1 John 2:15-17
Don’t love the world or anything that
belongs to the world. If you love the world, you cannot love the
Father. Our foolish pride comes from this world, and so do our selfish
desires and our desire to have everything we see. None of this comes
from the Father. The world and the desires it causes are disappearing.
But if we obey God, we will live forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I
have been doing a lot of sorting in the last several weeks…sorting
through books and other items at my mother’s house…sorting through
closets and drawers at my own home as I try to reduce clutter and get
organized…sorting through files on my computer in an attempt to clean
out the junk and get things in proper order. And in doing all of this, I
have learned something important…we place too much value on the wrong things.
As
I’ve gone through my mother’s belongings, I’ve realized that I cannot
keep them all…and many of the items that held importance for her do not
mean the same thing to me. I read several online articles that suggest
that we often attach significance to items that belonged to our parents
or another loved one, because we see those things as an extension of
that person. And this is misplaced attachment. It’s hard to see the
“treasures” that our loved ones saved and realize that they do not
represent this person – and that our feelings toward him/her will not be
diminished if we let them go. I am a slow learner, so I’m sure I have
brought home more than I should have…and someday we either have to sort
through it again – or someone else will!
Here’s the thing…as much
as I appreciate my mother’s writings…her books and journals, music,
dishes and the family heirlooms she saved for me…they are not what
defined her. I would give up every single item to spend even one hour
sitting on a bench with Mother - watching Timothy, Zola and Nathan play
in her back yard. We could revel in their joy…and what it took to get
to this point in our lives. We might not speak at all, but there would
be a shared understanding of how God intertwined our lives - and how
much we all love each other. THIS would be important!
As my
mother lay dying, what was significant was to sit and hold her hand…to
read her messages to her and talk with her when she was awake…to tell
her over and over how much I loved her. For that twelve days, the rest
of the world virtually stood still and/or ceased to exist for me. It
was simply a time to focus on her – on US – and to watch and listen as God orchestrated my mother’s last few days on earth.
This
is how it should be with us as Christians. Yes, we have to get up and
go to work. We have family obligations…shopping, houses to clean, meals
to prepare and laundry to do. Most certainly, we have a lot of things
that require our attention, to some degree. But we clutter life up with
so much more…material acquisitions, foolish pride, attempts to be
something or someone other than what God intended. We waste time on
worry, criticism, negativity and back-biting. We develop airs of
superiority and focus far too much on the physical image that we project
to others. And we pretty well kick God to the curb in the process.
Let’s
stop this nonsense! Let’s pare down and get real…and focus on what is
truly important. Let’s put God at the forefront of EVERYTHING we say
and do…and if He is not in it or for it…let’s let go and move in a
different direction. Let’s store up treasure of the relationship
kind…and truly focus on each other and meeting personal needs. Notice I
didn’t say desires or “wants”…but genuine needs – physically,
mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Let’s rearrange our priorities
to suit GOD…and discover how much more time we have – for EVERYTHING
else!
Spring is almost here. It’s time to do some major sorting
and decluttering – in every area of our lives. I’m in…what about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label keeping God in our heart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label keeping God in our heart. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for March 29, 2015
Luke 19:35-44
They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.
Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:
Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God’s name!
All’s well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!
Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”
But he said, “If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”
When the city came into view, he wept over it. “If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome God’s personal visit.”
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.
What a difference one week can make! In the course of seven days, Jesus was heralded as a hero, arrested, interrogated, beaten to a pulp, crucified…and He rose from the grave. Now that’s a week!
Our pastor likes to say that “you cannot travel from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without considering the cross.” And he is correct! But you also cannot safely and successfully travel a single step of many of “life’s journeys” unless you “recognize and welcome God’s personal visit”. Trials, physical abuse and executions were common in Jesus’ day. Believe me…the mere mortals who were convicted and crucified did not rise from the dead! And many of those who were so eager and anxious to laud Jesus as the Messiah on one Sunday were nowhere to be found by “Good Friday”.
Ours is not a solitary journey. We cannot base our faith on one happy day…or one devastating experience. We must embrace life as a whole...and trust God in every minute of it. We must “recognize and welcome God’s personal visit” in each and every aspect of our life…”the good, the bad, and the ugly”…and believe that He will lead us “from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday” - and see us through what lies in between.
As difficult as life seems some days, it can never compare to what Jesus endured for us on the cross. How can we ignore the One who did so much for us - for even one minute? Isn’t it time we welcomed God to reign in our lives and dwell in our hearts…each and every minute of the day? Will this be the Palm Sunday that you herald His presence…and give Him a permanent “home”?
©2015 Debbie Robus
They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.
Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:
Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God’s name!
All’s well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!
Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”
But he said, “If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”
When the city came into view, he wept over it. “If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome God’s personal visit.”
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.
What a difference one week can make! In the course of seven days, Jesus was heralded as a hero, arrested, interrogated, beaten to a pulp, crucified…and He rose from the grave. Now that’s a week!
Our pastor likes to say that “you cannot travel from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without considering the cross.” And he is correct! But you also cannot safely and successfully travel a single step of many of “life’s journeys” unless you “recognize and welcome God’s personal visit”. Trials, physical abuse and executions were common in Jesus’ day. Believe me…the mere mortals who were convicted and crucified did not rise from the dead! And many of those who were so eager and anxious to laud Jesus as the Messiah on one Sunday were nowhere to be found by “Good Friday”.
Ours is not a solitary journey. We cannot base our faith on one happy day…or one devastating experience. We must embrace life as a whole...and trust God in every minute of it. We must “recognize and welcome God’s personal visit” in each and every aspect of our life…”the good, the bad, and the ugly”…and believe that He will lead us “from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday” - and see us through what lies in between.
As difficult as life seems some days, it can never compare to what Jesus endured for us on the cross. How can we ignore the One who did so much for us - for even one minute? Isn’t it time we welcomed God to reign in our lives and dwell in our hearts…each and every minute of the day? Will this be the Palm Sunday that you herald His presence…and give Him a permanent “home”?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 27, 2015
Psalm 119:10-11
I have tried my best to find you—don’t let me wander off from your instructions. I have thought much about your words and stored them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Have you ever misplaced something and “hunted high and low” for it? When you finally DID locate whatever it was you were looking for, did you vow to put it in a safe place so that you would remember that it was there? Have you ever said, “Someday, when I least expect it, XYZ will show up”…and stopped looking for whatever you lost?
This is exactly what a lot of us do with God. I’m not talking about misplacing our Bible…although I’m sure that happens! I’m talking about getting so caught up in our own desires and agendas and pushing God to the “back burner” to the point that He ultimately ends up under a pile of “stuff”, shoved to the corner. And the first thing you know it, we wonder, “Where did God go?” Sadly, some of us leave Him there and assume that we’ll “find Him when we really need Him”!
The truth is that God didn’t go anywhere. We wandered off! And a lot of us have found our way back to God and said, “I’m ever going to let You go again!” But then things happen, “life” gets in the way, and we slip back into old habits.
We are reminded in this verse from Psalm 119 that we must make every effort to see that this doesn’t happen! We must stay in constant fellowship with God…seek His word and wisdom…rest in His peace and comfort…and diligently pursue His will for our lives. We must keep God in a place where we always know that He is there – and we must make sure that we never “lose” Him again.
Unlike some of our things that get “buried” or “lost”, God is not hard to find. He is only a whisper away. Will this be the day that you call to Him and give Him a place of permanent prominence in your life, once and for all?
©2015 Debbie Robus
I have tried my best to find you—don’t let me wander off from your instructions. I have thought much about your words and stored them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Have you ever misplaced something and “hunted high and low” for it? When you finally DID locate whatever it was you were looking for, did you vow to put it in a safe place so that you would remember that it was there? Have you ever said, “Someday, when I least expect it, XYZ will show up”…and stopped looking for whatever you lost?
This is exactly what a lot of us do with God. I’m not talking about misplacing our Bible…although I’m sure that happens! I’m talking about getting so caught up in our own desires and agendas and pushing God to the “back burner” to the point that He ultimately ends up under a pile of “stuff”, shoved to the corner. And the first thing you know it, we wonder, “Where did God go?” Sadly, some of us leave Him there and assume that we’ll “find Him when we really need Him”!
The truth is that God didn’t go anywhere. We wandered off! And a lot of us have found our way back to God and said, “I’m ever going to let You go again!” But then things happen, “life” gets in the way, and we slip back into old habits.
We are reminded in this verse from Psalm 119 that we must make every effort to see that this doesn’t happen! We must stay in constant fellowship with God…seek His word and wisdom…rest in His peace and comfort…and diligently pursue His will for our lives. We must keep God in a place where we always know that He is there – and we must make sure that we never “lose” Him again.
Unlike some of our things that get “buried” or “lost”, God is not hard to find. He is only a whisper away. Will this be the day that you call to Him and give Him a place of permanent prominence in your life, once and for all?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 9, 2014
Isaiah 66:1
The Lord said:
Heaven is my throne;
the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house
could you build for me?
In what place will I rest?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A couple of days ago, one of my dad’s dearest friends joined him in Heaven. Mr. Donald was also one of my grandmother’s favorite people. She would be “on Cloud Nine” for days after a phone call or visit from Donald, who lived in Springfield, Missouri. So I said to Mom, “I have no doubt that Mr. Donald was not in heaven very long before Mam-ma Polly fired up the stove and cooked him a pot of chicken and dumplings and made him a pan of hot rolls.” She replied, “Oh, if we only knew that heaven is like that. We try to comprehend it in our physical terms, but we truly do not know. I just know it’s wonderful — and we will all be happy.”
