Jeremiah 29:11-14
I know what I’m doing. I have
it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to
give you the future you hope for.
“When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.
“When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.
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.
Anyone who knows me very well
knows that I am a “git-r-done” kind of woman. Okay, some would
translate this as “impatient”…and I will admit, it’s in my genes to act
quickly and with determination! But over the years I have discovered
the merits of waiting and exercising patience. And this wisdom has been
particularly valuable in matters that involve a major decision – or
challenge my faith!
I am a work in progress, but I know more than
ever that God’s timing is precious – and perfect. So as I talk to Him
about situations – over and over – and nothing seems to change…I try not
to get discouraged or frustrated. I remind myself that He must be
working on something really good! After all, God has promised that He
has it all planned out – our care AND our future. God assures us in
this passage that He IS listening, and that when we look for Him, we
will find Him.
Not only do we like to ask God “Why?”…we also
spend a lot of time asking Him “When?” My challenge for all of us today
is that we would hear God’s words in this passage – and hear them
well. “I know what I am doing,” He tells us. “I have it all planned
out!”
We’ve read this passage – and others in which God assures
us of His presence and power – a zillion times. Now it’s time for us to
move out of the way and let Him work! I’m pretty sure we will be blown
away by the results! Are you with me?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label exercising patience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exercising patience. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for February 15, 2014
1 Peter 3:8-12
Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. Don’t be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God’s chosen ones, and he will bless you. The Scriptures say,
“Do you really love life? Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies. Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road that leads to peace.
The Lord watches over everyone who obeys him, and he listens to their prayers. But he opposes everyone who does evil."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On a recent issue of ABC’s 20/20*, the story San Antonio kindergarten teacher, Cynthia Ambrose, was shared. The title given the story was “Did This Teacher Cross the Line?”. Ambrose had a reputation for being a strict disciplinarian. So when a fellow teacher came to her in May 2012 with 6-year-old Aiden Neely, who school officials at Salinas Elementary described as a playground bully, Ambrose decided to teach the child a lesson. She stood him before the class and asked her students if they would like to show Aiden what it felt like when he mistreated them.
Ambrose maintains that before she could even blink, a child approached Aiden and hit him, and then the others started taking their turn. Aiden and his mother claim that Ambrose asked all of her students to line up and take a turn at bullying him. And Aiden’s own teacher, Barbara Ramirez, substantiated this claim in court, saying that Ambrose told the children…"Come on boys and girls, let's line up and let's bully Aiden. Come on, let's hit him harder.” The court convicted Ambrose of “Official Oppression” – a Class-A misdemeanor in Texas. Ambrose was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation, which means that she won't be able to teach again in Texas until at least after this time frame. Aiden’s mother moved him to another elementary school, where he says the teachers and students are nicer.
As a former kindergarten teacher, I have so many problems with this story. It bothers me that a teacher was proudly recognized in her school for her “tough love”. It bothers me that another teacher took a student to this woman for disciplinary action. But more importantly, if Barbara Ramirez did indeed stand aside and let Ambrose line up the students to take a turn at bullying this child, she should be in just as much trouble as Cynthia Ambrose. The other thing that disturbs me is the child’s testimony in court, which was aired in part on the ABC broadcast. Ambrose insists that the children did not line up and taunt or bully this child. But this little boy testified that they did. When asked by the prosecutor how many kids hit him in the back, he promptly stated, “I think, like 21.” That sounds like a “coached” answer to me. I have seen this happen in my own teaching experience, where a parent was so eager for his/her child to be right that the “correct” answers were given to the child to be repeated when questioned.
The bottom line is that a lot of people were wrong in this sequence of events. Many of them were hateful and insulting. More than one person in this story acted without kindness and humility. This situation truly was wrong on countless levels. But this is not an isolated incident. We are all guilty to some degree of these behaviors on any given day. Hopefully we don’t bully others. Surely we do not stand someone before a group of their peers and suggest that they retaliate. But we may strike back in some way as an individual.
We may set about to “put someone in their place”. This can be as blatant and direct as a verbal insult…or as subtle as a quiet manipulation or “cold shoulder”. At least once in our lives, I bet we have all muttered the sentence, “I’ll show him a thing or two!” We all practice our own version of “tough love”… but our tactics are not necessarily pleasing to God.
This story left me feeling very sad for all involved. Perhaps Cynthia Ambrose really didn’t mean for this to escalate. Maybe she did think that the worst that would happen to little Aiden was that he would be shamed into behaving more kindly. Maybe Aiden’s teacher, Barbara Ramirez, was at her rope’s end and truly thought a colleague could help. Maybe Aiden is something of an innocent victim who was targeted and/or mistreated by his teachers and his peers. In the end, nobody “won”. And this is the case so often when we operate out of anything but love, concern, and a big dose of humility.
When we take matters into our own hands and fail to stop, breathe, and ask God to guide us, some pretty awful things can happen. When we find ourselves in a pit, the only way out often appears to be lies and deception. When our backs are against the wall, we frequently come out clawing and retaliating. And God is heartbroken by the messes we often make.
Most young children are taught to “Stop, look and listen.” Somehow, we seem to forget these instructions as we grow into adulthood! This is a good time to study this scripture passage and think about our own lives…to ask ourselves where we need to do a better job of operating in patience, kindness, humility…and turning the other cheek. Talk to God about the situations in your life that trouble you…ask Him to show you how to react and respond to them. Prayerfully consider your actions, and don’t get caught up in the heat of the moment. Follow the road to peace…and let God handle the “discipline”.
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/teacher-cross-line-22530010
Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. Don’t be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God’s chosen ones, and he will bless you. The Scriptures say,
“Do you really love life? Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies. Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road that leads to peace.
The Lord watches over everyone who obeys him, and he listens to their prayers. But he opposes everyone who does evil."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On a recent issue of ABC’s 20/20*, the story San Antonio kindergarten teacher, Cynthia Ambrose, was shared. The title given the story was “Did This Teacher Cross the Line?”. Ambrose had a reputation for being a strict disciplinarian. So when a fellow teacher came to her in May 2012 with 6-year-old Aiden Neely, who school officials at Salinas Elementary described as a playground bully, Ambrose decided to teach the child a lesson. She stood him before the class and asked her students if they would like to show Aiden what it felt like when he mistreated them.
Ambrose maintains that before she could even blink, a child approached Aiden and hit him, and then the others started taking their turn. Aiden and his mother claim that Ambrose asked all of her students to line up and take a turn at bullying him. And Aiden’s own teacher, Barbara Ramirez, substantiated this claim in court, saying that Ambrose told the children…"Come on boys and girls, let's line up and let's bully Aiden. Come on, let's hit him harder.” The court convicted Ambrose of “Official Oppression” – a Class-A misdemeanor in Texas. Ambrose was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation, which means that she won't be able to teach again in Texas until at least after this time frame. Aiden’s mother moved him to another elementary school, where he says the teachers and students are nicer.
As a former kindergarten teacher, I have so many problems with this story. It bothers me that a teacher was proudly recognized in her school for her “tough love”. It bothers me that another teacher took a student to this woman for disciplinary action. But more importantly, if Barbara Ramirez did indeed stand aside and let Ambrose line up the students to take a turn at bullying this child, she should be in just as much trouble as Cynthia Ambrose. The other thing that disturbs me is the child’s testimony in court, which was aired in part on the ABC broadcast. Ambrose insists that the children did not line up and taunt or bully this child. But this little boy testified that they did. When asked by the prosecutor how many kids hit him in the back, he promptly stated, “I think, like 21.” That sounds like a “coached” answer to me. I have seen this happen in my own teaching experience, where a parent was so eager for his/her child to be right that the “correct” answers were given to the child to be repeated when questioned.
The bottom line is that a lot of people were wrong in this sequence of events. Many of them were hateful and insulting. More than one person in this story acted without kindness and humility. This situation truly was wrong on countless levels. But this is not an isolated incident. We are all guilty to some degree of these behaviors on any given day. Hopefully we don’t bully others. Surely we do not stand someone before a group of their peers and suggest that they retaliate. But we may strike back in some way as an individual.
We may set about to “put someone in their place”. This can be as blatant and direct as a verbal insult…or as subtle as a quiet manipulation or “cold shoulder”. At least once in our lives, I bet we have all muttered the sentence, “I’ll show him a thing or two!” We all practice our own version of “tough love”… but our tactics are not necessarily pleasing to God.
This story left me feeling very sad for all involved. Perhaps Cynthia Ambrose really didn’t mean for this to escalate. Maybe she did think that the worst that would happen to little Aiden was that he would be shamed into behaving more kindly. Maybe Aiden’s teacher, Barbara Ramirez, was at her rope’s end and truly thought a colleague could help. Maybe Aiden is something of an innocent victim who was targeted and/or mistreated by his teachers and his peers. In the end, nobody “won”. And this is the case so often when we operate out of anything but love, concern, and a big dose of humility.
When we take matters into our own hands and fail to stop, breathe, and ask God to guide us, some pretty awful things can happen. When we find ourselves in a pit, the only way out often appears to be lies and deception. When our backs are against the wall, we frequently come out clawing and retaliating. And God is heartbroken by the messes we often make.
Most young children are taught to “Stop, look and listen.” Somehow, we seem to forget these instructions as we grow into adulthood! This is a good time to study this scripture passage and think about our own lives…to ask ourselves where we need to do a better job of operating in patience, kindness, humility…and turning the other cheek. Talk to God about the situations in your life that trouble you…ask Him to show you how to react and respond to them. Prayerfully consider your actions, and don’t get caught up in the heat of the moment. Follow the road to peace…and let God handle the “discipline”.
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/teacher-cross-line-22530010
Daily Devotional for June 8, 2013
Titus 2:1-6
Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
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.
Almost 30 years ago, my grandmother persuaded me to go dancing with her at a local barn dance. My grandmother came from a musical family, and she and her sisters were excellent dancers. My great-grandfather and his brother played the fiddle and other instruments at area dances “back in the day,” and their daughters learned to foxtrot, waltz, and two-step to their familiar folk tunes. On the other hand, I knew nothing of this sort of dance, save a semester of “folk dance” class in college. But my grandmother insisted I tag along… so I went with her. It wasn’t long before a very nice older gentleman friend of my grandmother’s named Jack asked me to dance. I politely declined, but my grandmother insisted I try. “He’s a good dancer,” she assured me. “Go on and dance with him.”
In the arms of an experienced lead dancer, even someone with two left feet like mine can do fairly well. Jack gave me a quick lesson in how the steps went and then said, “Just follow me.” He led me across the floor with ease… and I don’t think I stepped on his feet too many times! While I didn’t fare as well with a few other dance partners, Jack’s early guidance did make for a much more enjoyable night.
Paul challenges Titus in these first few verses to be an agent of God… an earthly, physical “lead” for God’s Spiritual dance. He gives Titus a list of character traits and qualities that will mold men and women into great “dancers” for God’s chorus line… temperance, dignity, wisdom, faith, love, endurance (patience), reverence, goodness…people of order who don’t gossip or drink to excess…people who are disciplined and conscientious.
