Psalm 120:6
I have spent too much time living among people who hate peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend called me one day to tell me that someone in her family was in the hospital with a sudden, serious illness. She went on to report that another family member had been involved in an accident and suffered some injuries… another was going through a job change… someone else had relationship issues… and she was waiting on lab results for a life-threatening condition. Honestly, she told me all of this with such a matter-of-fact directness that I commented later, “She seems to thrive on chaos!” And it does seem that certain people really are this way. If things are not falling apart in their life… if there isn’t some sort of constant turmoil… they are not “happy” (and I use that term loosely!).
Let’s be honest… every single one of us has challenges. My pastor likes to say that “there is a heartache on every pew.” We may not have multiple major illnesses and accidents or family crises occurring, like my friend… but there are still areas where the devil is trying to wreak havoc with us – and rob us of God’s peace in our heart. I don’t believe anyone enjoys such chaos and turmoil as much as he/she learns to accept it and live with it. Maybe you are one of these people. Maybe you have allowed these things to be such a “normal” part of your life that you don’t know how to truly revel in peace!
How do we turn this around? First, I believe we might have to distance ourselves from enablers… those who continually encourage us to wallow in our disorder. I’m not saying you have to start cutting friends out of your life or become rude and unfriendly toward anyone. I’m suggesting that you consider who you spend time with… what you discuss… and how you feel afterward. If you discover that a lot of the people with whom you are in frequent contact seem to act as accomplices in creating an unsettled or disturbed atmosphere, you may need to add some new friends to your circle.
Here’s an example… I once belonged to a group who got together regularly to eat and visit and socialize. It seemed like I came home from those events feeling tense and uneasy. I didn’t like some of the things discussed… there seemed to be an undercurrent of negativity… and it just left me feeling unhappy. I finally decided that maybe I needed to leave the group. I continued to maintain a relationship with many of the friends in the group – just not in that setting… and I felt so much more peaceful for it!
Secondly, we have to adjust our attitude. We have to make a concerted – and prayerful – effort to seek God’s peace… and to keep it in our hearts. We have to resist the temptation to “go there” when the devil tries to trouble us. When we start to feel uneasy or flustered, we need to say, “LORD, I trust YOU to handle this for me.” Then we need to stick out our chin, throw our shoulders back and say, “God’s got this for me” …and breathe a sigh of relief and calm.
Often, feeling peaceful is a choice! We choose to operate in God’s peace… or to wallow in the devil’s mess. What are you choosing these days? Is it time for you to turn things around... to walk away from people and situations that foster disorder and confusion? Have you spent too much time living among people who hate peace? Will today be the day that you move?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label gods peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gods peace. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 7, 2013
Proverbs 12:20
Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
joy fills hearts that are planning peace!
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Recently, a man in Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and confinement of three young women who he held hostage and abused for more than a decade. Captured between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16, and 20, these women were freed in May 2013, when one of the women managed to escape and secure help. During sentencing, the captor was given a chance to speak in court. He launched into a lengthy “explanation” of how he was not a bad person… but rather a victim of his own sexual abuse - and subject to impulsive behavior. He maintained that he was not a violent person, and he tried to claim that he and the women shared a “normal family” relationship.
What a perfect example this is of someone who plotted evil and filled his heart with deceit! In fact, one of the victims spoke in court and labeled this man a hypocrite for attending church services every Sunday… and coming home to torture them afterward. Clearly, this is a sick, evil individual. I cannot imagine that he has an ounce of peace in his heart.
As upsetting and disgusting as this story is, we must remember that horrible, evil incidents like this have occurred since even Old Testament times. The devil is alive and well… and he loves to fill hearts with deceit. Lest we start slinging mud too fast and far, we should stop and acknowledge that we all have a propensity for deceit. Thankfully, most of us are not kidnappers and rapists… but we plot evil just the same.
When we “call in sick” so that we can do something fun, we are deceitful. When we make up excuses for friends, family members, co-workers, teachers, and others, we are devious, at best. Many of us lie, cheat and steal in some form or another all week long, then attend church on Sunday like the most pious of believers! Often, we tiptoe from one lie to the next… scared to death we will be “found out”… and stressed to the max as we try to juggle all of the deceptions we have created. Think of the adage by Scottish author and novelist, Sir Walter Scott (1771 – 1832)… “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” Where is the peace in this statement?
I have to believe that the women this man captured clung to the hope of peace someday… that they planned for it… dreamed of it… and believed that peace would once again be theirs. If they experienced even the briefest moments of joy, these surely were found in thoughts of being free and reunited with family members and friends. And I ask you… how do you plan for peace? What do you anticipate… what is the focus of your hopes and dreams… where do you place your hope? I have no clue how you answer these questions, but I can tell you that my ambitions and aspirations ultimately begin and end with Jesus. I don’t know what my future holds… but I know that He holds my future. I don’t know where or how joy will come, but I know that He will ensure that my heart is filled.
A dear friend of mine told me just today that “I am wondering now how anyone functions without being covered in the Peace of God. Thank goodness He is growing me daily, carries my burdens, and leads me with a growing clarity.” My question for you today is this… “Who grows you daily, carries your burdens, and leads you with a growing clarity? Are you covered in God’s peace? Is your heart filled with His joy… or do you still make room there for the devil?” Won’t you stop and think about this today? Will you ask God to show you how and where you need to change your attitude… and your objectives? Will this be the day you begin to fill your heart with God’s joy by planning peace?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
joy fills hearts that are planning peace!
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Recently, a man in Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and confinement of three young women who he held hostage and abused for more than a decade. Captured between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16, and 20, these women were freed in May 2013, when one of the women managed to escape and secure help. During sentencing, the captor was given a chance to speak in court. He launched into a lengthy “explanation” of how he was not a bad person… but rather a victim of his own sexual abuse - and subject to impulsive behavior. He maintained that he was not a violent person, and he tried to claim that he and the women shared a “normal family” relationship.
What a perfect example this is of someone who plotted evil and filled his heart with deceit! In fact, one of the victims spoke in court and labeled this man a hypocrite for attending church services every Sunday… and coming home to torture them afterward. Clearly, this is a sick, evil individual. I cannot imagine that he has an ounce of peace in his heart.
As upsetting and disgusting as this story is, we must remember that horrible, evil incidents like this have occurred since even Old Testament times. The devil is alive and well… and he loves to fill hearts with deceit. Lest we start slinging mud too fast and far, we should stop and acknowledge that we all have a propensity for deceit. Thankfully, most of us are not kidnappers and rapists… but we plot evil just the same.
When we “call in sick” so that we can do something fun, we are deceitful. When we make up excuses for friends, family members, co-workers, teachers, and others, we are devious, at best. Many of us lie, cheat and steal in some form or another all week long, then attend church on Sunday like the most pious of believers! Often, we tiptoe from one lie to the next… scared to death we will be “found out”… and stressed to the max as we try to juggle all of the deceptions we have created. Think of the adage by Scottish author and novelist, Sir Walter Scott (1771 – 1832)… “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” Where is the peace in this statement?
I have to believe that the women this man captured clung to the hope of peace someday… that they planned for it… dreamed of it… and believed that peace would once again be theirs. If they experienced even the briefest moments of joy, these surely were found in thoughts of being free and reunited with family members and friends. And I ask you… how do you plan for peace? What do you anticipate… what is the focus of your hopes and dreams… where do you place your hope? I have no clue how you answer these questions, but I can tell you that my ambitions and aspirations ultimately begin and end with Jesus. I don’t know what my future holds… but I know that He holds my future. I don’t know where or how joy will come, but I know that He will ensure that my heart is filled.
A dear friend of mine told me just today that “I am wondering now how anyone functions without being covered in the Peace of God. Thank goodness He is growing me daily, carries my burdens, and leads me with a growing clarity.” My question for you today is this… “Who grows you daily, carries your burdens, and leads you with a growing clarity? Are you covered in God’s peace? Is your heart filled with His joy… or do you still make room there for the devil?” Won’t you stop and think about this today? Will you ask God to show you how and where you need to change your attitude… and your objectives? Will this be the day you begin to fill your heart with God’s joy by planning peace?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 6, 2013
Philippians 4:9
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Today, my nine-year-old cousin Olivia spent the day with us. Olivia’s mom is a kindergarten teacher who has already returned to work for the new school year. So I invited Olivia to come have a “sewing/craft” day with me. When I picked her up at 9:00 a.m., she told me that what she really wanted to do today was cook! I asked, “What would you like to cook?” She decided we should bake cupcakes. So bake cupcakes we did… and Olivia carefully watched every step in the process. I put flour into the sifter… she sifted. I mixed buttermilk and cocoa powder, and she stirred. She scooped the batter into the cupcake papers. We both checked them for doneness as they baked! I told her I was not any good at frosting cakes, and she said, “Don’t worry… I’m great at it…I’ll teach you!” And she truly did show me a few tricks!
We also sewed… I helped her make a little felt purse for her American Girl doll, and she helped me cut out some fabric flowers to enhance a dress that we made for her. Things move quickly with a nine-year-old, so you try a lot of different projects in one day! We even drew a flower and worked with pastels, and I showed Olivia how to blend the colors and smooth them… something she learned to do quickly and really enjoyed. And she taught me how to be a “shark” when playing Monopoly!
I know that at least a few of the things we did today will stick with Olivia. We looked at several of my cooking utensils, and I told her some had come from her great-great-grandmother (my great-aunt). We talked a lot about cooking, and I told her about the women in my life who taught me to cook… especially my grandmother and her great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She also told me, “I won’t taste the cupcake batter, because it has raw eggs in it.” She is listening and watching… and putting into practice what she learns and receives from the “teachers” in her own life.