It is no secret that I watch a lot of “house and garden” shows. My particular favorites are the ones where a house with “good bones” is revamped to create something modern, fresh, beautiful…and inviting. The end result is not always perfect…sometimes not every room gets a makeover. But the home is welcoming…restful…and a place where one wants to spend time.
We are like those “flipped” or remodeled homes. Our hearts will never be as perfect as heaven. There will always be a room or two that could use work. But in total, we can do enough updating and refurbishing to make an inviting and respectable home in which the Holy Spirit can rest.
In my mind, Heaven is a place where there is continual joy, peace, and plenty of chicken and dumplings, hot rolls, and chocolate! Everything is perfect in Heaven – the Bible assures us of that. I picture my loved ones there, happily serving the LORD and enjoying impeccable health, fitness and perpetual youthfulness. Everyone is rested and relaxed – and filled with joy. All of our pets are there, and everyone gets along…all the time! Nobody is stressed or frustrated…and most certainly, no one is angry or heartbroken! No wonder Jesus says, “I have perfection,” and asks us…”How can you compete? What do YOU bring to the table?”
So the question for today is… “What DO we bring to the LORD’s table?” Have we made every effort to clean up, refresh and refurbish our heart so that it is a suitable dwelling place for the Holy Spirit?
You know how you go somewhere overnight and stop at a hotel or motel…and maybe it’s not as neat and clean as you would prefer – or certainly as nice and comfortable as your own home? If you go to a five-star hotel, you may rest and relax in the lap of luxury…but it still won’t be perfect. Think of this as you prepare your heart for Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Don’t offer Jesus a “just-good-enough” room in your heart. Give Him “five-star” accommodations! Mom is right…we truly do not know what Heaven is like, for certain. But we know it is perfect…home to our Heavenly Father – and hopefully, our ultimate destination! For now, we cannot be there with Him…but His Holy Spirit can rest in our heart...if we will offer Him our very best rooms. What sort of lodging have you prepared for God? Is your heart a place where He wants to rest?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The Lord said:
Heaven is my throne;
the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house
could you build for me?
In what place will I rest?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A couple of days ago, one of my dad’s dearest friends joined him in Heaven. Mr. Donald was also one of my grandmother’s favorite people. She would be “on Cloud Nine” for days after a phone call or visit from Donald, who lived in Springfield, Missouri. So I said to Mom, “I have no doubt that Mr. Donald was not in heaven very long before Mam-ma Polly fired up the stove and cooked him a pot of chicken and dumplings and made him a pan of hot rolls.” She replied, “Oh, if we only knew that heaven is like that. We try to comprehend it in our physical terms, but we truly do not know. I just know it’s wonderful — and we will all be happy.”
It is no secret that I watch a lot of “house and garden” shows. My particular favorites are the ones where a house with “good bones” is revamped to create something modern, fresh, beautiful…and inviting. The end result is not always perfect…sometimes not every room gets a makeover. But the home is welcoming…restful…and a place where one wants to spend time.
We are like those “flipped” or remodeled homes. Our hearts will never be as perfect as heaven. There will always be a room or two that could use work. But in total, we can do enough updating and refurbishing to make an inviting and respectable home in which the Holy Spirit can rest.
In my mind, Heaven is a place where there is continual joy, peace, and plenty of chicken and dumplings, hot rolls, and chocolate! Everything is perfect in Heaven – the Bible assures us of that. I picture my loved ones there, happily serving the LORD and enjoying impeccable health, fitness and perpetual youthfulness. Everyone is rested and relaxed – and filled with joy. All of our pets are there, and everyone gets along…all the time! Nobody is stressed or frustrated…and most certainly, no one is angry or heartbroken! No wonder Jesus says, “I have perfection,” and asks us…”How can you compete? What do YOU bring to the table?”
So the question for today is… “What DO we bring to the LORD’s table?” Have we made every effort to clean up, refresh and refurbish our heart so that it is a suitable dwelling place for the Holy Spirit?
You know how you go somewhere overnight and stop at a hotel or motel…and maybe it’s not as neat and clean as you would prefer – or certainly as nice and comfortable as your own home? If you go to a five-star hotel, you may rest and relax in the lap of luxury…but it still won’t be perfect. Think of this as you prepare your heart for Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Don’t offer Jesus a “just-good-enough” room in your heart. Give Him “five-star” accommodations! Mom is right…we truly do not know what Heaven is like, for certain. But we know it is perfect…home to our Heavenly Father – and hopefully, our ultimate destination! For now, we cannot be there with Him…but His Holy Spirit can rest in our heart...if we will offer Him our very best rooms. What sort of lodging have you prepared for God? Is your heart a place where He wants to rest?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 1, 2014
Exodus 33:14-17
The Lord said, "I will go with you and give you peace."
Then Moses replied, "If you aren't going with us, please don't make us leave this place. But if you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth."
So the Lord told him, "I will do what you have asked, because I am your friend and I am pleased with you."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
"I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful one-hundred percent!"
In the Dr. Seuss book, Horton Hatches the Egg, an elephant named Horton is tricked by a lazy bird named Mayzie into sitting on an egg. Mayzie says she is taking a little break, but in actuality, she is irresponsible and flies away permanently to live in Palm Beach! Horton has promised to watch over this egg, despite all sorts of trials and tribulations. Ultimately, Horton and the nest are sent packing with a traveling circus, but he refuses to leave his post until the egg hatches. Mayzie visits the circus in Florida and demands to have her nearly-hatched egg back, but Horton refuses. Ultimately, he and the new "elephant bird" are returned to the jungle, and Mayzie's irresponsibility and disloyalty get her nothing in return.
Have you ever had someone give you "lip service"...pretend to go along with your ideas, plans or an activity, only to realize that their heart was not in it? Maybe you know someone who tells you what you want to hear and then does the exact opposite when your back is turned - or throws up his/her hands and walks away when things get a little rough. It's frustrating, to say the least...and often hurtful. Wouldn't you honestly rather know up front that this person is not with you...that you are not supported...that there is no spirit of kindness, allegiance or respect for you and/or the project?
If we are honest, sometimes we know this without having to be told...and we all limp along like everything is fine - even when we know it isn't. We "put on a good face". But in our hearts, we know the truth..and this can be a troublesome, even devastating reality that often leads to heartache.
Isn't it great to know that we don't have to worry about this with God...that He says what He means and means what He says?! Doesn't it feel amazing to know that God will never desert us...that even when things get rough - even if life gets so crazy that we feel like we've been sent packing with a traveling circus...God is still right there beside us? Aren't you glad to know that God would never agree with us to our faces and then stab us in the back when we weren't looking?
God is always open and honest with us. If we strike out on our own and try to do things our way - and we know in our gut that He does not agree or approve - we feel it! If we fail to be obedient...serve ourselves and let the devil guide our steps...we can sense God's distance. He doesn't make any secret of that! He never completely deserts us...but when we feel God standing in the wings as we venture ahead, we can be pretty sure that it's because He does not approve of where we are going!
The solution is simple. All we have to do is to listen for God's voice...follow His commands...serve Him obediently...and we can rest in the confidence that He will be right beside us, every step of the way. We won't have to wonder...we won't have to worry...we will know that He is there. We can rely on His strength, power, encouragement, and care to get us through the rough times and challenges...and to share in the joys and successes along the way. He will do the heavy lifting and support us through the mundane "nesting" if we are faithful like Horton. But if we run away or abuse His loyalty, like Mayzie, we will lose in the end.
I am grateful to know that I have such a loving, caring Heavenly Father...that I am always supported and encouraged by a Friend who will never ever leave me or give me "lip service". I hope that you are blessed with this same relationship - that my "Forever Friend" is yours, as well. He can be...all you have to do is ask. Each of us can enjoy a relationship with the One who always says what He means and means what He says...and I'm not talking about an elephant named Horton! Won't you ask God to come with you on life's journey...and give you peace? Aren't you ready for His restful friendship?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The Lord said, "I will go with you and give you peace."
Then Moses replied, "If you aren't going with us, please don't make us leave this place. But if you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth."
So the Lord told him, "I will do what you have asked, because I am your friend and I am pleased with you."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
"I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful one-hundred percent!"
― Dr. Seuss, Horton Hatches the Egg
In the Dr. Seuss book, Horton Hatches the Egg, an elephant named Horton is tricked by a lazy bird named Mayzie into sitting on an egg. Mayzie says she is taking a little break, but in actuality, she is irresponsible and flies away permanently to live in Palm Beach! Horton has promised to watch over this egg, despite all sorts of trials and tribulations. Ultimately, Horton and the nest are sent packing with a traveling circus, but he refuses to leave his post until the egg hatches. Mayzie visits the circus in Florida and demands to have her nearly-hatched egg back, but Horton refuses. Ultimately, he and the new "elephant bird" are returned to the jungle, and Mayzie's irresponsibility and disloyalty get her nothing in return.
Have you ever had someone give you "lip service"...pretend to go along with your ideas, plans or an activity, only to realize that their heart was not in it? Maybe you know someone who tells you what you want to hear and then does the exact opposite when your back is turned - or throws up his/her hands and walks away when things get a little rough. It's frustrating, to say the least...and often hurtful. Wouldn't you honestly rather know up front that this person is not with you...that you are not supported...that there is no spirit of kindness, allegiance or respect for you and/or the project?
If we are honest, sometimes we know this without having to be told...and we all limp along like everything is fine - even when we know it isn't. We "put on a good face". But in our hearts, we know the truth..and this can be a troublesome, even devastating reality that often leads to heartache.
Isn't it great to know that we don't have to worry about this with God...that He says what He means and means what He says?! Doesn't it feel amazing to know that God will never desert us...that even when things get rough - even if life gets so crazy that we feel like we've been sent packing with a traveling circus...God is still right there beside us? Aren't you glad to know that God would never agree with us to our faces and then stab us in the back when we weren't looking?