You and I are the dancers in life… and God is our “lead.” If we pay attention and allow Him to guide us… if we learn His rhythm and follow His instructions… we can deliver a pretty solid performance. In His arms, we will glide across the “floor” of life. There will be some missteps… some bruised toes… and maybe even a stumble or two. But in all, we can rest in God’s rhythm with the assurance of things turning out as He intended. We will encounter other “dance partners” – most of whom the devil plants in front of us – but the outcome will usually be far less than stellar… with more than a few sore toes created in the process!
The question becomes… Who is your lead? How are you “dancing” through life? Do you have a solid grasp of God’s timing… or are you bumbling your way through with what are often spastic results? Are you patiently seeking your God-given dreams, or do you birth things prematurely. Is your life one of solid doctrine, as Paul describes to Titus… or are you impatiently trying to orchestrate things on your own? The choice is ours... we’ve been given a perfect example of how to live in Jesus… and reminders through scripture, in case we have any questions. What will you do with all of this? How well will you “dance?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
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.
“Timing is so important! If you are going to be successful in dance, you must be able to respond to rhythm and timing. It’s the same in the Spirit. People who don’t understand God’s timing can become spiritually spastic, trying to make the right things happen at the wrong time. They don’t get His rhythm – and everyone can tell they are out of step. They birth things prematurely, threatening the very lives of their God-given dreams.” ~ T. D. Jakes
Almost 30 years ago, my grandmother persuaded me to go dancing with her at a local barn dance. My grandmother came from a musical family, and she and her sisters were excellent dancers. My great-grandfather and his brother played the fiddle and other instruments at area dances “back in the day,” and their daughters learned to foxtrot, waltz, and two-step to their familiar folk tunes. On the other hand, I knew nothing of this sort of dance, save a semester of “folk dance” class in college. But my grandmother insisted I tag along… so I went with her. It wasn’t long before a very nice older gentleman friend of my grandmother’s named Jack asked me to dance. I politely declined, but my grandmother insisted I try. “He’s a good dancer,” she assured me. “Go on and dance with him.”
In the arms of an experienced lead dancer, even someone with two left feet like mine can do fairly well. Jack gave me a quick lesson in how the steps went and then said, “Just follow me.” He led me across the floor with ease… and I don’t think I stepped on his feet too many times! While I didn’t fare as well with a few other dance partners, Jack’s early guidance did make for a much more enjoyable night.
Paul challenges Titus in these first few verses to be an agent of God… an earthly, physical “lead” for God’s Spiritual dance. He gives Titus a list of character traits and qualities that will mold men and women into great “dancers” for God’s chorus line… temperance, dignity, wisdom, faith, love, endurance (patience), reverence, goodness…people of order who don’t gossip or drink to excess…people who are disciplined and conscientious.
You and I are the dancers in life… and God is our “lead.” If we pay attention and allow Him to guide us… if we learn His rhythm and follow His instructions… we can deliver a pretty solid performance. In His arms, we will glide across the “floor” of life. There will be some missteps… some bruised toes… and maybe even a stumble or two. But in all, we can rest in God’s rhythm with the assurance of things turning out as He intended. We will encounter other “dance partners” – most of whom the devil plants in front of us – but the outcome will usually be far less than stellar… with more than a few sore toes created in the process!
The question becomes… Who is your lead? How are you “dancing” through life? Do you have a solid grasp of God’s timing… or are you bumbling your way through with what are often spastic results? Are you patiently seeking your God-given dreams, or do you birth things prematurely. Is your life one of solid doctrine, as Paul describes to Titus… or are you impatiently trying to orchestrate things on your own? The choice is ours... we’ve been given a perfect example of how to live in Jesus… and reminders through scripture, in case we have any questions. What will you do with all of this? How well will you “dance?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 7, 2013
Romans 9:19-23
Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?”
No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“It’s not how you start… it’s how you finish.” I have to admit, when I heard my friend Steve, the high school athletic director/head football coach, tell his elementary-school-aged son this one spring Saturday, I thought for a moment… “Well there’s a cliché if ever I heard one!” I’m sure he tells his football team this throughout the year… but just how relevant was this comment for a young boy? As I read this scripture passage today, I realized that these words are incredibly relevant… a phrase that we should drill into our children from an early age… and remember well into our adulthood.
These are not only words of patience and perseverance… but of hope. I don’t know why some people are born into poverty… but I know plenty who have worked their way out of it. I don’t know why some babies are born with birth defects and physical deformities… but I know those who have lived rich, full lives in spite of their afflictions. I don’t know why God allows “bad things to happen to good people,” but I can’t count the people I know who have “made lemons out of lemonade” – with God’s help and patient perseverance. I don’t know why some things have to be so hard… but I know that practice makes better musicians, workouts make better athletes, and studying makes better scholars. “It’s not how you start… it’s how you finish.”
We so often want to question God… and to blame Him. “God made me this way,” becomes a crutch rather than a fact. God may have made you a certain way… but that doesn’t mean He intended for you to finish the same as you began! God wants us to take what He has given us… what He allows to happen in our lives… and to faithfully and patiently call on His strength and power to do the very best we can with what we have been given. So as I read an interview with NBC television host Kathie Lee Gifford where she talked of her sister’s bout with colitis at age 23, I paid attention to the sister’s attitude. Gifford was ready to be angry with God because her sister, a new mother at the time, had to be fitted with a colostomy bag. She was heartbroken and bitter that her sister would have to wear this bag for the rest of her life. Her sister, however, said, “Because of this bag God gave me, I get to see my daughter grow up.” Now that’s patience, perseverance – and the right perspective - in action. That’s focusing on how you finish rather than how you start!
I have no idea what God has allowed in your life… or where you started. I don’t know where you are today, but I know you don’t have to stay there if you are dissatisfied or not living life to your fullest potential. I can’t say that God will make every poor person rich… or heal every sick person…because our lives are not that “black and white.” But what I can promise is that God stands ready to help you make the absolute most of your life and its circumstances… if only you will call on Him to help you. He will provide you with strength, courage, fortitude, and patience for the journey. He will help you finish strong! The adage really is true… “It’s not how you start… it’s how you finish.” Where does this leave you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?”
No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“It’s not how you start… it’s how you finish.” I have to admit, when I heard my friend Steve, the high school athletic director/head football coach, tell his elementary-school-aged son this one spring Saturday, I thought for a moment… “Well there’s a cliché if ever I heard one!” I’m sure he tells his football team this throughout the year… but just how relevant was this comment for a young boy? As I read this scripture passage today, I realized that these words are incredibly relevant… a phrase that we should drill into our children from an early age… and remember well into our adulthood.
These are not only words of patience and perseverance… but of hope. I don’t know why some people are born into poverty… but I know plenty who have worked their way out of it. I don’t know why some babies are born with birth defects and physical deformities… but I know those who have lived rich, full lives in spite of their afflictions. I don’t know why God allows “bad things to happen to good people,” but I can’t count the people I know who have “made lemons out of lemonade” – with God’s help and patient perseverance. I don’t know why some things have to be so hard… but I know that practice makes better musicians, workouts make better athletes, and studying makes better scholars. “It’s not how you start… it’s how you finish.”
We so often want to question God… and to blame Him. “God made me this way,” becomes a crutch rather than a fact. God may have made you a certain way… but that doesn’t mean He intended for you to finish the same as you began! God wants us to take what He has given us… what He allows to happen in our lives… and to faithfully and patiently call on His strength and power to do the very best we can with what we have been given. So as I read an interview with NBC television host Kathie Lee Gifford where she talked of her sister’s bout with colitis at age 23, I paid attention to the sister’s attitude. Gifford was ready to be angry with God because her sister, a new mother at the time, had to be fitted with a colostomy bag. She was heartbroken and bitter that her sister would have to wear this bag for the rest of her life. Her sister, however, said, “Because of this bag God gave me, I get to see my daughter grow up.” Now that’s patience, perseverance – and the right perspective - in action. That’s focusing on how you finish rather than how you start!
I have no idea what God has allowed in your life… or where you started. I don’t know where you are today, but I know you don’t have to stay there if you are dissatisfied or not living life to your fullest potential. I can’t say that God will make every poor person rich… or heal every sick person…because our lives are not that “black and white.” But what I can promise is that God stands ready to help you make the absolute most of your life and its circumstances… if only you will call on Him to help you. He will provide you with strength, courage, fortitude, and patience for the journey. He will help you finish strong! The adage really is true… “It’s not how you start… it’s how you finish.” Where does this leave you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 6, 2013
June 6 ~ Romans 8:23-25
And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy is at that age where surprises are fun… if he gets them right away. We will tell him, “We have a surprise for you when we get home,” and he will ask, “What is it?” You know how this goes… we reply, “We can’t tell you, or it won’t be a surprise!” He retorts, “But I have to know now! Please tell me!” He wiggles and squirms and whines and begs… hoping we will relent and share the news.
Every single one of us understands the concept of waiting for something big. We’ve waited for Santa Claus to come on Christmas Eve… we’ve waited for birthdays and the ensuing parties and gifts. Most of us have waited for graduations and the beginnings of a new job. Some of us have waited for wedding proposals – and the actual wedding day, the births of our children, and a move into a new home. Still others have waited for things like the arrival of a new car or motorcycle… or some sort of special delivery in the mail. And others have even waited for and anticipated healing… relief from pain or suffering…the removal of a cast or stitches…or even a release from some sort of bondage or incarceration – whether literal or emotional.
We are equipped to handle waiting… though many of us do this very poorly. We have the capacity to handle this with grace and patience… yet many will fuss and fidget, wring their hands, and work themselves into a tizzy. Like Timothy and countless other small children, we need to receive whatever it is we are anticipating… and we need it now! And just like the adage that “good things come to those who wait,” we must learn to be patient and wait on the LORD’s coming… or the day when He greets us face-to-face in Heaven.
I understand that this may not seem all that tantamount to you if you are a young person… someone who still seems to have a whole lifetime of things to anticipate and enjoy in the future. I was the same way… and I still enjoy my earthly life. I still anticipate new experiences and adventures… especially the growth and progress of my nieces, nephews, and other young friends. God wants us to appreciate our life in Him for the time we are given on this earth. But the older I get… the more of my loved ones who join Jesus in heaven… the more I think about heaven for myself. And I find myself awaiting the day.
Don’t misunderstand me… I’m not eager to depart for Eternity! Let’s just say I’m confident that I will get there… and I am not afraid to go! When my grandmother was in her last months, she began to say, “I don’t know why I’m living so long.” She so anticipated heaven… she longed to be there and have a new body that gave her physical mobility and the capability of unimpeded speech. I kept reminding her that God still had work for her to do here. People needed her ministry. I don’t know who or how many… but I saw evidence of the lives she influenced to her dying breath and beyond. And it’s the same for us. We have work to do here on earth. God has given us so many blessings in this lifetime… but He has called us to minister in His name, also.
