Romans 14:10-12
So where does that leave you when
you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you
condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or
worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in
the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways
aren’t going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for
yourself in Scripture:
“As I live and breathe,” God says,
“every knee will bow before me;
Every tongue will tell the honest truth
that I and only I am God.”
So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
As I read this scripture
passage, I thought about my Facebook friends. I pictured many of them,
and I made a mental list of things I knew about challenges and “issues”
that each one is facing or has had to face. This one’s son is being
deployed to the Middle East…and that one’s son is undergoing tests at
Mayo Clinic. One has spent an entire year molding and shaping her body
into an amazing work of muscular art through careful diet and weight
training…while another who is working with a personal trainer recently
posted a picture of a pair of jeans with the caption, “Well, HELLO, size
12!”
Some are dealing with the aftermath of breakups, while
others are planning weddings or anticipating the birth of a new baby.
Some are experiencing discrimination because of their sexual
orientation, religious beliefs, or political views…while others are the
ones who are discriminating and criticizing. Some are gaga for their
dogs, and others are unapologetically in the cat camp. Some are all
about the lives and activities of their kids…while others are totally
into the enjoyment of retirement living.
I imagined each one of
us standing side-by-side in something non-descript - surgical scrubs,
perhaps – barefoot and stripped of caps, jewelry, makeup, and other
“adornments”. You can’t always see a person’s characteristics and
preferences with the naked eye. You can’t always know what is going on
behind the scenes in their lives. You also cannot see their heart…or
their heartaches. You can’t know for certain what kind of relationship
they have with God…or what is truly in their hearts. But God knows ALL
of this. And as this passage tells, at the end of the day when we kneel
before Him, He will decide who has served Him well and “lived right”...not you and I.
We
have to get this right. We have to quit criticizing…to “live and let
live”…and to get on with focusing on getting our OWN lives in order. We
only have one responsibility…and that is to mind our own business and
live in such a way that God is honored as we serve Him. In the current
vernacular, we need to learn to “stay in our lane.” For many of us,
this is really hard. We want to make suggestions…to impose OUR thoughts
and feelings onto others…to interject ourselves into their lives. If
only they would do this or say that or think another way – in other
words, be more like us! – their lives would be so much better!
Do
you see how skewed this is? Do you understand how this displeases
God…how we place ourselves in an unmerited position of authority? Are
you ready to humble yourself and find your true place as Christ’s
disciple? Will this be the day that you start to look at other people
as God sees them…and quit criticizing and looking at them with
condescension? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label focusing on God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label focusing on God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 24, 2014
Exodus 23:25-26
Worship only me, the Lord your God! I will bless you with plenty of food and water and keep you strong. Your women will give birth to healthy children, and everyone will live a long life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother-in-law has been going through old photo albums and journals...many that belonged to her mother and her aunts and uncles. In some of these, there are accounts of the 1918-1919 flu pandemic and its effects. Greg’s family hails from Iowa. I have heard about the 1918 Flu Pandemic most of my life...ancestors of mine succumbed to it in rural Arkansas communities just east of where I live today, including four people in one family alone who died over the course of a couple of days.
I had not realized that this was such a widespread “event”, but information at http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/1918/index.html explains that this deadly outbreak covered not only much of the United States – but Europe, as well, since soldiers were traveling back and forth to fight in the war, and they carried the flu with them. I’ve heard my grandparents and other relatives share recollections (a few firsthand!) of how no one dared to even try to go to a home and care for the sick, for fear that they would also become ill with the virus. Burying the dead was a challenge...many people were too sick to even dig the graves for those who had perished.
I share this as a way of way of demonstrating that hardships are nothing new. If you think you or your family has it rough...if you think you have been given “too much to handle”...consider that you probably don’t have a corner on that market! So why do your problems seem bigger than those of others? It may have more to do with where your focus and your worship lie than what is actually happening to you.
In a crazy twist of events that can only be described as a “God thing,” I became friends with Veronica Squef, a young woman who lives in Massapequa, New York – a community on Long Island. Veronica’s husband, Keith Glascoe, was a firefighter who lost his life on 9-11-2001. Veronica and Keith had two boys, Nolan (age 2), and Owen (age 1). She was pregnant with their third child – Keith, Jr. – who was born in April 2002. I have never met Veronica and her boys in person, but we correspond frequently through the mail and via Facebook. I asked her one day...”What is your secret? How have you survived this all?” She replied that her boys were her focus...that every day she reminded herself that “you have three boys who are counting on you”...and this motivated her to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Now I ask you...Who do you think whispers this encouragement to her each day and undergirds her efforts?
Focus is the key. We can focus on God and trust Him to bless us...to feed us...to keep us healthy and strong...to give us the courage and energy to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Or we can wallow in our struggles and sorrows – and we ALL have them – and have a giant pity party. We can pretend that we are the most persecuted person on the planet, wring our hands and cry, “Why ME, Lord?!”...and flounder in the “wilderness” of misery and defeat.
Like so many things in life...this is our choice. But it doesn’t have to be so. Regardless of what we face today, God can help us handle things. We need to stop and fully recognize how incredibly – and abundantly – we are loved and nurtured by God. We need to start focusing on His tremendous gifts and the amazing power of His care and blessings. We need to shift our focus from our own selfishness and pity to the compassionate, merciful sacrifices of Jesus for each of us – and how we can glorify His ransom and shower Him with our praises and service.
Choosing life in Christ...and an emphasis on worshipping God in all things and at all times...will not guarantee that every day will be a bed of roses and all of your problems and challenges will disappear. But this shift in attention and motivation invites God to share the burden... to heal your heart, mind and soul...and to carry you when you cannot walk on your own. Don’t you want this? Isn’t He worth it? Where will you choose to direct your focus? Who do you truly worship?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Worship only me, the Lord your God! I will bless you with plenty of food and water and keep you strong. Your women will give birth to healthy children, and everyone will live a long life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother-in-law has been going through old photo albums and journals...many that belonged to her mother and her aunts and uncles. In some of these, there are accounts of the 1918-1919 flu pandemic and its effects. Greg’s family hails from Iowa. I have heard about the 1918 Flu Pandemic most of my life...ancestors of mine succumbed to it in rural Arkansas communities just east of where I live today, including four people in one family alone who died over the course of a couple of days.
I had not realized that this was such a widespread “event”, but information at http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/1918/index.html explains that this deadly outbreak covered not only much of the United States – but Europe, as well, since soldiers were traveling back and forth to fight in the war, and they carried the flu with them. I’ve heard my grandparents and other relatives share recollections (a few firsthand!) of how no one dared to even try to go to a home and care for the sick, for fear that they would also become ill with the virus. Burying the dead was a challenge...many people were too sick to even dig the graves for those who had perished.
I share this as a way of way of demonstrating that hardships are nothing new. If you think you or your family has it rough...if you think you have been given “too much to handle”...consider that you probably don’t have a corner on that market! So why do your problems seem bigger than those of others? It may have more to do with where your focus and your worship lie than what is actually happening to you.
In a crazy twist of events that can only be described as a “God thing,” I became friends with Veronica Squef, a young woman who lives in Massapequa, New York – a community on Long Island. Veronica’s husband, Keith Glascoe, was a firefighter who lost his life on 9-11-2001. Veronica and Keith had two boys, Nolan (age 2), and Owen (age 1). She was pregnant with their third child – Keith, Jr. – who was born in April 2002. I have never met Veronica and her boys in person, but we correspond frequently through the mail and via Facebook. I asked her one day...”What is your secret? How have you survived this all?” She replied that her boys were her focus...that every day she reminded herself that “you have three boys who are counting on you”...and this motivated her to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Now I ask you...Who do you think whispers this encouragement to her each day and undergirds her efforts?
Focus is the key. We can focus on God and trust Him to bless us...to feed us...to keep us healthy and strong...to give us the courage and energy to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Or we can wallow in our struggles and sorrows – and we ALL have them – and have a giant pity party. We can pretend that we are the most persecuted person on the planet, wring our hands and cry, “Why ME, Lord?!”...and flounder in the “wilderness” of misery and defeat.
Like so many things in life...this is our choice. But it doesn’t have to be so. Regardless of what we face today, God can help us handle things. We need to stop and fully recognize how incredibly – and abundantly – we are loved and nurtured by God. We need to start focusing on His tremendous gifts and the amazing power of His care and blessings. We need to shift our focus from our own selfishness and pity to the compassionate, merciful sacrifices of Jesus for each of us – and how we can glorify His ransom and shower Him with our praises and service.
Choosing life in Christ...and an emphasis on worshipping God in all things and at all times...will not guarantee that every day will be a bed of roses and all of your problems and challenges will disappear. But this shift in attention and motivation invites God to share the burden... to heal your heart, mind and soul...and to carry you when you cannot walk on your own. Don’t you want this? Isn’t He worth it? Where will you choose to direct your focus? Who do you truly worship?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 3, 2013
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.
Today was an unseasonably crisp, cool day for July 3rd in Arkansas. We awoke to a low of approximately 55 degrees, with a bright sunny sky overhead. I picked up Timothy about 9:30 and took him to get a haircut. Then we returned to his house and retrieved his mom, his sister Zola, and baby brother Nathan… and off we went to the city park to play. A little while later, my husband joined us there (thankfully)… it pretty well took all three of us to watch all three children!
