1 Peter 3:10-11
“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.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our 3-year-old niece, Zola, is a “runner”. She loves to break free from holding the hand of an adult and run…into parking lots, out into the street, or across the yard. It’s a problem that could have serious consequences, and we are all trying to impress upon her that she must not do this! When she ran from me after church, I told her, “You cannot come to our house this week to spend the night if you are not going to mind us!” She began to wail…”But I want to come!” I reminded her that she must start doing right! She is definitely a “work in progress”!
As we get older, the specifics of our “evil ways” may change…but the basic principle is the same. There are temptations on all sides, and we succumb to them for a variety of reasons…ranging from a desire to fit in to the yearning to “be our own person” and exercise our independence! It’s something of a “grown-up” version of running into the street! Regardless of the reason, the results are often the same…hurt feelings, emotional and physical danger, disappointment, and unhappiness, to name a few.
In order to be truly happy and “free”, we must trust Jesus to help us release the “hold” of Satan…to help us rid our lives of evil – lying, cheating, gossip, criticism and insults, cruelty of any kind, and more. We must strive to live more like Jesus each and every minute of the day. As we begin to cling to Him and HIS ways…we will find that our lives are actually more carefree and joyful.
Do you really love life? Do you truly want to be joyful and happy? Jesus is waiting to show you how. Are you ready to take His hand and let Him?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label finding joy in Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finding joy in Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 5, 2013
Philippians 4:8-9
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
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.
When I was nine years old, my great-grandfather died. I remember sitting on my great-grandmother’s lap in their little farmhouse at Wilburn, Arkansas, and telling her how sorry I was. She replied that everything would be okay… that we would all be okay. I can still remember my mother saying, “Granny is a strong woman.” In recent years, I learned that there was at least a time when Granny was anything but strong. She “took to her bed”, as old-timers like to say - somewhere around 1920 - and stayed there for SEVENTEEN YEARS! From what we can glean, we believe that Granny suffered a nervous breakdown after a bout with the flu – and possibly a miscarriage. My paternal grandmother, who grew up with Granny’s children, always said that “Granny had some sort of ‘spell’ and just went to bed.”
One of Granny’s daughters told Mother that my great-grandfather tried everything to cheer her up… taking her on wagon rides on Sunday afternoons… even moving into town for a year so that Granny could drink local mineral waters that were said to have healing effects… doing virtually anything he thought might please her. It was all to no avail. Granny ran her family (my great-grandfather, my grandfather, his brother and a toddler sister) and her household from bed… and she even bore two more children during this time. And as my grandfather and his older siblings grew up and left home, Granny gradually began to get up out of bed and take on a few household chores… and even some cooking. She died in 1968, at the age of 79. I was grown and married before I ever knew anything of this 17-year episode.
There are a lot of us who have figuratively “taken to our beds” – if not literally. We mope around with an unpleasant look on our faces and an unhappy attitude. We gripe and complain… about everything. Many have even built a reputation for being a negative person… someone whom others don’t care to be around – at least for very long. I know a few people like this, don’t you? They are always mad or angry about something or someone…nothing is ever quite right…and every word from their mouth is tinged with a hint of displeasure and dissatisfaction. The crazy thing is that some of these people even claim to be Spirit-filled Christians!
I GOOGLED the phrase “positive people”… hoping to find some inspirational personal stories of people who have remained positive and pleasant against all odds. Instead, I found this list of 10 Essential Habits of Positive People at a website called Lifehack.org. (http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/the-10-essential-habits-of-positive-people.html) Please visit this site and read the commentary that expounds on each of these ten points. It’s very good and highly enlightening. But here are the 10 basic points…
God doesn’t love us any less when we behave in this manner… but He surely would like to see us turn this around. We can… and He will help us! But here’s the deal… it’s our choice! We can choose to call on the LORD and summon every ounce of strength and resolve necessary to overcome negative forces in our life… to become positive people who fill our minds and meditate on “things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” We can put into practice the teachings of Jesus… all that we have seen, heard and realized. Or we can allow the devil to have a field day – to consume us with negative thoughts and attitudes, depression, disillusionment, and a general dissatisfaction with our life and everyone in it.
I know some of you will argue that there are extenuating circumstances… medical complications and mental disorders that cause some to behave this way. And you are right. But most of us use this as a crutch because we don’t want to accept our own choices. Too many of us rather enjoy wallowing in self-pity and negativity… and we have chosen to stay there!
I don’t know about you, but this is an easy decision for me. I want the joys and symple rhythms of a life in Christ… one where He helps me over the bumps in the road and through the difficult times – and there will always be difficult times – and moves me along toward heaven. I want to operate in service that pleases Him… an attitude that says that my life in Christ can overcome any obstacles and hitches the devil tries to place in my path. Like my Granny told me when I was ten, everything will be okay. I believe that, because I believe that God will work everything together for His perfect harmonies in those who choose to love and serve Him.
What do you believe? And how will you choose to operate?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
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.
When I was nine years old, my great-grandfather died. I remember sitting on my great-grandmother’s lap in their little farmhouse at Wilburn, Arkansas, and telling her how sorry I was. She replied that everything would be okay… that we would all be okay. I can still remember my mother saying, “Granny is a strong woman.” In recent years, I learned that there was at least a time when Granny was anything but strong. She “took to her bed”, as old-timers like to say - somewhere around 1920 - and stayed there for SEVENTEEN YEARS! From what we can glean, we believe that Granny suffered a nervous breakdown after a bout with the flu – and possibly a miscarriage. My paternal grandmother, who grew up with Granny’s children, always said that “Granny had some sort of ‘spell’ and just went to bed.”
One of Granny’s daughters told Mother that my great-grandfather tried everything to cheer her up… taking her on wagon rides on Sunday afternoons… even moving into town for a year so that Granny could drink local mineral waters that were said to have healing effects… doing virtually anything he thought might please her. It was all to no avail. Granny ran her family (my great-grandfather, my grandfather, his brother and a toddler sister) and her household from bed… and she even bore two more children during this time. And as my grandfather and his older siblings grew up and left home, Granny gradually began to get up out of bed and take on a few household chores… and even some cooking. She died in 1968, at the age of 79. I was grown and married before I ever knew anything of this 17-year episode.