God is always open and honest with us. If we strike out on our own and try to do things our way - and we know in our gut that He does not agree or approve - we feel it! If we fail to be obedient...serve ourselves and let the devil guide our steps...we can sense God's distance. He doesn't make any secret of that! He never completely deserts us...but when we feel God standing in the wings as we venture ahead, we can be pretty sure that it's because He does not approve of where we are going!
The solution is simple. All we have to do is to listen for God's voice...follow His commands...serve Him obediently...and we can rest in the confidence that He will be right beside us, every step of the way. We won't have to wonder...we won't have to worry...we will know that He is there. We can rely on His strength, power, encouragement, and care to get us through the rough times and challenges...and to share in the joys and successes along the way. He will do the heavy lifting and support us through the mundane "nesting" if we are faithful like Horton. But if we run away or abuse His loyalty, like Mayzie, we will lose in the end.
I am grateful to know that I have such a loving, caring Heavenly Father...that I am always supported and encouraged by a Friend who will never ever leave me or give me "lip service". I hope that you are blessed with this same relationship - that my "Forever Friend" is yours, as well. He can be...all you have to do is ask. Each of us can enjoy a relationship with the One who always says what He means and means what He says...and I'm not talking about an elephant named Horton! Won't you ask God to come with you on life's journey...and give you peace? Aren't you ready for His restful friendship?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 18, 2014
Psalm 19:1-4
The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God. Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their message reaches out to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it…
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When I was a little girl, I remember how dark it was at my grandparents’ farm at night. They lived “out in the country”…with a dense woods bordering one side of their little house and across the dirt road…and pasture land on the other two sides. I think I may have been in college when the road in front of their house was paved…and it might have even happened later than that. The highway that lay behind their house was only a few acres away…but because of the thick woods that served as a buffer, it seemed like this road was miles to the north. The nights were not only incredibly dark…it was also very quiet, except for wildlife like whippoorwills, owls, and an occasional cow, dog, or rooster.
By the mid-nineties, Greg and I had owned the farm for several years, and the “farm” description now only referred to its former purpose. The barn and a couple of rusting implements were all that remained to indicate that cattle had once filled the pastures and barn lot…and that crops grew in the terraced fields. One lone pear tree was all that was left of the orchard in which I stood on my horse’s saddle as a young girl and picked apples. The hen house was gone, along with the “smoke house” where we stacked firewood to keep it dry for the winter – and most of the fencing had been removed.
Greg and I built a new house smack in the middle of the pasture, and we had virtually a 360-degree view of “wide open spaces”. We watched sunrises and full moon rises in the back yard and sunsets in the front yard. Even though much of the dense forest had been removed over time, and the roads had been paved (adding to the noise), there were still more stars in the sky on a clear night than anyone could count…and the views of “the heavens” were spectacular. I called it my “Montana Sky”.
We loved the farm and the 15+ years we lived there. But the time came when a move was necessary, so we made the difficult decision to sell and relocate. And we have lived in two other houses since then…each with their own beautiful surroundings. In our present home, we once again have views of the heavens. They are not as “wide-open” as the one we once enjoyed…but the vista is extensive, just the same. I’ll admit…I will always have a special place in my heart for the farm of my childhood…the place where we built our “dream home” and enjoyed many happy years.
But here’s the thing…the memories we created at the farm will always be with us. And whether we can physically see them or not, the “heavens” are forever in place, creating a canopy over us. We are encompassed by God’s craftsmanship and glory. I love the views from our windows. I never tire of it. I enjoy the continual reminder of God’s glory and handiwork. But I know that the heavens will never change or disappear…and God will always be with me, regardless of where I live.
When I grow melancholy for the farm and an earlier time in my life, I think of all of the wonderful days we enjoyed there. We will always have our memories. They have traveled with me in my heart from house to house! And God is always with me, too. There is evidence in every corner of my life – every instance and circumstance. I am so grateful for His continual presence…and the assurance that wherever I go, there He will be, also.
Do you feel the continual presence of God? Do you recognize His artisanship and the canopy of His protection over your own life…and in your surroundings? Is the God of the heavens the LORD of your life? Don’t you think it’s time He is?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God. Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their message reaches out to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it…
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When I was a little girl, I remember how dark it was at my grandparents’ farm at night. They lived “out in the country”…with a dense woods bordering one side of their little house and across the dirt road…and pasture land on the other two sides. I think I may have been in college when the road in front of their house was paved…and it might have even happened later than that. The highway that lay behind their house was only a few acres away…but because of the thick woods that served as a buffer, it seemed like this road was miles to the north. The nights were not only incredibly dark…it was also very quiet, except for wildlife like whippoorwills, owls, and an occasional cow, dog, or rooster.
By the mid-nineties, Greg and I had owned the farm for several years, and the “farm” description now only referred to its former purpose. The barn and a couple of rusting implements were all that remained to indicate that cattle had once filled the pastures and barn lot…and that crops grew in the terraced fields. One lone pear tree was all that was left of the orchard in which I stood on my horse’s saddle as a young girl and picked apples. The hen house was gone, along with the “smoke house” where we stacked firewood to keep it dry for the winter – and most of the fencing had been removed.
Greg and I built a new house smack in the middle of the pasture, and we had virtually a 360-degree view of “wide open spaces”. We watched sunrises and full moon rises in the back yard and sunsets in the front yard. Even though much of the dense forest had been removed over time, and the roads had been paved (adding to the noise), there were still more stars in the sky on a clear night than anyone could count…and the views of “the heavens” were spectacular. I called it my “Montana Sky”.
We loved the farm and the 15+ years we lived there. But the time came when a move was necessary, so we made the difficult decision to sell and relocate. And we have lived in two other houses since then…each with their own beautiful surroundings. In our present home, we once again have views of the heavens. They are not as “wide-open” as the one we once enjoyed…but the vista is extensive, just the same. I’ll admit…I will always have a special place in my heart for the farm of my childhood…the place where we built our “dream home” and enjoyed many happy years.
But here’s the thing…the memories we created at the farm will always be with us. And whether we can physically see them or not, the “heavens” are forever in place, creating a canopy over us. We are encompassed by God’s craftsmanship and glory. I love the views from our windows. I never tire of it. I enjoy the continual reminder of God’s glory and handiwork. But I know that the heavens will never change or disappear…and God will always be with me, regardless of where I live.
When I grow melancholy for the farm and an earlier time in my life, I think of all of the wonderful days we enjoyed there. We will always have our memories. They have traveled with me in my heart from house to house! And God is always with me, too. There is evidence in every corner of my life – every instance and circumstance. I am so grateful for His continual presence…and the assurance that wherever I go, there He will be, also.
Do you feel the continual presence of God? Do you recognize His artisanship and the canopy of His protection over your own life…and in your surroundings? Is the God of the heavens the LORD of your life? Don’t you think it’s time He is?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 10, 2012
John 15:7
Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few years ago on Valentine’s Day, my husband gave me a planter filled with beautiful red tulips. After the blooms had faded, I planted the bulbs in our yard. The following year, the flowers sprouted, and we once again enjoyed the bright red flowers… for about a day. One morning I walked out in the yard, and there were my tulip stems. It looked as if someone had taken scissors and snipped every single red bloom from atop its green stalk. The culprits were deer! Apparently deer LOVE tulip blooms, and they had neatly snipped away mine! I had a similar problem this past summer with a pesky squirrel and some begonias on my back porch. The squirrel wanted my ceramic pots full of dirt for his stash of hickory nuts, so he kept digging out the begonias and tossing them aside – and making a royal mess in the process!
Here’s my dilemma… I planted the seed, but apparently, I didn’t do enough to nurture and protect it. So these pesky backyard critters were able to have a field day! Isn’t this how we do in our Spiritual life? We join to Christ… we study His word and allow the seed of God’s wisdom to be planted in us… but then we don’t do enough to guard and nurture that seed. We allow pesky critters – a.k.a. the devil – to get into our heart and dig around… and often he creates a huge mess there.
In recent days, I’ve really tried to “pray the scriptures.” In other words, instead of asking for healing for my friend Joe, I’ve reminded God that Psalm 103:3 tells us…” The LORD forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick”… and I am asking Him to heal Joe according to His word. I have asked for strength and courage in my own life according to Philippians 4:13, which says that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” I have praised God with the words of Psalm 100:5…” The LORD is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever.”
By communicating with God in this manner, I am using the wisdom of His word to root the seeds of His promises deeply within my heart. I am not throwing God’s words back at Him… I am letting Him know that I am starting to “get it!” And I am asking Him to answer my prayers, because I have become a part of Him and trust that He will bless my faithfulness and commitment to Him.
I no longer try to grow tulips in the yard. Unlike my confidence in God to help me fight the devil, I don’t think I have the time and energy to guard a patch of flowers against persistent, hungry deer! I may take another stab this summer at growing begonias on the porch. If I do, I will be armed with some protective netting, or pepper spray… or maybe even a slingshot! After all, Ephesians 6:11 reminds us to…” Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks.”
How deeply rooted is your “seed?” How fortified is your arsenal of tools to fight the devil? How confident are you that what you have planted comes from God’s word and will bear “good fruit” in the form of answers to your prayers? Our prayer life should be based on confidence that when we ask God for something, “it shall be done,” according to His will. When we plant the seed of God’s wisdom in our heart and keep it there, we should have no trouble accomplishing all that He desires for us… and more than we could ever imagine on our own!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few years ago on Valentine’s Day, my husband gave me a planter filled with beautiful red tulips. After the blooms had faded, I planted the bulbs in our yard. The following year, the flowers sprouted, and we once again enjoyed the bright red flowers… for about a day. One morning I walked out in the yard, and there were my tulip stems. It looked as if someone had taken scissors and snipped every single red bloom from atop its green stalk. The culprits were deer! Apparently deer LOVE tulip blooms, and they had neatly snipped away mine! I had a similar problem this past summer with a pesky squirrel and some begonias on my back porch. The squirrel wanted my ceramic pots full of dirt for his stash of hickory nuts, so he kept digging out the begonias and tossing them aside – and making a royal mess in the process!