But the little ones didn’t have a care in the world. Theirs was an atmosphere of exuberant joy… and complete peace. Their thoughts were on which apparatus to play upon next… who would push them in the swing…the children who came and went and interacted with them. They trusted that we would see to their every need. And when the time came to leave just before noon, they trusted that we would feed them and see that they got home safely. When you are four, two and one, you trust the adults in your life to see that everything goes smoothly and that all of your needs are met. You depend upon your parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to ensure that you are fed, kept clean and tidy, and entertained. So far… so good for our three!
Not all children have such a carefree existence. Some already know the pangs of hunger… the discomfort of living in squalor or not having clean clothes to wear - or even a bed in which to sleep. I know this. I understand that some children lose their ability to trust adults – or anyone else – at a very early age. Still, I believe that children as a group are better able to operate in total faith that someone will meet their needs and care for them than most of us.
I don’t know what age we begin to worry and mistrust. I am fairly certain it is different for each of us. But few of us make it to adulthood with perfect peace and a continual notion that someone else has our back at all times… even God. And therein lies the problem. See, the reason even children can operate in such faith, peace and joy is because God places people in their lives to care for their every need. The reason we can continue to operate in faith and peace as we grow and age is because God always has our back – one way or another. If we will keep our focus on this, nothing can rattle us.
Troubles will come…there will be bumps in the road some days – and downright potholes on others. But when we trust God and keep our thoughts fixed on Him… pleasing Him, serving Him, and trusting Him… we can have peace and joy even in the midst of our worst, most difficult day.
We all know that every July 3rd in Arkansas will not be cool and crisp. We all understand that we can’t play in the park with the abandonment of young children every day. But when we trust in God to meet our needs and handle our cares, every day can have the joy and peace that little ones seem to find so readily in even the most mundane – or unpleasant - circumstances. Are you ready to trust God with childlike faith? Are you ready to receive the serenity and calm that He can provide in all situations? Will today be the day you “let go and let God” once and for all? Shouldn’t it be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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.
Today was an unseasonably crisp, cool day for July 3rd in Arkansas. We awoke to a low of approximately 55 degrees, with a bright sunny sky overhead. I picked up Timothy about 9:30 and took him to get a haircut. Then we returned to his house and retrieved his mom, his sister Zola, and baby brother Nathan… and off we went to the city park to play. A little while later, my husband joined us there (thankfully)… it pretty well took all three of us to watch all three children!
But the little ones didn’t have a care in the world. Theirs was an atmosphere of exuberant joy… and complete peace. Their thoughts were on which apparatus to play upon next… who would push them in the swing…the children who came and went and interacted with them. They trusted that we would see to their every need. And when the time came to leave just before noon, they trusted that we would feed them and see that they got home safely. When you are four, two and one, you trust the adults in your life to see that everything goes smoothly and that all of your needs are met. You depend upon your parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to ensure that you are fed, kept clean and tidy, and entertained. So far… so good for our three!
Not all children have such a carefree existence. Some already know the pangs of hunger… the discomfort of living in squalor or not having clean clothes to wear - or even a bed in which to sleep. I know this. I understand that some children lose their ability to trust adults – or anyone else – at a very early age. Still, I believe that children as a group are better able to operate in total faith that someone will meet their needs and care for them than most of us.
I don’t know what age we begin to worry and mistrust. I am fairly certain it is different for each of us. But few of us make it to adulthood with perfect peace and a continual notion that someone else has our back at all times… even God. And therein lies the problem. See, the reason even children can operate in such faith, peace and joy is because God places people in their lives to care for their every need. The reason we can continue to operate in faith and peace as we grow and age is because God always has our back – one way or another. If we will keep our focus on this, nothing can rattle us.
Troubles will come…there will be bumps in the road some days – and downright potholes on others. But when we trust God and keep our thoughts fixed on Him… pleasing Him, serving Him, and trusting Him… we can have peace and joy even in the midst of our worst, most difficult day.
We all know that every July 3rd in Arkansas will not be cool and crisp. We all understand that we can’t play in the park with the abandonment of young children every day. But when we trust in God to meet our needs and handle our cares, every day can have the joy and peace that little ones seem to find so readily in even the most mundane – or unpleasant - circumstances. Are you ready to trust God with childlike faith? Are you ready to receive the serenity and calm that He can provide in all situations? Will today be the day you “let go and let God” once and for all? Shouldn’t it be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 12, 2012
James 4:7-10
So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I learned a valuable lesson when Timothy visited us last month. For him, chocolate and sugar are tools of the devil! They turn him into a “spinning top”… a whirling dervish who is cranky, irritable and erratic. The two times he was allowed to have a hefty snack of chocolate milk and chocolate cookies, we all paid the price! Once he “bottomed out” from his chocolate/sugar high, he slept… and slept… and slept for what became an almost three-hour nap!
It didn’t take me long to figure out that I needed to divert Timmy’s attention… to encourage him to put chocolate milk and cookies out of his mind and focus on something else… another food, a toy or game, or some other activity. More than once, there were tears and wails of “But I want chocolate! I need chocolate!” We had to get really serious about our efforts to resist this temptation.
This is an over-simplification of our own inner struggle… or maybe it’s not. So often, the first step in resisting the devil is to divert our focus. Sure, those cookies in the cabinet call our name. Yes, many of us want another cigarette or one more drink. Of course we miss our friends and the old “fun” we used to have. It’s hard to stop peppering our language with four-letter words after years of doing so… especially if “everyone else is doing it.” And the very thing you think will be hardest to hand over to God may be the easiest. The devil is incredibly crafty! It’s the littlest things that will trip you up! After all, one of the most difficult things for me to resist was sweet tea!
We all “play the field” in a variety of ways. God wants us to surrender to Him… to RUN to Him in everything from our diet and health to bad habits, gossip, lying, cheating, and illicit or immoral behaviors… and even the temptation to overindulge in chocolate milk and cookies! It won’t be easy. James tells us to cry our eyes out and be sad… mourn our old ways, if we have to. But in the end, we must give them to God.
As more time elapsed without chocolate, Timmy adjusted and quit asking for the milk and cookies. It helped that I put them away where he couldn’t see them. You may have to do this with your own temptations. Put them out of view… move away from the crowd who entices you to behave in a way that is harmful or sinful…divert your attention and focus on things that are Godly, healthy, and pure. Do what it takes to get serious… really serious! Concentrate on seeking God’s will… and finding it! Allow Him to work in and through you… to change you from the inside out.
I’m not saying that our cravings for the things that are bad for us will ever completely disappear. In fact, I’m pretty sure they won’t, because Satan is never going away. But neither is God… and I know WHO ultimately wins! Are you ready to fall to your knees and hit “rock bottom” so that you can be set upright on your feet? It’s time to get serious… to leave the devil in the dust and whisper God’s name… to call on Him to draw near and work His will. We all must renew our resolve to operate in the serious surety of a life in Christ… instead of the fun and games uncertainty the devil offers. I’m ready to do this. Are you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I learned a valuable lesson when Timothy visited us last month. For him, chocolate and sugar are tools of the devil! They turn him into a “spinning top”… a whirling dervish who is cranky, irritable and erratic. The two times he was allowed to have a hefty snack of chocolate milk and chocolate cookies, we all paid the price! Once he “bottomed out” from his chocolate/sugar high, he slept… and slept… and slept for what became an almost three-hour nap!
It didn’t take me long to figure out that I needed to divert Timmy’s attention… to encourage him to put chocolate milk and cookies out of his mind and focus on something else… another food, a toy or game, or some other activity. More than once, there were tears and wails of “But I want chocolate! I need chocolate!” We had to get really serious about our efforts to resist this temptation.
This is an over-simplification of our own inner struggle… or maybe it’s not. So often, the first step in resisting the devil is to divert our focus. Sure, those cookies in the cabinet call our name. Yes, many of us want another cigarette or one more drink. Of course we miss our friends and the old “fun” we used to have. It’s hard to stop peppering our language with four-letter words after years of doing so… especially if “everyone else is doing it.” And the very thing you think will be hardest to hand over to God may be the easiest. The devil is incredibly crafty! It’s the littlest things that will trip you up! After all, one of the most difficult things for me to resist was sweet tea!
We all “play the field” in a variety of ways. God wants us to surrender to Him… to RUN to Him in everything from our diet and health to bad habits, gossip, lying, cheating, and illicit or immoral behaviors… and even the temptation to overindulge in chocolate milk and cookies! It won’t be easy. James tells us to cry our eyes out and be sad… mourn our old ways, if we have to. But in the end, we must give them to God.
As more time elapsed without chocolate, Timmy adjusted and quit asking for the milk and cookies. It helped that I put them away where he couldn’t see them. You may have to do this with your own temptations. Put them out of view… move away from the crowd who entices you to behave in a way that is harmful or sinful…divert your attention and focus on things that are Godly, healthy, and pure. Do what it takes to get serious… really serious! Concentrate on seeking God’s will… and finding it! Allow Him to work in and through you… to change you from the inside out.