There are a lot of us who have figuratively “taken to our beds” – if not literally. We mope around with an unpleasant look on our faces and an unhappy attitude. We gripe and complain… about everything. Many have even built a reputation for being a negative person… someone whom others don’t care to be around – at least for very long. I know a few people like this, don’t you? They are always mad or angry about something or someone…nothing is ever quite right…and every word from their mouth is tinged with a hint of displeasure and dissatisfaction. The crazy thing is that some of these people even claim to be Spirit-filled Christians!
I GOOGLED the phrase “positive people”… hoping to find some inspirational personal stories of people who have remained positive and pleasant against all odds. Instead, I found this list of 10 Essential Habits of Positive People at a website called Lifehack.org. (http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/the-10-essential-habits-of-positive-people.html) Please visit this site and read the commentary that expounds on each of these ten points. It’s very good and highly enlightening. But here are the 10 basic points…
- Positive people don’t confuse quitting with letting go.
- Positive people don’t just have a good day – they make a good day.
- For the positive person, the past stays in the past.
- Show me a positive person and I can show you a grateful person.
- Rather than being stuck in their limitations, positive people are energized by their possibilities.
- Positive people do not let their fears interfere with their lives!
- Positive people smile a lot!
- People who are positive are great communicators.
- Positive people realize that if you live long enough, there are times for great pain and sadness.
- Positive persons are empowered people – they refuse to blame others and are not victims in life.
God doesn’t love us any less when we behave in this manner… but He surely would like to see us turn this around. We can… and He will help us! But here’s the deal… it’s our choice! We can choose to call on the LORD and summon every ounce of strength and resolve necessary to overcome negative forces in our life… to become positive people who fill our minds and meditate on “things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” We can put into practice the teachings of Jesus… all that we have seen, heard and realized. Or we can allow the devil to have a field day – to consume us with negative thoughts and attitudes, depression, disillusionment, and a general dissatisfaction with our life and everyone in it.
I know some of you will argue that there are extenuating circumstances… medical complications and mental disorders that cause some to behave this way. And you are right. But most of us use this as a crutch because we don’t want to accept our own choices. Too many of us rather enjoy wallowing in self-pity and negativity… and we have chosen to stay there!
I don’t know about you, but this is an easy decision for me. I want the joys and symple rhythms of a life in Christ… one where He helps me over the bumps in the road and through the difficult times – and there will always be difficult times – and moves me along toward heaven. I want to operate in service that pleases Him… an attitude that says that my life in Christ can overcome any obstacles and hitches the devil tries to place in my path. Like my Granny told me when I was ten, everything will be okay. I believe that, because I believe that God will work everything together for His perfect harmonies in those who choose to love and serve Him.
What do you believe? And how will you choose to operate?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 8, 2013
Proverbs 15:17
A simple meal with love is better than a feast where there is hatred.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Early one afternoon in August 2009, my Mam-ma Polly (who was then 97) phoned me and said she was preparing dinner for my mom and her husband, Lee - did we want to come? I told her I would check with my [my husband] Greg, and she said, "I don't know what you and your momma will eat (Mom is diabetic - I have a corn allergy). I'm fixin' green beans, corn, sweet potatoes and a lemon pie." I asked her if I could bring some chicken, and she said, "Well your momma is bringing ribs. I told her I would just go out and get some ribs, and she said she already had ribs cooked."
I called Mam-ma back to tell her we would come for dinner and that I would bring some roasted chicken breasts. I also told her that I had checked with my mother, and she said she would take Mam-ma some potatoes to cook (Mam-ma's comment to me earlier was... "I only have 2 Irish potatoes.") We hung up, and Mam-ma called back ... "You can't eat cornbread, can you?" "No, but that is okay," I assured her, and she said, "Well, now... I'm gonna make a pan of rolls, too." For those of you who make homemade rolls, you know what a process this is! Granted, the more you do it, the faster you become, and Mam-ma did it for probably 90 years. But it's the stirring of that stiff dough that gives us trouble... and for someone nearly 97 with limited arm strength, it was a definite challenge - or should have been. However, her results were light, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth delicious... and she sent the leftovers home with us! Yippee!!!
Call #4 was to ask if my sister and her husband were babysitting their grandson Timothy. “I wondered if they would want to come to supper, too." I told her to call and ask them, but... "do you have enough food?" She said, "Well... I don't know... but if we don't, at least we'll all be together." When we arrived, not only were my sister and her husband there, but my niece Jasmine and her baby Timothy were there, too... and we had more than enough to eat!
Such a seemingly simple thing as a family supper was such a day-long chore for the woman who prepared it. Mother and I cleaned the kitchen as Mam-ma tottered in and around us, finding containers for a "dab" of this and a "dab" of that to save as leftovers. I showed her the leftover roasted chicken breasts and broth I had brought, and I suggested she combine all of the vegetables with the meat and create a stew... a dish she seemed to enjoy because she could chew everything in it. Mam-ma put all of the leftovers into the refrigerator individually… I never knew if she made a stew or not.
I’ve thought about my grandmother’s comment a lot. Most of my life, she threw “a little dab of this and a little dab of that” together and created a virtual feast for a family of 7-10 at any given meal. She was the modern-day example of the “fish and five loaves”! But the food was completely secondary to the company. And that was the case at this meal. We were together as a family around her table… and as it turns out – this was the last time.
I think about other meals I’ve eaten in nice restaurants… thick, juicy steaks… seafood feasts… gourmet dishes prepared by highly regarded chefs… and all pale in comparison to the meals around my grandmother’s table. None of these “fancy feasts” could hold a candle to a birthday dinner lovingly prepared by my mom, as was the case just a month ago. There isn’t a steak dinner on the planet that could be as good as those my father-in-law used to grill for us and my husband’s brothers and their spouses. And when you get to the heart of the matter, it has nothing to do with food… it’s about the company and the sense of comfort, camaraderie, and peace.
