Mark 11:25-26
Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace
this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you.
This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no
shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I
urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large.
Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s
everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that
it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only
then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean
of sins.”
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.
If you have spent any time
around young children, you know that in a split second, they can have
every single toy, puzzle, and game strewn across the floor. And we dare
not remove a solitary item, because it will surely be missed!
I
have started limiting what the kids can get out at one time. I will
tell them, “Before you get out those cars, you have to pick up this box
of blocks.” They don’t like it…and sometimes, they will say, “But I’m
still playing with that toy!” Occasionally, they make a good case…but
often, I tell them that we are not going to do anything else until they
get done with the task at hand.
Now think about your life. There
are times when you have so many things “strewn about”…you are clinging
to this grudge or that conversation that upset you. You are angry with
someone about SOMETHING…and you’re not quite done being mad! You come
before God and ask Him to guide your steps…to care for you and your
loved ones…to heal this situation or that. And God essentially says,
“Clean up your mess first.”
It’s not that God doesn’t want to help
us. Just as WE could pick up the toys and get everything straightened
up and in order for our little ones, God could surely clean up any mess
we have. He could fix our grudges…resolve our conflicts…heal the world
mentally, physically and spiritually…cover every debt of every kind.
But God knows that we need to have a part in this. We learn valuable
lessons from actively participating in this process. God also knows that
if we keep accumulating clutter in our heart and mind, we’ll just pile
our hearts full complaints, resentments, bitterness, ill will toward
others, and other clutter. We say to our children, “I’m not giving you
another thing to play with while you have all of this.” God says, “I
cannot help you with ABC until you resolve XYZ.”
God
is not being mean, just as we are not being unkind to our little ones.
He is saying, “Assume responsibility. Don’t ask Me to do something you
are not willing to do yourself. Get your house in order a little
before you start asking Me to step in and save the day.”
If there
is an area of your life where you feel that God isn’t answering – no
matter how large or small – I suggest you take a long hard look at your
own heart. See if there is a possibility that you are harboring a
little clutter…a grudge, some bitterness, a hateful opinion of someone,
or even a minor irritation. Let go…and let God have room to work! Once
you clean up some of the mess, you may be astounded at how quickly God
goes into action!
God can – and will – do anything we ask, if
our heart is in the right place. Isn’t it time we cleared out enough
space for Him to work? Will this be the day that you get started?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label making a mess of things. Show all posts
Showing posts with label making a mess of things. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 14, 2013
Acts 10:34-36
Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
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.
On a cold, snowy February night just over 20 years ago, I stood with my friend Kathy under the portico to the Pierre Hotel in New York City and watched as stars and entertainers arrived and departed from limousines. We were in town on a business trip… the entertainers and celebrities were attending a party inside the Pierre that was being held by the executives at Arista Records to celebrate the Grammy Awards ceremony the following night. Kathy and I are both about as “southern” as they come… and when we opened our mouths, it was evident that we were NOT native New Yorkers. However, we kept quiet and tried to blend in with the crowd as I snapped photos with my camera.
A couple standing next to us began to heckle the stars and the doorman. They were being incredibly vulgar and rude, and the hotel security official shot them more than one ugly glance. He even walked over to where we were standing and asked them to pipe down, which only made the couple laugh harder and become more offensive. Finally, he insisted that this young man and woman leave the hotel property. They immediately began to question this, and the doorman told them, “You do not belong here… you are not guests of the hotel… you need to leave – NOW!” The couple protested and pointed to Kathy and me and said, “But why don’t THEY have to leave? They don’t belong here!” The doorman told them, “They are guests of the hotel.”
To be clear, we were not staying at the hotel. We had merely wandered through the lobby to take in its ornate décor, and we happened to notice Cindi Lauper and a couple of other “famous” people as we stepped back outside. So we quietly parked ourselves along a velvet rope and tried to look inconspicuous. AND… the key word most likely was “quietly”. We were not heckling anyone. We were not shouting obscenities and looking the other way, as if someone else had uttered them and we didn’t know where the offensive words originated. We were not arguing with anyone or being a bother. So we got to stay… and the doorman treated us quite kindly. And in the end, the hecklers moved along down the sidewalk (and probably crashed another party at a neighboring hotel).
