Psalm 119:113-120
I hate the two-faced,
but I love your clear-cut revelation.
You’re my place of quiet retreat;
I wait for your Word to renew me.
Get out of my life, evildoers,
so I can keep my God’s commands.
Take my side as you promised; I’ll live then for sure.
Don’t disappoint all my grand hopes.
Stick with me and I’ll be all right;
I’ll give total allegiance to your definitions of life.
Expose all who drift away from your sayings;
their casual idolatry is lethal.
You reject earth’s wicked as so much rubbish;
therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say.
I shiver in awe before you;
your decisions leave me speechless with reverence.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When Timothy and Zola visited this week, I showed them a little vintage elf ornament that hangs on a Christmas tree I decorated for them. They have an “Elf on the Shelf” at their house named Christopher Pop-In-Kins, so I told them that OUR elf was named Henry Truman, and that he was watching them just like Christopher did at home – and reporting to Santa. The children were very well behaved… and any time they started to falter, we reminded them about Henry Truman - and they generally changed their mind. It is very hard to be good at Christmas time with all of the temptations, exciting events and sweet treats to keep your mind and body revved up. But the Christmas season is also a time when children of all ages often at least try to act nicer!
Have you noticed that you see a lot of people in church around the Christmas and Easter seasons that you never see there the rest of the year? Or maybe you’ve observed that a lot of people are friendlier and more generous to others during the holidays. A friend of mine actually refers to these folks as “Christmas and Easter Christians”! While I’m glad to see people in church any day of the year… while I will take all the incentives for good behavior in children that I can get – especially at Christmas time…it does leave me to wonder about what they are like the rest of the year.
Don’t misunderstand me… God is thrilled ANY TIME we turn to Him. His heart is glad when we worship Him and come before Him for guidance and care. But He is so much more than a “Christmas and Easter God”. He wants us to walk with Him each and every day of the year… to be diligent and serious in our Christian discipleship – not casual worshippers. God wants us to spend time in His presence and hear what He has to say 365 days a year… not to drift away from His teachings for months on end – or to call on Him only when the chips are down and we are desperate!
I am sad to admit that I think my friend might be at least partially right. I am afraid there truly are “Christmas and Easter Christians” who hardly give God any thought the other ten months of the year. And sadly, I’m pretty sure they are missing out on all of the benefits and blessings of a constant relationship with God. They don’t fully know what it is to shiver in awe with speechless reverence at God’s power in their lives. They have not given Him their full allegiance, so their hopes – if they even have any – often end in disappointment.
As I told Timothy this morning, there are “ten more sleeps” until Christmas. Let’s recommit ourselves in this next ten days to waiting on God’s word to renew us… to finding a place of quiet retreat with Him each and every day of the year. Let’s let take God’s side and keep His commands… and live every minute of the day with assurance that He is giving life to our hopes, meeting our every need, and planning for our future even into Eternity. Let’s be “Everyday Christians” who really, truly operate in the hope of Jesus Christ… at Christmas, Easter, and always.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label following God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label following God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 21, 2013
John 14:5-7
Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t even know where you are going! How can we know the way?”
“I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father. If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This week, 78-year-old Christian author Henry Blackaby was reported missing in Atlanta, Georgia. Blackaby is the author of Experiencing God, a best-selling workbook for Christian discipleship that was published in the 1990s. The author’s family reported that he was a diabetic, and he did not have his medication with him. Volunteers combed the Atlanta area in an attempt to assist police in locating Blackaby. Some 29 hours later, he was found.
This updated information was posted on the website for Blackaby Ministries International (www.henryblackaby.com)...
I saw several e-mail reports about this situation throughout the day. While we live over 500 miles from the Atlanta area, we were asked to pray for this family and those who were searching for Henry. Information was given in each update, including a description of his car and the license plate number and the fact that he was a diabetic without his medication - indicating that he might need immediate medical attention, if found. I can’t help but believe that God answered the prayers of many by providing clues such as the credit card purchases, so that Henry could be found.
I know you are wondering… has she lost her mind? What does this have to do with John 14? More than you might think! See, Jesus’ disciples were questioning Him. They wanted physical proof of His true identity… that what He told them was true. It wasn’t enough that He said, “If you have seen me, you have seen my Father!” They wanted Him to show them. Moreover, they seemed clueless about how to follow Him… how to get to Heaven. He kept telling them, “I am the way”… but they wanted a map – or at least some pretty good directions…and maybe more than a few clues and hints.
And here’s the thing… God’s “clues” are all around us. Some are subtle and easily missed… that “still, small voice” you sometimes get…a scripture verse that keeps popping up and you wonder, “Why do I keep seeing this?”…a passing comment from a friend that keeps running through your head. Others are smack-you-in-the-face obvious, like when an elderly friend of mine said that three times in one morning she had an encounter with another driver who pulled in front of her. She told me, “I think God’s trying to get my attention and telling me I need to stop driving!”
The trouble with us is that we’re stubborn! We don’t pay attention. We walk right past God’s equivalent of flashing neon signs and choose to look the other direction. Now maybe we don’t do this deliberately, but in essence, we make choices every day with regard to whether we will pay attention to what God is telling and showing us… or not. God shows us how to follow Him… the direct path to true discipleship and an eternity spent with Him in Heaven… and we are so busy doing what we choose that it often doesn’t even register. I’m not saying that we necessarily make a conscious effort to ignore God. But by choosing to allow ourselves to be preoccupied with other things… or to serve our own interests… we essentially do exactly that!
I don’t know what clues and signals God is sending you today. But I know that we can either choose to pay attention – to look and listen for God’s messages and guidance… or we can choose to ignore the signs and “wing it.” If you ask me, the latter choice is the surest way to end up in your own equivalent of driving aimlessly around Atlanta for twenty-nine hours. Mr. Blackaby’s outcome could have been far more serious… and so could ours, if we don’t figure out who God really is and start following Him. Is this a chance you are willing to take?
What choices have you made that need rethinking? The “search party” is out on your behalf. God wants you found and returned to Him… restored and placed back on the right path. Won’t you recognize His presence and choose to follow His lead?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t even know where you are going! How can we know the way?”
“I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father. If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This week, 78-year-old Christian author Henry Blackaby was reported missing in Atlanta, Georgia. Blackaby is the author of Experiencing God, a best-selling workbook for Christian discipleship that was published in the 1990s. The author’s family reported that he was a diabetic, and he did not have his medication with him. Volunteers combed the Atlanta area in an attempt to assist police in locating Blackaby. Some 29 hours later, he was found.
This updated information was posted on the website for Blackaby Ministries International (www.henryblackaby.com)...
On Thursday, September 19, Henry Blackaby drove his car to pick up his wife Marilynn from an appointment. Henry apparently suffered a heart attack while driving. He became disoriented and unable to find his way back home. He drove for the next 29 hours until finally being found in a small town south of Atlanta. He did not have his cell phone with him nor insulin for his diabetes. As a result, his blood sugar rose and his kidneys began to struggle as well. The family was able to track his movements as he used a credit card to make occasional purchases. He is currently in a hospital undergoing extensive tests. He seems to be in good spirits and lucid. We appreciate your prayers. With Henry disoriented, suffering from a heart attack, and driving for 29 hours throughout the night all over Atlanta, it is clear that GOD HEARD AND ANSWERED THE PRAYERS OF HIS PEOPLE! Thank you to everyone who prayed and helped in the search.Any time someone is missing, there is confusion and uncertainty. Where do you begin the search for them? How do you make sure that someone will recognize them? There are choices to make… when to truly declare a person missing… who are the proper authorities are to which this should be reported… how the search should be handled – and who should be involved. In this case, it all came down to a credit card. By tracing Henry Blackaby’s credit card transactions, searchers could figure out where he was and follow him. You may not find it a stretch that someone thought to check his credit card activity… but that a man in his physical and mental condition actually used said card in his condition is nothing short of miraculous in my mind!
I saw several e-mail reports about this situation throughout the day. While we live over 500 miles from the Atlanta area, we were asked to pray for this family and those who were searching for Henry. Information was given in each update, including a description of his car and the license plate number and the fact that he was a diabetic without his medication - indicating that he might need immediate medical attention, if found. I can’t help but believe that God answered the prayers of many by providing clues such as the credit card purchases, so that Henry could be found.
I know you are wondering… has she lost her mind? What does this have to do with John 14? More than you might think! See, Jesus’ disciples were questioning Him. They wanted physical proof of His true identity… that what He told them was true. It wasn’t enough that He said, “If you have seen me, you have seen my Father!” They wanted Him to show them. Moreover, they seemed clueless about how to follow Him… how to get to Heaven. He kept telling them, “I am the way”… but they wanted a map – or at least some pretty good directions…and maybe more than a few clues and hints.
And here’s the thing… God’s “clues” are all around us. Some are subtle and easily missed… that “still, small voice” you sometimes get…a scripture verse that keeps popping up and you wonder, “Why do I keep seeing this?”…a passing comment from a friend that keeps running through your head. Others are smack-you-in-the-face obvious, like when an elderly friend of mine said that three times in one morning she had an encounter with another driver who pulled in front of her. She told me, “I think God’s trying to get my attention and telling me I need to stop driving!”
The trouble with us is that we’re stubborn! We don’t pay attention. We walk right past God’s equivalent of flashing neon signs and choose to look the other direction. Now maybe we don’t do this deliberately, but in essence, we make choices every day with regard to whether we will pay attention to what God is telling and showing us… or not. God shows us how to follow Him… the direct path to true discipleship and an eternity spent with Him in Heaven… and we are so busy doing what we choose that it often doesn’t even register. I’m not saying that we necessarily make a conscious effort to ignore God. But by choosing to allow ourselves to be preoccupied with other things… or to serve our own interests… we essentially do exactly that!
I don’t know what clues and signals God is sending you today. But I know that we can either choose to pay attention – to look and listen for God’s messages and guidance… or we can choose to ignore the signs and “wing it.” If you ask me, the latter choice is the surest way to end up in your own equivalent of driving aimlessly around Atlanta for twenty-nine hours. Mr. Blackaby’s outcome could have been far more serious… and so could ours, if we don’t figure out who God really is and start following Him. Is this a chance you are willing to take?
