2 John 7-11
Many liars have gone out into the world. These deceitful liars are saying that Jesus Christ did not have a truly human body. But they are liars and the enemies of Christ. So be sure not to lose what we have worked for. If you do, you won’t be given your full reward. Don’t keep changing what you were taught about Christ, or else God will no longer be with you. But if you hold firmly to what you were taught, both the Father and the Son will be with you. If people won’t agree to this teaching, don’t welcome them into your home or even greet them. Greeting them is the same as taking part in their evil deeds.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Social media is wonderful for certain purposes…sharing photos of family members, keeping people updated when someone is sick and needs prayer, reveling in victories over decades-old football foes…and much more. But this venue is also a hotbed of venomous attacks, untruths, malicious gossip, and other evils. Because of the latter, I have had to “unfriend” a few people on Facebook.
This has cost me more than one “friendship”…and maybe you have had the same experience. But here’s the thing…by allowing posts from those people to appear on my “feed”, I feel I am quietly condoning their sentiments. If even one person sees these ugly things and thinks, “She must feel the same way”…I have failed in my Christian discipleship.
We cannot live our lives in a vacuum…and yes, associating with “deceitful liars” offers those folks a chance to see Jesus in us and the way we conduct our lives. But they can observe this from a distance. You can demonstrate a life filled with truth, grace, mercy, tolerance, love, compassion, respect, and redemption from sin through the blood of Jesus without hanging around those who behave differently. The balance is delicate…but with prayerful consideration, you can be a loving Light for Christ – and turn your back to evil at the same time.
As 2014 comes to a close, this might be a good time to “clean up the list”…to evaluate our “friendships” and associations and see if we are holding tightly to the teachings of Jesus…or if we have taken part in evil deeds – if only by default. Will 2015 be a year when we focus more on Jesus…and less on the world and its ways? This is my resolution…what’s yours?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label living deeply in Gods truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label living deeply in Gods truth. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for December 12, 2013
Numbers 23:19
God is no mere human!
He doesn’t tell lies
or change his mind.
God always keeps his promises.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy has a memory like an elephant! Last year after Christmas, I inadvertently erased “Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer” from our DVR. In the nearly 12-months since, he has mentioned it every time he visited… “You’re going to record Rudolph again… and you’re NOT going to erase it this time… RIGHT?” I have assured him that I would do this. So when the iconic children’s program aired last week on a local channel, I was ready! And when he visits later this week, I am quite certain that we will watch “Rudolph” more than once!
We try to keep our promises to Timothy and his siblings. But there have been times when we told them they could visit… or that we would go to the park to play…or that we would watch one more episode of a program on televisions… and things just did not work out the way we had hoped. We can’t control illness, icy weather, and other unexpected interruptions that are simply a part of mortal life.
As this scripture passage emphasizes… God is no mere human! Unexpected interruptions are not in His wheelhouse! He doesn’t change His mind or make promises He cannot – or will not – keep! So when we read in the word of God that He will hear our prayers… and answer them… we can take that to the bank! When we hear God telling us, “I am not going to desert you. I’ve got this!”… we can believe it! When Jesus tells us that He has gone to prepare a place for us…with “many mansions” and streets of gold, we who have made Him the LORD of our life can trust that this is most assuredly in our future! You may live in a shanty in this life…but Baby, you’re destined for opulence in Paradise!
Each one of us is at a totally different point today. For some, life is on an even keel and everything is seems incredibly positive and peaceful. I know people who are looking forward to a wedding in coming months… others who are anticipating the arrival of a precious new baby…and folks who just got an exciting new job, a promotion, a new house, or a clean bill of health - and a “new lease on life” in the bargain! For others, the road is rocky and uncertain. I have friends who have openly admitted on Facebook that they are reminding themselves to breathe and put one foot in front of the other. I know people who would give anything to hear that a baby is in their future, and still others who wish they would receive a “forever home”. Some wish that a serious diagnosis – or a foreclosure bill – had never been delivered. Many in our community face a plant closing the end of this year and the loss of their employment… and all of the ramifications that come with it.
Wherever you are today… whatever is happening in your life…God is with you. He is fulfilling His promises… orchestrating the outcomes…and working on your mansion! He won’t change His mind… He will not abandon you…He will never make promises and fail to keep them! I know I sound like a broken record on this sometimes, but many of us need to hear this… several times a day! We need to imprint it on our hearts and minds and remind ourselves of these words often! We need to remember to breathe and put one foot in front of the other in the hard times… to be grateful and humble in the good times…and to remember that God is with us through all of them!
This is a message of hope! God will NEVER “erase the program on the DVR” or forget to do what He has promised. God will never have an excuse…He is forever and ever the REAL DEAL! Do you trust Him? Do you believe His word over your life? Are you confident that God is working on your mansion… and numbering every step of your life in the meantime? Will this be the day that you ask Him to remind you of His hand in your life? Will you begin to live with hope and confidence? Isn’t it this a great time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God is no mere human!
He doesn’t tell lies
or change his mind.
God always keeps his promises.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy has a memory like an elephant! Last year after Christmas, I inadvertently erased “Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer” from our DVR. In the nearly 12-months since, he has mentioned it every time he visited… “You’re going to record Rudolph again… and you’re NOT going to erase it this time… RIGHT?” I have assured him that I would do this. So when the iconic children’s program aired last week on a local channel, I was ready! And when he visits later this week, I am quite certain that we will watch “Rudolph” more than once!
We try to keep our promises to Timothy and his siblings. But there have been times when we told them they could visit… or that we would go to the park to play…or that we would watch one more episode of a program on televisions… and things just did not work out the way we had hoped. We can’t control illness, icy weather, and other unexpected interruptions that are simply a part of mortal life.
As this scripture passage emphasizes… God is no mere human! Unexpected interruptions are not in His wheelhouse! He doesn’t change His mind or make promises He cannot – or will not – keep! So when we read in the word of God that He will hear our prayers… and answer them… we can take that to the bank! When we hear God telling us, “I am not going to desert you. I’ve got this!”… we can believe it! When Jesus tells us that He has gone to prepare a place for us…with “many mansions” and streets of gold, we who have made Him the LORD of our life can trust that this is most assuredly in our future! You may live in a shanty in this life…but Baby, you’re destined for opulence in Paradise!
Each one of us is at a totally different point today. For some, life is on an even keel and everything is seems incredibly positive and peaceful. I know people who are looking forward to a wedding in coming months… others who are anticipating the arrival of a precious new baby…and folks who just got an exciting new job, a promotion, a new house, or a clean bill of health - and a “new lease on life” in the bargain! For others, the road is rocky and uncertain. I have friends who have openly admitted on Facebook that they are reminding themselves to breathe and put one foot in front of the other. I know people who would give anything to hear that a baby is in their future, and still others who wish they would receive a “forever home”. Some wish that a serious diagnosis – or a foreclosure bill – had never been delivered. Many in our community face a plant closing the end of this year and the loss of their employment… and all of the ramifications that come with it.
Wherever you are today… whatever is happening in your life…God is with you. He is fulfilling His promises… orchestrating the outcomes…and working on your mansion! He won’t change His mind… He will not abandon you…He will never make promises and fail to keep them! I know I sound like a broken record on this sometimes, but many of us need to hear this… several times a day! We need to imprint it on our hearts and minds and remind ourselves of these words often! We need to remember to breathe and put one foot in front of the other in the hard times… to be grateful and humble in the good times…and to remember that God is with us through all of them!
This is a message of hope! God will NEVER “erase the program on the DVR” or forget to do what He has promised. God will never have an excuse…He is forever and ever the REAL DEAL! Do you trust Him? Do you believe His word over your life? Are you confident that God is working on your mansion… and numbering every step of your life in the meantime? Will this be the day that you ask Him to remind you of His hand in your life? Will you begin to live with hope and confidence? Isn’t it this a great time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 4, 2013
Hebrews 6:13-20
When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, “I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!” Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.
We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.
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.
Nearly 35 years ago, Greg and I were living north of Russellville, Arkansas, in a rural area known as Linker Mountain. I had taken up jogging, and I would go for my daily run in the evenings after work. My route was along the road in front of our house… a seldom-traveled stretch that climbed up the “mountain” and looped around. I scaled a couple of pretty steep stretches before turning around and descending. It was a really good workout!
One evening I got a somewhat late start, and darkness began to settle in as I neared my last peak. A car came along and passed me… then the driver stopped and began to back up toward me. I am sure that this person probably wanted to ask if I was okay, but it really spooked me…and I just froze. I wanted to yell… tried to yell…but nothing came out of my mouth. And then I began to run… no, SPRINT… toward home. In my mind, I was running for my very life toward the safety and sanctuary of our house… and Greg.
The people in the car didn’t know where I lived. They didn’t know that I had someone waiting for me inside one of the handful of homes scattered along that road. But I knew that I could run straight through the door of our house to the shelter of a husband who would protect me! As I ran away from the car, the driver changed course and headed on up the hill and away from me… and ultimately, all was well.
I should have been a little better prepared. Because I was so close to home, I was overly confident. This was before cell phones were popular. I should have had a whistle or some other security devise with me – at least a flashlight, maybe. I trusted the safety and security of my home and Greg… but at the exact instant this happened, neither were within reach!
I’m sure I overreacted, but I was truly shaken. And if you are honest, there have been at least a few times when you have experienced something that shook you… rattled your cage… knocked you off balance. Where did you turn? Who did you trust? Even today, do you have an unbreakable spiritual lifeline with God? Do you have His promised hope and the assurance that gives you every reason to run for your very life toward God, grab Him with both hands and never let go? Are you truly prepared for whatever life throws your way?