It gets better…Olivia’s mother shared with me that last night at bedtime Olivia prayed for me and for our time together. Now that is the perfect example of putting into practice what one has learned! When we reach a point in our faith where we deem it important to pray about something as seemingly trivial as a “play-date” with a friend or relative, we have successfully put into practice what we have learned and received from God and faithful parents and “teachers”. And for such attentiveness and obedience, God gives us His abiding peace.
I often say that we could learn a lot from our children… and Olivia is a great example of this. Before her tenth birthday, she has learned to pay attention to the “lessons” that surround her… and she is busy putting her knowledge into action. Sadly, at some point many of us seem to “catalog” our lessons rather than incorporate them… especially when it comes to Christian discipleship and how we share Jesus with others. You don’t have to look very far to see that often this directly correlates to a spirit of discontentment, fear, disappointment and chaos in our lives.
Wouldn’t you rather operate in God’s peace? Don’t you see that God has given us perfect instruction and models for this through His Holy Word and the discipleship of many in our midst? Are you paying attention and learning from these examples? Are you practicing what you receive and putting this information into action in your daily living? Do you know that it’s never too late to learn something new? Won’t you make this the day you start acting like a true Disciple? Are you ready to experience the peace of God?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Today, my nine-year-old cousin Olivia spent the day with us. Olivia’s mom is a kindergarten teacher who has already returned to work for the new school year. So I invited Olivia to come have a “sewing/craft” day with me. When I picked her up at 9:00 a.m., she told me that what she really wanted to do today was cook! I asked, “What would you like to cook?” She decided we should bake cupcakes. So bake cupcakes we did… and Olivia carefully watched every step in the process. I put flour into the sifter… she sifted. I mixed buttermilk and cocoa powder, and she stirred. She scooped the batter into the cupcake papers. We both checked them for doneness as they baked! I told her I was not any good at frosting cakes, and she said, “Don’t worry… I’m great at it…I’ll teach you!” And she truly did show me a few tricks!
We also sewed… I helped her make a little felt purse for her American Girl doll, and she helped me cut out some fabric flowers to enhance a dress that we made for her. Things move quickly with a nine-year-old, so you try a lot of different projects in one day! We even drew a flower and worked with pastels, and I showed Olivia how to blend the colors and smooth them… something she learned to do quickly and really enjoyed. And she taught me how to be a “shark” when playing Monopoly!
I know that at least a few of the things we did today will stick with Olivia. We looked at several of my cooking utensils, and I told her some had come from her great-great-grandmother (my great-aunt). We talked a lot about cooking, and I told her about the women in my life who taught me to cook… especially my grandmother and her great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She also told me, “I won’t taste the cupcake batter, because it has raw eggs in it.” She is listening and watching… and putting into practice what she learns and receives from the “teachers” in her own life.
It gets better…Olivia’s mother shared with me that last night at bedtime Olivia prayed for me and for our time together. Now that is the perfect example of putting into practice what one has learned! When we reach a point in our faith where we deem it important to pray about something as seemingly trivial as a “play-date” with a friend or relative, we have successfully put into practice what we have learned and received from God and faithful parents and “teachers”. And for such attentiveness and obedience, God gives us His abiding peace.
I often say that we could learn a lot from our children… and Olivia is a great example of this. Before her tenth birthday, she has learned to pay attention to the “lessons” that surround her… and she is busy putting her knowledge into action. Sadly, at some point many of us seem to “catalog” our lessons rather than incorporate them… especially when it comes to Christian discipleship and how we share Jesus with others. You don’t have to look very far to see that often this directly correlates to a spirit of discontentment, fear, disappointment and chaos in our lives.
Wouldn’t you rather operate in God’s peace? Don’t you see that God has given us perfect instruction and models for this through His Holy Word and the discipleship of many in our midst? Are you paying attention and learning from these examples? Are you practicing what you receive and putting this information into action in your daily living? Do you know that it’s never too late to learn something new? Won’t you make this the day you start acting like a true Disciple? Are you ready to experience the peace of God?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 2, 2013
Isaiah 2:4
He will settle arguments between nations. They will pound their swords and their spears into rakes and shovels; they will never make war or attack one another.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Shortly before Christmas Day 1943, Charles Brown, a 21-year-old West Virginia farm boy, was flying his first WWII combat mission over Germany. His B-17 had been shot to smithereens, several crew members were injured… and his tail gunner was dead. As Brown looked out his window, he saw German 2nd Lt. Franz Stigler fly alongside him in his ME-109. Brown assumed Stigler would finish off him and his crew… and indeed, Stigler had his hand on the trigger to do so.
But Stigler thought of his own older brother, killed earlier in the war. Here was his chance to mete revenge… and to earn a medal for valor – Germany’s highest military honor – if only he could score one more kill. But as Stigler looked at the bloodied body of the tail gunner, he realized that he would be committing murder. He knew that to fail to complete this mission could result in execution if someone reported him. But as a man who had once studied for the priesthood, Stigler pressed his fingers to his rosary and realized that he lived by a Higher Code of honor. So he saluted American pilot Brown and safely escorted the crippled plane to the German border.
I encourage you to take a few minutes and read this entire story at http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/09/living/higher-call-military-chivalry. Learn how the lives of these men – and countless others – were changed forever on this December day in 1943. I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but see God’s hand in this…how He settled the arguments between nations for at least two young men. The reason I share this story with you is twofold… 1) we are nearing our country’s Independence Day… a time when we pause to celebrate our freedom - and those who helped secure it; and 2) this story serves to once again remind us of God’s profound desire for us to live together in peace and harmony… a desire so intense that He would convict the heart of one enemy of war and prevent him from firing on another.
In our daily living, God is hard at work providing us with opportunities to choose to “remove our hand from the trigger”… to operate by a Higher Code of honor… to create and preserve an atmosphere of peace – for ourselves and for those in our midst. This is so characteristic of the God we serve… to want us to get along and operate in peace and calm so passionately that He would go to great lengths to convict us to do the right thing. God wants us to experience serenity and harmony so much that He would provide us with a “safe escort to the border” while enemies swarm us. God is calling on us to “pound our swords and spears into rakes and shovels” and never make war again.
The question for today is this… who – or what – are you battling? Where are you experiencing chaos and turmoil… where so you need to surrender to a Higher Code of honor – GOD’s code? Who do you need to “salute” and “escort to the border” with a heavy dose of compassion and grace? Have you considered what might transpire as a result?
Will this be the year that you celebrate Independence Day with a new perspective… free of the burdens of discord with others? Shouldn’t it?
©2013 Debbie Robus
He will settle arguments between nations. They will pound their swords and their spears into rakes and shovels; they will never make war or attack one another.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Shortly before Christmas Day 1943, Charles Brown, a 21-year-old West Virginia farm boy, was flying his first WWII combat mission over Germany. His B-17 had been shot to smithereens, several crew members were injured… and his tail gunner was dead. As Brown looked out his window, he saw German 2nd Lt. Franz Stigler fly alongside him in his ME-109. Brown assumed Stigler would finish off him and his crew… and indeed, Stigler had his hand on the trigger to do so.
But Stigler thought of his own older brother, killed earlier in the war. Here was his chance to mete revenge… and to earn a medal for valor – Germany’s highest military honor – if only he could score one more kill. But as Stigler looked at the bloodied body of the tail gunner, he realized that he would be committing murder. He knew that to fail to complete this mission could result in execution if someone reported him. But as a man who had once studied for the priesthood, Stigler pressed his fingers to his rosary and realized that he lived by a Higher Code of honor. So he saluted American pilot Brown and safely escorted the crippled plane to the German border.
I encourage you to take a few minutes and read this entire story at http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/09/living/higher-call-military-chivalry. Learn how the lives of these men – and countless others – were changed forever on this December day in 1943. I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but see God’s hand in this…how He settled the arguments between nations for at least two young men. The reason I share this story with you is twofold… 1) we are nearing our country’s Independence Day… a time when we pause to celebrate our freedom - and those who helped secure it; and 2) this story serves to once again remind us of God’s profound desire for us to live together in peace and harmony… a desire so intense that He would convict the heart of one enemy of war and prevent him from firing on another.
In our daily living, God is hard at work providing us with opportunities to choose to “remove our hand from the trigger”… to operate by a Higher Code of honor… to create and preserve an atmosphere of peace – for ourselves and for those in our midst. This is so characteristic of the God we serve… to want us to get along and operate in peace and calm so passionately that He would go to great lengths to convict us to do the right thing. God wants us to experience serenity and harmony so much that He would provide us with a “safe escort to the border” while enemies swarm us. God is calling on us to “pound our swords and spears into rakes and shovels” and never make war again.
The question for today is this… who – or what – are you battling? Where are you experiencing chaos and turmoil… where so you need to surrender to a Higher Code of honor – GOD’s code? Who do you need to “salute” and “escort to the border” with a heavy dose of compassion and grace? Have you considered what might transpire as a result?
Will this be the year that you celebrate Independence Day with a new perspective… free of the burdens of discord with others? Shouldn’t it?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 1, 2013
Isaiah 12:2
I trust you to save me, Lord God, and I won’t be afraid. My power and my strength come from you, and you have saved me.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’d like to explain a little about how these devotionals come together. Over the last few years as I’ve look at what is going on in our world and in my own life, God has shown me timely “themes”… integrity, excuses, grace and mercy, patience, peace, and many others. For each theme, I search for scriptures that speak to these topics and create an outline. Each day, I look at the outline and select the next scripture reference on the list. Over and again, I am amazed at how the particular verse for that day is exactly what was needed…how God’s timing is indeed perfect! These cannot be coincidence… a reference to childlike faith when I have just seen it from our four-year-old Timothy… a word of encouragement and strength when bombers attack the Boston marathon… and today’s words of God’s power and strength in the midst of human tragedies in our country - and locally.