In the same manner, this devotional has little or nothing to do with food. The point is that we look for peace and joy in the wrong places. We seek the things of this world… empty pleasures…when what we really need is to spend some time at the feet of Jesus… to come to His table and find the nurture we crave. We look for the world’s best steak, when the “meat” we really need is found in God’s Holy word. A true relationship with Jesus and His Holy Spirit is better than the richest piece of cheesecake or your favorite carton of Hagen Daz! If you want real peace … grace, mercy, forgiveness…true comfort and confidence that God is handling your worries and cares… come to Jesus’ table for “a little dab of this or that”. Quit trying to have what you think is “the finer things” of life… you’ve already got them in spades!
Haven’t you ever had a simple picnic with a friend that tasted like the best meal ever? This is what Jesus offers us today. His love is pure, unadulterated, and doesn’t come with a lot of “garnishes”… but you will never find anything that satisfies quite like it. And you will never find peace that compares. What are you waiting for? Jesus’ table has room for all of us… and blessings enough for leftovers! Will you accept His invitation and “come to supper?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
A simple meal with love is better than a feast where there is hatred.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Early one afternoon in August 2009, my Mam-ma Polly (who was then 97) phoned me and said she was preparing dinner for my mom and her husband, Lee - did we want to come? I told her I would check with my [my husband] Greg, and she said, "I don't know what you and your momma will eat (Mom is diabetic - I have a corn allergy). I'm fixin' green beans, corn, sweet potatoes and a lemon pie." I asked her if I could bring some chicken, and she said, "Well your momma is bringing ribs. I told her I would just go out and get some ribs, and she said she already had ribs cooked."
I called Mam-ma back to tell her we would come for dinner and that I would bring some roasted chicken breasts. I also told her that I had checked with my mother, and she said she would take Mam-ma some potatoes to cook (Mam-ma's comment to me earlier was... "I only have 2 Irish potatoes.") We hung up, and Mam-ma called back ... "You can't eat cornbread, can you?" "No, but that is okay," I assured her, and she said, "Well, now... I'm gonna make a pan of rolls, too." For those of you who make homemade rolls, you know what a process this is! Granted, the more you do it, the faster you become, and Mam-ma did it for probably 90 years. But it's the stirring of that stiff dough that gives us trouble... and for someone nearly 97 with limited arm strength, it was a definite challenge - or should have been. However, her results were light, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth delicious... and she sent the leftovers home with us! Yippee!!!
Call #4 was to ask if my sister and her husband were babysitting their grandson Timothy. “I wondered if they would want to come to supper, too." I told her to call and ask them, but... "do you have enough food?" She said, "Well... I don't know... but if we don't, at least we'll all be together." When we arrived, not only were my sister and her husband there, but my niece Jasmine and her baby Timothy were there, too... and we had more than enough to eat!
Such a seemingly simple thing as a family supper was such a day-long chore for the woman who prepared it. Mother and I cleaned the kitchen as Mam-ma tottered in and around us, finding containers for a "dab" of this and a "dab" of that to save as leftovers. I showed her the leftover roasted chicken breasts and broth I had brought, and I suggested she combine all of the vegetables with the meat and create a stew... a dish she seemed to enjoy because she could chew everything in it. Mam-ma put all of the leftovers into the refrigerator individually… I never knew if she made a stew or not.
I’ve thought about my grandmother’s comment a lot. Most of my life, she threw “a little dab of this and a little dab of that” together and created a virtual feast for a family of 7-10 at any given meal. She was the modern-day example of the “fish and five loaves”! But the food was completely secondary to the company. And that was the case at this meal. We were together as a family around her table… and as it turns out – this was the last time.
I think about other meals I’ve eaten in nice restaurants… thick, juicy steaks… seafood feasts… gourmet dishes prepared by highly regarded chefs… and all pale in comparison to the meals around my grandmother’s table. None of these “fancy feasts” could hold a candle to a birthday dinner lovingly prepared by my mom, as was the case just a month ago. There isn’t a steak dinner on the planet that could be as good as those my father-in-law used to grill for us and my husband’s brothers and their spouses. And when you get to the heart of the matter, it has nothing to do with food… it’s about the company and the sense of comfort, camaraderie, and peace.
In the same manner, this devotional has little or nothing to do with food. The point is that we look for peace and joy in the wrong places. We seek the things of this world… empty pleasures…when what we really need is to spend some time at the feet of Jesus… to come to His table and find the nurture we crave. We look for the world’s best steak, when the “meat” we really need is found in God’s Holy word. A true relationship with Jesus and His Holy Spirit is better than the richest piece of cheesecake or your favorite carton of Hagen Daz! If you want real peace … grace, mercy, forgiveness…true comfort and confidence that God is handling your worries and cares… come to Jesus’ table for “a little dab of this or that”. Quit trying to have what you think is “the finer things” of life… you’ve already got them in spades!
Haven’t you ever had a simple picnic with a friend that tasted like the best meal ever? This is what Jesus offers us today. His love is pure, unadulterated, and doesn’t come with a lot of “garnishes”… but you will never find anything that satisfies quite like it. And you will never find peace that compares. What are you waiting for? Jesus’ table has room for all of us… and blessings enough for leftovers! Will you accept His invitation and “come to supper?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 7, 2013
Proverbs 12:20
Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
joy fills hearts that are planning 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.
Recently, a man in Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and confinement of three young women who he held hostage and abused for more than a decade. Captured between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16, and 20, these women were freed in May 2013, when one of the women managed to escape and secure help. During sentencing, the captor was given a chance to speak in court. He launched into a lengthy “explanation” of how he was not a bad person… but rather a victim of his own sexual abuse - and subject to impulsive behavior. He maintained that he was not a violent person, and he tried to claim that he and the women shared a “normal family” relationship.
What a perfect example this is of someone who plotted evil and filled his heart with deceit! In fact, one of the victims spoke in court and labeled this man a hypocrite for attending church services every Sunday… and coming home to torture them afterward. Clearly, this is a sick, evil individual. I cannot imagine that he has an ounce of peace in his heart.
As upsetting and disgusting as this story is, we must remember that horrible, evil incidents like this have occurred since even Old Testament times. The devil is alive and well… and he loves to fill hearts with deceit. Lest we start slinging mud too fast and far, we should stop and acknowledge that we all have a propensity for deceit. Thankfully, most of us are not kidnappers and rapists… but we plot evil just the same.