So go… live… enjoy your life – every day of it. When troubles come, figure out how to use them for God’s purposes. Follow the countless examples you have around you of people who have worshipped and served God even in the midst of incredible challenges - with patience and grace - as they waited for Him to call them to heaven. God has a “big surprise” for you… a mansion that is beyond your wildest dreams! But He won’t reveal it to you until the time is right. Like a four-year-old little boy, you will have to wait. The key question is… “How will you spend your ‘waiting time’?” Your answer… how patiently you wait… matters. What do you have to say for yourself?
©2013 Debbie Robus
And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy is at that age where surprises are fun… if he gets them right away. We will tell him, “We have a surprise for you when we get home,” and he will ask, “What is it?” You know how this goes… we reply, “We can’t tell you, or it won’t be a surprise!” He retorts, “But I have to know now! Please tell me!” He wiggles and squirms and whines and begs… hoping we will relent and share the news.
Every single one of us understands the concept of waiting for something big. We’ve waited for Santa Claus to come on Christmas Eve… we’ve waited for birthdays and the ensuing parties and gifts. Most of us have waited for graduations and the beginnings of a new job. Some of us have waited for wedding proposals – and the actual wedding day, the births of our children, and a move into a new home. Still others have waited for things like the arrival of a new car or motorcycle… or some sort of special delivery in the mail. And others have even waited for and anticipated healing… relief from pain or suffering…the removal of a cast or stitches…or even a release from some sort of bondage or incarceration – whether literal or emotional.
We are equipped to handle waiting… though many of us do this very poorly. We have the capacity to handle this with grace and patience… yet many will fuss and fidget, wring their hands, and work themselves into a tizzy. Like Timothy and countless other small children, we need to receive whatever it is we are anticipating… and we need it now! And just like the adage that “good things come to those who wait,” we must learn to be patient and wait on the LORD’s coming… or the day when He greets us face-to-face in Heaven.
I understand that this may not seem all that tantamount to you if you are a young person… someone who still seems to have a whole lifetime of things to anticipate and enjoy in the future. I was the same way… and I still enjoy my earthly life. I still anticipate new experiences and adventures… especially the growth and progress of my nieces, nephews, and other young friends. God wants us to appreciate our life in Him for the time we are given on this earth. But the older I get… the more of my loved ones who join Jesus in heaven… the more I think about heaven for myself. And I find myself awaiting the day.
Don’t misunderstand me… I’m not eager to depart for Eternity! Let’s just say I’m confident that I will get there… and I am not afraid to go! When my grandmother was in her last months, she began to say, “I don’t know why I’m living so long.” She so anticipated heaven… she longed to be there and have a new body that gave her physical mobility and the capability of unimpeded speech. I kept reminding her that God still had work for her to do here. People needed her ministry. I don’t know who or how many… but I saw evidence of the lives she influenced to her dying breath and beyond. And it’s the same for us. We have work to do here on earth. God has given us so many blessings in this lifetime… but He has called us to minister in His name, also.
So go… live… enjoy your life – every day of it. When troubles come, figure out how to use them for God’s purposes. Follow the countless examples you have around you of people who have worshipped and served God even in the midst of incredible challenges - with patience and grace - as they waited for Him to call them to heaven. God has a “big surprise” for you… a mansion that is beyond your wildest dreams! But He won’t reveal it to you until the time is right. Like a four-year-old little boy, you will have to wait. The key question is… “How will you spend your ‘waiting time’?” Your answer… how patiently you wait… matters. What do you have to say for yourself?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 1, 2013
Revelation 13:10
Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.
This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I often end these devotionals with the question… “What are you waiting for?” Today, I want to pose this question again… but not in the context of “What is taking you so long?”… but rather, “What are you waiting for?” Some of us are waiting for a life event… a wedding, the birth of a baby… or even the death of a loved one. Still others are waiting on a new job, a new house, or that high school or college diploma. Even more are waiting on something less tangible…a relationship change… the loss of that last few pounds or inches… or even the check in the mail from a major sweepstakes that we know isn’t really coming (but we dream big anyway!).
We are all waiting on something, whether we realize it or not. Along the way, “life” happens… joys, sorrows, seasons of growth and great prosperity… and those of illness, despair, and deep despondency. There are times when we wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” – or even “Where is God?” There are times when everything seems to go right, and we feel the presence and blessings of God so profoundly…and “Life is Good,” as the t-shirt proclaims. Then there are times when everything falls apart… when we may or may not feel God’s presence… and life seems anything but good. And many of us give up – at least temporarily – on God.
Regardless of the “season,” our job as Christians is to keep on waiting… to continue to call on God to draw near to us, guide our steps and protect our course… and to keep believing that He will do exactly this. On any given day, you or I could find ourselves at the top of the heap, so to speak… or buried at the bottom. We could feel incredibly protected and euphoric… or persecuted and disheartened. But still… we wait.
We wait for God to come to us… to show us His perfect wisdom and designs for our life. We trust that He will never leave us… we remain faithful to Him and believe in His power as our God of answered prayers and fulfilled promises. This week, a lifelong friend of mine buried his father. At the funeral, he said his dad had compared his future to that of the Apostle Paul… if he stayed on this earth and got to enjoy his children and grandchildren – great! If God called him to heaven to be with his wife, parents, and others who preceded him… to sit daily at the feet of Jesus for the rest of eternity – even better! Either way, he was a winner. And so he waited. And with perfect timing and precision, God called him home a few days ago.
So my question today is once again, “What are you waiting for?” What are you anticipating… how are you meeting the challenges and the “ups and downs” of each and every minute of the day? Do you “count it all gain” like the Apostle Paul and my friend’s dad? Or do you find that you often question the events that shape your day? Are you waiting on God’s answers? Are you eagerly anticipating how He will create beauty out of chaos… and basking in the blessings He gives you on a “good day?” Again I ask… “What are you waiting for?” How you answer makes all the difference.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.
This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I often end these devotionals with the question… “What are you waiting for?” Today, I want to pose this question again… but not in the context of “What is taking you so long?”… but rather, “What are you waiting for?” Some of us are waiting for a life event… a wedding, the birth of a baby… or even the death of a loved one. Still others are waiting on a new job, a new house, or that high school or college diploma. Even more are waiting on something less tangible…a relationship change… the loss of that last few pounds or inches… or even the check in the mail from a major sweepstakes that we know isn’t really coming (but we dream big anyway!).
We are all waiting on something, whether we realize it or not. Along the way, “life” happens… joys, sorrows, seasons of growth and great prosperity… and those of illness, despair, and deep despondency. There are times when we wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” – or even “Where is God?” There are times when everything seems to go right, and we feel the presence and blessings of God so profoundly…and “Life is Good,” as the t-shirt proclaims. Then there are times when everything falls apart… when we may or may not feel God’s presence… and life seems anything but good. And many of us give up – at least temporarily – on God.
Regardless of the “season,” our job as Christians is to keep on waiting… to continue to call on God to draw near to us, guide our steps and protect our course… and to keep believing that He will do exactly this. On any given day, you or I could find ourselves at the top of the heap, so to speak… or buried at the bottom. We could feel incredibly protected and euphoric… or persecuted and disheartened. But still… we wait.
We wait for God to come to us… to show us His perfect wisdom and designs for our life. We trust that He will never leave us… we remain faithful to Him and believe in His power as our God of answered prayers and fulfilled promises. This week, a lifelong friend of mine buried his father. At the funeral, he said his dad had compared his future to that of the Apostle Paul… if he stayed on this earth and got to enjoy his children and grandchildren – great! If God called him to heaven to be with his wife, parents, and others who preceded him… to sit daily at the feet of Jesus for the rest of eternity – even better! Either way, he was a winner. And so he waited. And with perfect timing and precision, God called him home a few days ago.
So my question today is once again, “What are you waiting for?” What are you anticipating… how are you meeting the challenges and the “ups and downs” of each and every minute of the day? Do you “count it all gain” like the Apostle Paul and my friend’s dad? Or do you find that you often question the events that shape your day? Are you waiting on God’s answers? Are you eagerly anticipating how He will create beauty out of chaos… and basking in the blessings He gives you on a “good day?” Again I ask… “What are you waiting for?” How you answer makes all the difference.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 31, 2103
Psalm 86:15
But you, O God, are both tender and kind,
not easily angered, immense in love,
and you never, never quit.
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.
Today, our little great-niece Zola celebrated her second birthday. My husband and I took gifts to her this morning and spent some time playing with all three children… Timothy, Zola and Nathan… and visiting with their mom. One of Zola’s gifts was a new shirt that says “Little Sister” and a ruffled skirt to match. Zola promptly had her mom help her change shirts so that she could wear the new one… but she didn’t really think about the skirt for another twenty minutes or so. When she rediscovered it, she decided to put it on… over the shorts she was already wearing!
We all watched as she struggled… first taking off her shoes… then trying to put the skirt on upside down… then turning it over in the right direction and pushing her feet through the bloomers that were attached. Then she tried to stand up! Finally, Zola was able to stand to her feet, but she could not get the skirt pulled up completely over the other pair of shorts she was wearing. But she never quit. She kept trying until they were fairly well in place… and her mother helped her get them fixed the rest of the way.
I have mixed emotions as I watch these little ones do things for themselves. I love them so much I can’t explain it. I want so badly to jump in and help…to do things for them…to give them that little boost they need to get over the hump. And sometimes, when I am frustrated with their frustration… or they won’t stop crying and take their nap… or it’s “one of those days” and they have multiple meltdowns… I want to throw up my hands and walk away. It would be so easy to call their mom and say, “Here… you can have them back! I’ll let you deal with this! Call me when they are 25!” But I keep trying to soothe ruffled feelings… I keep rocking a crying baby and hoping he/she will settle down and drift off to a peaceful slumber. I wait and watch and marvel at how they figure out things and grow and learn – even from their mistakes.
God does the same thing with us… on a far grander scale. He must be so tempted to walk away and give up on us… probably many times each day! He must be terribly frustrated as He watches us fumble and bumble our way through life. It must be all He can do not to simply do things for us and make everything right when we are confused or struggling. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for Him to watch us falter and fail… knowing we need to learn from our mistakes – but hurting for us all the same. But God never quits. He never stops loving us… never turns His back and walks away. We test His patience and try his resolve… we insult Him, disrespect Him, and cause His heart to break… and still He offers us love, kindness, and tender mercy.
I wonder… do we really stop to consider how patient God is with us? Do we use His example as a model for how we treat our own children, friends, family members, and acquaintances? Do we offer the same tender kindness and love to others that God extends to us? Do we see that we are often God’s two-year-old trying to put on a skirt over our shorts?
Every single one of us has moments of frustration and impatience. And each of us has the perfect example of what to do in these situations… and what not to do! Stop and consider God’s longsuffering patience, love, kindness and mercy toward you. Thank Him for being so enduring and tolerant… for His tenderness and understanding. Learn from His rhythms and offer hefty doses of these traits to everyone you encounter. God will never, ever quit caring about you… pursuing you… nurturing you. What will you learn from Him? Will others see these qualities in you? Shouldn’t they?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But you, O God, are both tender and kind,
not easily angered, immense in love,
and you never, never quit.
