives. Do you have a few seconds to spare to communicate with God? Are you willing to see what a difference it can make?
©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 26, 2010
Psalm 136:24
He rescued us from our enemies. God's love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you want to read a really wild story about rescue from an enemy, go to Judges 4 and read how Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, handled Sisera, who was captain of the army of Jabin, the King of Canaan. Sisera was said to have oppressed the Israelites for more than twenty years. His army was defeated by Israel’s tribes, under the leadership of princess Deborah’s captain, Barak. Sisera fled and sought refuge with “friends” – Jael and Heber – but it didn’t work out as he had hoped. Apparently they didn’t consider Sisera in the same light! If you think there are no gory accounts in the Bible, be sure to check out this chapter in Judges!
The point is that enemies are nothing new… but not all enemies are as obvious as an opposing army captain! Some of our “enemies” are fear, depression, discouragement, despair, insecurity, ego, greed, hate, discrimination, and much more. But we don’t need a clever woman with a hammer and a stake… we just need God’s love! God has defeated more of our enemies than we can count… and He will continue to do just that. The key is recognizing our “enemies” and calling on God for help to overcome them. He stands ready to rescue us… and He never fails to answer.
Some of us are trying to battle our “enemies” on our own… and the results are probably pretty sad. Many of us are fairly slow learners! But we can change this. We can learn to call on God to rescue us… and to expect His answers. God wants to hear from us. He wants us to recognize His power – AND His desire – to help us in all situations. We have two choices… we can step one direction and try to manage our “enemies” on our own… or we can step toward God and let Him handle things for us. The choice is ours… which way will you turn?
©2010 Debbie Robus
He rescued us from our enemies. God's love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you want to read a really wild story about rescue from an enemy, go to Judges 4 and read how Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, handled Sisera, who was captain of the army of Jabin, the King of Canaan. Sisera was said to have oppressed the Israelites for more than twenty years. His army was defeated by Israel’s tribes, under the leadership of princess Deborah’s captain, Barak. Sisera fled and sought refuge with “friends” – Jael and Heber – but it didn’t work out as he had hoped. Apparently they didn’t consider Sisera in the same light! If you think there are no gory accounts in the Bible, be sure to check out this chapter in Judges!
The point is that enemies are nothing new… but not all enemies are as obvious as an opposing army captain! Some of our “enemies” are fear, depression, discouragement, despair, insecurity, ego, greed, hate, discrimination, and much more. But we don’t need a clever woman with a hammer and a stake… we just need God’s love! God has defeated more of our enemies than we can count… and He will continue to do just that. The key is recognizing our “enemies” and calling on God for help to overcome them. He stands ready to rescue us… and He never fails to answer.
Some of us are trying to battle our “enemies” on our own… and the results are probably pretty sad. Many of us are fairly slow learners! But we can change this. We can learn to call on God to rescue us… and to expect His answers. God wants to hear from us. He wants us to recognize His power – AND His desire – to help us in all situations. We have two choices… we can step one direction and try to manage our “enemies” on our own… or we can step toward God and let Him handle things for us. The choice is ours… which way will you turn?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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