When we “call in sick” so that we can do something fun, we are deceitful. When we make up excuses for friends, family members, co-workers, teachers, and others, we are devious, at best. Many of us lie, cheat and steal in some form or another all week long, then attend church on Sunday like the most pious of believers! Often, we tiptoe from one lie to the next… scared to death we will be “found out”… and stressed to the max as we try to juggle all of the deceptions we have created. Think of the adage by Scottish author and novelist, Sir Walter Scott (1771 – 1832)… “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” Where is the peace in this statement?
I have to believe that the women this man captured clung to the hope of peace someday… that they planned for it… dreamed of it… and believed that peace would once again be theirs. If they experienced even the briefest moments of joy, these surely were found in thoughts of being free and reunited with family members and friends. And I ask you… how do you plan for peace? What do you anticipate… what is the focus of your hopes and dreams… where do you place your hope? I have no clue how you answer these questions, but I can tell you that my ambitions and aspirations ultimately begin and end with Jesus. I don’t know what my future holds… but I know that He holds my future. I don’t know where or how joy will come, but I know that He will ensure that my heart is filled.
A dear friend of mine told me just today that “I am wondering now how anyone functions without being covered in the Peace of God. Thank goodness He is growing me daily, carries my burdens, and leads me with a growing clarity.” My question for you today is this… “Who grows you daily, carries your burdens, and leads you with a growing clarity? Are you covered in God’s peace? Is your heart filled with His joy… or do you still make room there for the devil?” Won’t you stop and think about this today? Will you ask God to show you how and where you need to change your attitude… and your objectives? Will this be the day you begin to fill your heart with God’s joy by planning peace?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
joy fills hearts that are planning 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.
Recently, a man in Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and confinement of three young women who he held hostage and abused for more than a decade. Captured between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16, and 20, these women were freed in May 2013, when one of the women managed to escape and secure help. During sentencing, the captor was given a chance to speak in court. He launched into a lengthy “explanation” of how he was not a bad person… but rather a victim of his own sexual abuse - and subject to impulsive behavior. He maintained that he was not a violent person, and he tried to claim that he and the women shared a “normal family” relationship.
What a perfect example this is of someone who plotted evil and filled his heart with deceit! In fact, one of the victims spoke in court and labeled this man a hypocrite for attending church services every Sunday… and coming home to torture them afterward. Clearly, this is a sick, evil individual. I cannot imagine that he has an ounce of peace in his heart.
As upsetting and disgusting as this story is, we must remember that horrible, evil incidents like this have occurred since even Old Testament times. The devil is alive and well… and he loves to fill hearts with deceit. Lest we start slinging mud too fast and far, we should stop and acknowledge that we all have a propensity for deceit. Thankfully, most of us are not kidnappers and rapists… but we plot evil just the same.
When we “call in sick” so that we can do something fun, we are deceitful. When we make up excuses for friends, family members, co-workers, teachers, and others, we are devious, at best. Many of us lie, cheat and steal in some form or another all week long, then attend church on Sunday like the most pious of believers! Often, we tiptoe from one lie to the next… scared to death we will be “found out”… and stressed to the max as we try to juggle all of the deceptions we have created. Think of the adage by Scottish author and novelist, Sir Walter Scott (1771 – 1832)… “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” Where is the peace in this statement?
I have to believe that the women this man captured clung to the hope of peace someday… that they planned for it… dreamed of it… and believed that peace would once again be theirs. If they experienced even the briefest moments of joy, these surely were found in thoughts of being free and reunited with family members and friends. And I ask you… how do you plan for peace? What do you anticipate… what is the focus of your hopes and dreams… where do you place your hope? I have no clue how you answer these questions, but I can tell you that my ambitions and aspirations ultimately begin and end with Jesus. I don’t know what my future holds… but I know that He holds my future. I don’t know where or how joy will come, but I know that He will ensure that my heart is filled.
A dear friend of mine told me just today that “I am wondering now how anyone functions without being covered in the Peace of God. Thank goodness He is growing me daily, carries my burdens, and leads me with a growing clarity.” My question for you today is this… “Who grows you daily, carries your burdens, and leads you with a growing clarity? Are you covered in God’s peace? Is your heart filled with His joy… or do you still make room there for the devil?” Won’t you stop and think about this today? Will you ask God to show you how and where you need to change your attitude… and your objectives? Will this be the day you begin to fill your heart with God’s joy by planning peace?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 13, 2013
Isaiah 60:20
Your sun will never set
or your moon go down.
I, the Lord, will be
your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow
will come to an end.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In the mornings, I have a routine that seldom varies. I walk through our house and turn on several lights… miniature lights on the mantle and along the top of the kitchen cabinets… a lamp in the kitchen…and sometimes others if it’s an especially cloudy day. We have night lights and lamps that we turn on in the evenings to further illuminate the rooms of our house. If you count our little “night lights,” there is virtually no hour of the day that a light is not “on” somewhere in our house.
Several years ago, the husband of a dear friend of mine died suddenly while they were attending a wedding in another state. She told me that before she returned, friends went to her house and turned on lights and made everything cozy, so that she did not walk into a dark, sad home. Some people suffer from a condition known as S.A.D. – Seasonal Affective Disorder. On cloudy, dreary days – especially in the fall and winter – they experience a sort of depression and sadness. Actually sitting in front of a lamp that mimics natural daylight is said to help with this condition!
In John 8:12, we read…”Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, ‘I am the light for the world! Follow me...’” and in 2 Timothy 1:10, we read, “Now Christ Jesus has come to show us the kindness of God. Christ our Savior defeated death and brought us the good news. It shines like a light and offers life that never ends.” Have you ever noticed that your mood is more cheerful and you have more energy on a sunny day than a cloudy one? Jesus is referred to in several places in the New Testament as “the Light”. If your mood is better on a sunny day filled with light… would it not follow that your life would be better if you filled it with the Light of Christ?
Aren’t you flooded with peace to think of a relationship with Jesus in which “your sun never sets and the moon never goes down”… a life where “your days of sorrow will come to an end”? Doesn’t this fill you with hope and serenity… a sense of calm and confidence? Light is such an important factor in our lives. There are so many things we can do with light that are impossible to accomplish in darkness. And there are even more things that we cannot achieve without the Light of Christ! He truly does shine the light of GOOD NEWS and bring us a life that never ends!