Over the weekend, 19 firefighters in Arizona perished. On our own lake, two young adults drowned while on a weekend outing. And I bet you could cite other incidents – deaths, failing health and personal accidents, relationship troubles, challenges and trials of all sorts that may not be “tragic” per se… but are consequential enough to cause you distress or dismay. What are we to think? How do we react? The Bible tells us very clearly in Isaiah 12:2 to trust the LORD to save us and not to be afraid… to find our strength – and our peace – in Him.
My church's Bishop, Gary Mueller, writes a daily “note” on Facebook. Today’s was titled “Right Smack Dab in the Middle of Life”. Were his topic/comments a coincidence? I think not! He says in part, “Life happens and, when it does, it's often painful, overwhelming and devastating. When it does, it can be tempting to give up, grow cynical and look out only for yourself. But that doesn't work. In fact, it never works. But there is something that does - join hands with God to deal with it.”
When we join hands with God, He gives us His power and strength to handle whatever comes. We have already seen evidence that God is surrounding grieving families with people who care for them… other family members, friends, believers across the nation who are lifting all involved in prayer, and even rescue crews and law enforcement personnel who are sacrificing their time and risking their own lives to recover the bodies. If we will turn to God, He will supply us with whatever we need to face illness, injuries, losses, and stresses of every kind.
I can tell you firsthand that it is entirely possible to experience peace in the midst of tremendous heartache and chaos. I will also tell you that I didn’t get here overnight… nor am I any sort of an expert in this department! I still have times when I fall short – and in the words of author Lysa TerKeurst*, I “come unglued!” As a teacher, I learned that repetition is key… most students learn best when concepts are taught via drills. I discovered that effective lessons have a beginning, middle and end. The point should be presented initially, reinforced in the middle, and reviewed in closing. My journey has been filled with “faith builders”…lessons and tests in which the point that God will save me - that He will give power and strength to handle anything and everything - has been drilled into my heart and mind over and again.
So today, I encourage you to study Isaiah 12:2, and let it settle deeply within your heart. Hear God’s voice in this passage as He calls upon you to join hands with Him and let His power, strength – and His peace – fill your heart. Do not fear or dread life’s challenges. Instead, rest in the LORD and trust Him to save you… and fill you with a sense of calm and confidence. Remember… God’s got this! Won’t you reach out and take His hand?
©2013 Debbie Robus
*Unglued, by Lysa TerKeurst - ©2012 Zondervan Press
I trust you to save me, Lord God, and I won’t be afraid. My power and my strength come from you, and you have saved me.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’d like to explain a little about how these devotionals come together. Over the last few years as I’ve look at what is going on in our world and in my own life, God has shown me timely “themes”… integrity, excuses, grace and mercy, patience, peace, and many others. For each theme, I search for scriptures that speak to these topics and create an outline. Each day, I look at the outline and select the next scripture reference on the list. Over and again, I am amazed at how the particular verse for that day is exactly what was needed…how God’s timing is indeed perfect! These cannot be coincidence… a reference to childlike faith when I have just seen it from our four-year-old Timothy… a word of encouragement and strength when bombers attack the Boston marathon… and today’s words of God’s power and strength in the midst of human tragedies in our country - and locally.
Over the weekend, 19 firefighters in Arizona perished. On our own lake, two young adults drowned while on a weekend outing. And I bet you could cite other incidents – deaths, failing health and personal accidents, relationship troubles, challenges and trials of all sorts that may not be “tragic” per se… but are consequential enough to cause you distress or dismay. What are we to think? How do we react? The Bible tells us very clearly in Isaiah 12:2 to trust the LORD to save us and not to be afraid… to find our strength – and our peace – in Him.
My church's Bishop, Gary Mueller, writes a daily “note” on Facebook. Today’s was titled “Right Smack Dab in the Middle of Life”. Were his topic/comments a coincidence? I think not! He says in part, “Life happens and, when it does, it's often painful, overwhelming and devastating. When it does, it can be tempting to give up, grow cynical and look out only for yourself. But that doesn't work. In fact, it never works. But there is something that does - join hands with God to deal with it.”
When we join hands with God, He gives us His power and strength to handle whatever comes. We have already seen evidence that God is surrounding grieving families with people who care for them… other family members, friends, believers across the nation who are lifting all involved in prayer, and even rescue crews and law enforcement personnel who are sacrificing their time and risking their own lives to recover the bodies. If we will turn to God, He will supply us with whatever we need to face illness, injuries, losses, and stresses of every kind.
I can tell you firsthand that it is entirely possible to experience peace in the midst of tremendous heartache and chaos. I will also tell you that I didn’t get here overnight… nor am I any sort of an expert in this department! I still have times when I fall short – and in the words of author Lysa TerKeurst*, I “come unglued!” As a teacher, I learned that repetition is key… most students learn best when concepts are taught via drills. I discovered that effective lessons have a beginning, middle and end. The point should be presented initially, reinforced in the middle, and reviewed in closing. My journey has been filled with “faith builders”…lessons and tests in which the point that God will save me - that He will give power and strength to handle anything and everything - has been drilled into my heart and mind over and again.
So today, I encourage you to study Isaiah 12:2, and let it settle deeply within your heart. Hear God’s voice in this passage as He calls upon you to join hands with Him and let His power, strength – and His peace – fill your heart. Do not fear or dread life’s challenges. Instead, rest in the LORD and trust Him to save you… and fill you with a sense of calm and confidence. Remember… God’s got this! Won’t you reach out and take His hand?
©2013 Debbie Robus
*Unglued, by Lysa TerKeurst - ©2012 Zondervan Press
Daily Devotional for June 28, 2013
June 28 ~ Hebrews 12:4-11
None of you have yet been hurt in your battle against sin. But you have forgotten that the Scriptures say to God’s children,
“When the Lord punishes you, don’t make light of it, and when he corrects you, don’t be discouraged. The Lord corrects the people he loves and disciplines those he calls his own.”
Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats his children. Don’t all parents correct their children? God corrects all of his children, and if he doesn’t correct you, then you don’t really belong to him. Our earthly fathers correct us, and we still respect them. Isn’t it even better to be given true life by letting our spiritual Father correct us?
Our human fathers correct us for a short time, and they do it as they think best. But God corrects us for our own good, because he wants us to be holy, as he is. It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
As I tucked Timothy into bed one recent night, he said, “Tell me a story.” So I told him the story of “The Three Little Bears.” Then he said, “Tell me another story. I asked, “What story would you like to hear?” He replied… “Tell me the story of how we have to listen to GOD… and how those people ate the fruit of the tree and got into trouble.” So I gave him my best “four-year-old version” of the story of Adam and Eve and their sin in the Garden of Eden. When I finished, Timothy whispered dramatically… “God was SO disappointed.” I agreed and reminded him that yes, God is disappointed when we don’t listen to Him… that we must obey Him and do what He says.
I also pointed out that God wants us to listen to our parents, our aunts and uncles… and to be nice to our brothers, sisters, and friends. Timothy said, “We don’t want to disappoint God!” I agreed again. Then I asked him, “Did you know you can talk to God? We call it praying… we say our prayers and talk to God – and He talks to us!” We discussed some prayer books I have bought him in the past… Timothy calls them his “God books”… and how our prayers are the time we thank God for everything He has given us – and we ask Him to help us be good listeners. I offered… “Would you like for me to talk to God for you now?” Timothy nodded yes.
So I prayed a simple prayer. I thanked God for Timothy…his sister Zola, who was sleeping in another bed nearby…his brother Nathan…his mom and dad… and all of the people who love him. I thanked God for giving us grass and trees and fruit and everything we have… and I asked Him to help us – especially Timothy – be good listeners. When I finished, Timothy said, “I don’t want to disappoint God!” I told him that God is not disappointed with him… that God loves him. “And as long as you listen to God and do what He says,” I continued, “God will be very happy.” I also told him that sometimes we all fail to listen to God… and when that happens, we should tell God we are sorry.
Timothy asked, “Would you say that talk to God again?” I clarified, “You want me to talk to God again for you?” He replied, “Yes… tell Him I’m sorry when I disappoint Him.” Trying to hold it together, I prayed once again and thanked God for all of His good gifts… and I told Him that Timothy really wants to listen, but sometimes he forgets… and he is sorry.” Then I reminded Timothy how very much God loves him. “God is not disappointed with you,” I assured him as we snuggled. You make Him very happy… and as long as you do your best to listen to Him and are really sorry when you forget, He will not be disappointed. God will ALWAYS love you.
This amazing little four-year-old boy looked up at me, grinned, and said, “Okay… GOOD NIGHT!” And he rolled over and drifted off to sleep. If you knew our “history,” you would know that this is a child who didn’t go to sleep many nights of his first three years without a major battle… and then he was plagued with “night terrors” – almost nightly disruptions in his sleep that left him screaming for sometimes as much as an hour before he could settle back into a restful pattern. To see him drift off to sleep with such peace gives me a relief I cannot verbalize. To know that he went to sleep with peace in his heart about his relationship to God – and such a depth of wisdom and understanding – gives me a joy beyond description.
It seems like the older we get, the more we lose our “child-like wonder and understanding” of God’s love for us and what He requires in return… and we also lose much of our peace. While the “hows and whys” of our relationship and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins are incredibly complicated…the basic tenets are fairly simple. Listen to God…deeply desire to please Him…accept that there will be times when we fall short… be ready to apologize and ask for forgiveness… and above all, remember that God loves us and calls us His own.