This is not just idle talk. A lot of people SAY they have this kind of relationship with God… an unbreakable hope in His promises. But talk is cheap and doesn’t get you very far in a faith walk. You have to have some meat and muscle behind it. You have to know that you know that you KNOW that God’s promises concerning your life… and His power and authority over it… are rock-solid and above reproach! Sadly, many won’t truly know this until they are tested in some way… and for some of us, this can be a painful and costly lesson.
I hope you are not one of those who has to “learn by example.” I pray that you can truly grasp the integrity and power of God’s promises… that you can sincerely and wholeheartedly put your hope and trust in Him NOW… once and for all… that you are already hanging on with both hands to God and will never let Him go… that you are truly prepared for whatever “life” and the devil try to toss in your direction. Otherwise, you are pretty well running uphill in the dark… and subject to whatever potential troubles may come along.
It doesn’t have to be this way. God cannot lie. He has vowed to protect us… and to bless us. Since God does not lie, He cannot break these vows. There is no other about whom you can truly say the same. So what are you waiting for? Grab hold of God with both hands and NEVER EVER let Him go. Cling to His spiritual lifeline and operate each and every day in the hope of His love and care.
©2013 Debbie Robus
When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, “I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!” Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.
We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.
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.
Nearly 35 years ago, Greg and I were living north of Russellville, Arkansas, in a rural area known as Linker Mountain. I had taken up jogging, and I would go for my daily run in the evenings after work. My route was along the road in front of our house… a seldom-traveled stretch that climbed up the “mountain” and looped around. I scaled a couple of pretty steep stretches before turning around and descending. It was a really good workout!
One evening I got a somewhat late start, and darkness began to settle in as I neared my last peak. A car came along and passed me… then the driver stopped and began to back up toward me. I am sure that this person probably wanted to ask if I was okay, but it really spooked me…and I just froze. I wanted to yell… tried to yell…but nothing came out of my mouth. And then I began to run… no, SPRINT… toward home. In my mind, I was running for my very life toward the safety and sanctuary of our house… and Greg.
The people in the car didn’t know where I lived. They didn’t know that I had someone waiting for me inside one of the handful of homes scattered along that road. But I knew that I could run straight through the door of our house to the shelter of a husband who would protect me! As I ran away from the car, the driver changed course and headed on up the hill and away from me… and ultimately, all was well.
I should have been a little better prepared. Because I was so close to home, I was overly confident. This was before cell phones were popular. I should have had a whistle or some other security devise with me – at least a flashlight, maybe. I trusted the safety and security of my home and Greg… but at the exact instant this happened, neither were within reach!
I’m sure I overreacted, but I was truly shaken. And if you are honest, there have been at least a few times when you have experienced something that shook you… rattled your cage… knocked you off balance. Where did you turn? Who did you trust? Even today, do you have an unbreakable spiritual lifeline with God? Do you have His promised hope and the assurance that gives you every reason to run for your very life toward God, grab Him with both hands and never let go? Are you truly prepared for whatever life throws your way?
This is not just idle talk. A lot of people SAY they have this kind of relationship with God… an unbreakable hope in His promises. But talk is cheap and doesn’t get you very far in a faith walk. You have to have some meat and muscle behind it. You have to know that you know that you KNOW that God’s promises concerning your life… and His power and authority over it… are rock-solid and above reproach! Sadly, many won’t truly know this until they are tested in some way… and for some of us, this can be a painful and costly lesson.
I hope you are not one of those who has to “learn by example.” I pray that you can truly grasp the integrity and power of God’s promises… that you can sincerely and wholeheartedly put your hope and trust in Him NOW… once and for all… that you are already hanging on with both hands to God and will never let Him go… that you are truly prepared for whatever “life” and the devil try to toss in your direction. Otherwise, you are pretty well running uphill in the dark… and subject to whatever potential troubles may come along.
It doesn’t have to be this way. God cannot lie. He has vowed to protect us… and to bless us. Since God does not lie, He cannot break these vows. There is no other about whom you can truly say the same. So what are you waiting for? Grab hold of God with both hands and NEVER EVER let Him go. Cling to His spiritual lifeline and operate each and every day in the hope of His love and care.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 12, 2013
Isaiah 57:2
For those who follow godly paths
will rest in peace when they die.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This week, I attended the funeral of my childhood friend Kenny. At his funeral, the pastor noted that we all know death is inevitable… but we don’t expect the sudden death of someone 55 years young. He shared stories about my friend and told of his earlier life when he was healthy, energetic and enthused… completely engaged in life. In later years, health issues caused Kenny to become reclusive… even paranoid. At the time of his death, Kenny had isolated himself so completely from everyone except his mother, brother and immediate family that his brother said, “He really had no close friends.” Many of his classmates, childhood friends and acquaintances came to his funeral…giving testimony to the person we all knew and loved - the healthy guy who once made us laugh and smile.
There was one more story that the pastor related… the most important story of all, really. He told of how a church member went out on weekly visitation ministry one evening and happened to stop in to visit with Kenny. There, he shared the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ and how He died on the cross for our sins. Kenny invited Jesus to be the LORD of his life. Talk about a “game changer!”
As I thought about my friend and his life - and death - I couldn’t help but feel a tremendous sense of tranquility. I know he is no longer tormented. I know that he is at HOME and has found rest and complete peace at the feet of Jesus. I fully understand that sometimes our healing and reconciliation comes in death.
If you are a young person reading this devotional, death may not be on your radar screen. We all seem to have a sense of immortality in our early years. We don’t want to consider death… and we figure we have lots and lots of years ahead of us before we have to consider it. Then someone we know and love dies… a grandparent or a parent…another family member… a close friend… or even a celebrity we admired. Suddenly, we are distraught, frightened, confused… and totally disheartened. We don’t know what to make of it all… and we start to think about our own lives… and deaths.
Even if you are a Christian, this may be a daunting thought for you. If you have been to more than one funeral, you have probably heard the pastor read from John 14, where Jesus tells us there are “many mansions” in His house… and He is preparing a place for each of us. You may be thinking… “Yeah… but I’m doing just fine right here on earth! I don’t really need a mansion!” Or you may have fear and dread about leaving your family and friends behind.
Please read the words of Isaiah 57:2 again. Those who follow Godly paths will rest in peace. I cannot tell you exactly when I made the switch from thinking of heaven as an intimidating place to one of tremendous peace and joy. It probably began more than 20 years ago, when my grandfather - and then my father-in-law – died suddenly. As I watched other beloved family members and friends suffer with debilitating diseases or the rigors of aging, I began to see what a relief death would be for them. It wasn’t long until I realized that many of us have a large number of loved ones waiting for us in heaven… already enjoying the blessings and rewards God promised them through Jesus Christ.
Yesterday I shared scripture from Isaiah about the hills singing and the trees clapping as we pass by. My mother told me that this is how she pictures heaven. As we arrive, hills will sing, trees will clap… and those who went before us will open their arms widely to embrace us with a “We’re so glad you’re here… you’re gonna love this place!” My sweet childhood friend, Kenny, will be among them.
I feel like someone reading this today needs to hear about the peace of heaven. If you are not that person… you could be in any given moment. I pray you will come to think of Paradise as not only a “friendly place”… but your destination for ultimate peace and joy. As you grieve and mourn the passing of loved ones who you miss dearly, think of them in complete bliss… healthy, whole, abundantly blessed, and continually in the presence of Jesus. Enjoy your earthly life… but look forward to the day you can join them and experience eternal peace.
If you have not yet offered Jesus your heart, as my friend did one evening, I pray that you will do so. Secure your place on the “waiting list” for heaven. Start making preparations for your “move” by living for Jesus every single day you are placed on this earth. Get so comfortable in your relationship with God that you anticipate the moment when the hills will sing for you and the trees will clap… and you will rest forever in His peace.
©2013 Debbie Robus
For those who follow godly paths
will rest in peace when they die.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This week, I attended the funeral of my childhood friend Kenny. At his funeral, the pastor noted that we all know death is inevitable… but we don’t expect the sudden death of someone 55 years young. He shared stories about my friend and told of his earlier life when he was healthy, energetic and enthused… completely engaged in life. In later years, health issues caused Kenny to become reclusive… even paranoid. At the time of his death, Kenny had isolated himself so completely from everyone except his mother, brother and immediate family that his brother said, “He really had no close friends.” Many of his classmates, childhood friends and acquaintances came to his funeral…giving testimony to the person we all knew and loved - the healthy guy who once made us laugh and smile.
There was one more story that the pastor related… the most important story of all, really. He told of how a church member went out on weekly visitation ministry one evening and happened to stop in to visit with Kenny. There, he shared the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ and how He died on the cross for our sins. Kenny invited Jesus to be the LORD of his life. Talk about a “game changer!”
As I thought about my friend and his life - and death - I couldn’t help but feel a tremendous sense of tranquility. I know he is no longer tormented. I know that he is at HOME and has found rest and complete peace at the feet of Jesus. I fully understand that sometimes our healing and reconciliation comes in death.
If you are a young person reading this devotional, death may not be on your radar screen. We all seem to have a sense of immortality in our early years. We don’t want to consider death… and we figure we have lots and lots of years ahead of us before we have to consider it. Then someone we know and love dies… a grandparent or a parent…another family member… a close friend… or even a celebrity we admired. Suddenly, we are distraught, frightened, confused… and totally disheartened. We don’t know what to make of it all… and we start to think about our own lives… and deaths.