Here’s my dilemma… I planted the seed, but apparently, I didn’t do enough to nurture and protect it. So these pesky backyard critters were able to have a field day! Isn’t this how we do in our Spiritual life? We join to Christ… we study His word and allow the seed of God’s wisdom to be planted in us… but then we don’t do enough to guard and nurture that seed. We allow pesky critters – a.k.a. the devil – to get into our heart and dig around… and often he creates a huge mess there.
In recent days, I’ve really tried to “pray the scriptures.” In other words, instead of asking for healing for my friend Joe, I’ve reminded God that Psalm 103:3 tells us…” The LORD forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick”… and I am asking Him to heal Joe according to His word. I have asked for strength and courage in my own life according to Philippians 4:13, which says that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” I have praised God with the words of Psalm 100:5…” The LORD is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever.”
By communicating with God in this manner, I am using the wisdom of His word to root the seeds of His promises deeply within my heart. I am not throwing God’s words back at Him… I am letting Him know that I am starting to “get it!” And I am asking Him to answer my prayers, because I have become a part of Him and trust that He will bless my faithfulness and commitment to Him.
I no longer try to grow tulips in the yard. Unlike my confidence in God to help me fight the devil, I don’t think I have the time and energy to guard a patch of flowers against persistent, hungry deer! I may take another stab this summer at growing begonias on the porch. If I do, I will be armed with some protective netting, or pepper spray… or maybe even a slingshot! After all, Ephesians 6:11 reminds us to…” Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks.”
How deeply rooted is your “seed?” How fortified is your arsenal of tools to fight the devil? How confident are you that what you have planted comes from God’s word and will bear “good fruit” in the form of answers to your prayers? Our prayer life should be based on confidence that when we ask God for something, “it shall be done,” according to His will. When we plant the seed of God’s wisdom in our heart and keep it there, we should have no trouble accomplishing all that He desires for us… and more than we could ever imagine on our own!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 27, 2011
Psalm 121:5-8
The LORD is your protector, there at your right side to shade you from the sun. You won't be harmed by the sun during the day or by the moon at night. The LORD will protect you and keep you safe from all dangers. The LORD will protect you now and always wherever you go.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have very pale skin… so pale that in certain clothing and colors, people have actually asked me if I was feeling well! So I enjoyed many years of having a nice tan… until the day I found a spot on my collarbone. The doctor assured me it was probably nothing, as he sliced it off and sent it to a lab for evaluation. He called a few days later to say, “You were right to come see me. That was pre-cancerous… we got it just in time.” My deliberate tanning days were over.
This summer, my husband and I took a day trip to Mtn. View on the July 4th weekend. We walked through the craft village at the Ozark Folk Center on a very hot, sunny afternoon. I would say we spent less than 2 hours dashing from one air conditioned building to another to observe the crafters. That night when we got home, I noticed I was sporting a little sunburn that outlined where my shirt had hung. Just stepping out unprotected into the bright sunlight for a few minutes between buildings had exposed me to the dangers of the harmful rays and burned my skin.
Think about this for a minute… imagine venturing out into the world without the protection of God. If we try to make it on our own… away from God’s amazing grace and care, we are leaving room for the devil to make all sorts of inroads. And just as a few minutes in the sun left me vulnerable to a burn… even a few minutes without God’s protection leaves you wide open for all sorts of trouble.
God wants to be our shield night and day. He loves us and wants to care for us like an SPF50 sunscreen. But we have to invite Him to do so. We have to want His protection. He will not force Himself upon us.
I know we don’t want to hear this, but avoiding direct sunlight on our skin (i.e. tanning) is a good idea. I have to remember to apply sunscreen when I think I will be outside… and frankly, as we lose more and more ozone, a daily dose – just in case - is a good idea. It’s the same with God… don’t leave home without His protection. Better yet, wear it all the time! And remember to thank Him for his around-the-clock care and vigilance on your behalf. Are you protected today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
The LORD is your protector, there at your right side to shade you from the sun. You won't be harmed by the sun during the day or by the moon at night. The LORD will protect you and keep you safe from all dangers. The LORD will protect you now and always wherever you go.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have very pale skin… so pale that in certain clothing and colors, people have actually asked me if I was feeling well! So I enjoyed many years of having a nice tan… until the day I found a spot on my collarbone. The doctor assured me it was probably nothing, as he sliced it off and sent it to a lab for evaluation. He called a few days later to say, “You were right to come see me. That was pre-cancerous… we got it just in time.” My deliberate tanning days were over.
This summer, my husband and I took a day trip to Mtn. View on the July 4th weekend. We walked through the craft village at the Ozark Folk Center on a very hot, sunny afternoon. I would say we spent less than 2 hours dashing from one air conditioned building to another to observe the crafters. That night when we got home, I noticed I was sporting a little sunburn that outlined where my shirt had hung. Just stepping out unprotected into the bright sunlight for a few minutes between buildings had exposed me to the dangers of the harmful rays and burned my skin.
Think about this for a minute… imagine venturing out into the world without the protection of God. If we try to make it on our own… away from God’s amazing grace and care, we are leaving room for the devil to make all sorts of inroads. And just as a few minutes in the sun left me vulnerable to a burn… even a few minutes without God’s protection leaves you wide open for all sorts of trouble.
God wants to be our shield night and day. He loves us and wants to care for us like an SPF50 sunscreen. But we have to invite Him to do so. We have to want His protection. He will not force Himself upon us.
I know we don’t want to hear this, but avoiding direct sunlight on our skin (i.e. tanning) is a good idea. I have to remember to apply sunscreen when I think I will be outside… and frankly, as we lose more and more ozone, a daily dose – just in case - is a good idea. It’s the same with God… don’t leave home without His protection. Better yet, wear it all the time! And remember to thank Him for his around-the-clock care and vigilance on your behalf. Are you protected today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 3, 2011
Proverbs 20:27
Our inner thoughts are a lamp from the LORD, and they search our hearts.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We all know that there are some things that escape our notice without a bright light. Doctors have strong lights to shine into our throats and take a look at our tonsils. Dentists use a bright light to better examine our teeth and gums. Even the “American Pickers” use a strong flashlight to search the depths of musty barn lofts, attics and drawers as they look for hidden treasures.
Often, I will shine a flashlight under the couch and pieces of furniture to locate missing toys that belong to Timothy or our cats. And sometimes, I’m surprised at what I find there… things I am almost embarrassed to describe, like big lint balls and such!
It comes as no surprise that we can’t see everything clearly in the dark. When it comes to matters of the heart, a few of us would probably prefer that no light ever shone there! We don’t want our “lint balls” illuminated! But if we are going to truly follow Jesus, we must have an open heart… one that is ready for inspection at all times.
The cool thing is that God knows what’s in our heart anyway, but His light helps expose our hidden motives… our impure thoughts and desires… and allows us to correct them. He doesn’t condemn us for what is in our heart…He just points His lamp at our “swollen tonsil” and says, “There’s your problem!” It’s up to us to make adjustments and corrections… and God is more than willing to help us with that, as well.
Our goal should be to get so comfortable and familiar with living for Jesus that we no longer have hidden motives or “lint ball desires.” The devil will never stop trying to plant these in our heart… but God will never stop shining His light on them, either! I pray that God is winning the war in your heart… that there is more of Him in your heart than the devil’s “lint balls.” How does your heart look today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Our inner thoughts are a lamp from the LORD, and they search our hearts.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We all know that there are some things that escape our notice without a bright light. Doctors have strong lights to shine into our throats and take a look at our tonsils. Dentists use a bright light to better examine our teeth and gums. Even the “American Pickers” use a strong flashlight to search the depths of musty barn lofts, attics and drawers as they look for hidden treasures.
Often, I will shine a flashlight under the couch and pieces of furniture to locate missing toys that belong to Timothy or our cats. And sometimes, I’m surprised at what I find there… things I am almost embarrassed to describe, like big lint balls and such!
It comes as no surprise that we can’t see everything clearly in the dark. When it comes to matters of the heart, a few of us would probably prefer that no light ever shone there! We don’t want our “lint balls” illuminated! But if we are going to truly follow Jesus, we must have an open heart… one that is ready for inspection at all times.
The cool thing is that God knows what’s in our heart anyway, but His light helps expose our hidden motives… our impure thoughts and desires… and allows us to correct them. He doesn’t condemn us for what is in our heart…He just points His lamp at our “swollen tonsil” and says, “There’s your problem!” It’s up to us to make adjustments and corrections… and God is more than willing to help us with that, as well.
Our goal should be to get so comfortable and familiar with living for Jesus that we no longer have hidden motives or “lint ball desires.” The devil will never stop trying to plant these in our heart… but God will never stop shining His light on them, either! I pray that God is winning the war in your heart… that there is more of Him in your heart than the devil’s “lint balls.” How does your heart look today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 25, 2011
Matthew 10:21-23
When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
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.
In the book of Genesis, the story is told of Joseph being left for dead in an abandoned well. Years later the brothers find themselves in great need… and their families in danger of starving. They travel to Egypt, where they meet a man who gives them food. They do not recognize their long-lost brother, Joseph, and when he reveals his identity, they are nearly scared to death! They figure Joseph is going to enact some sort of revenge on them for their dastardly deeds.
