John 16:33
I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
If you want to give the devil fits, just get comfortable with God! The closer you draw to Him, the more minor irritations and frustrations Satan will throw your way. It’s like he’s saying, “Oh yeah? Well what about THIS one?”! I have to laugh as I picture him, hands on his hips, growling and perturbed because his latest rant or scheme did not put me out of commission. But this has not always been the case… and I will be the first to admit that I still let the devil get to me and rattle my cage far too often!
This is “Thanksgiving Week” in the USA… a time when we are supposed to stop and make an extra effort to count our blessings. I know I have more than my share… and I am so grateful to God for all He does for me every minute of the day. I am incredibly thankful that He has conquered the world and I can live deeply at peace… unshaken and assured, even when momentary difficulties arise. I cannot imagine surviving all the things that come our way in even an “ordinary day” without the power of Jesus behind me.
I am surrounded by people who inspire me with their examples of tremendous faith in the midst of great challenge… a mother whose son is undergoing treatments for cancer wrote that if she could make a chain of daily blessings in their lives, it would stretch around the house, and then some… a young newlywed whose husband is battling a sinister and most-certainly terminal brain cancer, journals of the wonderful hiking trip they had to a local mountainous area and the joy of daily routines like soccer practice for their little boys… the mother of two four-year-olds who spent their first year of life in Arkansas Children’s hospital, lost their third sibling along the way, and wakes up with a new physical “issue” almost every day – yet reports that her son fell and knocked out three front teeth, and she was glad that it was just a “normal little-boy accident/injury” and not something more major! Now that’s faith in action!
I could go on and on… but I think you get the picture. One of my former Sunday school students posted on Facebook that ““For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” You could easily insert the words frustrated, irritated, distressed, or hopeless and have the same result. And the whole point is that, while these are normal human reactions, they serve no purpose in the life of a Christian.
In the words of an old song called “Pick Yourself Up” by Jerome Kern…”pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again!” Recognize that God has already sent the devil packing, so we have no business letting him back into our neighborhood, so to speak. Kick him to the curb for good. When you start to feel frustrated, irritated, angry, or hopeless, shake Satan from your shoulder and say, “No way! I serve the Most High God, who has conquered the world! I am unshaken and assured that He has my back, and I am at peace!” Then do.it!
Be confident and faithful… a living example for others. Difficulties will come, but they do not define us. Cast ALL of your cares on God, for He truly does care for you in every way.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label disappointment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disappointment. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 27, 2011
Luke 21:8-15
Jesus replied: Don't be fooled by those who will come and claim to be me. They will say, "I am Christ!" and "Now is the time!" But don't follow them. When you hear about wars and riots, don't be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn't the end.
Nations will go to war against one another, and kingdoms will attack each other. There will be great earthquakes, and in many places people will starve to death and suffer terrible diseases. All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.
Before all this happens, you will be arrested and punished. You will be tried in your meeting places and put in jail. Because of me you will be placed on trial before kings and governors. But this will be your chance to tell about your faith.
Don't worry about what you will say to defend yourselves. I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you or to say that you are wrong.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I will be the first to admit that these last few weeks of deadly tornadoes have really taken a toll on my spirit. From just down the road at Vilonia, Arkansas, to further southeast in Tuscaloosa, the devastation seemed unfathomable. Harrowing stories of loss, destruction – and survival – left me with a lump in my throat. When Joplin, Missouri, was hit, I found myself sitting on the couch watching the coverage and listening to the stories in tears. By the time we watched live coverage of a tornado that ripped through a community north of Oklahoma City, I was truly disturbed. I saw families with children and pets literally climb from underneath the rubble that had - minutes earlier - been their homes and wave a “we’re okay” signal to the helicopter crew.
I asked God, “Why?” It’s a normal, fair question… one God doesn’t mind us asking. I’ve come to truly believe that God does not cause these disasters. But at the same time, He allows them to happen. And I can see how those who straddle the fence over their faith in God’s promises could be asking, “What kind of God would allow such devastation?” I get it… and so does God!
As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve just had another “prediction” that the world would end. Of course, it did not. No one knows the hour… remember? “Why is all of this happening, God? Can You give us at least some hint of your motives and purposes in all of this?” At least a portion of the answer came to me in these verses in Luke. Notice that Jesus warns us first against “doomsday deceivers” who want to predict when He will return. But then, look at verse 11, which says, in part… All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.” If you have watched the news reports lately, you have certainly seen plenty of frightening things in our skies.
So what have I taken away from all of this? Look at the last verse of this passage again… “I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you…” I have asked myself, “What if that were our community? What if that were my son/daughter who was missing? What if my mother’s Facebook page had a post that simply read “Gone”? What if my husband and I and our pets dug out of our safe room and found that everything we owned was gone… the trees sanded bare around rubble that was once our home? What if we didn’t get the warning in time and awoke in a hospital… or heaven? What if we… and most of our community… had to completely start over and rebuild from scratch?”