Even if you are a Christian, this may be a daunting thought for you. If you have been to more than one funeral, you have probably heard the pastor read from John 14, where Jesus tells us there are “many mansions” in His house… and He is preparing a place for each of us. You may be thinking… “Yeah… but I’m doing just fine right here on earth! I don’t really need a mansion!” Or you may have fear and dread about leaving your family and friends behind.
Please read the words of Isaiah 57:2 again. Those who follow Godly paths will rest in peace. I cannot tell you exactly when I made the switch from thinking of heaven as an intimidating place to one of tremendous peace and joy. It probably began more than 20 years ago, when my grandfather - and then my father-in-law – died suddenly. As I watched other beloved family members and friends suffer with debilitating diseases or the rigors of aging, I began to see what a relief death would be for them. It wasn’t long until I realized that many of us have a large number of loved ones waiting for us in heaven… already enjoying the blessings and rewards God promised them through Jesus Christ.
Yesterday I shared scripture from Isaiah about the hills singing and the trees clapping as we pass by. My mother told me that this is how she pictures heaven. As we arrive, hills will sing, trees will clap… and those who went before us will open their arms widely to embrace us with a “We’re so glad you’re here… you’re gonna love this place!” My sweet childhood friend, Kenny, will be among them.
I feel like someone reading this today needs to hear about the peace of heaven. If you are not that person… you could be in any given moment. I pray you will come to think of Paradise as not only a “friendly place”… but your destination for ultimate peace and joy. As you grieve and mourn the passing of loved ones who you miss dearly, think of them in complete bliss… healthy, whole, abundantly blessed, and continually in the presence of Jesus. Enjoy your earthly life… but look forward to the day you can join them and experience eternal peace.
If you have not yet offered Jesus your heart, as my friend did one evening, I pray that you will do so. Secure your place on the “waiting list” for heaven. Start making preparations for your “move” by living for Jesus every single day you are placed on this earth. Get so comfortable in your relationship with God that you anticipate the moment when the hills will sing for you and the trees will clap… and you will rest forever in His peace.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 10, 2013
Isaiah 54:13
I will teach all your children,
and they will enjoy great peace.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I have been amazed at how readily – and easily – Timothy accepts and embraces the lessons he is learning in Sunday school. My friend Alyce and I decorated the “craft room” this morning for our church's Vacation Bible School next week. I thought about all of the children who will pass through this area, creating beaded clay bowls, a lyre, a memory box and more to remind them of the Apostle Paul’s journey to Athens. I can almost hear the stories from Timothy now!
Do you remember your Sunday school days – or maybe Vacation Bible School? Do you remember how and when you first came to know about God… that He existed and that He loved you? Do you remember when you first began to question it all? As I studied commentaries on this scripture passage, I gained insight into how the Holy Spirit fills us as children… how God dwells in our hearts and teaches us. In our childlike wonder and purity, we accept His message as He “loads” us like little hard drives with His desires for our life. He also utilizes our surroundings, adults, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and other tools to reinforce our knowledge and wisdom of His love and devotion.
Somewhere along the line, we begin to question… to doubt… to try to rationalize and reason. And often, the things we once accepted so readily about God begin to seem uncertain… problematic… debatable. Let’s be honest… these doubts can cause us to feel unsettled – and to lose our peace. If this has happened to you, I encourage you to open your Bible – and your heart. With childlike wonder and innocence, allow God to fill you with His wisdom – and his peace.
Recognize that the devil is whispering in your ear… “How can this be? How can God possibly love you like He says…with such abandon and abundance? How crazy do you have to be to believe that God sent His only Son to die on the cross and freely pay the price once and for all for your sins? There has to be a catch! God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness must surely have some sort of price!” Choose to refute these thoughts… to pour God’ promises of hope, joy and salvation into your spirit and to operate in pure, unadulterated faith that He is the Real Deal and will do exactly what He has pledged.
Trust that the Bible is God’s Holy Word… one of His methods to reach your heart and fill you with His perfect will for your life. This is one instance where it’s okay to become a kid again… to allow yourself the freedom to open your heart, mind, and imagination to the possibilities God offers you… and the peace He wishes to give you. Let God teach you once more. After all, in His eyes, we are still His little children. Maybe it’s time we acted like it! Try looking at God through the eyes of a child… your own, or how you imagine a child would see Him. See if you don’t discover a renewed energy and enthusiasm for God… and an amazing sense of peace, as well.
©2013 Debbie Robus
I will teach all your children,
and they will enjoy great peace.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I have been amazed at how readily – and easily – Timothy accepts and embraces the lessons he is learning in Sunday school. My friend Alyce and I decorated the “craft room” this morning for our church's Vacation Bible School next week. I thought about all of the children who will pass through this area, creating beaded clay bowls, a lyre, a memory box and more to remind them of the Apostle Paul’s journey to Athens. I can almost hear the stories from Timothy now!
Do you remember your Sunday school days – or maybe Vacation Bible School? Do you remember how and when you first came to know about God… that He existed and that He loved you? Do you remember when you first began to question it all? As I studied commentaries on this scripture passage, I gained insight into how the Holy Spirit fills us as children… how God dwells in our hearts and teaches us. In our childlike wonder and purity, we accept His message as He “loads” us like little hard drives with His desires for our life. He also utilizes our surroundings, adults, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School and other tools to reinforce our knowledge and wisdom of His love and devotion.
Somewhere along the line, we begin to question… to doubt… to try to rationalize and reason. And often, the things we once accepted so readily about God begin to seem uncertain… problematic… debatable. Let’s be honest… these doubts can cause us to feel unsettled – and to lose our peace. If this has happened to you, I encourage you to open your Bible – and your heart. With childlike wonder and innocence, allow God to fill you with His wisdom – and his peace.
Recognize that the devil is whispering in your ear… “How can this be? How can God possibly love you like He says…with such abandon and abundance? How crazy do you have to be to believe that God sent His only Son to die on the cross and freely pay the price once and for all for your sins? There has to be a catch! God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness must surely have some sort of price!” Choose to refute these thoughts… to pour God’ promises of hope, joy and salvation into your spirit and to operate in pure, unadulterated faith that He is the Real Deal and will do exactly what He has pledged.
Trust that the Bible is God’s Holy Word… one of His methods to reach your heart and fill you with His perfect will for your life. This is one instance where it’s okay to become a kid again… to allow yourself the freedom to open your heart, mind, and imagination to the possibilities God offers you… and the peace He wishes to give you. Let God teach you once more. After all, in His eyes, we are still His little children. Maybe it’s time we acted like it! Try looking at God through the eyes of a child… your own, or how you imagine a child would see Him. See if you don’t discover a renewed energy and enthusiasm for God… and an amazing sense of peace, as well.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 31, 2013
Psalm 41:11-13
I know you are pleased with me,
for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
You have preserved my life because I am innocent;
you have brought me into your presence forever.
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who lives from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen!
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, we took Timothy and Zola to an Easter egg hunt at our church campus… held after morning services on the grounds surrounding the sanctuary. There were people everywhere, and the grass was thoroughly covered in plastic eggs filled with candy. Timothy, Zola and several of the younger ones really didn’t know what to do with the whole situation…but they figured it out pretty quickly. After all the eggs were gathered, the children did what children like to do… they ran willy-nilly as far and as fast as they could!
When it was time to leave, my husband and I herded our two toward the car… but Timothy pulled loose and began to run. As we approached the street, I reminded him that he had to hold his Uncle Greg’s hand, because cars could be coming, and the drivers might not be watching for little ones. Sure enough, a car came up the street, and the man driving it headed directly for Zola and me. I am not sure if he saw Timothy, and he never really got that close to him, but my husband scooted over quickly to shield Timothy and protect him.
The man was intent on asking directions to another church in town, and I honestly don’t think it even registered with him that we had small children in our charge as he pulled up beside us. And certainly, my husband and I would both move heaven and earth to protect our little ones, so neither he nor any other driver was about to cause them any harm. But I said a quick, “Thank You, LORD!” anyway, as my husband scooped up Timothy and put him into our car!
Small children are indeed innocent. They have not yet learned about the perils of “enemies” such as fast-moving cars on a busy street… crowds of people at an outdoor event… and even the ramifications of eating too much candy or biting into something that is rock hard, like an all-day sucker that can crack a baby tooth! They have not yet learned the impropriety of announcing to the world that they don’t want to do something, or screaming at the top of their lungs in public just because it feels good. They don’t know how to be nice and polite to others… to speak when spoken to… or to come immediately when summoned. So we adults have to protect them, teach them, and nurture them… just as God has done for us.
In 1 Corinthians 13:11, Paul says, “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” The time has come for us to put away childish things and operate with integrity and honor. We can live with the assurance that God will protect us - not because of our innocence or immaturity… but rather, because we have put away the childish things and now walk in His truths – and demonstrate them in our daily existence.
Today of all days, as we think of Jesus and how He rose from the grave and conquered death, we should stop and thank Him for the tremendous work and sacrifices He has done on our behalf. We should praise Him for protecting us from our enemies – often when we totally do not deserve His help. We should humbly glorify Him for loving us enough to suffer for our sins… and we should make every effort to live each day in a way that shows how truly appreciative we are. Will you do this? Will you put aside childish behaviors and begin to operate with integrity and honor? Has God brought you into His presence? Do you live in a way that says that you belong there? Isn’t it time that you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I know you are pleased with me,
for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
You have preserved my life because I am innocent;
you have brought me into your presence forever.
