Psalm 136:1-3
Thank God! He deserves your thanks.
His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods,
His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
His love never quits
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.
No sooner did we swallow the last bites of turkey and pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving Day than the Christmas frenzy began…including the seasonal televisions programs. There is no need to record them at our house…we’ve probably watched “Frosty the Snowman” at least once every month (or more) for the last two or years. And last Christmas season, we recorded “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer”, also. Greg likes to say that “It’s always Christmas at the Robus house!
I would have to say that we are pretty “up” on our “Frosty” around here…and from where I stand, “Frosty the Snowman” is anything but a quitter! He does everything possible to stay alive…but not at the expense of others. He is quite concerned with a little friend, Karen, who gets too cold. He worries about her feelings – and her health. Frosty is kind and loving to the children in the village…and he is even nicer than most would be to the evil magician who wants to steal his magic hat!
Now, I know what you are thinking…surely she isn’t comparing “Frosty the Snowman” to God! Absolutely not! But here’s the deal…we have little to no problem accepting that a make-believe snowman can do these things. We readily accept that he can be kind to others and see after their needs – sometimes at the expense of his own. We trust that Frosty really will come to life again someday…and with childlike wonder, we swallow this hook, line, and sinker.
But when it comes to all that God does for us…all of the gazillions of ways that He NEVER quits on our behalf…the tremendous sacrifice that He made for us in giving us Jesus to die for our sins…it seems like we often more readily trust in “Frosty the Snowman”! We certainly do not treat God with the respect and care that He deserves - much less give Him the gratitude.
This holiday season – and throughout the coming year – let’s focus more on the unending love and care that God provides for us. Let’s remind ourselves often how He never quits on our behalf. And let’s be grateful…really, truly, genuinely, visibly grateful. Doesn’t the One who named and numbered the stars - yet has time to hear and answer our every prayer - deserve our thanks and praise?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label operating in gratitude and praise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label operating in gratitude and praise. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 26, 2014
Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Twenty-four hours. We all get the same amount of time in each and every day. Yet how we choose to live in those 24 hours differs greatly. Some of us will live with joy and purpose…some of us will gripe and grumble our way through the day. Others will sleep away a big chunk of it…after all, the “Thanksgiving Holiday break” has already begun for many!
Almost 30 years ago, I had major surgery a few days before Thanksgiving. I remember getting a phone call from my parents on Thanksgiving Day, as family members gathered at their house some 90 miles away for feasting and fun. I have to admit that I felt a little sorry for myself and Greg as I heard the laughs and chatter of family members arriving for that special get-together. But our precious neighbors brought huge plates of food to us from their family feast…and they returned with MORE full plates that evening from another family dinner! Our hearts – and our bellies – were FULL! We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
About a decade later, my mother ate her Thanksgiving Dinner in a hospital cafeteria in another city, as she sat with my dad, who was too sick from renal failure to even smell food. At their insistence, we carried on with the traditional “family dinner” at our house…and we made the best of things, given the circumstances. We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
This year, our “Thanksgiving Holiday break” will include visits with family and friends…including the squeals and giggles of several little children, which always add to the fun. We will have our traditional favorite foods…and honor those who have gone before us - and the role they played in holiday gatherings of the past. And in all of it, we will recognize that the LORD made this day – and every day – and we will “rejoice and be glad in it”.
I don’t know what your next 24 hours will be like…or how you will celebrate Thanksgiving Day – or IF you will even celebrate. But when you know and love Jesus, every day is part of a “Thanksgiving Holiday break”…or at least, it should be. Whatever your circumstances…wherever “life” takes you today and in the days ahead…will you recognize that this is the day that the Lord has made? Will you thank Him for His love and care for every single minute of it? Will you find a way to “rejoice and be glad”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Twenty-four hours. We all get the same amount of time in each and every day. Yet how we choose to live in those 24 hours differs greatly. Some of us will live with joy and purpose…some of us will gripe and grumble our way through the day. Others will sleep away a big chunk of it…after all, the “Thanksgiving Holiday break” has already begun for many!