I encourage you to take some time to meditate on these principles…to talk with God and discover where you have overcomplicated and cluttered your relationship with things that truly are not of significance – or benefit. Have you created much of your own inner turmoil and anxiety by making your Christian faith far more difficult and complex than God ever intended? Isn’t it time you came back to the purity and simplicity of a four-year-old who doesn’t want to disappoint God? Will this be the night you sleep in peace and assurance that God loves you and has forgiven you for “not listening?” Isn’t it your turn to have a bedtime talk with God?
©2013 Debbie Robus
None of you have yet been hurt in your battle against sin. But you have forgotten that the Scriptures say to God’s children,
“When the Lord punishes you, don’t make light of it, and when he corrects you, don’t be discouraged. The Lord corrects the people he loves and disciplines those he calls his own.”
Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats his children. Don’t all parents correct their children? God corrects all of his children, and if he doesn’t correct you, then you don’t really belong to him. Our earthly fathers correct us, and we still respect them. Isn’t it even better to be given true life by letting our spiritual Father correct us?
Our human fathers correct us for a short time, and they do it as they think best. But God corrects us for our own good, because he wants us to be holy, as he is. It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
As I tucked Timothy into bed one recent night, he said, “Tell me a story.” So I told him the story of “The Three Little Bears.” Then he said, “Tell me another story. I asked, “What story would you like to hear?” He replied… “Tell me the story of how we have to listen to GOD… and how those people ate the fruit of the tree and got into trouble.” So I gave him my best “four-year-old version” of the story of Adam and Eve and their sin in the Garden of Eden. When I finished, Timothy whispered dramatically… “God was SO disappointed.” I agreed and reminded him that yes, God is disappointed when we don’t listen to Him… that we must obey Him and do what He says.
I also pointed out that God wants us to listen to our parents, our aunts and uncles… and to be nice to our brothers, sisters, and friends. Timothy said, “We don’t want to disappoint God!” I agreed again. Then I asked him, “Did you know you can talk to God? We call it praying… we say our prayers and talk to God – and He talks to us!” We discussed some prayer books I have bought him in the past… Timothy calls them his “God books”… and how our prayers are the time we thank God for everything He has given us – and we ask Him to help us be good listeners. I offered… “Would you like for me to talk to God for you now?” Timothy nodded yes.
So I prayed a simple prayer. I thanked God for Timothy…his sister Zola, who was sleeping in another bed nearby…his brother Nathan…his mom and dad… and all of the people who love him. I thanked God for giving us grass and trees and fruit and everything we have… and I asked Him to help us – especially Timothy – be good listeners. When I finished, Timothy said, “I don’t want to disappoint God!” I told him that God is not disappointed with him… that God loves him. “And as long as you listen to God and do what He says,” I continued, “God will be very happy.” I also told him that sometimes we all fail to listen to God… and when that happens, we should tell God we are sorry.
Timothy asked, “Would you say that talk to God again?” I clarified, “You want me to talk to God again for you?” He replied, “Yes… tell Him I’m sorry when I disappoint Him.” Trying to hold it together, I prayed once again and thanked God for all of His good gifts… and I told Him that Timothy really wants to listen, but sometimes he forgets… and he is sorry.” Then I reminded Timothy how very much God loves him. “God is not disappointed with you,” I assured him as we snuggled. You make Him very happy… and as long as you do your best to listen to Him and are really sorry when you forget, He will not be disappointed. God will ALWAYS love you.
This amazing little four-year-old boy looked up at me, grinned, and said, “Okay… GOOD NIGHT!” And he rolled over and drifted off to sleep. If you knew our “history,” you would know that this is a child who didn’t go to sleep many nights of his first three years without a major battle… and then he was plagued with “night terrors” – almost nightly disruptions in his sleep that left him screaming for sometimes as much as an hour before he could settle back into a restful pattern. To see him drift off to sleep with such peace gives me a relief I cannot verbalize. To know that he went to sleep with peace in his heart about his relationship to God – and such a depth of wisdom and understanding – gives me a joy beyond description.
It seems like the older we get, the more we lose our “child-like wonder and understanding” of God’s love for us and what He requires in return… and we also lose much of our peace. While the “hows and whys” of our relationship and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins are incredibly complicated…the basic tenets are fairly simple. Listen to God…deeply desire to please Him…accept that there will be times when we fall short… be ready to apologize and ask for forgiveness… and above all, remember that God loves us and calls us His own.
I encourage you to take some time to meditate on these principles…to talk with God and discover where you have overcomplicated and cluttered your relationship with things that truly are not of significance – or benefit. Have you created much of your own inner turmoil and anxiety by making your Christian faith far more difficult and complex than God ever intended? Isn’t it time you came back to the purity and simplicity of a four-year-old who doesn’t want to disappoint God? Will this be the night you sleep in peace and assurance that God loves you and has forgiven you for “not listening?” Isn’t it your turn to have a bedtime talk with God?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 23, 2013
Ecclesiastes 4:4-6
Then I realized that we work and do wonderful things just because we are jealous of others. This makes no more sense than chasing the wind.
Fools will fold their hands and starve to death. Yet a very little food eaten in peace is better than twice as much earned from overwork and chasing the wind.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I recently began taking Timothy and Zola with us to church on Sunday… and “out to lunch” afterward. We used to eat out at a local sit-down restaurant or cafeteria on Sundays… now we frequent McDonald’s or Burger King! Instead of an entrée, vegetables and possibly dessert, we now have a burger or chicken nuggets and fries… and dessert is usually an ice cream cone or a cookie! But the company is so entertaining! Truthfully, what we eat – or where we are – is not nearly as important as who is with us.
Today, we gathered around a small table at Burger King… my husband and me, Timothy, Zola, and Grandma “E” – my husband’s mother, who is adored by the children. We ate our burgers, nuggets and fries, followed by ice cream. Then I took Timothy to the restroom to clean his hands… sticky from the ice cream cone he had devoured. Once inside, he told me he needed to use the restroom. I told him I would wait outside the stall for him. I was wearing a brightly-colored long skirt that I repurposed from a dress I purchased at a local thrift store. But as I stood in front of the bathroom stall, I heard this little voice say, “I can still see your princess clothes and your sandals [under the door].” I stifled a laugh and stepped out of Timothy’s view.
We have eaten at gourmet restaurants and dined at banquet halls. We have paid “good money” for a nice steak dinner with all the trimmings. And we have tried taking the little children to a sit-down restaurant for a meal of “meat, potatoes and vegetables.” But I wouldn’t trade any of these for the time we spend crowded around a small table enjoying “happy meals” and watching these children smile and laugh. There is a peace and unpretentiousness about such a simple meal. The kids don’t eat much… they dribble soft drinks and ice cream down the front of their clothes and wriggle around on their seats. But it is the “exclamation point” on their Sunday morning… a time when they eagerly anticipate seeing their friends at church and spending time afterward with us and Grandma “E.” And I have to tell you, having a four-year-old describe my attire as “princess clothes” isn’t too shabby either!
What does this have to do with you and your faith? The message I believe God wants to convey in this passage today is to slow down and find His peace in the simple things. Everything doesn’t have to be a lavish production. There is no shame in working hard, having nice things, or dining in fine restaurants. But don’t overlook the joy and serenity of something as simple as a cold drink shared on the porch with a neighbor or friend…a “staycation” with your family that involves swims at local beaches, popcorn and videos, and frozen pizzas or take-out vs. a week at an expensive resort…a morning cup of coffee while you sit in your favorite chair and simply listen to God for a few minutes or more… a fast-food meal with family and/or friends where everyone eats burgers and fries instead of an expensive, formal restaurant meal.
Many years ago, my mom and dad hosted a somewhat impromptu “family dinner” one evening. This time, instead of roasting some sort of meat like brisket or ham – or grilling burgers – Mom made sandwiches – tuna fish, and her famous pimiento cheese. Others brought chips, baked beans and “trimmings” from the store. I don’t remember what was served for dessert, but it was something quick and easy. Twenty years ago or more, my family had a lot of spur-of-the-moment gatherings…like wiener roasts at a local park near the lake. We’d all bring hot dogs and buns, chips, marshmallows and drinks and lawn chairs. In a matter of an hour, we would be gathered around a fire… talking and laughing and enjoying the scenery and the fellowship of one another. I particularly remember the sandwich dinner, because my dear cousin Eddie – who is now with Jesus – said, “This was great! We don’t need to go to a whole lot of trouble to get together… we just need to do it.” And he was right. In so many areas of life, it’s not about what “food you serve” as much as the spirit, or intention of those who gather.
So find God’s peace in the little things. Understand that He is in every detail… even the small ones. Settle into God’s rhythms and start to see things as He does… how much He cares about every tiny aspect of your life. Quit trying to keep up with everybody else… to pretend to be somebody you are not…to make everything such a production. Don’t miss out on the serenity of just “being”… whether in the company of others, or alone with God. Stop chasing the wind and relax a little. Give God a chance to show you just how peaceful a simpler life can be.
We can learn a lot from toddlers and four-year-olds. They see things with such purity – and often more clarity than any of us “grown-ups!” So they discover “princess clothes” in repurposed thrift-store finds…and peace and joy in an ice cream cone, some chicken nuggets and a cheap toy in a box! Where are you looking for peace these days? Have you been too busy chasing the wind to discover what is right in front of you? Will this be the day that you slow down and give God’s peace a chance?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Then I realized that we work and do wonderful things just because we are jealous of others. This makes no more sense than chasing the wind.