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who lives from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen!
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, we took Timothy and Zola to an Easter egg hunt at our church campus… held after morning services on the grounds surrounding the sanctuary. There were people everywhere, and the grass was thoroughly covered in plastic eggs filled with candy. Timothy, Zola and several of the younger ones really didn’t know what to do with the whole situation…but they figured it out pretty quickly. After all the eggs were gathered, the children did what children like to do… they ran willy-nilly as far and as fast as they could!
When it was time to leave, my husband and I herded our two toward the car… but Timothy pulled loose and began to run. As we approached the street, I reminded him that he had to hold his Uncle Greg’s hand, because cars could be coming, and the drivers might not be watching for little ones. Sure enough, a car came up the street, and the man driving it headed directly for Zola and me. I am not sure if he saw Timothy, and he never really got that close to him, but my husband scooted over quickly to shield Timothy and protect him.
The man was intent on asking directions to another church in town, and I honestly don’t think it even registered with him that we had small children in our charge as he pulled up beside us. And certainly, my husband and I would both move heaven and earth to protect our little ones, so neither he nor any other driver was about to cause them any harm. But I said a quick, “Thank You, LORD!” anyway, as my husband scooped up Timothy and put him into our car!
Small children are indeed innocent. They have not yet learned about the perils of “enemies” such as fast-moving cars on a busy street… crowds of people at an outdoor event… and even the ramifications of eating too much candy or biting into something that is rock hard, like an all-day sucker that can crack a baby tooth! They have not yet learned the impropriety of announcing to the world that they don’t want to do something, or screaming at the top of their lungs in public just because it feels good. They don’t know how to be nice and polite to others… to speak when spoken to… or to come immediately when summoned. So we adults have to protect them, teach them, and nurture them… just as God has done for us.
In 1 Corinthians 13:11, Paul says, “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” The time has come for us to put away childish things and operate with integrity and honor. We can live with the assurance that God will protect us - not because of our innocence or immaturity… but rather, because we have put away the childish things and now walk in His truths – and demonstrate them in our daily existence.
Today of all days, as we think of Jesus and how He rose from the grave and conquered death, we should stop and thank Him for the tremendous work and sacrifices He has done on our behalf. We should praise Him for protecting us from our enemies – often when we totally do not deserve His help. We should humbly glorify Him for loving us enough to suffer for our sins… and we should make every effort to live each day in a way that shows how truly appreciative we are. Will you do this? Will you put aside childish behaviors and begin to operate with integrity and honor? Has God brought you into His presence? Do you live in a way that says that you belong there? Isn’t it time that you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 6, 2013
Deuteronomy 23:21-23
“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
There is a saying that some people will often lie when the truth would have been better. I bet you know at least one person who is always saying they will come to your party, help you with a project, or be a certain place at a certain time… and none of this ever happens. I don’t know about you, but I would almost rather this person just say, “I’m not doing that,” or “I can’t be there.” Suppose you volunteered to help at a soup kitchen, and then you didn’t show. Wouldn’t that be worse than not volunteering in the first place? What if you told someone, “I will do this!” and then did as you pleased instead. How do you think that person would feel about you? Would you be considered trustworthy and honest? Would this person feel insulted or disappointed? You would essentially be saying to this person, “You are foolish to believe me.”
Sounds rather harsh and distasteful, doesn’t it? But this is exactly what we do to people… and worse yet… to GOD! We make all sorts of promises and commitments… and then blow off the person. “I got busy,” we say, or “I just couldn’t get it all done.” So don’t commit in the first place! With God, we make incredible promises… “LORD, I promise I am going to stop staying out all night drinking and partying”… until we get the next invitation. Or we say, “Father, if you will just help me get out of a jam this one time, I promise, this will never happen again!” Or even, “God, You have blessed me so much… I’m going to tell everyone how much you mean to me. I’m going to be at church every Sunday… I’m going to be kind, gentle, filled with grace and forgiveness toward others, and I’m going to serve You like never before!” Then we head out the door to a Sunday golf game or dinner and a gossip session with our best friends.
If we are brutally honest, each one of us is guilty of breaking our vows to the LORD, because we humans seem to be wired to make promises we cannot keep! But we can do better. I’m not saying we can ever completely stop this, but we CAN make improvements. We must make a concerted effort to think about our promises… to God and to others… and to remember that it’s always better to tell the truth. If we are uncertain about fulfilling a commitment, say, “I’m not sure I can make it,” or “I would love to help, but I don’t believe my schedule will allow for this now,” or even “I’m sorry, but this is not something I want to do.”
When it comes to serving God, we must be equally careful. If we are not fully committed to a volunteer position, it would be better if we didn’t volunteer in the first place. I am not saying that this gives us an “out” when it comes to volunteering. But we must be very certain that any commitments we make are 100% fulfilled… or we should not offer to help in the first place. As for promising things to God… He already knows what we are capable of handling and what offers mere lip service, and He does not appreciate the latter. Be honest with God… tell Him, “LORD… I’m trying. I may not get there every Sunday… I may have times when my mouth engages before my brain… but I desperately want to serve you and to operate in your will – and not in sin. I am asking You to help me… to show me how to always give You my very best.” Then mean it!
If you only make one vow, let it be to try your very hardest to serve God according to His will. This means you will have to be more awake and alert… and there will be times when not speaking up is better than biting off more than you can chew. Ask God to strengthen you in these areas, and always give Him your very best. The truth is always better. Always mean what you say… and say what you mean.
©2013 Debbie Robus
“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
There is a saying that some people will often lie when the truth would have been better. I bet you know at least one person who is always saying they will come to your party, help you with a project, or be a certain place at a certain time… and none of this ever happens. I don’t know about you, but I would almost rather this person just say, “I’m not doing that,” or “I can’t be there.” Suppose you volunteered to help at a soup kitchen, and then you didn’t show. Wouldn’t that be worse than not volunteering in the first place? What if you told someone, “I will do this!” and then did as you pleased instead. How do you think that person would feel about you? Would you be considered trustworthy and honest? Would this person feel insulted or disappointed? You would essentially be saying to this person, “You are foolish to believe me.”
Sounds rather harsh and distasteful, doesn’t it? But this is exactly what we do to people… and worse yet… to GOD! We make all sorts of promises and commitments… and then blow off the person. “I got busy,” we say, or “I just couldn’t get it all done.” So don’t commit in the first place! With God, we make incredible promises… “LORD, I promise I am going to stop staying out all night drinking and partying”… until we get the next invitation. Or we say, “Father, if you will just help me get out of a jam this one time, I promise, this will never happen again!” Or even, “God, You have blessed me so much… I’m going to tell everyone how much you mean to me. I’m going to be at church every Sunday… I’m going to be kind, gentle, filled with grace and forgiveness toward others, and I’m going to serve You like never before!” Then we head out the door to a Sunday golf game or dinner and a gossip session with our best friends.
If we are brutally honest, each one of us is guilty of breaking our vows to the LORD, because we humans seem to be wired to make promises we cannot keep! But we can do better. I’m not saying we can ever completely stop this, but we CAN make improvements. We must make a concerted effort to think about our promises… to God and to others… and to remember that it’s always better to tell the truth. If we are uncertain about fulfilling a commitment, say, “I’m not sure I can make it,” or “I would love to help, but I don’t believe my schedule will allow for this now,” or even “I’m sorry, but this is not something I want to do.”
When it comes to serving God, we must be equally careful. If we are not fully committed to a volunteer position, it would be better if we didn’t volunteer in the first place. I am not saying that this gives us an “out” when it comes to volunteering. But we must be very certain that any commitments we make are 100% fulfilled… or we should not offer to help in the first place. As for promising things to God… He already knows what we are capable of handling and what offers mere lip service, and He does not appreciate the latter. Be honest with God… tell Him, “LORD… I’m trying. I may not get there every Sunday… I may have times when my mouth engages before my brain… but I desperately want to serve you and to operate in your will – and not in sin. I am asking You to help me… to show me how to always give You my very best.” Then mean it!
If you only make one vow, let it be to try your very hardest to serve God according to His will. This means you will have to be more awake and alert… and there will be times when not speaking up is better than biting off more than you can chew. Ask God to strengthen you in these areas, and always give Him your very best. The truth is always better. Always mean what you say… and say what you mean.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 10, 2013
Mark 10:52
And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Did you ever go to one of those haunted houses where someone told you to stick your hand in “a bowl of guts and eyeballs?” You knew in reason it was only boiled eggs or olives and cold spaghetti noodles… but as you put your hand in, you believed what you were told. You had faith that you were being given truthful information… that you were really touching such ghoulish, disgusting things. In this case, you were being sold a bill of goods. You believed simply because you wanted to believe. If someone had turned on the light and shown you what you touched, you would have had a totally different perspective.
With Jesus, we have to trust what we are told much of the time… what we read in scripture and what we feel God reveals to us through prayer. We must have faith in God’s promises, because honestly, we don’t always have much visible proof. If the mysteries of God were suddenly fully revealed to us… if a light were turned on, so to speak…we might not be able to handle them. For certain, our perspective would change. But over time, God shows us His power and presence in a myriad of ways that are often much more subtle. It is up to us to recognize them!
