Psalm 139:7-12
Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.
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.
As we drove to Burger King after church on Sunday, Zola kept trying to tell me something. Over and over she would point toward her feet and say the same thing… but I didn’t have a clue what she wanted. Finally, I asked Timothy, “Do you know what Zola is trying to tell me?” He replied, “Um… yes”… and he interpreted her comments. I repeated Timothy’s statement to Zola and asked if that was correct. She nodded and said, “Yeah!”
This little girl may never choose to talk, as long as she has her older brother around to interpret for her! And honestly, I think she somewhat depends on him… for a lot of things! He pretty well seems to know what she is thinking in any given moment… and you can bet your bottom dollar he knows where she is and what she is doing… if nothing else, on the off chance she might be playing with his toys – or getting a little extra attention! Still, she chooses to follow him around much of the time and mimic his every word and move.
As I read this scripture passage, I also thought about the other end of the spectrum… my grandmother’s last weeks on this earth, in which she often could not form a complete sentence – or even a few words. I had grown so familiar with her that I often was able to interpret her thoughts and gestures… and her nods of agreement would confirm that I had guessed correctly. She depended on me to express her wishes… and to protect her. She chose to have me speak for her on several occasions… even when she was still able to talk. She would wave at a doctor and gesture toward me and say, “You tell him.” Or she would tell the doctors and nurses… “Ask Debbie… she can tell you.” My Mam-ma Polly knew that I always had her back.
I find it nothing short of amazing that God has chosen you and me… that He desires to know every breath we take and how many hairs number our head. I am astounded to think that Jesus collects my tears… each one precious to Him. I cannot comprehend the vastness of knowing that there is nowhere I can go that He is not with me... or that He knows my every thought and desire. And I am blessed and comforted by this knowledge… so much that I choose to serve Him in return. Honestly, it doesn’t add up for me why anyone would opt for a life without Him. Who else loves you that much?! Still, we do have a choice… and God will never desert us… but He will also never impose.
What place have you given Him in your life? Have you tucked God away on the shelf and pretended He isn’t there? Have you even suggested to Him that you are doing just fine without His help? Do you truly understand the depths of God’s love and care for you… how much He wants to give you – now and for all eternity? Won’t you study this Psalm again and give your relationship with God a second look as well? Aren’t you ready to choose the One who chose you all along?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label finding a home in God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finding a home in God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for June 7, 2012
Psalm 90:1-2
God, it seems you've been our home forever; long before the mountains were born, long before you brought earth itself to birth, from "once upon a time" to "kingdom come"—you are God.
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.
I can’t tell you how many friends and former classmates I’ve talked with – in person or online – who live somewhere else and tell me, “I am really working toward moving back home. You are so lucky to live in Heber Springs. I want so badly to live there once again.” And indeed, we do live in a wonderful community. What makes this place so special for me is the beauty of this area and the relative simplicity of life here… but just as importantly, many of the other residents who share this community with me.
Like many people who have lived most of their lives in the same place, there is a “pull” to this area. This is home. The thing is… this place existed long before I came into existence… and it will be here long after I am gone. What has made it feel like “home” for me is the experience – the people, the atmosphere, the warmth, comfort, love and security I have felt here. I have lived other places. I could move tomorrow and learn to love another area and its people. But this will always be home for me. There will always be a connection to this community and many of the people in it – both past and present.
For us as Christians, GOD is “home”… forever! He is our warmth, comfort, love and security… our strength and the center of nurture. Long before God created the earth and all that is in it, He knew about us. Isn’t that amazing? Long after we are gone from this earth, GOD will still know our name. In God, we are always… ALWAYS… home!
Do you get a warm, fuzzy feeling when you think about your home town? Does the mention of your home town stir a sense of nostalgia… and evoke feelings of “belonging?” Do you feel this same way when you think about your relationship with God? Are you truly at home with Him? Have you connected with God in such a way that He represents “home” to you, no matter where you find yourself physically?