Fools will fold their hands and starve to death. Yet a very little food eaten in peace is better than twice as much earned from overwork and chasing the wind.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I recently began taking Timothy and Zola with us to church on Sunday… and “out to lunch” afterward. We used to eat out at a local sit-down restaurant or cafeteria on Sundays… now we frequent McDonald’s or Burger King! Instead of an entrée, vegetables and possibly dessert, we now have a burger or chicken nuggets and fries… and dessert is usually an ice cream cone or a cookie! But the company is so entertaining! Truthfully, what we eat – or where we are – is not nearly as important as who is with us.
Today, we gathered around a small table at Burger King… my husband and me, Timothy, Zola, and Grandma “E” – my husband’s mother, who is adored by the children. We ate our burgers, nuggets and fries, followed by ice cream. Then I took Timothy to the restroom to clean his hands… sticky from the ice cream cone he had devoured. Once inside, he told me he needed to use the restroom. I told him I would wait outside the stall for him. I was wearing a brightly-colored long skirt that I repurposed from a dress I purchased at a local thrift store. But as I stood in front of the bathroom stall, I heard this little voice say, “I can still see your princess clothes and your sandals [under the door].” I stifled a laugh and stepped out of Timothy’s view.
We have eaten at gourmet restaurants and dined at banquet halls. We have paid “good money” for a nice steak dinner with all the trimmings. And we have tried taking the little children to a sit-down restaurant for a meal of “meat, potatoes and vegetables.” But I wouldn’t trade any of these for the time we spend crowded around a small table enjoying “happy meals” and watching these children smile and laugh. There is a peace and unpretentiousness about such a simple meal. The kids don’t eat much… they dribble soft drinks and ice cream down the front of their clothes and wriggle around on their seats. But it is the “exclamation point” on their Sunday morning… a time when they eagerly anticipate seeing their friends at church and spending time afterward with us and Grandma “E.” And I have to tell you, having a four-year-old describe my attire as “princess clothes” isn’t too shabby either!
What does this have to do with you and your faith? The message I believe God wants to convey in this passage today is to slow down and find His peace in the simple things. Everything doesn’t have to be a lavish production. There is no shame in working hard, having nice things, or dining in fine restaurants. But don’t overlook the joy and serenity of something as simple as a cold drink shared on the porch with a neighbor or friend…a “staycation” with your family that involves swims at local beaches, popcorn and videos, and frozen pizzas or take-out vs. a week at an expensive resort…a morning cup of coffee while you sit in your favorite chair and simply listen to God for a few minutes or more… a fast-food meal with family and/or friends where everyone eats burgers and fries instead of an expensive, formal restaurant meal.
Many years ago, my mom and dad hosted a somewhat impromptu “family dinner” one evening. This time, instead of roasting some sort of meat like brisket or ham – or grilling burgers – Mom made sandwiches – tuna fish, and her famous pimiento cheese. Others brought chips, baked beans and “trimmings” from the store. I don’t remember what was served for dessert, but it was something quick and easy. Twenty years ago or more, my family had a lot of spur-of-the-moment gatherings…like wiener roasts at a local park near the lake. We’d all bring hot dogs and buns, chips, marshmallows and drinks and lawn chairs. In a matter of an hour, we would be gathered around a fire… talking and laughing and enjoying the scenery and the fellowship of one another. I particularly remember the sandwich dinner, because my dear cousin Eddie – who is now with Jesus – said, “This was great! We don’t need to go to a whole lot of trouble to get together… we just need to do it.” And he was right. In so many areas of life, it’s not about what “food you serve” as much as the spirit, or intention of those who gather.
So find God’s peace in the little things. Understand that He is in every detail… even the small ones. Settle into God’s rhythms and start to see things as He does… how much He cares about every tiny aspect of your life. Quit trying to keep up with everybody else… to pretend to be somebody you are not…to make everything such a production. Don’t miss out on the serenity of just “being”… whether in the company of others, or alone with God. Stop chasing the wind and relax a little. Give God a chance to show you just how peaceful a simpler life can be.
We can learn a lot from toddlers and four-year-olds. They see things with such purity – and often more clarity than any of us “grown-ups!” So they discover “princess clothes” in repurposed thrift-store finds…and peace and joy in an ice cream cone, some chicken nuggets and a cheap toy in a box! Where are you looking for peace these days? Have you been too busy chasing the wind to discover what is right in front of you? Will this be the day that you slow down and give God’s peace a chance?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 20, 2013
2 Timothy 1:2
Timothy, you are like a dear child to me. I pray that God our Father and our Lord Christ Jesus will be kind and merciful to you and will bless you with peace!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I saw a post on Facebook that said: “PEACE... it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” I couldn’t help but think that this is the kind of peace that the Apostle Paul was talking about… a peace so complete in Jesus Christ that we barely notice the “noise, trouble or hard work.” But there are a lot of us who do not enjoy such peace. It’s not that we can’t… or that complete peace in Jesus is not available to us. The problem is that too many of us either enjoy our worries and troubles a little too much… or we have just become numb to them. Either way, we have not surrendered them to God, so we find ourselves uncomfortable… unsettled… and frequently operating in anything but true serenity.
Don’t you want to change this? Don’t you want to be different… to conquer the devil’s power over you – and this IS the devil’s work, not God’s! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to look at whatever challenges you face and say, “Yes…I see this happening, but I’m not going to fall apart at the seams – or even stress out over it,” or “I am fully aware that things are chaotic right now, but I will not allow this to define or dishearten me.” Aren’t you ready to operate in a constant state of complete peace and the confidence that God has your back?
How do we make this shift? How do we go from being caught up in the chaos to operating in the complete peace of Jesus? We start by recognizing His power… by saying over and over that “God’s got this!” We recite scriptures like Philippians 4:13…” For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”(NLT), Romans 8:31… What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us?” or even Psalm 23:1…” The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” We repeat these scriptures silently – or aloud if necessary – until they take hold in our spirit and we feel calm and peaceful. And then we linger there in that spot. The more you do this… the more you trust God and truly hand Him your worries, cares, confusion and commotion…the more you will feel His peace.
There are two things to remember…
All we have to do is to reach out to God… to call on Him to give us peace – and to surrender our cares to Him in all circumstances. As the quote explains, the noise, trouble and hard work may still be there… but with complete peace in Jesus, we’ll hardly notice.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Timothy, you are like a dear child to me. I pray that God our Father and our Lord Christ Jesus will be kind and merciful to you and will bless you with peace!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I saw a post on Facebook that said: “PEACE... it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” I couldn’t help but think that this is the kind of peace that the Apostle Paul was talking about… a peace so complete in Jesus Christ that we barely notice the “noise, trouble or hard work.” But there are a lot of us who do not enjoy such peace. It’s not that we can’t… or that complete peace in Jesus is not available to us. The problem is that too many of us either enjoy our worries and troubles a little too much… or we have just become numb to them. Either way, we have not surrendered them to God, so we find ourselves uncomfortable… unsettled… and frequently operating in anything but true serenity.
Don’t you want to change this? Don’t you want to be different… to conquer the devil’s power over you – and this IS the devil’s work, not God’s! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to look at whatever challenges you face and say, “Yes…I see this happening, but I’m not going to fall apart at the seams – or even stress out over it,” or “I am fully aware that things are chaotic right now, but I will not allow this to define or dishearten me.” Aren’t you ready to operate in a constant state of complete peace and the confidence that God has your back?
How do we make this shift? How do we go from being caught up in the chaos to operating in the complete peace of Jesus? We start by recognizing His power… by saying over and over that “God’s got this!” We recite scriptures like Philippians 4:13…” For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”(NLT), Romans 8:31… What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us?” or even Psalm 23:1…” The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” We repeat these scriptures silently – or aloud if necessary – until they take hold in our spirit and we feel calm and peaceful. And then we linger there in that spot. The more you do this… the more you trust God and truly hand Him your worries, cares, confusion and commotion…the more you will feel His peace.
There are two things to remember…
- God wants us to operate completely in His peace. This is His deep desire for each one of us.
- God’s complete peace is attainable… we can experience it and make it part of our everyday living.
All we have to do is to reach out to God… to call on Him to give us peace – and to surrender our cares to Him in all circumstances. As the quote explains, the noise, trouble and hard work may still be there… but with complete peace in Jesus, we’ll hardly notice.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 19, 2103
2 Thessalonians 5:16
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Every day, we are each faced with situations that can disrupt any semblance of peace in our lives. We may get cut off in traffic… we may stress out over a test or an upcoming competition…illness may be plaguing us or someone we know and love…we can have money troubles or relationship challenges… there can be problems with our job… our computer can crash or get a virus… or some sort of emergency may arise that sends us scrambling to deal with a myriad of questions/issues we were not anticipating. Life is hard, and the devil delights in making it even harder for us each and every day!
I would be willing to bet that you would have a hard time finding someone who says, “I want chaos in my life… I thrive on illness, accidents, calamity and discord.” We all want tranquility… contentment… serenity… for things in our life to go well… and for the devil to leave us alone! But sometimes, it seems like this is totally out of the realm of possibilities. Why can’t we simply have peace and quiet in our lives?
The truth of the matter is that we can have peace and quiet… but we often fail to recognize what real peace looks like - and how to get it! See, you have to study this passage again. It doesn’t say, “May the Lord of peace himself give you everything you asked for and make your life hunky-dory every single day.” It says, “May the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” There is a difference… do you see it?