So how do we know that the strength of God is real? How do we know that His promises are sincere… that we can fully trust Him? Look around. See the day-to-day miracles that are occurring. Watch how others rely on Him to endure things that seem impossible to handle, much less overcome. Study the blessings that come into your life… take a good hard look at the events of your world over the course of a week or two and see where God has orchestrated things in a way you had not even considered. Ask yourself, “How did I make it through XYZ?” and recognize that God’s strength and power most likely made the difference!
Make this the day that your faith heals you and allows you to see God more clearly – to operate more fully in His strength and power. Learn to function in the truths of Jesus Christ, and quit allowing others to convince you their information is factual. This is not some light-hearted game like a haunted house… this is your life in Christ! Seek His truth and strength… and trust nothing less! Recognize God’s power and presence… and trust Him to deliver you!
©2013 Debbie Robus
And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Did you ever go to one of those haunted houses where someone told you to stick your hand in “a bowl of guts and eyeballs?” You knew in reason it was only boiled eggs or olives and cold spaghetti noodles… but as you put your hand in, you believed what you were told. You had faith that you were being given truthful information… that you were really touching such ghoulish, disgusting things. In this case, you were being sold a bill of goods. You believed simply because you wanted to believe. If someone had turned on the light and shown you what you touched, you would have had a totally different perspective.
With Jesus, we have to trust what we are told much of the time… what we read in scripture and what we feel God reveals to us through prayer. We must have faith in God’s promises, because honestly, we don’t always have much visible proof. If the mysteries of God were suddenly fully revealed to us… if a light were turned on, so to speak…we might not be able to handle them. For certain, our perspective would change. But over time, God shows us His power and presence in a myriad of ways that are often much more subtle. It is up to us to recognize them!
So how do we know that the strength of God is real? How do we know that His promises are sincere… that we can fully trust Him? Look around. See the day-to-day miracles that are occurring. Watch how others rely on Him to endure things that seem impossible to handle, much less overcome. Study the blessings that come into your life… take a good hard look at the events of your world over the course of a week or two and see where God has orchestrated things in a way you had not even considered. Ask yourself, “How did I make it through XYZ?” and recognize that God’s strength and power most likely made the difference!
Make this the day that your faith heals you and allows you to see God more clearly – to operate more fully in His strength and power. Learn to function in the truths of Jesus Christ, and quit allowing others to convince you their information is factual. This is not some light-hearted game like a haunted house… this is your life in Christ! Seek His truth and strength… and trust nothing less! Recognize God’s power and presence… and trust Him to deliver you!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 30, 2012
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I am in an extraordinary position these days. On one hand, I am watching the last days and weeks of my grandmother’s life unfold. Her body is wearing out, her ability to speak is virtually gone, and her mind is foggy at best. She doesn’t have many good days, but she can still smile beautifully when someone greets her. And I know my grandmother… she is already looking ahead to her heavenly celebration, which will be lavish and exciting. Of course, none of us have ever seen heaven firsthand, but she and I have talked about how wonderful it will be. We know it will last forever and make us forget any troubles or unhappiness we ever experienced…and my grandmother looks forward to this.
At the same time, I am watching my niece’s three children grow and develop. Every day is new when you are 3½, 19 months and 5 months old. Each day I see these children grow and develop… and I am shown God in action, making new life. As He allows them to learn new things and demonstrate acquired skills, I am blessed. The sleepless nights with baby Timothy have given way to a darling toddler who has the most vivid imagination I’ve ever seen…and wakes us early in the morning to “tell you something very important!” The baby girl who could only point and squeal a few weeks ago now runs to us with arms open wide and says, “Bye?” (meaning, “Can I come with you?”). The tiny baby who slept most of the time is now sitting upright, gurgling and laughing… and all too soon he will be crawling and getting into everything!
The minute we are born, we start our trek toward heaven. We may be granted 100 years or 1 day here, but heaven will last forever. Every life is filled with ups and downs. There are cycles of good times, and often there are incredible challenges and heartaches along the way. But through it all, God is granting us grace and strength for the journey. I pray that you trust Him for all of your needs. I hope you recognize His presence in even the smallest thing… a hug from a child, the beauty of a snowfall, or even a smile from an aging grandparent. Learn to recognize the rhythms and grace of God in your life… and to rely on His strength for your daily living.
We’re not giving up… how could we?! God is with us, meeting our every need and preparing us for a glorious eternity with Him in heaven. Whatever challenges we face in this life really are “small potatoes” compared to the coming good times. This is great news for all who believe in Jesus Christ and have asked Him to forgive our sins and be LORD of our lives. We can enjoy every minute of the day, regardless of what it brings, because GOD is on our side!
Are you trusting God for the things you cannot see… believing in a lavish celebration and a forever life in heaven? Who gives you strength? Who holds your future? Are you ready to “let go and let God?” Isn’t this a good day to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I am in an extraordinary position these days. On one hand, I am watching the last days and weeks of my grandmother’s life unfold. Her body is wearing out, her ability to speak is virtually gone, and her mind is foggy at best. She doesn’t have many good days, but she can still smile beautifully when someone greets her. And I know my grandmother… she is already looking ahead to her heavenly celebration, which will be lavish and exciting. Of course, none of us have ever seen heaven firsthand, but she and I have talked about how wonderful it will be. We know it will last forever and make us forget any troubles or unhappiness we ever experienced…and my grandmother looks forward to this.
At the same time, I am watching my niece’s three children grow and develop. Every day is new when you are 3½, 19 months and 5 months old. Each day I see these children grow and develop… and I am shown God in action, making new life. As He allows them to learn new things and demonstrate acquired skills, I am blessed. The sleepless nights with baby Timothy have given way to a darling toddler who has the most vivid imagination I’ve ever seen…and wakes us early in the morning to “tell you something very important!” The baby girl who could only point and squeal a few weeks ago now runs to us with arms open wide and says, “Bye?” (meaning, “Can I come with you?”). The tiny baby who slept most of the time is now sitting upright, gurgling and laughing… and all too soon he will be crawling and getting into everything!
The minute we are born, we start our trek toward heaven. We may be granted 100 years or 1 day here, but heaven will last forever. Every life is filled with ups and downs. There are cycles of good times, and often there are incredible challenges and heartaches along the way. But through it all, God is granting us grace and strength for the journey. I pray that you trust Him for all of your needs. I hope you recognize His presence in even the smallest thing… a hug from a child, the beauty of a snowfall, or even a smile from an aging grandparent. Learn to recognize the rhythms and grace of God in your life… and to rely on His strength for your daily living.
We’re not giving up… how could we?! God is with us, meeting our every need and preparing us for a glorious eternity with Him in heaven. Whatever challenges we face in this life really are “small potatoes” compared to the coming good times. This is great news for all who believe in Jesus Christ and have asked Him to forgive our sins and be LORD of our lives. We can enjoy every minute of the day, regardless of what it brings, because GOD is on our side!
Are you trusting God for the things you cannot see… believing in a lavish celebration and a forever life in heaven? Who gives you strength? Who holds your future? Are you ready to “let go and let God?” Isn’t this a good day to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 26, 2012
Ephesians 1:3-6
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When the time came for my high school class to celebrate a 20-year reunion, two other classmates and I did most of the planning. We didn’t mind… it was fun! We were excited about seeing everyone again, and we eagerly arranged for a venue, food, entertainment, decorations, and more. We contacted classmates and gathered “where-have-you-been-for-twenty-years” information to compile into a booklet. We collected old photos and enhanced the memory book with fun pictures of class members in poses from our childhood. We worked for almost a year to create this party, which lasted only a few hours one Saturday evening.
As the date for our reunion neared, we grew even more excited about making sure everyone had a good time... ensuring that each attendee got plenty of food, some take-home souvenirs, and plenty of memories. Outside of the small circle of us who had directly planned the event, none of the classmates knew what to expect. And when they arrived, I’m fairly confident that everyone had a great time.
The event was fun. But I must admit, those of us who did the planning experienced something of a let-down. The classmates didn’t respond as we had hoped. Some were appreciative of our efforts. Others acted as if they wished they were somewhere else. In the end, we all vowed we would never plan another class reunion! Actually, I think we were all just a little bit glad to go back to our “regular” lives the next day and forget about the party.
I don’t regret working so hard on this reunion, but I do recognize that often we are more excited about the planning and preparation… the anticipation… than we are the actual series of events. Think about Christmas morning, when all of the gifts are open, the meal is eaten, and you are left with a pile of wrapping paper, leftovers, and sleepy guests! We still decorate, purchase gifts, cook and plan all over again the next Christmas… but sometimes, the greatest joy was in the planning.
Paul tells us in this letter to the Ephesians how lovingly God planned for each of us… how He anticipated so much… planned for our bright futures, and lavished love and attention on every detail. But God also instilled free will in each of us - the ultimate gift of love - and we are not always good stewards of this gift. So often, we are the “after-Christmas-Day” to God’s great plan… we are ungrateful, lazy, or downright rebellious. It’s enough to make God say, “That’s it! I love So-and-So… but I’m never doing anything nice for him/her again!”
I’m glad that God does not react to us in precisely this way… although I do think there are times He must surely temper His blessings according to how we are behaving. But the point is that we serve a God who gives great gifts… who loves us far beyond what we could ever imagine – much less deserve. And for this we should be eternally grateful and filled with praise. We should “make the Christmas party or class reunion last forever,” so to speak…with our service, obedience, and loyalty to Him. We should live in such a way that says to everyone we meet… “I am a child of God… blessed beyond measure, designed and carefully planned, wonderfully made, and loved unconditionally… and I am incredibly grateful! I want to celebrate each and every day in God’s honor!”