Without fail, the answer I have received – almost instantly – has been… “It would be okay.” I don’t mean it would be great or that I would not be devastated… but I would have peace, because God will always be with me. None of my enemies – including tornadoes – are able to oppose me. With every news report, I read and hear stories of great faith… saving grace… an outpouring of love and compassion from one person to another. I see the hand of God at work, knitting together communities of people from all corners of the country – and even the world – to offer prayers, support, and physical manpower to help with the rescue and recovery.
As the pastor of one Joplin church said, “This is just the building – the real church is the people themselves.” We are more than our “stuff,” and in these weeks of true human loss and tragedy, each of us has been given a chance to model true Christian behavior. We can donate to the Red Cross and other organizations. We can contribute bottled water and toiletries to drives at our local churches to be delivered and dispensed to the victims of these devastating storms. And we can pray for everyone involved – from the victims to the survivors to the rescue workers who rush to the scene to give physical assistance.
I marvel at how people rebuild and recover from such devastating disasters… but they do. And I know that this can’t happen under human power alone. God surely uses these situations to build His Kingdom and strengthen the faith of His children. This might not be the way we would do it, but that’s why we are not God!
Today, take some time to stop and pray for those who are involved in these natural disasters… tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and more. Ask God to use this situation for His glory… to bring about a great strengthening of resolve and faith in His promises to help us defeat all enemies – even “Mother Nature’s” wrath. Ask God to strengthen your own faith… to give you courage and confidence that you can handle anything that is hurled your way – with His help. Pray for those who are directly involved in these tragedies… that they might have comfort, courage, and peace for their journey. And always…always... thank God for never deserting us… even in the vortex of a tornado.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus replied: Don't be fooled by those who will come and claim to be me. They will say, "I am Christ!" and "Now is the time!" But don't follow them. When you hear about wars and riots, don't be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn't the end.
Nations will go to war against one another, and kingdoms will attack each other. There will be great earthquakes, and in many places people will starve to death and suffer terrible diseases. All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.
Before all this happens, you will be arrested and punished. You will be tried in your meeting places and put in jail. Because of me you will be placed on trial before kings and governors. But this will be your chance to tell about your faith.
Don't worry about what you will say to defend yourselves. I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you or to say that you are wrong.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I will be the first to admit that these last few weeks of deadly tornadoes have really taken a toll on my spirit. From just down the road at Vilonia, Arkansas, to further southeast in Tuscaloosa, the devastation seemed unfathomable. Harrowing stories of loss, destruction – and survival – left me with a lump in my throat. When Joplin, Missouri, was hit, I found myself sitting on the couch watching the coverage and listening to the stories in tears. By the time we watched live coverage of a tornado that ripped through a community north of Oklahoma City, I was truly disturbed. I saw families with children and pets literally climb from underneath the rubble that had - minutes earlier - been their homes and wave a “we’re okay” signal to the helicopter crew.
I asked God, “Why?” It’s a normal, fair question… one God doesn’t mind us asking. I’ve come to truly believe that God does not cause these disasters. But at the same time, He allows them to happen. And I can see how those who straddle the fence over their faith in God’s promises could be asking, “What kind of God would allow such devastation?” I get it… and so does God!
As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve just had another “prediction” that the world would end. Of course, it did not. No one knows the hour… remember? “Why is all of this happening, God? Can You give us at least some hint of your motives and purposes in all of this?” At least a portion of the answer came to me in these verses in Luke. Notice that Jesus warns us first against “doomsday deceivers” who want to predict when He will return. But then, look at verse 11, which says, in part… All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.” If you have watched the news reports lately, you have certainly seen plenty of frightening things in our skies.
So what have I taken away from all of this? Look at the last verse of this passage again… “I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you…” I have asked myself, “What if that were our community? What if that were my son/daughter who was missing? What if my mother’s Facebook page had a post that simply read “Gone”? What if my husband and I and our pets dug out of our safe room and found that everything we owned was gone… the trees sanded bare around rubble that was once our home? What if we didn’t get the warning in time and awoke in a hospital… or heaven? What if we… and most of our community… had to completely start over and rebuild from scratch?”
Without fail, the answer I have received – almost instantly – has been… “It would be okay.” I don’t mean it would be great or that I would not be devastated… but I would have peace, because God will always be with me. None of my enemies – including tornadoes – are able to oppose me. With every news report, I read and hear stories of great faith… saving grace… an outpouring of love and compassion from one person to another. I see the hand of God at work, knitting together communities of people from all corners of the country – and even the world – to offer prayers, support, and physical manpower to help with the rescue and recovery.
As the pastor of one Joplin church said, “This is just the building – the real church is the people themselves.” We are more than our “stuff,” and in these weeks of true human loss and tragedy, each of us has been given a chance to model true Christian behavior. We can donate to the Red Cross and other organizations. We can contribute bottled water and toiletries to drives at our local churches to be delivered and dispensed to the victims of these devastating storms. And we can pray for everyone involved – from the victims to the survivors to the rescue workers who rush to the scene to give physical assistance.
I marvel at how people rebuild and recover from such devastating disasters… but they do. And I know that this can’t happen under human power alone. God surely uses these situations to build His Kingdom and strengthen the faith of His children. This might not be the way we would do it, but that’s why we are not God!