Let’s look a little closer. Jesus is “the Lord of peace himself,” which means that He operates in perfect peace at all times. He doesn’t worry, stew, fret, become excited or agitated, wring His hands, or throw a hissy fit! He trusts God to walk with Him and be with Him at all times…to make the bad times tolerable and manageable… and the good times great… to give Him peace in all circumstances. When we learn to operate in God’s peace… the peace of mind that He is in control and available in every minute to help us with whatever we are experiencing…we can have the kind of “peace and quiet” that we envision. When God settles things for me, I have a calm and serenity that I cannot even explain. In fact, I have asked before, “Why am I so calm about this?” The only explanation is that I gave the situation to God and allowed Him to work… I gave Him room to handle things, and He gave me peace and quiet in return.
Think about the events of even this day… how you may have hurried and worried, fretted and stressed. Consider all that has challenged you, and ask yourself whether you tried to handle these things on your own… or whether you allowed God to cover you with His peace. Your answer matters. If you are content to try to find your own peace, the devil will surely be busy giving you anything but that! If you want to operate in calm and serenity, confidence and security… you need a hefty dose of Jesus! Ask Him to bring you peace. Release your burdens and even the most insignificant of issues to Him.
Let Jesus show you how to walk in faith that He’s got this… and feel the weight lift from your shoulders. Truly discover what it means to allow the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. And may the Lord truly be with you all.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Every day, we are each faced with situations that can disrupt any semblance of peace in our lives. We may get cut off in traffic… we may stress out over a test or an upcoming competition…illness may be plaguing us or someone we know and love…we can have money troubles or relationship challenges… there can be problems with our job… our computer can crash or get a virus… or some sort of emergency may arise that sends us scrambling to deal with a myriad of questions/issues we were not anticipating. Life is hard, and the devil delights in making it even harder for us each and every day!
I would be willing to bet that you would have a hard time finding someone who says, “I want chaos in my life… I thrive on illness, accidents, calamity and discord.” We all want tranquility… contentment… serenity… for things in our life to go well… and for the devil to leave us alone! But sometimes, it seems like this is totally out of the realm of possibilities. Why can’t we simply have peace and quiet in our lives?
The truth of the matter is that we can have peace and quiet… but we often fail to recognize what real peace looks like - and how to get it! See, you have to study this passage again. It doesn’t say, “May the Lord of peace himself give you everything you asked for and make your life hunky-dory every single day.” It says, “May the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” There is a difference… do you see it?
Let’s look a little closer. Jesus is “the Lord of peace himself,” which means that He operates in perfect peace at all times. He doesn’t worry, stew, fret, become excited or agitated, wring His hands, or throw a hissy fit! He trusts God to walk with Him and be with Him at all times…to make the bad times tolerable and manageable… and the good times great… to give Him peace in all circumstances. When we learn to operate in God’s peace… the peace of mind that He is in control and available in every minute to help us with whatever we are experiencing…we can have the kind of “peace and quiet” that we envision. When God settles things for me, I have a calm and serenity that I cannot even explain. In fact, I have asked before, “Why am I so calm about this?” The only explanation is that I gave the situation to God and allowed Him to work… I gave Him room to handle things, and He gave me peace and quiet in return.
Think about the events of even this day… how you may have hurried and worried, fretted and stressed. Consider all that has challenged you, and ask yourself whether you tried to handle these things on your own… or whether you allowed God to cover you with His peace. Your answer matters. If you are content to try to find your own peace, the devil will surely be busy giving you anything but that! If you want to operate in calm and serenity, confidence and security… you need a hefty dose of Jesus! Ask Him to bring you peace. Release your burdens and even the most insignificant of issues to Him.
Let Jesus show you how to walk in faith that He’s got this… and feel the weight lift from your shoulders. Truly discover what it means to allow the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. And may the Lord truly be with you all.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 11, 2013
1 Peter 3:10
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.
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.
You never know what children – or old people – will say! My Mam-ma Polly, who weighed in at a petite less-than-120 pounds, had a fixation with the weight of other people… and she often spoke about it! I will never forget taking her to a birthday luncheon. The grandson of one of her dear friends hugged her and paid her a big compliment about how pretty she looked…and she replied, “Well, I haven’t seen you since you got so fat!” I wanted the floor to swallow me! This came so naturally to my grandmother that she didn’t even blink. And because she was almost 100 years old, she was forgiven… excused…and people chalked such comments up to her age and secretly assumed that perhaps she was becoming a little senile. This was not the case… my grandmother remained sharp as a tack to virtually her dying day! Anyone who really knew my grandmother knew that she always spoke her mind… although this certainly did not improve with age!
I do not mean to belittle my grandmother – or to criticize her. She was who she was… and she was a blessing to more people that we could begin to count. And that’s my point… any one of us can be guilty of this type of behavior at any moment! I wonder… how many of us are speaking without thinking on a daily basis. How often do we make a critical or snarky comment – maybe in an attempt to be funny – with little to no regard for how these words will affect the other guy? When was the last time you stopped yourself from making a remark… realizing that it might not be perceived the way you intended – or that it could be downright hurtful to others?
We have all said or done something that was unkind – or even misinterpreted – then felt unsettled because of it for hours/days/weeks. This is not a pleasant feeling and certainly doesn’t leave us operating in peace and calm. And if we have said or done something that really caused a stir, the ramifications can create turmoil, hurt, and disappointment for a long time… with the potential for permanent damage.
This is not what God wants for us… and He offers us a way out! Some of us need to tattoo these scripture verses to our forearm, tape them to the bathroom mirror, and post them on our refrigerator! “Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. Say nothing evil or hurtful, snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth.” If we will just remember this… and ask God to show us how to bless others, we can “see the day fill up with good.”
I don’t know about you, but I want to fill up my days with peace and contentment in God’s blessings. Regardless of my age, I must be on guard to make sure that my words and actions please God at every turn… or I can expect some times of incredible turmoil and discord. Everyone has a bad moment – or even a bad day – at some point. But we can greatly reduce the instances of this if we will remain aware of our behavior – and in touch with God. He will help us to guard our comments and behaviors… He will help us to operate in blessings rather than unkindness… and we will be blessed – and peaceful in the bargain. Where do you fit in to this picture? How will you fill up this day with good?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.
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.
You never know what children – or old people – will say! My Mam-ma Polly, who weighed in at a petite less-than-120 pounds, had a fixation with the weight of other people… and she often spoke about it! I will never forget taking her to a birthday luncheon. The grandson of one of her dear friends hugged her and paid her a big compliment about how pretty she looked…and she replied, “Well, I haven’t seen you since you got so fat!” I wanted the floor to swallow me! This came so naturally to my grandmother that she didn’t even blink. And because she was almost 100 years old, she was forgiven… excused…and people chalked such comments up to her age and secretly assumed that perhaps she was becoming a little senile. This was not the case… my grandmother remained sharp as a tack to virtually her dying day! Anyone who really knew my grandmother knew that she always spoke her mind… although this certainly did not improve with age!
I do not mean to belittle my grandmother – or to criticize her. She was who she was… and she was a blessing to more people that we could begin to count. And that’s my point… any one of us can be guilty of this type of behavior at any moment! I wonder… how many of us are speaking without thinking on a daily basis. How often do we make a critical or snarky comment – maybe in an attempt to be funny – with little to no regard for how these words will affect the other guy? When was the last time you stopped yourself from making a remark… realizing that it might not be perceived the way you intended – or that it could be downright hurtful to others?
We have all said or done something that was unkind – or even misinterpreted – then felt unsettled because of it for hours/days/weeks. This is not a pleasant feeling and certainly doesn’t leave us operating in peace and calm. And if we have said or done something that really caused a stir, the ramifications can create turmoil, hurt, and disappointment for a long time… with the potential for permanent damage.
This is not what God wants for us… and He offers us a way out! Some of us need to tattoo these scripture verses to our forearm, tape them to the bathroom mirror, and post them on our refrigerator! “Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. Say nothing evil or hurtful, snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth.” If we will just remember this… and ask God to show us how to bless others, we can “see the day fill up with good.”
I don’t know about you, but I want to fill up my days with peace and contentment in God’s blessings. Regardless of my age, I must be on guard to make sure that my words and actions please God at every turn… or I can expect some times of incredible turmoil and discord. Everyone has a bad moment – or even a bad day – at some point. But we can greatly reduce the instances of this if we will remain aware of our behavior – and in touch with God. He will help us to guard our comments and behaviors… He will help us to operate in blessings rather than unkindness… and we will be blessed – and peaceful in the bargain. Where do you fit in to this picture? How will you fill up this day with good?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 9, 2013
1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
After attending a Contemporary Worship service at our church for more than a decade, my husband and I recently returned to the more traditional worship service that is held in the “third hour” each Sunday. We did this primarily so that my great-nephew, Timothy, and his sister Zola could attend Sunday school and nursery during that time period. But we have found that the “fit” is much better for all of us. This is not a criticism of Contemporary Worship. I participated as a member of that service’s Praise Team for eight years and even filled in as an interim leader of the team for many weeks one year. I love the casual atmosphere that seems to encourage some to more freely participate in worship.
But I found myself missing the peace and order of traditional worship… the way the old hymns quietly moved me with their words and rich tradition. I discovered that more of the pastor’s sermon resonates with me in the still calm of our church’s sanctuary. The choir’s anthems and the truly “divine” preludes and offertories presented by our pianist stir my soul… and sometimes move me to tears.