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.
Today, our little great-niece Zola celebrated her second birthday. My husband and I took gifts to her this morning and spent some time playing with all three children… Timothy, Zola and Nathan… and visiting with their mom. One of Zola’s gifts was a new shirt that says “Little Sister” and a ruffled skirt to match. Zola promptly had her mom help her change shirts so that she could wear the new one… but she didn’t really think about the skirt for another twenty minutes or so. When she rediscovered it, she decided to put it on… over the shorts she was already wearing!
We all watched as she struggled… first taking off her shoes… then trying to put the skirt on upside down… then turning it over in the right direction and pushing her feet through the bloomers that were attached. Then she tried to stand up! Finally, Zola was able to stand to her feet, but she could not get the skirt pulled up completely over the other pair of shorts she was wearing. But she never quit. She kept trying until they were fairly well in place… and her mother helped her get them fixed the rest of the way.
I have mixed emotions as I watch these little ones do things for themselves. I love them so much I can’t explain it. I want so badly to jump in and help…to do things for them…to give them that little boost they need to get over the hump. And sometimes, when I am frustrated with their frustration… or they won’t stop crying and take their nap… or it’s “one of those days” and they have multiple meltdowns… I want to throw up my hands and walk away. It would be so easy to call their mom and say, “Here… you can have them back! I’ll let you deal with this! Call me when they are 25!” But I keep trying to soothe ruffled feelings… I keep rocking a crying baby and hoping he/she will settle down and drift off to a peaceful slumber. I wait and watch and marvel at how they figure out things and grow and learn – even from their mistakes.
God does the same thing with us… on a far grander scale. He must be so tempted to walk away and give up on us… probably many times each day! He must be terribly frustrated as He watches us fumble and bumble our way through life. It must be all He can do not to simply do things for us and make everything right when we are confused or struggling. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for Him to watch us falter and fail… knowing we need to learn from our mistakes – but hurting for us all the same. But God never quits. He never stops loving us… never turns His back and walks away. We test His patience and try his resolve… we insult Him, disrespect Him, and cause His heart to break… and still He offers us love, kindness, and tender mercy.
I wonder… do we really stop to consider how patient God is with us? Do we use His example as a model for how we treat our own children, friends, family members, and acquaintances? Do we offer the same tender kindness and love to others that God extends to us? Do we see that we are often God’s two-year-old trying to put on a skirt over our shorts?
Every single one of us has moments of frustration and impatience. And each of us has the perfect example of what to do in these situations… and what not to do! Stop and consider God’s longsuffering patience, love, kindness and mercy toward you. Thank Him for being so enduring and tolerant… for His tenderness and understanding. Learn from His rhythms and offer hefty doses of these traits to everyone you encounter. God will never, ever quit caring about you… pursuing you… nurturing you. What will you learn from Him? Will others see these qualities in you? Shouldn’t they?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 30, 2013
May 30 ~ Psalm 40:1
I waited and waited and waited for God.
At last he looked; finally he listened.
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.
Two years ago, my husband and I attended a James Taylor concert in North Little Rock. Believe it or not, I discovered there are people who don’t know who James Taylor is… so if you are one of these folks, James Taylor is an international icon in the world of pop music. This singer-songwriter’s albums were incredibly popular when my husband and I were dating and attending college… and he still has a world-wide following today. Such notable hits as “Fire and Rain,” “Mexico,” Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend,” and “Copper Line” have stood the test of time and are still sung and widely recognized today.
What is incredible to me is that we had never attended one of James Taylor’s concerts until two years ago. We were able to obtain second-row seats on the floor with a birds-eye view of Taylor and the band. We sat next to veteran attendees of James Taylor’s concerts who told us, “He will sign autographs during intermission.”
We found this hard to believe, but the couple next to us had their items and a Sharpie® marker ready to go. So we started wondering… “What could we ask him to sign?” We had not brought any album covers… or a magazine like our seat neighbors. We had nothing. Then it hit me… I could have him sign the denim jean jacket I was wearing. I had a waterproof black marker in my purse. I would take off my jacket during intermission and see if James Taylor would sign it.
When the break came, I walked to the front of the stage and stood next to the man who had been sitting next to us. We were standing almost dead-center in front. James Taylor came out and started at one end of the stage, signing all sorts of items as he made his way toward us. But the time was short, and the crowd was huge. I convinced myself long before he made it near us that we would not be successful. Surely James would say, “That’s it, guys! I have a concert to perform,” and he would dismiss us. But he kept signing, and as he neared us, my very tall seat-neighbor grabbed my jacket and put it with his magazine and handed them to the performer.
James Taylor took my marker and my jacket and looked at me with a shrug and a grimace as if to say, “I’m not sure how I’m going to do this.” Then he crooked one knee, knelt, and placed the back yoke of my jacket across his leg…and signed his name. James Taylor had looked at last… and he had “listened”… and now I am the proud owner of a jacket with his signature!
Now I in no way compare James Taylor to God. But how many times have you been “in line” so to speak… trying to get God’s attention… waiting… and waiting… and waiting? And just about the time you were ready to give up… just when you felt like God was simply not noticing you… He answered! What is the take-away from this? Keep praying! Keep asking God… and believing He sees and hears you! I know it seems like He will never answer. I know you feel like things won’t ever change. But that is simply not how God operates!
Will God respond on our time-table… and exactly as we expect? Possibly… but most likely, the schedule will be totally different… and the outcome may be very dissimilar to what we wanted. But I assure you, everything will be perfect. Last Christmas, as I prayed for my grandmother, I begged God to let her go “home” for Christmas… to be in heaven where she longed to see Him and her friends and family members who preceded her. She was tired, sick, and so weary. Christmas came and went… and my grandmother lived. Then a dear friend and tablemate died, and my grandmother sobbed uncontrollably and asked, “Why not me? Why not me?”… and again, I asked, “LORD, why not her?” And then one morning in early March, the nurse called to say, “We cannot wake Mrs. Polly.” A little more than 36 hours later, she was “home.”
Now I see that God afforded all of us a happy Christmas holiday with my grandmother… and with our other family members, including my little nephews and niece who are just beginning to understand what Christmas is about. I see that God chose a time for my grandmother to die when there were not a million other things that I needed to do… a time when I could focus on all of the things that must be attended to when someone dies. I don’t have room in this devotional to share all of the ways God orchestrated things perfectly for that single event. While the death of a dear loved one is significant, it is still one single event in a world of zillions of occurrences that God choreographs every minute of every day!
Had I given up and sat down before James Taylor got to me in the line… or had he truly stopped signing autographs and returned to the second act (as a grumbling crowd persuaded him to do at one point)… the world would not have come to an end. But when we give up on God before He answers, we truly miss out on some incredible blessings. When we fail to yield to His timetable and exercise patience, we may miss some of the subtle brushstrokes in His painting of our lives… and that would truly be a shame.
Keep waiting… and waiting… and waiting. God does see you… He is listening… and He will answer. Make sure you stick around to hear what He has to say!
©2013 Debbie Robus
I waited and waited and waited for God.
At last he looked; finally he listened.
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.
Two years ago, my husband and I attended a James Taylor concert in North Little Rock. Believe it or not, I discovered there are people who don’t know who James Taylor is… so if you are one of these folks, James Taylor is an international icon in the world of pop music. This singer-songwriter’s albums were incredibly popular when my husband and I were dating and attending college… and he still has a world-wide following today. Such notable hits as “Fire and Rain,” “Mexico,” Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend,” and “Copper Line” have stood the test of time and are still sung and widely recognized today.
What is incredible to me is that we had never attended one of James Taylor’s concerts until two years ago. We were able to obtain second-row seats on the floor with a birds-eye view of Taylor and the band. We sat next to veteran attendees of James Taylor’s concerts who told us, “He will sign autographs during intermission.”
We found this hard to believe, but the couple next to us had their items and a Sharpie® marker ready to go. So we started wondering… “What could we ask him to sign?” We had not brought any album covers… or a magazine like our seat neighbors. We had nothing. Then it hit me… I could have him sign the denim jean jacket I was wearing. I had a waterproof black marker in my purse. I would take off my jacket during intermission and see if James Taylor would sign it.
When the break came, I walked to the front of the stage and stood next to the man who had been sitting next to us. We were standing almost dead-center in front. James Taylor came out and started at one end of the stage, signing all sorts of items as he made his way toward us. But the time was short, and the crowd was huge. I convinced myself long before he made it near us that we would not be successful. Surely James would say, “That’s it, guys! I have a concert to perform,” and he would dismiss us. But he kept signing, and as he neared us, my very tall seat-neighbor grabbed my jacket and put it with his magazine and handed them to the performer.
James Taylor took my marker and my jacket and looked at me with a shrug and a grimace as if to say, “I’m not sure how I’m going to do this.” Then he crooked one knee, knelt, and placed the back yoke of my jacket across his leg…and signed his name. James Taylor had looked at last… and he had “listened”… and now I am the proud owner of a jacket with his signature!
Now I in no way compare James Taylor to God. But how many times have you been “in line” so to speak… trying to get God’s attention… waiting… and waiting… and waiting? And just about the time you were ready to give up… just when you felt like God was simply not noticing you… He answered! What is the take-away from this? Keep praying! Keep asking God… and believing He sees and hears you! I know it seems like He will never answer. I know you feel like things won’t ever change. But that is simply not how God operates!
Will God respond on our time-table… and exactly as we expect? Possibly… but most likely, the schedule will be totally different… and the outcome may be very dissimilar to what we wanted. But I assure you, everything will be perfect. Last Christmas, as I prayed for my grandmother, I begged God to let her go “home” for Christmas… to be in heaven where she longed to see Him and her friends and family members who preceded her. She was tired, sick, and so weary. Christmas came and went… and my grandmother lived. Then a dear friend and tablemate died, and my grandmother sobbed uncontrollably and asked, “Why not me? Why not me?”… and again, I asked, “LORD, why not her?” And then one morning in early March, the nurse called to say, “We cannot wake Mrs. Polly.” A little more than 36 hours later, she was “home.”
Now I see that God afforded all of us a happy Christmas holiday with my grandmother… and with our other family members, including my little nephews and niece who are just beginning to understand what Christmas is about. I see that God chose a time for my grandmother to die when there were not a million other things that I needed to do… a time when I could focus on all of the things that must be attended to when someone dies. I don’t have room in this devotional to share all of the ways God orchestrated things perfectly for that single event. While the death of a dear loved one is significant, it is still one single event in a world of zillions of occurrences that God choreographs every minute of every day!
Had I given up and sat down before James Taylor got to me in the line… or had he truly stopped signing autographs and returned to the second act (as a grumbling crowd persuaded him to do at one point)… the world would not have come to an end. But when we give up on God before He answers, we truly miss out on some incredible blessings. When we fail to yield to His timetable and exercise patience, we may miss some of the subtle brushstrokes in His painting of our lives… and that would truly be a shame.