Today, take some time to stop and pray for those who are involved in these natural disasters… tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and more. Ask God to use this situation for His glory… to bring about a great strengthening of resolve and faith in His promises to help us defeat all enemies – even “Mother Nature’s” wrath. Ask God to strengthen your own faith… to give you courage and confidence that you can handle anything that is hurled your way – with His help. Pray for those who are directly involved in these tragedies… that they might have comfort, courage, and peace for their journey. And always…always... thank God for never deserting us… even in the vortex of a tornado.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 26, 2010
Hosea 6:3
Let's do our best to know the LORD. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, the day after Christmas was sort of a “regrouping” day in our house. We put away our Christmas gifts… exchanged our old toothbrushes for the new ones Santa left in our stocking (our grandmother worked for a dentist!), and my dad carried out the crispy-critter Christmas tree. We put away the holiday décor and the card tables and extra chairs that we had used to accommodate family and friends the day before. We put things back in order and, in some ways, renewed ourselves.
As kids, we still had a week or so of vacation time left, but it felt good to start a new chapter, so to speak… to switch gears from the excitement and anticipation of Christmas to focusing on having fun and looking ahead to the New Year. We were certain that another Christmas was only 364 days away… and there many fun times and new adventures that awaited us in the meantime.
On the night of December 25th, someone wrote on Facebook, “The day we wait for all year long has come and gone.” For some, the day after Christmas is something of a letdown. The hoopla is over… the food that looked so inviting a few days ago now doesn’t look so tasty…everyone has gone home or back to work… and we’re left with a mess to clean up, decorations to pack away, and a mountain of trash to carry to the curb.
If this describes you, please read Hosea 6:3 again. The day after Christmas is not a time for letdown. The day after Christmas is when the story really begins. The day of Jesus’ birth is important… but the days after are what really matter. If the story ended with December 25th (or whatever day is really the birthday of our Savior), there wouldn’t be much of a story. But this is not the case.
We need to dig deeply and truly get to know the Lord. We need to study and understand every nuance of our Jesus… His teachings… His sacrifices on our behalf… and His directives for us as servants and disciples. We need to bask in the afterglow of Christmas, confident that Jesus’ love for us – and His return some day – are as certain as the next sunrise – or the next Christmas Day. Yes, Christmas is important… but what happens the day afterward – and in the days that follow – is where we get to truly shine for Jesus.
What will you do today? Will the next few days be a time of “letdown” for you, or will you hitch up your britches and get busy for Jesus? When others look at you, will they see someone who carries the message and spirit of Christmas throughout the year, or are you a “one-month wonder”? Do your best to get to know Jesus… and to serve Him well every day of the year… not just the first twenty-five days of December. Bask in the promise of what lies ahead as you live for Him… and be renewed and refreshed this day!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Let's do our best to know the LORD. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, the day after Christmas was sort of a “regrouping” day in our house. We put away our Christmas gifts… exchanged our old toothbrushes for the new ones Santa left in our stocking (our grandmother worked for a dentist!), and my dad carried out the crispy-critter Christmas tree. We put away the holiday décor and the card tables and extra chairs that we had used to accommodate family and friends the day before. We put things back in order and, in some ways, renewed ourselves.
As kids, we still had a week or so of vacation time left, but it felt good to start a new chapter, so to speak… to switch gears from the excitement and anticipation of Christmas to focusing on having fun and looking ahead to the New Year. We were certain that another Christmas was only 364 days away… and there many fun times and new adventures that awaited us in the meantime.
On the night of December 25th, someone wrote on Facebook, “The day we wait for all year long has come and gone.” For some, the day after Christmas is something of a letdown. The hoopla is over… the food that looked so inviting a few days ago now doesn’t look so tasty…everyone has gone home or back to work… and we’re left with a mess to clean up, decorations to pack away, and a mountain of trash to carry to the curb.
If this describes you, please read Hosea 6:3 again. The day after Christmas is not a time for letdown. The day after Christmas is when the story really begins. The day of Jesus’ birth is important… but the days after are what really matter. If the story ended with December 25th (or whatever day is really the birthday of our Savior), there wouldn’t be much of a story. But this is not the case.
We need to dig deeply and truly get to know the Lord. We need to study and understand every nuance of our Jesus… His teachings… His sacrifices on our behalf… and His directives for us as servants and disciples. We need to bask in the afterglow of Christmas, confident that Jesus’ love for us – and His return some day – are as certain as the next sunrise – or the next Christmas Day. Yes, Christmas is important… but what happens the day afterward – and in the days that follow – is where we get to truly shine for Jesus.
What will you do today? Will the next few days be a time of “letdown” for you, or will you hitch up your britches and get busy for Jesus? When others look at you, will they see someone who carries the message and spirit of Christmas throughout the year, or are you a “one-month wonder”? Do your best to get to know Jesus… and to serve Him well every day of the year… not just the first twenty-five days of December. Bask in the promise of what lies ahead as you live for Him… and be renewed and refreshed this day!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 10, 2010
Isaiah 61:1-4God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—
and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness"
planted by God to display his glory.