I’m not saying that our cravings for the things that are bad for us will ever completely disappear. In fact, I’m pretty sure they won’t, because Satan is never going away. But neither is God… and I know WHO ultimately wins! Are you ready to fall to your knees and hit “rock bottom” so that you can be set upright on your feet? It’s time to get serious… to leave the devil in the dust and whisper God’s name… to call on Him to draw near and work His will. We all must renew our resolve to operate in the serious surety of a life in Christ… instead of the fun and games uncertainty the devil offers. I’m ready to do this. Are you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 23, 2012
James 1:9-11
Any of God’s people who are poor should be glad that he thinks so highly of them. But any who are rich should be glad when God makes them humble. Rich people will disappear like wild flowers scorched by the burning heat of the sun. The flowers lose their blossoms, and their beauty is destroyed. That is how the rich will disappear, as they go about their business.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You can learn a lot from a three-year-old boy. He could generally care less whether he has on a fancy shirt or a plain shirt – or no shirt at all. He is more amused as much by a rolled up sock being tossed above his head in a game of “keep-away” as he is by an expensive electronic gadget. He prefers a bowl of Cheerios®, dried fruit and chocolate chips to something more “gourmet”… and “swimming” in a bathtub filled with plastic toys is just as fun as going to play in an actual pool.
I know that this will change. In a couple of years, these things will not be as satisfying. We teach our children to consume… and to want more… to desire to be wealthy and famous and aspire to drive fancy cars and live in big houses. All three-year-old boys want is to play and be loved… for someone to pay attention to them. And all we should desire of God is HIS love and attention.
Recently, I accompanied my husband on his daily walk down a nearby trail. In one particular stretch, we wound down a hill into a ravine. This has become one of my favorite places in any season. But this time of year, it is incredibly shady and peaceful. As we passed under the crown-canopy of this tranquil forest, I thought, “If Heaven is anything like this, I’ll be a happy camper. This is quite enough!”
I know the Bible promises that when we get to heaven, we will have a mansion. I believe that the streets are paved with gold and the opulence is more than we can imagine. And I guess all of that will be nice… I mean, I’m certainly not going to turn it down – are you?! But what I really want is to be in the physical presence of Jesus… to sit at His feet and feel His arms wrapped around me… to snuggle into His chest and truly rest there in His love.
The point of this passage is that being rich is not the goal. Wealth and possessions don’t matter. As Christians, we need to become like three-year-old boys… content with the love and attention of our Heavenly Father and unimpressed by frills and distractions. We need to focus on what is truly important. And more often than not, riches and “stuff” get in the way of this.
Regardless of what you have… your current position in life… your aspirations for more… make the central focus of your life your relationship with God. The only way to truly be content – rich or poor – is to operate in the confidence that you are pleasing God in everything. Allow Him to show you what is truly important. Learn to find joy in serving Him well with all that you have. Recognize the blessings of God’s “shady ravine” …and if He gives you more than this, consider it a bonus!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Any of God’s people who are poor should be glad that he thinks so highly of them. But any who are rich should be glad when God makes them humble. Rich people will disappear like wild flowers scorched by the burning heat of the sun. The flowers lose their blossoms, and their beauty is destroyed. That is how the rich will disappear, as they go about their business.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You can learn a lot from a three-year-old boy. He could generally care less whether he has on a fancy shirt or a plain shirt – or no shirt at all. He is more amused as much by a rolled up sock being tossed above his head in a game of “keep-away” as he is by an expensive electronic gadget. He prefers a bowl of Cheerios®, dried fruit and chocolate chips to something more “gourmet”… and “swimming” in a bathtub filled with plastic toys is just as fun as going to play in an actual pool.
I know that this will change. In a couple of years, these things will not be as satisfying. We teach our children to consume… and to want more… to desire to be wealthy and famous and aspire to drive fancy cars and live in big houses. All three-year-old boys want is to play and be loved… for someone to pay attention to them. And all we should desire of God is HIS love and attention.
Recently, I accompanied my husband on his daily walk down a nearby trail. In one particular stretch, we wound down a hill into a ravine. This has become one of my favorite places in any season. But this time of year, it is incredibly shady and peaceful. As we passed under the crown-canopy of this tranquil forest, I thought, “If Heaven is anything like this, I’ll be a happy camper. This is quite enough!”
I know the Bible promises that when we get to heaven, we will have a mansion. I believe that the streets are paved with gold and the opulence is more than we can imagine. And I guess all of that will be nice… I mean, I’m certainly not going to turn it down – are you?! But what I really want is to be in the physical presence of Jesus… to sit at His feet and feel His arms wrapped around me… to snuggle into His chest and truly rest there in His love.
The point of this passage is that being rich is not the goal. Wealth and possessions don’t matter. As Christians, we need to become like three-year-old boys… content with the love and attention of our Heavenly Father and unimpressed by frills and distractions. We need to focus on what is truly important. And more often than not, riches and “stuff” get in the way of this.
Regardless of what you have… your current position in life… your aspirations for more… make the central focus of your life your relationship with God. The only way to truly be content – rich or poor – is to operate in the confidence that you are pleasing God in everything. Allow Him to show you what is truly important. Learn to find joy in serving Him well with all that you have. Recognize the blessings of God’s “shady ravine” …and if He gives you more than this, consider it a bonus!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 6, 2012
Philippians 3:12-16
I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
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.
Yesterday, my mom had cataract surgery. According to information found at http://mayoclinic.com, “A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a plastic lens implant. The replacement lens sits in the same place as your natural lens and becomes part of your eye.” My mom’s procedure took less than two hours from start to finish, including pre-op time and recovery. She will have to use some eye drops and avoid bright light for a few weeks, but otherwise, her blurred vision should begin to clear pretty quickly.
Want to hear something cool? God can clear our blurred Spiritual vision even faster than cataract surgery! He can show you the truth about every situation and answer every question. No anesthesia is required… no trip to the surgeon is necessary. We already have everything at our disposal for a complete Spiritual “lens replacement!” Once we have totally committed to God… once we begin to truly listen to Him and seek His wisdom – to look at the world through HIS eyes – our own vision clears rapidly. We begin to see people and situations with love, kindness, grace, and mercy. We become less judgmental and more fair and compassionate. We exercise more patience and restraint, and our hearts become more open to serving God and others.
Cataract surgery is a miraculous procedure that has enabled thousands of people to see clearly again. The Great Physician can do the same for each of us in our Spiritual lives. He can enable us to see clearly – to maintain focus on the goal of living for Him and being more like Him each and every day. Satan wants nothing more than for us to live with “blurred vision.” He really doesn’t care if we profess faith in Jesus… as long as we continue to do so with “Spiritual cataracts.”
Allow God to give you “new eyes,” and prepare for the devil to stir things up a bit! He doesn’t like to lose! I assure you… anything the devil tosses your way in frustration will be worth the hassle. And with your “new eyes in Christ,” you will recognize him clearly and see right through his attempts to trip you up!
None of us has this all together… and we probably never will on this earth. But if we allow God to give us “new eyes” in Him, we can see the Finish Line… we have a goal. As long as we work toward becoming more like Jesus, everything will come into clear focus, and we will know we are on the right track.
©2012 Debbie Robus
I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
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.
Yesterday, my mom had cataract surgery. According to information found at http://mayoclinic.com, “A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a plastic lens implant. The replacement lens sits in the same place as your natural lens and becomes part of your eye.” My mom’s procedure took less than two hours from start to finish, including pre-op time and recovery. She will have to use some eye drops and avoid bright light for a few weeks, but otherwise, her blurred vision should begin to clear pretty quickly.
Want to hear something cool? God can clear our blurred Spiritual vision even faster than cataract surgery! He can show you the truth about every situation and answer every question. No anesthesia is required… no trip to the surgeon is necessary. We already have everything at our disposal for a complete Spiritual “lens replacement!” Once we have totally committed to God… once we begin to truly listen to Him and seek His wisdom – to look at the world through HIS eyes – our own vision clears rapidly. We begin to see people and situations with love, kindness, grace, and mercy. We become less judgmental and more fair and compassionate. We exercise more patience and restraint, and our hearts become more open to serving God and others.
Cataract surgery is a miraculous procedure that has enabled thousands of people to see clearly again. The Great Physician can do the same for each of us in our Spiritual lives. He can enable us to see clearly – to maintain focus on the goal of living for Him and being more like Him each and every day. Satan wants nothing more than for us to live with “blurred vision.” He really doesn’t care if we profess faith in Jesus… as long as we continue to do so with “Spiritual cataracts.”
Allow God to give you “new eyes,” and prepare for the devil to stir things up a bit! He doesn’t like to lose! I assure you… anything the devil tosses your way in frustration will be worth the hassle. And with your “new eyes in Christ,” you will recognize him clearly and see right through his attempts to trip you up!
None of us has this all together… and we probably never will on this earth. But if we allow God to give us “new eyes” in Him, we can see the Finish Line… we have a goal. As long as we work toward becoming more like Jesus, everything will come into clear focus, and we will know we are on the right track.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 10, 2012
Matthew 16:23
Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!"
But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."
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 don’t know about you, but I probably struggle with offense as much – or more – than anything else the devil throws at me. I am an easy mark, I guess. And maybe you are, too! When we are offended, Satan claps and laughs. I know that offense is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the New Testament. Jesus reminds us over and again not to be offended. But that doesn’t stop the devil from trying to ruffle our feathers… and he has a pretty hefty success rate – at least with me!
Recently I read a devotional that spoke of offense as a self-centered behavior. When we are offended, we think of ourselves. When we begin to focus more on God and less on ourselves, we cannot be offended. The offense means nothing to us. I really want that… don’t you? I want to be so focused on God and serving Him… living a full life in Christ and His teachings… that I have no time or energy for dwelling on offenses.
Does this mean that people will no longer offend me or insult me? Does this mean that Satan will stop trying to use offense to trip me up and make me a little neurotic? Absolutely not! But I can lean on God and ask Him to strengthen my resolve to ignore these ploys. I can ask Him to deepen my focus on Jesus and fill my heart and mind with thoughts of Him… until there is absolutely NO room for thoughts of the offense.