Almost 30 years ago, I had major surgery a few days before Thanksgiving. I remember getting a phone call from my parents on Thanksgiving Day, as family members gathered at their house some 90 miles away for feasting and fun. I have to admit that I felt a little sorry for myself and Greg as I heard the laughs and chatter of family members arriving for that special get-together. But our precious neighbors brought huge plates of food to us from their family feast…and they returned with MORE full plates that evening from another family dinner! Our hearts – and our bellies – were FULL! We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
About a decade later, my mother ate her Thanksgiving Dinner in a hospital cafeteria in another city, as she sat with my dad, who was too sick from renal failure to even smell food. At their insistence, we carried on with the traditional “family dinner” at our house…and we made the best of things, given the circumstances. We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
This year, our “Thanksgiving Holiday break” will include visits with family and friends…including the squeals and giggles of several little children, which always add to the fun. We will have our traditional favorite foods…and honor those who have gone before us - and the role they played in holiday gatherings of the past. And in all of it, we will recognize that the LORD made this day – and every day – and we will “rejoice and be glad in it”.
I don’t know what your next 24 hours will be like…or how you will celebrate Thanksgiving Day – or IF you will even celebrate. But when you know and love Jesus, every day is part of a “Thanksgiving Holiday break”…or at least, it should be. Whatever your circumstances…wherever “life” takes you today and in the days ahead…will you recognize that this is the day that the Lord has made? Will you thank Him for His love and care for every single minute of it? Will you find a way to “rejoice and be glad”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 24, 2014
Psalm 106:1
We will celebrate
and praise you, Lord!
You are good to us,
and your love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, I thought about a dear lady in our community who was laid to rest yesterday. Mrs. Wanda was beautiful…inside and out. Yet every time I encountered her, she would say, “You look so pretty” and make me feel like a million bucks! I actually tried to “beat her to the punch” a couple of times…but you had to be pretty darn quick! And she didn’t just toss out compliments to be friendly…she always went on to express genuine interest…she really wanted to know how I was doing and what was new in my life. So when I thanked God this morning for my blessings, encounters with Mrs. Wanda were among them.
At the other end of the spectrum…I also thanked God today for a newborn baby boy named Max. His parents, Courtney and Aaron, brother Clark and sister Chloe welcomed him into this world today, and I know that he will be blessed – and a blessing. Max’s parents are Sunday school teachers for our niece, Zola…and last year our nephew Timothy was in their class. Courtney and Aaron are so kind and loving – and I know they love God and want to share Him with the little ones. So I know that Max will grow up in a Christian home and become a wonderful asset to our church family. And I thanked God for healthy babies and loving parents who nurture them…and their peers.
I also thanked God today for a lady who has been something of “another mother” to me for most of my life. I shared a phone visit with “Dot” – the mother of my childhood friend, Martha. Dot was one of my Girl Scout leaders, and she has just always been in my corner. We see each other at church, and we visit by phone every couple of months to “catch up” on what is happening in our lives and the community at large. She is one of my “go-to” people for advice on everything from cooking and sewing to ministry…and her demonstration of faithfulness and service to others truly encourages and motivates me.
There’s no place like your local Wal-Mart to meet up with old friends and share a few minutes of conversation…and today was no exception for me. I not only bumped into my mother-in-law, but I also visited with Kathryn, another classmate’s mother who is a long-time friend…a former co-worker - Ramona…and a lady named Tommie, who was one of my Sunday school teachers when I was a child – and who has been another one of those “go-to” friends for as long as I can remember. A lady from the water aerobics class I used to attend stopped me to say “Hi” and to tell me that I am missed – and that I am welcome to join them again any time.
I waved and said “Hello” to probably a half dozen other acquaintances and friends, exchanged pleasantries with the clerk who checked my groceries – and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving - and I left with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. There was a cold, brisk wind, but the sun was shining brightly as I loaded groceries into the car. I thanked God for dear friends, for money to buy the things that I had purchased, for a good car to get me where I needed to go – and gas to power it – and a zillion other things, both named and unspoken.
The bottom line is that in life and death and every season in between…from year to year and one holiday to the next…we have so much to celebrate – so many reasons to praise God. Not every day is filled with extraordinary blessings. Some days, we move along with our routine, and everything seems to be fairly “normal” – maybe even mundane. Sometimes, our days are filled with troubles, headaches and heartaches at every turn, and it’s hard to even SEE the blessings! But they are always there…just the same.
Every day, there is some reason to celebrate and praise God. Some days, you may have to dig a little deeper than others…but the reasons for gratitude are there. And if you think about it a little, I bet you can name more than a few people who God has placed in your life to bless, encourage and nurture you in some way…not because you are a family member and/or they feel an obligation – but because God has filled them with a deep and abiding love and care for you.