What choices have you made that need rethinking? The “search party” is out on your behalf. God wants you found and returned to Him… restored and placed back on the right path. Won’t you recognize His presence and choose to follow His lead?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 8, 2013
Titus 2:1-6
Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Almost 30 years ago, my grandmother persuaded me to go dancing with her at a local barn dance. My grandmother came from a musical family, and she and her sisters were excellent dancers. My great-grandfather and his brother played the fiddle and other instruments at area dances “back in the day,” and their daughters learned to foxtrot, waltz, and two-step to their familiar folk tunes. On the other hand, I knew nothing of this sort of dance, save a semester of “folk dance” class in college. But my grandmother insisted I tag along… so I went with her. It wasn’t long before a very nice older gentleman friend of my grandmother’s named Jack asked me to dance. I politely declined, but my grandmother insisted I try. “He’s a good dancer,” she assured me. “Go on and dance with him.”
In the arms of an experienced lead dancer, even someone with two left feet like mine can do fairly well. Jack gave me a quick lesson in how the steps went and then said, “Just follow me.” He led me across the floor with ease… and I don’t think I stepped on his feet too many times! While I didn’t fare as well with a few other dance partners, Jack’s early guidance did make for a much more enjoyable night.
Paul challenges Titus in these first few verses to be an agent of God… an earthly, physical “lead” for God’s Spiritual dance. He gives Titus a list of character traits and qualities that will mold men and women into great “dancers” for God’s chorus line… temperance, dignity, wisdom, faith, love, endurance (patience), reverence, goodness…people of order who don’t gossip or drink to excess…people who are disciplined and conscientious.
You and I are the dancers in life… and God is our “lead.” If we pay attention and allow Him to guide us… if we learn His rhythm and follow His instructions… we can deliver a pretty solid performance. In His arms, we will glide across the “floor” of life. There will be some missteps… some bruised toes… and maybe even a stumble or two. But in all, we can rest in God’s rhythm with the assurance of things turning out as He intended. We will encounter other “dance partners” – most of whom the devil plants in front of us – but the outcome will usually be far less than stellar… with more than a few sore toes created in the process!
The question becomes… Who is your lead? How are you “dancing” through life? Do you have a solid grasp of God’s timing… or are you bumbling your way through with what are often spastic results? Are you patiently seeking your God-given dreams, or do you birth things prematurely. Is your life one of solid doctrine, as Paul describes to Titus… or are you impatiently trying to orchestrate things on your own? The choice is ours... we’ve been given a perfect example of how to live in Jesus… and reminders through scripture, in case we have any questions. What will you do with all of this? How well will you “dance?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
“Timing is so important! If you are going to be successful in dance, you must be able to respond to rhythm and timing. It’s the same in the Spirit. People who don’t understand God’s timing can become spiritually spastic, trying to make the right things happen at the wrong time. They don’t get His rhythm – and everyone can tell they are out of step. They birth things prematurely, threatening the very lives of their God-given dreams.” ~ T. D. Jakes
Almost 30 years ago, my grandmother persuaded me to go dancing with her at a local barn dance. My grandmother came from a musical family, and she and her sisters were excellent dancers. My great-grandfather and his brother played the fiddle and other instruments at area dances “back in the day,” and their daughters learned to foxtrot, waltz, and two-step to their familiar folk tunes. On the other hand, I knew nothing of this sort of dance, save a semester of “folk dance” class in college. But my grandmother insisted I tag along… so I went with her. It wasn’t long before a very nice older gentleman friend of my grandmother’s named Jack asked me to dance. I politely declined, but my grandmother insisted I try. “He’s a good dancer,” she assured me. “Go on and dance with him.”
In the arms of an experienced lead dancer, even someone with two left feet like mine can do fairly well. Jack gave me a quick lesson in how the steps went and then said, “Just follow me.” He led me across the floor with ease… and I don’t think I stepped on his feet too many times! While I didn’t fare as well with a few other dance partners, Jack’s early guidance did make for a much more enjoyable night.
Paul challenges Titus in these first few verses to be an agent of God… an earthly, physical “lead” for God’s Spiritual dance. He gives Titus a list of character traits and qualities that will mold men and women into great “dancers” for God’s chorus line… temperance, dignity, wisdom, faith, love, endurance (patience), reverence, goodness…people of order who don’t gossip or drink to excess…people who are disciplined and conscientious.
You and I are the dancers in life… and God is our “lead.” If we pay attention and allow Him to guide us… if we learn His rhythm and follow His instructions… we can deliver a pretty solid performance. In His arms, we will glide across the “floor” of life. There will be some missteps… some bruised toes… and maybe even a stumble or two. But in all, we can rest in God’s rhythm with the assurance of things turning out as He intended. We will encounter other “dance partners” – most of whom the devil plants in front of us – but the outcome will usually be far less than stellar… with more than a few sore toes created in the process!
The question becomes… Who is your lead? How are you “dancing” through life? Do you have a solid grasp of God’s timing… or are you bumbling your way through with what are often spastic results? Are you patiently seeking your God-given dreams, or do you birth things prematurely. Is your life one of solid doctrine, as Paul describes to Titus… or are you impatiently trying to orchestrate things on your own? The choice is ours... we’ve been given a perfect example of how to live in Jesus… and reminders through scripture, in case we have any questions. What will you do with all of this? How well will you “dance?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 16, 2011
Psalm 119:1-8
Our LORD, you bless everyone who lives right and obeys your Law. You bless all of those who follow your commands from deep in their hearts and who never do wrong or turn from you. You have ordered us always to obey your teachings; I don't ever want to stray from your laws. Thinking about your commands will keep me from doing some foolish thing. I will do right and praise you by learning to respect your perfect laws. I will obey all of them! Don't turn your back on me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was teaching kindergarten, I had three basic rules - or “laws”:
1. Be kind to others.
2. Work and play quietly.
3. Obey promptly.
I was very clear about these rules – and the consequences of breaking them. We spent the first week of school learning the rules and reviewing them in fun ways. These rules were simple… yet comprehensive… and we all knew from the beginning where we each stood.
If you drill it down, this is how it is for Christians, too. We know the rules…
1. Accept Jesus as your LORD and Savior.
2. Love God with all your heart.
3. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
4. Serve God by serving others and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When you understand the rules – and the consequences of disobeying them (or simply choosing not to follow them) – you realize that life can be fairly simple and straightforward. When we surrender to God and obey His laws, He takes care of the rest.
Does this mean our life is always perfect? Does this mean we don’t have trials, tests, problems and hard times? Absolutely NOT! But it does mean that we never have anything that we cannot handle with God’s help. He never turns away from us and always stands right beside us to meet the day head-on!
My kindergarten students were not perfect… and more than a handful tested the waters to see if the consequences for breaking rules would be as promised. And we do this with God sometimes. The answer in both situations is “YES!” We know what will happen when we obey and serve – and when we don’t. So the choice seems pretty obvious, doesn’t it?!
Trust God… serve Him obediently and follow His laws. Praise Him for guiding your steps and blessing you every single day. And rest in the confidence that He will do exactly that!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Our LORD, you bless everyone who lives right and obeys your Law. You bless all of those who follow your commands from deep in their hearts and who never do wrong or turn from you. You have ordered us always to obey your teachings; I don't ever want to stray from your laws. Thinking about your commands will keep me from doing some foolish thing. I will do right and praise you by learning to respect your perfect laws. I will obey all of them! Don't turn your back on me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was teaching kindergarten, I had three basic rules - or “laws”:
1. Be kind to others.
2. Work and play quietly.
3. Obey promptly.
I was very clear about these rules – and the consequences of breaking them. We spent the first week of school learning the rules and reviewing them in fun ways. These rules were simple… yet comprehensive… and we all knew from the beginning where we each stood.
If you drill it down, this is how it is for Christians, too. We know the rules…
1. Accept Jesus as your LORD and Savior.
2. Love God with all your heart.
3. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
4. Serve God by serving others and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When you understand the rules – and the consequences of disobeying them (or simply choosing not to follow them) – you realize that life can be fairly simple and straightforward. When we surrender to God and obey His laws, He takes care of the rest.
Does this mean our life is always perfect? Does this mean we don’t have trials, tests, problems and hard times? Absolutely NOT! But it does mean that we never have anything that we cannot handle with God’s help. He never turns away from us and always stands right beside us to meet the day head-on!
My kindergarten students were not perfect… and more than a handful tested the waters to see if the consequences for breaking rules would be as promised. And we do this with God sometimes. The answer in both situations is “YES!” We know what will happen when we obey and serve – and when we don’t. So the choice seems pretty obvious, doesn’t it?!
Trust God… serve Him obediently and follow His laws. Praise Him for guiding your steps and blessing you every single day. And rest in the confidence that He will do exactly that!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 1, 2011
2 Kings 17:18-20
The LORD became so furious with the people of Israel that he allowed them to be carried away as prisoners.
Only the people living in Judah were left, but they also disobeyed the LORD's commands and acted like the Israelites. So the LORD turned his back on everyone in Israel and Judah and let them be punished and defeated until no one was left.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve been reading the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, and over and again I’ve seen this phrase… “He disobeyed the LORD and caused the Israelites to sin.” Otherwise, these chapters have been pretty much an account of one king after another and commands of God that were ignored. There were a few who listened – sometimes only partially… but on a whole, these kings were “Burger Kings” – they had things their own way!
I asked myself… “Why is this important? If God felt it should be included in the Bible, what is He trying to show us with these accounts?” The conclusion I came to is found in today’s verses… God loves us and protects us – but He also doles out consequences and punishments when we misbehave. And we need to understand this!
When a child disobeys, they get “time out” or lose their toys for a while. When teenagers break the rules, they are grounded and may lose their car keys, cell phone, and other privileges. When adults break the law, they are arrested – and may go to jail or suffer a fine. And when we sin, sometimes God hangs His head in disappointment and walks away temporarily. Just because we are saved by the blood of Jesus doesn’t mean we get a free ticket, any more than becoming king made those rulers above the laws and directives of God Almighty!
When little children disobey and misbehave, we may place them in “time out” or send them to their room and walk away for a little bit… but we never desert them completely. And God will not totally abandon you, either. But He may very well turn away and leave you to fend for yourself at times, so that you learn to respect His desires and guidance for your life – and seek His forgiveness and restoration.
Whatever you do, remember that God loves you and will care for you… but He may also teach you a few hard lessons along the way. Work hard to stay obedient and to operate within His will. Don’t try to have things your way when you know that God desires something else. And most certainly do not cause others to sin!
Listen carefully for God’s voice. Seek Him in every area of your life… even those that seem small and not worth His time. I assure you, everything about you matters to God! Have you acted like He matters to you lately? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
The LORD became so furious with the people of Israel that he allowed them to be carried away as prisoners.