I’m with Peter… I would have been offended at the thought of the Romans abusing Jesus. And you may feel your feelings of offense are justified. You may feel, “I was wronged”… and maybe you were. But dwelling on the offense gets us nowhere. It makes us miserable and really doesn’t hurt the offender in the least. Truly the only offense you should acknowledge is that of Satan… and only long enough to tell him to “beat it!” and to turn to Jesus for strength and courage.
Don’t let the devil win – even if only momentarily. Kick him to the curb… along with all of his attempts to drag you down in offense. When you feel wronged or offended, stop and pray for deliverance. Ask God to strengthen you… to take the offense… to give you confidence and courage. Then move on and get busy doing the work you have been called to as Jesus’ disciple. Hold your head high and say, “I will not let the devil have the last laugh.” Focus on Christ… fill your head and heart with thoughts of Him… and leave no room for any of the devil’s tools. Be able to truly say, “No offense taken… and mean it!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!"
But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."
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 don’t know about you, but I probably struggle with offense as much – or more – than anything else the devil throws at me. I am an easy mark, I guess. And maybe you are, too! When we are offended, Satan claps and laughs. I know that offense is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the New Testament. Jesus reminds us over and again not to be offended. But that doesn’t stop the devil from trying to ruffle our feathers… and he has a pretty hefty success rate – at least with me!
Recently I read a devotional that spoke of offense as a self-centered behavior. When we are offended, we think of ourselves. When we begin to focus more on God and less on ourselves, we cannot be offended. The offense means nothing to us. I really want that… don’t you? I want to be so focused on God and serving Him… living a full life in Christ and His teachings… that I have no time or energy for dwelling on offenses.
Does this mean that people will no longer offend me or insult me? Does this mean that Satan will stop trying to use offense to trip me up and make me a little neurotic? Absolutely not! But I can lean on God and ask Him to strengthen my resolve to ignore these ploys. I can ask Him to deepen my focus on Jesus and fill my heart and mind with thoughts of Him… until there is absolutely NO room for thoughts of the offense.
I’m with Peter… I would have been offended at the thought of the Romans abusing Jesus. And you may feel your feelings of offense are justified. You may feel, “I was wronged”… and maybe you were. But dwelling on the offense gets us nowhere. It makes us miserable and really doesn’t hurt the offender in the least. Truly the only offense you should acknowledge is that of Satan… and only long enough to tell him to “beat it!” and to turn to Jesus for strength and courage.
Don’t let the devil win – even if only momentarily. Kick him to the curb… along with all of his attempts to drag you down in offense. When you feel wronged or offended, stop and pray for deliverance. Ask God to strengthen you… to take the offense… to give you confidence and courage. Then move on and get busy doing the work you have been called to as Jesus’ disciple. Hold your head high and say, “I will not let the devil have the last laugh.” Focus on Christ… fill your head and heart with thoughts of Him… and leave no room for any of the devil’s tools. Be able to truly say, “No offense taken… and mean it!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 31, 2012
Colossians 1:26-29
This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ve been reading my grandmother’s journal again, and on the first page, she has written a tribute to her mother. I never knew this great-grandmother, Mary Caroline Cullum Thrasher. She died in 1946, more than a decade before I was born. But my grandmother speaks of her with great reverence… “She was a saint, a Godly woman and very strong willed. One of the things was her reading of the Bible every day, even in her last days. When she sat down to rest, it was her Bible she reached for.” On the subject of her personal appearance and attention to detail, my grandmother writes, “I can see her now as the early morning chores were done. She took time for herself… to be ready for the day… took her bath, combed her hair, put on a pretty little apron, cleaned her shoes, and – believe it or not – she polished her shoes with soot from the chimney.”
My grandmother concludes her tribute by saying of her own mother… “She was a very neat lady… one who had a real hard life. But when she went to be with her LORD, she left behind a legacy that it’s better to be true and loyal than to be what some might call ‘great’.” When I think of my great-grandmother Thrasher – and even my grandmother, I think of this passage… and the words… “Christ! No more, no less.” Some of us are so busy trying to add to the message… to make ourselves look better with “things”… fancy clothes and makeup, nice houses and cars, the latest gadgets and gizmos… when what we really need is a clean apron and a little soot on our shoes – and the word of God in our lap at the end of the day.
All I know of my great-grandmother Thrasher is what my grandmother, aunts and others have told me… and for the most part, it has all echoed my grandmother’s journal entry. I have always been told that she was a hard worker who made the best of what she had… and her circumstances. I know she bore ten children, and the eldest five died before my grandmother turned six. Then when my grandmother was not quite a teenager, my great-grandfather left and started another family in another state. Yet I have never heard anyone talk about my great-grandmother saying a negative or unkind word toward this man.
My point in sharing this is that challenges and heartaches are nothing new… and neither are great examples of faithful, common-sense discipleship to Jesus Christ. If anything, it seems like we have more of the former and less of the latter these days. And this might explain the imbalance! We need to humbly seek the wisdom of God. We need to pare down and simplify our faith. It’s not about big churches, amazing sound systems, rock-star quality praise music or even a compelling evangelist who can deliver earth-shattering sermons. It’s not about what we have, how much we can spend, or who we know, as long as we know Jesus. What matters is Jesus Christ… no more, no less… who lives in each of us who have professed a faith in Him. Our job is to simply love Him, serve Him in whatever capacity He designates, and truly share His love and care with others on His behalf.
Today, I encourage you to sit quietly for a few minutes and ask God to show you where you need to “trim the fat” – and where you need to step up to the plate. Who needs to see Jesus through you today? What wisdom is God trying to give you… if only you would stop and listen? Are you operating with a spirit of profound common sense? Are you neat, orderly, humble and faithful? How will you live for Jesus this day? What – and Who – will others see when they look at you?
Are you the “real deal” for Christ – no more, no less? Shouldn’t you be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ve been reading my grandmother’s journal again, and on the first page, she has written a tribute to her mother. I never knew this great-grandmother, Mary Caroline Cullum Thrasher. She died in 1946, more than a decade before I was born. But my grandmother speaks of her with great reverence… “She was a saint, a Godly woman and very strong willed. One of the things was her reading of the Bible every day, even in her last days. When she sat down to rest, it was her Bible she reached for.” On the subject of her personal appearance and attention to detail, my grandmother writes, “I can see her now as the early morning chores were done. She took time for herself… to be ready for the day… took her bath, combed her hair, put on a pretty little apron, cleaned her shoes, and – believe it or not – she polished her shoes with soot from the chimney.”
My grandmother concludes her tribute by saying of her own mother… “She was a very neat lady… one who had a real hard life. But when she went to be with her LORD, she left behind a legacy that it’s better to be true and loyal than to be what some might call ‘great’.” When I think of my great-grandmother Thrasher – and even my grandmother, I think of this passage… and the words… “Christ! No more, no less.” Some of us are so busy trying to add to the message… to make ourselves look better with “things”… fancy clothes and makeup, nice houses and cars, the latest gadgets and gizmos… when what we really need is a clean apron and a little soot on our shoes – and the word of God in our lap at the end of the day.
All I know of my great-grandmother Thrasher is what my grandmother, aunts and others have told me… and for the most part, it has all echoed my grandmother’s journal entry. I have always been told that she was a hard worker who made the best of what she had… and her circumstances. I know she bore ten children, and the eldest five died before my grandmother turned six. Then when my grandmother was not quite a teenager, my great-grandfather left and started another family in another state. Yet I have never heard anyone talk about my great-grandmother saying a negative or unkind word toward this man.
My point in sharing this is that challenges and heartaches are nothing new… and neither are great examples of faithful, common-sense discipleship to Jesus Christ. If anything, it seems like we have more of the former and less of the latter these days. And this might explain the imbalance! We need to humbly seek the wisdom of God. We need to pare down and simplify our faith. It’s not about big churches, amazing sound systems, rock-star quality praise music or even a compelling evangelist who can deliver earth-shattering sermons. It’s not about what we have, how much we can spend, or who we know, as long as we know Jesus. What matters is Jesus Christ… no more, no less… who lives in each of us who have professed a faith in Him. Our job is to simply love Him, serve Him in whatever capacity He designates, and truly share His love and care with others on His behalf.
Today, I encourage you to sit quietly for a few minutes and ask God to show you where you need to “trim the fat” – and where you need to step up to the plate. Who needs to see Jesus through you today? What wisdom is God trying to give you… if only you would stop and listen? Are you operating with a spirit of profound common sense? Are you neat, orderly, humble and faithful? How will you live for Jesus this day? What – and Who – will others see when they look at you?
Are you the “real deal” for Christ – no more, no less? Shouldn’t you be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 25, 2012
Ephesians 3:8-10
I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
Proverbs 2:6-7
All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever looked at “magic eye” books? You know the ones where you squint and stand back a bit, and suddenly a three-dimensional image comes into focus? Or maybe you enjoyed the hidden pictures in Highlights magazine when you were a child. Even as an adult, I have fun helping Timothy find the hidden pictures in this children’s magazine. The point is… the images were there all along. They weren’t truly hidden… we just needed extra “focus” or “understanding” to find them. The same can be said of God’s wisdom.