I encourage you to spend time with God… to get to know Him. Develop the kind of relationship with God that creates an atmosphere where you feel comfortable… where you want to settle in and spend even more time in His presence. Cultivate a relationship where the door is always open… and you always feel welcome… just like at home. Kick your Spiritual “shoes” off and stay a while. You may not be able to live in your physical home town, but God can be your home wherever you are. Have you found your home in Him?
©2012 Debbie Robus
God, it seems you've been our home forever; long before the mountains were born, long before you brought earth itself to birth, from "once upon a time" to "kingdom come"—you are God.
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.
I can’t tell you how many friends and former classmates I’ve talked with – in person or online – who live somewhere else and tell me, “I am really working toward moving back home. You are so lucky to live in Heber Springs. I want so badly to live there once again.” And indeed, we do live in a wonderful community. What makes this place so special for me is the beauty of this area and the relative simplicity of life here… but just as importantly, many of the other residents who share this community with me.
Like many people who have lived most of their lives in the same place, there is a “pull” to this area. This is home. The thing is… this place existed long before I came into existence… and it will be here long after I am gone. What has made it feel like “home” for me is the experience – the people, the atmosphere, the warmth, comfort, love and security I have felt here. I have lived other places. I could move tomorrow and learn to love another area and its people. But this will always be home for me. There will always be a connection to this community and many of the people in it – both past and present.
For us as Christians, GOD is “home”… forever! He is our warmth, comfort, love and security… our strength and the center of nurture. Long before God created the earth and all that is in it, He knew about us. Isn’t that amazing? Long after we are gone from this earth, GOD will still know our name. In God, we are always… ALWAYS… home!
Do you get a warm, fuzzy feeling when you think about your home town? Does the mention of your home town stir a sense of nostalgia… and evoke feelings of “belonging?” Do you feel this same way when you think about your relationship with God? Are you truly at home with Him? Have you connected with God in such a way that He represents “home” to you, no matter where you find yourself physically?
I encourage you to spend time with God… to get to know Him. Develop the kind of relationship with God that creates an atmosphere where you feel comfortable… where you want to settle in and spend even more time in His presence. Cultivate a relationship where the door is always open… and you always feel welcome… just like at home. Kick your Spiritual “shoes” off and stay a while. You may not be able to live in your physical home town, but God can be your home wherever you are. Have you found your home in Him?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 26, 2012
Ephesians 2:19-22
That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.
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.
For centuries, men and women have been creating beautiful, useful items out of scraps. Many things that would ordinarily be tossed into the trash can are pulled together by creative and industrious (if not a big crazy) people to make something useful… maybe even a work of art! If you can’t envision what would be worth saving, you need only look at my desk or laundry room! Greeting cards with beautiful designs can be repurposed into a new note card. Tiny fabric scraps can be fashioned into a frilly hair bow, doll dress, or applique for a t-shirt. My grandmother has used incredibly tiny fabric scraps to create intricately beautiful quilts as long as I can remember. My great-grandmothers created a “postage-stamp” out of fabric scraps that were… yes… the size of postage stamps! Even a worn bed sheet or pillowcase can be cut into smaller strips to use as cleaning cloths.
I saw on Pinterest where an artist in Texas took shovel spades and used them to create the individual spines of enormous “pine cones” for beautiful yard art. A discarded metal yard rake was made into everything from a wall rack to hold wine glasses to a desk sorter for mail and office supplies! On one of my favorite TV cooking shows… Chopped… contestants are given four unrelated (and often bizarre) food items and told to create an appetizer, entrée and dessert from them. And on American Pickers, the two hosts often buy items like vintage bicycles and motorcycles and restore them to their original luster. Others are used as spare parts to create a new bike. In this manner, the once useless piece is given a new purpose, whether as the foundation or as a vital “brick or stone.”
All of these projects have one thing in common – a cornerstone, or starting point. Often this is the idea itself. Then piece by piece, scrap by scrap, the project takes shape. You see the quilt or yard art develop. You smell flavorful aromas and discover that there is usually something in the pantry that can create a tasty meal! You look at the shiny new bike and have no clue that it was once a pile of rusty parts! You look at something deemed useless and realize that all you needed was a new attitude… and maybe a little teamwork and some ingenuity.