This is encouraging news. This is worth celebrating! I often sing the little song to Timothy, Zola and Nathan… “This little light of mine – I’m gonna let it shine.” Is the light of Christ shining in your heart and illuminating your way? Do you have the peace of knowing His GOOD NEWS and walking in the confidence that sorrows will end – but your life in Him never will? Isn’t it time you “turned on the Light” of Jesus and filled your life with His joy and peace?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Your sun will never set
or your moon go down.
I, the Lord, will be
your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow
will come to an end.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In the mornings, I have a routine that seldom varies. I walk through our house and turn on several lights… miniature lights on the mantle and along the top of the kitchen cabinets… a lamp in the kitchen…and sometimes others if it’s an especially cloudy day. We have night lights and lamps that we turn on in the evenings to further illuminate the rooms of our house. If you count our little “night lights,” there is virtually no hour of the day that a light is not “on” somewhere in our house.
Several years ago, the husband of a dear friend of mine died suddenly while they were attending a wedding in another state. She told me that before she returned, friends went to her house and turned on lights and made everything cozy, so that she did not walk into a dark, sad home. Some people suffer from a condition known as S.A.D. – Seasonal Affective Disorder. On cloudy, dreary days – especially in the fall and winter – they experience a sort of depression and sadness. Actually sitting in front of a lamp that mimics natural daylight is said to help with this condition!
In John 8:12, we read…”Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, ‘I am the light for the world! Follow me...’” and in 2 Timothy 1:10, we read, “Now Christ Jesus has come to show us the kindness of God. Christ our Savior defeated death and brought us the good news. It shines like a light and offers life that never ends.” Have you ever noticed that your mood is more cheerful and you have more energy on a sunny day than a cloudy one? Jesus is referred to in several places in the New Testament as “the Light”. If your mood is better on a sunny day filled with light… would it not follow that your life would be better if you filled it with the Light of Christ?
Aren’t you flooded with peace to think of a relationship with Jesus in which “your sun never sets and the moon never goes down”… a life where “your days of sorrow will come to an end”? Doesn’t this fill you with hope and serenity… a sense of calm and confidence? Light is such an important factor in our lives. There are so many things we can do with light that are impossible to accomplish in darkness. And there are even more things that we cannot achieve without the Light of Christ! He truly does shine the light of GOOD NEWS and bring us a life that never ends!
This is encouraging news. This is worth celebrating! I often sing the little song to Timothy, Zola and Nathan… “This little light of mine – I’m gonna let it shine.” Is the light of Christ shining in your heart and illuminating your way? Do you have the peace of knowing His GOOD NEWS and walking in the confidence that sorrows will end – but your life in Him never will? Isn’t it time you “turned on the Light” of Jesus and filled your life with His joy and peace?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 11, 2013
Isaiah 55:8-12
The Lord says:
“My thoughts and my ways are not like yours.
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.
“Rain and snow fall from the sky.
But they don’t return without watering the earth
that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat.
That’s how it is with my words.
They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.”
When you are set free, you will celebrate and travel home in peace.
Mountains and hills will sing as you pass by, and trees will clap.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve all been to a concert or the ballgame where entertainers, celebrities, and/or athletes appear, and the crowd goes wild with excitement. The enthusiasm is palpable… contagious… and for a time, at least, we leave the event feeling uplifted and joyful. We travel home in peace. God wants us to experience Him in this manner. He wants us to be so filled with His presence that we are exhilarated, yet serene… all at once confident and calm.
There are about a dozen people that I often encounter who truly make me a better person every time I am with them. They seem to exude joy and faith in God. No matter what is happening in their lives, they have a smile and a positive attitude… and I know it is because of their close relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Truly, after I am with these people, I feel like the mountains and hills sing and the trees clap as I pass by.
Do you know people like this? Are you one of them? Do you know that God wants us to be so filled with His thoughts, words and ways that we cannot help but experience incredible peace and joy in Him? Can you see that God wants us to be so full of faith and enthusiasm for His truths that we move the mountains and hills to sing and the trees to clap in celebration?
Most of us will never attain celebrity status or be professional athletes or entertainers. We will never enter arenas or stages to the rousing applause and celebration of an adoring throng. But this really isn’t important anyway. What matters is that we live in the applause and celebration of God… of belonging completely to Him, surrendering to His ways, and sharing His love with others. When we settle into the complete peace and freedom of a life in Christ… with the Holy Spirit as our constant companion… mountains and hills will indeed sing, trees will clap, and these will be all of the accolades we could ever need.
Whose applause are you seeking these days? Where are you searching for peace? Give God room to work in your life… make a place for the Holy Spirit in your heart. Look for joy and contentment in the right places. Attune your heart to the higher ways and words of God… and get ready to “travel home in peace”.
©2013 Debbie Robus
The Lord says:
“My thoughts and my ways are not like yours.
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.
“Rain and snow fall from the sky.
But they don’t return without watering the earth
that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat.
That’s how it is with my words.
They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.”
When you are set free, you will celebrate and travel home in peace.
Mountains and hills will sing as you pass by, and trees will clap.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve all been to a concert or the ballgame where entertainers, celebrities, and/or athletes appear, and the crowd goes wild with excitement. The enthusiasm is palpable… contagious… and for a time, at least, we leave the event feeling uplifted and joyful. We travel home in peace. God wants us to experience Him in this manner. He wants us to be so filled with His presence that we are exhilarated, yet serene… all at once confident and calm.
There are about a dozen people that I often encounter who truly make me a better person every time I am with them. They seem to exude joy and faith in God. No matter what is happening in their lives, they have a smile and a positive attitude… and I know it is because of their close relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Truly, after I am with these people, I feel like the mountains and hills sing and the trees clap as I pass by.
Do you know people like this? Are you one of them? Do you know that God wants us to be so filled with His thoughts, words and ways that we cannot help but experience incredible peace and joy in Him? Can you see that God wants us to be so full of faith and enthusiasm for His truths that we move the mountains and hills to sing and the trees to clap in celebration?