Only the people living in Judah were left, but they also disobeyed the LORD's commands and acted like the Israelites. So the LORD turned his back on everyone in Israel and Judah and let them be punished and defeated until no one was left.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve been reading the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, and over and again I’ve seen this phrase… “He disobeyed the LORD and caused the Israelites to sin.” Otherwise, these chapters have been pretty much an account of one king after another and commands of God that were ignored. There were a few who listened – sometimes only partially… but on a whole, these kings were “Burger Kings” – they had things their own way!
I asked myself… “Why is this important? If God felt it should be included in the Bible, what is He trying to show us with these accounts?” The conclusion I came to is found in today’s verses… God loves us and protects us – but He also doles out consequences and punishments when we misbehave. And we need to understand this!
When a child disobeys, they get “time out” or lose their toys for a while. When teenagers break the rules, they are grounded and may lose their car keys, cell phone, and other privileges. When adults break the law, they are arrested – and may go to jail or suffer a fine. And when we sin, sometimes God hangs His head in disappointment and walks away temporarily. Just because we are saved by the blood of Jesus doesn’t mean we get a free ticket, any more than becoming king made those rulers above the laws and directives of God Almighty!
When little children disobey and misbehave, we may place them in “time out” or send them to their room and walk away for a little bit… but we never desert them completely. And God will not totally abandon you, either. But He may very well turn away and leave you to fend for yourself at times, so that you learn to respect His desires and guidance for your life – and seek His forgiveness and restoration.
Whatever you do, remember that God loves you and will care for you… but He may also teach you a few hard lessons along the way. Work hard to stay obedient and to operate within His will. Don’t try to have things your way when you know that God desires something else. And most certainly do not cause others to sin!
Listen carefully for God’s voice. Seek Him in every area of your life… even those that seem small and not worth His time. I assure you, everything about you matters to God! Have you acted like He matters to you lately? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 21, 2011
1 Kings 11:9-13
The LORD God of Israel had appeared to Solomon two times and warned him not to worship foreign gods. But Solomon disobeyed and did it anyway. This made the LORD very angry, and he said to Solomon:
You did what you wanted and not what I told you to do. Now I'm going to take your kingdom from you and give it to one of your officials. But because David was your father, you will remain king as long as you live. I will wait until your son becomes king, then I will take the kingdom from him. When I do, I will still let him rule one tribe, because I have not forgotten that David was my servant and Jerusalem is my city.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A young friend of ours recently injured his ankle in a football game. The injury does not appear to be as bad as everyone thought initially, but there is still injury and stress on the ankle that has to heal. The young man is anxious to get back on the football field as conference play begins. Like many other adults, we have cautioned him to be patient and make sure he is fully healed. I have especially tried to share my own experience with a broken ankle and torn ligaments… encouraging him to do all of the recommended therapies and take the needed time to repair this damage. I’ve told him, “When you are my age, you will be glad you listened!”
In my twenties, a doctor told me, “Today’s runners are tomorrow’s arthritics!” I laughed as I looked at this overweight physician who was counseling a slender, healthy woman who ran as much as six miles a day. Now, when I walk up and down our stairs on a rainy day, my knees remind me of this doctor’s words! I am not saying that running is bad for you, but I should have paced myself more and paid attention. I have found other ways to exercise and stay in shape, but I listen to my body now and treat my joints with respect and care!
When I read this scripture passage, I was immediately struck by two things… 1) God loves us, no matter what… and He will never go back on His promises; and 2) sometimes our consequences are not immediate… but that doesn’t mean we got a free pass! God loved David passionately – and the feeling was mutual. David was not perfect, but he never loved anyone but God. David’s son, Solomon, on the other hand, was dazzled by wealth and fame… women and power… and he made them the focus of his devotion. While God did not blast Solomon with great and immediate punishment for this, He did promise to strip him of everything by taking the kingdom from Solomon’s heirs. Solomon’s legacy was everything to him… so losing it to another lineage was huge! This reminds me of the adage, “Pay now, or pay later.”
Know this… God will never turn His back on you completely, if you have confessed your sins and asked Him to save you. He will never change His mind about loving you. But He will have consequences if you disobey and turn your back on Him. You may not see it for years to come. You may play fast and loose with alcohol and drugs, overeating, gambling, flitting from one job to another and getting in and out of all kinds of relationships with seemingly minor consequences or adjustments in your daily living. You may treat others poorly and live by the philosophy, “What’s in it for me?” But some day, this will all change. God will remind you of your indiscretions and poor choices, and He will mete out His justice for your disobedience and disloyal actions.
So how do you stop this? How do you turn things around now before “the shoe falls?” Turn back to God. Stop what you are doing and humbly confess that you have not been obedient and loyal. You have worshipped other things… people, money, alcohol, drugs and more. You have allowed Satan to present you with false idols, and you have worshipped them. You think more of yourself than you should and have elevated yourself to a status that you do not deserve… one that God did not give you. Tell God you are sorry, and that you are making significant changes. Kick your false idols to the curb, and ask God to help you make a fresh start. He will gladly do this!
If I had listened to the doctor in my twenties, I might have still been able to run a few miles without pain in my thirties and forties. My knees might not be a better barometer than the local weatherman. If Solomon had just taken a step back and looked at what he was doing, he could have returned to God’s favor. Don’t be stubborn. Don’t be blinded by the glitz and lure of sins and vices. Recognize these tools of the devil… turn around and walk the other way- toward God - and enjoy His blessings and protection... now and always.
©2011 Debbie Robus
The LORD God of Israel had appeared to Solomon two times and warned him not to worship foreign gods. But Solomon disobeyed and did it anyway. This made the LORD very angry, and he said to Solomon:
You did what you wanted and not what I told you to do. Now I'm going to take your kingdom from you and give it to one of your officials. But because David was your father, you will remain king as long as you live. I will wait until your son becomes king, then I will take the kingdom from him. When I do, I will still let him rule one tribe, because I have not forgotten that David was my servant and Jerusalem is my city.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A young friend of ours recently injured his ankle in a football game. The injury does not appear to be as bad as everyone thought initially, but there is still injury and stress on the ankle that has to heal. The young man is anxious to get back on the football field as conference play begins. Like many other adults, we have cautioned him to be patient and make sure he is fully healed. I have especially tried to share my own experience with a broken ankle and torn ligaments… encouraging him to do all of the recommended therapies and take the needed time to repair this damage. I’ve told him, “When you are my age, you will be glad you listened!”
In my twenties, a doctor told me, “Today’s runners are tomorrow’s arthritics!” I laughed as I looked at this overweight physician who was counseling a slender, healthy woman who ran as much as six miles a day. Now, when I walk up and down our stairs on a rainy day, my knees remind me of this doctor’s words! I am not saying that running is bad for you, but I should have paced myself more and paid attention. I have found other ways to exercise and stay in shape, but I listen to my body now and treat my joints with respect and care!
When I read this scripture passage, I was immediately struck by two things… 1) God loves us, no matter what… and He will never go back on His promises; and 2) sometimes our consequences are not immediate… but that doesn’t mean we got a free pass! God loved David passionately – and the feeling was mutual. David was not perfect, but he never loved anyone but God. David’s son, Solomon, on the other hand, was dazzled by wealth and fame… women and power… and he made them the focus of his devotion. While God did not blast Solomon with great and immediate punishment for this, He did promise to strip him of everything by taking the kingdom from Solomon’s heirs. Solomon’s legacy was everything to him… so losing it to another lineage was huge! This reminds me of the adage, “Pay now, or pay later.”
Know this… God will never turn His back on you completely, if you have confessed your sins and asked Him to save you. He will never change His mind about loving you. But He will have consequences if you disobey and turn your back on Him. You may not see it for years to come. You may play fast and loose with alcohol and drugs, overeating, gambling, flitting from one job to another and getting in and out of all kinds of relationships with seemingly minor consequences or adjustments in your daily living. You may treat others poorly and live by the philosophy, “What’s in it for me?” But some day, this will all change. God will remind you of your indiscretions and poor choices, and He will mete out His justice for your disobedience and disloyal actions.
So how do you stop this? How do you turn things around now before “the shoe falls?” Turn back to God. Stop what you are doing and humbly confess that you have not been obedient and loyal. You have worshipped other things… people, money, alcohol, drugs and more. You have allowed Satan to present you with false idols, and you have worshipped them. You think more of yourself than you should and have elevated yourself to a status that you do not deserve… one that God did not give you. Tell God you are sorry, and that you are making significant changes. Kick your false idols to the curb, and ask God to help you make a fresh start. He will gladly do this!
If I had listened to the doctor in my twenties, I might have still been able to run a few miles without pain in my thirties and forties. My knees might not be a better barometer than the local weatherman. If Solomon had just taken a step back and looked at what he was doing, he could have returned to God’s favor. Don’t be stubborn. Don’t be blinded by the glitz and lure of sins and vices. Recognize these tools of the devil… turn around and walk the other way- toward God - and enjoy His blessings and protection... now and always.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 27, 2011
John 7:14-19
With the Feast already half over, Jesus showed up in the Temple, teaching. The Jews were impressed, but puzzled: "How does he know so much without being schooled?"
Jesus said, "I didn't make this up. What I teach comes from the One who sent me. Anyone who wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it's from God or whether I'm making it up. A person making things up tries to make himself look good. But someone trying to honor the one who sent him sticks to the facts and doesn't tamper with reality. It was Moses, wasn't it, who gave you God's Law? But none of you are living it. So why are you trying to kill 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.
Friends on Facebook have been contributing to a page about recollections of our home town when we were kids. More than one has remembered Whitaker Drug Store, were we could sit at the counter and order fountain sodas and other treats. And many have remembered getting a drink there called a “suicide.” Basically, the ladies behind the counter put in a little bit of every syrup available and added carbonated water for “fizz.” I don’t remember if I ever drank a “suicide,” but I know plenty of times that I – and others – have tried to create our own culinary concoction with less than stellar results!
I will experiment a little here and there when cooking, but I’ve pretty well learned from a few mistakes in the kitchen. Now I mostly stick to the recipe and leave the tampering to someone more adventuresome! I am content to have people enjoy my cooking, and I will gladly give the credit to whatever cookbook author or good cook willing to share recipes deserves the recognition. And hopefully, people are comfortable eating what I prepare… confident that I’ve not made things up as I went along! I never went to culinary school… but I had good teachers who taught me how to navigate the kitchen and produce a tasty meal.