They'll rebuild the old ruins,
raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They'll start over on the ruined cities,
take the rubble left behind and make it new.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Every holiday season, we hear news reports about a house fire during the holidays. Just this past week, a home burned in our county, and area churches rallied to provide for the family – clothing, cleaning supplies, physical labor, and more. On the morning of December 20, 1981, my grandmother was frying sausage on her stove, preparing breakfast for herself and my grandfather before they dressed for church. My grandfather had been outside checking on his cattle. Mam-ma thought she heard sleet on their tin roof, but a glimpse out her kitchen window revealed sunshine.
My grandfather came through the door and told my Mam-ma that their house was on fire. Ironically, she turned off the burner under her sausage, then she began grabbing clothing from dresser drawers, as my grandfather hurried to move their car and truck from the carport and away from the house. A passerby stopped and helped remove items from the house as it burned… a small living room chair, the mantel clock, the family Bible and a few photos, and most of my grandparents’ clothing. They didn’t think to get wallets, eye glasses, the quilt rack in the front bedroom that held probably a half dozen of my grandmother’s hand-made creations, or even the Christmas presents sitting under the tree just inside the front door.
At the end of the day, the home my grandparents had occupied for 47 years was reduced to smoldering cinders. The fire was so hot that even the cast-iron skillets and claw-footed bath tub were reduced to ashes. This fire was determined to be due to some old faulty wiring… not a truly Christmas-related disaster. And I have shared this story before… how the churches and our community rallied to help my grandparents rebuild… how my dad called on his construction contacts to get a new house built as quickly as possible and people “pounded” my grandparents with necessary household staples and more.
I’ve talked about the yard full of petunias that rose the following spring where the old farmhouse once sat… a true “beauty for ashes” trade. But what I have not really talked about directly is the impact that the fire had on my entire family. Whether we realize it or not, that day was a huge turning point for us. It signaled the end of an era… the only home for my grandparents that I, my sister and brother had ever known. The fire resulted in the loss of countless treasures… mere things… and a greater realization of what really mattered, as we counted our blessings that my grandmother and grandfather both escaped safely.
Even though the new house and many of the replacement items were far nicer than what my grandparents had previously owned, it wasn’t the same… ever. And in thinking about this day again… as I do every December 20th… I was struck by how this correlates for us spiritually. See, we all have “fires” in our lives… moments or events or seasons that define us… change us… move us in a new direction. And these are often hard, devastating, gut-wrenching changes that grieve us and truly break our hearts – and sometimes our emotional spirit.
But God stands ready to give us “bouquets of roses for ashes”… to restore us, repair our hearts, rebuild our spirit. Sometimes, He even gives us something better to replace what was taken from us… or at least something equally wonderful. I told you that my grandparents were not ones to question “Why me?” but rather to look ahead and ask “What next?” – and as I look at my now-98-year-old grandmother and think of all of the things she has endured and how she persevered, I see another “lesson.”
God is not in the business of punishing us… or making us suffer to “teach us a lesson.” When we are in pain, He is in pain. When we grieve, He grieves. When our heart breaks, His heart breaks for us. But God can do something about all of this. He truly is the only One who can really fix things… and He wants to do this for us. But we have to trust Him. We have to let Him work. We have to ask Him, “What next?” and mean it. We have to open our eyes and see His beauty in the ashes…and we have to be grateful to Him for doing this for us.
Where is God trying to give you a bouquet of roses for ashes? Where are you blocking His efforts? In what ways do you need to move aside and let Him work? Examine your heart and your life today… find your “fires” and sift through the “ashes.” See what God has in store for you, and give Him room to do His work.
©2010 Debbie Robus
a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—
and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness"
planted by God to display his glory.
They'll rebuild the old ruins,
raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They'll start over on the ruined cities,
take the rubble left behind and make it new.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Every holiday season, we hear news reports about a house fire during the holidays. Just this past week, a home burned in our county, and area churches rallied to provide for the family – clothing, cleaning supplies, physical labor, and more. On the morning of December 20, 1981, my grandmother was frying sausage on her stove, preparing breakfast for herself and my grandfather before they dressed for church. My grandfather had been outside checking on his cattle. Mam-ma thought she heard sleet on their tin roof, but a glimpse out her kitchen window revealed sunshine.
My grandfather came through the door and told my Mam-ma that their house was on fire. Ironically, she turned off the burner under her sausage, then she began grabbing clothing from dresser drawers, as my grandfather hurried to move their car and truck from the carport and away from the house. A passerby stopped and helped remove items from the house as it burned… a small living room chair, the mantel clock, the family Bible and a few photos, and most of my grandparents’ clothing. They didn’t think to get wallets, eye glasses, the quilt rack in the front bedroom that held probably a half dozen of my grandmother’s hand-made creations, or even the Christmas presents sitting under the tree just inside the front door.
At the end of the day, the home my grandparents had occupied for 47 years was reduced to smoldering cinders. The fire was so hot that even the cast-iron skillets and claw-footed bath tub were reduced to ashes. This fire was determined to be due to some old faulty wiring… not a truly Christmas-related disaster. And I have shared this story before… how the churches and our community rallied to help my grandparents rebuild… how my dad called on his construction contacts to get a new house built as quickly as possible and people “pounded” my grandparents with necessary household staples and more.