Keep waiting… and waiting… and waiting. God does see you… He is listening… and He will answer. Make sure you stick around to hear what He has to say!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 27, 2013
Nahum 1:2-3
God is serious business.
He won’t be trifled with.
He avenges his foes.
He stands up against his enemies, fierce and raging.
But God doesn’t lose his temper.
He’s powerful, but it’s a patient power.
Still, no one gets by with anything.
Sooner or later, everyone pays.
Tornadoes and hurricanes
are the wake of his passage,
Storm clouds are the dust
he shakes off his feet.
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.
From our living room windows, we can see boaters and skiers on Greers Ferry Lake. The larger boats create powerful wakes as they barrel across the water. If you have ever water skied, you know about a boat’s wake…how the motor churns up the water and causes it to ripple like a ribbon that trails behind. If you stay in the middle of that trail – centered on the wake – you have fairly smooth skiing. But if you venture out over the edges where the water curls in mini-waves, you’d better know what you are doing!
I like the analogy of this translation from Nahum… the thought that when God becomes angry, upset or disappointed with us, His power is evident - but patient. He doesn’t bring tornadoes, hurricanes and storms to punish us… but their strength and power are a solid comparison to how intensely – and seriously – He takes our disobedience and disrespect. If you think about storm debris as the dust from God stomping His feet, you get a pretty good idea of how deeply He cares… how passionate He is about our relationship.
I wonder… are we as passionate about our relationship with God? Do we take our covenant seriously? Do we extend to others the same love and care that is offered to us? Are we patient with them? Are we firm in our insistence that relationships be respectful and fair to all parties… but long-suffering when others disappoint – just as God is toward us? Are we quick to operate in “tornadoes, hurricanes and storm clouds”… or do we show grace, mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness?
I have no desire to experience the “storm cloud power” of God in my own life. In fact, I am doing all I can to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him and does not try His patience – although I know I fall short of this many times each day. My goal is not to avoid God’s wrath… but rather to enjoy His pleasure – and His companionship. And in much the same way, there may be people in your life whom you tiptoe around…spending your time avoiding their anger, frustration and general unpleasantness instead of relishing a joyful, loving connection.
None of this is God’s desire for us. Ask Him today to show you where and how to take positive steps toward operating in fellowship with Him… and with others. Let God show you how to create an atmosphere in which sweet communion is the order of the day… where you ride the middle of the wake and avoid the pitfalls and perils of the edges. Develop a bond with God where His power is both present and patient – in your relationship with Him and with others.
©2013 Debbie Robus
God is serious business.
He won’t be trifled with.
He avenges his foes.
He stands up against his enemies, fierce and raging.
But God doesn’t lose his temper.
He’s powerful, but it’s a patient power.
Still, no one gets by with anything.
Sooner or later, everyone pays.
Tornadoes and hurricanes
are the wake of his passage,
Storm clouds are the dust
he shakes off his feet.
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.
From our living room windows, we can see boaters and skiers on Greers Ferry Lake. The larger boats create powerful wakes as they barrel across the water. If you have ever water skied, you know about a boat’s wake…how the motor churns up the water and causes it to ripple like a ribbon that trails behind. If you stay in the middle of that trail – centered on the wake – you have fairly smooth skiing. But if you venture out over the edges where the water curls in mini-waves, you’d better know what you are doing!
I like the analogy of this translation from Nahum… the thought that when God becomes angry, upset or disappointed with us, His power is evident - but patient. He doesn’t bring tornadoes, hurricanes and storms to punish us… but their strength and power are a solid comparison to how intensely – and seriously – He takes our disobedience and disrespect. If you think about storm debris as the dust from God stomping His feet, you get a pretty good idea of how deeply He cares… how passionate He is about our relationship.
I wonder… are we as passionate about our relationship with God? Do we take our covenant seriously? Do we extend to others the same love and care that is offered to us? Are we patient with them? Are we firm in our insistence that relationships be respectful and fair to all parties… but long-suffering when others disappoint – just as God is toward us? Are we quick to operate in “tornadoes, hurricanes and storm clouds”… or do we show grace, mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness?
I have no desire to experience the “storm cloud power” of God in my own life. In fact, I am doing all I can to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him and does not try His patience – although I know I fall short of this many times each day. My goal is not to avoid God’s wrath… but rather to enjoy His pleasure – and His companionship. And in much the same way, there may be people in your life whom you tiptoe around…spending your time avoiding their anger, frustration and general unpleasantness instead of relishing a joyful, loving connection.
None of this is God’s desire for us. Ask Him today to show you where and how to take positive steps toward operating in fellowship with Him… and with others. Let God show you how to create an atmosphere in which sweet communion is the order of the day… where you ride the middle of the wake and avoid the pitfalls and perils of the edges. Develop a bond with God where His power is both present and patient – in your relationship with Him and with others.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 26, 2013
May 26 ~ Matthew 25:41-43
“Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’
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.
Last week, for the first time since my grandmother’s death more than a couple of months ago, I returned to the assisted living facility where she had resided. I visit with several residents and staff members there… many who have been lifelong dear friends. One man told me, “You missed my birthday! I’ve gotten a year older since you were here last.” He celebrated 95 years on May 18th, and clearly, it was important to him that we acknowledge this milestone . Another man, whom I only know as an acquaintance, told me that his wife passed away eleven days after my grandmother died. I had no idea that this had happened, and I spent a few minutes offering my condolences to him - and remembering her. Still others were eager to hug me and tell me how much they miss my grandmother – and how glad they were to see me. I promised to visit again… and I will.
There was a time in my life where I made giant “to-do” lists. I spent hours/days/weeks/months trying to accomplish everything on the lists. I set schedules and mental deadlines… and when things didn’t happen as they should, I beat myself up pretty badly over it all. If only I were more organized… more focused. Could I sleep less… or skip over something that was less significant? Many days, I hurriedly moved from one task to the next… eager to mark things off the list – and often more concerned with this than the quality of my work!
It took a long time, but I finally realized that a lot of the things on my list were never all that important in the first place… except in my own mind. Just because I say I’m going to clean the house on Tuesday doesn’t mean I can’t postpone these tasks in favor of a day trip with my husband – or a trip to the park with Timothy, Zola and Nathan. It won’t be the end of the world if someone drops by and my house is not spotless! When I get sick or someone needs my help and I don’t find time to write this daily devotional, the world will not fall apart!
If I never get all of my photos organized, closets cleaned, and all of those old greeting cards recycled into new ones, life will continue. The fabrics calling to me from my “stash” may or may not become cute outfits for my little ones… but they will not go naked. Thanks to restaurants and “take-out,” we will not go hungry if meals aren’t prepared… and there is nothing wrong with an occasional bowl of cereal for dinner!
On the other hand, these little ones won’t be little forever. The opportunities to nurture and mold them - and teach them about the love, grace, mercy and tender care of Jesus - will wane as they grow…and outgrow us in the process! The opportunities to visit elderly friends and loved ones will not last. The tray of cookies or a hot casserole we deliver to a family going through a crisis will have a far bigger impact than missing a hot meal on our own table for one night. Skipping an afternoon on the couch channel surfing in favor of a visit to someone who is house-bound – or in the hospital or in jail – will be far more impactful in the long run. Working at the local soup kitchen or volunteering for a church or community event will mean more than getting your car washed, that shopping trip you were anticipating, or hanging out at the lake with your friends. Taking time to write a note of encouragement – or thanks – or to drop someone an e-mail just to let them know you love them is more important than spending a half hour playing Angry Birds, Words with Friends, or Farmville!
Don’t misunderstand me… keeping things in order – keeping your homes, yard and vehicles clean…spending time with friends and family members… and even resting… are all important. It’s great to have hobbies and goals. But too many of us have become slaves to our schedules… and in doing so, we have become like “worthless goats” rather than Disciples who please God with our service and witness. We have placed our focus on things that are short-term. We are impatient. We cannot see the bigger picture and how what we are doing now relates to God’s overall plan.
When I was visiting with the man at my grandmother’s facility who was recently widowed, he shared a compelling analogy with me. He said someone had told him that God’s love and plans for us can be compared to a father and son who are standing behind a fence watching a parade. The father is tall enough to look over the fence and see the entire parade, from beginning to end. The son can only peer through a knothole in the fence. He only sees what advances in front of him. He cannot see the entire length of the parade until it passes before him. This is a great description of our life in Christ. He sees the entire parade… we only see the limited view from our “knothole.” And often, we grow impatient… weary… bored and/or disgruntled… and too often, we move away and focus on our own personal agendas.
The time has come to stand still and wait for the entire parade. We must re-evaluate our priorities and our “to-do” lists. We need to spend time in prayer and meditation and ask God, “Is this really where you want me to expend my efforts and energy?” When God presents us with an unexpected task or opportunity, we need to be prepared to say, “Sign me up! I’m ready!” - knowing that His plan will be far superior to our own.
In most instances, God’s “parade” looks altogether different than ours… but His is so much better! If we follow God’s “parade,” He will grant us plenty of time for many of the things that we want to do. If we are patient – and obedient – He will grant us plenty of opportunities for the things we feel are significant – and fun. Won’t you ask Him to show you where you need to rearrange your priorities and your “lists”? Are you ready to exchange your “worthless goat” agenda for the blessings and joy that come from His approval? Will this be the day that you start to trust God for the “whole parade”… or will you continue to live with a “knothole” view?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’
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.
Last week, for the first time since my grandmother’s death more than a couple of months ago, I returned to the assisted living facility where she had resided. I visit with several residents and staff members there… many who have been lifelong dear friends. One man told me, “You missed my birthday! I’ve gotten a year older since you were here last.” He celebrated 95 years on May 18th, and clearly, it was important to him that we acknowledge this milestone . Another man, whom I only know as an acquaintance, told me that his wife passed away eleven days after my grandmother died. I had no idea that this had happened, and I spent a few minutes offering my condolences to him - and remembering her. Still others were eager to hug me and tell me how much they miss my grandmother – and how glad they were to see me. I promised to visit again… and I will.
There was a time in my life where I made giant “to-do” lists. I spent hours/days/weeks/months trying to accomplish everything on the lists. I set schedules and mental deadlines… and when things didn’t happen as they should, I beat myself up pretty badly over it all. If only I were more organized… more focused. Could I sleep less… or skip over something that was less significant? Many days, I hurriedly moved from one task to the next… eager to mark things off the list – and often more concerned with this than the quality of my work!
It took a long time, but I finally realized that a lot of the things on my list were never all that important in the first place… except in my own mind. Just because I say I’m going to clean the house on Tuesday doesn’t mean I can’t postpone these tasks in favor of a day trip with my husband – or a trip to the park with Timothy, Zola and Nathan. It won’t be the end of the world if someone drops by and my house is not spotless! When I get sick or someone needs my help and I don’t find time to write this daily devotional, the world will not fall apart!