What does your attitude reflect? How are you behaving toward the God who has given you everything… planned for your life for eons…and lavished His amazing and unending love upon you? Do you need to make a change in how you treat Him today? Isn’t this the perfect time to recognize how blessed you are… and start living accordingly? Will today be the day you truly “get the party started”… and keep it rolling?
©2012 Debbie Robus
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When the time came for my high school class to celebrate a 20-year reunion, two other classmates and I did most of the planning. We didn’t mind… it was fun! We were excited about seeing everyone again, and we eagerly arranged for a venue, food, entertainment, decorations, and more. We contacted classmates and gathered “where-have-you-been-for-twenty-years” information to compile into a booklet. We collected old photos and enhanced the memory book with fun pictures of class members in poses from our childhood. We worked for almost a year to create this party, which lasted only a few hours one Saturday evening.
As the date for our reunion neared, we grew even more excited about making sure everyone had a good time... ensuring that each attendee got plenty of food, some take-home souvenirs, and plenty of memories. Outside of the small circle of us who had directly planned the event, none of the classmates knew what to expect. And when they arrived, I’m fairly confident that everyone had a great time.
The event was fun. But I must admit, those of us who did the planning experienced something of a let-down. The classmates didn’t respond as we had hoped. Some were appreciative of our efforts. Others acted as if they wished they were somewhere else. In the end, we all vowed we would never plan another class reunion! Actually, I think we were all just a little bit glad to go back to our “regular” lives the next day and forget about the party.
I don’t regret working so hard on this reunion, but I do recognize that often we are more excited about the planning and preparation… the anticipation… than we are the actual series of events. Think about Christmas morning, when all of the gifts are open, the meal is eaten, and you are left with a pile of wrapping paper, leftovers, and sleepy guests! We still decorate, purchase gifts, cook and plan all over again the next Christmas… but sometimes, the greatest joy was in the planning.
Paul tells us in this letter to the Ephesians how lovingly God planned for each of us… how He anticipated so much… planned for our bright futures, and lavished love and attention on every detail. But God also instilled free will in each of us - the ultimate gift of love - and we are not always good stewards of this gift. So often, we are the “after-Christmas-Day” to God’s great plan… we are ungrateful, lazy, or downright rebellious. It’s enough to make God say, “That’s it! I love So-and-So… but I’m never doing anything nice for him/her again!”
I’m glad that God does not react to us in precisely this way… although I do think there are times He must surely temper His blessings according to how we are behaving. But the point is that we serve a God who gives great gifts… who loves us far beyond what we could ever imagine – much less deserve. And for this we should be eternally grateful and filled with praise. We should “make the Christmas party or class reunion last forever,” so to speak…with our service, obedience, and loyalty to Him. We should live in such a way that says to everyone we meet… “I am a child of God… blessed beyond measure, designed and carefully planned, wonderfully made, and loved unconditionally… and I am incredibly grateful! I want to celebrate each and every day in God’s honor!”
What does your attitude reflect? How are you behaving toward the God who has given you everything… planned for your life for eons…and lavished His amazing and unending love upon you? Do you need to make a change in how you treat Him today? Isn’t this the perfect time to recognize how blessed you are… and start living accordingly? Will today be the day you truly “get the party started”… and keep it rolling?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 4, 2012
Psalm 37:30
Words of wisdom come when good people speak for justice.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you watch any cooking shows or dabble in the kitchen for any length of time, you have either said to yourself – or heard someone say – “The recipe calls for XYZ, but I like to do this or that.” The recipe is not wrong… it just doesn’t work for your taste – or the palate of those whom you plan to serve. Your substitutions and omissions may improve the dish… or have little to no effect at all on the overall quality of the food (like leaving raw onions out of potato salad).
Some cooks are purists. They would never consider deviating from the recipe. Others use it as a loose guide to create something new and wonderful. And unless something goes horribly wrong, the end result is almost never ghastly!
A lot of people are using the Bible like a cookbook or recipe starter. And to some degree, this is not necessarily the wrong approach. I believe God wants us to take His word and truly dig into it… to find out what He is saying to us and how He wants us to apply the scriptures to our daily living. But some people have decided to substitute one word or phrase for another – or to pick and choose what to include and what to omit. Some have taken a particular passage literally without considering its overall context. And God’s word doesn’t work that way!
Am I saying we are should view every single word of the Bible literally? Are we to stop touching pig skin, kill a newborn lamb and never cut our hair? Absolutely not! But neither are we to twist and turn selected scriptures to suit our own agendas… or to suit our personal comfort level.
There are many excellent guides on the Internet for reading through the Bible in 365 days. A lot of them suggest that you read a passage each day from the Old Testament and New Testament – and a Psalm and/or verse from Proverbs. If you do this, you will find many verses in the Old Testament about sacrifices, burnt offerings, and ceremonial worship. You will see how God’s people showed their humility and repentance to Him by killing their best animals and sacrificed the bodies on an altar. This is outlined in great detail in the Old Testament… what, when, where and how to atone to God.
In the New Testament, the coming of Jesus changes everything. No longer do we have to kill our best calf to show repentance to God for our sin. We don’t have to perform complex rituals for atonement and purification. The focus is no longer on ceremonies and eating the right food at the right time in order to please God. In Colossians 2:20-23, we read… “You died with Christ. Now the forces of the universe don’t have any power over you. Why do you live as if you had to obey such rules as, ‘Don’t handle this. Don’t taste that. Don’t touch this.’? After these things are used, they are no longer good for anything. So why be bothered with the rules that humans have made up? Obeying these rules may seem to be the smart thing to do. They appear to make you love God more and to be very humble and to have control over your body. But they don’t really have any power over our desires.”
Here’s the problem… many Christians pick and choose which parts of the Bible to believe or use for justification on any given day – much like a cook puts in or takes out the raw onions or another ingredient in a recipe. The difference between the cook and the Christian is that “selectiveness” in our faith DOES make a huge difference. Do not misunderstand me… the Old Testament is extremely important, and we must not toss it to the curb as outdated and no longer relevant. But if we go back and pick out ANY scripture passage to justify our opinion on something and do not consider its context or how it functions alongside the rest of God’s word, we may very well be operating in untruth and injustice.
How do you know what is true? How can you figure out who to trust? After all, people who claim to be faith-filled Christians are continually telling us exactly what the Bible says and how we should believe. Shouldn’t we listen? For me, the answer is yes, no… and maybe. I believe that there are plenty of fair, honest and genuine Christians who operate from a place of justice and responsibility… believers who study the scripture, communicate with God and sincerely ask Him, “LORD, what do you mean by this? What are you telling me?” I believe these people make their decisions and serve God honorably from a place of heartfelt worship and obedience. And at the end of the day, I believe these people operate fully in the love and kindness of Jesus Christ - a deep and abiding desire to love others as God loves us… to live in a way that His grace, mercy, love and forgiveness shine through… and they leave the judgment and justice to God.
Look around. These people exist. You will have to sort and sift through a lot of friends and acquaintances who claim to be Christians but often behave in a way that is anything but Christ-like. Finding honest, sincere, wise and genuine Christian friends and mentors will be worth the effort. You’re not seeking someone who thinks like you do… you’re seeking the truth. The “Christian recipe” calls for heavy measures of love, kindness, compassion, wisdom in the LORD, integrity, loyalty, sincerity, and honesty, among other things. This is one recipe we don’t want to alter!
I want God’s truth for my life as much as the next person. I am continually seeking His direction. My prayer is that I would always offer others the truth… and an example of living faithfully in the wisdom and commandments of Jesus… with a heavy dose of justice and fairness. I’ve had a few epic fails in the kitchen… but when it comes to “cooking for Jesus,” I want to offer a solid dish… don’t you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Words of wisdom come when good people speak for justice.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you watch any cooking shows or dabble in the kitchen for any length of time, you have either said to yourself – or heard someone say – “The recipe calls for XYZ, but I like to do this or that.” The recipe is not wrong… it just doesn’t work for your taste – or the palate of those whom you plan to serve. Your substitutions and omissions may improve the dish… or have little to no effect at all on the overall quality of the food (like leaving raw onions out of potato salad).
Some cooks are purists. They would never consider deviating from the recipe. Others use it as a loose guide to create something new and wonderful. And unless something goes horribly wrong, the end result is almost never ghastly!
A lot of people are using the Bible like a cookbook or recipe starter. And to some degree, this is not necessarily the wrong approach. I believe God wants us to take His word and truly dig into it… to find out what He is saying to us and how He wants us to apply the scriptures to our daily living. But some people have decided to substitute one word or phrase for another – or to pick and choose what to include and what to omit. Some have taken a particular passage literally without considering its overall context. And God’s word doesn’t work that way!
Am I saying we are should view every single word of the Bible literally? Are we to stop touching pig skin, kill a newborn lamb and never cut our hair? Absolutely not! But neither are we to twist and turn selected scriptures to suit our own agendas… or to suit our personal comfort level.
There are many excellent guides on the Internet for reading through the Bible in 365 days. A lot of them suggest that you read a passage each day from the Old Testament and New Testament – and a Psalm and/or verse from Proverbs. If you do this, you will find many verses in the Old Testament about sacrifices, burnt offerings, and ceremonial worship. You will see how God’s people showed their humility and repentance to Him by killing their best animals and sacrificed the bodies on an altar. This is outlined in great detail in the Old Testament… what, when, where and how to atone to God.