But Joseph tells his brothers that they need not fear. He explains that he feels God orchestrated all of this for a greater good… namely so that he would be in a position to offer the families food throughout a five-year famine. What these men intended for evil, God used for the greater good. The beauty is that Joseph recognized God – and His hand in all of this.
So often, we feel we are “victims of circumstances” – and we may quite literally feel the wrath of our family members and friends… particularly if they do not agree with our stance. It’s tough to stand up for our faith sometimes. It’s hard to tell your parents that their comments around the dinner table about someone of another race or lifestyle are unkind and ungodly. Choosing to help someone in need when your spouse is telling you not to spend the money can be difficult. Helping family members or friends who are in dire straits when everyone around you says, “You’re wasting your time, energy… and money,” takes guts.
Standing up and saying, “I’m not going to that party… and I wish you wouldn’t go, either,” may make you the butt of ridicule and jokes, but you still may have no business caving in and going to the party. Taking a friend’s keys and telling him/her, “You will not drive after you’ve been drinking” may take a lot of nerve, but it’s the right call. Choosing to foster children in your home because God led you to this decision… even when people are questioning your sanity… will lead to honor and blessings in the end. I think you get my point.
God never called us to an easy life… although when we rest in Him and let Him have our burdens, the load does lighten. Many times, choosing to follow the lead of our Heavenly Father will seem to “cost us” in this earthly realm. And often, the very people who claim to be followers of Jesus are the ones who hate and spew the most anger and venom. This is not because they don’t love you… or even that they don’t approve of what you are doing. Often it is because these people fear choosing for themselves what you have discovered to be true life in Christ!
I have often been amazed at how people who claim to love God and desire an abiding relationship with Him can be so negative, angry, bigoted, unkind, jealous, and narrow-minded. While I don’t mean to judge, I’ve about decided many of them either caved in to the pressure from others… or what they believe they have with God is far more superficial than they realize.
Don’t let this happen to you. Be a survivor. “Stand up, stand up for Jesus,” as the hymn says. Listen to God and follow His lead. Rest in his arms and the comfort of knowing you are honoring Him with your choices. Figure out where you need to become more like Him, and make the necessary changes. Remember Joseph… remember how God turned his situation around. Be assured that God is on your side, as well. Keep your faith, and remember that serving well will all be worth it in the end.
©2011 Debbie Robus
When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
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.
In the book of Genesis, the story is told of Joseph being left for dead in an abandoned well. Years later the brothers find themselves in great need… and their families in danger of starving. They travel to Egypt, where they meet a man who gives them food. They do not recognize their long-lost brother, Joseph, and when he reveals his identity, they are nearly scared to death! They figure Joseph is going to enact some sort of revenge on them for their dastardly deeds.
But Joseph tells his brothers that they need not fear. He explains that he feels God orchestrated all of this for a greater good… namely so that he would be in a position to offer the families food throughout a five-year famine. What these men intended for evil, God used for the greater good. The beauty is that Joseph recognized God – and His hand in all of this.
So often, we feel we are “victims of circumstances” – and we may quite literally feel the wrath of our family members and friends… particularly if they do not agree with our stance. It’s tough to stand up for our faith sometimes. It’s hard to tell your parents that their comments around the dinner table about someone of another race or lifestyle are unkind and ungodly. Choosing to help someone in need when your spouse is telling you not to spend the money can be difficult. Helping family members or friends who are in dire straits when everyone around you says, “You’re wasting your time, energy… and money,” takes guts.
Standing up and saying, “I’m not going to that party… and I wish you wouldn’t go, either,” may make you the butt of ridicule and jokes, but you still may have no business caving in and going to the party. Taking a friend’s keys and telling him/her, “You will not drive after you’ve been drinking” may take a lot of nerve, but it’s the right call. Choosing to foster children in your home because God led you to this decision… even when people are questioning your sanity… will lead to honor and blessings in the end. I think you get my point.
God never called us to an easy life… although when we rest in Him and let Him have our burdens, the load does lighten. Many times, choosing to follow the lead of our Heavenly Father will seem to “cost us” in this earthly realm. And often, the very people who claim to be followers of Jesus are the ones who hate and spew the most anger and venom. This is not because they don’t love you… or even that they don’t approve of what you are doing. Often it is because these people fear choosing for themselves what you have discovered to be true life in Christ!
I have often been amazed at how people who claim to love God and desire an abiding relationship with Him can be so negative, angry, bigoted, unkind, jealous, and narrow-minded. While I don’t mean to judge, I’ve about decided many of them either caved in to the pressure from others… or what they believe they have with God is far more superficial than they realize.
Don’t let this happen to you. Be a survivor. “Stand up, stand up for Jesus,” as the hymn says. Listen to God and follow His lead. Rest in his arms and the comfort of knowing you are honoring Him with your choices. Figure out where you need to become more like Him, and make the necessary changes. Remember Joseph… remember how God turned his situation around. Be assured that God is on your side, as well. Keep your faith, and remember that serving well will all be worth it in the end.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 8, 2011
Ecclesiastes 1:4
People come, and people go, but still the world never changes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, I had a small circle of close friends. I was friendly with other kids in my class and at church, but four girls – Becky, Carla, Martha and Robin – were especially dear. I didn’t have bridesmaids when we married, so these girls served cake and punch at our wedding. After high school, we did a fairly good job of staying in touch for several years… often getting together for brunch during Christmas break. But over time, we got together less often. We all married and moved in different directions… and as husbands and babies came along and lives got busy, we grew apart in some ways.
But the bond never left. We all grieved when breast cancer took Becky from us a few years ago… and when Robin’s daughter was tragically killed in a car wreck. We supported Carla through the illnesses and subsequent deaths of her parents. We celebrated the accomplishments of each other’s children along the way … and the birth of Becky’s grand-daughter and namesake.
On Christmas Eve, my friend Carla dropped in at our house to purchase a copy of a book my mother has written. We quickly snapped a couple of photos, not knowing when we will see each other again. I keep up with Robin on Facebook… and Martha sent a Christmas card with a photo of her two teenage sons. We don’t see each other very often any more, but I still feel a bond with these women. I have witnessed the ebb and flow of similar relationships between my mother and some of her childhood friends… and the underlying bond that remains.
We tend to romanticize the friendships of our childhood. We fondly remember long days spent playing together or working on a class project. We build up the conflicts and clashes, and they become epic events that forever shape our personalities. As we mature, we come to recognize that friends come and go in our lives. Some of my closest friends now are childhood friends with whom I lost touch for a number of years and have reconnected. Other people with whom I developed friendships as an adult have, for the moment, gone in different directions, and we seldom – if ever – communicate.
The thing is… we often treat our relationship with God like a friendship. And while Jesus is our “Forever Friend,” as we tell our children, the relationship we have with God and His Holy Spirit should not change. There should be no periods of distance… no need for reconnection. We should work hard to keep in constant touch with God, regardless of our circumstances… because I assure you, HE has not gone anywhere! Nothing has changed on God’s end… but we allow the things of this world to get in the way and affect our relationship.
If you need to reconnect with God today, I urge you to make this change. Rekindle your relationship with Him… rebuild your friendship… and NEVER, EVER move away again. People come and people go, but GOD is always there. The question is… where are YOU?
©2010 Debbie Robus
People come, and people go, but still the world never changes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, I had a small circle of close friends. I was friendly with other kids in my class and at church, but four girls – Becky, Carla, Martha and Robin – were especially dear. I didn’t have bridesmaids when we married, so these girls served cake and punch at our wedding. After high school, we did a fairly good job of staying in touch for several years… often getting together for brunch during Christmas break. But over time, we got together less often. We all married and moved in different directions… and as husbands and babies came along and lives got busy, we grew apart in some ways.
But the bond never left. We all grieved when breast cancer took Becky from us a few years ago… and when Robin’s daughter was tragically killed in a car wreck. We supported Carla through the illnesses and subsequent deaths of her parents. We celebrated the accomplishments of each other’s children along the way … and the birth of Becky’s grand-daughter and namesake.
On Christmas Eve, my friend Carla dropped in at our house to purchase a copy of a book my mother has written. We quickly snapped a couple of photos, not knowing when we will see each other again. I keep up with Robin on Facebook… and Martha sent a Christmas card with a photo of her two teenage sons. We don’t see each other very often any more, but I still feel a bond with these women. I have witnessed the ebb and flow of similar relationships between my mother and some of her childhood friends… and the underlying bond that remains.
We tend to romanticize the friendships of our childhood. We fondly remember long days spent playing together or working on a class project. We build up the conflicts and clashes, and they become epic events that forever shape our personalities. As we mature, we come to recognize that friends come and go in our lives. Some of my closest friends now are childhood friends with whom I lost touch for a number of years and have reconnected. Other people with whom I developed friendships as an adult have, for the moment, gone in different directions, and we seldom – if ever – communicate.
The thing is… we often treat our relationship with God like a friendship. And while Jesus is our “Forever Friend,” as we tell our children, the relationship we have with God and His Holy Spirit should not change. There should be no periods of distance… no need for reconnection. We should work hard to keep in constant touch with God, regardless of our circumstances… because I assure you, HE has not gone anywhere! Nothing has changed on God’s end… but we allow the things of this world to get in the way and affect our relationship.
If you need to reconnect with God today, I urge you to make this change. Rekindle your relationship with Him… rebuild your friendship… and NEVER, EVER move away again. People come and people go, but GOD is always there. The question is… where are YOU?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 9, 2010
Mark 4:13-20
Jesus told them: If you don't understand this story, you won't understand any others. What the farmer is spreading is really the message about the kingdom. The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message. But Satan soon comes and snatches it away from them. The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it right away. But they don't have any roots, and they don't last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up.
