October 11 ~ Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of heart that comes
from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is
your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be
thankful.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy and I have had
several conversations lately about tattling. He is six…his younger
sister and brother are 4 and 3 – just enough age difference that they
often get on his last nerve! And he is quick to report to any adult
within earshot that “he bothered my things,” or “she’s touching me.”
Timmy’s Taekwondo instructor has assured him that “I’m aware of it! I
will handle it.” I’ve warned Timothy that Mr. Roy will make him do
pushups if he keeps tattling…and he may just have to do a few to really
learn this lesson!
Part of growing up is learning to get along.
And I get it…when my sister, brother and I were young, we fought like
cats and dogs! There is a reason they call it “sibling rivalry!” But
as we age and mature, we are supposed to learn to tolerate one another –
to forgive mistakes and overlook quirks and differences.
I
have to say, this is truly hard – even for us as adults. We get
irritated with others. We worry and stew over what they have said and
done…we are aggravated, frustrated, and just plain mad sometimes! And
we don’t stop to consider that none of these represent a heart filled
with the peace that comes from Christ! I can hear some of you now…”But I
just need a little time to be mad!” No, you don’t. You’re not six…and
besides, giving the devil even a “little time” to control your heart
opens the door for him to take an even bigger space – for an even longer
time! We cannot do this!
I’m definitely a work in progress in
this area – with “work” being the operative word. I have to truly stay
saturated in God’s word, in prayer, and in a focused mind and heart in
order not to be affected by the devil’s attempt to irritate or frustrate
me in some way. I thank God every day for giving me Jesus…and for the
safety and refuge I find in Him. I am grateful that I don’t have to be
mad and angry – upset and agitated. I can call, “Come, Holy Spirit!”
and He will calm me and remove my worries and aggravations.
If
you have to choose between peace and worry, which wins in your life?
How many times do we have to relearn this lesson? Don’t you want to
feel the calm serenity of Jesus Christ filling your heart in all
situations? Will this be the day that you take the necessary steps to
make that happen?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label finding peace in Gods love and care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finding peace in Gods love and care. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for February 28, 2015
Job 22:21
“Quit quarreling with God! Agree with him and you will have peace at last! His favor will surround you if you will only admit that you were wrong.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Greg and I watched a video this morning that someone shared on Facebook. It was of a cockatoo named Maxwell whose owner told him that he had to go to the vet and get his nails clipped. You can hear the owner telling Maxwell to get into his carrier…and then the rant starts. Not only does the bird argue with his owner, but he swears at him. I made out a couple of “four-letter phrases”…but mostly, we laughed at the tone the bird used as he muttered “under his breath”…and then as he squawked his protests. Obviously, he mimicked his owners and behaviors and language that he has observed in the home – and it wasn’t pretty!
Too often, we are Maxwell the bird. The protests and ugly things we say are not from God – but rather what we have observed in the world at large. We have learned very well how to throw a little fit…and we are all good at giving God our best tantrum on occasion.
Aren’t you ready to “let go and let God”? Aren’t you ready to agree with Him…to fully trust His plans and His timing…and to bask in His presence and provisions? Wouldn’t today be the perfect time to begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
“Quit quarreling with God! Agree with him and you will have peace at last! His favor will surround you if you will only admit that you were wrong.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Greg and I watched a video this morning that someone shared on Facebook. It was of a cockatoo named Maxwell whose owner told him that he had to go to the vet and get his nails clipped. You can hear the owner telling Maxwell to get into his carrier…and then the rant starts. Not only does the bird argue with his owner, but he swears at him. I made out a couple of “four-letter phrases”…but mostly, we laughed at the tone the bird used as he muttered “under his breath”…and then as he squawked his protests. Obviously, he mimicked his owners and behaviors and language that he has observed in the home – and it wasn’t pretty!
Too often, we are Maxwell the bird. The protests and ugly things we say are not from God – but rather what we have observed in the world at large. We have learned very well how to throw a little fit…and we are all good at giving God our best tantrum on occasion.
- “WHY are You punishing me?”
- “Where ARE You? – WHERE did You go?”
- “When will it be MY turn?”
- “How much longer do I have to suffer?”
- “What’s in this for ME?”
- “Do I HAVE to do this?”
Aren’t you ready to “let go and let God”? Aren’t you ready to agree with Him…to fully trust His plans and His timing…and to bask in His presence and provisions? Wouldn’t today be the perfect time to begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 6, 2014
Psalm 55:6
I wish I had wings
like a dove,
so I could fly far away
and be at peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My pastor probably won’t like this devotional, because his sermon today was about how we all tend to say, “I’m doing enough already…I can’t/won’t do anything more,” and we neglect the ministries to which God has called us. But here’s the thing… some of us are worn smack out! We’ve let the burdens and weariness of “life” get to us – to the point that we really are no longer serving God out of a heart for His ministries, but rather out of a sense of duty or obligation. We are in essence giving God lip service…and sometimes poorly, at that!
In her Bible study guide Make Over*, women’s speaker and author Jen Hatmaker asks, “Where do you need to cut yourself some slack?” She explains…”If you are searching for verses about working and pleasing God…they exist. But God and His writers assumed we were already living in grace. It’s ludicrous that we’d prefer a merit-based relationship after Jesus redeemed us from that curse. Pleasing God comes after grace, not before. Not one solitary second before. If that’s you, stop working. You’re better off doing nothing than trying to earn your grace. Every dance performed to win God over is wasted.”
Furthermore, some of us are dealing with some pretty heavy burdens…and we’ve decided that the way to manage them is to stay busy in ministry and missions. To these people, Hatmaker says,”God wants wholeness for you first and foremost. If you are injured, bench yourself and rest in the care of the Healer. Playing church while wounded not only compromises the team but also delays healing, making the injury far worse. It is lunacy to think God would ignore your brokenness and prefer your sacrifices at the risk of your spiritual health.”
So my question to you today, is “What are you doing for God…and why?” Have you been dancing like a monkey trying to be all things to all people…including God Almighty? Are you so worn out and weary or burdened that you wish you had wings like a dove and could fly away somewhere? Remember the “Calgon, take me away…” commercials? Are you in need of a spiritual “Calgon moment?”
I’ve got a word for you...it may be time for many of us to take a little “spiritual vacation”. I’m not suggesting that we quit going to church…put our Bibles on the shelf…or stop talking to God. I didn’t say you should cancel all ministries and mission projects and sit home and watch reality TV. But it may be time for us to step back and spend some quiet, “alone time” with God…to almost literally do nothing and just listen for His voice…to spend a few hours combing the scriptures and discovering what God really wants from us…to ask Him how, when and where to serve Him – and then really wait on His answer!
Everywhere you turn this time of year, people are taking “summer vacations” and “getting away from it all” to rest, relax and rejuvenate. Could it be that you need a little “vacation” of sorts to get you back on track spiritually? You don’t need the wings of a dove…or even a faraway place in which to discover God’s peace. All you need is a quiet corner, a comfortable place to sit, your Bible, and an open heart and mind. Are you ready for your spiritual “Calgon moment”? What are you waiting for? This could be the most restful “vacation” you ever take!
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://jenhatmaker.com/books.htm
I wish I had wings
like a dove,
so I could fly far away
and be at peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My pastor probably won’t like this devotional, because his sermon today was about how we all tend to say, “I’m doing enough already…I can’t/won’t do anything more,” and we neglect the ministries to which God has called us. But here’s the thing… some of us are worn smack out! We’ve let the burdens and weariness of “life” get to us – to the point that we really are no longer serving God out of a heart for His ministries, but rather out of a sense of duty or obligation. We are in essence giving God lip service…and sometimes poorly, at that!
In her Bible study guide Make Over*, women’s speaker and author Jen Hatmaker asks, “Where do you need to cut yourself some slack?” She explains…”If you are searching for verses about working and pleasing God…they exist. But God and His writers assumed we were already living in grace. It’s ludicrous that we’d prefer a merit-based relationship after Jesus redeemed us from that curse. Pleasing God comes after grace, not before. Not one solitary second before. If that’s you, stop working. You’re better off doing nothing than trying to earn your grace. Every dance performed to win God over is wasted.”
Furthermore, some of us are dealing with some pretty heavy burdens…and we’ve decided that the way to manage them is to stay busy in ministry and missions. To these people, Hatmaker says,”God wants wholeness for you first and foremost. If you are injured, bench yourself and rest in the care of the Healer. Playing church while wounded not only compromises the team but also delays healing, making the injury far worse. It is lunacy to think God would ignore your brokenness and prefer your sacrifices at the risk of your spiritual health.”
So my question to you today, is “What are you doing for God…and why?” Have you been dancing like a monkey trying to be all things to all people…including God Almighty? Are you so worn out and weary or burdened that you wish you had wings like a dove and could fly away somewhere? Remember the “Calgon, take me away…” commercials? Are you in need of a spiritual “Calgon moment?”
I’ve got a word for you...it may be time for many of us to take a little “spiritual vacation”. I’m not suggesting that we quit going to church…put our Bibles on the shelf…or stop talking to God. I didn’t say you should cancel all ministries and mission projects and sit home and watch reality TV. But it may be time for us to step back and spend some quiet, “alone time” with God…to almost literally do nothing and just listen for His voice…to spend a few hours combing the scriptures and discovering what God really wants from us…to ask Him how, when and where to serve Him – and then really wait on His answer!
Everywhere you turn this time of year, people are taking “summer vacations” and “getting away from it all” to rest, relax and rejuvenate. Could it be that you need a little “vacation” of sorts to get you back on track spiritually? You don’t need the wings of a dove…or even a faraway place in which to discover God’s peace. All you need is a quiet corner, a comfortable place to sit, your Bible, and an open heart and mind. Are you ready for your spiritual “Calgon moment”? What are you waiting for? This could be the most restful “vacation” you ever take!
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://jenhatmaker.com/books.htm
Daily Devotional for June 24, 2014
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
On June 9th, a post was shared on Facebook titled “5 Minutes in a Mom’s Head”*…written by Bunmi Laditan, who describes herself as “a writer and social-media obsessed female human…and author of The Honest Toddler: A Child's Guide to Life.” Laditan lives in rural Quebec, by way of California, with her three children and husband…and she contributes to The Huffington Post, Mommyish, Parenting and other websites.
In her “5 Minutes” piece, Laditan says in part:
The thing to remember is that NOTHING is silly or trivial to God! He cares about whether your car is gassed up and your house is decluttered – if that matters to you! He cares whether you are undergoing chemotherapy for a disease that is ravaging your body just as much as the cough or sniffle that has you laid up for a few days. He is concerned about your lack of sleep – regardless of the cause. God wants to handle any – and ALL of your burdens…and exchange them for His inexplicable peace. He wants to give you a heart and mind that is completely at rest in Him.
I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking maybe I should have this scripture passage tattooed on my forearm, where I would be sure to see it several times a day! I need a constant reminder of God’s desire to fill me with peace…always…in ALL WAYS! And maybe you need this reminder, too! It’s normal…human…to worry and fret and have a heart and mind cluttered with all kinds of thoughts and concerns in today’s busy, hectic world. But it’s also totally unnecessary.
I am so thankful that God wants to give us a rest that defies logic…a peace that cannot be rationalized - but is completely real, just the same. And it all starts with a prayer…and a release of our thoughts and cares into His capable hands (followed by a profuse expression of gratitude for His amazing grace and mercy!). What do you think would happen if each morning, you replaced the first five minutes of “pillow talk” in your head with a conversation with God about your day and your concerns? What if you continued to talk to Him throughout the day about each issue that arose – no matter how great or small? Isn’t it worth a try?
Are you ready to experience God’s “peace that passes understanding”? Are you ready for some real rest and stress relief? Have you spoken to Him about this today? Don’t you think it’s time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bunmi-laditan/5-minutes-in-a-moms-head_b_5445948.html
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
On June 9th, a post was shared on Facebook titled “5 Minutes in a Mom’s Head”*…written by Bunmi Laditan, who describes herself as “a writer and social-media obsessed female human…and author of The Honest Toddler: A Child's Guide to Life.” Laditan lives in rural Quebec, by way of California, with her three children and husband…and she contributes to The Huffington Post, Mommyish, Parenting and other websites.
In her “5 Minutes” piece, Laditan says in part:
“What time is it? What day is it? Oh gosh this bed feels so good. Why can't I just stay here all day. That would be the perfect vacation.Sound familiar? Even if you are not a mom, you may be one of “those people” whose mind races…especially when your head hits the pillow. Your thoughts and your heart are anything but quiet! Substitute your worries and concerns for those of this mom, and you totally “get” her! “But I have real problems…not the silly, trivial worries she talks about…things far more important than dust mites on Teddy bears and getting organized!” Yeah…but a lot of us worry about those “silly, trivial” things right along with the big issues…like school, work, bills, health, and relationships, and war and peace!