Now if I were to continually strike out and create dishes of my own invention, would I have the right to be mad at Julia Child, Betty Crocker, or the Southern Living cooks because my results were poor? Would it make sense to be angry at someone who shared a recipe with me if I changed the ingredients and didn’t follow the cooking directions… and the result was inedible? So why do we think we can study God’s word and receive His guidance and instruction, then “have it our way?”
Why are we persuaded by sinful friends and acquaintances who clearly are not behaving in a Christ-like manner? Why do we choose “Spiritual suicide” when we already know that the results are going to leave a bad taste in our mouth and have horrendous consequences? What right do we have to be mad at God when things don’t go the way we want?
When will we learn? When will we begin to recognize the power and authority of God Almighty? When will we see that God sent Jesus to show us how to live… how to conduct ourselves in all sorts of situations… how to resist temptation… how to love others in His name… how to spread the Gospel and model Christ-like behavior for others? When will we realize that fakes and phonies are a dime a dozen… but Jesus is the Real Deal?
Remember John 3:16 – God loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, so that we could live – forever! All we have to do is believe in Him… all we have to do is acknowledge that Jesus is truly who He said He was, ever since “back in the day”… and commit our heart and soul to living for Him continually in the “now!” Jesus brought us the recipe for success, joy, and Eternal Life! Are you ready to follow Him?
©2011 Debbie Robus
With the Feast already half over, Jesus showed up in the Temple, teaching. The Jews were impressed, but puzzled: "How does he know so much without being schooled?"
Jesus said, "I didn't make this up. What I teach comes from the One who sent me. Anyone who wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it's from God or whether I'm making it up. A person making things up tries to make himself look good. But someone trying to honor the one who sent him sticks to the facts and doesn't tamper with reality. It was Moses, wasn't it, who gave you God's Law? But none of you are living it. So why are you trying to kill 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.
Friends on Facebook have been contributing to a page about recollections of our home town when we were kids. More than one has remembered Whitaker Drug Store, were we could sit at the counter and order fountain sodas and other treats. And many have remembered getting a drink there called a “suicide.” Basically, the ladies behind the counter put in a little bit of every syrup available and added carbonated water for “fizz.” I don’t remember if I ever drank a “suicide,” but I know plenty of times that I – and others – have tried to create our own culinary concoction with less than stellar results!
I will experiment a little here and there when cooking, but I’ve pretty well learned from a few mistakes in the kitchen. Now I mostly stick to the recipe and leave the tampering to someone more adventuresome! I am content to have people enjoy my cooking, and I will gladly give the credit to whatever cookbook author or good cook willing to share recipes deserves the recognition. And hopefully, people are comfortable eating what I prepare… confident that I’ve not made things up as I went along! I never went to culinary school… but I had good teachers who taught me how to navigate the kitchen and produce a tasty meal.
Now if I were to continually strike out and create dishes of my own invention, would I have the right to be mad at Julia Child, Betty Crocker, or the Southern Living cooks because my results were poor? Would it make sense to be angry at someone who shared a recipe with me if I changed the ingredients and didn’t follow the cooking directions… and the result was inedible? So why do we think we can study God’s word and receive His guidance and instruction, then “have it our way?”
Why are we persuaded by sinful friends and acquaintances who clearly are not behaving in a Christ-like manner? Why do we choose “Spiritual suicide” when we already know that the results are going to leave a bad taste in our mouth and have horrendous consequences? What right do we have to be mad at God when things don’t go the way we want?
When will we learn? When will we begin to recognize the power and authority of God Almighty? When will we see that God sent Jesus to show us how to live… how to conduct ourselves in all sorts of situations… how to resist temptation… how to love others in His name… how to spread the Gospel and model Christ-like behavior for others? When will we realize that fakes and phonies are a dime a dozen… but Jesus is the Real Deal?
Remember John 3:16 – God loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, so that we could live – forever! All we have to do is believe in Him… all we have to do is acknowledge that Jesus is truly who He said He was, ever since “back in the day”… and commit our heart and soul to living for Him continually in the “now!” Jesus brought us the recipe for success, joy, and Eternal Life! Are you ready to follow Him?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 23, 2011
Proverbs 20:18
Be sure you have sound advice before making plans or starting a war.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Often, I will see a post on Facebook from someone planning a trip… “Where’s a good place to stay in Destin?” “How was the weather at Such-and-Such destination last week?” “What are the gas prices like down toward Disneyland?” The advice of someone who has “been there/done that” on a vacation can be very helpful to someone who is still in the planning stages. And it makes perfect sense to ask. Wouldn’t you want to know the best restaurants and motels, cheapest places to get gas, and best times of day to visit certain attractions and avoid long lines?
If you study history, you will see that even back to Old Testament days, people consulted others before starting – or participating in – a war. Strategy was discussed – what worked and what did not, which routes were best, what would happen if this approach or that one were taken, and more. And the right advice often made a huge difference in the outcome.
So what does this have to do with our faith walk? God is using this verse to remind us to seek HIS advice and the advice of fellow believers before making big decisions. Don’t get the advice of just anyone. Seek someone who seems to have a strong connection with God… someone who is known to make wise decisions in his/her own daily living… someone who you are certain prays and studies God’s word before making the first move.
Quite often, God will use others to guide us in the right direction, so find a couple of trustworthy people to consult when you are in need of sound advice. Be sure you ask God to choose these “go-to” advisors for you. He will point you in their direction and make it crystal clear to you that these are the right folks to help you.
God did not call us to serve Him by ourselves. He wants us to interact and lean on one another for help… and that includes sound advice. Find your “go-to” friends and catalog their contact info. When a decision arises, ask God to point you in the right direction… and He will show you who to ask and how to proceed. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have decided according to His will… and your choices will be solid as a Rock.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Be sure you have sound advice before making plans or starting a war.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Often, I will see a post on Facebook from someone planning a trip… “Where’s a good place to stay in Destin?” “How was the weather at Such-and-Such destination last week?” “What are the gas prices like down toward Disneyland?” The advice of someone who has “been there/done that” on a vacation can be very helpful to someone who is still in the planning stages. And it makes perfect sense to ask. Wouldn’t you want to know the best restaurants and motels, cheapest places to get gas, and best times of day to visit certain attractions and avoid long lines?
If you study history, you will see that even back to Old Testament days, people consulted others before starting – or participating in – a war. Strategy was discussed – what worked and what did not, which routes were best, what would happen if this approach or that one were taken, and more. And the right advice often made a huge difference in the outcome.
So what does this have to do with our faith walk? God is using this verse to remind us to seek HIS advice and the advice of fellow believers before making big decisions. Don’t get the advice of just anyone. Seek someone who seems to have a strong connection with God… someone who is known to make wise decisions in his/her own daily living… someone who you are certain prays and studies God’s word before making the first move.
Quite often, God will use others to guide us in the right direction, so find a couple of trustworthy people to consult when you are in need of sound advice. Be sure you ask God to choose these “go-to” advisors for you. He will point you in their direction and make it crystal clear to you that these are the right folks to help you.
God did not call us to serve Him by ourselves. He wants us to interact and lean on one another for help… and that includes sound advice. Find your “go-to” friends and catalog their contact info. When a decision arises, ask God to point you in the right direction… and He will show you who to ask and how to proceed. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have decided according to His will… and your choices will be solid as a Rock.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 29, 2011
Psalm 139:7-12
Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight?
If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there.
If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.
Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean.
Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.
Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over.”
But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was sharing with a group of friends recently about how children take things so literally, and often they don’t understand concepts like “the blood of Jesus,” or “How can Jesus live in my heart – how does He get in there?” One of my friends said she heard about a child who leaned over to his mother in church and said, “If this is God’s house, why ain’t He ever home?”
I know, I know… it’s probably just a joke. But let’s give it a serious look for a minute or two. Just exactly where is God? More importantly, where is He in your world? Do you find Him in your church sanctuary on Sunday? Do you feel His presence with you every day? Do you have such an intimate relationship with God that you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He is always with you? Do you get it that you could never hide from God… even if you wanted to do so?
Have you ever looked at the moon on a bright, clear night and considered that people halfway around the world are seeing the same bright orb in the sky? When a Sunday-school student of mine was deployed to Afghanistan, we talked about the moon … how our God made that moon and positioned it so that we could both see it! Our God is big enough to do a lot of things… and just as He is able to position the moon, He is able to follow us wherever we go and be with us at all times.
The trouble is… some of us keep trying to hide from God, for a number of reasons. Some of us want to “test the waters” and try a few things we know are sinful. Some of us feel we can’t measure up to what God desires for us or expects of us… so we want to “pull the covers over our head” and disappear from Him. Still others have decided that they know what is best for themselves… better than God does… and they wish He would just leave them alone.
The truth is… God is always at home… and He wants to be wherever we are. And we should want God to be with us at all times. He’s not interested in making us feel badly about ourselves. He wants to give us courage, strength, peace and comfort. God doesn’t want us to hide from Him or try to make a go of it alone. He knows the struggles and challenges that we face, and He wants to face them with us! And just like the Psalmist made clear… we really can’t hide from God in the first place. So why not invite Him into our heart and take advantage of the love, grace and mercy He offers?!
God loves us so much. He doesn’t want to nag and pester us to love and serve Him in return. That’s really not how He rolls! Why don’t you invite Him to be where you are and find out for yourself just how amazing life can be when you recognize His presence! Isn’t it time you gave God a permanent residence in your heart? Isn’t it time you recognized God and welcomed Him home?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight?
If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there.
If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.
Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean.
Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.
Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over.”
But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was sharing with a group of friends recently about how children take things so literally, and often they don’t understand concepts like “the blood of Jesus,” or “How can Jesus live in my heart – how does He get in there?” One of my friends said she heard about a child who leaned over to his mother in church and said, “If this is God’s house, why ain’t He ever home?”
I know, I know… it’s probably just a joke. But let’s give it a serious look for a minute or two. Just exactly where is God? More importantly, where is He in your world? Do you find Him in your church sanctuary on Sunday? Do you feel His presence with you every day? Do you have such an intimate relationship with God that you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He is always with you? Do you get it that you could never hide from God… even if you wanted to do so?
Have you ever looked at the moon on a bright, clear night and considered that people halfway around the world are seeing the same bright orb in the sky? When a Sunday-school student of mine was deployed to Afghanistan, we talked about the moon … how our God made that moon and positioned it so that we could both see it! Our God is big enough to do a lot of things… and just as He is able to position the moon, He is able to follow us wherever we go and be with us at all times.