I have been reviewing notes that I made on various sermons I’ve heard preached over the past decade. On one page, I noted… “God has not hidden wisdom from us… He has hidden wisdom for us. Proverbs are the key to wisdom.” Recently I learned that Rev. Billy Graham has said that he reads a chapter in Proverbs every day, as well as one of the Psalms. He maintains that the Psalms teach him how to get along with God, and the book of Proverbs teaches him how to get along with his “fellow man.”
So what does this mean for us with regard to our Spiritual journey? We need to realize that the wisdom of God is within our grasp… all we have to do is maintain focus. Just as the “magic eye” pictures are used by some to sharpen their vision, we can grow in God’s wisdom through Bible study and prayer. If we listen for God as we study and pray, we can gain new concepts and thoughts… ideas, interpretation, and revelation.
Proverbs 3:13 says…” God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.” Bible study and prayer will help us obtain both. By reading this devotional, you have begun to engage in Bible study. Hopefully you will be encouraged to dig deeper on your own… to get more of what God wants to give you through His word. Prayer is another vital component, and I hope you are talking with God each and every day. Make today the day you squint, focus and begin to unlock the wisdom that God is holding for you. The keys are in your hand… are you ready to use them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
Proverbs 2:6-7
All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever looked at “magic eye” books? You know the ones where you squint and stand back a bit, and suddenly a three-dimensional image comes into focus? Or maybe you enjoyed the hidden pictures in Highlights magazine when you were a child. Even as an adult, I have fun helping Timothy find the hidden pictures in this children’s magazine. The point is… the images were there all along. They weren’t truly hidden… we just needed extra “focus” or “understanding” to find them. The same can be said of God’s wisdom.
I have been reviewing notes that I made on various sermons I’ve heard preached over the past decade. On one page, I noted… “God has not hidden wisdom from us… He has hidden wisdom for us. Proverbs are the key to wisdom.” Recently I learned that Rev. Billy Graham has said that he reads a chapter in Proverbs every day, as well as one of the Psalms. He maintains that the Psalms teach him how to get along with God, and the book of Proverbs teaches him how to get along with his “fellow man.”
So what does this mean for us with regard to our Spiritual journey? We need to realize that the wisdom of God is within our grasp… all we have to do is maintain focus. Just as the “magic eye” pictures are used by some to sharpen their vision, we can grow in God’s wisdom through Bible study and prayer. If we listen for God as we study and pray, we can gain new concepts and thoughts… ideas, interpretation, and revelation.
Proverbs 3:13 says…” God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.” Bible study and prayer will help us obtain both. By reading this devotional, you have begun to engage in Bible study. Hopefully you will be encouraged to dig deeper on your own… to get more of what God wants to give you through His word. Prayer is another vital component, and I hope you are talking with God each and every day. Make today the day you squint, focus and begin to unlock the wisdom that God is holding for you. The keys are in your hand… are you ready to use them?
- Thank You, LORD, for your incredible wisdom. Today I pray that You will speak to us through Your word… that we will truly listen for Your voice… and that You will release all that You hold in store for us, according to Your will and what You determine we are able to handle. We praise You, LORD, for Your incredible gifts… Your grace, mercy and love. Amen.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 19, 2012
1 Chronicles 29:10-14, 16-17
Then David blessed the LORD before the whole assembly:
Blessed are you, LORD, God of our ancestor Israel, forever and always. To you, LORD, belong greatness and power, honor, splendor, and majesty, because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingship, and you are honored as head of all. You are the source of wealth and honor, and you rule over all. In your hand are strength and might, and it is in your power to magnify and strengthen all.
And now, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name. Who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly? Since everything comes from you, we have given you that which comes from your own hand.
LORD, our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build you a temple for your holy name comes from your hand and belongs to you. Since I know, my God, that you examine the mind and take delight in honesty, I have freely given all these things with the highest of motives. And now I’ve been delighted to see your people here offering so willingly to you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I recently watched an interesting documentary film called I Am by director Tom Shadyac. This man’s name might not be familiar to you, but I bet you know his work… Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Bruce Almighty, The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, and Patch Adams, to name a few. Shadyac was living “the American Dream” – cars, mansions, a private jet, and more. Then he was involved in a serious biking accident and suffered a head injury that left him with a condition known as “Post-concussion Syndrome,” or “PC.” One of the common symptoms of PC is severe depression, and some sufferers even become suicidal. As Shadyac considered his own death, he says he gained clarity and purpose in his own life. And he began to make some major changes.
Tom Shadyac’s father, Richard, was a board member and CEO of St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, where children with life-threatening illnesses are treated free of charge. Through Richard Shadyac, Tom already had experience in “giving back.” But as a result of his injury and illness, he began to ask the question… ”What's wrong with our world, and what can we do about it?” In the film I Am, Shadyac consults philosophers, scientists, and spiritual leaders throughout the world. He concludes that a basic law of nature is to take only what you need. Clearly, we’ve lost sight of this in today’s world! By showing the connection all life forms have via DNA, argon gas, and much more, Shadyac illustrates how intricately God formed all of His creatures – and how important it is for us to operate from the heart rather than the head!
If you watch I Am expecting Shadyac to attribute all of his discoveries directly to God, you will be disappointed. But the film is still worth a look. It makes you think about how much “stuff” we have – and how important much of it has become to us. Hopefully you will be reminded that everything we have comes from God… and you will question what you are giving Him in return.
We can’t outgive God. We cannot “compete” in any way, shape, or form. And we are not supposed to… God doesn’t want us to serve or give to Him out of any sense of obligation. But He does want us to take all of the gifts, blessings, talents and abilities that He has so graciously showered on us and give back out of the abundance of our heart, with no hidden motives or expectations. In other words, if God has blessed you with intelligence and the means to attend college, you can “repay” Him by studying hard, doing your best, and making the most of whatever degree you earn… then serving others in your work.
If God has blessed you with a good job and the opportunity to make plenty of money, honor Him by helping others… giving to charities, ministering to the needy, and using your “wealth” to support programs and organizations that aide those less fortunate. If God has given you a talent, use it for His glory. Don’t “hide your light under a barrel” or use what He gave you merely to gain recognition and accolades for yourself.
Tom Shadyac sold his mansions, cars, and jet and moved into a much smaller home. He rides a bicycle to work. God gave him the ability to create movies that make us laugh… and now to make us think. As you look around at your life, ask yourself where you have used God’s gifts for your own purposes. What have you given back to Him? How have you taken the talents and abilities God gave you and used them to do things that bring glory and honor to Him? Where does your life need a tune-up… and a downsizing? What are you giving back to God… and how pleased is He with your offerings?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Then David blessed the LORD before the whole assembly:
Blessed are you, LORD, God of our ancestor Israel, forever and always. To you, LORD, belong greatness and power, honor, splendor, and majesty, because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingship, and you are honored as head of all. You are the source of wealth and honor, and you rule over all. In your hand are strength and might, and it is in your power to magnify and strengthen all.
And now, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name. Who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly? Since everything comes from you, we have given you that which comes from your own hand.
LORD, our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build you a temple for your holy name comes from your hand and belongs to you. Since I know, my God, that you examine the mind and take delight in honesty, I have freely given all these things with the highest of motives. And now I’ve been delighted to see your people here offering so willingly to you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I recently watched an interesting documentary film called I Am by director Tom Shadyac. This man’s name might not be familiar to you, but I bet you know his work… Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Bruce Almighty, The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, and Patch Adams, to name a few. Shadyac was living “the American Dream” – cars, mansions, a private jet, and more. Then he was involved in a serious biking accident and suffered a head injury that left him with a condition known as “Post-concussion Syndrome,” or “PC.” One of the common symptoms of PC is severe depression, and some sufferers even become suicidal. As Shadyac considered his own death, he says he gained clarity and purpose in his own life. And he began to make some major changes.
Tom Shadyac’s father, Richard, was a board member and CEO of St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, where children with life-threatening illnesses are treated free of charge. Through Richard Shadyac, Tom already had experience in “giving back.” But as a result of his injury and illness, he began to ask the question… ”What's wrong with our world, and what can we do about it?” In the film I Am, Shadyac consults philosophers, scientists, and spiritual leaders throughout the world. He concludes that a basic law of nature is to take only what you need. Clearly, we’ve lost sight of this in today’s world! By showing the connection all life forms have via DNA, argon gas, and much more, Shadyac illustrates how intricately God formed all of His creatures – and how important it is for us to operate from the heart rather than the head!
If you watch I Am expecting Shadyac to attribute all of his discoveries directly to God, you will be disappointed. But the film is still worth a look. It makes you think about how much “stuff” we have – and how important much of it has become to us. Hopefully you will be reminded that everything we have comes from God… and you will question what you are giving Him in return.
We can’t outgive God. We cannot “compete” in any way, shape, or form. And we are not supposed to… God doesn’t want us to serve or give to Him out of any sense of obligation. But He does want us to take all of the gifts, blessings, talents and abilities that He has so graciously showered on us and give back out of the abundance of our heart, with no hidden motives or expectations. In other words, if God has blessed you with intelligence and the means to attend college, you can “repay” Him by studying hard, doing your best, and making the most of whatever degree you earn… then serving others in your work.
If God has blessed you with a good job and the opportunity to make plenty of money, honor Him by helping others… giving to charities, ministering to the needy, and using your “wealth” to support programs and organizations that aide those less fortunate. If God has given you a talent, use it for His glory. Don’t “hide your light under a barrel” or use what He gave you merely to gain recognition and accolades for yourself.