If I never get all of my photos organized, closets cleaned, and all of those old greeting cards recycled into new ones, life will continue. The fabrics calling to me from my “stash” may or may not become cute outfits for my little ones… but they will not go naked. Thanks to restaurants and “take-out,” we will not go hungry if meals aren’t prepared… and there is nothing wrong with an occasional bowl of cereal for dinner!
On the other hand, these little ones won’t be little forever. The opportunities to nurture and mold them - and teach them about the love, grace, mercy and tender care of Jesus - will wane as they grow…and outgrow us in the process! The opportunities to visit elderly friends and loved ones will not last. The tray of cookies or a hot casserole we deliver to a family going through a crisis will have a far bigger impact than missing a hot meal on our own table for one night. Skipping an afternoon on the couch channel surfing in favor of a visit to someone who is house-bound – or in the hospital or in jail – will be far more impactful in the long run. Working at the local soup kitchen or volunteering for a church or community event will mean more than getting your car washed, that shopping trip you were anticipating, or hanging out at the lake with your friends. Taking time to write a note of encouragement – or thanks – or to drop someone an e-mail just to let them know you love them is more important than spending a half hour playing Angry Birds, Words with Friends, or Farmville!
Don’t misunderstand me… keeping things in order – keeping your homes, yard and vehicles clean…spending time with friends and family members… and even resting… are all important. It’s great to have hobbies and goals. But too many of us have become slaves to our schedules… and in doing so, we have become like “worthless goats” rather than Disciples who please God with our service and witness. We have placed our focus on things that are short-term. We are impatient. We cannot see the bigger picture and how what we are doing now relates to God’s overall plan.
When I was visiting with the man at my grandmother’s facility who was recently widowed, he shared a compelling analogy with me. He said someone had told him that God’s love and plans for us can be compared to a father and son who are standing behind a fence watching a parade. The father is tall enough to look over the fence and see the entire parade, from beginning to end. The son can only peer through a knothole in the fence. He only sees what advances in front of him. He cannot see the entire length of the parade until it passes before him. This is a great description of our life in Christ. He sees the entire parade… we only see the limited view from our “knothole.” And often, we grow impatient… weary… bored and/or disgruntled… and too often, we move away and focus on our own personal agendas.
The time has come to stand still and wait for the entire parade. We must re-evaluate our priorities and our “to-do” lists. We need to spend time in prayer and meditation and ask God, “Is this really where you want me to expend my efforts and energy?” When God presents us with an unexpected task or opportunity, we need to be prepared to say, “Sign me up! I’m ready!” - knowing that His plan will be far superior to our own.
In most instances, God’s “parade” looks altogether different than ours… but His is so much better! If we follow God’s “parade,” He will grant us plenty of time for many of the things that we want to do. If we are patient – and obedient – He will grant us plenty of opportunities for the things we feel are significant – and fun. Won’t you ask Him to show you where you need to rearrange your priorities and your “lists”? Are you ready to exchange your “worthless goat” agenda for the blessings and joy that come from His approval? Will this be the day that you start to trust God for the “whole parade”… or will you continue to live with a “knothole” view?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 25, 2013
Luke 8:15
And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The major news networks continue to present story after story of courage from the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma last week. In particular, there have been numerous profiles of brave teachers who hunkered down – and hovered over – their precious charges…singing with them, praying, and assuring them that “This will be over soon.” One teacher said, “I just kept telling them, ‘It’s almost over! It’s almost over!’” Like most teachers and former teachers, these will tell you that our students become like our own children… each one precious to us. After all, for some nine months or more, teachers spend as much time – or more – with their students than their own parents do! I can tell you firsthand that a deep bond develops.
Last Monday in Moore, Oklahoma, the patience and perseverance of these teachers and students paid off hugely. Monthly tornado drills that suddenly became a reality helped to keep the children safe. The love and courage of dozens of teachers shielded these children… both physically and emotionally. And while there were heartbreaking losses… there were tremendous harvests of safe, relatively unscathed students and teachers. Experts of all kinds have asserted that nothing further could be done to protect those children. Even where students perished, the teachers and those involved were doing what they had trained to do… they were following protocol and heeding the instructions they had been given.
While earthly lives were lost, there are blessings and positive points even in these deaths. We have come to know a lot about the precious children who died… and their families. God has shown us courageous parents who are facing unbelievable heartache with boldness and resolution. We have learned about little ones who crammed more living into 9 years or so than many of us who live three, four, or even ten times that long!
Just as these teachers and students heeded the safety instructions they had been given… we must listen to God’s word. Just as these teachers planted seeds of love and devotion for their students and channeled that courage and conviction into becoming a human shield and shelter… we must plant seeds of the Good News of Jesus Christ with total conviction. We must nurture and shield others as we sew God’s love into them… and we must patiently wait on His harvest. And just as those children who lost their lives spent what time they had on earth embracing love and blessing others, we must do the same.
I’m sure that it seemed like the tornado roared over these Oklahoma cities for hours... even though it was minutes. And often, it seems like God’s answers and evidence of our efforts on His behalf are taking far too long. But I assure you, “It’s almost here… it’s almost here!” God’s answers are always perfect… and right on time. Our job is to stay hunkered down and keep working until He delivers. Are you patiently working – and waiting – on God? Are you anticipating a huge harvest? Isn’t it time you were?
©2013 Debbie Robus
And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The major news networks continue to present story after story of courage from the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma last week. In particular, there have been numerous profiles of brave teachers who hunkered down – and hovered over – their precious charges…singing with them, praying, and assuring them that “This will be over soon.” One teacher said, “I just kept telling them, ‘It’s almost over! It’s almost over!’” Like most teachers and former teachers, these will tell you that our students become like our own children… each one precious to us. After all, for some nine months or more, teachers spend as much time – or more – with their students than their own parents do! I can tell you firsthand that a deep bond develops.
Last Monday in Moore, Oklahoma, the patience and perseverance of these teachers and students paid off hugely. Monthly tornado drills that suddenly became a reality helped to keep the children safe. The love and courage of dozens of teachers shielded these children… both physically and emotionally. And while there were heartbreaking losses… there were tremendous harvests of safe, relatively unscathed students and teachers. Experts of all kinds have asserted that nothing further could be done to protect those children. Even where students perished, the teachers and those involved were doing what they had trained to do… they were following protocol and heeding the instructions they had been given.
While earthly lives were lost, there are blessings and positive points even in these deaths. We have come to know a lot about the precious children who died… and their families. God has shown us courageous parents who are facing unbelievable heartache with boldness and resolution. We have learned about little ones who crammed more living into 9 years or so than many of us who live three, four, or even ten times that long!
Just as these teachers and students heeded the safety instructions they had been given… we must listen to God’s word. Just as these teachers planted seeds of love and devotion for their students and channeled that courage and conviction into becoming a human shield and shelter… we must plant seeds of the Good News of Jesus Christ with total conviction. We must nurture and shield others as we sew God’s love into them… and we must patiently wait on His harvest. And just as those children who lost their lives spent what time they had on earth embracing love and blessing others, we must do the same.
I’m sure that it seemed like the tornado roared over these Oklahoma cities for hours... even though it was minutes. And often, it seems like God’s answers and evidence of our efforts on His behalf are taking far too long. But I assure you, “It’s almost here… it’s almost here!” God’s answers are always perfect… and right on time. Our job is to stay hunkered down and keep working until He delivers. Are you patiently working – and waiting – on God? Are you anticipating a huge harvest? Isn’t it time you were?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 24, 2013
May 24 ~ Luke 21:16-19
Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I have a friend who tells the story of his grandfather…a Jew who became a Christian. The grandfather’s family told him that he was dead to them if he made such a decision. My friend’s grandfather chose to follow Jesus anyhow. A church member I know tells of how he and fellow members of his army platoon met in secret while deployed to Afghanistan during the first Gulf War… just so they could hold worship services. In doing so, they literally feared for their lives… as do countless others around the globe who worship in places where Christianity is forbidden. That is something most of us cannot fathom. We cannot begin to consider possible betrayal or death – especially at the hands of a friend, family member or loved one because of our faith. Imagine living in a country where your worship of Jesus Christ might be so daunting that your own parents would turn you in to the authorities for doing so, just to save their own necks!
Few of us can imagine doing this. But maybe you grew up in a family where you were persuaded to “skip church and do something fun” with the family. You might have been the only person in your household who desired to worship and serve Jesus… and the others might have berated you for doing so. Perhaps you have been laughed at and ridiculed by your classmates and friends because of your faith. Maybe you have been labeled as a “goody two-shoes” or a “Jesus freak” – and excluded from certain circles and invitations to more than one event. Maybe you have decided to follow Jesus… and in doing so, you had to give up friends – and even family members – and distance yourself from those who engage in immoral, illegal, and/or sinful activities.
Whatever ridicule, exclusion, physical or emotional abuse or discomfort of any sort you may experience because you love and serve Jesus, know this… He has your back! You will come out on top. As this scripture indicates… “not a hair on your head will perish!” You may be bruised and scraped… wounded emotionally, if not physically… but you will survive. You can handle it, because Jesus is with you. He is your shield and your protector. There is nothing anyone else can say or do to you that can matter more than Jesus. There is a catch… you must be patient. This may not happen overnight. You may very well have to suffer indignation and mistreatment for a while… and it may seem like an eternity. But God will NOT leave you hanging. He will bless you… and use your Discipleship and faithfulness. He will honor those who honor Him with their obedience, steadfastness and commitments.
Last night, I read through my prayer journal for the last year. I noted the many requests I had placed before God… for people to be healed – physically and emotionally… for this one or that to get a job or a restored relationship… for countless children…for some dear souls to be allowed to enter Heaven…and more. I made a list of some of the requests that God answered… and I took notice of how He answered. Most of the time, His answer was at least a little bit different than my request… but it was always perfect. The timing was better… the outcome was impeccable…the response made more sense and had a more positive impact overall.
So why do I doubt? Why do I try to impose my timetable? Why can’t I be patient and trust God in all things? Why do I worry that for one minute, He might allow a hair on my head to perish? Why would we ever fear following Jesus? I know the answer… our own human frailties and the inroads these provide for Satan to get a stronghold. Because we all know that fear comes from the devil… it’s one of his favorite tools!
Today, my prayer is that God would make me more patient and trusting. I am reminded of how faithful He is to care for me… and how I should be more faithful and trusting in my Discipleship. Truly, nothing – and no one – matters more than Jesus. The day we begin to understand this fully is the day we really arrive as Christians. Where does this leave you? Are you willing to put Jesus before everything – and everyone – else? Have you arrived in your Spiritual journey? Are you even on your way?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I have a friend who tells the story of his grandfather…a Jew who became a Christian. The grandfather’s family told him that he was dead to them if he made such a decision. My friend’s grandfather chose to follow Jesus anyhow. A church member I know tells of how he and fellow members of his army platoon met in secret while deployed to Afghanistan during the first Gulf War… just so they could hold worship services. In doing so, they literally feared for their lives… as do countless others around the globe who worship in places where Christianity is forbidden. That is something most of us cannot fathom. We cannot begin to consider possible betrayal or death – especially at the hands of a friend, family member or loved one because of our faith. Imagine living in a country where your worship of Jesus Christ might be so daunting that your own parents would turn you in to the authorities for doing so, just to save their own necks!