In the New Testament, the coming of Jesus changes everything. No longer do we have to kill our best calf to show repentance to God for our sin. We don’t have to perform complex rituals for atonement and purification. The focus is no longer on ceremonies and eating the right food at the right time in order to please God. In Colossians 2:20-23, we read… “You died with Christ. Now the forces of the universe don’t have any power over you. Why do you live as if you had to obey such rules as, ‘Don’t handle this. Don’t taste that. Don’t touch this.’? After these things are used, they are no longer good for anything. So why be bothered with the rules that humans have made up? Obeying these rules may seem to be the smart thing to do. They appear to make you love God more and to be very humble and to have control over your body. But they don’t really have any power over our desires.”
Here’s the problem… many Christians pick and choose which parts of the Bible to believe or use for justification on any given day – much like a cook puts in or takes out the raw onions or another ingredient in a recipe. The difference between the cook and the Christian is that “selectiveness” in our faith DOES make a huge difference. Do not misunderstand me… the Old Testament is extremely important, and we must not toss it to the curb as outdated and no longer relevant. But if we go back and pick out ANY scripture passage to justify our opinion on something and do not consider its context or how it functions alongside the rest of God’s word, we may very well be operating in untruth and injustice.
How do you know what is true? How can you figure out who to trust? After all, people who claim to be faith-filled Christians are continually telling us exactly what the Bible says and how we should believe. Shouldn’t we listen? For me, the answer is yes, no… and maybe. I believe that there are plenty of fair, honest and genuine Christians who operate from a place of justice and responsibility… believers who study the scripture, communicate with God and sincerely ask Him, “LORD, what do you mean by this? What are you telling me?” I believe these people make their decisions and serve God honorably from a place of heartfelt worship and obedience. And at the end of the day, I believe these people operate fully in the love and kindness of Jesus Christ - a deep and abiding desire to love others as God loves us… to live in a way that His grace, mercy, love and forgiveness shine through… and they leave the judgment and justice to God.
Look around. These people exist. You will have to sort and sift through a lot of friends and acquaintances who claim to be Christians but often behave in a way that is anything but Christ-like. Finding honest, sincere, wise and genuine Christian friends and mentors will be worth the effort. You’re not seeking someone who thinks like you do… you’re seeking the truth. The “Christian recipe” calls for heavy measures of love, kindness, compassion, wisdom in the LORD, integrity, loyalty, sincerity, and honesty, among other things. This is one recipe we don’t want to alter!
I want God’s truth for my life as much as the next person. I am continually seeking His direction. My prayer is that I would always offer others the truth… and an example of living faithfully in the wisdom and commandments of Jesus… with a heavy dose of justice and fairness. I’ve had a few epic fails in the kitchen… but when it comes to “cooking for Jesus,” I want to offer a solid dish… don’t you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 12, 2012
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a good life.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Over the weekend, my husband and I attended the wedding of one of my former Sunday School students, whose parents are good friends of ours. As we were seated, the girls who were presiding over the guest book handed us a card on which to sign our name. “Write out some advice for the couple,” they told us. I signed our names to the card and wrote, “Always put God first… and never go to bed angry.” Had I thought a little longer and harder, I could have possibly written something clever, but I’m not sure I could have written anything that will serve them better in life. I wish I had been able to quote Deuteronomy 10:12-13… because this passage says it all in a neat, concise form!
I could also have quoted Mark 12:30… “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (KJV) But truly, when we put God first, everything else falls into place, doesn’t it? Because to truly put Him first, we must follow the road He sets out for us… love Him… serve Him with everything we have in us… and obey His commandments and regulations. When we do this, we can’t help but live a good life.
When you think about your own life… and times when you feel like things weren’t going so well… just how close were you to God? Did you trust Him and praise Him even when you suffered illness or injury – loss of one kind of another – or something of a failed experience? Did you continue to look to God for strength when things were going extraordinarily well… or did you get cocky and decide you could handle things on your own? Do you stew and stress, argue and fight, criticize and complain… or do you “love one another” as outlined in 1 John 4:7-12? Do you look the other way and pretend not to hear when others rebuke God or take His name in vain? Do you truly respect and revere Him at all times?
In order to fully serve God, we have to live in His presence in both the big things and the little ones. We have to follow the road He sets out for us every day… not just when it feels good or we are in dire straits.
The more I think about it, the more I believe my advice to the newlyweds was solid. When we truly put God first in everything, the rest will follow. Life may not always be easy – or fun – but God will bless us in the end… and the results will all be good. Are you putting God first in everything? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a good life.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Over the weekend, my husband and I attended the wedding of one of my former Sunday School students, whose parents are good friends of ours. As we were seated, the girls who were presiding over the guest book handed us a card on which to sign our name. “Write out some advice for the couple,” they told us. I signed our names to the card and wrote, “Always put God first… and never go to bed angry.” Had I thought a little longer and harder, I could have possibly written something clever, but I’m not sure I could have written anything that will serve them better in life. I wish I had been able to quote Deuteronomy 10:12-13… because this passage says it all in a neat, concise form!
I could also have quoted Mark 12:30… “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (KJV) But truly, when we put God first, everything else falls into place, doesn’t it? Because to truly put Him first, we must follow the road He sets out for us… love Him… serve Him with everything we have in us… and obey His commandments and regulations. When we do this, we can’t help but live a good life.
When you think about your own life… and times when you feel like things weren’t going so well… just how close were you to God? Did you trust Him and praise Him even when you suffered illness or injury – loss of one kind of another – or something of a failed experience? Did you continue to look to God for strength when things were going extraordinarily well… or did you get cocky and decide you could handle things on your own? Do you stew and stress, argue and fight, criticize and complain… or do you “love one another” as outlined in 1 John 4:7-12? Do you look the other way and pretend not to hear when others rebuke God or take His name in vain? Do you truly respect and revere Him at all times?
In order to fully serve God, we have to live in His presence in both the big things and the little ones. We have to follow the road He sets out for us every day… not just when it feels good or we are in dire straits.
The more I think about it, the more I believe my advice to the newlyweds was solid. When we truly put God first in everything, the rest will follow. Life may not always be easy – or fun – but God will bless us in the end… and the results will all be good. Are you putting God first in everything? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 8, 2012
Psalm 90:3-6
At your command we die and turn back to dust, but a thousand years mean nothing to you! They are merely a day gone by or a few hours in the night. You bring our lives to an end just like a dream. We are merely tender grass that sprouts and grows in the morning, but dries up by evening.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, my cousin’s wife posted on Facebook that their daughter is doing a “senior pictures” photo shoot today. She made the remark, “How time flies…” And it does seem that way. One minute you are a little kid playing outside, riding your bike and swimming all summer… and the next you are working at a marina so others can play on the water… or you have a job in an office or facility with no windows that allow you to enjoy the beauty of summer… or you are taking your own children/grandchildren to parks, pools and lakes to play. It often seems like a dozen years go by like a day - or a few hours in the night!
So what does this mean for us as Christians? First, we must remember that time doesn’t mean the same thing to God as it does to us. He knew us long before we were born… and He will still care about us long after we die. We always matter to God... always!
Do you know how it feels to anticipate an event… maybe your graduation, a special party, your wedding day, a big game or concert… or even Christmas Day? You get so excited and worked up making plans and preparations… you think about the details and envision how much fun you will have… how wonderful the event will be. And then the day arrives, the event happens, and it’s over and done. So often, the planning and anticipation are more enjoyable than the actual event… most certainly better than the day after!
This brings us to the second thing to remember… that with God, there is no letdown. Each “new thing” is just that - a new experience - and He wants to give us more and more of these. But God wants us to savor each experience… to stop and appreciate where we are in life – where He has brought us, and where He will take us next.
Time does seem to pass quickly. But our job as Christians is to take time to enjoy every minute of each day… to count our blessings… and to look for opportunities to bless and serve others in God’s name. At the end of our earthly journey, when God turns us back to dust and calls us to Heaven, let it be said that we made the most of our time here. Whether you are given a few days or a hundred-plus years, make them count for Him.
God has incredible plans for each of our lives. Make sure that you give Him your very best every day of yours. The time may still seem to fly by… but you will have made the most of your earthly journey.
©2012 Debbie Robus
At your command we die and turn back to dust, but a thousand years mean nothing to you! They are merely a day gone by or a few hours in the night. You bring our lives to an end just like a dream. We are merely tender grass that sprouts and grows in the morning, but dries up by evening.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, my cousin’s wife posted on Facebook that their daughter is doing a “senior pictures” photo shoot today. She made the remark, “How time flies…” And it does seem that way. One minute you are a little kid playing outside, riding your bike and swimming all summer… and the next you are working at a marina so others can play on the water… or you have a job in an office or facility with no windows that allow you to enjoy the beauty of summer… or you are taking your own children/grandchildren to parks, pools and lakes to play. It often seems like a dozen years go by like a day - or a few hours in the night!
So what does this mean for us as Christians? First, we must remember that time doesn’t mean the same thing to God as it does to us. He knew us long before we were born… and He will still care about us long after we die. We always matter to God... always!
Do you know how it feels to anticipate an event… maybe your graduation, a special party, your wedding day, a big game or concert… or even Christmas Day? You get so excited and worked up making plans and preparations… you think about the details and envision how much fun you will have… how wonderful the event will be. And then the day arrives, the event happens, and it’s over and done. So often, the planning and anticipation are more enjoyable than the actual event… most certainly better than the day after!