The trouble is… some of us keep trying to hide from God, for a number of reasons. Some of us want to “test the waters” and try a few things we know are sinful. Some of us feel we can’t measure up to what God desires for us or expects of us… so we want to “pull the covers over our head” and disappear from Him. Still others have decided that they know what is best for themselves… better than God does… and they wish He would just leave them alone.
The truth is… God is always at home… and He wants to be wherever we are. And we should want God to be with us at all times. He’s not interested in making us feel badly about ourselves. He wants to give us courage, strength, peace and comfort. God doesn’t want us to hide from Him or try to make a go of it alone. He knows the struggles and challenges that we face, and He wants to face them with us! And just like the Psalmist made clear… we really can’t hide from God in the first place. So why not invite Him into our heart and take advantage of the love, grace and mercy He offers?!
God loves us so much. He doesn’t want to nag and pester us to love and serve Him in return. That’s really not how He rolls! Why don’t you invite Him to be where you are and find out for yourself just how amazing life can be when you recognize His presence! Isn’t it time you gave God a permanent residence in your heart? Isn’t it time you recognized God and welcomed Him home?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 3, 2011
Psalm 68:19-20
We praise you, Lord God! You treat us with kindness day after day, and you rescue us. You always protect us and save us from death.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few years ago, friends of ours purchased a house we were selling. Aside from needing more space, the couple told us that their present home was located on a busy city street, and their young 2½-year-old-son – then just a little older than our Timothy is now – was apt to dash out into the street to chase a ball or toy… or simply running with abandon. In order to keep their children safe… to protect them and save them from death… this couple made the necessary efforts to take measures to ensure their safety. The health, safety and well-being of their children was (and is) their chief concern day after day.
This is what good parents do. They put the needs of their children first… and they love them unconditionally with kindness… and protection. And as our Heavenly Father, this is what God does for each of us. He treats us with more kindness than we could ever deserve… and He protects us and keeps us safe from death. I’m not talking about physical death… although there are certainly instances where God rescues us from that, as well. But God puts obstacles… people, wisdom, discernment… angels… in our path to protect us from Spiritual death. For all of the sins we commit… for every mess we get ourselves into… God steers us away from the chance for dozens more out of His kindness and protection.
So if God is our protector, why do bad things happen? We’ve been over this! Tests and challenges lead to growth and deeper faith. They build the relationship as we learn to rely more on God’s strength and power and less upon our own. But God NEVER stops loving us… and He never stops looking out for our best interests. And for this He deserves our utmost praise.
Have you thanked God lately for all He does in your life?
©2011 Debbie Robus
We praise you, Lord God! You treat us with kindness day after day, and you rescue us. You always protect us and save us from death.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few years ago, friends of ours purchased a house we were selling. Aside from needing more space, the couple told us that their present home was located on a busy city street, and their young 2½-year-old-son – then just a little older than our Timothy is now – was apt to dash out into the street to chase a ball or toy… or simply running with abandon. In order to keep their children safe… to protect them and save them from death… this couple made the necessary efforts to take measures to ensure their safety. The health, safety and well-being of their children was (and is) their chief concern day after day.
This is what good parents do. They put the needs of their children first… and they love them unconditionally with kindness… and protection. And as our Heavenly Father, this is what God does for each of us. He treats us with more kindness than we could ever deserve… and He protects us and keeps us safe from death. I’m not talking about physical death… although there are certainly instances where God rescues us from that, as well. But God puts obstacles… people, wisdom, discernment… angels… in our path to protect us from Spiritual death. For all of the sins we commit… for every mess we get ourselves into… God steers us away from the chance for dozens more out of His kindness and protection.
So if God is our protector, why do bad things happen? We’ve been over this! Tests and challenges lead to growth and deeper faith. They build the relationship as we learn to rely more on God’s strength and power and less upon our own. But God NEVER stops loving us… and He never stops looking out for our best interests. And for this He deserves our utmost praise.
Have you thanked God lately for all He does in your life?
©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 February 6, 2011
Matthew 19:16-26
A man came to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. If you want to have eternal life, you must obey his commandments." "Which ones?" the man asked.
Jesus answered, "Do not murder. Be faithful in marriage. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Respect your father and mother. And love others as much as you love yourself." The young man said, "I have obeyed all of these. What else must I do?"
Jesus replied, "If you want to be perfect, go sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower." When the young man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.
Jesus said to his disciples, "It's terribly hard for rich people to get into the kingdom of heaven! In fact, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God's kingdom." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly surprised and asked, "How can anyone ever be saved?" Jesus looked straight at them and said, "There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On a recent episode of The Biggest Loser, the contestants had to decide which member of a married couple to send home. The couple pleaded with the contestants to send the wife home and keep the husband on the ranch. Their rationale was that the wife knew what she needed to do to continue losing weight at home, while the husband had not come to that place in his mind and heart yet. He told the contestants that he knew if he went home now, he would not do the work he needed to lose weight and live longer to rear his young son.
One of the hardest things for us humans to grasp is complete surrender to God. We are crippled by fear (imposed by Satan, of course!), and we hesitate. Quite often, we really like our sins… they feel good to us, and we are comfortable with them. The life in Christ seems like a huge sacrifice. The truth is that there is absolutely no “sacrifice” we can ever make to come close to what Jesus has already done for each of us. When we realize this, even talking about our own “sacrifices” seems a little ridiculous, doesn’t it?!
So the question becomes… how can we ever be saved and surrender completely to God? The answer is clear…we cannot do anything, but God can do everything! Maybe the guy on The Biggest Loser needs the support of his fellow contestants and the trainers to continue on his journey. Maybe he needs to ask God for more strength and courage. I’m not judging… I’m just sayin’! But the bottom line is, we are no different in our own situations. We all pull up short every day and say, “Whoa! That’s more than I can handle!” We often get almost all the way to the Finish Line, so to speak, and then turn and step to the curb and call it quits.
It’s time to cross on over the line. It’s time we realized the power of God to do what we cannot. It’s time we understood that nothing we have or enjoy could possibly compare to what God is waiting to give us. All we have to do is to surrender to Him… to be willing to completely put Him first above everything and everyone else… to fully serve as His disciple. The results can be amazing… are you willing to see them firsthand?
©2011 Debbie Robus
A man came to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. If you want to have eternal life, you must obey his commandments." "Which ones?" the man asked.
Jesus answered, "Do not murder. Be faithful in marriage. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Respect your father and mother. And love others as much as you love yourself." The young man said, "I have obeyed all of these. What else must I do?"
Jesus replied, "If you want to be perfect, go sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower." When the young man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.
Jesus said to his disciples, "It's terribly hard for rich people to get into the kingdom of heaven! In fact, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God's kingdom." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly surprised and asked, "How can anyone ever be saved?" Jesus looked straight at them and said, "There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On a recent episode of The Biggest Loser, the contestants had to decide which member of a married couple to send home. The couple pleaded with the contestants to send the wife home and keep the husband on the ranch. Their rationale was that the wife knew what she needed to do to continue losing weight at home, while the husband had not come to that place in his mind and heart yet. He told the contestants that he knew if he went home now, he would not do the work he needed to lose weight and live longer to rear his young son.
One of the hardest things for us humans to grasp is complete surrender to God. We are crippled by fear (imposed by Satan, of course!), and we hesitate. Quite often, we really like our sins… they feel good to us, and we are comfortable with them. The life in Christ seems like a huge sacrifice. The truth is that there is absolutely no “sacrifice” we can ever make to come close to what Jesus has already done for each of us. When we realize this, even talking about our own “sacrifices” seems a little ridiculous, doesn’t it?!
So the question becomes… how can we ever be saved and surrender completely to God? The answer is clear…we cannot do anything, but God can do everything! Maybe the guy on The Biggest Loser needs the support of his fellow contestants and the trainers to continue on his journey. Maybe he needs to ask God for more strength and courage. I’m not judging… I’m just sayin’! But the bottom line is, we are no different in our own situations. We all pull up short every day and say, “Whoa! That’s more than I can handle!” We often get almost all the way to the Finish Line, so to speak, and then turn and step to the curb and call it quits.
It’s time to cross on over the line. It’s time we realized the power of God to do what we cannot. It’s time we understood that nothing we have or enjoy could possibly compare to what God is waiting to give us. All we have to do is to surrender to Him… to be willing to completely put Him first above everything and everyone else… to fully serve as His disciple. The results can be amazing… are you willing to see them firsthand?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 5, 2011
Psalm 25:17-18, 21
My awful worries keep growing. Rescue me from sadness. See my troubles and misery and forgive my sins.
I obey you with all my heart, and I trust you, knowing that you will save me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If fear is one of the devil’s biggest tools, worry is the vehicle in which he delivers it. We worry about everything – what we will wear, who likes us or doesn’t, how we will make a living and put food on the table, what will happen to us when we grow old, and so much more. And I’m sorry to say that I am right there with everyone else much of the time.
I think what makes me the maddest is understanding how much this thrills Satan. I don’t want to give him even a split second of joy. So why can’t I stop worrying? Why can’t you?
Here’s the deal… as long as we let worry have a place in our lives, we have not “let go and let God” have control. Believe me, I know it’s hard. But I am committed to making a change… to surrendering to God’s control and letting him have my worries and any resulting troubles, misery and sadness. As the Apostle Paul pointed out, this will be a “daily surrender,” but I am ready to do whatever it takes… aren’t you?
Let’s make this the year we trust God to save us and put aside our worries. Let’s obey Him with all our heart and feel the joy and peace that can come from resting in His rescue and forgiveness. I’m more than ready for this journey… are you coming with me?
©2011 Debbie Robus
My awful worries keep growing. Rescue me from sadness. See my troubles and misery and forgive my sins.
I obey you with all my heart, and I trust you, knowing that you will save me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If fear is one of the devil’s biggest tools, worry is the vehicle in which he delivers it. We worry about everything – what we will wear, who likes us or doesn’t, how we will make a living and put food on the table, what will happen to us when we grow old, and so much more. And I’m sorry to say that I am right there with everyone else much of the time.
I think what makes me the maddest is understanding how much this thrills Satan. I don’t want to give him even a split second of joy. So why can’t I stop worrying? Why can’t you?
Here’s the deal… as long as we let worry have a place in our lives, we have not “let go and let God” have control. Believe me, I know it’s hard. But I am committed to making a change… to surrendering to God’s control and letting him have my worries and any resulting troubles, misery and sadness. As the Apostle Paul pointed out, this will be a “daily surrender,” but I am ready to do whatever it takes… aren’t you?