Few of us can imagine doing this. But maybe you grew up in a family where you were persuaded to “skip church and do something fun” with the family. You might have been the only person in your household who desired to worship and serve Jesus… and the others might have berated you for doing so. Perhaps you have been laughed at and ridiculed by your classmates and friends because of your faith. Maybe you have been labeled as a “goody two-shoes” or a “Jesus freak” – and excluded from certain circles and invitations to more than one event. Maybe you have decided to follow Jesus… and in doing so, you had to give up friends – and even family members – and distance yourself from those who engage in immoral, illegal, and/or sinful activities.
Whatever ridicule, exclusion, physical or emotional abuse or discomfort of any sort you may experience because you love and serve Jesus, know this… He has your back! You will come out on top. As this scripture indicates… “not a hair on your head will perish!” You may be bruised and scraped… wounded emotionally, if not physically… but you will survive. You can handle it, because Jesus is with you. He is your shield and your protector. There is nothing anyone else can say or do to you that can matter more than Jesus. There is a catch… you must be patient. This may not happen overnight. You may very well have to suffer indignation and mistreatment for a while… and it may seem like an eternity. But God will NOT leave you hanging. He will bless you… and use your Discipleship and faithfulness. He will honor those who honor Him with their obedience, steadfastness and commitments.
Last night, I read through my prayer journal for the last year. I noted the many requests I had placed before God… for people to be healed – physically and emotionally… for this one or that to get a job or a restored relationship… for countless children…for some dear souls to be allowed to enter Heaven…and more. I made a list of some of the requests that God answered… and I took notice of how He answered. Most of the time, His answer was at least a little bit different than my request… but it was always perfect. The timing was better… the outcome was impeccable…the response made more sense and had a more positive impact overall.
So why do I doubt? Why do I try to impose my timetable? Why can’t I be patient and trust God in all things? Why do I worry that for one minute, He might allow a hair on my head to perish? Why would we ever fear following Jesus? I know the answer… our own human frailties and the inroads these provide for Satan to get a stronghold. Because we all know that fear comes from the devil… it’s one of his favorite tools!
Today, my prayer is that God would make me more patient and trusting. I am reminded of how faithful He is to care for me… and how I should be more faithful and trusting in my Discipleship. Truly, nothing – and no one – matters more than Jesus. The day we begin to understand this fully is the day we really arrive as Christians. Where does this leave you? Are you willing to put Jesus before everything – and everyone – else? Have you arrived in your Spiritual journey? Are you even on your way?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 21, 2013
Hebrews 6:9-12
I’m sure that won’t happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you—salvation things! God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.
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.
We cannot escape talking about what happened in Oklahoma yesterday. As a former teacher, and the aunt to nieces, nephews, cousins and other little ones for whom I would walk across hot coals, I was heartbroken to learn that young children were missing and/or injured – and dead. When I heard that a third grade class was involved, I immediately thought of my precious 3rd-grade cousin, Olivia… and my eyes filled with tears. I tried to busy myself with other things…but I kept being drawn back to the television news reports. I prayed for those involved… particularly the little children – “LORD, please don’t let them be afraid. Shelter them. Comfort them, as only You can.”
Very clearly, I was reminded of a passage in William P. Young’s novel, The Shack. A six-year-old girl has been abducted while on a family camping trip. She has been brutalized and killed… and her father is understandably distraught. Jesus comes to sit beside the father, who says that he keeps thinking about his little girl being all alone with her deranged attacker. Jesus tells him that she was not alone – not for one minute. He and the Holy Spirit never left her… He could never do that!
This greatly comforted me. I felt as if God was saying, “I never left the people of Oklahoma. They were not alone for one instant.” And somehow, I felt that they were wrapped safely in Jesus’s arms… and they were peaceful, sheltered – and unafraid in those horrifying moments.
We are heartsick for this community and its residents. We are eager to help. For several hours last night, my Facebook wall “lit up” with comments like “Prayers for Oklahoma,” and “Our hearts are with the tornado victims.” But by this morning, people were beginning to post recipes, pretty pictures, and other mundane thoughts that crowd this social media venue on a daily basis. It didn’t happen to us directly, so a lot of us have moved on already. And to a degree, we are supposed to get back to living our lives. But we must not forget completely. We must not drag our feet in doing what we can to help…sending donations and manpower – or even stopping to pray.
In any situation where our immediate instinct is to “do something,” we must not let our adrenaline wane as time passes. We must remain vigilant in checking on those who are in need, whether it is tornado victims, someone who is sick, elderly, shut-in, or hurting emotionally. We must continue to reach out to others… to think of the person who is grieving six months later - and not just for the first six days… to encourage those who are struggling financially even after they find a job or obtain some sort of assistance… to pray for those who might appear to have rebuilt their homes and lives after a “disaster” of one sort or another.
We were playing with Timothy and Zola in a local park a few weeks ago when our high school football coach and his family arrived… the mom and younger children by car… the coach and his two older sons by bicycle, where they had ridden over from a nearby nature trail to play with the rest of the family. When they were all ready to leave, the mom suggested they go for frozen yogurt. The coach/father said that sounded good… but he and the boys would have to ride their bikes back to the trail and get their car, which would take about twenty minutes. One of the boys did not want to do this… he wanted to load his bike into Mom’s car and ride over. His dad told him that he must ride his bike. He explained to the boy… “Son, it’s not how you start… it’s how you finish!”
I’m sure the coach has told his football team this more than once. But it was great advice for all of us… especially as Christians. How we start to care for others is important… but how we finish is even more so. We must be diligent in our efforts to help others… and patient with them as they grapple with the struggles and challenges of rebuilding and recovery. We are all a work in progress. The GOOD NEWS is that we are not alone on the journey… Jesus never leaves us – not for one instant! This should give us courage and incentive to persevere with patient endurance.
As you pray for the people of Oklahoma – and others who are in need – thank God for never leaving us, especially in the midst of such horrific disasters as the Oklahoma tornado. Ask Him to show you “salvation things”. Ask God to reveal how and where He wishes you to minister to others… and call on Him to grant you a hefty dose of patience and persistence. As important as it is for us to get up and get going, it’s equally important that we not drag our feet in ministry and service. The question we must ask ourselves today is “Where do I begin?”… but just as importantly, “How will I finish?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
The Shack – ©2007 William P. Young – Published by Windblown Media.
I’m sure that won’t happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you—salvation things! God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.
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.
We cannot escape talking about what happened in Oklahoma yesterday. As a former teacher, and the aunt to nieces, nephews, cousins and other little ones for whom I would walk across hot coals, I was heartbroken to learn that young children were missing and/or injured – and dead. When I heard that a third grade class was involved, I immediately thought of my precious 3rd-grade cousin, Olivia… and my eyes filled with tears. I tried to busy myself with other things…but I kept being drawn back to the television news reports. I prayed for those involved… particularly the little children – “LORD, please don’t let them be afraid. Shelter them. Comfort them, as only You can.”
Very clearly, I was reminded of a passage in William P. Young’s novel, The Shack. A six-year-old girl has been abducted while on a family camping trip. She has been brutalized and killed… and her father is understandably distraught. Jesus comes to sit beside the father, who says that he keeps thinking about his little girl being all alone with her deranged attacker. Jesus tells him that she was not alone – not for one minute. He and the Holy Spirit never left her… He could never do that!
This greatly comforted me. I felt as if God was saying, “I never left the people of Oklahoma. They were not alone for one instant.” And somehow, I felt that they were wrapped safely in Jesus’s arms… and they were peaceful, sheltered – and unafraid in those horrifying moments.
We are heartsick for this community and its residents. We are eager to help. For several hours last night, my Facebook wall “lit up” with comments like “Prayers for Oklahoma,” and “Our hearts are with the tornado victims.” But by this morning, people were beginning to post recipes, pretty pictures, and other mundane thoughts that crowd this social media venue on a daily basis. It didn’t happen to us directly, so a lot of us have moved on already. And to a degree, we are supposed to get back to living our lives. But we must not forget completely. We must not drag our feet in doing what we can to help…sending donations and manpower – or even stopping to pray.
In any situation where our immediate instinct is to “do something,” we must not let our adrenaline wane as time passes. We must remain vigilant in checking on those who are in need, whether it is tornado victims, someone who is sick, elderly, shut-in, or hurting emotionally. We must continue to reach out to others… to think of the person who is grieving six months later - and not just for the first six days… to encourage those who are struggling financially even after they find a job or obtain some sort of assistance… to pray for those who might appear to have rebuilt their homes and lives after a “disaster” of one sort or another.
We were playing with Timothy and Zola in a local park a few weeks ago when our high school football coach and his family arrived… the mom and younger children by car… the coach and his two older sons by bicycle, where they had ridden over from a nearby nature trail to play with the rest of the family. When they were all ready to leave, the mom suggested they go for frozen yogurt. The coach/father said that sounded good… but he and the boys would have to ride their bikes back to the trail and get their car, which would take about twenty minutes. One of the boys did not want to do this… he wanted to load his bike into Mom’s car and ride over. His dad told him that he must ride his bike. He explained to the boy… “Son, it’s not how you start… it’s how you finish!”
I’m sure the coach has told his football team this more than once. But it was great advice for all of us… especially as Christians. How we start to care for others is important… but how we finish is even more so. We must be diligent in our efforts to help others… and patient with them as they grapple with the struggles and challenges of rebuilding and recovery. We are all a work in progress. The GOOD NEWS is that we are not alone on the journey… Jesus never leaves us – not for one instant! This should give us courage and incentive to persevere with patient endurance.
As you pray for the people of Oklahoma – and others who are in need – thank God for never leaving us, especially in the midst of such horrific disasters as the Oklahoma tornado. Ask Him to show you “salvation things”. Ask God to reveal how and where He wishes you to minister to others… and call on Him to grant you a hefty dose of patience and persistence. As important as it is for us to get up and get going, it’s equally important that we not drag our feet in ministry and service. The question we must ask ourselves today is “Where do I begin?”… but just as importantly, “How will I finish?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
The Shack – ©2007 William P. Young – Published by Windblown Media.
Daily Devotional for May 18, 2013
May 18 ~ Genesis 6:3
Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In a few months, I hope our four-year-old Timothy will start to pre-K. Today, my almost-18-year-old cousin graduated from high school. My Jr/Sr-high Sunday school students from a few years ago are now graduating from college, beginning careers, getting married and starting their own families. All throughout these life stages, there will be rules and expectations… limits and consequences. For instance, young children have to be reminded over and again about certain things… don’t throw rocks, come when called, don’t hit your sister/brother! We try to be patient as they learn these lessons.