Tom Shadyac sold his mansions, cars, and jet and moved into a much smaller home. He rides a bicycle to work. God gave him the ability to create movies that make us laugh… and now to make us think. As you look around at your life, ask yourself where you have used God’s gifts for your own purposes. What have you given back to Him? How have you taken the talents and abilities God gave you and used them to do things that bring glory and honor to Him? Where does your life need a tune-up… and a downsizing? What are you giving back to God… and how pleased is He with your offerings?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 15, 2012
Acts 2:29-36
My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king.
David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay. All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!
Jesus was taken up to sit at the right side of God, and he was given the Holy Spirit, just as the Father had promised. Jesus is also the one who has given the Spirit to us, and that is what you are now seeing and hearing. David didn't go up to heaven. So he wasn't talking about himself when he said, "The Lord told my Lord to sit at his right side, until he made my Lord's enemies into a footstool for him." Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For a decade or longer, Barbara Walters has selected a group of the Ten Most Fascinating People to interview each year. The group includes celebrities, politicians, and maybe a “hero” or two, like General David Petraeus. I get the premise of Ms. Walters’ program, but I honestly have to ask myself, “What makes these people so fascinating?”
I’ll be honest… I find a lot of people – and things - interesting. I am impressed with the fortitude of some individuals… the struggles and adversities they overcame to achieve a level of success or fame. I appreciate the physical dedication and determination of certain athletes… the absolute resolve of someone like Gabrielle Giffords to recover from what should have been a deadly head trauma – or the incredible inner strength of those who survived such human injustices as the concentration camps of war or the civil rights movements in our own country. I am amazed and fascinated by the miracle of life… a newborn baby… how the feathers of a bird come together to create incredible color patterns…the beauty and intricacy of the tiniest wildflowers on a forest floor.
But in all of these people and things, I recognize the One who truly deserves our fascination. The truly fascinating Being is the Giver of Life… our Almighty God. Without Him, none of us would exist. Without God, there would be no plants or animals… no starry skies or blazing sunsets. The fortitude and inner strength… resolve and determination… courage and beauty… all come from our amazing God. Without the gift of Jesus and His blood on the cross, we would have to fear death… and the prospect of an eternity in hell.
The people we consider fascinating are nothing in and of themselves. Whether they realize it or not, they got where they are because of our Heavenly Father. Any success they enjoy… any great accomplishments they achieve… any accolades they receive… any horrific experiences they overcame… are all because of the blessings, goodness, grace and mercy of God Almighty.
For me, this scripture passage is screaming, “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU… IT’S ABOUT JESUS!” We’ve put the focus on ourselves. Peter is pointing out that David knew that God would make one of his sons a king… but he would make HIS Son the King of Kings. David got it… he realized this was not about him or his family, but about God and His kingdom. The question is… do we get it now? Are we busy focusing on Jesus… or are we self-absorbed and focused on ourselves and what God can do for us?
We need to recognize that we are nothing apart from God. We need to understand that we desperately need the Holy Spirit to guide us each and every day. We need to acknowledge that it is not about us… it’s all about Him. Where is your focus? What – and who – really fascinates you? Is Jesus at the top of your list? Shouldn’t He be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king.
David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay. All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!
Jesus was taken up to sit at the right side of God, and he was given the Holy Spirit, just as the Father had promised. Jesus is also the one who has given the Spirit to us, and that is what you are now seeing and hearing. David didn't go up to heaven. So he wasn't talking about himself when he said, "The Lord told my Lord to sit at his right side, until he made my Lord's enemies into a footstool for him." Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For a decade or longer, Barbara Walters has selected a group of the Ten Most Fascinating People to interview each year. The group includes celebrities, politicians, and maybe a “hero” or two, like General David Petraeus. I get the premise of Ms. Walters’ program, but I honestly have to ask myself, “What makes these people so fascinating?”
I’ll be honest… I find a lot of people – and things - interesting. I am impressed with the fortitude of some individuals… the struggles and adversities they overcame to achieve a level of success or fame. I appreciate the physical dedication and determination of certain athletes… the absolute resolve of someone like Gabrielle Giffords to recover from what should have been a deadly head trauma – or the incredible inner strength of those who survived such human injustices as the concentration camps of war or the civil rights movements in our own country. I am amazed and fascinated by the miracle of life… a newborn baby… how the feathers of a bird come together to create incredible color patterns…the beauty and intricacy of the tiniest wildflowers on a forest floor.
But in all of these people and things, I recognize the One who truly deserves our fascination. The truly fascinating Being is the Giver of Life… our Almighty God. Without Him, none of us would exist. Without God, there would be no plants or animals… no starry skies or blazing sunsets. The fortitude and inner strength… resolve and determination… courage and beauty… all come from our amazing God. Without the gift of Jesus and His blood on the cross, we would have to fear death… and the prospect of an eternity in hell.
The people we consider fascinating are nothing in and of themselves. Whether they realize it or not, they got where they are because of our Heavenly Father. Any success they enjoy… any great accomplishments they achieve… any accolades they receive… any horrific experiences they overcame… are all because of the blessings, goodness, grace and mercy of God Almighty.
For me, this scripture passage is screaming, “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU… IT’S ABOUT JESUS!” We’ve put the focus on ourselves. Peter is pointing out that David knew that God would make one of his sons a king… but he would make HIS Son the King of Kings. David got it… he realized this was not about him or his family, but about God and His kingdom. The question is… do we get it now? Are we busy focusing on Jesus… or are we self-absorbed and focused on ourselves and what God can do for us?
We need to recognize that we are nothing apart from God. We need to understand that we desperately need the Holy Spirit to guide us each and every day. We need to acknowledge that it is not about us… it’s all about Him. Where is your focus? What – and who – really fascinates you? Is Jesus at the top of your list? Shouldn’t He be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 28, 2011
Luke 21:34-36
"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."
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.
“Live for today!” “Seize the moment!” “Life is not a dress rehearsal!” “You only get one chance, so go for it!” “Just do it!” We’ve all heard these clichés and others. And there is some truth in each of them. A lot of people waste time procrastinating or waiting for someone to sweep them off their feet or their “ship to come in” – and they totally miss out on some of life’s best moments!
But there are also those who have a bad day, so they go shopping and pay with plastic for things they cannot afford and really don’t need, because it makes them feel better temporarily. Others party and go crazy and plan to settle down later. They even call it “sowing wild oats.” Still others figure, “My life is down the tubes anyway, so why bother?!” And all of these philosophies are simply “stinkin’ thinkin’!”
Do you remember a few weeks ago when air traffic controllers went to sleep on the job, and the result was some very scary near-misses by a few planes in the air… and a couple that were trying to land? Jesus is telling us “Don’t go to sleep at the switch.” We cannot get caught up in living for the moment and our own interests so much that we lose focus on Him and what He desires from us – and for us. We must put God first… then ask Him to show us how to prioritize everything – and everyone else – on our list.
Please understand… God wants us to fully enjoy our lives. He wants us to “seize the moment” and live every minute like it was our last. But He wants to show us how we can best accomplish this… how to live with no regrets, so that when He returns or calls us home, we can stand proudly before Him and hear, “You lived and served well.” All it takes is a shift in attitude on our part… moving a step closer to Him and away from our own selfish interests. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal… are you making the most of your shot at it?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."
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.
“Live for today!” “Seize the moment!” “Life is not a dress rehearsal!” “You only get one chance, so go for it!” “Just do it!” We’ve all heard these clichés and others. And there is some truth in each of them. A lot of people waste time procrastinating or waiting for someone to sweep them off their feet or their “ship to come in” – and they totally miss out on some of life’s best moments!
But there are also those who have a bad day, so they go shopping and pay with plastic for things they cannot afford and really don’t need, because it makes them feel better temporarily. Others party and go crazy and plan to settle down later. They even call it “sowing wild oats.” Still others figure, “My life is down the tubes anyway, so why bother?!” And all of these philosophies are simply “stinkin’ thinkin’!”
Do you remember a few weeks ago when air traffic controllers went to sleep on the job, and the result was some very scary near-misses by a few planes in the air… and a couple that were trying to land? Jesus is telling us “Don’t go to sleep at the switch.” We cannot get caught up in living for the moment and our own interests so much that we lose focus on Him and what He desires from us – and for us. We must put God first… then ask Him to show us how to prioritize everything – and everyone else – on our list.
Please understand… God wants us to fully enjoy our lives. He wants us to “seize the moment” and live every minute like it was our last. But He wants to show us how we can best accomplish this… how to live with no regrets, so that when He returns or calls us home, we can stand proudly before Him and hear, “You lived and served well.” All it takes is a shift in attitude on our part… moving a step closer to Him and away from our own selfish interests. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal… are you making the most of your shot at it?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2011
Luke 9:62
Jesus answered, "Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My grandmother has the staff at her assisted living facility jumping through hoops to help her “make a garden.” For as long as I can remember, my grandmother has had a garden of some sort every year. When I was a child, she and my grandfather grew nearly everything they ate. Each late winter/early spring, they would get out the little wheel plow and make the rows in their garden for the various vegetables. For the deeper furrows, my Pap-pa would hitch a mule to the plow and make his rows.
Like many good farmers I knew through the years, my grandparents’ rows were always neat and orderly, and incredibly straight. Oh, they tried to teach me and my siblings to plow the rows, but ours were never straight enough, and our attention span was probably not long enough… and we most likely looked back while plowing! I can still hear my grandmother fussing about those rows… and she told me just last week that she had chastised the maintenance guy at her senior residence because “he didn’t dig his trenches deep enough.”