I challenge you to find someone and/or something to thank God for every single day. I’m talking about the extras…the blessings that you might not even consider all that often that enrich your life in ways you don’t even realize. Thank God for these, along with the things you normally list…but this time, ponder each blessing and truly offer up genuine gratitude. Let Him know that you appreciate how deeply He cares for you…profoundly enough to put these people and experiences in your life for enhancement and added “oomph”! Celebrate just how good God is to you…how unfailing His love is…and how He is always working on new ways to fill your life with blessings and joy.
We tend to rattle off a list of things for which we are grateful with little to no real consideration for them. Let’s change that today. Let’s examine our blessings – all of them – a little more closely…and truly celebrate God with some genuine praise. It’s about time…wouldn’t you agree?
©2014 Debbie Robus
We will celebrate
and praise you, Lord!
You are good to us,
and your love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, I thought about a dear lady in our community who was laid to rest yesterday. Mrs. Wanda was beautiful…inside and out. Yet every time I encountered her, she would say, “You look so pretty” and make me feel like a million bucks! I actually tried to “beat her to the punch” a couple of times…but you had to be pretty darn quick! And she didn’t just toss out compliments to be friendly…she always went on to express genuine interest…she really wanted to know how I was doing and what was new in my life. So when I thanked God this morning for my blessings, encounters with Mrs. Wanda were among them.
At the other end of the spectrum…I also thanked God today for a newborn baby boy named Max. His parents, Courtney and Aaron, brother Clark and sister Chloe welcomed him into this world today, and I know that he will be blessed – and a blessing. Max’s parents are Sunday school teachers for our niece, Zola…and last year our nephew Timothy was in their class. Courtney and Aaron are so kind and loving – and I know they love God and want to share Him with the little ones. So I know that Max will grow up in a Christian home and become a wonderful asset to our church family. And I thanked God for healthy babies and loving parents who nurture them…and their peers.
I also thanked God today for a lady who has been something of “another mother” to me for most of my life. I shared a phone visit with “Dot” – the mother of my childhood friend, Martha. Dot was one of my Girl Scout leaders, and she has just always been in my corner. We see each other at church, and we visit by phone every couple of months to “catch up” on what is happening in our lives and the community at large. She is one of my “go-to” people for advice on everything from cooking and sewing to ministry…and her demonstration of faithfulness and service to others truly encourages and motivates me.
There’s no place like your local Wal-Mart to meet up with old friends and share a few minutes of conversation…and today was no exception for me. I not only bumped into my mother-in-law, but I also visited with Kathryn, another classmate’s mother who is a long-time friend…a former co-worker - Ramona…and a lady named Tommie, who was one of my Sunday school teachers when I was a child – and who has been another one of those “go-to” friends for as long as I can remember. A lady from the water aerobics class I used to attend stopped me to say “Hi” and to tell me that I am missed – and that I am welcome to join them again any time.
I waved and said “Hello” to probably a half dozen other acquaintances and friends, exchanged pleasantries with the clerk who checked my groceries – and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving - and I left with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. There was a cold, brisk wind, but the sun was shining brightly as I loaded groceries into the car. I thanked God for dear friends, for money to buy the things that I had purchased, for a good car to get me where I needed to go – and gas to power it – and a zillion other things, both named and unspoken.
The bottom line is that in life and death and every season in between…from year to year and one holiday to the next…we have so much to celebrate – so many reasons to praise God. Not every day is filled with extraordinary blessings. Some days, we move along with our routine, and everything seems to be fairly “normal” – maybe even mundane. Sometimes, our days are filled with troubles, headaches and heartaches at every turn, and it’s hard to even SEE the blessings! But they are always there…just the same.
Every day, there is some reason to celebrate and praise God. Some days, you may have to dig a little deeper than others…but the reasons for gratitude are there. And if you think about it a little, I bet you can name more than a few people who God has placed in your life to bless, encourage and nurture you in some way…not because you are a family member and/or they feel an obligation – but because God has filled them with a deep and abiding love and care for you.
I challenge you to find someone and/or something to thank God for every single day. I’m talking about the extras…the blessings that you might not even consider all that often that enrich your life in ways you don’t even realize. Thank God for these, along with the things you normally list…but this time, ponder each blessing and truly offer up genuine gratitude. Let Him know that you appreciate how deeply He cares for you…profoundly enough to put these people and experiences in your life for enhancement and added “oomph”! Celebrate just how good God is to you…how unfailing His love is…and how He is always working on new ways to fill your life with blessings and joy.