What are they [the kids] fighting about? ...I should probably wash their stuffed animals. What if they're full of dust mites.
What do I need to do today... return calls, answer emails, return texts from days ago... people probably think I'm so rude. I need to get organized. I need to organize this whole house. This room is a mess. I need to declutter.
OK, if I don't get up now we're going to be late. Oh man, I have to stop for gas. I'm on empty. Why do I always wait until the last minute? Because I was rushing home to make dinner.”
The thing to remember is that NOTHING is silly or trivial to God! He cares about whether your car is gassed up and your house is decluttered – if that matters to you! He cares whether you are undergoing chemotherapy for a disease that is ravaging your body just as much as the cough or sniffle that has you laid up for a few days. He is concerned about your lack of sleep – regardless of the cause. God wants to handle any – and ALL of your burdens…and exchange them for His inexplicable peace. He wants to give you a heart and mind that is completely at rest in Him.
I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking maybe I should have this scripture passage tattooed on my forearm, where I would be sure to see it several times a day! I need a constant reminder of God’s desire to fill me with peace…always…in ALL WAYS! And maybe you need this reminder, too! It’s normal…human…to worry and fret and have a heart and mind cluttered with all kinds of thoughts and concerns in today’s busy, hectic world. But it’s also totally unnecessary.
I am so thankful that God wants to give us a rest that defies logic…a peace that cannot be rationalized - but is completely real, just the same. And it all starts with a prayer…and a release of our thoughts and cares into His capable hands (followed by a profuse expression of gratitude for His amazing grace and mercy!). What do you think would happen if each morning, you replaced the first five minutes of “pillow talk” in your head with a conversation with God about your day and your concerns? What if you continued to talk to Him throughout the day about each issue that arose – no matter how great or small? Isn’t it worth a try?
Are you ready to experience God’s “peace that passes understanding”? Are you ready for some real rest and stress relief? Have you spoken to Him about this today? Don’t you think it’s time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bunmi-laditan/5-minutes-in-a-moms-head_b_5445948.html
Daily Devotional for June 7, 2014
Isaiah 57:1-2
The good men perish; the godly die before their time, and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from evil days ahead. For the godly who die shall rest in peace.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Do not stop reading. This is a message of life…not death – although death is very much a part of life. This is a message of hope for God’s children…for those who know Him as the “Giver of Rest”.
Many of us have seen the news reports in recent days about the 70th anniversary of D-Day…the amphibious invasion of France that took place on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Allied forces from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Free French Forces were the initial “troops on the ground”…joined soon by soldiers from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Greece, the Netherlands, and Belgium – and air support from Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. It has been noted that 2,499 Americans who died in Normandy on D-Day…more casualties than in ten years of war in Afghanistan.
Many of these soldiers were among “the godly who died before their time”. If you study interviews with veterans who survived D-Day – or any wartime experience – you realize that many of these soldiers were men and women who, in many cases, were barely out of their teens. They were placed in harm’s way, and countless numbers perished…leaving others to wonder why so many were taken from us so soon.
I read an account in a recent issue of the AARP Bulletin about letters written by soldiers to the folks back home during wartime. Many knew they were dying…some even as young as ages 15 and 18. But their letters were hopeful and comforting. They were at peace, because they knew that their passing would “take them away from evil days ahead”. They knew that God was in control and would give them rest.
We have plenty of opportunities in our lifetime to question “why”...and to feel as if no one seems to care – especially God. But in truth, God cares aplenty…and so do many others. The simple fact is that, while we do not always understand situations and circumstances, we cannot see how God is orchestrating the events of our lives. We cannot possibly fathom that what God allows in our lives might be far better – and less painful or difficult – than what would happen if He allowed our course to be altered.
We wonder why God allows us to get sick, suffer and die. We wonder why we graduate with honors from a prestigious college and cannot find a job. We wonder why our house doesn’t sell so that we can move to another city, take a better job, and become more productive and successful. We wonder why people slip and fall down stairways or off porches…why cars and motorcycles collide with other vehicles or inanimate objects…and why natural disasters destroy our home and our livelihood. We cry out and ask God why relationships fail...why jobs are lost and wars are fought…and so much more. And all the while, we grow more and more weary – if only from the asking of the question, “Why?”
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of asking…and wondering…and feeling restless and frustrated because I don’t have the answers. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time to rest in the LORD…to trust Him and believe that He knows a thing or two that I don’t! I am sure I won’t like everything that God allows. There will be sadness and sorrow and challenges galore. But they will strengthen me…if I will let them. If I will lean on God and trust Him to design the life that is perfect for me, He will do exactly that. If I will believe that even the things I do not understand may be part of a plan to protect me from something far more devastating – even when that seems impossible to fathom – I will have found true rest in this lifetime.
This week, a young father named Adam, who I’ve come to know only through his wife’s blog posts, succumbed to brain cancer. Adam’s wife, Beth, grew up in my hometown. On the day that Adam died, Beth posted a poem by the late Maya Angelou that seemed to sum up Adam’s earthly life. The poem is titled, “When Great Trees Fall”. I encourage you to search for it online and read the entire piece.* Angelou ends the poem this way…
As I read today’s scripture passage from Isaiah, this part of the poem came to mind. With God, we can be – and be better. We can rest in Him and trust His plans for our lives. We can exist – in Him, and because of Him. And once and for all, we can find rest.
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/281946-when-great-trees-fall-when-great-trees-fall-rocks-on
The good men perish; the godly die before their time, and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from evil days ahead. For the godly who die shall rest in peace.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Do not stop reading. This is a message of life…not death – although death is very much a part of life. This is a message of hope for God’s children…for those who know Him as the “Giver of Rest”.
Many of us have seen the news reports in recent days about the 70th anniversary of D-Day…the amphibious invasion of France that took place on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Allied forces from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Free French Forces were the initial “troops on the ground”…joined soon by soldiers from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Greece, the Netherlands, and Belgium – and air support from Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. It has been noted that 2,499 Americans who died in Normandy on D-Day…more casualties than in ten years of war in Afghanistan.
Many of these soldiers were among “the godly who died before their time”. If you study interviews with veterans who survived D-Day – or any wartime experience – you realize that many of these soldiers were men and women who, in many cases, were barely out of their teens. They were placed in harm’s way, and countless numbers perished…leaving others to wonder why so many were taken from us so soon.
I read an account in a recent issue of the AARP Bulletin about letters written by soldiers to the folks back home during wartime. Many knew they were dying…some even as young as ages 15 and 18. But their letters were hopeful and comforting. They were at peace, because they knew that their passing would “take them away from evil days ahead”. They knew that God was in control and would give them rest.
We have plenty of opportunities in our lifetime to question “why”...and to feel as if no one seems to care – especially God. But in truth, God cares aplenty…and so do many others. The simple fact is that, while we do not always understand situations and circumstances, we cannot see how God is orchestrating the events of our lives. We cannot possibly fathom that what God allows in our lives might be far better – and less painful or difficult – than what would happen if He allowed our course to be altered.
We wonder why God allows us to get sick, suffer and die. We wonder why we graduate with honors from a prestigious college and cannot find a job. We wonder why our house doesn’t sell so that we can move to another city, take a better job, and become more productive and successful. We wonder why people slip and fall down stairways or off porches…why cars and motorcycles collide with other vehicles or inanimate objects…and why natural disasters destroy our home and our livelihood. We cry out and ask God why relationships fail...why jobs are lost and wars are fought…and so much more. And all the while, we grow more and more weary – if only from the asking of the question, “Why?”
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of asking…and wondering…and feeling restless and frustrated because I don’t have the answers. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time to rest in the LORD…to trust Him and believe that He knows a thing or two that I don’t! I am sure I won’t like everything that God allows. There will be sadness and sorrow and challenges galore. But they will strengthen me…if I will let them. If I will lean on God and trust Him to design the life that is perfect for me, He will do exactly that. If I will believe that even the things I do not understand may be part of a plan to protect me from something far more devastating – even when that seems impossible to fathom – I will have found true rest in this lifetime.
This week, a young father named Adam, who I’ve come to know only through his wife’s blog posts, succumbed to brain cancer. Adam’s wife, Beth, grew up in my hometown. On the day that Adam died, Beth posted a poem by the late Maya Angelou that seemed to sum up Adam’s earthly life. The poem is titled, “When Great Trees Fall”. I encourage you to search for it online and read the entire piece.* Angelou ends the poem this way…
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
As I read today’s scripture passage from Isaiah, this part of the poem came to mind. With God, we can be – and be better. We can rest in Him and trust His plans for our lives. We can exist – in Him, and because of Him. And once and for all, we can find rest.
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/281946-when-great-trees-fall-when-great-trees-fall-rocks-on
Daily Devotional for May 26, 2014
2 Samuel 7:18-29
David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. Then he sat there and prayed:
Lord All-Powerful, my family and I don’t deserve what you have already done for us, and yet you have promised to do even more. Is this the way you usually treat people? I am your servant, and you know my thoughts, so there is nothing more that I need to say. You have done this wonderful thing, and you have let me know about it, because you wanted to keep your promise.
Lord All-Powerful, you are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true. And there is no other nation on earth like Israel, the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and their gods out of your land, so your people could live here. You have chosen Israel to be your people forever, and you have become their God.
And now, Lord God, please do what you have promised me and my descendants. Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, “The Lord God All-Powerful rules Israel, and David’s descendants are his chosen kings.” After all, you really are Israel’s God, the Lord All-Powerful. You’ve told me that you will let my descendants be kings. That’s why I have the courage to pray to you like this, even though I am only your servant.
Lord All-Powerful, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise. Please bless my descendants and let them always be your chosen kings. You have already promised, and I’m sure that you will bless my family forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep!” You have probably heard this adage or some form of it. And maybe you have heard this one…”You can tell a lot about a man by the promises he keeps – and breaks.” Both of these quotes have their basis in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5…”God doesn’t like fools. So don’t be slow to keep your promises to God. It’s better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it.”
I bet if you are honest, you’ve probably forgotten a lot of promises that were made to you and never kept. But over the course of your life, there are probably at least one or two promises you were given that never happened. And you remember this like it happened yesterday. I try to be very careful about promises – especially to my little ones. They have memories like elephants! If I promise that the next time they visit, we will make s’mores, they remind me. If I promise Owen that I will make him a surprise, his first question is, “What did you bring me?” Sometimes, they add…”But you promised!” Sometimes it is implied. Either way, I feel like I let them down – if even in a small way.
See, the trouble with “small” broken promises is that they have a way of mushrooming into big ones. It’s sort of like “little white lies”. Once you get comfortable telling them, you find it exponentially easier to lie about more significant things. The next thing you know, your life is anything but peaceful, as you struggle to remember who you told or promised what…and you wrestle to figure out how to get out of the mess you’ve created!
Thankfully, God never breaks a promise. So we need look no further than His word for countless examples of promises made…and kept. I love the verses in this passage where David tells God that “even though I am only your servant, I have the courage to pray to you like this,” because he knows that God has promised to hear his prayers – and to bless him and his family. David can truly “rest in the LORD” because He knows that God will never fail him.
Do you know this sort of “rest”? Do you believe in the steadfastness of God’s promises…the surety that He will never say one thing and then do another? Are you a faithful model of this in your own life? Are you a person of your word, or are you restless and irritable as you scramble to “keep all of the balls – and stories – in the air” in your relationships with others? Isn’t it time to lay aside all of the excuses, doubts and fears – and truly operate in a restful relationship of kept promises with God? Wouldn’t this be the perfect day to start? You won’t regret it…I promise!
©2014 Debbie Robus
David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. Then he sat there and prayed:
Lord All-Powerful, my family and I don’t deserve what you have already done for us, and yet you have promised to do even more. Is this the way you usually treat people? I am your servant, and you know my thoughts, so there is nothing more that I need to say. You have done this wonderful thing, and you have let me know about it, because you wanted to keep your promise.
Lord All-Powerful, you are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true. And there is no other nation on earth like Israel, the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and their gods out of your land, so your people could live here. You have chosen Israel to be your people forever, and you have become their God.
And now, Lord God, please do what you have promised me and my descendants. Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, “The Lord God All-Powerful rules Israel, and David’s descendants are his chosen kings.” After all, you really are Israel’s God, the Lord All-Powerful. You’ve told me that you will let my descendants be kings. That’s why I have the courage to pray to you like this, even though I am only your servant.