I have every confidence that this entire spectacle could have been avoided. Had the couple shown a little respect and honored the doorman’s authority and position, they could have been “wannabe paparazzi” like Kathy and me. We were no better than they were. And if you want to “go there”… the celebrities we were ogling were truly no “better” either! We give far too much credence to “celebrity” in this world – at least in my book! But the point I want to make is that these people forfeited the “privilege” of standing on that hotel portico and taking in the sights by failing to respect the authority of those in charge. They did not recognize… or accept… the parameters. They were unwilling to do as they were asked. And so “the door was closed.”
Where in your life have you “closed the door” in effect… on your relationships with people…on opportunities for improvement and/or advancement… and most significantly, on God? How have you disrespected the authority and guidelines? Where have you refused to “play by the rules” and essentially cost yourself a place at the table? How have you treated the people and situations in your life… and what has been the outcome?
We make a lot of our own messes, it seems. We make life and relationship choices that alter our course… and often close a lot of doors. We can correct this… especially with God. We can recognize and respect His authority in our lives… and His will. In turn, as we begin to give God the proper reverence and regard, He will open doors for us to repair and restore relationships and the conditions of other circumstances in our lives. God can put together what we have broken… if only we will bow before Him and ask for His forgiveness… and His help.
I don’t know about you, but the one door I never want closed is the door to heaven. I never want to behave in a manner that causes me to hear God say, “You need to leave.” I hope you feel the same way… and that you will do whatever it takes today to reconnect with Him… and to repair other relationships and situations where you have been disrespectful. You can regain your place at God’s table… you can stand once again alongside the “velvet rope” and enjoy the party. The choice is totally yours. How will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
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.
On a cold, snowy February night just over 20 years ago, I stood with my friend Kathy under the portico to the Pierre Hotel in New York City and watched as stars and entertainers arrived and departed from limousines. We were in town on a business trip… the entertainers and celebrities were attending a party inside the Pierre that was being held by the executives at Arista Records to celebrate the Grammy Awards ceremony the following night. Kathy and I are both about as “southern” as they come… and when we opened our mouths, it was evident that we were NOT native New Yorkers. However, we kept quiet and tried to blend in with the crowd as I snapped photos with my camera.
A couple standing next to us began to heckle the stars and the doorman. They were being incredibly vulgar and rude, and the hotel security official shot them more than one ugly glance. He even walked over to where we were standing and asked them to pipe down, which only made the couple laugh harder and become more offensive. Finally, he insisted that this young man and woman leave the hotel property. They immediately began to question this, and the doorman told them, “You do not belong here… you are not guests of the hotel… you need to leave – NOW!” The couple protested and pointed to Kathy and me and said, “But why don’t THEY have to leave? They don’t belong here!” The doorman told them, “They are guests of the hotel.”
To be clear, we were not staying at the hotel. We had merely wandered through the lobby to take in its ornate décor, and we happened to notice Cindi Lauper and a couple of other “famous” people as we stepped back outside. So we quietly parked ourselves along a velvet rope and tried to look inconspicuous. AND… the key word most likely was “quietly”. We were not heckling anyone. We were not shouting obscenities and looking the other way, as if someone else had uttered them and we didn’t know where the offensive words originated. We were not arguing with anyone or being a bother. So we got to stay… and the doorman treated us quite kindly. And in the end, the hecklers moved along down the sidewalk (and probably crashed another party at a neighboring hotel).