I recognize that people worship God in different ways… and at different speeds and volumes…and that’s okay. But I wonder… how often are we missing God – at least to a degree – because there is too much chaos and not enough peace in our lives? How often do we really sit still and listen for God? When was the last time you grabbed a cup of coffee (or your favorite beverage) and your Bible… and retreated to a quiet area to just sit still for a few minutes and let God speak to you? How often do you take a few minutes to pour out your heart to God… to talk to Him like you would your best friend... to tell Him all of your joys and your heartaches?
My question for all of us today is this… “Can we simply stop all of the noise and movement for a few minutes and truly worship God?” Can you give Him your full, undivided attention for even a little while? What do you suppose would happen if you stopped and basked in the peace and order of God? How much more do you think you might glean from His messages to you?
There are times to raise your hands… to shout and dance in worship of God. And there are times when we need to sit still… to revel in the order of peace. Do you have a healthy balance of both in your life? Are you willing to find out what could happen if you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
After attending a Contemporary Worship service at our church for more than a decade, my husband and I recently returned to the more traditional worship service that is held in the “third hour” each Sunday. We did this primarily so that my great-nephew, Timothy, and his sister Zola could attend Sunday school and nursery during that time period. But we have found that the “fit” is much better for all of us. This is not a criticism of Contemporary Worship. I participated as a member of that service’s Praise Team for eight years and even filled in as an interim leader of the team for many weeks one year. I love the casual atmosphere that seems to encourage some to more freely participate in worship.
But I found myself missing the peace and order of traditional worship… the way the old hymns quietly moved me with their words and rich tradition. I discovered that more of the pastor’s sermon resonates with me in the still calm of our church’s sanctuary. The choir’s anthems and the truly “divine” preludes and offertories presented by our pianist stir my soul… and sometimes move me to tears.
I recognize that people worship God in different ways… and at different speeds and volumes…and that’s okay. But I wonder… how often are we missing God – at least to a degree – because there is too much chaos and not enough peace in our lives? How often do we really sit still and listen for God? When was the last time you grabbed a cup of coffee (or your favorite beverage) and your Bible… and retreated to a quiet area to just sit still for a few minutes and let God speak to you? How often do you take a few minutes to pour out your heart to God… to talk to Him like you would your best friend... to tell Him all of your joys and your heartaches?
My question for all of us today is this… “Can we simply stop all of the noise and movement for a few minutes and truly worship God?” Can you give Him your full, undivided attention for even a little while? What do you suppose would happen if you stopped and basked in the peace and order of God? How much more do you think you might glean from His messages to you?
There are times to raise your hands… to shout and dance in worship of God. And there are times when we need to sit still… to revel in the order of peace. Do you have a healthy balance of both in your life? Are you willing to find out what could happen if you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 3, 2012
Hosea 6:1-3
Let’s return to the Lord. He has torn us to shreds, but he will bandage our wounds and make us well. In two or three days he will heal us and restore our strength that we may live with him. Let’s do our best to know the Lord. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am sitting in the hospital with my grandmother, and she is crying out in pain. It is a hard thing to endure…watching her suffer. The natural instinct would be to cry out to God and ask WHY this little faithful servant of His must go through such an ordeal. Why, at almost 100 years old, must her life include such a miserable challenge.
I opened my Kindle this morning to read from God Calling – a daily devotional book. With all of this “excitement,” I had not read from this book in a few days, so my first “devo” was for April 28 – Hosea 6:1-3. Isn’t that just like God to give me exactly what I need today? I can’t begin to tell you how comforted I was to read that what God has allowed to be “torn to shreds,” He will bandage and make well. He will restore strength as sure as morning sun or refreshing rain.
So as much as it breaks my heart to hear my grandmother cry out in pain, I am at peace… knowing that God is holding her in the palm of His hand. He is using this experience for His good… as He has worked in and through her for almost a century. I don’t know who my grandmother is touching in God’s name… or how He is at work. But I know that He is not wasting a minute of this… and one way or another, my Mam-ma Polly will be ultimately refreshed and restored.
I don’t know what challenges you today… what pain and suffering you may experience… or how God will work in and through you. But I know that He will… and I pray that you find His peace and comfort…and rest in His promises for complete healing. To God be the glory for His amazing grace and mercy, now and forever. Amen.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Let’s return to the Lord. He has torn us to shreds, but he will bandage our wounds and make us well. In two or three days he will heal us and restore our strength that we may live with him. Let’s do our best to know the Lord. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am sitting in the hospital with my grandmother, and she is crying out in pain. It is a hard thing to endure…watching her suffer. The natural instinct would be to cry out to God and ask WHY this little faithful servant of His must go through such an ordeal. Why, at almost 100 years old, must her life include such a miserable challenge.
I opened my Kindle this morning to read from God Calling – a daily devotional book. With all of this “excitement,” I had not read from this book in a few days, so my first “devo” was for April 28 – Hosea 6:1-3. Isn’t that just like God to give me exactly what I need today? I can’t begin to tell you how comforted I was to read that what God has allowed to be “torn to shreds,” He will bandage and make well. He will restore strength as sure as morning sun or refreshing rain.
So as much as it breaks my heart to hear my grandmother cry out in pain, I am at peace… knowing that God is holding her in the palm of His hand. He is using this experience for His good… as He has worked in and through her for almost a century. I don’t know who my grandmother is touching in God’s name… or how He is at work. But I know that He is not wasting a minute of this… and one way or another, my Mam-ma Polly will be ultimately refreshed and restored.
I don’t know what challenges you today… what pain and suffering you may experience… or how God will work in and through you. But I know that He will… and I pray that you find His peace and comfort…and rest in His promises for complete healing. To God be the glory for His amazing grace and mercy, now and forever. Amen.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 17, 2012
Philippians 4:6-7
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I don’t know about you, but when I do “mindless” tasks like vacuuming or scrubbing the shower - and I have quiet time to think - my mind often races to some pretty crazy places. If I’m not careful, I can allow the devil to capture my thoughts. He will take me to places of worry… why does one person behave this way or that? Why did I say or do such a dumb thing? What if this or that happens? What will I do when I get too old to vacuum and scrub the shower? I know, I know… it’s all pretty ridiculous… and then I am mad at myself for allowing these thoughts to consume my time.
I’ve learned to begin my housekeeping and other “quiet time” chores with a conscious effort to pray through them. Instead of letting the devil control the “inner conversation,” I hold a discussion with God. Oh, sure… He already knows everything I’m thinking and feeling – and exactly what I will say to Him. But He listens anyway. In return, He calms me. He takes my “worries” and says, “I’ll handle these,” and I am free to fill my heart with His joy, grace, mercy and peace.
The more I understand about worry, the more it makes me angry when I succumb to this emotion for even a few minutes. Besides fear, I think the devil must utilize worry about as often as anything to trip us up and trouble us with frustration and a lack of faith. And I will tell you that it is incredibly easy to fall into his trap and develop a good case of the “worries” before you even know what hit you! But we must fight this. Our life in Christ should have no room for worry… but our prayer life should be filled with moments where we hand our worries to God and allow Him to handle them. And this is key… we must hand them off – and let them go!
The way I see it, we have a 50-50 proposition here. We can let the devil control us and allow worry to fester and grow within us, or we can give our worries to God in faith-filled prayer… and trust His outcome. The former will leave us feeling unsettled and unsure, if not downright miserable. The latter can result in everlasting peace. Now which one of these options sounds better to you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I don’t know about you, but when I do “mindless” tasks like vacuuming or scrubbing the shower - and I have quiet time to think - my mind often races to some pretty crazy places. If I’m not careful, I can allow the devil to capture my thoughts. He will take me to places of worry… why does one person behave this way or that? Why did I say or do such a dumb thing? What if this or that happens? What will I do when I get too old to vacuum and scrub the shower? I know, I know… it’s all pretty ridiculous… and then I am mad at myself for allowing these thoughts to consume my time.
I’ve learned to begin my housekeeping and other “quiet time” chores with a conscious effort to pray through them. Instead of letting the devil control the “inner conversation,” I hold a discussion with God. Oh, sure… He already knows everything I’m thinking and feeling – and exactly what I will say to Him. But He listens anyway. In return, He calms me. He takes my “worries” and says, “I’ll handle these,” and I am free to fill my heart with His joy, grace, mercy and peace.
The more I understand about worry, the more it makes me angry when I succumb to this emotion for even a few minutes. Besides fear, I think the devil must utilize worry about as often as anything to trip us up and trouble us with frustration and a lack of faith. And I will tell you that it is incredibly easy to fall into his trap and develop a good case of the “worries” before you even know what hit you! But we must fight this. Our life in Christ should have no room for worry… but our prayer life should be filled with moments where we hand our worries to God and allow Him to handle them. And this is key… we must hand them off – and let them go!
The way I see it, we have a 50-50 proposition here. We can let the devil control us and allow worry to fester and grow within us, or we can give our worries to God in faith-filled prayer… and trust His outcome. The former will leave us feeling unsettled and unsure, if not downright miserable. The latter can result in everlasting peace. Now which one of these options sounds better to you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 25, 2011
Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our Christmas Eve meal was pretty well prepared and in the oven. We planned to eat at 3:30 p.m. My mother and her sister had picked up my grandmother at her assisted living facility, and I glanced up in time to see Mom’s Jeep pull into our driveway. Then I heard my mother yell for my husband to come quickly. My grandmother had fallen. I rushed outside to see her lying lifeless on the driveway. My husband rushed to call 911 as I hurried toward my Mam-ma. That’s when I saw the pool of blood forming under her head and trailing down our driveway.
I pressed a cloth tightly to her head, but the blood soaked through and poured on to the concrete underneath. The ambulance arrived, and my grandmother was transported to the hospital emergency room, where scans indicated no internal head or neck injury. Once the bandages were removed and everything was cleaned, she had a large hematoma (blood pocket) with a small puncture wound in the center. Her head was bandaged, and she was given pain medication, which made her woozy.