Most of us will never attain celebrity status or be professional athletes or entertainers. We will never enter arenas or stages to the rousing applause and celebration of an adoring throng. But this really isn’t important anyway. What matters is that we live in the applause and celebration of God… of belonging completely to Him, surrendering to His ways, and sharing His love with others. When we settle into the complete peace and freedom of a life in Christ… with the Holy Spirit as our constant companion… mountains and hills will indeed sing, trees will clap, and these will be all of the accolades we could ever need.
Whose applause are you seeking these days? Where are you searching for peace? Give God room to work in your life… make a place for the Holy Spirit in your heart. Look for joy and contentment in the right places. Attune your heart to the higher ways and words of God… and get ready to “travel home in peace”.
©2013 Debbie Robus
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 3, 2012
Hosea 6:1-3
Let’s return to the Lord. He has torn us to shreds, but he will bandage our wounds and make us well. In two or three days he will heal us and restore our strength that we may live with him. Let’s do our best to know the Lord. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am sitting in the hospital with my grandmother, and she is crying out in pain. It is a hard thing to endure…watching her suffer. The natural instinct would be to cry out to God and ask WHY this little faithful servant of His must go through such an ordeal. Why, at almost 100 years old, must her life include such a miserable challenge.
I opened my Kindle this morning to read from God Calling – a daily devotional book. With all of this “excitement,” I had not read from this book in a few days, so my first “devo” was for April 28 – Hosea 6:1-3. Isn’t that just like God to give me exactly what I need today? I can’t begin to tell you how comforted I was to read that what God has allowed to be “torn to shreds,” He will bandage and make well. He will restore strength as sure as morning sun or refreshing rain.
So as much as it breaks my heart to hear my grandmother cry out in pain, I am at peace… knowing that God is holding her in the palm of His hand. He is using this experience for His good… as He has worked in and through her for almost a century. I don’t know who my grandmother is touching in God’s name… or how He is at work. But I know that He is not wasting a minute of this… and one way or another, my Mam-ma Polly will be ultimately refreshed and restored.
I don’t know what challenges you today… what pain and suffering you may experience… or how God will work in and through you. But I know that He will… and I pray that you find His peace and comfort…and rest in His promises for complete healing. To God be the glory for His amazing grace and mercy, now and forever. Amen.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Let’s return to the Lord. He has torn us to shreds, but he will bandage our wounds and make us well. In two or three days he will heal us and restore our strength that we may live with him. Let’s do our best to know the Lord. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am sitting in the hospital with my grandmother, and she is crying out in pain. It is a hard thing to endure…watching her suffer. The natural instinct would be to cry out to God and ask WHY this little faithful servant of His must go through such an ordeal. Why, at almost 100 years old, must her life include such a miserable challenge.
I opened my Kindle this morning to read from God Calling – a daily devotional book. With all of this “excitement,” I had not read from this book in a few days, so my first “devo” was for April 28 – Hosea 6:1-3. Isn’t that just like God to give me exactly what I need today? I can’t begin to tell you how comforted I was to read that what God has allowed to be “torn to shreds,” He will bandage and make well. He will restore strength as sure as morning sun or refreshing rain.
So as much as it breaks my heart to hear my grandmother cry out in pain, I am at peace… knowing that God is holding her in the palm of His hand. He is using this experience for His good… as He has worked in and through her for almost a century. I don’t know who my grandmother is touching in God’s name… or how He is at work. But I know that He is not wasting a minute of this… and one way or another, my Mam-ma Polly will be ultimately refreshed and restored.
I don’t know what challenges you today… what pain and suffering you may experience… or how God will work in and through you. But I know that He will… and I pray that you find His peace and comfort…and rest in His promises for complete healing. To God be the glory for His amazing grace and mercy, now and forever. Amen.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 6, 2012
Romans 8:15-17 This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!
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.
Lately, I’ve been exchanging messages with a friend from high school who will soon be transferring two foster children in her care back to the home of their mother. She has cared for these children for several months now, and her home has been a loving, stable environment for them… their longest “stability” ever. Naturally, she is dreading the day that they will leave her… for many reasons.
While my husband and I were not fulltime foster parents, we did spend a lot of time with my little nephew, Timothy, during his first 2½ years of life. Saying “Good-bye” to him when he moved to another state last December was truly heartbreaking. I understand on some level what my friend is experiencing… I know the dread of “the day” and the sadness of the actual “good-bye.” I also know that God has never left me… He has given me strength and courage when I sad and defeated. He has enabled me to smile, laugh and find joy… and given me a deeper appreciation for other children. And I am assuring my friend that He will do all of this – and more – for her.
The point of sharing this is not to make you feel sorry for my husband and me… or my friend. It is to show you that God not only shares our pain and heartaches… He shields us and lifts us, also. He never leaves us… and out of our most difficult circumstances, He sets us upright and enables us to ask, “What’s next?” Because of my experience, my friend knows that my words of encouragement are genuine and based in firsthand knowledge. And because of Jesus’ suffering, we can trust that He understands our own – and His comfort comes from a place of true empathy.
There are heartaches, challenges and sufferings of all kinds for each of us. Being a Christian doesn’t insulate us from these experiences… but it does insure us against a terminal suffering. In Psalm 30:5, we read that “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”(KJV) I like how The Message puts it… “The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.” Isn’t this great news? We should be deeply encouraged to know that a “new life in Christ” includes another day with a fresh start and a return of joy and laughter… and that Jesus is with us every step of the way.
Remember two things today: 1) God totally understands everything you are going through… your joys AND your sorrows… the good times AND those that are painful. When you suffer, He suffers with you, and… 2) God will restore your joy. I have no idea what your challenges, or heartaches are… but with God’s help, you WILL get through whatever it is you are suffering or grieving. God will see that you experience “good times” again.
Recognize the presence of Jesus and His Holy Spirit. Thank Him for His company… His grace, mercy, and blessings. Learn from God, and share the comfort you have received with others who have similar needs. Reach out and genuinely say, “I’ve been there… I understand… and you will get through this!” Because Jesus suffered on the cross, He can say, “I know how you feel… I understand what you are going through.” Remember the adage that “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” Because I know that Jesus cares, I care what He knows… and I want more of Him each and every day. Don’t you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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.