Lord All-Powerful, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise. Please bless my descendants and let them always be your chosen kings. You have already promised, and I’m sure that you will bless my family forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep!” You have probably heard this adage or some form of it. And maybe you have heard this one…”You can tell a lot about a man by the promises he keeps – and breaks.” Both of these quotes have their basis in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5…”God doesn’t like fools. So don’t be slow to keep your promises to God. It’s better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it.”
I bet if you are honest, you’ve probably forgotten a lot of promises that were made to you and never kept. But over the course of your life, there are probably at least one or two promises you were given that never happened. And you remember this like it happened yesterday. I try to be very careful about promises – especially to my little ones. They have memories like elephants! If I promise that the next time they visit, we will make s’mores, they remind me. If I promise Owen that I will make him a surprise, his first question is, “What did you bring me?” Sometimes, they add…”But you promised!” Sometimes it is implied. Either way, I feel like I let them down – if even in a small way.
See, the trouble with “small” broken promises is that they have a way of mushrooming into big ones. It’s sort of like “little white lies”. Once you get comfortable telling them, you find it exponentially easier to lie about more significant things. The next thing you know, your life is anything but peaceful, as you struggle to remember who you told or promised what…and you wrestle to figure out how to get out of the mess you’ve created!
Thankfully, God never breaks a promise. So we need look no further than His word for countless examples of promises made…and kept. I love the verses in this passage where David tells God that “even though I am only your servant, I have the courage to pray to you like this,” because he knows that God has promised to hear his prayers – and to bless him and his family. David can truly “rest in the LORD” because He knows that God will never fail him.
Do you know this sort of “rest”? Do you believe in the steadfastness of God’s promises…the surety that He will never say one thing and then do another? Are you a faithful model of this in your own life? Are you a person of your word, or are you restless and irritable as you scramble to “keep all of the balls – and stories – in the air” in your relationships with others? Isn’t it time to lay aside all of the excuses, doubts and fears – and truly operate in a restful relationship of kept promises with God? Wouldn’t this be the perfect day to start? You won’t regret it…I promise!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 14, 2014
Philippians 4:6-9
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
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.
There are days when I think maybe I should have this scripture passage (at least the first part) tattooed on my forearm so that I could see it many times each day! It seems that many of us (myself included) are just “wired” to worry! I know…I know…worry is a tool of the devil – a distraction to keep us off balance and out of “alignment” with God. But let me tell you, this is PROOF that the devil is powerful! There are many times when I try so hard NOT to worry – with poor results. I recognize that Satan LOVES this…and it really makes me mad!
Still, I believe this is a powerful scripture passage. In many translations, “God’s wholeness” is referred to as “the peace that passes understanding”. And I can tell you from personal experience that I know this peace. There have been times when something almost literally took my breath…when I thought I could not bear what was happening in that moment – or beyond. And at the same time – or even for days to come – I felt an incredible sense of calm and peace. The only explanation I can offer is that God shielded me. He made everything work together, settled me down, and allowed me to rest while He did the heavy lifting.
I’ll be honest…this passage of scripture comes at the perfect time for me. I have been allowing some worrisome thoughts to enter my mind and heart. I’ve been wrestling with some things that I know I should leave for God to handle…and I’ve felt unsettled in the process. This message is as much for me today as for any of you. God wants us to stop worrying. He wants us to present our concerns to Him (even though He already knows them!) and then let them go. It is God’s desire that we focus on the wonderful things that He has done…the magnificent things that He is able to accomplish…and the miracles He will perform in our lives and those of others as time progresses. He wants us to believe Him when He tells us, “I’ve got this!”
So whatever is troubling you today, shape it into a prayer and give it to God. Let Him settle you down and fill you with the peace that cannot be explained. Trust that He truly does have the power – and the desire – to handle your cares and concerns according to His will…which means they will all be managed perfectly. Send the devil and his pack of vicious lies and despicable tools packing…and rest in the power and tranquility of the LORD as He centers your life in Him.
Share this good news and encouragement with all you meet. Operate in compassion for those who are troubled and worried. Offer them hope by sharing these scripture verses and demonstrating these truths in your own life.
Nothing is too big for God to handle. Isn’t it time we let Him? Will this be the day that you operate in God’s inexplicable peace?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
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.
There are days when I think maybe I should have this scripture passage (at least the first part) tattooed on my forearm so that I could see it many times each day! It seems that many of us (myself included) are just “wired” to worry! I know…I know…worry is a tool of the devil – a distraction to keep us off balance and out of “alignment” with God. But let me tell you, this is PROOF that the devil is powerful! There are many times when I try so hard NOT to worry – with poor results. I recognize that Satan LOVES this…and it really makes me mad!
Still, I believe this is a powerful scripture passage. In many translations, “God’s wholeness” is referred to as “the peace that passes understanding”. And I can tell you from personal experience that I know this peace. There have been times when something almost literally took my breath…when I thought I could not bear what was happening in that moment – or beyond. And at the same time – or even for days to come – I felt an incredible sense of calm and peace. The only explanation I can offer is that God shielded me. He made everything work together, settled me down, and allowed me to rest while He did the heavy lifting.
I’ll be honest…this passage of scripture comes at the perfect time for me. I have been allowing some worrisome thoughts to enter my mind and heart. I’ve been wrestling with some things that I know I should leave for God to handle…and I’ve felt unsettled in the process. This message is as much for me today as for any of you. God wants us to stop worrying. He wants us to present our concerns to Him (even though He already knows them!) and then let them go. It is God’s desire that we focus on the wonderful things that He has done…the magnificent things that He is able to accomplish…and the miracles He will perform in our lives and those of others as time progresses. He wants us to believe Him when He tells us, “I’ve got this!”
So whatever is troubling you today, shape it into a prayer and give it to God. Let Him settle you down and fill you with the peace that cannot be explained. Trust that He truly does have the power – and the desire – to handle your cares and concerns according to His will…which means they will all be managed perfectly. Send the devil and his pack of vicious lies and despicable tools packing…and rest in the power and tranquility of the LORD as He centers your life in Him.
Share this good news and encouragement with all you meet. Operate in compassion for those who are troubled and worried. Offer them hope by sharing these scripture verses and demonstrating these truths in your own life.
Nothing is too big for God to handle. Isn’t it time we let Him? Will this be the day that you operate in God’s inexplicable peace?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 1, 2014
Matthew 5:9
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.”
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.
Go to any organized sporting event, and you will see coaches, players and fans who conduct themselves with poise…who never seem to get frustrated or lose their temper...who enjoy the game and their “role” in it with dignity and decorum. They don’t overreact to “bad” calls or poor plays. They let the event unfold and revel in their participation…whatever it may be. Still others rant and rave and “show out” – and sometimes cause a scene. Honestly, there have been nights lately when I told Greg that the opposing high school basketball teams’ coaches were more entertaining than the game itself! You have to wonder who these people really are off the court. What sort of student/teacher/parent are they? How do they treat others when no winning score or title is on the line?
You are probably familiar with this scripture passage as part of a group of verses from Matthew known as “The Beatitudes”. In many familiar translations of the Bible, Matthew 5:9 begins… “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” In his book The Sermon on the Mount*, author Emmet Fox suggests that the “peacemakers” Jesus refers to in this scripture are actually “those who make or bring about this true peace, or serenity, in their own souls, for it is they who surmount limitation and become actually, and not merely potentially, the children of God.”
Fox maintains that each time we offer a prayer, we return to our true communion with God. As we pray, our character is changed, and we begin to get a more real awareness of the presence of God. He further suggests that it is hard to be a “peacemaker” in the usual sense of the word, because we often interject our own opinions and/or make things worse. Frequently, what we create is more a “compromise” than true peace and resolution. But…Fox contends that once we discover the true power of prayer, we can really heal quarrels and make a difference…often without saying a word! How is this possible? Fox says it is because we allow the power of God to penetrate hearts, change minds, invoke wisdom and love, and create true forgiveness and understanding.
Think about it. Consider those you know who seem to have a calming, loving presence. Think of the coaches, players, and fans who seem to be on an even keel pretty much all of the time…win or lose. Contrast them with those who are “high-strung” and always up for a fight or a conflict of some sort…the coaches and parents who burst from their seat and yell at the referees or players…and the players who seem ready to challenge every call or pick a fight with their opponent. Which ones strike you as having more peace and serenity in their heart?
This is not a judgment. I am not suggesting that an excitable, unruly coach, parent, fan or player does not have true communion with God. But it would seem logical that the two cannot fully co-exist. When our head and heart are full of conflict and confrontation…or we are “carrying a chip on our shoulder” about something… it seems like there would be very little room left for the serenity of God.
So what can we do? How can we become more “peaceful”? I think Fox has given us the perfect starting point - prayer. He admits that we will not achieve complete serenity overnight…or even with our first conversations with God. Ours is a relationship that must be cultivated over several dialog exchanges. The more we pray, the more the presence of God will permeate our heart and soul…and the more peaceful and serene we will become. Those who achieve this level of contentment and confidence in the power of God Almighty are the ones who can best offer His compassion, understanding, and peace of mind to others.
Don’t you want to be one of the “peacemakers”? Don’t you want to have that level of peace in your own heart and mind… and be able to convey this serenity to others – sometimes by your mere presence? Are you ready to reach the point where God’s power flowing in and through you is so commanding that you can bring about peaceful resolutions simply by your prayers and calming influence? Are you ready to fully operate as a child of God? Will this be the day you open the dialog and get started?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.”
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.
Go to any organized sporting event, and you will see coaches, players and fans who conduct themselves with poise…who never seem to get frustrated or lose their temper...who enjoy the game and their “role” in it with dignity and decorum. They don’t overreact to “bad” calls or poor plays. They let the event unfold and revel in their participation…whatever it may be. Still others rant and rave and “show out” – and sometimes cause a scene. Honestly, there have been nights lately when I told Greg that the opposing high school basketball teams’ coaches were more entertaining than the game itself! You have to wonder who these people really are off the court. What sort of student/teacher/parent are they? How do they treat others when no winning score or title is on the line?
You are probably familiar with this scripture passage as part of a group of verses from Matthew known as “The Beatitudes”. In many familiar translations of the Bible, Matthew 5:9 begins… “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” In his book The Sermon on the Mount*, author Emmet Fox suggests that the “peacemakers” Jesus refers to in this scripture are actually “those who make or bring about this true peace, or serenity, in their own souls, for it is they who surmount limitation and become actually, and not merely potentially, the children of God.”
Fox maintains that each time we offer a prayer, we return to our true communion with God. As we pray, our character is changed, and we begin to get a more real awareness of the presence of God. He further suggests that it is hard to be a “peacemaker” in the usual sense of the word, because we often interject our own opinions and/or make things worse. Frequently, what we create is more a “compromise” than true peace and resolution. But…Fox contends that once we discover the true power of prayer, we can really heal quarrels and make a difference…often without saying a word! How is this possible? Fox says it is because we allow the power of God to penetrate hearts, change minds, invoke wisdom and love, and create true forgiveness and understanding.
Think about it. Consider those you know who seem to have a calming, loving presence. Think of the coaches, players, and fans who seem to be on an even keel pretty much all of the time…win or lose. Contrast them with those who are “high-strung” and always up for a fight or a conflict of some sort…the coaches and parents who burst from their seat and yell at the referees or players…and the players who seem ready to challenge every call or pick a fight with their opponent. Which ones strike you as having more peace and serenity in their heart?
This is not a judgment. I am not suggesting that an excitable, unruly coach, parent, fan or player does not have true communion with God. But it would seem logical that the two cannot fully co-exist. When our head and heart are full of conflict and confrontation…or we are “carrying a chip on our shoulder” about something… it seems like there would be very little room left for the serenity of God.
So what can we do? How can we become more “peaceful”? I think Fox has given us the perfect starting point - prayer. He admits that we will not achieve complete serenity overnight…or even with our first conversations with God. Ours is a relationship that must be cultivated over several dialog exchanges. The more we pray, the more the presence of God will permeate our heart and soul…and the more peaceful and serene we will become. Those who achieve this level of contentment and confidence in the power of God Almighty are the ones who can best offer His compassion, understanding, and peace of mind to others.