What does this mean in the end? What does it really hurt? Maybe not much… but then again, maybe it hurts a lot. In a relatively square garden patch, one crooked row leads to another… and another… and ultimately, besides crooked rows, you could end up without enough space for everything you wanted or needed to grow. Also, crooked rows speak to the orderliness of the gardener. And serious gardeners like my grandmother take their planting personally… and feel any flaws reflect directly on their character!
In the context of our spiritual life, Jesus is saying that we have to leave the past in the past. We can’t be continually looking back at what we did or worrying about what we didn’t finish or fix. We have to be willing to say, “Jesus has called me to serve Him now… those things no longer matter. He is more important!”
So when people say, “I’ll give my heart to Jesus tomorrow… just let me have one more wild night,” this passage is for them. When someone says, “Lightning will strike if I darken the doors of the church sanctuary,” this passage says, “That’s not true.” When people tell you, I’ve got to get my life in better order before I can serve others,” that’s stinkin’ thinkin’! I remember very clearly believing that I could not attend a Walk to Emmaus until I had resolved some “issues” in my own heart first. I thought I had to fix myself before I could allow God to work… and nothing could be further from the truth!
God wants us right where we are… now… today… this minute! He wants us to say, “I want so badly to be in Your will and serving You with every fiber of my being that I am willing to drop everything and start immediately.” He doesn’t want us to hesitate… to even look back and wave “Good-bye” to our sinful past. He just wants us to move forward, plowing the straightest, neatest row of Christian faith and trust that we possibly can. He will give us the seeds to plant. He will fertilize and nurture our “garden” and handle the harvest. All we have to do is put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
I am so bad about hesitating. I am clearly one of those who wants to “tie up loose ends” first. I have a terribly hard time “letting go and letting God” sometimes… don’t you? But we can change! We can do better. We must learn to operate in faith and stop looking backward. Our spiritual “garden” depends on it!
During the Walk to Emmaus… we say to those who attend, “Christ is counting on you.” They reply, “And I am counting on Christ.” Are you counting on Christ today? Or are you looking backward, procrastinating, and trying to fix things yourself? Isn’t it time you started plowing forward? Can Christ count on you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus answered, "Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My grandmother has the staff at her assisted living facility jumping through hoops to help her “make a garden.” For as long as I can remember, my grandmother has had a garden of some sort every year. When I was a child, she and my grandfather grew nearly everything they ate. Each late winter/early spring, they would get out the little wheel plow and make the rows in their garden for the various vegetables. For the deeper furrows, my Pap-pa would hitch a mule to the plow and make his rows.
Like many good farmers I knew through the years, my grandparents’ rows were always neat and orderly, and incredibly straight. Oh, they tried to teach me and my siblings to plow the rows, but ours were never straight enough, and our attention span was probably not long enough… and we most likely looked back while plowing! I can still hear my grandmother fussing about those rows… and she told me just last week that she had chastised the maintenance guy at her senior residence because “he didn’t dig his trenches deep enough.”
What does this mean in the end? What does it really hurt? Maybe not much… but then again, maybe it hurts a lot. In a relatively square garden patch, one crooked row leads to another… and another… and ultimately, besides crooked rows, you could end up without enough space for everything you wanted or needed to grow. Also, crooked rows speak to the orderliness of the gardener. And serious gardeners like my grandmother take their planting personally… and feel any flaws reflect directly on their character!
In the context of our spiritual life, Jesus is saying that we have to leave the past in the past. We can’t be continually looking back at what we did or worrying about what we didn’t finish or fix. We have to be willing to say, “Jesus has called me to serve Him now… those things no longer matter. He is more important!”
So when people say, “I’ll give my heart to Jesus tomorrow… just let me have one more wild night,” this passage is for them. When someone says, “Lightning will strike if I darken the doors of the church sanctuary,” this passage says, “That’s not true.” When people tell you, I’ve got to get my life in better order before I can serve others,” that’s stinkin’ thinkin’! I remember very clearly believing that I could not attend a Walk to Emmaus until I had resolved some “issues” in my own heart first. I thought I had to fix myself before I could allow God to work… and nothing could be further from the truth!
God wants us right where we are… now… today… this minute! He wants us to say, “I want so badly to be in Your will and serving You with every fiber of my being that I am willing to drop everything and start immediately.” He doesn’t want us to hesitate… to even look back and wave “Good-bye” to our sinful past. He just wants us to move forward, plowing the straightest, neatest row of Christian faith and trust that we possibly can. He will give us the seeds to plant. He will fertilize and nurture our “garden” and handle the harvest. All we have to do is put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
I am so bad about hesitating. I am clearly one of those who wants to “tie up loose ends” first. I have a terribly hard time “letting go and letting God” sometimes… don’t you? But we can change! We can do better. We must learn to operate in faith and stop looking backward. Our spiritual “garden” depends on it!
During the Walk to Emmaus… we say to those who attend, “Christ is counting on you.” They reply, “And I am counting on Christ.” Are you counting on Christ today? Or are you looking backward, procrastinating, and trying to fix things yourself? Isn’t it time you started plowing forward? Can Christ count on you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 16, 2011
Psalm 51:10-12
Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again. Don't chase me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me. Make me as happy as you did when you saved me; make me want to obey!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve never personally used a GPS navigational system, but I know others who have… with mixed results. I know people who meant to go to one address, but because they didn’t enter the word “avenue” or “drive”, they actually were directed to another location. Their objective was not clear enough.
Objectives and motives are often closely related. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about motives. Let’s be honest, there is a motive behind pretty much everything we do. Sometimes our motives are pure… but often, they miss the mark. We’re pretty selfish, self-centered people… and more times than we want to admit, we ask, “What’s in this for me?” I’m afraid we actually ask God this, too… “Father, if I serve you… what will I get in return?”
We must stay vigilant in examining our motives for everything. Why do we want to belong to a certain group… friends, clubs, teams, churches? What are our motives? Are they ours alone… or are we following God’s lead? Are our hearts pure and faithful?
As I reflect on some of the decisions I have made, I can see that my motives have sometimes been selfish. But the more I learn to lean on God and trust His plans for my life, the more I see when I am headed in the wrong direction. I am able to pull back and say, “Wait a minute! Lord… show me where to correct my navigation and get back on the right track! Create in me a pure, clean heart that serves your motives and objectives… not my own.”
If you are feeling a little like God has chased you away lately, maybe your objectives and motives are not as pure as they ought to be. Maybe you have put the wrong “information” into your heart’s “navigational system.” Ask God to help you to make the necessary corrections. Feel His presence and the joy that comes from knowing you are headed in the right direction… and HE is serving as your personal navigator.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again. Don't chase me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me. Make me as happy as you did when you saved me; make me want to obey!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve never personally used a GPS navigational system, but I know others who have… with mixed results. I know people who meant to go to one address, but because they didn’t enter the word “avenue” or “drive”, they actually were directed to another location. Their objective was not clear enough.
Objectives and motives are often closely related. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about motives. Let’s be honest, there is a motive behind pretty much everything we do. Sometimes our motives are pure… but often, they miss the mark. We’re pretty selfish, self-centered people… and more times than we want to admit, we ask, “What’s in this for me?” I’m afraid we actually ask God this, too… “Father, if I serve you… what will I get in return?”
We must stay vigilant in examining our motives for everything. Why do we want to belong to a certain group… friends, clubs, teams, churches? What are our motives? Are they ours alone… or are we following God’s lead? Are our hearts pure and faithful?
As I reflect on some of the decisions I have made, I can see that my motives have sometimes been selfish. But the more I learn to lean on God and trust His plans for my life, the more I see when I am headed in the wrong direction. I am able to pull back and say, “Wait a minute! Lord… show me where to correct my navigation and get back on the right track! Create in me a pure, clean heart that serves your motives and objectives… not my own.”
If you are feeling a little like God has chased you away lately, maybe your objectives and motives are not as pure as they ought to be. Maybe you have put the wrong “information” into your heart’s “navigational system.” Ask God to help you to make the necessary corrections. Feel His presence and the joy that comes from knowing you are headed in the right direction… and HE is serving as your personal navigator.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 14, 2011
Psalm 49:16-20
So don't be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune. They can't take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind. Just when they think they've arrived and folks praise them because they've made good, they enter the family burial plot, where they'll never see sunshine again.
We aren't immortal. We don't last long. Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.
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.
All my life I have heard the phrase, “You can’t take it with you.” When I was a teenager, my dad was a funeral director, and I heard him talk often about this. At the end of the day, the poor farmer who toiled all his life just to put food on the table was buried pretty much the same way as the rich man who couldn’t begin to count all of his money. Outwardly, what we accumulate or become in this life really won’t matter in the end. But what we have in our heart makes all the difference.
In The Purpose Driven Life, author Rick Warren says, “God watches how we use money to see how trustworthy we are.” Citing Luke 16:11, Pastor Warren says, “… there is a direct relationship between how I use my money and the quality of my Spiritual life.” So does this mean that we can’t have nice clothes or drive a nice car… that we should give that money to missions instead? Not at all.
God does not mind that we have nice things, if we can afford them. In fact, when we get to heaven, our streets will be paved with gold… and that’s the tip of the iceberg! The problem is how we act with money… and how we react to it. If money and the things we buy with it is all we think about, we are not putting God’s priorities first in our life. If we wait more impatiently for the newest release of the iPad or iPhone, the latest sneaker from our favorite athlete or the next album from our favorite entertainer to be released than we do for our next opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone else or a chance to learn more about Jesus, we’ve got some work to do.