I have every confidence that this entire spectacle could have been avoided. Had the couple shown a little respect and honored the doorman’s authority and position, they could have been “wannabe paparazzi” like Kathy and me. We were no better than they were. And if you want to “go there”… the celebrities we were ogling were truly no “better” either! We give far too much credence to “celebrity” in this world – at least in my book! But the point I want to make is that these people forfeited the “privilege” of standing on that hotel portico and taking in the sights by failing to respect the authority of those in charge. They did not recognize… or accept… the parameters. They were unwilling to do as they were asked. And so “the door was closed.”
Where in your life have you “closed the door” in effect… on your relationships with people…on opportunities for improvement and/or advancement… and most significantly, on God? How have you disrespected the authority and guidelines? Where have you refused to “play by the rules” and essentially cost yourself a place at the table? How have you treated the people and situations in your life… and what has been the outcome?
We make a lot of our own messes, it seems. We make life and relationship choices that alter our course… and often close a lot of doors. We can correct this… especially with God. We can recognize and respect His authority in our lives… and His will. In turn, as we begin to give God the proper reverence and regard, He will open doors for us to repair and restore relationships and the conditions of other circumstances in our lives. God can put together what we have broken… if only we will bow before Him and ask for His forgiveness… and His help.
I don’t know about you, but the one door I never want closed is the door to heaven. I never want to behave in a manner that causes me to hear God say, “You need to leave.” I hope you feel the same way… and that you will do whatever it takes today to reconnect with Him… and to repair other relationships and situations where you have been disrespectful. You can regain your place at God’s table… you can stand once again alongside the “velvet rope” and enjoy the party. The choice is totally yours. How will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 17, 2011
Psalm 130:1-4
From a sea of troubles I call out to you, LORD. Won't you please listen as I beg for mercy? If you kept record of our sins, no one could last long. But you forgive us, and so we will worship you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
"Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!" This was the familiar line uttered frequently by comedian Oliver Hardy, who partnered with Stan Laurel to create the well-known team of the 1920s-1940s known as “Laurel & Hardy.” On any given day, most of us could utter a similar sentence… “Here’s another nice mess I’ve gotten into!” It seems like we often go from creating one mess to another! And for some, the record of these “messes” follows them for years… maybe forever. Think criminal records, driving offenses, poor transcripts, and bad work histories - or even bad reputations, to name a few.
Thankfully, God stands ready to forgive us and set us upright. This is not a license to sin and behave erratically… but we can take comfort in the knowledge that God operates in grace and mercy. It is even more comforting to know that He does not keep a record of our sins.
I don’t know about you, but setting aside all of the countless other great reasons to worship our mighty God, this is reason enough to worship God! To think that God stands ready to forgive – and forget – my sins is astounding... incredible… and worthy of my praise and celebration. Don’t you agree? Have you thanked God lately for getting you out of one mess after another and scattering your sins and mistakes to the four winds? Isn’t today a good day to begin?
©2011 Debbie Robus
From a sea of troubles I call out to you, LORD. Won't you please listen as I beg for mercy? If you kept record of our sins, no one could last long. But you forgive us, and so we will worship you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
"Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!" This was the familiar line uttered frequently by comedian Oliver Hardy, who partnered with Stan Laurel to create the well-known team of the 1920s-1940s known as “Laurel & Hardy.” On any given day, most of us could utter a similar sentence… “Here’s another nice mess I’ve gotten into!” It seems like we often go from creating one mess to another! And for some, the record of these “messes” follows them for years… maybe forever. Think criminal records, driving offenses, poor transcripts, and bad work histories - or even bad reputations, to name a few.
Thankfully, God stands ready to forgive us and set us upright. This is not a license to sin and behave erratically… but we can take comfort in the knowledge that God operates in grace and mercy. It is even more comforting to know that He does not keep a record of our sins.
I don’t know about you, but setting aside all of the countless other great reasons to worship our mighty God, this is reason enough to worship God! To think that God stands ready to forgive – and forget – my sins is astounding... incredible… and worthy of my praise and celebration. Don’t you agree? Have you thanked God lately for getting you out of one mess after another and scattering your sins and mistakes to the four winds? Isn’t today a good day to begin?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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