Don’t you want to be one of the “peacemakers”? Don’t you want to have that level of peace in your own heart and mind… and be able to convey this serenity to others – sometimes by your mere presence? Are you ready to reach the point where God’s power flowing in and through you is so commanding that you can bring about peaceful resolutions simply by your prayers and calming influence? Are you ready to fully operate as a child of God? Will this be the day you open the dialog and get started?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*The Sermon on the Mount: The Key to Success in Life ©1934,1935, 1938 by Emmet Fox ~HarperCollins Publishers, New York, NY
Daily Devotional for December 5, 2013
If you do not hear from me again for a few days, it will be because of the ice storm we are expecting - and a loss of Internet service and/or power. God bless and keep you ... stay safe and warm!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
December 5 ~ Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
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.
If you live anywhere in the “Ark-La-Tex”, you probably know that weather forecasters are predicting that we will experience a major winter storm in the next several days… with the primary culprits being freezing rain and ice accumulation…and pipe-freezing cold temperatures (lows in single digits several nights). We have been warned for days to prepare… to get plenty of food, water, cash (in case there is no power for the ATMs), and gasoline for our vehicles. People have polished and serviced their generators and kerosene heaters…tree limbs have been trimmed away from power lines in many areas… road crews are already pre-treating certain areas…and the bread shelves at the local supermarkets look like the Apocolypse is approaching!
This morning when I awoke, I began to think about all of the “issues” we would have if we lost power. We have a gas range, but our heat requires electricity. We could huddle around a wood fireplace, but if we get the single digit temps that are forecast, that would not provide much warmth. Greg’s mother is elderly and lives alone… what if she lost power, too? My niece and her husband have three small children… what if they lost power? As I wrote in my prayer journal, I expressed my concerns to God… but I also told Him that I trust Him to handle these things and the other concerns I have.
Greg awoke early this morning and began to think about the winter storm. He researched portable generators and kerosene heaters…then he left home as soon as he thought stores were open to do a little shopping. When I realized he was doing this, I thanked God for taking care of my needs almost before I spoke of them! I thanked Him for giving me perfect peace. I know the storm is coming. I realize that we very well may still lose power. But God has provided for us… and He will continue to do so. I don’t think it is any accident that Greg purchased the last kerosene heater at one store… or that an ample supply of the very portable generator he preferred was available at another.
This is just one more reminder for me to trust in God… to keep my thoughts fixed on Him… to relax a little and rest in the knowledge and peace of knowing that He is meeting my every need. There are times when things look like they are falling to pieces. But honestly, this is when God truly “shows out” and does His best work in my life. I am learning more every day about living in God’s perfect peace. He is my strength… He most certainly fills me with hope! What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
December 5 ~ Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
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.
If you live anywhere in the “Ark-La-Tex”, you probably know that weather forecasters are predicting that we will experience a major winter storm in the next several days… with the primary culprits being freezing rain and ice accumulation…and pipe-freezing cold temperatures (lows in single digits several nights). We have been warned for days to prepare… to get plenty of food, water, cash (in case there is no power for the ATMs), and gasoline for our vehicles. People have polished and serviced their generators and kerosene heaters…tree limbs have been trimmed away from power lines in many areas… road crews are already pre-treating certain areas…and the bread shelves at the local supermarkets look like the Apocolypse is approaching!
This morning when I awoke, I began to think about all of the “issues” we would have if we lost power. We have a gas range, but our heat requires electricity. We could huddle around a wood fireplace, but if we get the single digit temps that are forecast, that would not provide much warmth. Greg’s mother is elderly and lives alone… what if she lost power, too? My niece and her husband have three small children… what if they lost power? As I wrote in my prayer journal, I expressed my concerns to God… but I also told Him that I trust Him to handle these things and the other concerns I have.
Greg awoke early this morning and began to think about the winter storm. He researched portable generators and kerosene heaters…then he left home as soon as he thought stores were open to do a little shopping. When I realized he was doing this, I thanked God for taking care of my needs almost before I spoke of them! I thanked Him for giving me perfect peace. I know the storm is coming. I realize that we very well may still lose power. But God has provided for us… and He will continue to do so. I don’t think it is any accident that Greg purchased the last kerosene heater at one store… or that an ample supply of the very portable generator he preferred was available at another.
This is just one more reminder for me to trust in God… to keep my thoughts fixed on Him… to relax a little and rest in the knowledge and peace of knowing that He is meeting my every need. There are times when things look like they are falling to pieces. But honestly, this is when God truly “shows out” and does His best work in my life. I am learning more every day about living in God’s perfect peace. He is my strength… He most certainly fills me with hope! What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 25, 2013
Psalms 119:165
Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.
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, I tried out a couple of new recipes I found on Pinterest. We invited my mother-in-law, Elaine, over for dinner. It’s always dicey to try out new recipes on a dinner guest, but Elaine is a good sport… and the dishes were actually quite tasty – crock pot lasagna and a peanut butter pie. As we finished dessert, Elaine asked, “Did you have a recipe for this pie?” I laughed and said “Oh, yes… no telling how this pie would have turned out if I had made it up in my head!” I know that I would probably not have thought to follow the same steps – and the taste and texture of my “version” would have been markedly different!
There are a few dishes in my repertoire that I have made enough times that I don’t really need to follow a recipe (although I guess technically, I still follow the recipe in my head!). But printed instructions for most entrees and desserts serve as a comfort – and a confidence booster! If I follow the recipe, I have a pretty good idea that I won’t stumble… and that gives me great peace. The same can be said for sewing patterns. When I veer off course and try to create a garment without referring to the pattern and instructions, I have a pretty good shot at making something that is un-wearable… or at the very least doesn’t fit correctly. And when I stray from a recipe, there is a fairly good chance the dish won’t be nearly as tasty.
When it comes to following God’s instructions, there is really no difference. We can try to do things our way…and sometimes skirt by with little repercussion. But more often, we experience an epic fail. We make a huge mess of things…and our life is anything but peaceful and filled with days of “smooth sailing”. And it’s almost always because we didn’t follow “God’s recipe or pattern”.
In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (CEV), we read “Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only true God! So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Memorize his laws and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning. Write down copies and tie them to your wrists and foreheads to help you obey them. Write these laws on the door frames of your homes and on your town gates.” In Matthew and Luke, Jesus instructs us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. This is what I would call a good “pattern” or “recipe”! If we will truly commit to following these guidelines, our lives should be filled with steady steps and great peace. There will surely be “bumps in the road”… but God will be with us to help us regroup and move forward.
Whose “recipe” or “pattern” will you follow? Will you love the instructions God has given us and make them an innate part of your daily living? Are you really willing to risk God’s peace and a relatively bump-free road in life just to have your own way? Are you following your own rules… or God’s? How’s that working for you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.
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, I tried out a couple of new recipes I found on Pinterest. We invited my mother-in-law, Elaine, over for dinner. It’s always dicey to try out new recipes on a dinner guest, but Elaine is a good sport… and the dishes were actually quite tasty – crock pot lasagna and a peanut butter pie. As we finished dessert, Elaine asked, “Did you have a recipe for this pie?” I laughed and said “Oh, yes… no telling how this pie would have turned out if I had made it up in my head!” I know that I would probably not have thought to follow the same steps – and the taste and texture of my “version” would have been markedly different!
There are a few dishes in my repertoire that I have made enough times that I don’t really need to follow a recipe (although I guess technically, I still follow the recipe in my head!). But printed instructions for most entrees and desserts serve as a comfort – and a confidence booster! If I follow the recipe, I have a pretty good idea that I won’t stumble… and that gives me great peace. The same can be said for sewing patterns. When I veer off course and try to create a garment without referring to the pattern and instructions, I have a pretty good shot at making something that is un-wearable… or at the very least doesn’t fit correctly. And when I stray from a recipe, there is a fairly good chance the dish won’t be nearly as tasty.
When it comes to following God’s instructions, there is really no difference. We can try to do things our way…and sometimes skirt by with little repercussion. But more often, we experience an epic fail. We make a huge mess of things…and our life is anything but peaceful and filled with days of “smooth sailing”. And it’s almost always because we didn’t follow “God’s recipe or pattern”.
In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (CEV), we read “Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only true God! So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Memorize his laws and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning. Write down copies and tie them to your wrists and foreheads to help you obey them. Write these laws on the door frames of your homes and on your town gates.” In Matthew and Luke, Jesus instructs us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. This is what I would call a good “pattern” or “recipe”! If we will truly commit to following these guidelines, our lives should be filled with steady steps and great peace. There will surely be “bumps in the road”… but God will be with us to help us regroup and move forward.
Whose “recipe” or “pattern” will you follow? Will you love the instructions God has given us and make them an innate part of your daily living? Are you really willing to risk God’s peace and a relatively bump-free road in life just to have your own way? Are you following your own rules… or God’s? How’s that working for you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 23, 2013
Psalm 94:18-19
When I felt my feet slipping, you came with your love and kept me steady. And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Sometimes “life” kicks us in the gut… and for me, the 1990s was a long decade of “gut-checks”. In July 1992, my father-in-law died suddenly from an aortic aneurysm. He was not quite 70, and we were shocked and stunned by his unexpected passing. In October 1997, my dad underwent a “routine” arteriogram to search for coronary blockage. A few hours later, he was fighting for his life, as “cholesterol showering” had caused shavings and sprinkles of cholesterol plaque to block his kidneys and other body organs. By November, he was in full-blown renal failure and placed on dialysis.
My dad spent much of the next six months in and out of hospitals (mostly in). While we “carried on” with a family Thanksgiving meal, my mom ate her turkey dinner in a hospital cafeteria. A sudden life-threatening episode sent Daddy back to Little Rock to the hospital in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve… so we celebrated a week later when he returned home. By February, the doctors had told him that there was no cure… that he could choose to stop dialysis and probably live only a couple of weeks longer. Daddy chose to keep going.
Meanwhile, my 37-year-old brother, Tim, was battling liver failure. He would have good days, and very bad days… and in September 1998, his body gave out. Thirteen months later, my dad would undergo a “routine” surgery followed by a massive stroke the next day… and then he suffered a fatal heart attack. As if this were not all more than enough to bear, Tim’s beloved dog Carmen (who had become Mom’s constant companion) contracted tick fever in the spring of 2000 and died. AND… my Mam-ma Polly’s dear companion of seven years, Deb, succumbed to bladder cancer. I’d call all of this a “gut-check”… wouldn’t you?
Today, I learned that a dear friend – and fellow church member – is getting her own “kick in the gut”. Her husband died in February. Just a few weeks ago, her dog became very ill and had to be put down… and now she has learned that her brother’s oncologist is saying things have taken a drastic turn, and he probably only has 2 weeks or less to live. Sometimes, life is incredibly messy – even for the most faith-filled Christians. I would imagine that my friend very much feels like her feet are slipping… that she is burdened with worries and insecurities and wondering how on earth she will ever put one foot ahead of the other again.
Here’s where Psalm 94:18-19 comes in - and why I shared these personal experiences with you…when our feet begin to slip, the worries and insecurities overcome us and sheer panic sets in. God is there to lift us up and keep us steady. He will carry us when we cannot walk. He will comfort us and make us feel secure. He will do this by sending friends and family members to surround us. God will allow our own messy “gut-checks” to serve as encouragement for others as we say, “He got us through this… and He’ll get you through, also.”
I don’t mean to diminish grief and suffering. Just writing a note of encouragement to my friend brought back a flood of thoughts and memories of my own brother and all we shared in his last days. But at the end of the day, I have tremendous peace. I have experienced incredible joy and blessings in the last 2+ decades… even in the midst of great sorrow and loss. And it’s all because God’s love came and kept me steady. What He has done for me… He will most certainly do for you.
Many are worried and burdened today… and you may be among them. I want you to feel God’s presence. As your feet begin to slip, feel His hands under your arms…lifting you and steadying your gait. Recognize the rhythms of God’s steady breathing as He draws you close to Him and says, “I’ve got this!” Relax and sink deep into His loving arms… rest in His peace… trust Him. This will most likely not change the outcome of your circumstances… but it will change how you are affected by them.
God understands your grief and sadness… your frustration and pain. These are natural reactions. But He offers supernatural peace and reassurance. Take refuge in His nurture and safekeeping. Know that God is leading others to pray for you… to love you and serve as His hands and feet on this earth. Don’t let your “gut-check” become a fatal blow. Feel the steady “grip of grace” that surrounds you… and rest in God’s peace - today and always.
©2013 Debbie Robus
When I felt my feet slipping, you came with your love and kept me steady. And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Sometimes “life” kicks us in the gut… and for me, the 1990s was a long decade of “gut-checks”. In July 1992, my father-in-law died suddenly from an aortic aneurysm. He was not quite 70, and we were shocked and stunned by his unexpected passing. In October 1997, my dad underwent a “routine” arteriogram to search for coronary blockage. A few hours later, he was fighting for his life, as “cholesterol showering” had caused shavings and sprinkles of cholesterol plaque to block his kidneys and other body organs. By November, he was in full-blown renal failure and placed on dialysis.