I’ve talked about the yard full of petunias that rose the following spring where the old farmhouse once sat… a true “beauty for ashes” trade. But what I have not really talked about directly is the impact that the fire had on my entire family. Whether we realize it or not, that day was a huge turning point for us. It signaled the end of an era… the only home for my grandparents that I, my sister and brother had ever known. The fire resulted in the loss of countless treasures… mere things… and a greater realization of what really mattered, as we counted our blessings that my grandmother and grandfather both escaped safely.
Even though the new house and many of the replacement items were far nicer than what my grandparents had previously owned, it wasn’t the same… ever. And in thinking about this day again… as I do every December 20th… I was struck by how this correlates for us spiritually. See, we all have “fires” in our lives… moments or events or seasons that define us… change us… move us in a new direction. And these are often hard, devastating, gut-wrenching changes that grieve us and truly break our hearts – and sometimes our emotional spirit.
But God stands ready to give us “bouquets of roses for ashes”… to restore us, repair our hearts, rebuild our spirit. Sometimes, He even gives us something better to replace what was taken from us… or at least something equally wonderful. I told you that my grandparents were not ones to question “Why me?” but rather to look ahead and ask “What next?” – and as I look at my now-98-year-old grandmother and think of all of the things she has endured and how she persevered, I see another “lesson.”
God is not in the business of punishing us… or making us suffer to “teach us a lesson.” When we are in pain, He is in pain. When we grieve, He grieves. When our heart breaks, His heart breaks for us. But God can do something about all of this. He truly is the only One who can really fix things… and He wants to do this for us. But we have to trust Him. We have to let Him work. We have to ask Him, “What next?” and mean it. We have to open our eyes and see His beauty in the ashes…and we have to be grateful to Him for doing this for us.
Where is God trying to give you a bouquet of roses for ashes? Where are you blocking His efforts? In what ways do you need to move aside and let Him work? Examine your heart and your life today… find your “fires” and sift through the “ashes.” See what God has in store for you, and give Him room to do His work.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 1, 2010
Colossians 1:21-23
You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.
But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently my mom floated the Buffalo River with her husband’s family, and at one “swimming hole,” people were climbing massive bluffs and jumping back into the river. Swimmers below were encouraging those jumping to “conquer your fears,” and telling them, “You can do it!” And Mom said most did just that – even those whose faces indicated they were scared silly! However, she said one or two climbed back down and accepted defeat… and in this instance, that was just fine.
In our spiritual life, “backing off” and “climbing down” are not okay. Defeat is not an option. The cost of our salvation was far too high. The price Jesus Christ paid to stand in the gap for us with God was just too costly for us to back down and stop fighting. We must keep trusting – keep believing – and keep holding on to the promises of God for us and others. And more than this, we must never give up on one another. We must become, as the Apostle Paul, “a servant of this message.” We must vigilantly remind others how precious they are to God. We must pray for them, encourage them, and never, never, EVER give up.
We can do it! We must “conquer our fears” – with the Lord’s help – and trust Him to honor His promises… to us and to others. We must stay deeply rooted and firm in our faith and be servants of God’s message to everyone around us. I say again… defeat is not an option when it comes to Jesus and our faith. How deeply are you rooted these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.
But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently my mom floated the Buffalo River with her husband’s family, and at one “swimming hole,” people were climbing massive bluffs and jumping back into the river. Swimmers below were encouraging those jumping to “conquer your fears,” and telling them, “You can do it!” And Mom said most did just that – even those whose faces indicated they were scared silly! However, she said one or two climbed back down and accepted defeat… and in this instance, that was just fine.
In our spiritual life, “backing off” and “climbing down” are not okay. Defeat is not an option. The cost of our salvation was far too high. The price Jesus Christ paid to stand in the gap for us with God was just too costly for us to back down and stop fighting. We must keep trusting – keep believing – and keep holding on to the promises of God for us and others. And more than this, we must never give up on one another. We must become, as the Apostle Paul, “a servant of this message.” We must vigilantly remind others how precious they are to God. We must pray for them, encourage them, and never, never, EVER give up.
We can do it! We must “conquer our fears” – with the Lord’s help – and trust Him to honor His promises… to us and to others. We must stay deeply rooted and firm in our faith and be servants of God’s message to everyone around us. I say again… defeat is not an option when it comes to Jesus and our faith. How deeply are you rooted these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 10, 2010
June 10 ~ Psalm 56:4
I praise your promises! I trust you and am not afraid. No one can harm me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother has a dear friend who is suffering from serious heart problems. She told my mom that recently she was so worried about her situation, and… “The Lord seemed to say to me, ‘You cannot add one second to your life.’” After that, she said she experienced great peace.
At some point in our lives, we will all probably be in a situation where we are driving a motorized vehicle, and someone says to us, “Move over and let me drive.” I know I sound like a broken record when I say this, but we are all so busy trying to “drive the car” that is our life. You know those bumper stickers that say, “God is my co-pilot?” The truth is, God should be our pilot! HE should be “driving the car!” He wants us to “move over and let Him drive,” and the sooner we do this, the sooner we can ditch our fears.