Let’s make this the year we trust God to save us and put aside our worries. Let’s obey Him with all our heart and feel the joy and peace that can come from resting in His rescue and forgiveness. I’m more than ready for this journey… are you coming with me?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 18, 2011
1 Corinthians 7:20
So don't try to change what you were when God chose you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we got our first kitten, she was extremely wild. A friend “caught” her as she and her litter mates followed their mother across busy Highway 7 just north of Arkansas Tech. Tigger was clearly the runt of the litter, and she was just slow enough for our friend to rescue. The others made it safely across the road and into thick brush. For weeks after Tigger came to our home, she would hide under the couch, scared to death of her enormous owners. This tiny kitten fit in the palm of our hand. I would reach under the couch and drag her out… then wrap her in a dish towel to protect myself from her tiny, razor-sharp claws… and I would hold her tightly to my chest and talk soothingly to her.
I don’t remember exactly how long it took, but eventually, Tigger was no longer afraid of us or our little mobile home. She snuggled with us voluntarily, played and romped through the place, and generally became “Queen of the Castle.” When we would drive home to visit our family on weekends, she road on the dashboard of our car… perfectly content to doze there – even oblivious to the motion of the windshield wipers when it rained.
Then Tigger had kittens… and she changed again. She was still loving and fearless, but her contentment in the car was gone forever. All it took was one long, miserable ride home with her babies in a basket… crying, sick, and unhappy… and she had forever had enough of the car. From that point forward, there was no changing her. She was totally disgusted with the car and would let us know it! We might have succeeded in changing her from a terrified kitten on the side of the road into a loving, nurturing house cat… but we would never get her to ride on our dashboard again!
I will tell you right now… people will try to change you all of your life. Friends will want you to like what they like… to enjoy their same tastes in everything from fashion to sports to video games and music. Love interests may try to get you to become more like them. They may tell others, “He would be perfect if I could just get him to like musicals…” or “She is great except for being so disorganized… if I can just change that, we’ll get along fine.” Still others may say, “You need to come to this Bible study we are having – if you were serious about your walk with God, you would come to more things like this.”
Go back and read the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 7:20. Clearly, God has a plan for our lives, and while some changes are positive – and there is nothing wrong with a Bible study, becoming more organizing, or deciding you like musicals – we can’t become someone else. We are who God made us to be… and trying to change to suit anyone except Him is just plain wrong. It will only lead to misery and possible disaster. We are not feral kittens who can be “tamed” over time… and this is not God’s design for us!
Search your heart… and spend time every day talking to God. Ask Him in all circumstances… “Is this what You want me to do? Is this who You have called me to be?” Trust His answers. If you sense that God is telling you the changes you are about to make are not of His doing, stop immediately and move in another direction.
The devil will delight in using others to try to sway your opinions… and he’s really clever at making a convincing argument. Our job as Christians is to stay awake and alert – and in constant communication with our Heavenly Father, who chose us just as we were and doesn’t want anyone else. Be authentic… be who God chose…only change if HE says so!
©2011 Debbie Robus
So don't try to change what you were when God chose you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we got our first kitten, she was extremely wild. A friend “caught” her as she and her litter mates followed their mother across busy Highway 7 just north of Arkansas Tech. Tigger was clearly the runt of the litter, and she was just slow enough for our friend to rescue. The others made it safely across the road and into thick brush. For weeks after Tigger came to our home, she would hide under the couch, scared to death of her enormous owners. This tiny kitten fit in the palm of our hand. I would reach under the couch and drag her out… then wrap her in a dish towel to protect myself from her tiny, razor-sharp claws… and I would hold her tightly to my chest and talk soothingly to her.
I don’t remember exactly how long it took, but eventually, Tigger was no longer afraid of us or our little mobile home. She snuggled with us voluntarily, played and romped through the place, and generally became “Queen of the Castle.” When we would drive home to visit our family on weekends, she road on the dashboard of our car… perfectly content to doze there – even oblivious to the motion of the windshield wipers when it rained.
Then Tigger had kittens… and she changed again. She was still loving and fearless, but her contentment in the car was gone forever. All it took was one long, miserable ride home with her babies in a basket… crying, sick, and unhappy… and she had forever had enough of the car. From that point forward, there was no changing her. She was totally disgusted with the car and would let us know it! We might have succeeded in changing her from a terrified kitten on the side of the road into a loving, nurturing house cat… but we would never get her to ride on our dashboard again!
I will tell you right now… people will try to change you all of your life. Friends will want you to like what they like… to enjoy their same tastes in everything from fashion to sports to video games and music. Love interests may try to get you to become more like them. They may tell others, “He would be perfect if I could just get him to like musicals…” or “She is great except for being so disorganized… if I can just change that, we’ll get along fine.” Still others may say, “You need to come to this Bible study we are having – if you were serious about your walk with God, you would come to more things like this.”
Go back and read the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 7:20. Clearly, God has a plan for our lives, and while some changes are positive – and there is nothing wrong with a Bible study, becoming more organizing, or deciding you like musicals – we can’t become someone else. We are who God made us to be… and trying to change to suit anyone except Him is just plain wrong. It will only lead to misery and possible disaster. We are not feral kittens who can be “tamed” over time… and this is not God’s design for us!
Search your heart… and spend time every day talking to God. Ask Him in all circumstances… “Is this what You want me to do? Is this who You have called me to be?” Trust His answers. If you sense that God is telling you the changes you are about to make are not of His doing, stop immediately and move in another direction.
The devil will delight in using others to try to sway your opinions… and he’s really clever at making a convincing argument. Our job as Christians is to stay awake and alert – and in constant communication with our Heavenly Father, who chose us just as we were and doesn’t want anyone else. Be authentic… be who God chose…only change if HE says so!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 3, 2011
Deuteronomy 29:4
He has even told you, "For forty years I, the LORD, led you through the desert, but your clothes and your sandals didn't wear out, and I gave you special food. I did these things so you would realize that I am your God." But the LORD must give you a change of heart before you truly understand what you have seen and heard.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched several episodes of a cooking competition lately called “Worst Cooks in America.” Two accomplished chefs tried to teach people who couldn’t boil water how to cook like a pro in only two short weeks. One man in particular seemed to catch on quickly to the techniques… but he always had to deviate from the recipe in some way and put his personal “spin” on the dish, which drove his instructor crazy. And while the chef stressed neatness and finished products that were plated cleanly, one contestant consistently turned out sloppy products. The chef asked, “Haven’t you been listening? Haven’t you heard anything I’ve told you about neatness?”
Maybe you have experienced the frustration of trying to show someone how to do something numerous times, and it’s as if they either do not comprehend… or they simply are not listening. I’ve watched Timothy play with his little box of shaped blocks and the lid that has holes that correspond to these shapes. Even though we show him how this works, he will repeatedly put his blocks atop the hole with the wrong shape and then get frustrated because the block won’t fit. But Timothy is not even two years old… he has an excuse! As he grows and matures, his understanding of this concept will change. For us… the “change” is often more one of our heart and will, rather than one of intellectual maturity.
One of the biggest revelations for me in recent years is how much God has been trying to give me… and yet, it’s as if I have had a giant “Spiritual firewall” in place that prevented reception. More often than not, that “firewall” has been my heart! See, we have to open our heart and mind to the possibilities God offers. We have to walk in faith and trust that He will do what the Bible tells us He has promised. We have to truly believe that with God, all things are possible. There is no room for “Yeah, but…” We have to operate completely in “For sure!”
The other thing we have to remember is that this change of heart is not instantaneous. We are works in progress. God is never done with us, and there are always new things to discover about His plan for our lives. But a good first step is to open our heart and mind to the possibilities and promises. The more we do this… the more we accept His incredible love and care for us… the more we can truly understand what we have seen and heard. Have you checked your heart for “Spiritual firewalls” lately? Isn’t it time to remove them?
©2010 Debbie Robus
He has even told you, "For forty years I, the LORD, led you through the desert, but your clothes and your sandals didn't wear out, and I gave you special food. I did these things so you would realize that I am your God." But the LORD must give you a change of heart before you truly understand what you have seen and heard.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched several episodes of a cooking competition lately called “Worst Cooks in America.” Two accomplished chefs tried to teach people who couldn’t boil water how to cook like a pro in only two short weeks. One man in particular seemed to catch on quickly to the techniques… but he always had to deviate from the recipe in some way and put his personal “spin” on the dish, which drove his instructor crazy. And while the chef stressed neatness and finished products that were plated cleanly, one contestant consistently turned out sloppy products. The chef asked, “Haven’t you been listening? Haven’t you heard anything I’ve told you about neatness?”
Maybe you have experienced the frustration of trying to show someone how to do something numerous times, and it’s as if they either do not comprehend… or they simply are not listening. I’ve watched Timothy play with his little box of shaped blocks and the lid that has holes that correspond to these shapes. Even though we show him how this works, he will repeatedly put his blocks atop the hole with the wrong shape and then get frustrated because the block won’t fit. But Timothy is not even two years old… he has an excuse! As he grows and matures, his understanding of this concept will change. For us… the “change” is often more one of our heart and will, rather than one of intellectual maturity.
One of the biggest revelations for me in recent years is how much God has been trying to give me… and yet, it’s as if I have had a giant “Spiritual firewall” in place that prevented reception. More often than not, that “firewall” has been my heart! See, we have to open our heart and mind to the possibilities God offers. We have to walk in faith and trust that He will do what the Bible tells us He has promised. We have to truly believe that with God, all things are possible. There is no room for “Yeah, but…” We have to operate completely in “For sure!”
The other thing we have to remember is that this change of heart is not instantaneous. We are works in progress. God is never done with us, and there are always new things to discover about His plan for our lives. But a good first step is to open our heart and mind to the possibilities and promises. The more we do this… the more we accept His incredible love and care for us… the more we can truly understand what we have seen and heard. Have you checked your heart for “Spiritual firewalls” lately? Isn’t it time to remove them?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 20, 2010
Isaiah 6:8
After this, I heard the LORD ask, "Is there anyone I can send? Will someone go for us?" "I'll go," I answered. "Send me!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Probably all of us are familiar with the children’s story of The Little Red Hen. She asked all of her “friends” to help with the process of growing grain, getting it to the mill and turning it into flour for bread, and nobody was available… until it was time to eat! And if we are perfectly honest, we’ve been right there in the middle of that scene more than once. We want to “eat,” but we don’t want to do any of the work. This is why we often see a handful of people doing the majority of the work in a church or community. We are all willing to enjoy the fruit of salvation… the blessings of Jesus… but we don’t really want to be bothered with doing any work for Him.