My dad spent much of the next six months in and out of hospitals (mostly in). While we “carried on” with a family Thanksgiving meal, my mom ate her turkey dinner in a hospital cafeteria. A sudden life-threatening episode sent Daddy back to Little Rock to the hospital in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve… so we celebrated a week later when he returned home. By February, the doctors had told him that there was no cure… that he could choose to stop dialysis and probably live only a couple of weeks longer. Daddy chose to keep going.
Meanwhile, my 37-year-old brother, Tim, was battling liver failure. He would have good days, and very bad days… and in September 1998, his body gave out. Thirteen months later, my dad would undergo a “routine” surgery followed by a massive stroke the next day… and then he suffered a fatal heart attack. As if this were not all more than enough to bear, Tim’s beloved dog Carmen (who had become Mom’s constant companion) contracted tick fever in the spring of 2000 and died. AND… my Mam-ma Polly’s dear companion of seven years, Deb, succumbed to bladder cancer. I’d call all of this a “gut-check”… wouldn’t you?
Today, I learned that a dear friend – and fellow church member – is getting her own “kick in the gut”. Her husband died in February. Just a few weeks ago, her dog became very ill and had to be put down… and now she has learned that her brother’s oncologist is saying things have taken a drastic turn, and he probably only has 2 weeks or less to live. Sometimes, life is incredibly messy – even for the most faith-filled Christians. I would imagine that my friend very much feels like her feet are slipping… that she is burdened with worries and insecurities and wondering how on earth she will ever put one foot ahead of the other again.
Here’s where Psalm 94:18-19 comes in - and why I shared these personal experiences with you…when our feet begin to slip, the worries and insecurities overcome us and sheer panic sets in. God is there to lift us up and keep us steady. He will carry us when we cannot walk. He will comfort us and make us feel secure. He will do this by sending friends and family members to surround us. God will allow our own messy “gut-checks” to serve as encouragement for others as we say, “He got us through this… and He’ll get you through, also.”
I don’t mean to diminish grief and suffering. Just writing a note of encouragement to my friend brought back a flood of thoughts and memories of my own brother and all we shared in his last days. But at the end of the day, I have tremendous peace. I have experienced incredible joy and blessings in the last 2+ decades… even in the midst of great sorrow and loss. And it’s all because God’s love came and kept me steady. What He has done for me… He will most certainly do for you.
Many are worried and burdened today… and you may be among them. I want you to feel God’s presence. As your feet begin to slip, feel His hands under your arms…lifting you and steadying your gait. Recognize the rhythms of God’s steady breathing as He draws you close to Him and says, “I’ve got this!” Relax and sink deep into His loving arms… rest in His peace… trust Him. This will most likely not change the outcome of your circumstances… but it will change how you are affected by them.
God understands your grief and sadness… your frustration and pain. These are natural reactions. But He offers supernatural peace and reassurance. Take refuge in His nurture and safekeeping. Know that God is leading others to pray for you… to love you and serve as His hands and feet on this earth. Don’t let your “gut-check” become a fatal blow. Feel the steady “grip of grace” that surrounds you… and rest in God’s peace - today and always.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 22, 2013
Psalm 73:25-28
You’re all I want in heaven!
You’re all I want on earth!
When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
God is rock-firm and faithful.
Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again.
But I’m in the very presence of God—
oh, how refreshing it is!
I’ve made Lord God my home.
God, I’m telling the world what you do!
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 saw a story on CBS Sunday Morning about 30-year-old Nick Vujicic, an Australian man who was born with no arms and no legs. Nick has small “feet” on which he hobbles around, yet he is able to do virtually everything you and I can do with fully functioning limbs. He swims, plays soccer, and even golfs! Life has obviously not been easy for Nick Vujicic, and he will tell you that from ages 8-13, he was angry with God for allowing him to be created this way. He was also bullied continually by his peers at school. In fact, Nick tells in this interview about a day when he was 10 and his father helped him get into the bath tub. Nick asked to be left alone. His father shut the door, and Nick turned himself over face down and “let go” in an effort to drown himself. He could not go through with this, and the thought of hurting his mother, dad and brother in this way made him choose to live.
At age 15, Nick read John 9 and gave his heart to Jesus, and he says on his website, www.lifewithoutlimbs.org, that “I knew I had to make my life right with Him, but I blamed Him for my pain. I read how Jesus said that the blind man was born that way so that the works of God would be revealed through him. I said to God that if He had a plan for that man I certainly believed that He had one for me. I totally surrendered the ‘needing to know the plan’ idea and trusted in Him one day at a time.” Today, Nick is married, the father of a perfectly “normal” little boy… and an international evangelist and motivational speaker whose message in part is that…”My faith in God and my personal relationship has given me the power, strength, humility and grace to ask Him to change me one day at a time. That if my circumstance doesn’t change, then I’d ask Him to change my heart, for all things come together for the good and for those who love Him.” Nick Vujicic offers hope to others by reminding them that they are not alone…and that God will not allow them to go through more than they can handle.
As I read this passage, I’ll be honest… I was immediately struck by the verses that talk of skin that sags and bones that are brittle. For many of you, these things are a long way off in your future… and others among you are right there with me! I thought of the days when I look in the mirror and see another “age spot”… even more white hair… and a little more of me than there was when I was in college! And yet, I also see someone who is refreshed, calm and peaceful, and oh-so-content! How can this be? I give you one word… Jesus! On the days when the devil starts to remind me that I’m not as young as I once was… that I can’t physically do all I used to do in a day… that I walk into a room and forget why I am there, can’t recall familiar names, and lose simple objects like my phone and car keys – or the TV remote…I start humming a happy praise song or thanking God out loud for His ever present help and for meeting all of my needs (and helping me to find the missing object or recollection!).
I find that I don’t care as much about shopping these days… that “things” are not nearly as important as relationships… that I truly do have everything I need. And when I hear about someone like Nick Vujicic, I am doubly humbled to think that God has blessed me so abundantly. What’s the big deal about a head of hair that is quickly turning white and knees that seize up once in a while? In God’s eyes, our bodies and outward appearance do not define us… it’s all about the heart and soul!
I am grateful that I have two arms and legs… that I can walk upright and hug my loved ones… that I am still incredibly sound and healthy in a physical sense. But I am even more grateful for a sound heart and mind. Anyone who knows me well understands that I have become a serious “homebody.” Thanks to technology and modern conveniences, I rarely have to leave the comforts of my house and venture out into the “real world”! Virtually anything and everything I want or need can be delivered to my doorstep, phone or computer screen…even face-to-face conversations with friends and family (although “in-person” interaction with others is still important!). I am even more grateful that I am always “at home” in the LORD… that God is with me… always and everywhere… and that He is truly meeting all my needs.
I know that Nick Vujicic is right… God will not give me more than I can handle with His help… even the loss of limbs, memory, loved ones…or my hair color! And He will do this for you, as well. I am blessed to rest in the peace of God… to reside at home in Him…and to feel his ever present love and care. Where is your home? What matters most to you? What struggles are keeping you from resting in the home of the LORD? Nick Vujicic claims that “attitude is altitude.” Our attitude – our faith, our values, our determination - govern how high we travel… what goals we accomplish, the levels of competence and satisfaction we achieve.
How high are you aiming? Is peace in God and a home with Him at the top of your list of goals and desires? Are you doing everything you can to attain this? Will today be the day you surrender to “needing to know the plan” and trust God to handle things for you? Will this be the day you find your way “home” and rest in God’s peace?
©2013 Debbie Robus
You’re all I want in heaven!
You’re all I want on earth!
When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
God is rock-firm and faithful.
Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again.
But I’m in the very presence of God—
oh, how refreshing it is!
I’ve made Lord God my home.
God, I’m telling the world what you do!
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 saw a story on CBS Sunday Morning about 30-year-old Nick Vujicic, an Australian man who was born with no arms and no legs. Nick has small “feet” on which he hobbles around, yet he is able to do virtually everything you and I can do with fully functioning limbs. He swims, plays soccer, and even golfs! Life has obviously not been easy for Nick Vujicic, and he will tell you that from ages 8-13, he was angry with God for allowing him to be created this way. He was also bullied continually by his peers at school. In fact, Nick tells in this interview about a day when he was 10 and his father helped him get into the bath tub. Nick asked to be left alone. His father shut the door, and Nick turned himself over face down and “let go” in an effort to drown himself. He could not go through with this, and the thought of hurting his mother, dad and brother in this way made him choose to live.
At age 15, Nick read John 9 and gave his heart to Jesus, and he says on his website, www.lifewithoutlimbs.org, that “I knew I had to make my life right with Him, but I blamed Him for my pain. I read how Jesus said that the blind man was born that way so that the works of God would be revealed through him. I said to God that if He had a plan for that man I certainly believed that He had one for me. I totally surrendered the ‘needing to know the plan’ idea and trusted in Him one day at a time.” Today, Nick is married, the father of a perfectly “normal” little boy… and an international evangelist and motivational speaker whose message in part is that…”My faith in God and my personal relationship has given me the power, strength, humility and grace to ask Him to change me one day at a time. That if my circumstance doesn’t change, then I’d ask Him to change my heart, for all things come together for the good and for those who love Him.” Nick Vujicic offers hope to others by reminding them that they are not alone…and that God will not allow them to go through more than they can handle.
As I read this passage, I’ll be honest… I was immediately struck by the verses that talk of skin that sags and bones that are brittle. For many of you, these things are a long way off in your future… and others among you are right there with me! I thought of the days when I look in the mirror and see another “age spot”… even more white hair… and a little more of me than there was when I was in college! And yet, I also see someone who is refreshed, calm and peaceful, and oh-so-content! How can this be? I give you one word… Jesus! On the days when the devil starts to remind me that I’m not as young as I once was… that I can’t physically do all I used to do in a day… that I walk into a room and forget why I am there, can’t recall familiar names, and lose simple objects like my phone and car keys – or the TV remote…I start humming a happy praise song or thanking God out loud for His ever present help and for meeting all of my needs (and helping me to find the missing object or recollection!).
I find that I don’t care as much about shopping these days… that “things” are not nearly as important as relationships… that I truly do have everything I need. And when I hear about someone like Nick Vujicic, I am doubly humbled to think that God has blessed me so abundantly. What’s the big deal about a head of hair that is quickly turning white and knees that seize up once in a while? In God’s eyes, our bodies and outward appearance do not define us… it’s all about the heart and soul!
I am grateful that I have two arms and legs… that I can walk upright and hug my loved ones… that I am still incredibly sound and healthy in a physical sense. But I am even more grateful for a sound heart and mind. Anyone who knows me well understands that I have become a serious “homebody.” Thanks to technology and modern conveniences, I rarely have to leave the comforts of my house and venture out into the “real world”! Virtually anything and everything I want or need can be delivered to my doorstep, phone or computer screen…even face-to-face conversations with friends and family (although “in-person” interaction with others is still important!). I am even more grateful that I am always “at home” in the LORD… that God is with me… always and everywhere… and that He is truly meeting all my needs.
I know that Nick Vujicic is right… God will not give me more than I can handle with His help… even the loss of limbs, memory, loved ones…or my hair color! And He will do this for you, as well. I am blessed to rest in the peace of God… to reside at home in Him…and to feel his ever present love and care. Where is your home? What matters most to you? What struggles are keeping you from resting in the home of the LORD? Nick Vujicic claims that “attitude is altitude.” Our attitude – our faith, our values, our determination - govern how high we travel… what goals we accomplish, the levels of competence and satisfaction we achieve.
How high are you aiming? Is peace in God and a home with Him at the top of your list of goals and desires? Are you doing everything you can to attain this? Will today be the day you surrender to “needing to know the plan” and trust God to handle things for you? Will this be the day you find your way “home” and rest in God’s peace?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 20, 2013
Psalm 37:4
Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On Sundays, we usually take Timothy and Zola to lunch after church at a local fast-food restaurant. We’ve figured out that the kids are more interested in the “atmosphere” and the people in the restaurant (and the toys in their meal!) than they are in eating their actual food. So we have started ordering one child’s meal for them to share – plus an extra drink. Even at that, neither child ate much last Sunday, and we ended up taking their lunch home for them to finish later. This did not stop Timothy from asking for ice cream. We are making an effort to support the children’s parents in not giving them dessert if they don’t eat their main meal… so the answer was “Not today.”