Here’s my point… we are the scraps… the useless bits ready for the discard heap. Jesus is the cornerstone… the Idea, the Creative Spark that says “There is something worth saving here!” The foundation is the Word of God and His will for our life… His desire for us to be more in Jesus than we could ever be on our own. The ultimate outcome is God’s Holy Temple… an ingenious, beautiful work of art. We are God’s children, coming together from all backgrounds and histories to represent Him as one body… one heartbeat… one family… one home.
Where do you fit into this picture today? Are you part of the body of Christ? Are you involved in the building of God’s Holy Temple… His family of believers? Do you feel welcome and a part of this home? Or are you still operating like a lowly scrap, destined for the trash heap? Have you discovered your purpose? Are you even looking for it?
Haven’t you wandered long enough? Aren’t you ready to come home… to pitch in and do your part to belong in God’s Kingdom? No skills are required… no ticket is needed. All you have to do is ask Jesus to wash you clean of your sins and set you upright. He will do exactly this… and assign you a spot on the construction crew. Are you ready for your hard hat?
©2012 Debbie Robus
That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.
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.
For centuries, men and women have been creating beautiful, useful items out of scraps. Many things that would ordinarily be tossed into the trash can are pulled together by creative and industrious (if not a big crazy) people to make something useful… maybe even a work of art! If you can’t envision what would be worth saving, you need only look at my desk or laundry room! Greeting cards with beautiful designs can be repurposed into a new note card. Tiny fabric scraps can be fashioned into a frilly hair bow, doll dress, or applique for a t-shirt. My grandmother has used incredibly tiny fabric scraps to create intricately beautiful quilts as long as I can remember. My great-grandmothers created a “postage-stamp” out of fabric scraps that were… yes… the size of postage stamps! Even a worn bed sheet or pillowcase can be cut into smaller strips to use as cleaning cloths.
I saw on Pinterest where an artist in Texas took shovel spades and used them to create the individual spines of enormous “pine cones” for beautiful yard art. A discarded metal yard rake was made into everything from a wall rack to hold wine glasses to a desk sorter for mail and office supplies! On one of my favorite TV cooking shows… Chopped… contestants are given four unrelated (and often bizarre) food items and told to create an appetizer, entrée and dessert from them. And on American Pickers, the two hosts often buy items like vintage bicycles and motorcycles and restore them to their original luster. Others are used as spare parts to create a new bike. In this manner, the once useless piece is given a new purpose, whether as the foundation or as a vital “brick or stone.”
All of these projects have one thing in common – a cornerstone, or starting point. Often this is the idea itself. Then piece by piece, scrap by scrap, the project takes shape. You see the quilt or yard art develop. You smell flavorful aromas and discover that there is usually something in the pantry that can create a tasty meal! You look at the shiny new bike and have no clue that it was once a pile of rusty parts! You look at something deemed useless and realize that all you needed was a new attitude… and maybe a little teamwork and some ingenuity.
Here’s my point… we are the scraps… the useless bits ready for the discard heap. Jesus is the cornerstone… the Idea, the Creative Spark that says “There is something worth saving here!” The foundation is the Word of God and His will for our life… His desire for us to be more in Jesus than we could ever be on our own. The ultimate outcome is God’s Holy Temple… an ingenious, beautiful work of art. We are God’s children, coming together from all backgrounds and histories to represent Him as one body… one heartbeat… one family… one home.
Where do you fit into this picture today? Are you part of the body of Christ? Are you involved in the building of God’s Holy Temple… His family of believers? Do you feel welcome and a part of this home? Or are you still operating like a lowly scrap, destined for the trash heap? Have you discovered your purpose? Are you even looking for it?
Haven’t you wandered long enough? Aren’t you ready to come home… to pitch in and do your part to belong in God’s Kingdom? No skills are required… no ticket is needed. All you have to do is ask Jesus to wash you clean of your sins and set you upright. He will do exactly this… and assign you a spot on the construction crew. Are you ready for your hard hat?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 31, 2011
John 21:1-14
Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John, were there, together with two other disciples. Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing!" The others said, "We will go with you." They went out in their boat. But they didn't catch a thing that night.
Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was. Jesus shouted, "Friends, have you caught anything?" "No!" they answered.
So he told them, "Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish." They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.
Jesus' favorite disciple told Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon heard that it was the Lord, he put on the clothes that he had taken off while he was working. Then he jumped into the water. The boat was only about a hundred yards from shore. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish.
When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it. Jesus told his disciples, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." Simon Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were one hundred fifty-three large fish, but still the net did not rip.
Jesus said, "Come and eat!" But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord. Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is the time of year when we reflect on a lot of things… the events of the past year…what we accomplished – and what we wish we had gotten done…and what we hope to do in the coming twelve months. It is also a time when many of us wonder why we spent hours and days decorating… and wish it was all packed neatly away already. As I psyched myself out to get things back in “pre-holiday order,” I thought about why I decorated in the first place. And then I read this scripture passage.
There is a lot of “meat” in this passage - and a dozen or more lessons we can learn from it. But today, the part that struck me was the image of Jesus tending the fire on the beach. He had prepared a warm retreat… a haven of rest. He had laid the groundwork for a hearty meal. Surely the Disciples found great comfort in this. They were thrilled to see Jesus again, but they were also glad to have full nets of fish after a busted early attempt. They must have been exhausted – and hungry – and seeing Jesus with a fire of hot coals ready to cook their dinner must have totally rejuvenated them.
As I thought about this, I remembered the looks on the faces of Timothy and my little cousins, Olivia and Owen, as they walked around our house and looked at all of the decorations and twinkling lights. I thought of three little girls who helped me decorate for the holidays for a couple of years and are now teenagers who still talk about the “magic” and fun of coming to our house at Christmas time. I recalled the words of my mother’s sister, who found a festive, warm haven on Christmas Eve in the middle of the chaos that surrounded our afternoon as my grandmother fell and was injured. And I remembered how comforted I was to return home from hospital visits, shopping trips and more to find “candles” lighting the windows and sit among the reminders of this special season – and to reflect on God’s love for me. I found solace in the hot tea and cookies made from a recipe my family has enjoyed each Christmas since I was a child… reminded of the continual thread of love that binds us together.
More importantly, I was reminded that we always have a haven of rest in Jesus. He is always “waiting on the beach, tending a fire to warm us.” He always has a meal ready to feed us – body and soul. And He wants us to extend that same love and hospitality to others in His name. I’m not saying that Jesus wants us to turn into Clark Griswold and cover our homes in tacky, overdone holiday décor. But I do believe He wants us to live in a way that says, “You are welcome here… in my home, in my heart, and in my life. I am extending to you the same love that Jesus shows to me each and every day.”
I have no doubt that I will get busy and get things packed away soon… and that I will once again drag them out for the next Christmas. In the meantime, I will make every effort to extend the warmth and love of Jesus in everything I say and do… from smiling at the cashier to sending a get-well card or inviting friends and family over to share a meal to waving a flag on July 4th! I will do all I can to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those I encounter… and I will thank Him for the opportunity to share the blessings He has given to me with others.
How will you “decorate” in 2012? How inviting will your “home” be to others? Will they see the love of Jesus when they look at you, or have you packed away your “decorations” so deeply that they are almost non-existent? It’s time to re-examine our relationship with Christ and see where we need to polish a few things. As we close one year and begin another, let’s ask Him to show us where we need to beef up our efforts… and let’s get the fire started. People will be showing up in our lives every single day… needing to be nurtured, fed, encouraged and blessed. Will we be ready to serve them on Jesus’ behalf?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John, were there, together with two other disciples. Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing!" The others said, "We will go with you." They went out in their boat. But they didn't catch a thing that night.
Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was. Jesus shouted, "Friends, have you caught anything?" "No!" they answered.
So he told them, "Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish." They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.