If you remember the story from your childhood, those who didn’t work and help the Little Red Hen didn’t eat in the end! While I’m not saying that you won’t be granted salvation, grace and mercy if you don’t serve God on this earth, I do believe that we “reap what we sow” a lot of the time. And don’t think you can leave this to chance or “luck.” When my husband and I were starting a new business many years ago, someone commented to a mutual friend that “they are so lucky.” The friend quickly pointed out that “luck” had very little to do with our success…that we had worked many long, hard hours and devoted time and attention to our business, and this had resulted in blessings and rewards.
I will be the first to tell you that there are lots of times I wish God would send somebody else. There are days when I would rather sleep in or lie around and drink coffee than get up and get to church. There were times when I thought I couldn’t sit through another hour of Sunday School with junior high students who, for the most part, didn’t want to be there… but their parents made them attend. There have been days when I wished somebody else would take my grandmother to run her errands… or the baby would sleep another hour and I could have some “me” time. I sometimes wish someone else would do the household chores and take care of my family so that I could do as I please.
Sometimes I think, “I just don’t want to send a sympathy or get-well card,” or “I’d rather do something else right now besides write this devo,” or “There will be plenty of food for that grieving family… and I really don’t want to go over there and be sad.” But you know what? Every time I put aside my self and do what I feel God asking me to do, I come away blessed and better. I know that I have honored my commitment. God has asked, “Who can I send?” and I have answered… “Send me.”
I don’t know what God is calling you to do. I don’t know where He is sending you these days. Maybe He is simply saying, “Get up and get going… go to school, get a job, take care of your education/family/friends/business.” Or maybe He is saying, “Reorganize your schedule and your priorities and make some time to do a little mission work.” Maybe He is asking you to step out in faith – out of your comfort zone and your easy chair – and give back a little, while “paying it forward” in His name.
Whatever God is asking you to do… be ready and available. Stay so closely attuned that you know that you know that you know when you hear from Him. And when He asks who is available, be the first one to step up and say, “I’ll go… send me!”
©2010 Debbie Robus
After this, I heard the LORD ask, "Is there anyone I can send? Will someone go for us?" "I'll go," I answered. "Send me!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Probably all of us are familiar with the children’s story of The Little Red Hen. She asked all of her “friends” to help with the process of growing grain, getting it to the mill and turning it into flour for bread, and nobody was available… until it was time to eat! And if we are perfectly honest, we’ve been right there in the middle of that scene more than once. We want to “eat,” but we don’t want to do any of the work. This is why we often see a handful of people doing the majority of the work in a church or community. We are all willing to enjoy the fruit of salvation… the blessings of Jesus… but we don’t really want to be bothered with doing any work for Him.
If you remember the story from your childhood, those who didn’t work and help the Little Red Hen didn’t eat in the end! While I’m not saying that you won’t be granted salvation, grace and mercy if you don’t serve God on this earth, I do believe that we “reap what we sow” a lot of the time. And don’t think you can leave this to chance or “luck.” When my husband and I were starting a new business many years ago, someone commented to a mutual friend that “they are so lucky.” The friend quickly pointed out that “luck” had very little to do with our success…that we had worked many long, hard hours and devoted time and attention to our business, and this had resulted in blessings and rewards.
I will be the first to tell you that there are lots of times I wish God would send somebody else. There are days when I would rather sleep in or lie around and drink coffee than get up and get to church. There were times when I thought I couldn’t sit through another hour of Sunday School with junior high students who, for the most part, didn’t want to be there… but their parents made them attend. There have been days when I wished somebody else would take my grandmother to run her errands… or the baby would sleep another hour and I could have some “me” time. I sometimes wish someone else would do the household chores and take care of my family so that I could do as I please.
Sometimes I think, “I just don’t want to send a sympathy or get-well card,” or “I’d rather do something else right now besides write this devo,” or “There will be plenty of food for that grieving family… and I really don’t want to go over there and be sad.” But you know what? Every time I put aside my self and do what I feel God asking me to do, I come away blessed and better. I know that I have honored my commitment. God has asked, “Who can I send?” and I have answered… “Send me.”
I don’t know what God is calling you to do. I don’t know where He is sending you these days. Maybe He is simply saying, “Get up and get going… go to school, get a job, take care of your education/family/friends/business.” Or maybe He is saying, “Reorganize your schedule and your priorities and make some time to do a little mission work.” Maybe He is asking you to step out in faith – out of your comfort zone and your easy chair – and give back a little, while “paying it forward” in His name.
Whatever God is asking you to do… be ready and available. Stay so closely attuned that you know that you know that you know when you hear from Him. And when He asks who is available, be the first one to step up and say, “I’ll go… send me!”
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 18, 2010
Acts 26:17-18
'I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I'm sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in 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.
Every day we make dozens, if not hundreds, of choices. We choose what to wear, what to eat for breakfast, which route to take to school or work… and whether to do our homework or the laundry. Will we put cream in our coffee or bananas on our cereal? Will we watch this TV program or that one? Will we have ketchup with our fries? And for some of us, we may choose whether to pay this bill or that one… whether to buy milk for our children or cigarettes for ourselves… whether to get up and go to work or call in sick yet again.
A lot of the choices we make are dictated by habit… or by those who have influenced us. My dad always turned to the Obituaries page in the newspaper first… “to see if I’m still living,” he’d say. To this day, that’s the first part of the daily newspaper that I read. My mother always put sugar in her cornbread before baking and pineapple tidbits in her cole slaw, and that’s how I make mine. You may belong to a certain church or a political party or drive a specific make and model of car because of your parents or someone else who influenced you.
Maybe you were influenced in something of a “reverse negativity” by others. Maybe living with an alcoholic or abusive parent has made you vow to never be the same way. Maybe you have grown up living “hand-to-mouth,” and you have sworn you will do better. Maybe you have lived in very strict household, and you plan to be more liberal when you are out on your own. Maybe you have decided to be the first in your family to graduate from college. Maybe you plan to find the cure for cancer because someone you loved died from it, or you hope to start a center for latchkey kids because you never had anyone waiting for you after school.
The point is… we all make choices in our lives that are a direct result of the people and circumstances that have influenced us. So our job as Christian disciples is to be the influence that causes people to turn to God and away from Satan… to choose salvation over sinfulness… to opt for Eternal life in Heaven over perpetual damnation in Hell. We are called to be the example for others and invite them to join us in living life to its fullest through Jesus Christ.
The question I have for you today has two parts: 1) Who are you listening to as you make choices? Are you looking for Godly disciples to follow… and are you hearing the message they are presenting? 2) What kind of influence are you? Are you an honorable, faithful disciple of Christ, showing others “the way, the truth, and the light”? Or are you aiding and abetting the devil… living in sin and leading others toward the darkness and despair of a life mired in conflict and destruction?
Being a Spirit-filled Christian is heavy stuff! It’s not for the faint of heart… or those who are weak in their faith! But at the end of the day… the choice is ours. We can choose to serve in the light of Christ… to be His light to a world fumbling in the dark. Or we can close our eyes and stumble in the dark with the others and hope for the best. It’s not a gamble I am willing to take… are you?
©2010 Debbie Robus
'I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I'm sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in 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.
Every day we make dozens, if not hundreds, of choices. We choose what to wear, what to eat for breakfast, which route to take to school or work… and whether to do our homework or the laundry. Will we put cream in our coffee or bananas on our cereal? Will we watch this TV program or that one? Will we have ketchup with our fries? And for some of us, we may choose whether to pay this bill or that one… whether to buy milk for our children or cigarettes for ourselves… whether to get up and go to work or call in sick yet again.
A lot of the choices we make are dictated by habit… or by those who have influenced us. My dad always turned to the Obituaries page in the newspaper first… “to see if I’m still living,” he’d say. To this day, that’s the first part of the daily newspaper that I read. My mother always put sugar in her cornbread before baking and pineapple tidbits in her cole slaw, and that’s how I make mine. You may belong to a certain church or a political party or drive a specific make and model of car because of your parents or someone else who influenced you.
Maybe you were influenced in something of a “reverse negativity” by others. Maybe living with an alcoholic or abusive parent has made you vow to never be the same way. Maybe you have grown up living “hand-to-mouth,” and you have sworn you will do better. Maybe you have lived in very strict household, and you plan to be more liberal when you are out on your own. Maybe you have decided to be the first in your family to graduate from college. Maybe you plan to find the cure for cancer because someone you loved died from it, or you hope to start a center for latchkey kids because you never had anyone waiting for you after school.
The point is… we all make choices in our lives that are a direct result of the people and circumstances that have influenced us. So our job as Christian disciples is to be the influence that causes people to turn to God and away from Satan… to choose salvation over sinfulness… to opt for Eternal life in Heaven over perpetual damnation in Hell. We are called to be the example for others and invite them to join us in living life to its fullest through Jesus Christ.
The question I have for you today has two parts: 1) Who are you listening to as you make choices? Are you looking for Godly disciples to follow… and are you hearing the message they are presenting? 2) What kind of influence are you? Are you an honorable, faithful disciple of Christ, showing others “the way, the truth, and the light”? Or are you aiding and abetting the devil… living in sin and leading others toward the darkness and despair of a life mired in conflict and destruction?
Being a Spirit-filled Christian is heavy stuff! It’s not for the faint of heart… or those who are weak in their faith! But at the end of the day… the choice is ours. We can choose to serve in the light of Christ… to be His light to a world fumbling in the dark. Or we can close our eyes and stumble in the dark with the others and hope for the best. It’s not a gamble I am willing to take… are you?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 15, 2010
Psalm 31:3
You, LORD God, are my mighty rock and my fortress. Lead me and guide me, so that your name will be honored.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you want to read an inspirational story, go to http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4226688 and read about Arkansas Razorbacks tight end DJ Williams and his mother, Vicky. Clearly, Vicky Williams is her son’s earthly rock and fortress... and with God’s help, she has led him down a positive path toward becoming a man who will bring honor to both her and his Heavenly Father. And part of their story focuses on a map.
Fleeing an abusive, drug-addicted father in 1999, DJ’s mother put her children in the car and started driving. She told DJ to pick a spot on a map. DJ’s finger landed on Little Rock, Arkansas, and that’s where they headed… leaving their Texas home in the tail lights. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the Williamses ended up in Little Rock… or at Immanuel Baptist Church in the office of a woman who helped them and became a dear family friend to this very day. And before you start to think this story is all sweet and rosy, you need to know that DJ’s father is in prison for attempted murder and aggravated assault. The family has lived in shelters with absolutely nothing but a suitcase full of clothing, and DJ’s mother has been hospitalized for life-threatening injuries his father inflicted.