Here’s the thing… we would walk across hot coals for our little ones. We would never fail to meet their needs…to see that they are fed, clothed, clean, protected, and healthy. But there are things we can – and will – do for them that go above and beyond their necessities… as rewards for good behavior. This is not a way to selfishly control the children. We are teaching them that positive actions and constructive efforts will be rewarded. And this is the message for us in Psalm 37:4.
God loves us. He wants us to succeed… to be healthy, happy, safe, fed, clothed, and protected. But He has SO much more that He wants to give us… if only we will listen, obey, and serve as He has commanded. When we begin to operate fully in doing what the LORD wants, the rewards sometimes flow so abundantly that we cannot even tie them directly to a specific thing we have said or done. Do not misunderstand me… I’m not necessarily speaking of tangible gifts that we can see, touch and feel. I’m talking about the subtle blessings, like joy and peace in your heart that comes from knowing that you helped someone else… did the right thing… or served when you really didn’t feel like doing so.
If you really want to experience your heart’s desire, do what the LORD wants…not expecting Him to bless you, but because you want to serve Him – because you are grateful for all He provides, and you love Him. The amazing part of this is that you will not only receive blessings, joy and peace… but you may actually be God’s vessel to deliver these rewards to someone else! Now that will truly give you your heart’s desire!
When we start to consciously ask God to show us what He wants… and act on the answers He gives us… this becomes second nature. Soon, our selfish motives and desires take a backseat to God’s plans… and we begin to operate in His abundance - His peace and joy. I don’t know about you, but these are pretty near the top of my list of “heart’s desires”… they are my “ice cream after lunch” - and I’m ready to do whatever I can to acquire them. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On Sundays, we usually take Timothy and Zola to lunch after church at a local fast-food restaurant. We’ve figured out that the kids are more interested in the “atmosphere” and the people in the restaurant (and the toys in their meal!) than they are in eating their actual food. So we have started ordering one child’s meal for them to share – plus an extra drink. Even at that, neither child ate much last Sunday, and we ended up taking their lunch home for them to finish later. This did not stop Timothy from asking for ice cream. We are making an effort to support the children’s parents in not giving them dessert if they don’t eat their main meal… so the answer was “Not today.”
Here’s the thing… we would walk across hot coals for our little ones. We would never fail to meet their needs…to see that they are fed, clothed, clean, protected, and healthy. But there are things we can – and will – do for them that go above and beyond their necessities… as rewards for good behavior. This is not a way to selfishly control the children. We are teaching them that positive actions and constructive efforts will be rewarded. And this is the message for us in Psalm 37:4.
God loves us. He wants us to succeed… to be healthy, happy, safe, fed, clothed, and protected. But He has SO much more that He wants to give us… if only we will listen, obey, and serve as He has commanded. When we begin to operate fully in doing what the LORD wants, the rewards sometimes flow so abundantly that we cannot even tie them directly to a specific thing we have said or done. Do not misunderstand me… I’m not necessarily speaking of tangible gifts that we can see, touch and feel. I’m talking about the subtle blessings, like joy and peace in your heart that comes from knowing that you helped someone else… did the right thing… or served when you really didn’t feel like doing so.
If you really want to experience your heart’s desire, do what the LORD wants…not expecting Him to bless you, but because you want to serve Him – because you are grateful for all He provides, and you love Him. The amazing part of this is that you will not only receive blessings, joy and peace… but you may actually be God’s vessel to deliver these rewards to someone else! Now that will truly give you your heart’s desire!
When we start to consciously ask God to show us what He wants… and act on the answers He gives us… this becomes second nature. Soon, our selfish motives and desires take a backseat to God’s plans… and we begin to operate in His abundance - His peace and joy. I don’t know about you, but these are pretty near the top of my list of “heart’s desires”… they are my “ice cream after lunch” - and I’m ready to do whatever I can to acquire them. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 19, 2013
Psalm 34:11-14
Come, my children, listen as I teach you
to respect the Lord.
Do you want to live
and enjoy a long life?
Then don’t say cruel things
and don’t tell lies.
Do good instead of evil
and try to live at peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In our neck of the woods, today is “Back-To-School Day”. Facebook is flooded with photos of kiddos posing in fresh new outfits with their backpacks… ready to start another year of studies. Some hold signs declaring their grade level. Others look less than thrilled to be photographed. Mommas and daddies are experiencing a mixed bag of emotions… glad to see the kids shoot out the door and back to a routine – but also sad to see how quickly they grow.
When I was teaching kindergarten, I remember the teary-eyed mothers who could hardly bear to say “Goodbye” at the door – as if their child was going off to war or something. I remember children who clung to their parent’s leg and didn’t want them to leave – as if school was a big ole scary place… and I was the Wicked Witch of the West! Somehow, it all worked out after that first morning or two. I totally “get” the jumble of feelings that parents experience when they drop off their most precious cargo and place them in the hands of virtual strangers for 7+ hours a day. We have all been so excited about our own little Timothy starting to pre-K. But at the same time, it signals a major shift in the timeline of life. It seems like once children start to school – even a pre-K – the years really begin to fly.
School is a wonderful experience for most children. School is important… the place where we hope that learning will occur in a structured, organized continuum… a setting where social skills will be honed and we learn to get along with others and find our place in society. And as I read this passage from Psalm 34 today, I thought, “This would be a great starting point for learning!” If only we could start our school year by teaching these verses! In a round-about way, I believe this will happen in many classrooms. I started my first day each year with a lesson about the “ground rules”.
I reviewed three “rules” with my students… 1) Be kind to others; 2) Work and play quietly; and 3) Respect other people’s property. This encompassed pretty much every situation that might arise. Say something cruel or tell a lie? Remember to be kind to others. Raise your voice or yell and scream? Don’t forget to work and play quietly. Take a toy, crayon or book that doesn’t belong to you – or someone else was using? Gotta respect other people’s property!
The same verses – and rules – have application for us…even long after we have finished our school careers. If we will heed the words of this passage from Psalm 34, we will have a much better shot at living in God’s peace. If we will “be kind to others, work and play quietly, and respect other people’s property” – if we will strive to do good instead of evil… God will bless us and give us a good life in Him.
I’ve said before that as a former teacher, this time of year was more my “New Year” than January 1st. So why don’t we make this a time that we resolve to pay attention to these verses in Psalm 34… to listen to the LORD, to tell the truth and be kind… and to live in a way that pleases Him and frustrates the devil. In the words of the old John Lennon song… let’s “give peace a chance” to grow in our hearts - and enjoy a long, full life in the LORD. Happy “Back-to-School Day”… may yours be blessed and filled with peace!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Come, my children, listen as I teach you
to respect the Lord.
Do you want to live
and enjoy a long life?
Then don’t say cruel things
and don’t tell lies.
Do good instead of evil
and try to live at peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In our neck of the woods, today is “Back-To-School Day”. Facebook is flooded with photos of kiddos posing in fresh new outfits with their backpacks… ready to start another year of studies. Some hold signs declaring their grade level. Others look less than thrilled to be photographed. Mommas and daddies are experiencing a mixed bag of emotions… glad to see the kids shoot out the door and back to a routine – but also sad to see how quickly they grow.
When I was teaching kindergarten, I remember the teary-eyed mothers who could hardly bear to say “Goodbye” at the door – as if their child was going off to war or something. I remember children who clung to their parent’s leg and didn’t want them to leave – as if school was a big ole scary place… and I was the Wicked Witch of the West! Somehow, it all worked out after that first morning or two. I totally “get” the jumble of feelings that parents experience when they drop off their most precious cargo and place them in the hands of virtual strangers for 7+ hours a day. We have all been so excited about our own little Timothy starting to pre-K. But at the same time, it signals a major shift in the timeline of life. It seems like once children start to school – even a pre-K – the years really begin to fly.
School is a wonderful experience for most children. School is important… the place where we hope that learning will occur in a structured, organized continuum… a setting where social skills will be honed and we learn to get along with others and find our place in society. And as I read this passage from Psalm 34 today, I thought, “This would be a great starting point for learning!” If only we could start our school year by teaching these verses! In a round-about way, I believe this will happen in many classrooms. I started my first day each year with a lesson about the “ground rules”.
I reviewed three “rules” with my students… 1) Be kind to others; 2) Work and play quietly; and 3) Respect other people’s property. This encompassed pretty much every situation that might arise. Say something cruel or tell a lie? Remember to be kind to others. Raise your voice or yell and scream? Don’t forget to work and play quietly. Take a toy, crayon or book that doesn’t belong to you – or someone else was using? Gotta respect other people’s property!
The same verses – and rules – have application for us…even long after we have finished our school careers. If we will heed the words of this passage from Psalm 34, we will have a much better shot at living in God’s peace. If we will “be kind to others, work and play quietly, and respect other people’s property” – if we will strive to do good instead of evil… God will bless us and give us a good life in Him.
I’ve said before that as a former teacher, this time of year was more my “New Year” than January 1st. So why don’t we make this a time that we resolve to pay attention to these verses in Psalm 34… to listen to the LORD, to tell the truth and be kind… and to live in a way that pleases Him and frustrates the devil. In the words of the old John Lennon song… let’s “give peace a chance” to grow in our hearts - and enjoy a long, full life in the LORD. Happy “Back-to-School Day”… may yours be blessed and filled with peace!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 18, 2013
Psalm 17:15
I am innocent, Lord, and I will see your face! When I awake, all I want is to see you as you are.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy and I lay down last night to read stories and prepare for bed. He asked me several questions about “when I wake up”… when he woke up, would we go to church? (yes!)… when he woke up, could he play with his toys again? (absolutely!)… when he woke up, could he have something to eat (certainly!)… when he woke up, would he see Uncle Greg and his “friends” (stuffed animals) again? (most definitely!). Each time I assured him, he would smile and relax…and sometimes he would let out a heavy sigh as if he were greatly relieved to hear my answer.
Timothy struggled to surrender to sleep…even after admitting that he was very tired and that all of his energy was gone and he needed to rest to fill up with more. I kept stroking his hair, singing softly to him, rubbing his back and snuggling him. Finally, he drifted off to sweet slumber and rested soundly. This morning, he awoke refreshed and eager to see his Uncle Greg and his “friends”… to play with toys and eat breakfast. He had trusted that my promises were true… and he was delighted to confirm this.
In our spiritual life, we are every bit like a 4-year-old child. We struggle with letting God have control… with letting go and trusting Him to recharge our batteries, so to speak – to renew our energy and meet our needs. We know in reason that we will wake up in heaven someday and meet Him face-to-face. Still, we often toss and turn, as God tries to soothe us and offer us comfort. We think of a zillion things that need to be done or experienced… and we live in a way that says, “I want to trust You and believe in YOU, LORD… I want to serve You and follow Your commands. I trust that You are waiting for me and will deliver on all of Your promises. But I’m having a little trouble giving everything over to You.”
If only we could have a glimpse of what lies ahead… if only we could get a little “sneak preview” of heaven! Then, maybe we would be able to relax and rest in the LORD. Maybe we wouldn’t struggle so much with the things of this world… with indecision, temptation, worry and nagging doubts. Perhaps we would be able to truly take God at His word… and to serve Him out of pure faith and expectation.
Here’s the deal… until we learn to operate in faith and expectation… until we fully embrace the promise of heaven and live in a way that honors our anticipation of life there at the feet of Jesus… we will never truly experience the peace of God. We will always be restless… we will always have trouble with the temptations and challenges of this world… we will always find it hard to truly relax and allow God to energize us. We must learn to recognize God’s presence in our lives on this earth… and to anticipate His presence in person for all Eternity.
Aren’t you ready to “sleep like a baby”… to rest in the peace of the LORD… to operate energetically in the confidence that God is numbering your steps on this earth – and waits to greet you in person when you arrive at Heaven’s gate? Will this be the day that you take Him at His word… with the conviction of a four-year-old who believes that morning will bring new vitality and adventures? When you awake tomorrow, what – and WHO – will you see?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I am innocent, Lord, and I will see your face! When I awake, all I want is to see you as you are.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy and I lay down last night to read stories and prepare for bed. He asked me several questions about “when I wake up”… when he woke up, would we go to church? (yes!)… when he woke up, could he play with his toys again? (absolutely!)… when he woke up, could he have something to eat (certainly!)… when he woke up, would he see Uncle Greg and his “friends” (stuffed animals) again? (most definitely!). Each time I assured him, he would smile and relax…and sometimes he would let out a heavy sigh as if he were greatly relieved to hear my answer.