My mom’s friend is right, “We cannot add one second to our lives… we cannot fight the enemies that Satan hurls at us. But GOD can… and He will, if we will simply get out of the way.” Move over and let God drive. Operate in courage and faith and toss fear out the window. Believe in the power of Almighty God to conquer all of your demons and enemies… and praise Him for doing so.
©2010 Debbie Robus
I praise your promises! I trust you and am not afraid. No one can harm me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother has a dear friend who is suffering from serious heart problems. She told my mom that recently she was so worried about her situation, and… “The Lord seemed to say to me, ‘You cannot add one second to your life.’” After that, she said she experienced great peace.
At some point in our lives, we will all probably be in a situation where we are driving a motorized vehicle, and someone says to us, “Move over and let me drive.” I know I sound like a broken record when I say this, but we are all so busy trying to “drive the car” that is our life. You know those bumper stickers that say, “God is my co-pilot?” The truth is, God should be our pilot! HE should be “driving the car!” He wants us to “move over and let Him drive,” and the sooner we do this, the sooner we can ditch our fears.
My mom’s friend is right, “We cannot add one second to our lives… we cannot fight the enemies that Satan hurls at us. But GOD can… and He will, if we will simply get out of the way.” Move over and let God drive. Operate in courage and faith and toss fear out the window. Believe in the power of Almighty God to conquer all of your demons and enemies… and praise Him for doing so.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 19, 2010
May 19 ~ Hebrews 13:6
That should make you feel like saying, "The Lord helps me! Why should I be afraid of what people can do to me?"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of the hardest lessons for us to learn as Christians is how to lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus – and not pick them up again. We say we trust Him to care for us and meet our needs. We say we believe that He will help us and that all things are possible through Jesus Christ and His strength. Then we wring our hands and wallow in self-pity and doubt… and we worry about everything!
Sometimes I think we enjoy our little pity parties. I knew a woman once who was always complaining about some ailment. If her eyes were open and her lips were moving, she was telling about her latest health problem, doctor visit or medical treatment. Someone once remarked, “That woman delights in poor health.” Another woman I know seems to always have about ten family crises happening at once. One of her relatives is in the hospital, while another just had an accident, while another is struggling in school, and so on… and this woman almost seems to be thriving in the chaos!
To me, the difference in these two women is how they handle their circumstances. The woman who is always ailing seems to delight more in poor health than relying on God to handle her situations. She enjoys talking about her problems and doesn’t seem to ever mention that “God is taking care of me” or “I’ll be alright.” Unlike others who I know are suffering with serious illnesses and never mentioning them, she wants the whole world to know and suffer with her! The woman with the family struggles seems to take them more in stride. She will readily say, “The Lord will take care of it!” If asked, she will share her story, but she also shares her hope and faith that God will help her and recognizes that most of these situations are beyond her control – but well within God’s ability to address them perfectly.
What is your story? Are you known to others as one who delights in problems and self-pity and seems to have little faith? Or are you known as a person who may have BIG mountains to climb, but an even bigger faith that God will lift you up and over them? I hope that I am viewed by others as a woman of faith. I am working hard to lay my worries at Jesus’ feet – and leave them there! What are you doing with your burdens? Who has your back these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
That should make you feel like saying, "The Lord helps me! Why should I be afraid of what people can do to me?"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of the hardest lessons for us to learn as Christians is how to lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus – and not pick them up again. We say we trust Him to care for us and meet our needs. We say we believe that He will help us and that all things are possible through Jesus Christ and His strength. Then we wring our hands and wallow in self-pity and doubt… and we worry about everything!
Sometimes I think we enjoy our little pity parties. I knew a woman once who was always complaining about some ailment. If her eyes were open and her lips were moving, she was telling about her latest health problem, doctor visit or medical treatment. Someone once remarked, “That woman delights in poor health.” Another woman I know seems to always have about ten family crises happening at once. One of her relatives is in the hospital, while another just had an accident, while another is struggling in school, and so on… and this woman almost seems to be thriving in the chaos!
To me, the difference in these two women is how they handle their circumstances. The woman who is always ailing seems to delight more in poor health than relying on God to handle her situations. She enjoys talking about her problems and doesn’t seem to ever mention that “God is taking care of me” or “I’ll be alright.” Unlike others who I know are suffering with serious illnesses and never mentioning them, she wants the whole world to know and suffer with her! The woman with the family struggles seems to take them more in stride. She will readily say, “The Lord will take care of it!” If asked, she will share her story, but she also shares her hope and faith that God will help her and recognizes that most of these situations are beyond her control – but well within God’s ability to address them perfectly.