The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything. The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and welcome the message. They produce thirty or sixty or even a hundred times as much as was planted.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This passage is the last part of a parable Jesus told in which he talks about a farmer and what happened to seeds he scattered in various places – some eaten by birds, some falling on rocky ground, some that dried up from the scorching sun, some that fell into thorny bushes… and some that found fertile ground. Of course, Jesus wasn’t talking about a farmer and seeds at all. He was talking about us! GOD is the “farmer” – we are the “seeds!”
There is an old saying, “Bloom where you are planted.” But if you plant yourself in bad soil, among “thorns,” on rocky ground or out in the hot scorching sun, you don’t have much of a chance – if any – to “bloom!”
This means we must think about who we choose to be associated with – in all walks of life. We must choose our friends carefully – and our more significant relationship partners even more so. We must think about where we go, and what we say and do. It all counts! We must ask ourselves constantly if our choices are God’s choices … or Satan’s … and we need to pay attention to what we discover.
We need to wake up each morning and ask God to guide our thoughts, our choices, and our steps. And each night we need to thank Him for His guidance. We need to be sure that we are always firmly rooted in “good ground” – God’s ground. Don’t get caught off guard or in poor soil. Don’t wind up among the thorns or exposed to the elements. Stick with God, listen to His instruction, and ask Him to continually plant you where you can truly bloom for His glory!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Jesus told them: If you don't understand this story, you won't understand any others. What the farmer is spreading is really the message about the kingdom. The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message. But Satan soon comes and snatches it away from them. The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it right away. But they don't have any roots, and they don't last very long. As soon as life gets hard or the message gets them in trouble, they give up.
The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything. The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and welcome the message. They produce thirty or sixty or even a hundred times as much as was planted.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This passage is the last part of a parable Jesus told in which he talks about a farmer and what happened to seeds he scattered in various places – some eaten by birds, some falling on rocky ground, some that dried up from the scorching sun, some that fell into thorny bushes… and some that found fertile ground. Of course, Jesus wasn’t talking about a farmer and seeds at all. He was talking about us! GOD is the “farmer” – we are the “seeds!”
There is an old saying, “Bloom where you are planted.” But if you plant yourself in bad soil, among “thorns,” on rocky ground or out in the hot scorching sun, you don’t have much of a chance – if any – to “bloom!”
This means we must think about who we choose to be associated with – in all walks of life. We must choose our friends carefully – and our more significant relationship partners even more so. We must think about where we go, and what we say and do. It all counts! We must ask ourselves constantly if our choices are God’s choices … or Satan’s … and we need to pay attention to what we discover.
We need to wake up each morning and ask God to guide our thoughts, our choices, and our steps. And each night we need to thank Him for His guidance. We need to be sure that we are always firmly rooted in “good ground” – God’s ground. Don’t get caught off guard or in poor soil. Don’t wind up among the thorns or exposed to the elements. Stick with God, listen to His instruction, and ask Him to continually plant you where you can truly bloom for His glory!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 8, 2010
Proverbs 29:20
There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
All you have to do is turn on the television to one of the news outlets and listen for a few minutes, and you will probably hear someone who speaks – or has spoken – without thinking. So we have dozens of “video clips” of people saying things they truly wish they hadn’t. “I didn’t know I would be running for office when I said that,” or “I didn’t know the microphone was on,” or “I was just a kid” are common excuses.
We all “open mouth, insert foot” on occasion. But some people seem to have made a career out of doing this. And I like the way Proverbs 29:20 analyzes this… “there is more hope for a fool” than people who speak without thinking.
Surely we don’t want others to think of us as foolish. I would hope that we want to be people of substance – people who are careful and thoughtful with our speech and consider what we are going to say before we say it! Ask God to guide your thoughts… which is the first step… and then the words that follow.
When we let our communication with God lapse and begin to try to “go it alone,” we get into trouble. We tend to say and do stupid things. It may seem like a farfetched correlation, but truly, staying close to God – through prayer, Bible study, and listening for His voice in every hour of your day – can directly affect what comes out of your mouth… and how seldom you speak without thinking!
Today, let’s ask God to guide our thoughts and our words. Let’s ask Him to keep us from “acting a fool,” and help us act and speak thoughtfully and in a way that honors our relationship with Him. Let’s do things God’s way instead of ours… and see what a difference He can make in the outcome!
©2010 Debbie Robus
There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
All you have to do is turn on the television to one of the news outlets and listen for a few minutes, and you will probably hear someone who speaks – or has spoken – without thinking. So we have dozens of “video clips” of people saying things they truly wish they hadn’t. “I didn’t know I would be running for office when I said that,” or “I didn’t know the microphone was on,” or “I was just a kid” are common excuses.
We all “open mouth, insert foot” on occasion. But some people seem to have made a career out of doing this. And I like the way Proverbs 29:20 analyzes this… “there is more hope for a fool” than people who speak without thinking.
Surely we don’t want others to think of us as foolish. I would hope that we want to be people of substance – people who are careful and thoughtful with our speech and consider what we are going to say before we say it! Ask God to guide your thoughts… which is the first step… and then the words that follow.
When we let our communication with God lapse and begin to try to “go it alone,” we get into trouble. We tend to say and do stupid things. It may seem like a farfetched correlation, but truly, staying close to God – through prayer, Bible study, and listening for His voice in every hour of your day – can directly affect what comes out of your mouth… and how seldom you speak without thinking!
Today, let’s ask God to guide our thoughts and our words. Let’s ask Him to keep us from “acting a fool,” and help us act and speak thoughtfully and in a way that honors our relationship with Him. Let’s do things God’s way instead of ours… and see what a difference He can make in the outcome!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 5, 2010
1 Peter 3:15
Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know what is going on, but it seems I haven’t had to look very far lately to see plenty of negativity, despair, discouragement, and misery. People who claim to be Christians are bemoaning how our world is going down the tubes … complaining about everything from the economy to our political leaders to their next-door neighbor! You ask someone how they are doing, and they frown and say pitifully, “Oh, okay, I guess.”
C’mon, people! Is this really the way Christians are supposed to behave? Do we truly believe what we claim in the name of Jesus? Or are we just giving Him lip service?
No matter how bad things seem in our lives – and believe me, I know there are some really bad, hard things that happen to many of us – we basically have two choices:
How are you living today? Are people afraid to approach you for fear of the reaction they will get? Or are they eager to be around you … encouraged by your enthusiasm, hope and faith? Are they seeing your confidence in Christ Jesus and an attitude that honors Him? Who has your heart and your mind-set … the devil or the Holy Spirit? The choice is ours … whaddya say? Is your attitude a true reflection of your faith?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know what is going on, but it seems I haven’t had to look very far lately to see plenty of negativity, despair, discouragement, and misery. People who claim to be Christians are bemoaning how our world is going down the tubes … complaining about everything from the economy to our political leaders to their next-door neighbor! You ask someone how they are doing, and they frown and say pitifully, “Oh, okay, I guess.”
C’mon, people! Is this really the way Christians are supposed to behave? Do we truly believe what we claim in the name of Jesus? Or are we just giving Him lip service?
No matter how bad things seem in our lives – and believe me, I know there are some really bad, hard things that happen to many of us – we basically have two choices:
- We can wallow in self-pity, give the devil all the satisfaction, and drag those around us down, as well; or
- We can operate in the hope and confidence of the promises of Christ Jesus, believing that no matter how “bad” it seems, our worst day with Him is better than our best day without Him.
How are you living today? Are people afraid to approach you for fear of the reaction they will get? Or are they eager to be around you … encouraged by your enthusiasm, hope and faith? Are they seeing your confidence in Christ Jesus and an attitude that honors Him? Who has your heart and your mind-set … the devil or the Holy Spirit? The choice is ours … whaddya say? Is your attitude a true reflection of your faith?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 26, 2010
Psalm 136:24
He rescued us from our enemies. God's love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you want to read a really wild story about rescue from an enemy, go to Judges 4 and read how Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, handled Sisera, who was captain of the army of Jabin, the King of Canaan. Sisera was said to have oppressed the Israelites for more than twenty years. His army was defeated by Israel’s tribes, under the leadership of princess Deborah’s captain, Barak. Sisera fled and sought refuge with “friends” – Jael and Heber – but it didn’t work out as he had hoped. Apparently they didn’t consider Sisera in the same light! If you think there are no gory accounts in the Bible, be sure to check out this chapter in Judges!
The point is that enemies are nothing new… but not all enemies are as obvious as an opposing army captain! Some of our “enemies” are fear, depression, discouragement, despair, insecurity, ego, greed, hate, discrimination, and much more. But we don’t need a clever woman with a hammer and a stake… we just need God’s love! God has defeated more of our enemies than we can count… and He will continue to do just that. The key is recognizing our “enemies” and calling on God for help to overcome them. He stands ready to rescue us… and He never fails to answer.
Some of us are trying to battle our “enemies” on our own… and the results are probably pretty sad. Many of us are fairly slow learners! But we can change this. We can learn to call on God to rescue us… and to expect His answers. God wants to hear from us. He wants us to recognize His power – AND His desire – to help us in all situations. We have two choices… we can step one direction and try to manage our “enemies” on our own… or we can step toward God and let Him handle things for us. The choice is ours… which way will you turn?
©2010 Debbie Robus
He rescued us from our enemies. God's love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you want to read a really wild story about rescue from an enemy, go to Judges 4 and read how Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, handled Sisera, who was captain of the army of Jabin, the King of Canaan. Sisera was said to have oppressed the Israelites for more than twenty years. His army was defeated by Israel’s tribes, under the leadership of princess Deborah’s captain, Barak. Sisera fled and sought refuge with “friends” – Jael and Heber – but it didn’t work out as he had hoped. Apparently they didn’t consider Sisera in the same light! If you think there are no gory accounts in the Bible, be sure to check out this chapter in Judges!