As children become teenagers, the “second chances” diminish. Older kids know that “No means no!” – or they should! By the time we are young adults, there are still instances in which we “test the waters”… but hopefully, most of us understand that life is full of choices, rules, and rewards. There are also consequences when we choose poorly or fail to comply.
This is no different for Christians. God is patient with us... to a point. He waits for us to choose to follow Jesus…granting us free will. He nurtures us in the first weeks/months/years after we become a Christian. God allows for our “humanness” – He understands that we are not perfect and never will be. But there comes a time when His patience wears thin. He will not tolerate “pre-K Christians” forever. And while God will not retract your salvation…He will withhold blessings and rewards.
God will not allow us to fully self-destruct… and possibly take down those around us… at least not indefinitely. He has given us clear guidelines for how to live… rules to follow and a distinct indication of the potential for blessings. God has also detailed the surety of consequences when we choose to go our own way. Just as our patience runs thin with children who don’t seem to learn as they grow… God loses patience with us when there is no progress in our Spiritual journey.
We all know the feeling when our patience wears thin with someone or something. This is not a sentiment that I want God to experience about me and my faith! What about you? Are you trying God’s patience? Isn’t it time you re-examined your life in Christ and determined where you need to make adjustments to get you back on track?
None of us will live forever. But let’s make the most of every minute God gives us on this earth. Let’s live in a way that indicates a deep desire to grow and serve Him each and every day. Let’s live a long, full life in Christ … and give God every reason to be pleased with our progress.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 16, 2013
May 16 ~ Ephesians 4:1-3
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
A wonderful Christian friend of mine shared a video on Facebook from Upworthy.com* about how we look at adulthood… and the choices we make. A lot of what seems boring or mundane to us has to do with how we choose to see things. We can look at a long grocery check-out line as an aggravation and inconvenience… or a chance to pray. We can be irritated by the lady ahead of us with two kids tugging on her who is in a discussion with the cashier over a grocery coupon… or see her as a busy working mother who is struggling to make ends meet and really needs that extra $1 off her bill. We can see the oversized cars in the traffic lanes as road hogs… or we can recognize that this may be a vehicle that young parents chose because of its sturdiness and safety factors for hauling their little ones back and forth to daycare and other destinations.
And so it is with those who try our patience. We can choose to see their faults and flaws and the things about them that drive us nuts… or we can try to see what God sees… another of His creations…someone who is just as precious and has just as much potential – and is just as flawed - in His eyes as you and I. We can be humble and gentle and recognize that every person has a story… there is a heartache on every pew (as my pastor often says) – and in every grocery line and traffic lane. We can recognize that we do not corner the market on God’s love… or on His patience. We can do better at making an effort to stay united in the Spirit and operating from a place of peace.
If we are truly born-again, Spirit-filled Christians, we must choose to operate more from the place in our hearts where the Holy Spirit resides and less from our human desires. We must call on the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, actions… and choices… and to grant us an extra-hefty dose of patience in many instances. And He will do this… and the shift in our attitude will be palpable and fully obvious… in our own daily living – and in the lives of those around us.
What do you say? Are you leading a life worthy of your calling by God? Are you seeing even the most trivial and seemingly insignificant moments as opportunities to exercise humility, gentleness, and patience… a chance to choose peace over stress, strife, or even momentary irritation? Isn’t it time we shifted our attitude in this area and began to choose according to the Holy Spirit? Are you ready to answer the call?
©2013 Debbie Robus
*http://www.upworthy.com/the-earth-shatteringly-amazing-speech-that-ll-change-the-way-you-think-about-adulthood-4?g=4
Daily Devotional for May 12, 2013
2 Thessalonians 3:5
May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, we honored the 20+ graduating high school seniors who attend our church. Graduation takes place later this week. I would suspect that there are a lot of people – students and parents – who feel as though they have been undergoing an 18-year endurance test. I also expect a lot of them will be looking around the day after graduation and asking, “What now?!”
Believe it or not, I was in high school once! I remember the eagerness to get out of school and move ahead with “bigger and better things.” I remember the hard work and “patient endurance” of three FULL years (including summers) in college, followed by nights and summer days spent sitting in a graduate school classroom – all in anticipation of college degrees, better pay, and the personal satisfaction and accomplishment of obtaining a Master’s Degree.
I remember waiting for nieces and nephews to arrive… counting the days until we moved home to begin a new business venture – and into new houses that we had built. And I remember not-so-fun “endurance tests”… waiting for my casts to come off after broken bones – or healing to occur after a surgery…waiting and watching as a loved one suffered through his/her last days on this earth… dreading the time when a visit would end and we would have to say “Goodbye” to someone precious and dear. And in ALL of these instances, I had the perfect example of “patient endurance”… the infallible model of perseverance and fortitude…the comfort and serenity of knowing that Someone much bigger and more powerful than I was in complete control.
Whether you are 18 or 88, life is full of events and experiences that test our endurance and cause us to “hurry up and wait.” Having Jesus by your side can make the difference in whether you worry and fret your way through these situations… or whether you take them in stride with joy and confidence. As long as you have a “full understanding and expression of the love of God” in your heart, you will have the “patient endurance that comes from Christ.” This is an equation for joy and success in anyone’s book!
As you look ahead to a new week – or even a new chapter in your life – stop and take time to evaluate your relationship with Jesus. Is He “front and center” in everything you do… every decision you make? The importance you give Jesus in your life will directly correlate to how you answer the question “What now?” Is Jesus guiding your answer and giving you patient endurance? Isn’t it time He did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, we honored the 20+ graduating high school seniors who attend our church. Graduation takes place later this week. I would suspect that there are a lot of people – students and parents – who feel as though they have been undergoing an 18-year endurance test. I also expect a lot of them will be looking around the day after graduation and asking, “What now?!”
Believe it or not, I was in high school once! I remember the eagerness to get out of school and move ahead with “bigger and better things.” I remember the hard work and “patient endurance” of three FULL years (including summers) in college, followed by nights and summer days spent sitting in a graduate school classroom – all in anticipation of college degrees, better pay, and the personal satisfaction and accomplishment of obtaining a Master’s Degree.
I remember waiting for nieces and nephews to arrive… counting the days until we moved home to begin a new business venture – and into new houses that we had built. And I remember not-so-fun “endurance tests”… waiting for my casts to come off after broken bones – or healing to occur after a surgery…waiting and watching as a loved one suffered through his/her last days on this earth… dreading the time when a visit would end and we would have to say “Goodbye” to someone precious and dear. And in ALL of these instances, I had the perfect example of “patient endurance”… the infallible model of perseverance and fortitude…the comfort and serenity of knowing that Someone much bigger and more powerful than I was in complete control.
Whether you are 18 or 88, life is full of events and experiences that test our endurance and cause us to “hurry up and wait.” Having Jesus by your side can make the difference in whether you worry and fret your way through these situations… or whether you take them in stride with joy and confidence. As long as you have a “full understanding and expression of the love of God” in your heart, you will have the “patient endurance that comes from Christ.” This is an equation for joy and success in anyone’s book!
As you look ahead to a new week – or even a new chapter in your life – stop and take time to evaluate your relationship with Jesus. Is He “front and center” in everything you do… every decision you make? The importance you give Jesus in your life will directly correlate to how you answer the question “What now?” Is Jesus guiding your answer and giving you patient endurance? Isn’t it time He did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 11, 2013
2 Peter 3:8-9
Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
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.
In a few days, our little Timothy will be four years old. We are celebrating his birthday tomorrow with an afternoon party. A few days ago, he told my niece, “Mother, my friends need to come for my party. When will they be here?” She explained that his party was not for several days, and he would have to wait. When you are almost four, several days can seem like several years! At the other end of the spectrum, my grandmother used to tell me often, “I don’t know why the LORD doesn’t take me.” She longed for heaven, and the last two years, especially, seemed like two hundred years to her. We would talk about how God still had plans for her... she still had work to do… but knowing this really made the waiting no easier.
One of the hardest things for us to understand in our Christian faith is God’s timing. We have a terrible time understanding that God’s “day” may be far longer than our 24-hours/1440 minutes. We may wonder why He doesn’t answer quickly – but on His timetable, He did exactly that! We may ask, “Why hasn’t the LORD healed me?” When we get to Heaven, He may say, I healed you in the same day – by my calculations! When we feel that God is not answering us… or that He is not working quickly, we need to stop and remind ourselves that we operate on very different schedules!
As this passage illustrates, we must also remember that what we observe as God’s reluctance to act quickly may actually be His patience as we find our way to him. He may very well operate with restraint in order to give us “space and time to change.” And we should be incredibly grateful for this!
Patience is not my strong suit. But if I wish to truly grow in my faith and my relationship with God, I need to cultivate endurance, tolerance, and staying power. I need to learn to “be still and know” that God is on my side… to rest in His timing and operate with confidence as I wait on Him to work. And when God seems “late,” I need to recognize His self-control on my behalf.
If we stop and look closely, we can often see the perfection in God’s timing. We can understand that He always has our best interests in mind. This may not make waiting for a fourth birthday party any easier, but it can help us to wait for the LORD to work – according to His perfect timing. Don’t you think it’s worth a try?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
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.
In a few days, our little Timothy will be four years old. We are celebrating his birthday tomorrow with an afternoon party. A few days ago, he told my niece, “Mother, my friends need to come for my party. When will they be here?” She explained that his party was not for several days, and he would have to wait. When you are almost four, several days can seem like several years! At the other end of the spectrum, my grandmother used to tell me often, “I don’t know why the LORD doesn’t take me.” She longed for heaven, and the last two years, especially, seemed like two hundred years to her. We would talk about how God still had plans for her... she still had work to do… but knowing this really made the waiting no easier.
One of the hardest things for us to understand in our Christian faith is God’s timing. We have a terrible time understanding that God’s “day” may be far longer than our 24-hours/1440 minutes. We may wonder why He doesn’t answer quickly – but on His timetable, He did exactly that! We may ask, “Why hasn’t the LORD healed me?” When we get to Heaven, He may say, I healed you in the same day – by my calculations! When we feel that God is not answering us… or that He is not working quickly, we need to stop and remind ourselves that we operate on very different schedules!
As this passage illustrates, we must also remember that what we observe as God’s reluctance to act quickly may actually be His patience as we find our way to him. He may very well operate with restraint in order to give us “space and time to change.” And we should be incredibly grateful for this!
Patience is not my strong suit. But if I wish to truly grow in my faith and my relationship with God, I need to cultivate endurance, tolerance, and staying power. I need to learn to “be still and know” that God is on my side… to rest in His timing and operate with confidence as I wait on Him to work. And when God seems “late,” I need to recognize His self-control on my behalf.
If we stop and look closely, we can often see the perfection in God’s timing. We can understand that He always has our best interests in mind. This may not make waiting for a fourth birthday party any easier, but it can help us to wait for the LORD to work – according to His perfect timing. Don’t you think it’s worth a try?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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