Jesus' favorite disciple told Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon heard that it was the Lord, he put on the clothes that he had taken off while he was working. Then he jumped into the water. The boat was only about a hundred yards from shore. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish.
When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it. Jesus told his disciples, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." Simon Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were one hundred fifty-three large fish, but still the net did not rip.
Jesus said, "Come and eat!" But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord. Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is the time of year when we reflect on a lot of things… the events of the past year…what we accomplished – and what we wish we had gotten done…and what we hope to do in the coming twelve months. It is also a time when many of us wonder why we spent hours and days decorating… and wish it was all packed neatly away already. As I psyched myself out to get things back in “pre-holiday order,” I thought about why I decorated in the first place. And then I read this scripture passage.
There is a lot of “meat” in this passage - and a dozen or more lessons we can learn from it. But today, the part that struck me was the image of Jesus tending the fire on the beach. He had prepared a warm retreat… a haven of rest. He had laid the groundwork for a hearty meal. Surely the Disciples found great comfort in this. They were thrilled to see Jesus again, but they were also glad to have full nets of fish after a busted early attempt. They must have been exhausted – and hungry – and seeing Jesus with a fire of hot coals ready to cook their dinner must have totally rejuvenated them.
As I thought about this, I remembered the looks on the faces of Timothy and my little cousins, Olivia and Owen, as they walked around our house and looked at all of the decorations and twinkling lights. I thought of three little girls who helped me decorate for the holidays for a couple of years and are now teenagers who still talk about the “magic” and fun of coming to our house at Christmas time. I recalled the words of my mother’s sister, who found a festive, warm haven on Christmas Eve in the middle of the chaos that surrounded our afternoon as my grandmother fell and was injured. And I remembered how comforted I was to return home from hospital visits, shopping trips and more to find “candles” lighting the windows and sit among the reminders of this special season – and to reflect on God’s love for me. I found solace in the hot tea and cookies made from a recipe my family has enjoyed each Christmas since I was a child… reminded of the continual thread of love that binds us together.
More importantly, I was reminded that we always have a haven of rest in Jesus. He is always “waiting on the beach, tending a fire to warm us.” He always has a meal ready to feed us – body and soul. And He wants us to extend that same love and hospitality to others in His name. I’m not saying that Jesus wants us to turn into Clark Griswold and cover our homes in tacky, overdone holiday décor. But I do believe He wants us to live in a way that says, “You are welcome here… in my home, in my heart, and in my life. I am extending to you the same love that Jesus shows to me each and every day.”
I have no doubt that I will get busy and get things packed away soon… and that I will once again drag them out for the next Christmas. In the meantime, I will make every effort to extend the warmth and love of Jesus in everything I say and do… from smiling at the cashier to sending a get-well card or inviting friends and family over to share a meal to waving a flag on July 4th! I will do all I can to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those I encounter… and I will thank Him for the opportunity to share the blessings He has given to me with others.
How will you “decorate” in 2012? How inviting will your “home” be to others? Will they see the love of Jesus when they look at you, or have you packed away your “decorations” so deeply that they are almost non-existent? It’s time to re-examine our relationship with Christ and see where we need to polish a few things. As we close one year and begin another, let’s ask Him to show us where we need to beef up our efforts… and let’s get the fire started. People will be showing up in our lives every single day… needing to be nurtured, fed, encouraged and blessed. Will we be ready to serve them on Jesus’ behalf?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 9, 2011
Psalm 84:1-5
LORD God All-Powerful, your temple is so lovely! Deep in my heart I long for your temple, and with all that I am I sing joyful songs to you.
LORD God All-Powerful, my King and my God, sparrows find a home near your altars; swallows build nests there to raise their young. You bless everyone who lives in your house, and they sing your praises. You bless all who depend on you for their strength and all who deeply desire to visit your temple.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my husband and I lived on what had been my grandparents’ farm, we had a beautiful old barn. That barn had been on the property all of my life. I stored my horse’s saddle in one of the old corn cribs. My grandfather fed his cattle in the feed chute along one side. The old stalls held interesting tools, hardware and hints of days gone by… and the loft was a treasure trove of things to discover… including the muddy nests of barn swallows that built there.