What is your story? Are you known to others as one who delights in problems and self-pity and seems to have little faith? Or are you known as a person who may have BIG mountains to climb, but an even bigger faith that God will lift you up and over them? I hope that I am viewed by others as a woman of faith. I am working hard to lay my worries at Jesus’ feet – and leave them there! What are you doing with your burdens? Who has your back these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 22, 2010
April 22 ~ Matthew 18:10-14
Don't be cruel to any of these little ones! I promise you that their angels are always with my Father in heaven. Let me ask you this. What would you do if you had a hundred sheep and one of them wandered off? Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go look for the one that had wandered away? I am sure that finding it would make you happier than having the ninety-nine that never wandered off. That's how it is with your Father in heaven. He doesn't want any of these little ones to be lost.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
During the Christmas holidays, I always make Italian cream cake. This rich dessert has become a family tradition for our holiday dinners, and I rarely make it any other time. This year, I set it on a beautiful antique cake plate that I purchased at the estate sale of a dear friend named Eloise. The pattern was called “Stars and Bars,” and every time I used that platter, I thought of Eloise. When the cake was finished, I slid the platter into my sink to wash it… and somehow it became wedged along the sides of the sink.
I could not budge that platter. I tried more dish soap. I tried gently pulling on the sides… being careful not to crack the plate and cut myself. Then I did a dumb thing. My dish water was very warm, so I got a cup of ice from our freezer and poured it in. CRACK! The plate immediately split into two pieces. Had I been a little more patient and thoughtful, the dish might have come loose as the water cooled. I learned a hard lesson.
The thing is… I have dozens of cake plates and beautiful antique trays that I have purchased at estate auctions. I even have another “Stars and Bars” tray. But almost all of the trays and dishes I keep have a story for me. They belonged to a friend… or the contemporary of my grandmothers. I have two trays that belonged to my grandmother and great-aunt, and I can still imagine them serving delicious little tidbits to their coffee klatch or canasta club. Each one is precious, and I am sad when I break or chip even one.
That was Jesus’ point with His analogy. Every single one of us is important to Him. Even the person you see as insignificant or “hard to love,” Jesus loves and adores every bit as much as He cares for you. I should have been more careful with Eloise’s cake plate. I will learn to live without it. But human souls are not as expendable. We cannot afford to ignore or mistreat a single one! What “sheep” have wandered off in your own life? To whom do you need to reach out today and encourage them back “into the fold?”
©2010 Debbie Robus
Don't be cruel to any of these little ones! I promise you that their angels are always with my Father in heaven. Let me ask you this. What would you do if you had a hundred sheep and one of them wandered off? Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go look for the one that had wandered away? I am sure that finding it would make you happier than having the ninety-nine that never wandered off. That's how it is with your Father in heaven. He doesn't want any of these little ones to be lost.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
During the Christmas holidays, I always make Italian cream cake. This rich dessert has become a family tradition for our holiday dinners, and I rarely make it any other time. This year, I set it on a beautiful antique cake plate that I purchased at the estate sale of a dear friend named Eloise. The pattern was called “Stars and Bars,” and every time I used that platter, I thought of Eloise. When the cake was finished, I slid the platter into my sink to wash it… and somehow it became wedged along the sides of the sink.
I could not budge that platter. I tried more dish soap. I tried gently pulling on the sides… being careful not to crack the plate and cut myself. Then I did a dumb thing. My dish water was very warm, so I got a cup of ice from our freezer and poured it in. CRACK! The plate immediately split into two pieces. Had I been a little more patient and thoughtful, the dish might have come loose as the water cooled. I learned a hard lesson.
The thing is… I have dozens of cake plates and beautiful antique trays that I have purchased at estate auctions. I even have another “Stars and Bars” tray. But almost all of the trays and dishes I keep have a story for me. They belonged to a friend… or the contemporary of my grandmothers. I have two trays that belonged to my grandmother and great-aunt, and I can still imagine them serving delicious little tidbits to their coffee klatch or canasta club. Each one is precious, and I am sad when I break or chip even one.
That was Jesus’ point with His analogy. Every single one of us is important to Him. Even the person you see as insignificant or “hard to love,” Jesus loves and adores every bit as much as He cares for you. I should have been more careful with Eloise’s cake plate. I will learn to live without it. But human souls are not as expendable. We cannot afford to ignore or mistreat a single one! What “sheep” have wandered off in your own life? To whom do you need to reach out today and encourage them back “into the fold?”
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 15, 2010
March 15 ~ Psalm 21:7
LORD Most High, the king trusts you, and your kindness keeps him from defeat.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Let’s talk about a couple of words today – disappointment and defeat. We use the word “defeat” for several situations in life, but honestly, few of us are ever truly defeated. And after reading this passage, I am beginning to think we Christians should NEVER use this word. Yes, we will be disappointed from time to time. Things don’t work out like we hoped. We lose contests and elections… we don’t get the job we wanted – or the girl/guy… we suffer devastating illnesses, injuries, and other tragedies. I’m here to tell you, the devil is on the clock 24/7 to throw us some serious curves in life and make us feel defeated. But in truth, defeat is not possible, because God is protecting us.
Read all of Psalm 21 and you will see how powerful and protective God is toward us. When Satan knocks you down and saps your health, strength and spirit, remember that God guards you. Sometimes He says, “Enough… come home and live with me,” but even death is not a defeat for Christians. When we experience disappointments, God offers solutions and hope… and a way to pick ourselves up and keep going.