Lately, I’ve been exchanging messages with a friend from high school who will soon be transferring two foster children in her care back to the home of their mother. She has cared for these children for several months now, and her home has been a loving, stable environment for them… their longest “stability” ever. Naturally, she is dreading the day that they will leave her… for many reasons.
While my husband and I were not fulltime foster parents, we did spend a lot of time with my little nephew, Timothy, during his first 2½ years of life. Saying “Good-bye” to him when he moved to another state last December was truly heartbreaking. I understand on some level what my friend is experiencing… I know the dread of “the day” and the sadness of the actual “good-bye.” I also know that God has never left me… He has given me strength and courage when I sad and defeated. He has enabled me to smile, laugh and find joy… and given me a deeper appreciation for other children. And I am assuring my friend that He will do all of this – and more – for her.
The point of sharing this is not to make you feel sorry for my husband and me… or my friend. It is to show you that God not only shares our pain and heartaches… He shields us and lifts us, also. He never leaves us… and out of our most difficult circumstances, He sets us upright and enables us to ask, “What’s next?” Because of my experience, my friend knows that my words of encouragement are genuine and based in firsthand knowledge. And because of Jesus’ suffering, we can trust that He understands our own – and His comfort comes from a place of true empathy.
There are heartaches, challenges and sufferings of all kinds for each of us. Being a Christian doesn’t insulate us from these experiences… but it does insure us against a terminal suffering. In Psalm 30:5, we read that “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”(KJV) I like how The Message puts it… “The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.” Isn’t this great news? We should be deeply encouraged to know that a “new life in Christ” includes another day with a fresh start and a return of joy and laughter… and that Jesus is with us every step of the way.
Remember two things today: 1) God totally understands everything you are going through… your joys AND your sorrows… the good times AND those that are painful. When you suffer, He suffers with you, and… 2) God will restore your joy. I have no idea what your challenges, or heartaches are… but with God’s help, you WILL get through whatever it is you are suffering or grieving. God will see that you experience “good times” again.
Recognize the presence of Jesus and His Holy Spirit. Thank Him for His company… His grace, mercy, and blessings. Learn from God, and share the comfort you have received with others who have similar needs. Reach out and genuinely say, “I’ve been there… I understand… and you will get through this!” Because Jesus suffered on the cross, He can say, “I know how you feel… I understand what you are going through.” Remember the adage that “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” Because I know that Jesus cares, I care what He knows… and I want more of Him each and every day. Don’t you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 6, 2012
John 3:8
Only God's Spirit gives new life. The Spirit is like the wind that blows wherever it wants to. You can hear the wind, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you follow my devotionals, you know that on March 4th, I wrote about hope, based on the scripture passage from Romans 5:3-5. When I opened my Kindle to read the daily devotional from God Calling, the scripture passage for March 4th was… wait for it… Romans 5:3-5. I had already posted my own devo that day, based on this passage. As I said earlier, I am no longer truly surprised by God and how He works… but I am often incredibly impressed. This was one of those instances!
This morning, I sat in warm sunlight on my back porch, closed my eyes, and begged God to fill me with His wisdom, Holy Spirit, and all that I need to accomplish what He desires. For a while, I did not intercede on the behalf of others or ask for anything for myself… I merely sat and waited. Recent study of God’s word has convinced me that we need more of this… time spent waiting and listening… quiet time in which we allow God to reveal Himself to us. This morning, I asked God to handle what I cannot… and to show me how to be His agent in matters for which I have no answers of my own… how to be still – and softhearted.
My devotional for today from the book, God Calling, was based on the scripture passage from John 3. I found the comments to be quite profound… especially given my own morning meditations. Remember, the commentary is God speaking to us. In part, it said… “How silently My Spirit works. How gently and gradually souls are led into My Kingdom. Love and laughter form the plough that prepares the ground for the seed. Remember this. If the ground is hard, seed will not grow there. Prepare the ground, prepare it as I say.” *
This was my answer for today. God wants me to soften my heart… and to offer love, laughter, compassion and a gentle spirit to others, so that the “ground” of their hearts is softened for His seed. Where I am impatient, frustrated, disappointed, feeling hopeless and discouraged… I must find a way to relax and feel the joy of God’s presence, so that I can react and respond to others in a way that ploughs the ground for God to sow His seeds and work.
This was exactly what I needed today. My desire is for God to find “soft ground” in me and plant the seeds of His love, grace, mercy and wisdom there. If this is truly my desire, how can I even consider living in a way that would foster anything but this environment in others? I must continually look for ways to nurture joy and laughter… to plough “soft ground” in my own heart and the hearts of others, so that God has plenty of room to work. And then… I must step back and let Him accomplish what only He can… and trust His timing and perfection to produce perfect fruit.
I encourage you to take a few minutes today to sit quietly and listen for God. Soften your heart to Him – and to others – and allow him to plough and plant according to His perfect will. Feel his Spirit coming and going from all directions in and through you – just like the wind. Smile… laugh…find joy and hope in Him… and share this with every person you encounter. Then stand back… and watch God’s incredible “garden” of blessings, redemption and restoration grow!
©2012 Debbie Robus
*From God Calling, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.”
Only God's Spirit gives new life. The Spirit is like the wind that blows wherever it wants to. You can hear the wind, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you follow my devotionals, you know that on March 4th, I wrote about hope, based on the scripture passage from Romans 5:3-5. When I opened my Kindle to read the daily devotional from God Calling, the scripture passage for March 4th was… wait for it… Romans 5:3-5. I had already posted my own devo that day, based on this passage. As I said earlier, I am no longer truly surprised by God and how He works… but I am often incredibly impressed. This was one of those instances!
This morning, I sat in warm sunlight on my back porch, closed my eyes, and begged God to fill me with His wisdom, Holy Spirit, and all that I need to accomplish what He desires. For a while, I did not intercede on the behalf of others or ask for anything for myself… I merely sat and waited. Recent study of God’s word has convinced me that we need more of this… time spent waiting and listening… quiet time in which we allow God to reveal Himself to us. This morning, I asked God to handle what I cannot… and to show me how to be His agent in matters for which I have no answers of my own… how to be still – and softhearted.