The point is that enemies are nothing new… but not all enemies are as obvious as an opposing army captain! Some of our “enemies” are fear, depression, discouragement, despair, insecurity, ego, greed, hate, discrimination, and much more. But we don’t need a clever woman with a hammer and a stake… we just need God’s love! God has defeated more of our enemies than we can count… and He will continue to do just that. The key is recognizing our “enemies” and calling on God for help to overcome them. He stands ready to rescue us… and He never fails to answer.
Some of us are trying to battle our “enemies” on our own… and the results are probably pretty sad. Many of us are fairly slow learners! But we can change this. We can learn to call on God to rescue us… and to expect His answers. God wants to hear from us. He wants us to recognize His power – AND His desire – to help us in all situations. We have two choices… we can step one direction and try to manage our “enemies” on our own… or we can step toward God and let Him handle things for us. The choice is ours… which way will you turn?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 28, 2010
June 28 ~ Revelation 2:10
Don't worry about what you will suffer. The devil will throw some of you into jail, and you will be tested and made to suffer for ten days. But if you are faithful until you die, I will reward you with a glorious life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“What’s the worst that can happen?” This has been a “mantra” of mine for decades, since I read a book by Dale Carnegie called “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.” I’ve talked about this before, but it bears repeating today. Carnegie wrote this book about the foolishness of worry. I’m paraphrasing here, but he gives a list of steps to go through in a worrisome situation, and one of them is to ask…“What is the worst that can happen?” The next question becomes, “What are the odds that this really will happen?” Then… “If it does happen, what will I do?” By facing the potential problem head-on and developing a mental strategy for dealing with it, the worry is diminished and becomes more manageable. I have to tell you, I have used this a LOT over the years, and as I have grown in my faith, I find that this works even better in terms of God’s promises.
So you ask yourself, “If I can’t pay my bills and have to sell my house or move into something more affordable, what is the worst that can happen?” “If my loved one dies, how will I manage?” “If I don’t get a job, how will I survive?” “What if I forgot to lock the door/turn off the curling iron/unplug the coffee maker or shut off the water sprinkler?” “If I tell my friend that her boyfriend is a loser, how will she react?””If I block a friend on Facebook or my e-mail account who is sending me offensive posts and messages, what will happen?” “If I move to another Sunday School class – or church – what will people think?”
By prayerfully applying the steps that Carnegie outlines, many situations are at least manageable, if not completely alleviated as insignificant and not worth your time and energy. After all, God is “on the clock,” helping us with situations of all sizes… and even your worst worries and fears, if realized, can be endured when viewed in the same window with a glorious life in heaven for all eternity. Keep your eye on “the prize.” Focus on God… serving Him, pleasing Him, living in and for Him. Let God handle your worries… and remember - the “worst” that could happen can never compare to the “best” that lies ahead with Him.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Don't worry about what you will suffer. The devil will throw some of you into jail, and you will be tested and made to suffer for ten days. But if you are faithful until you die, I will reward you with a glorious life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“What’s the worst that can happen?” This has been a “mantra” of mine for decades, since I read a book by Dale Carnegie called “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.” I’ve talked about this before, but it bears repeating today. Carnegie wrote this book about the foolishness of worry. I’m paraphrasing here, but he gives a list of steps to go through in a worrisome situation, and one of them is to ask…“What is the worst that can happen?” The next question becomes, “What are the odds that this really will happen?” Then… “If it does happen, what will I do?” By facing the potential problem head-on and developing a mental strategy for dealing with it, the worry is diminished and becomes more manageable. I have to tell you, I have used this a LOT over the years, and as I have grown in my faith, I find that this works even better in terms of God’s promises.
So you ask yourself, “If I can’t pay my bills and have to sell my house or move into something more affordable, what is the worst that can happen?” “If my loved one dies, how will I manage?” “If I don’t get a job, how will I survive?” “What if I forgot to lock the door/turn off the curling iron/unplug the coffee maker or shut off the water sprinkler?” “If I tell my friend that her boyfriend is a loser, how will she react?””If I block a friend on Facebook or my e-mail account who is sending me offensive posts and messages, what will happen?” “If I move to another Sunday School class – or church – what will people think?”
By prayerfully applying the steps that Carnegie outlines, many situations are at least manageable, if not completely alleviated as insignificant and not worth your time and energy. After all, God is “on the clock,” helping us with situations of all sizes… and even your worst worries and fears, if realized, can be endured when viewed in the same window with a glorious life in heaven for all eternity. Keep your eye on “the prize.” Focus on God… serving Him, pleasing Him, living in and for Him. Let God handle your worries… and remember - the “worst” that could happen can never compare to the “best” that lies ahead with Him.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 10, 2010
May 10 ~ Romans 8:12-17
My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires. Only those people who are led by God's Spirit are his children. God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. God's Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
God has a funny sense of humor. I am a person with little to no will power when it comes to certain things… such as chocolate. I could never keep chocolate chips on hand for baking. Once the bag was opened, they seemed to methodically disappear over the course of just a few days. Cookies and candy, especially around Halloween, Christmas and Easter, may have well been wrapped in neon signs that said, “Come and get it!” So I asked God to help me control my love for chocolate, and He did… He allowed me to develop an allergy to it! I KNOW – I told you He had a sense of humor!
I have heard it all… “Life isn’t worth living without chocolate!” “That has to be the worst allergy in the world!” “How on earth do you survive?” Let me tell you something… there is a whole lot more to life than chocolate! I know some of you find that hard to believe, but there is… and there are worse things than an allergy to it! See, in some ways, I was a slave to chocolate. If it was near me, I felt I had to eat some. Now, I can bake brownies and not even lick the pan. I can be offered a box of assorted truffles or a bag of M&Ms and say, “No thank you.” Oh, sure, it smells great, and I would love to partake… until I think about the hives and the swelling, and the ITCHING… and then I’m over it! I could look at this as a huge inconvenience – or a huge blessing. I am choosing the latter.
Sometimes in our Spiritual life, we hold out on total surrender to God and His will for our lives, because we think we will have to sacrifice something we really love. Who wants to live without the “sinful chocolate” that we all seem to have? For some of us it is a partying lifestyle. For others, it’s a lack of involvement with a church family and getting up off our rears and going to church on Sunday. For others, it’s something we don’t even want to talk about… an addiction of some sort, or a habit we cannot break - or even something we cannot seem to shake… like racial bias or an unloving attitude toward someone else or a particular group of people.
What we fail to realize is that if we wait until we have all of our “issues” resolved, we’ll never find our way to God. And that’s not what He expects anyway. God doesn’t want us to try to fix ourselves… that’s His job – and He does what we cannot. Total surrender to God doesn’t make you God’s slave… it frees you to be the person He called you to be! Don’t wait another day. Don’t try to fix a single other thing yourself. Give up your “sinful chocolate” and embrace the freedom life without it can bring. Acknowledge God as your Father and truly become His child – and discover the fullness of His plans for your life, both now and for all Eternity.
©2010 Debbie Robus
My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires. Only those people who are led by God's Spirit are his children. God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. God's Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
God has a funny sense of humor. I am a person with little to no will power when it comes to certain things… such as chocolate. I could never keep chocolate chips on hand for baking. Once the bag was opened, they seemed to methodically disappear over the course of just a few days. Cookies and candy, especially around Halloween, Christmas and Easter, may have well been wrapped in neon signs that said, “Come and get it!” So I asked God to help me control my love for chocolate, and He did… He allowed me to develop an allergy to it! I KNOW – I told you He had a sense of humor!
I have heard it all… “Life isn’t worth living without chocolate!” “That has to be the worst allergy in the world!” “How on earth do you survive?” Let me tell you something… there is a whole lot more to life than chocolate! I know some of you find that hard to believe, but there is… and there are worse things than an allergy to it! See, in some ways, I was a slave to chocolate. If it was near me, I felt I had to eat some. Now, I can bake brownies and not even lick the pan. I can be offered a box of assorted truffles or a bag of M&Ms and say, “No thank you.” Oh, sure, it smells great, and I would love to partake… until I think about the hives and the swelling, and the ITCHING… and then I’m over it! I could look at this as a huge inconvenience – or a huge blessing. I am choosing the latter.
Sometimes in our Spiritual life, we hold out on total surrender to God and His will for our lives, because we think we will have to sacrifice something we really love. Who wants to live without the “sinful chocolate” that we all seem to have? For some of us it is a partying lifestyle. For others, it’s a lack of involvement with a church family and getting up off our rears and going to church on Sunday. For others, it’s something we don’t even want to talk about… an addiction of some sort, or a habit we cannot break - or even something we cannot seem to shake… like racial bias or an unloving attitude toward someone else or a particular group of people.
What we fail to realize is that if we wait until we have all of our “issues” resolved, we’ll never find our way to God. And that’s not what He expects anyway. God doesn’t want us to try to fix ourselves… that’s His job – and He does what we cannot. Total surrender to God doesn’t make you God’s slave… it frees you to be the person He called you to be! Don’t wait another day. Don’t try to fix a single other thing yourself. Give up your “sinful chocolate” and embrace the freedom life without it can bring. Acknowledge God as your Father and truly become His child – and discover the fullness of His plans for your life, both now and for all Eternity.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 9, 2010
May 9 ~ Psalm 91:14-16
The Lord says, "If you love me and truly know who I am, I will rescue you and keep you safe. When you are in trouble, call out to me. I will answer and be there to protect and honor you. You will live a long life and see my saving power."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When our nephew John was about four, he came to visit us for a few days. One night while bathing him, I turned on the water in the tub, and some hot water came out first, and he yelped! “I’m going to tell my momma!” he cried. I felt horrible. It was hot water… but he was not hurt – just startled, mostly. But immediately – and instinctively – he was ready to call on “the Big Guns” to get me! At four years of age, he figured his mom would make me pay for my transgression against him!