If we think more about money and “things” than we do about Jesus and ways to worship Him, serve Him, and grown in His wisdom and love… God can’t trust us to manage the blessings (and Spiritual wealth) He wants to give us. Luke 16:11 says (paraphrased) that if God can’t trust us with earthly wealth… what Luke calls “wicked wealth” – how will He be able to trust us with true wealth – the wealth of a life lived in and for Him? If we work night and day on this earth for the almighty dollar more than Almighty God, we have totally missed our purpose.
It’s all about priorities. Many “rich” people have done amazing things with their earthly wealth. Many “poor” people have done as much – or more. Search your heart – and your motives. See what drives you these days. What are your goals for the future… to acquire more wealth and earthly “success” – or to “store up treasure for heaven?” See where you need to adjust your focus and concentrate on what you can take with you into Eternity. Ask God to help you adjust your attitude and start using what you have to accumulate “wealth” that really matters.
©2011 Debbie Robus
So don't be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune. They can't take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind. Just when they think they've arrived and folks praise them because they've made good, they enter the family burial plot, where they'll never see sunshine again.
We aren't immortal. We don't last long. Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.
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.
All my life I have heard the phrase, “You can’t take it with you.” When I was a teenager, my dad was a funeral director, and I heard him talk often about this. At the end of the day, the poor farmer who toiled all his life just to put food on the table was buried pretty much the same way as the rich man who couldn’t begin to count all of his money. Outwardly, what we accumulate or become in this life really won’t matter in the end. But what we have in our heart makes all the difference.
In The Purpose Driven Life, author Rick Warren says, “God watches how we use money to see how trustworthy we are.” Citing Luke 16:11, Pastor Warren says, “… there is a direct relationship between how I use my money and the quality of my Spiritual life.” So does this mean that we can’t have nice clothes or drive a nice car… that we should give that money to missions instead? Not at all.
God does not mind that we have nice things, if we can afford them. In fact, when we get to heaven, our streets will be paved with gold… and that’s the tip of the iceberg! The problem is how we act with money… and how we react to it. If money and the things we buy with it is all we think about, we are not putting God’s priorities first in our life. If we wait more impatiently for the newest release of the iPad or iPhone, the latest sneaker from our favorite athlete or the next album from our favorite entertainer to be released than we do for our next opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone else or a chance to learn more about Jesus, we’ve got some work to do.
If we think more about money and “things” than we do about Jesus and ways to worship Him, serve Him, and grown in His wisdom and love… God can’t trust us to manage the blessings (and Spiritual wealth) He wants to give us. Luke 16:11 says (paraphrased) that if God can’t trust us with earthly wealth… what Luke calls “wicked wealth” – how will He be able to trust us with true wealth – the wealth of a life lived in and for Him? If we work night and day on this earth for the almighty dollar more than Almighty God, we have totally missed our purpose.
It’s all about priorities. Many “rich” people have done amazing things with their earthly wealth. Many “poor” people have done as much – or more. Search your heart – and your motives. See what drives you these days. What are your goals for the future… to acquire more wealth and earthly “success” – or to “store up treasure for heaven?” See where you need to adjust your focus and concentrate on what you can take with you into Eternity. Ask God to help you adjust your attitude and start using what you have to accumulate “wealth” that really matters.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 29, 2010
2 Thessalonians 2:15-17
My friends, that's why you must remain faithful and follow closely what we taught you in person and by our letters. God our Father loves us. He is kind and has given us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father will encourage you and help you always to do and say the right thing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1872, Christina Rosetti wrote the hymn “In the Bleak Midwinter” in response to a contest by Scribner’s Magazine for a Christmas poem. The first lines read:
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
We can’t know what the next couple of months will bring us… sunny warm days, or layers of fluffy white snow to cover our landscape. There will surely be days when we think spring has come early… and possibly days when we feel winter will never end. For many, the “bleak midwinter” is a time of sadness and depression. Some truly sink into a serious “funk” on days when we have no sunshine… and if this lasts for very long, these people can be seriously affected. It has even been suggested by some that spending time in front of a lamp that mimics natural sunlight can help. This disorder even has a name… “SADD” – Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression – and it is very real.
I know several people who appear to suffer from this. And maybe you are one of them. Feeling a little sad or melancholy in a dreary winter day is okay… but wallowing in it or allowing these feelings to overcome you is another. I would like to suggest that we take the bleak midwinter days of this year and use them to grow in our walk with Christ – to rest and restore our souls. Wouldn’t it be great if we could learn to anticipate cold dreary days with enthusiasm?
So how do we do this? There are the tried and true activities… curling up with a good book or watching movies… working a jigsaw puzzle or playing board games… sledding if there is a decent snowfall. But what about using the dreary days of winter to grow as a Christian? We could spend some time sitting at a window watching birds at a feeder – marveling at how God designed every single feather and made the color patterns integrate in such incredible ways.
We could take a walk or a drive and look at all that is laid bare in this season… the things we never see in the other three seasons because of the cover of foliage… the intricacy of tree branches… the beauty of blue cedar berries and other “colors” of winter… swans and other waterfowl swimming on a nearby lake. What if we made a steamy pot of hearty soup and invited friends or neighbors to share it… or we took a container to someone who was elderly or sick and in need of physical – and emotional – nourishment?
We could look around for an elderly neighbor who has trouble getting his/her garbage to the curb for trash day in the cold of winter. We could offer to fill bird feeders – or even shovel/sweep an icy sidewalk. We could at least make phone calls and send cards and notes to cheer our friends who are feeling blue… and we could include a scripture of encouragement.
The bottom line is that we must not allow the bleak midwinter to be our crutch for wallowing in sadness and self-pity. We must find the glory of the Lord even in the dreary days. It’s not a matter of looking ahead to spring… but rather, we must enjoy this season, which is also a gift from God. This is a time to sit back a little and focus on God’s creations and the needs of others instead of the “busyness” of our lives and the activities of spring/summer/fall. We don’t have to hibernate like bears, but we can slow down a bit and use this time to recharge our batteries.
When the first days of “bleak midwinter” arrive, remember the eternal comfort and wonderful hope of God our Father. Bask in these promises… and find ways to share them with others. Spring will come again… and we will be rested and ready!
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/n/intbleak.htm
©2010 Debbie Robus
My friends, that's why you must remain faithful and follow closely what we taught you in person and by our letters. God our Father loves us. He is kind and has given us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father will encourage you and help you always to do and say the right thing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1872, Christina Rosetti wrote the hymn “In the Bleak Midwinter” in response to a contest by Scribner’s Magazine for a Christmas poem. The first lines read:
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
We can’t know what the next couple of months will bring us… sunny warm days, or layers of fluffy white snow to cover our landscape. There will surely be days when we think spring has come early… and possibly days when we feel winter will never end. For many, the “bleak midwinter” is a time of sadness and depression. Some truly sink into a serious “funk” on days when we have no sunshine… and if this lasts for very long, these people can be seriously affected. It has even been suggested by some that spending time in front of a lamp that mimics natural sunlight can help. This disorder even has a name… “SADD” – Seasonal Affective Disorder Depression – and it is very real.
I know several people who appear to suffer from this. And maybe you are one of them. Feeling a little sad or melancholy in a dreary winter day is okay… but wallowing in it or allowing these feelings to overcome you is another. I would like to suggest that we take the bleak midwinter days of this year and use them to grow in our walk with Christ – to rest and restore our souls. Wouldn’t it be great if we could learn to anticipate cold dreary days with enthusiasm?
So how do we do this? There are the tried and true activities… curling up with a good book or watching movies… working a jigsaw puzzle or playing board games… sledding if there is a decent snowfall. But what about using the dreary days of winter to grow as a Christian? We could spend some time sitting at a window watching birds at a feeder – marveling at how God designed every single feather and made the color patterns integrate in such incredible ways.
We could take a walk or a drive and look at all that is laid bare in this season… the things we never see in the other three seasons because of the cover of foliage… the intricacy of tree branches… the beauty of blue cedar berries and other “colors” of winter… swans and other waterfowl swimming on a nearby lake. What if we made a steamy pot of hearty soup and invited friends or neighbors to share it… or we took a container to someone who was elderly or sick and in need of physical – and emotional – nourishment?
We could look around for an elderly neighbor who has trouble getting his/her garbage to the curb for trash day in the cold of winter. We could offer to fill bird feeders – or even shovel/sweep an icy sidewalk. We could at least make phone calls and send cards and notes to cheer our friends who are feeling blue… and we could include a scripture of encouragement.
The bottom line is that we must not allow the bleak midwinter to be our crutch for wallowing in sadness and self-pity. We must find the glory of the Lord even in the dreary days. It’s not a matter of looking ahead to spring… but rather, we must enjoy this season, which is also a gift from God. This is a time to sit back a little and focus on God’s creations and the needs of others instead of the “busyness” of our lives and the activities of spring/summer/fall. We don’t have to hibernate like bears, but we can slow down a bit and use this time to recharge our batteries.
When the first days of “bleak midwinter” arrive, remember the eternal comfort and wonderful hope of God our Father. Bask in these promises… and find ways to share them with others. Spring will come again… and we will be rested and ready!
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/n/intbleak.htm
©2010 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)