Timothy struggled to surrender to sleep…even after admitting that he was very tired and that all of his energy was gone and he needed to rest to fill up with more. I kept stroking his hair, singing softly to him, rubbing his back and snuggling him. Finally, he drifted off to sweet slumber and rested soundly. This morning, he awoke refreshed and eager to see his Uncle Greg and his “friends”… to play with toys and eat breakfast. He had trusted that my promises were true… and he was delighted to confirm this.
In our spiritual life, we are every bit like a 4-year-old child. We struggle with letting God have control… with letting go and trusting Him to recharge our batteries, so to speak – to renew our energy and meet our needs. We know in reason that we will wake up in heaven someday and meet Him face-to-face. Still, we often toss and turn, as God tries to soothe us and offer us comfort. We think of a zillion things that need to be done or experienced… and we live in a way that says, “I want to trust You and believe in YOU, LORD… I want to serve You and follow Your commands. I trust that You are waiting for me and will deliver on all of Your promises. But I’m having a little trouble giving everything over to You.”
If only we could have a glimpse of what lies ahead… if only we could get a little “sneak preview” of heaven! Then, maybe we would be able to relax and rest in the LORD. Maybe we wouldn’t struggle so much with the things of this world… with indecision, temptation, worry and nagging doubts. Perhaps we would be able to truly take God at His word… and to serve Him out of pure faith and expectation.
Here’s the deal… until we learn to operate in faith and expectation… until we fully embrace the promise of heaven and live in a way that honors our anticipation of life there at the feet of Jesus… we will never truly experience the peace of God. We will always be restless… we will always have trouble with the temptations and challenges of this world… we will always find it hard to truly relax and allow God to energize us. We must learn to recognize God’s presence in our lives on this earth… and to anticipate His presence in person for all Eternity.
Aren’t you ready to “sleep like a baby”… to rest in the peace of the LORD… to operate energetically in the confidence that God is numbering your steps on this earth – and waits to greet you in person when you arrive at Heaven’s gate? Will this be the day that you take Him at His word… with the conviction of a four-year-old who believes that morning will bring new vitality and adventures? When you awake tomorrow, what – and WHO – will you see?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 16, 2013
Psalm 119:121-127
I stood up for justice and the right;
don’t leave me to the mercy of my oppressors.
Take the side of your servant, good God;
don’t let the godless take advantage of me.
I can’t keep my eyes open any longer, waiting for you
to keep your promise to set everything right.
Let your love dictate how you deal with me;
teach me from your textbook on life.
I’m your servant—help me understand what that means,
the inner meaning of your instructions.
It’s time to act, God;
they’ve made a shambles of your revelation!
Yea-Saying God, I love what you command,
I love it better than gold and gemstones;
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.
Thirty-nine years ago today, I married my high school sweetheart. I remember how hard I worked all summer with my mom and my grandmother to get everything ready for the wedding. We made pretty much everything… down to the gowns, cake, mints and flowers! I remember when Greg and I returned from our honeymoon. We still had a couple of weeks before school started at our university, and my family was on vacation in Texas… so we stayed at their house. When Greg returned to his summer job, I still recall thinking, “Now what?” The “hoopla” was over… college still lay ahead of me. But for the moment, reality had set in – and I was more than a little thrown by it all.
For many of us, there are lots of “Now what?” moments in life. When we settle into our college dorm room or new home for the first time, we may have those moments of asking… “Now what do I do?” When the wedding toasts have all been given and the honeymoon trip has been taken… and you return to the everyday world of work, school, household chores – or whatever your life entails, it is normal to have that moment when you wonder, “What is next?” When you finish school and enter the workforce, you may wonder, “Where do I go from here?” As you age, retire, lose family members, peers – or even a spouse, it is natural to ask, “Now what?”
In any life-changing event, there is a time of a “natural high”… followed by a “reality check” where we may wonder what will come next. Even in our Christian faith, we often go through a period of exhilaration… a “mountaintop experience” in which we are filled with joy, confidence, and inspiration to be the most devoted Disciple for Christ. On the Walk to Emmaus, participants are cautioned on the last day as they return home that the world does not operate as we do… that we will face all sorts of challenges and struggles… and the potential for becoming discouraged or complacent is high.
So where does this leave us? How do we avoid the pitfalls and navigate the “what nows”? I believe that these verses help us figure out where to begin… “teach me from your textbook on life. I’m your servant—help me understand what that means, the inner meaning of your instructions.” If we continually seek God in all things… if we listen and learn from His teachings… we can experience peace even in the midst of the most troubling “Now what?” event. God will show us how to proceed in every circumstance… He will guide us – and number our steps. And this, my friends, is worth more than the purest gold or a chest full of diamonds and gemstones.
Even after 39 years, I don’t know for certain what lies ahead… but I know Who is in charge. Because of God’s love and care, I can give my “Now whats?” to Him and rest in the assurance – and peace - that He will show me the right answers. Can you say the same?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I stood up for justice and the right;
don’t leave me to the mercy of my oppressors.
Take the side of your servant, good God;
don’t let the godless take advantage of me.
I can’t keep my eyes open any longer, waiting for you
to keep your promise to set everything right.
Let your love dictate how you deal with me;
teach me from your textbook on life.
I’m your servant—help me understand what that means,
the inner meaning of your instructions.
It’s time to act, God;
they’ve made a shambles of your revelation!
Yea-Saying God, I love what you command,
I love it better than gold and gemstones;
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.
Thirty-nine years ago today, I married my high school sweetheart. I remember how hard I worked all summer with my mom and my grandmother to get everything ready for the wedding. We made pretty much everything… down to the gowns, cake, mints and flowers! I remember when Greg and I returned from our honeymoon. We still had a couple of weeks before school started at our university, and my family was on vacation in Texas… so we stayed at their house. When Greg returned to his summer job, I still recall thinking, “Now what?” The “hoopla” was over… college still lay ahead of me. But for the moment, reality had set in – and I was more than a little thrown by it all.
For many of us, there are lots of “Now what?” moments in life. When we settle into our college dorm room or new home for the first time, we may have those moments of asking… “Now what do I do?” When the wedding toasts have all been given and the honeymoon trip has been taken… and you return to the everyday world of work, school, household chores – or whatever your life entails, it is normal to have that moment when you wonder, “What is next?” When you finish school and enter the workforce, you may wonder, “Where do I go from here?” As you age, retire, lose family members, peers – or even a spouse, it is natural to ask, “Now what?”
In any life-changing event, there is a time of a “natural high”… followed by a “reality check” where we may wonder what will come next. Even in our Christian faith, we often go through a period of exhilaration… a “mountaintop experience” in which we are filled with joy, confidence, and inspiration to be the most devoted Disciple for Christ. On the Walk to Emmaus, participants are cautioned on the last day as they return home that the world does not operate as we do… that we will face all sorts of challenges and struggles… and the potential for becoming discouraged or complacent is high.
So where does this leave us? How do we avoid the pitfalls and navigate the “what nows”? I believe that these verses help us figure out where to begin… “teach me from your textbook on life. I’m your servant—help me understand what that means, the inner meaning of your instructions.” If we continually seek God in all things… if we listen and learn from His teachings… we can experience peace even in the midst of the most troubling “Now what?” event. God will show us how to proceed in every circumstance… He will guide us – and number our steps. And this, my friends, is worth more than the purest gold or a chest full of diamonds and gemstones.
Even after 39 years, I don’t know for certain what lies ahead… but I know Who is in charge. Because of God’s love and care, I can give my “Now whats?” to Him and rest in the assurance – and peace - that He will show me the right answers. Can you say the same?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 13, 2013
Proverbs 3:13-18
God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.
Wisdom is worth more than silver; it makes you much richer than gold. Wisdom is more valuable than precious jewels; nothing you want compares with her.
In her right hand Wisdom holds a long life, and in her left hand are wealth and honor. Wisdom makes life pleasant and leads us safely along. Wisdom is a life-giving tree, the source of happiness for all who hold on to her.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Tonight, our little four-year-old Timothy will attend an open house for pre-K. His mom and dad will go with him, and they will all meet his teachers and the school’s directors… and Timothy’s classmates. While a part of me is quite sad to think that this signals the beginning of a whole new chapter in our little guy’s life… I am also incredibly excited. As a former kindergarten teacher, I know what this will mean for him… how much he will grow and learn…how enriched his life will be by this experience.
About two years ago, Timothy attended a daycare for a few months. The daycare owner had a really strong instructional curriculum that she taught to even the toddlers… there was a whole lot more going on each day than just playtime. And in a few short weeks, Timothy went from being a baby who could barely say a handful of words to a little boy who spoke complete sentences – about panda bears and other animals… colors and shapes… numbers and so much more. He began to develop social skills and to learn about structure and organized activities. I had a glimpse then of how much this wisdom was going to expand his already-bright mind… and I know for certain that we’re about to be amazed once again.
Some of you may be about to embark on another school year – if not as a student, as a teacher, coach, or school staff member. I hope you will think about wisdom… whether you are the one who imparts it, or the recipient of knowledge from another. We are all capable of learning new things every day. So even if you are not involved in formal education of some sort, God has things to share with you. As our focus shifts from absorbing knowledge in a classroom setting to actually functioning in the real everyday world, we learn about wisdom of another kind - God’s wisdom. And oh, how we need this!
God’s wisdom can make the difference between saying the right thing… and starting World War Three. His wisdom can keep us from making mistakes both great and small… from getting into trouble – or hurting someone’s feelings. God gives us common sense, so that we don’t make foolish choices. He shows us how to share the love of Jesus Christ with others… to win their hearts for Him… and how to nurture other believers in our path. God’s wisdom and common sense help us deal with crises and heartaches… times of great loneliness and sadness… and the “mountaintop experiences” that bring us tremendous joy. The “school of God” is far different from a pre-K or other formal educational setting. In order to learn from Him, we basically need three things… prayer and communion with Him, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. Through these avenues, God can grant us life-giving wisdom that will fill us with confidence, safety, joy, and peace.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this is a good time to declare “back to school” for all of us… regardless of our age or station in life! As a teacher, this time of year signaled a New Year to me even more, perhaps, than January 1st. So why don’t we resolve to start a new year of learning… a time of growth and increased knowledge in the LORD! Let’s agree to increase our Spiritual wisdom and common sense… to spend a little time in “study” with God… and to mature our faith in the coming months. Like the little four-year-old boy who is going off to pre-K, I have a feeling we will see amazing results in a short time. I’m willing to give it a shot… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.
Wisdom is worth more than silver; it makes you much richer than gold. Wisdom is more valuable than precious jewels; nothing you want compares with her.
In her right hand Wisdom holds a long life, and in her left hand are wealth and honor. Wisdom makes life pleasant and leads us safely along. Wisdom is a life-giving tree, the source of happiness for all who hold on to her.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Tonight, our little four-year-old Timothy will attend an open house for pre-K. His mom and dad will go with him, and they will all meet his teachers and the school’s directors… and Timothy’s classmates. While a part of me is quite sad to think that this signals the beginning of a whole new chapter in our little guy’s life… I am also incredibly excited. As a former kindergarten teacher, I know what this will mean for him… how much he will grow and learn…how enriched his life will be by this experience.
About two years ago, Timothy attended a daycare for a few months. The daycare owner had a really strong instructional curriculum that she taught to even the toddlers… there was a whole lot more going on each day than just playtime. And in a few short weeks, Timothy went from being a baby who could barely say a handful of words to a little boy who spoke complete sentences – about panda bears and other animals… colors and shapes… numbers and so much more. He began to develop social skills and to learn about structure and organized activities. I had a glimpse then of how much this wisdom was going to expand his already-bright mind… and I know for certain that we’re about to be amazed once again.
Some of you may be about to embark on another school year – if not as a student, as a teacher, coach, or school staff member. I hope you will think about wisdom… whether you are the one who imparts it, or the recipient of knowledge from another. We are all capable of learning new things every day. So even if you are not involved in formal education of some sort, God has things to share with you. As our focus shifts from absorbing knowledge in a classroom setting to actually functioning in the real everyday world, we learn about wisdom of another kind - God’s wisdom. And oh, how we need this!