My devotional for today from the book, God Calling, was based on the scripture passage from John 3. I found the comments to be quite profound… especially given my own morning meditations. Remember, the commentary is God speaking to us. In part, it said… “How silently My Spirit works. How gently and gradually souls are led into My Kingdom. Love and laughter form the plough that prepares the ground for the seed. Remember this. If the ground is hard, seed will not grow there. Prepare the ground, prepare it as I say.” *
This was my answer for today. God wants me to soften my heart… and to offer love, laughter, compassion and a gentle spirit to others, so that the “ground” of their hearts is softened for His seed. Where I am impatient, frustrated, disappointed, feeling hopeless and discouraged… I must find a way to relax and feel the joy of God’s presence, so that I can react and respond to others in a way that ploughs the ground for God to sow His seeds and work.
This was exactly what I needed today. My desire is for God to find “soft ground” in me and plant the seeds of His love, grace, mercy and wisdom there. If this is truly my desire, how can I even consider living in a way that would foster anything but this environment in others? I must continually look for ways to nurture joy and laughter… to plough “soft ground” in my own heart and the hearts of others, so that God has plenty of room to work. And then… I must step back and let Him accomplish what only He can… and trust His timing and perfection to produce perfect fruit.
I encourage you to take a few minutes today to sit quietly and listen for God. Soften your heart to Him – and to others – and allow him to plough and plant according to His perfect will. Feel his Spirit coming and going from all directions in and through you – just like the wind. Smile… laugh…find joy and hope in Him… and share this with every person you encounter. Then stand back… and watch God’s incredible “garden” of blessings, redemption and restoration grow!
©2012 Debbie Robus
*From God Calling, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.”
Daily Devotional for January 14, 2012
Acts 2:22-26
Now, listen to what I have to say about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you know this. God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. But God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power. What David said are really the words of Jesus…
"I always see the Lord near me, and I will not be afraid with him at my right side. Because of this, my heart will be glad, my words will be joyful, and I will live in hope.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other day, someone said to me, “Timothy must have gone home… you haven’t mentioned him as much lately in your devotionals.” Indeed, Timothy did go back to live with his mother in early December. But not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. A flip through the TV guide reminds me of NickJr. and the shows he loves on that channel. The pre-game warm-up music at the high school basketball game reminds me of how much he loves to dance. His toys, books, crib and stuffed animals make me think of how much he loves to play.
When we talk on the telephone, and I hear his happy little voice, I am filled with joy at how he is the same carefree child - whether he is at our house or his own some six-plus hours away… and my heart is glad. I know that I will see him again, and I truly do carry him in my heart in the meantime.
More importantly, I carry Jesus in my heart. He fills me with joy and gives me hope in all situations. And the more I learn to recognize His presence at my right side, the more I operate in joy and faith… and less in fear and negativity. I like to think that, because of Jesus and His power and presence, there is plenty of room in my heart for Timothy and so many others I love dearly. Because I acknowledge Jesus’ supreme existence and authority in my life, He has filled me with a sense of gratitude and joy for all of His gifts… including family and friends who help give my life a purpose. Because of Jesus, I can find joy even in the challenges of life, like missing a loved one who has gone to heaven – or a precious two-year-old little boy who has moved several hours away.
How important is your relationship with Jesus? Is He your daily Companion… always at your right side? Does He make your heart glad… your words joyful? Do you live in His hope? I will tell you that this is not an instantaneous thing. You can’t just magically snap your fingers and feel completely at peace and fulfilled in Jesus. It takes time… and work. You have to get to know Him… to study His word… to read about the promises and miracles of Jesus… and to trust them. You have to spend time in His presence and truly get comfortable and familiar with Him… and to build your faith. But the end result is so worth the effort.
I pray that today you will begin taking steps to grow closer to Jesus… to know Him in a way that brings hope and encouragement to everything about your life. I pray that you would know Him in such a profound way that your heart is glad, no matter what… your words are joyful… and He truly does expand your heart to encompass all that He wants to bring your way. Who stands at your right side these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Now, listen to what I have to say about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you know this. God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. But God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power. What David said are really the words of Jesus…
"I always see the Lord near me, and I will not be afraid with him at my right side. Because of this, my heart will be glad, my words will be joyful, and I will live in hope.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other day, someone said to me, “Timothy must have gone home… you haven’t mentioned him as much lately in your devotionals.” Indeed, Timothy did go back to live with his mother in early December. But not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. A flip through the TV guide reminds me of NickJr. and the shows he loves on that channel. The pre-game warm-up music at the high school basketball game reminds me of how much he loves to dance. His toys, books, crib and stuffed animals make me think of how much he loves to play.
When we talk on the telephone, and I hear his happy little voice, I am filled with joy at how he is the same carefree child - whether he is at our house or his own some six-plus hours away… and my heart is glad. I know that I will see him again, and I truly do carry him in my heart in the meantime.
More importantly, I carry Jesus in my heart. He fills me with joy and gives me hope in all situations. And the more I learn to recognize His presence at my right side, the more I operate in joy and faith… and less in fear and negativity. I like to think that, because of Jesus and His power and presence, there is plenty of room in my heart for Timothy and so many others I love dearly. Because I acknowledge Jesus’ supreme existence and authority in my life, He has filled me with a sense of gratitude and joy for all of His gifts… including family and friends who help give my life a purpose. Because of Jesus, I can find joy even in the challenges of life, like missing a loved one who has gone to heaven – or a precious two-year-old little boy who has moved several hours away.
How important is your relationship with Jesus? Is He your daily Companion… always at your right side? Does He make your heart glad… your words joyful? Do you live in His hope? I will tell you that this is not an instantaneous thing. You can’t just magically snap your fingers and feel completely at peace and fulfilled in Jesus. It takes time… and work. You have to get to know Him… to study His word… to read about the promises and miracles of Jesus… and to trust them. You have to spend time in His presence and truly get comfortable and familiar with Him… and to build your faith. But the end result is so worth the effort.
I pray that today you will begin taking steps to grow closer to Jesus… to know Him in a way that brings hope and encouragement to everything about your life. I pray that you would know Him in such a profound way that your heart is glad, no matter what… your words are joyful… and He truly does expand your heart to encompass all that He wants to bring your way. Who stands at your right side these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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