This brings us to the second thing to remember… that with God, there is no letdown. Each “new thing” is just that - a new experience - and He wants to give us more and more of these. But God wants us to savor each experience… to stop and appreciate where we are in life – where He has brought us, and where He will take us next.
Time does seem to pass quickly. But our job as Christians is to take time to enjoy every minute of each day… to count our blessings… and to look for opportunities to bless and serve others in God’s name. At the end of our earthly journey, when God turns us back to dust and calls us to Heaven, let it be said that we made the most of our time here. Whether you are given a few days or a hundred-plus years, make them count for Him.
God has incredible plans for each of our lives. Make sure that you give Him your very best every day of yours. The time may still seem to fly by… but you will have made the most of your earthly journey.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 15, 2012
Psalm 1
God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God. Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy, and they think about it day and night.
They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do. That isn’t true of those who are evil, because they are like straw blown by the wind. Sinners won’t have an excuse on the day of judgment, and they won’t have a place with the people of God.
The Lord protects everyone who follows him, but the wicked follow a road that leads to ruin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Over the weekend, my best friend, Marla, and I attended a party to celebrate the marriage of two of our friends from high school. The weather was quirky, and we debated what to wear for a party on the river. The invitation said “outdoor festive attire.” So Marla chose a denim skirt and a pretty blouse… and I decided to wear a simple knit black dress.
I’ve had this dress for more than ten years… it is so old I can’t remember when I actually bought it. I find it as comfortable as pajamas… yet it looks nice enough to wear to a party. It doesn’t wrinkle, washes and dries in less than an hour, and can be worn with casual sandals to shop at Wal-Mart… or with dressy jewelry and heels to the most elegant party. You may have a “go-to” piece in your closet. It could be a basic dress, your favorite t-shirt or pair of jeans, or the sneakers that look more like dress shoes that you wear with everything you own!
The point is… most of us have an item in our closet that we turn to over and again… the piece that makes us feel good in our own skin – comfortable, confident, happy and grounded. This is the item that we are certain will always be appropriate and frees us to concentrate on being present in the moment instead of worrying, “Did I wear the right thing?”
Our relationship with God should be as comfortable and worry-free as the most dependable garment in our closet or our favorite t-shirt or sneakers. GOD should be our “go-to” item… His wisdom and love should be the guiding force that frees us to concentrate on the people and tasks at hand, rather than on whether or not we are doing the right thing or making good decisions. When we are grounded in God, we know that we are on the right path… we are comfortable, confident, happy and grounded. We are firmly rooted, like a hundred-year-old tree… and God’s love and care hangs over us like a shady canopy of guidance.
You know how it is when you get somewhere and feel like you aren’t dressed appropriately. You probably also know the feeling that you are not quite “dressed right” with God. Both are lousy feelings! Every fashion expert tells us to fill our closet with “staples” that are good for any occasion... those that stand the test of time and serve as a foundation for other items and accessories. God’s wisdom and guidance is our “Spiritual staple.” When we start with His foundation – our “tree” has solid roots… and we are always on point and “in style.”
What’s in your “Spiritual closet” these days? Are you firmly rooted in God? Does His wisdom and care cover you like the canopy of a shade tree? Or are you often insecure and uncertain about your choices and behaviors? This is the perfect time to recommit to GOD… to follow Him and listen for His guidance. Let the Psalms be a good source of information and encouragement to help you stay deeply rooted. Don’t waste another minute… fill your “spiritual closet” with solid basics today… and feel the confidence that God can give you when you stay close to Him.
©2012 Debbie Robus
God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God. Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy, and they think about it day and night.
They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do. That isn’t true of those who are evil, because they are like straw blown by the wind. Sinners won’t have an excuse on the day of judgment, and they won’t have a place with the people of God.
The Lord protects everyone who follows him, but the wicked follow a road that leads to ruin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Over the weekend, my best friend, Marla, and I attended a party to celebrate the marriage of two of our friends from high school. The weather was quirky, and we debated what to wear for a party on the river. The invitation said “outdoor festive attire.” So Marla chose a denim skirt and a pretty blouse… and I decided to wear a simple knit black dress.
I’ve had this dress for more than ten years… it is so old I can’t remember when I actually bought it. I find it as comfortable as pajamas… yet it looks nice enough to wear to a party. It doesn’t wrinkle, washes and dries in less than an hour, and can be worn with casual sandals to shop at Wal-Mart… or with dressy jewelry and heels to the most elegant party. You may have a “go-to” piece in your closet. It could be a basic dress, your favorite t-shirt or pair of jeans, or the sneakers that look more like dress shoes that you wear with everything you own!
The point is… most of us have an item in our closet that we turn to over and again… the piece that makes us feel good in our own skin – comfortable, confident, happy and grounded. This is the item that we are certain will always be appropriate and frees us to concentrate on being present in the moment instead of worrying, “Did I wear the right thing?”
Our relationship with God should be as comfortable and worry-free as the most dependable garment in our closet or our favorite t-shirt or sneakers. GOD should be our “go-to” item… His wisdom and love should be the guiding force that frees us to concentrate on the people and tasks at hand, rather than on whether or not we are doing the right thing or making good decisions. When we are grounded in God, we know that we are on the right path… we are comfortable, confident, happy and grounded. We are firmly rooted, like a hundred-year-old tree… and God’s love and care hangs over us like a shady canopy of guidance.
You know how it is when you get somewhere and feel like you aren’t dressed appropriately. You probably also know the feeling that you are not quite “dressed right” with God. Both are lousy feelings! Every fashion expert tells us to fill our closet with “staples” that are good for any occasion... those that stand the test of time and serve as a foundation for other items and accessories. God’s wisdom and guidance is our “Spiritual staple.” When we start with His foundation – our “tree” has solid roots… and we are always on point and “in style.”
What’s in your “Spiritual closet” these days? Are you firmly rooted in God? Does His wisdom and care cover you like the canopy of a shade tree? Or are you often insecure and uncertain about your choices and behaviors? This is the perfect time to recommit to GOD… to follow Him and listen for His guidance. Let the Psalms be a good source of information and encouragement to help you stay deeply rooted. Don’t waste another minute… fill your “spiritual closet” with solid basics today… and feel the confidence that God can give you when you stay close to Him.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 4, 2012
Job1:6-12
One day, when the angels had gathered around the Lord, and Satan was there with them, the Lord asked, “Satan, where have you been?” Satan replied, “I have been going all over the earth.” Then the Lord asked, “What do you think of my servant Job? No one on earth is like him—he is a truly good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil.”
“Why shouldn’t he respect you?” Satan remarked. “You are like a wall protecting not only him, but his entire family and all his property. You make him successful in whatever he does, and his flocks and herds are everywhere. Try taking away everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.”
The Lord replied, “All right, Satan, do what you want with anything that belongs to him, but don’t harm Job.” Then Satan left.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This has been a challenging week. But as many have pointed out, God is in control. All I have to do is rest in Him. And I really am trying to do that… hopefully pretty well! I know that God has a wall of protection around me, my grandmother, and my family. He has shown me this over and again. He can take away lots of material things. He can allow challenges and temporary setbacks. But ultimately, I believe He has said to Satan, “Do what you want with anything that belongs to her, but do not harm HER or her family!”
I believe that Satan knows who he can and cannot touch. And when God tells the devil to leave someone alone, I believe there is a covenant in place between them for this to happen. So I want to be extra certain that I operate within the wall of protection that God offers. I want to respect God and refuse to do evil. I want to serve Him – and serve well!
I’m not being arrogant when I say that I believe the devil can’t touch me! If you trust God, serve Him and respect Him - and seek His will - I think you can say the very same thing. I find this incredibly comforting… and I am at peace with so many decisions and outcomes that I have experienced – especially in the last few days. God has my back! Does He have yours?
©2012 Debbie Robus
One day, when the angels had gathered around the Lord, and Satan was there with them, the Lord asked, “Satan, where have you been?” Satan replied, “I have been going all over the earth.” Then the Lord asked, “What do you think of my servant Job? No one on earth is like him—he is a truly good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil.”
“Why shouldn’t he respect you?” Satan remarked. “You are like a wall protecting not only him, but his entire family and all his property. You make him successful in whatever he does, and his flocks and herds are everywhere. Try taking away everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.”
The Lord replied, “All right, Satan, do what you want with anything that belongs to him, but don’t harm Job.” Then Satan left.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This has been a challenging week. But as many have pointed out, God is in control. All I have to do is rest in Him. And I really am trying to do that… hopefully pretty well! I know that God has a wall of protection around me, my grandmother, and my family. He has shown me this over and again. He can take away lots of material things. He can allow challenges and temporary setbacks. But ultimately, I believe He has said to Satan, “Do what you want with anything that belongs to her, but do not harm HER or her family!”
I believe that Satan knows who he can and cannot touch. And when God tells the devil to leave someone alone, I believe there is a covenant in place between them for this to happen. So I want to be extra certain that I operate within the wall of protection that God offers. I want to respect God and refuse to do evil. I want to serve Him – and serve well!
I’m not being arrogant when I say that I believe the devil can’t touch me! If you trust God, serve Him and respect Him - and seek His will - I think you can say the very same thing. I find this incredibly comforting… and I am at peace with so many decisions and outcomes that I have experienced – especially in the last few days. God has my back! Does He have yours?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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