God’s wisdom can make the difference between saying the right thing… and starting World War Three. His wisdom can keep us from making mistakes both great and small… from getting into trouble – or hurting someone’s feelings. God gives us common sense, so that we don’t make foolish choices. He shows us how to share the love of Jesus Christ with others… to win their hearts for Him… and how to nurture other believers in our path. God’s wisdom and common sense help us deal with crises and heartaches… times of great loneliness and sadness… and the “mountaintop experiences” that bring us tremendous joy. The “school of God” is far different from a pre-K or other formal educational setting. In order to learn from Him, we basically need three things… prayer and communion with Him, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. Through these avenues, God can grant us life-giving wisdom that will fill us with confidence, safety, joy, and peace.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this is a good time to declare “back to school” for all of us… regardless of our age or station in life! As a teacher, this time of year signaled a New Year to me even more, perhaps, than January 1st. So why don’t we resolve to start a new year of learning… a time of growth and increased knowledge in the LORD! Let’s agree to increase our Spiritual wisdom and common sense… to spend a little time in “study” with God… and to mature our faith in the coming months. Like the little four-year-old boy who is going off to pre-K, I have a feeling we will see amazing results in a short time. I’m willing to give it a shot… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 9, 2013
Proverbs 16:7
When people’s lives please the Lord,
even their enemies are at peace with them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Sometimes, you have to be the bigger person. I know people who have not spoken to each other in years… and neither one will budge. Honestly, they probably couldn’t even tell you at this point how the stand-off started! And maybe there is someone who refuses to acknowledge or speak to you this very day. What are you doing about it? How are you reacting? Your answers can make all the difference!
Do you believe that God has the power to turn disagreements around… to create friendships among “enemies”? Do you trust God to bring you peace in all situations… even those where the disdain from another is palpable? In this verse from Proverbs, we hear God telling us that those who please Him will find peace… even among their enemies. In other words, those who stay faithful and live a life that pleases God have no reason to feel unsettled. God can turn things around… He can supply peace where none seems possible.
Does this mean that every person with whom you disagree will someday come to you and say, “I’m sorry…I want to be your friend again.”? Will your obedience and faithfulness guarantee that all discord will ultimately be resolved, and everyone will live happily ever after? Not in the way you might think! I do not believe that God promises us that everyone will like us, agree with us, and want to make up and be the best of friends. I don’t believe that He will mend every relationship in the way we may anticipate or desire.
When we serve the Lord and do everything we possibly can to please Him, I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God will give us His peace. We will have comfort and confidence in knowing that we did the right thing… that we focused on our relationship with Jesus and kept the Holy Spirit in our hearts… that we listened to His voice and shared His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion with everyone we encountered. Whether the other person chooses to reciprocate is up to him/her… but either way, God will fill us with His peace – and it will be more than enough.
So the question becomes this… “What are you doing on your end?” How are you conducting your life...WHO are you serving and trusting? Are you counting on God to meet your needs and handle your worries and cares while you go about the business of serving Him and following His commandments? Or are you “stirring the pot” in relationships that are less than perfect… then wringing your hands and wondering why things never seem to improve? God’s peace is so near… all you have to do is reach out to Him and surrender your own selfish will. When people’s lives please the LORD, He makes sure that they have peace in all things. Do you have His peace today? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
When people’s lives please the Lord,
even their enemies are at peace with them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Sometimes, you have to be the bigger person. I know people who have not spoken to each other in years… and neither one will budge. Honestly, they probably couldn’t even tell you at this point how the stand-off started! And maybe there is someone who refuses to acknowledge or speak to you this very day. What are you doing about it? How are you reacting? Your answers can make all the difference!
Do you believe that God has the power to turn disagreements around… to create friendships among “enemies”? Do you trust God to bring you peace in all situations… even those where the disdain from another is palpable? In this verse from Proverbs, we hear God telling us that those who please Him will find peace… even among their enemies. In other words, those who stay faithful and live a life that pleases God have no reason to feel unsettled. God can turn things around… He can supply peace where none seems possible.
Does this mean that every person with whom you disagree will someday come to you and say, “I’m sorry…I want to be your friend again.”? Will your obedience and faithfulness guarantee that all discord will ultimately be resolved, and everyone will live happily ever after? Not in the way you might think! I do not believe that God promises us that everyone will like us, agree with us, and want to make up and be the best of friends. I don’t believe that He will mend every relationship in the way we may anticipate or desire.
When we serve the Lord and do everything we possibly can to please Him, I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God will give us His peace. We will have comfort and confidence in knowing that we did the right thing… that we focused on our relationship with Jesus and kept the Holy Spirit in our hearts… that we listened to His voice and shared His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion with everyone we encountered. Whether the other person chooses to reciprocate is up to him/her… but either way, God will fill us with His peace – and it will be more than enough.
So the question becomes this… “What are you doing on your end?” How are you conducting your life...WHO are you serving and trusting? Are you counting on God to meet your needs and handle your worries and cares while you go about the business of serving Him and following His commandments? Or are you “stirring the pot” in relationships that are less than perfect… then wringing your hands and wondering why things never seem to improve? God’s peace is so near… all you have to do is reach out to Him and surrender your own selfish will. When people’s lives please the LORD, He makes sure that they have peace in all things. Do you have His peace today? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 3, 2013
Matthew 6:25-34
I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?
Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?
Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is “tax-free” weekend in Arkansas. For two days, parents can shop for back-to-school clothes and supplies and the state sales tax will be waived on certain purchases. This includes clothing selling for up to $100 per item, and purses and accessories retailing for up to $50 per item. My question is… “Do school-aged children really need $50 purses and clothing items that are $100 each?” Maybe I am just out of touch with the times… but I don’t pay this much for my own clothing and accessories. My experience with children and teenagers has taught me that most will not take care of said items well enough to merit these prices! I am sure some of my nieces, nephews and young friends – and maybe even you – would disagree… and that’s your business. But I honestly believe we have become so “appearance/label conscious” in this society that we have lost touch with reality in many instances.
As someone who sews, I’ve taken a look at high-priced items of clothing and discovered that many are poorly made. Materials are thin and the dyes fade quickly…the stitching is often less than secure and subject to raveling… and the quality just doesn’t match the price. And at the end of the day… are you really happier or more comfortable in a nearly $100 pair of designer jeans than a $20 pair of Levis from Wal-Mart – or even a good clean $2 pair from the local thrift store? Does that tee-shirt from the high end apparel shop clothe you better than one from a familiar name-brand department store? Is a $10 gourmet hamburger truly tastier and more filling than a $3-$5 Whopper® meal from Burger King? Our pastor shared with us recently that $10 can feed a family of four for ONE WEEK in Costa Rica. How far can you stretch $10? My point is this…we all tend to be far too concerned with things that don’t last and won’t bring us peace and happiness.
Before my husband and I married, we planned to attend college at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, where he was already a student. I would major in Elementary Education there… he would finish a degree in Accounting. Then he took a course in statistics and realized that sitting behind a desk crunching numbers did not interest him as much as being outdoors in nature. After much prayerful consideration, he decided to transfer to Arkansas Tech University and pursue a degree in Park Administration.
We had all of the paper work complete for my enrollment at UALR. We were already looking for housing and making plans. In a few short months, we would be married, so changing locations – and universities – was daunting at this juncture. But my husband-to-be did not come to this decision lightly, and one day he opened the Gideon Bible he had been given his freshman year of college and showed me this passage from Matthew 6. He explained that a career in the “Parks and Rec” field might never be as lucrative as one in accounting… that park rangers and school teachers might only “make ends meet” on comparatively small salaries. But he assured me that he would be much happier as a park ranger than an accountant… and that as long as we were together, “things” really didn’t matter. With God's help, we would make it work.
In that instant, I realized that I had the most important gift… someone who loved me – and not my possessions or my “earned income potential”. I began a mantra that I have repeated to my husband for nearly 40 years now… “I’d live in a pup tent, as long as you are with me.” And we have never lacked for anything.
On a far grander scale, we have a similar – yet greater – Gift. We have Someone who loves us… not for what we have or how we look… not for how we dress or whether we dine on gourmet meals and live in mansions. We have a God who loves us and wants to be with us… because of who we are – not what we have. And He is willing to see that all of our needs are met, just so we can be together. God really doesn’t care whether you carry a $50 purse or stuff your money into your pocket. He is not the least bit interested in whether your jeans have a designer label or came from the thrift store. What God desires is your obedience… your trust… and your devotion. He will handle the rest. You may not have much… but you will always have enough. This should give each of us a tremendous sense of peace!
If you shop this weekend, I hope you will think about what really matters… spend your “tax-free” money wisely… and make every dollar count. Start learning to focus on your relationship with God… and with others. Make God’s work your top priority. Evangelist Joyce Meyer tells of standing in front of the mirror one Sunday morning… stewing about which outfit to wear and what accessories to add. She clearly heard God say, “Oh for goodness’ sake, Joyce… just put on something and GO!” It’s time for us to do the same. We’ve kept God waiting long enough! Won’t you set your worries aside and get busy doing His work? God may never ask you to “live in a pup tent,” but if He did… how would you respond?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?
Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?
Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is “tax-free” weekend in Arkansas. For two days, parents can shop for back-to-school clothes and supplies and the state sales tax will be waived on certain purchases. This includes clothing selling for up to $100 per item, and purses and accessories retailing for up to $50 per item. My question is… “Do school-aged children really need $50 purses and clothing items that are $100 each?” Maybe I am just out of touch with the times… but I don’t pay this much for my own clothing and accessories. My experience with children and teenagers has taught me that most will not take care of said items well enough to merit these prices! I am sure some of my nieces, nephews and young friends – and maybe even you – would disagree… and that’s your business. But I honestly believe we have become so “appearance/label conscious” in this society that we have lost touch with reality in many instances.
As someone who sews, I’ve taken a look at high-priced items of clothing and discovered that many are poorly made. Materials are thin and the dyes fade quickly…the stitching is often less than secure and subject to raveling… and the quality just doesn’t match the price. And at the end of the day… are you really happier or more comfortable in a nearly $100 pair of designer jeans than a $20 pair of Levis from Wal-Mart – or even a good clean $2 pair from the local thrift store? Does that tee-shirt from the high end apparel shop clothe you better than one from a familiar name-brand department store? Is a $10 gourmet hamburger truly tastier and more filling than a $3-$5 Whopper® meal from Burger King? Our pastor shared with us recently that $10 can feed a family of four for ONE WEEK in Costa Rica. How far can you stretch $10? My point is this…we all tend to be far too concerned with things that don’t last and won’t bring us peace and happiness.
Before my husband and I married, we planned to attend college at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, where he was already a student. I would major in Elementary Education there… he would finish a degree in Accounting. Then he took a course in statistics and realized that sitting behind a desk crunching numbers did not interest him as much as being outdoors in nature. After much prayerful consideration, he decided to transfer to Arkansas Tech University and pursue a degree in Park Administration.
We had all of the paper work complete for my enrollment at UALR. We were already looking for housing and making plans. In a few short months, we would be married, so changing locations – and universities – was daunting at this juncture. But my husband-to-be did not come to this decision lightly, and one day he opened the Gideon Bible he had been given his freshman year of college and showed me this passage from Matthew 6. He explained that a career in the “Parks and Rec” field might never be as lucrative as one in accounting… that park rangers and school teachers might only “make ends meet” on comparatively small salaries. But he assured me that he would be much happier as a park ranger than an accountant… and that as long as we were together, “things” really didn’t matter. With God's help, we would make it work.
In that instant, I realized that I had the most important gift… someone who loved me – and not my possessions or my “earned income potential”. I began a mantra that I have repeated to my husband for nearly 40 years now… “I’d live in a pup tent, as long as you are with me.” And we have never lacked for anything.
On a far grander scale, we have a similar – yet greater – Gift. We have Someone who loves us… not for what we have or how we look… not for how we dress or whether we dine on gourmet meals and live in mansions. We have a God who loves us and wants to be with us… because of who we are – not what we have. And He is willing to see that all of our needs are met, just so we can be together. God really doesn’t care whether you carry a $50 purse or stuff your money into your pocket. He is not the least bit interested in whether your jeans have a designer label or came from the thrift store. What God desires is your obedience… your trust… and your devotion. He will handle the rest. You may not have much… but you will always have enough. This should give each of us a tremendous sense of peace!
If you shop this weekend, I hope you will think about what really matters… spend your “tax-free” money wisely… and make every dollar count. Start learning to focus on your relationship with God… and with others. Make God’s work your top priority. Evangelist Joyce Meyer tells of standing in front of the mirror one Sunday morning… stewing about which outfit to wear and what accessories to add. She clearly heard God say, “Oh for goodness’ sake, Joyce… just put on something and GO!” It’s time for us to do the same. We’ve kept God waiting long enough! Won’t you set your worries aside and get busy doing His work? God may never ask you to “live in a pup tent,” but if He did… how would you respond?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)