DJ struggles with the fact that he has no relationship at this point with his earthly father… and he wonders if he ever can. But he knows beyond the shadow of a doubt that his relationship with his Heavenly Father is rock solid. And he makes every effort to ensure that this continues!
You may not be facing the adversity and challenges that befell DJ Williams and his family. You may never have known physical abuse or the sorrows and heartaches that can come from a loved one’s involvement with drug abuse. But we can all have a relationship with God that is every bit as deep as the one DJ and his mother enjoy. We can call God our rock… our strength… and He will gladly shelter us and serve as our fortress. Our life’s road map can lead us to the same God who delivered DJ’s family to safety. All we have to do is pick the right spot… all we have to do is say, “Lord, I need you. Please be my Rock.”
Where are you pointing on the “map” these days? Are you headed in the wrong direction… straight toward harm’s way? Or are you searching for “The Rock” – the strength and refuge of God Almighty? Don’t end up in the ditch or a “shelter for those who are battered.” Let God lead you and guide you – and then give Him all the glory and praise He so richly deserves.
©2010 Debbie Robus
You, LORD God, are my mighty rock and my fortress. Lead me and guide me, so that your name will be honored.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you want to read an inspirational story, go to http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4226688 and read about Arkansas Razorbacks tight end DJ Williams and his mother, Vicky. Clearly, Vicky Williams is her son’s earthly rock and fortress... and with God’s help, she has led him down a positive path toward becoming a man who will bring honor to both her and his Heavenly Father. And part of their story focuses on a map.
Fleeing an abusive, drug-addicted father in 1999, DJ’s mother put her children in the car and started driving. She told DJ to pick a spot on a map. DJ’s finger landed on Little Rock, Arkansas, and that’s where they headed… leaving their Texas home in the tail lights. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the Williamses ended up in Little Rock… or at Immanuel Baptist Church in the office of a woman who helped them and became a dear family friend to this very day. And before you start to think this story is all sweet and rosy, you need to know that DJ’s father is in prison for attempted murder and aggravated assault. The family has lived in shelters with absolutely nothing but a suitcase full of clothing, and DJ’s mother has been hospitalized for life-threatening injuries his father inflicted.
DJ struggles with the fact that he has no relationship at this point with his earthly father… and he wonders if he ever can. But he knows beyond the shadow of a doubt that his relationship with his Heavenly Father is rock solid. And he makes every effort to ensure that this continues!
You may not be facing the adversity and challenges that befell DJ Williams and his family. You may never have known physical abuse or the sorrows and heartaches that can come from a loved one’s involvement with drug abuse. But we can all have a relationship with God that is every bit as deep as the one DJ and his mother enjoy. We can call God our rock… our strength… and He will gladly shelter us and serve as our fortress. Our life’s road map can lead us to the same God who delivered DJ’s family to safety. All we have to do is pick the right spot… all we have to do is say, “Lord, I need you. Please be my Rock.”
Where are you pointing on the “map” these days? Are you headed in the wrong direction… straight toward harm’s way? Or are you searching for “The Rock” – the strength and refuge of God Almighty? Don’t end up in the ditch or a “shelter for those who are battered.” Let God lead you and guide you – and then give Him all the glory and praise He so richly deserves.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 13, 2010
Psalm 27:11
Teach me to follow, LORD, and lead me on the right path because of my enemies.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Somewhere along the way, I’ve been in a fast-moving carnival ride that shuffled me and my passenger from one scary spot to another as things jumped up and popped out, yelled and screamed, and scared the bejeepers out of us! We knew that around every turn, new scary stuff would be waiting, but we still screamed and felt our hearts pound… and we laughed (nervously) because we understood it was all in good fun and the scary ride would end in a short while.
Sadly, the devil and his army of enemies are waiting around the corner on many streets and paths… just hoping we will make a wrong turn or a poor choice, and end up in front of them. And unlike the harmless spooks of the carnival ride, these guys mean business! They plan to capture their prey through any means necessary… fear, enticement, lies, deceit, shame, guilt, glitz and glamour… whatever it takes. Once you get in the car with Satan, his ride can take you places you’ll wish you’d never gone.
The key is to listen to God… to follow His instruction… to stay on His path. God offers us a perfect road map… with a straight shot to victory, blessings, peace, and joy. There may be bumps along the way, and short detours, but God will always be there with us to handle them. No spooks, screams, scary monsters, or heart-stopping fears await us… we can be assured that God will never use such tactics. And if you encounter them, you may need to re-evaluate whose road map you are following!
Carnival rides are fun… a cheap thrill and a harmless scare. But Satan’s “carnival rides” are serious business. You do not want to hop aboard! Ask God to help you stay in His will… following His road maps… and listening for His voice. Don’t give the devil and his henchmen any chance to make a play for your attention. Stay on course, in the light of Christ… safe, secure, and out of harm’s way.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Teach me to follow, LORD, and lead me on the right path because of my enemies.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Somewhere along the way, I’ve been in a fast-moving carnival ride that shuffled me and my passenger from one scary spot to another as things jumped up and popped out, yelled and screamed, and scared the bejeepers out of us! We knew that around every turn, new scary stuff would be waiting, but we still screamed and felt our hearts pound… and we laughed (nervously) because we understood it was all in good fun and the scary ride would end in a short while.
Sadly, the devil and his army of enemies are waiting around the corner on many streets and paths… just hoping we will make a wrong turn or a poor choice, and end up in front of them. And unlike the harmless spooks of the carnival ride, these guys mean business! They plan to capture their prey through any means necessary… fear, enticement, lies, deceit, shame, guilt, glitz and glamour… whatever it takes. Once you get in the car with Satan, his ride can take you places you’ll wish you’d never gone.
The key is to listen to God… to follow His instruction… to stay on His path. God offers us a perfect road map… with a straight shot to victory, blessings, peace, and joy. There may be bumps along the way, and short detours, but God will always be there with us to handle them. No spooks, screams, scary monsters, or heart-stopping fears await us… we can be assured that God will never use such tactics. And if you encounter them, you may need to re-evaluate whose road map you are following!
Carnival rides are fun… a cheap thrill and a harmless scare. But Satan’s “carnival rides” are serious business. You do not want to hop aboard! Ask God to help you stay in His will… following His road maps… and listening for His voice. Don’t give the devil and his henchmen any chance to make a play for your attention. Stay on course, in the light of Christ… safe, secure, and out of harm’s way.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 7, 2010
2 Corinthians 5:20
Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We’ve just come off an election week in which nastiness in both major political parties reached epic proportions. Some are now claiming that “God has spoken,” indicating that God favors one political party and it’s followers over another. I strongly disagree, because this would mean that God’s favor is only for some, and that is not what I read in the scriptures. And this is nothing new. My mom is reading a book about the writing of the Constitution, and she noted that both “sides” were praying and believing that God would give them a positive outcome.
I’ve also noticed that people credit God with victories at sporting events, the next choice for American Idol, and more. And I have to laugh. Does this mean that God doesn’t care about the “losing” team? Absolutely NOT!
Go back and read this scripture passage again… “anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new.” I believe this means that God may allow… or even orchestrate… the outcomes of certain events, such as elections, sporting events, and competitions of all kinds… but not for the reasons we may think! I believe if we pray for anything except GOD’s WILL… His perfect plan in the outcome of such events – and the safety and well-being of those involved and their care and blessings - we are asking God to “pick a side,” and He simply will not do this. It may be that God has a very different purpose for said outcome… perhaps He will use a victory or loss to show us far more than we would learn, were the outcome different or more to our liking.
We must remember that God’s ways are always perfect. His WILL is always perfect… but not always ours! Notice that this passage says, “All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.” So this tells me that we need to be busy sharing the love and perfection of God’s plans for us with others. We don’t need to act superior to anyone else, or to lord over them the fact that our team won. We need to operate in the same love, grace and mercy that God shows to us on a minute-by-minute basis!
We need to be busy making friends with others, not separating ourselves from them. But first, we have to be sure we are truly friends with God. Is He really in charge of your life? Are you giving Him free rein… and free reign? Have you become a new creature and ditched your “old life” completely? Are you fully equipped to be a representative of God? In order to do this, you have to check your biases and your ego at the door. You have to acknowledge that you are special to God – but no more so than the next guy, regardless of his team, political party, social standing, race, lifestyle, or ethnicity. Have you done this? I won’t ask if you “can” do this, because God makes all things possible. But the choice is totally ours… what do you say?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We’ve just come off an election week in which nastiness in both major political parties reached epic proportions. Some are now claiming that “God has spoken,” indicating that God favors one political party and it’s followers over another. I strongly disagree, because this would mean that God’s favor is only for some, and that is not what I read in the scriptures. And this is nothing new. My mom is reading a book about the writing of the Constitution, and she noted that both “sides” were praying and believing that God would give them a positive outcome.
I’ve also noticed that people credit God with victories at sporting events, the next choice for American Idol, and more. And I have to laugh. Does this mean that God doesn’t care about the “losing” team? Absolutely NOT!
Go back and read this scripture passage again… “anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new.” I believe this means that God may allow… or even orchestrate… the outcomes of certain events, such as elections, sporting events, and competitions of all kinds… but not for the reasons we may think! I believe if we pray for anything except GOD’s WILL… His perfect plan in the outcome of such events – and the safety and well-being of those involved and their care and blessings - we are asking God to “pick a side,” and He simply will not do this. It may be that God has a very different purpose for said outcome… perhaps He will use a victory or loss to show us far more than we would learn, were the outcome different or more to our liking.
We must remember that God’s ways are always perfect. His WILL is always perfect… but not always ours! Notice that this passage says, “All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.” So this tells me that we need to be busy sharing the love and perfection of God’s plans for us with others. We don’t need to act superior to anyone else, or to lord over them the fact that our team won. We need to operate in the same love, grace and mercy that God shows to us on a minute-by-minute basis!
We need to be busy making friends with others, not separating ourselves from them. But first, we have to be sure we are truly friends with God. Is He really in charge of your life? Are you giving Him free rein… and free reign? Have you become a new creature and ditched your “old life” completely? Are you fully equipped to be a representative of God? In order to do this, you have to check your biases and your ego at the door. You have to acknowledge that you are special to God – but no more so than the next guy, regardless of his team, political party, social standing, race, lifestyle, or ethnicity. Have you done this? I won’t ask if you “can” do this, because God makes all things possible. But the choice is totally ours… what do you say?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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