The doctor said there was no “medical justification” for admitting my grandmother to the hospital. I begged and pleaded, but he insisted he could not do this. I was at my wits’ end. I looked up and saw a sign beside a door where I was standing. It said “Chapel.” I stepped inside the chapel to call my husband and my mom. As we talked, I looked at plaques that hung on the wall. These contained scriptures, and the first thing I saw was Philippians 4:6-7. Then I read Lamentations 3:22-23, followed by Psalm 23, and finally... Jeremiah 29:11. I suggest you look these last three passages up and read them. I said a prayer before I left the chapel and asked God to handle this… to take my worries and fretting and give me peace about this situation.
When I stepped back into my grandmother’s exam room, I was visibly upset… and the nurse who had been treating my grandmother offered… “I can ask the ER doctor to call the doctor on duty upstairs and see if he will admit your grandmother - at least overnight.” She didn’t make any promises, but it was worth a shot. A few minutes later, the nurse returned to tell me that my grandmother was being admitted.
I cannot tell you the overwhelming peace and relief that flooded me when the nurse offered to talk with the doctors. I cannot begin to express how I felt when she returned to tell me that the doctor had agreed. I was so grateful to God for working out what I could not… and for directing me into that chapel for a few minutes. There, as I read those scripture passages, God gave me what I needed… peace and a sense of calmness, reassurance that He was in control… hope and love overflowing.
This is the gift of Christmas. It’s not found in the stockings, tinsel and beautifully wrapped packages. The love of our Heavenly Father, expressed by the birth, life and death of His only Son, surrounds us and meets our every need. All we have to do is open our heart and receive Him.
I was prepared to lose my grandmother on our driveway. I felt God’s peace and calm there in a way I cannot begin to describe. But I am grateful that He chose to wait for another place and time for this inevitable event. Meanwhile, I am reminded once again that God is in control… that I am His, and He blankets me with His love, grace and peace. My prayer for you this Christmas Day is that you feel His presence, too. I hope your holiday has been less “eventful,” and that you have celebrated the love of Christ with those most dear to you. Merry Christmas!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our Christmas Eve meal was pretty well prepared and in the oven. We planned to eat at 3:30 p.m. My mother and her sister had picked up my grandmother at her assisted living facility, and I glanced up in time to see Mom’s Jeep pull into our driveway. Then I heard my mother yell for my husband to come quickly. My grandmother had fallen. I rushed outside to see her lying lifeless on the driveway. My husband rushed to call 911 as I hurried toward my Mam-ma. That’s when I saw the pool of blood forming under her head and trailing down our driveway.
I pressed a cloth tightly to her head, but the blood soaked through and poured on to the concrete underneath. The ambulance arrived, and my grandmother was transported to the hospital emergency room, where scans indicated no internal head or neck injury. Once the bandages were removed and everything was cleaned, she had a large hematoma (blood pocket) with a small puncture wound in the center. Her head was bandaged, and she was given pain medication, which made her woozy.
The doctor said there was no “medical justification” for admitting my grandmother to the hospital. I begged and pleaded, but he insisted he could not do this. I was at my wits’ end. I looked up and saw a sign beside a door where I was standing. It said “Chapel.” I stepped inside the chapel to call my husband and my mom. As we talked, I looked at plaques that hung on the wall. These contained scriptures, and the first thing I saw was Philippians 4:6-7. Then I read Lamentations 3:22-23, followed by Psalm 23, and finally... Jeremiah 29:11. I suggest you look these last three passages up and read them. I said a prayer before I left the chapel and asked God to handle this… to take my worries and fretting and give me peace about this situation.
When I stepped back into my grandmother’s exam room, I was visibly upset… and the nurse who had been treating my grandmother offered… “I can ask the ER doctor to call the doctor on duty upstairs and see if he will admit your grandmother - at least overnight.” She didn’t make any promises, but it was worth a shot. A few minutes later, the nurse returned to tell me that my grandmother was being admitted.
I cannot tell you the overwhelming peace and relief that flooded me when the nurse offered to talk with the doctors. I cannot begin to express how I felt when she returned to tell me that the doctor had agreed. I was so grateful to God for working out what I could not… and for directing me into that chapel for a few minutes. There, as I read those scripture passages, God gave me what I needed… peace and a sense of calmness, reassurance that He was in control… hope and love overflowing.
This is the gift of Christmas. It’s not found in the stockings, tinsel and beautifully wrapped packages. The love of our Heavenly Father, expressed by the birth, life and death of His only Son, surrounds us and meets our every need. All we have to do is open our heart and receive Him.
I was prepared to lose my grandmother on our driveway. I felt God’s peace and calm there in a way I cannot begin to describe. But I am grateful that He chose to wait for another place and time for this inevitable event. Meanwhile, I am reminded once again that God is in control… that I am His, and He blankets me with His love, grace and peace. My prayer for you this Christmas Day is that you feel His presence, too. I hope your holiday has been less “eventful,” and that you have celebrated the love of Christ with those most dear to you. Merry Christmas!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 28, 2011
Psalm 139:23-24
Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about;
See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong — then guide me on the road to eternal life.
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.
Several decades ago, a man who lived in our community was driving a truck toward on a gravel road just outside of town. He topped a hill just as a small girl darted into the road… her mother following desperately behind her. There was no stopping, and nothing could prevent the man from hitting this little girl and killing her. The man was devastated by this tragic accident and carried the burden of his part in it for a long, long time.
I don’t know how old this man was when the accident happened, but he was young. What I do know is that he didn’t become a Christian until he was 87 years old. Think about this… for probably fifty years or more, this man carried the burden of what had happened without having a personal relationship with the only One who could truly comfort him. Bad things happen to all of us… things we have a very hard time understanding… things that break our hearts and cause us nights of fitful sleep and days of stress and worry. And the devil LOVES this! But God stands ready to help us through our burdens and heartaches. He knows our hearts and our thoughts – and He can help us sort out everything.
The young driver who gave his heart to Jesus at age 87 didn’t live much longer after that… but those were happy, peaceful months. With God’s help, he was able to forgive himself for all of the baggage that had weighed him down those many decades. He was able to anticipate spending Eternity in peace with his Heavenly Father, where I’m betting he was also welcomed by the little girl from long ago.
I will never forget when this man passed away. A visitation was held the day before the funeral, and the first person through the doors was the father of that little girl. This man was a faith-filled Christian who was known throughout our community for his service to the LORD and his fellow man. Clearly he held no ill will toward the driver. He had asked God at an early age to examine his heart and keep him on the right path… and I like to think God gave him the comfort, peace and courage to endure the death of his child and have compassion for this driver.
A lot of what happens to us seems accidental, but God can use even the worst events for His glory, if we will let Him. In this case, two things were crystal clear to me… 1) God never stops chasing after us… it’s never too late to turn to Him; and 2) God can give us strength to offer love and forgiveness where we never thought we could… to find peace and comfort in even the worst circumstances… and to serve Him with all our heart even when the burdens of life get in the way.
Have you invited God to examine you today and set you on a path toward Eternity? Have you given your heart to Jesus and asked Him to forgive your sins and fill you with His Holy Spirit? Don’t wait 87 years… or even another minute! Let God have control of your heart today. Allow Him to help you through whatever life may bring… and give you comfort and peace.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about;
See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong — then guide me on the road to eternal life.
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.
Several decades ago, a man who lived in our community was driving a truck toward on a gravel road just outside of town. He topped a hill just as a small girl darted into the road… her mother following desperately behind her. There was no stopping, and nothing could prevent the man from hitting this little girl and killing her. The man was devastated by this tragic accident and carried the burden of his part in it for a long, long time.
I don’t know how old this man was when the accident happened, but he was young. What I do know is that he didn’t become a Christian until he was 87 years old. Think about this… for probably fifty years or more, this man carried the burden of what had happened without having a personal relationship with the only One who could truly comfort him. Bad things happen to all of us… things we have a very hard time understanding… things that break our hearts and cause us nights of fitful sleep and days of stress and worry. And the devil LOVES this! But God stands ready to help us through our burdens and heartaches. He knows our hearts and our thoughts – and He can help us sort out everything.
The young driver who gave his heart to Jesus at age 87 didn’t live much longer after that… but those were happy, peaceful months. With God’s help, he was able to forgive himself for all of the baggage that had weighed him down those many decades. He was able to anticipate spending Eternity in peace with his Heavenly Father, where I’m betting he was also welcomed by the little girl from long ago.
I will never forget when this man passed away. A visitation was held the day before the funeral, and the first person through the doors was the father of that little girl. This man was a faith-filled Christian who was known throughout our community for his service to the LORD and his fellow man. Clearly he held no ill will toward the driver. He had asked God at an early age to examine his heart and keep him on the right path… and I like to think God gave him the comfort, peace and courage to endure the death of his child and have compassion for this driver.
A lot of what happens to us seems accidental, but God can use even the worst events for His glory, if we will let Him. In this case, two things were crystal clear to me… 1) God never stops chasing after us… it’s never too late to turn to Him; and 2) God can give us strength to offer love and forgiveness where we never thought we could… to find peace and comfort in even the worst circumstances… and to serve Him with all our heart even when the burdens of life get in the way.
Have you invited God to examine you today and set you on a path toward Eternity? Have you given your heart to Jesus and asked Him to forgive your sins and fill you with His Holy Spirit? Don’t wait 87 years… or even another minute! Let God have control of your heart today. Allow Him to help you through whatever life may bring… and give you comfort and peace.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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