In later years, the barn became termite infested and had to be torn down. And once the barn was gone, the swallows had to look for a new home. Their solution was to try and build those muddy nests in an inset along the ceiling of our upstairs porch! We fought quite a battle with the swallows, and while we felt badly that their familiar nesting spot had been displaced, their messy abodes were not welcome in our house!
Have you ever felt displaced? Have you ever felt like the rug was pulled out from under you… and suddenly you didn’t know where to turn or what to do next? Did you fumble and stumble and try a few new options, hoping to hit on the right solution? It’s not a very fun feeling to be fumbling in the dark or feeling lost, is it?! And feeling like you are not wanted or don’t have a “home” where you belong is truly an unsettling experience, at best.
The Good News is that God’s door is always open. We are never displaced with Him… there is always room for us in His house – muddy, messy nests and all! Any time we start to feel like we don’t know what to do or where to turn, the answer is right in front of us… the LORD God All-Powerful! Our King and our God can help us figure out where to go next. He can find us the perfect “home”… the best solution… the right path.
When we give our heart to God and put our trust in Him to work on our behalf, we can rest in His presence… safe and secure. We can know that He will give us strength, courage, wisdom and peace. We always have a home with God… and that is cause for celebration and praise! Deep in our hearts, we can long for His temple… and He will find a spot for us there. We can sing songs of joy and praise His power, grace and mercy over us.
“Life” may temporarily displace us… but God will give us refuge and provide us a new place to roost. Are you trusting God to always provide you with a room in His house? Are you allowing Him to meet your needs… and giving Him praise for doing so? Isn’t it about time to start?
©2011 Debbie Robus
LORD God All-Powerful, your temple is so lovely! Deep in my heart I long for your temple, and with all that I am I sing joyful songs to you.
LORD God All-Powerful, my King and my God, sparrows find a home near your altars; swallows build nests there to raise their young. You bless everyone who lives in your house, and they sing your praises. You bless all who depend on you for their strength and all who deeply desire to visit your temple.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my husband and I lived on what had been my grandparents’ farm, we had a beautiful old barn. That barn had been on the property all of my life. I stored my horse’s saddle in one of the old corn cribs. My grandfather fed his cattle in the feed chute along one side. The old stalls held interesting tools, hardware and hints of days gone by… and the loft was a treasure trove of things to discover… including the muddy nests of barn swallows that built there.
In later years, the barn became termite infested and had to be torn down. And once the barn was gone, the swallows had to look for a new home. Their solution was to try and build those muddy nests in an inset along the ceiling of our upstairs porch! We fought quite a battle with the swallows, and while we felt badly that their familiar nesting spot had been displaced, their messy abodes were not welcome in our house!
Have you ever felt displaced? Have you ever felt like the rug was pulled out from under you… and suddenly you didn’t know where to turn or what to do next? Did you fumble and stumble and try a few new options, hoping to hit on the right solution? It’s not a very fun feeling to be fumbling in the dark or feeling lost, is it?! And feeling like you are not wanted or don’t have a “home” where you belong is truly an unsettling experience, at best.
The Good News is that God’s door is always open. We are never displaced with Him… there is always room for us in His house – muddy, messy nests and all! Any time we start to feel like we don’t know what to do or where to turn, the answer is right in front of us… the LORD God All-Powerful! Our King and our God can help us figure out where to go next. He can find us the perfect “home”… the best solution… the right path.
When we give our heart to God and put our trust in Him to work on our behalf, we can rest in His presence… safe and secure. We can know that He will give us strength, courage, wisdom and peace. We always have a home with God… and that is cause for celebration and praise! Deep in our hearts, we can long for His temple… and He will find a spot for us there. We can sing songs of joy and praise His power, grace and mercy over us.
“Life” may temporarily displace us… but God will give us refuge and provide us a new place to roost. Are you trusting God to always provide you with a room in His house? Are you allowing Him to meet your needs… and giving Him praise for doing so? Isn’t it about time to start?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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