Consider evangelist Joyce Meyer, who writes of her childhood abuse and a disastrous first marriage that ended even before the birth of her young son. Months after the baby was born, she met Dave - her husband of now more than 30 years. Dave was praying for God to bring him a woman who needed help. WOW – that’s some prayer! But God allowed Dave to help turn Joyce’s early disappointments into tremendous victories. She was NEVER defeated.
I watched a dear classmate and her family lose everything in a house fire – including vital personal documents, family photos, and more. They trusted God to help them rebuild – and He answered. Then a few years later, my friend developed breast cancer… another potential “defeat.” But she trusted God once again. She would tell me, “I’m fine, and I’ll be okay no matter what.” And when God called her home, these words echoed in my mind. Even in death, she was not defeated.
I don’t know your circumstances. God does. Consider the ball team who makes it to the championship game, only to lose. First, second, or even third-runner-ups are disappointed, but they are not defeated. I guarantee you that on every one of those teams, there will be countless success stories that we may never hear, but they are there nonetheless. Maybe a team member overcame some sort of struggle along the way and is better for it. Maybe another was given a college scholarship and allowed to obtain a degree and hope for a future that would never have happened otherwise. Maybe someone was not chosen for American Idol but was “discovered” for some other venue that proved to be far more stable and lasting. Once an employer did not select me for a teaching position, and I was devastated. But nearly twenty-five years and a successful publishing “career” later, I am grateful that God steered me in a different direction.
My point is this. We humans often suffer a disappointment, and we throw up our hands and declare it a defeat. This is “stinkin’ thinkin’!” The word “defeat” should not be in the Christian vocabulary, because God covers us in kindness, grace, mercy – love – and defeat is not possible. Trust God to cover you in kindness. Trust Him to turn your disappointments in to opportunities for growth and new direction. Trust Him to know what is best for your life and to show you how to keep moving forward. Trust GOD to handle Satan and his army – and to never allow him to deliver you a defeat. We may be temporarily disappointed, but we are NEVER defeated… and there IS a difference!
©2010 Debbie Robus
LORD Most High, the king trusts you, and your kindness keeps him from defeat.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Let’s talk about a couple of words today – disappointment and defeat. We use the word “defeat” for several situations in life, but honestly, few of us are ever truly defeated. And after reading this passage, I am beginning to think we Christians should NEVER use this word. Yes, we will be disappointed from time to time. Things don’t work out like we hoped. We lose contests and elections… we don’t get the job we wanted – or the girl/guy… we suffer devastating illnesses, injuries, and other tragedies. I’m here to tell you, the devil is on the clock 24/7 to throw us some serious curves in life and make us feel defeated. But in truth, defeat is not possible, because God is protecting us.
Read all of Psalm 21 and you will see how powerful and protective God is toward us. When Satan knocks you down and saps your health, strength and spirit, remember that God guards you. Sometimes He says, “Enough… come home and live with me,” but even death is not a defeat for Christians. When we experience disappointments, God offers solutions and hope… and a way to pick ourselves up and keep going.
Consider evangelist Joyce Meyer, who writes of her childhood abuse and a disastrous first marriage that ended even before the birth of her young son. Months after the baby was born, she met Dave - her husband of now more than 30 years. Dave was praying for God to bring him a woman who needed help. WOW – that’s some prayer! But God allowed Dave to help turn Joyce’s early disappointments into tremendous victories. She was NEVER defeated.
I watched a dear classmate and her family lose everything in a house fire – including vital personal documents, family photos, and more. They trusted God to help them rebuild – and He answered. Then a few years later, my friend developed breast cancer… another potential “defeat.” But she trusted God once again. She would tell me, “I’m fine, and I’ll be okay no matter what.” And when God called her home, these words echoed in my mind. Even in death, she was not defeated.
I don’t know your circumstances. God does. Consider the ball team who makes it to the championship game, only to lose. First, second, or even third-runner-ups are disappointed, but they are not defeated. I guarantee you that on every one of those teams, there will be countless success stories that we may never hear, but they are there nonetheless. Maybe a team member overcame some sort of struggle along the way and is better for it. Maybe another was given a college scholarship and allowed to obtain a degree and hope for a future that would never have happened otherwise. Maybe someone was not chosen for American Idol but was “discovered” for some other venue that proved to be far more stable and lasting. Once an employer did not select me for a teaching position, and I was devastated. But nearly twenty-five years and a successful publishing “career” later, I am grateful that God steered me in a different direction.
My point is this. We humans often suffer a disappointment, and we throw up our hands and declare it a defeat. This is “stinkin’ thinkin’!” The word “defeat” should not be in the Christian vocabulary, because God covers us in kindness, grace, mercy – love – and defeat is not possible. Trust God to cover you in kindness. Trust Him to turn your disappointments in to opportunities for growth and new direction. Trust Him to know what is best for your life and to show you how to keep moving forward. Trust GOD to handle Satan and his army – and to never allow him to deliver you a defeat. We may be temporarily disappointed, but we are NEVER defeated… and there IS a difference!
©2010 Debbie Robus
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