As children, we probably all called out to our mommas – a lot! I know that there are children who cannot call on their parents for help or protection. I saw several in my classroom. I know there are people in this world who feel like they have no protector… no one to stick up for them and say, “I will keep you safe. When you are in trouble, call me. I’ll answer.” But GOD is saying exactly this. No matter who else is or isn’t there – GOD is ready, willing and able to meet our needs.
I pray that you know God in this way. I pray that you feel safe and protected in His presence… and that you are just as quick to call on Him for help as our nephew John was to invoke the protection of his mother. And speaking of mothers, let’s thank God today for His divine inspiration in creating the family as He did. He didn’t have to give us mothers and fathers – He could have just spoken us into existence. But God gave us mothers to nurture us in a unique way. I pray that you have been blessed, as I have, to experience the care and nurturing of a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, grandmothers, and other Godly women who have “mothered” me along the way. To God be the glory for creating our mothers… and for His constant nurture and care for those of us who call on Him.
©2010 Debbie Robus
The Lord says, "If you love me and truly know who I am, I will rescue you and keep you safe. When you are in trouble, call out to me. I will answer and be there to protect and honor you. You will live a long life and see my saving power."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When our nephew John was about four, he came to visit us for a few days. One night while bathing him, I turned on the water in the tub, and some hot water came out first, and he yelped! “I’m going to tell my momma!” he cried. I felt horrible. It was hot water… but he was not hurt – just startled, mostly. But immediately – and instinctively – he was ready to call on “the Big Guns” to get me! At four years of age, he figured his mom would make me pay for my transgression against him!
As children, we probably all called out to our mommas – a lot! I know that there are children who cannot call on their parents for help or protection. I saw several in my classroom. I know there are people in this world who feel like they have no protector… no one to stick up for them and say, “I will keep you safe. When you are in trouble, call me. I’ll answer.” But GOD is saying exactly this. No matter who else is or isn’t there – GOD is ready, willing and able to meet our needs.
I pray that you know God in this way. I pray that you feel safe and protected in His presence… and that you are just as quick to call on Him for help as our nephew John was to invoke the protection of his mother. And speaking of mothers, let’s thank God today for His divine inspiration in creating the family as He did. He didn’t have to give us mothers and fathers – He could have just spoken us into existence. But God gave us mothers to nurture us in a unique way. I pray that you have been blessed, as I have, to experience the care and nurturing of a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, grandmothers, and other Godly women who have “mothered” me along the way. To God be the glory for creating our mothers… and for His constant nurture and care for those of us who call on Him.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 2, 2010
May 2 ~ Psalm 16:5-6
You, LORD, are all I want! You are my choice, and you keep me safe. You make my life pleasant, and my future is bright.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have ever been to Baskin-Robbins or a similar ice cream store, you know that the choices are endless. If you are like me, the decision is hard… so many flavors, and they all sound delicious! It’s tempting to eat more than you should – a scoop of this and a scoop of that, and before you know it, you have three or four hefty scoops going in your cup! At home, most of us only have one, possibly two flavors of ice cream in our freezer. Most likely, you have your favorite flavor on hand… and as long as you have no outside distractions, you are pretty comfortable with just that flavor.
In life, we are bombarded with choices and options and lots and lots of “flavors.” It’s hard to stay focused and on track. But if we will make the right choice – God – and stay close to Him, we will not be distracted and misdirected by other influences. Just like extra flavors at the ice cream store, not all of the distractions and other choices are necessarily bad ones… but they simply are not right for us. They don’t make us content and keep our life pleasant… they complicate life in ways we do not need.
If you want true contentment… if you want peace and safety and pleasantness in your life, dial down the choices on your “flavors.” Stick to the One who can satisfy you best. Choose a bright future with God… make Him all you want and need… and see how peaceful and happy your life can become.
©2010 Debbie Robus
You, LORD, are all I want! You are my choice, and you keep me safe. You make my life pleasant, and my future is bright.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have ever been to Baskin-Robbins or a similar ice cream store, you know that the choices are endless. If you are like me, the decision is hard… so many flavors, and they all sound delicious! It’s tempting to eat more than you should – a scoop of this and a scoop of that, and before you know it, you have three or four hefty scoops going in your cup! At home, most of us only have one, possibly two flavors of ice cream in our freezer. Most likely, you have your favorite flavor on hand… and as long as you have no outside distractions, you are pretty comfortable with just that flavor.
In life, we are bombarded with choices and options and lots and lots of “flavors.” It’s hard to stay focused and on track. But if we will make the right choice – God – and stay close to Him, we will not be distracted and misdirected by other influences. Just like extra flavors at the ice cream store, not all of the distractions and other choices are necessarily bad ones… but they simply are not right for us. They don’t make us content and keep our life pleasant… they complicate life in ways we do not need.
If you want true contentment… if you want peace and safety and pleasantness in your life, dial down the choices on your “flavors.” Stick to the One who can satisfy you best. Choose a bright future with God… make Him all you want and need… and see how peaceful and happy your life can become.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 27, 2010
April 27 ~ Proverbs 16:8
It's better to be honest and poor than to be dishonest and rich.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve always told my husband that “I’d live with you in a pup tent.” He laughs at that… knowing I like the comfort of a warm bed and a good hot shower… but he also understands what I am saying. As long as we are together, it really doesn’t matter where we live or how much “stuff” we have. Many people assume that the “rich” are happier – or that becoming wealthy will equal lifelong contentment. We toss around phrases like “When I win the lottery…” or “When my ship comes in…” or “When I marry a rich man/woman…” The truth is… chasing wealth has been the downfall of many people. This doesn’t mean it’s wrong to have ambition or to desire to be financially secure. If you work hard, with honesty and integrity, and treat people well – and you make a lot of money as a result - good for you! But if you “kick and claw your way to the top” and are willing to do things that are dishonest or illegal – or you mistreat others along the way – your “victory” will be rather hollow. You may not go to jail like Bernie Madoff and others, but Judgment Day will surely come.
God wants us to be happy. And while some think that Jesus’ call for the disciples to leave everything and follow Him means that we are supposed to live meager lives in very simple houses, drive clunkers and wear cheap, plain clothing, they are mistaken. God doesn’t begrudge us having nice homes, clothes, cars and more… as long as we earn them honestly and honor Him in the bargain.
Please hear me… you do not have to apologize for what you have… or what you don’t have… as long as you are serving God according to His will for your life. If God wants you to sell all of your belongings and move to a Third World country to serve him, do it! But God may want you to use your fancy house and car to witness to others in your neighborhood… or to host meals and get-togethers for a group in your church. He may have helped you afford a Suburban so that you can haul the youth group to weekly activities. Or He may have chosen you to work with the less fortunate – and to relate well to them because they readily accept you as “one of them.”
The point is… God isn’t doling out favors and punishments in the form of monetary wealth and possessions. He is calling us to be rich in HIM… not in things. This is not a license to be a slacker and decide that God wants you to goof off and just barely get by in life. Truly find out where God wants you to be… then serve Him honestly and faithfully in that station. Be the best employee, boss, teacher, student, parent, son/daughter, servant that you can become. Always do your “job” honestly and make sure your behavior is beyond question or reproach. Measure your wealth in terms of God’s favor… not man’s. You’ll find your value is far higher in HIS sight than on this earth… and that’s where it really counts!
©2010 Debbie Robus
It's better to be honest and poor than to be dishonest and rich.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve always told my husband that “I’d live with you in a pup tent.” He laughs at that… knowing I like the comfort of a warm bed and a good hot shower… but he also understands what I am saying. As long as we are together, it really doesn’t matter where we live or how much “stuff” we have. Many people assume that the “rich” are happier – or that becoming wealthy will equal lifelong contentment. We toss around phrases like “When I win the lottery…” or “When my ship comes in…” or “When I marry a rich man/woman…” The truth is… chasing wealth has been the downfall of many people. This doesn’t mean it’s wrong to have ambition or to desire to be financially secure. If you work hard, with honesty and integrity, and treat people well – and you make a lot of money as a result - good for you! But if you “kick and claw your way to the top” and are willing to do things that are dishonest or illegal – or you mistreat others along the way – your “victory” will be rather hollow. You may not go to jail like Bernie Madoff and others, but Judgment Day will surely come.
God wants us to be happy. And while some think that Jesus’ call for the disciples to leave everything and follow Him means that we are supposed to live meager lives in very simple houses, drive clunkers and wear cheap, plain clothing, they are mistaken. God doesn’t begrudge us having nice homes, clothes, cars and more… as long as we earn them honestly and honor Him in the bargain.
Please hear me… you do not have to apologize for what you have… or what you don’t have… as long as you are serving God according to His will for your life. If God wants you to sell all of your belongings and move to a Third World country to serve him, do it! But God may want you to use your fancy house and car to witness to others in your neighborhood… or to host meals and get-togethers for a group in your church. He may have helped you afford a Suburban so that you can haul the youth group to weekly activities. Or He may have chosen you to work with the less fortunate – and to relate well to them because they readily accept you as “one of them.”
The point is… God isn’t doling out favors and punishments in the form of monetary wealth and possessions. He is calling us to be rich in HIM… not in things. This is not a license to be a slacker and decide that God wants you to goof off and just barely get by in life. Truly find out where God wants you to be… then serve Him honestly and faithfully in that station. Be the best employee, boss, teacher, student, parent, son/daughter, servant that you can become. Always do your “job” honestly and make sure your behavior is beyond question or reproach. Measure your wealth in terms of God’s favor… not man’s. You’ll find your value is far higher in HIS sight than on this earth… and that’s where it really counts!
©2010 Debbie Robus
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