We tend to rattle off a list of things for which we are grateful with little to no real consideration for them. Let’s change that today. Let’s examine our blessings – all of them – a little more closely…and truly celebrate God with some genuine praise. It’s about time…wouldn’t you agree?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 22, 2014
Psalm 100:1-5
Shout praises to the Lord,
everyone on this earth.
Be joyful and sing
as you come in
to worship the Lord!
You know the Lord is God!
He created us,
and we belong to him;
we are his people,
the sheep in his pasture.
Be thankful and praise the Lord
as you enter his temple.
The Lord is good!
His love and faithfulness
will last forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My friend put up a Christmas tree and let her three young grandchildren (a boy and two girls - ages 5 and under) decorate it. One of the little girls methodically hung ornaments while singing, “O Mistmas Twee, O MISTmas Twee!” It was adorable. She sang her heart out for the joy of Christmas and decorating the tree in her Honey’s bedroom.
I’ve often said that we can learn so much from little children. They are truly pure and unadulterated…able to find the joy in little things like decorating a “Mistmas twee” with cousins at Grandma’s house. They get excited over presents…sometimes as much about the box as what was inside. For the most part, they have no doubt that they are loved and belong to someone…and in their own way, they are thankful.
Somehow, as we grow up, we seem to somewhat “outgrow God”. We’re not nearly as unabashed in our singing of His praises. We question who we are, where we fit in – and sometimes, WHOSE we are! We take God for granted…and when we do thank Him, it’s often hurried or superficial. We fail to truly acknowledge His gifts…and when we do, we’re much more concerned with what is given than the packaging or the Deliverer.
I have to wonder…are our “songs of praise” to God as sweet and dear to Him as the humbly offered “Oh, Mistmas Twee” of a toddler? Are our words of gratitude a “joyful noise” in His ears, or the same old “yadda, yadda, yadda” we’ve offered Him for ages? Isn’t it time we got this right? Wouldn’t this be a great day to begin?
Make a joyful noise. Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before His presence with Thanksgiving. For the LORD is good…His mercies are everlasting…and His truth endures forever. If that doesn’t merit a grown-up “O Mistmas tree” praise, I don’t know what will…do you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Shout praises to the Lord,
everyone on this earth.
Be joyful and sing
as you come in
to worship the Lord!
You know the Lord is God!
He created us,
and we belong to him;
we are his people,
the sheep in his pasture.
Be thankful and praise the Lord
as you enter his temple.
The Lord is good!
His love and faithfulness
will last forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My friend put up a Christmas tree and let her three young grandchildren (a boy and two girls - ages 5 and under) decorate it. One of the little girls methodically hung ornaments while singing, “O Mistmas Twee, O MISTmas Twee!” It was adorable. She sang her heart out for the joy of Christmas and decorating the tree in her Honey’s bedroom.
I’ve often said that we can learn so much from little children. They are truly pure and unadulterated…able to find the joy in little things like decorating a “Mistmas twee” with cousins at Grandma’s house. They get excited over presents…sometimes as much about the box as what was inside. For the most part, they have no doubt that they are loved and belong to someone…and in their own way, they are thankful.
Somehow, as we grow up, we seem to somewhat “outgrow God”. We’re not nearly as unabashed in our singing of His praises. We question who we are, where we fit in – and sometimes, WHOSE we are! We take God for granted…and when we do thank Him, it’s often hurried or superficial. We fail to truly acknowledge His gifts…and when we do, we’re much more concerned with what is given than the packaging or the Deliverer.
I have to wonder…are our “songs of praise” to God as sweet and dear to Him as the humbly offered “Oh, Mistmas Twee” of a toddler? Are our words of gratitude a “joyful noise” in His ears, or the same old “yadda, yadda, yadda” we’ve offered Him for ages? Isn’t it time we got this right? Wouldn’t this be a great day to begin?
Make a joyful noise. Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before His presence with Thanksgiving. For the LORD is good…His mercies are everlasting…and His truth endures forever. If that doesn’t merit a grown-up “O Mistmas tree” praise, I don’t know what will…do you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 21, 2014
Psalm 35:9
I will celebrate and be joyful
because you, Lord,
have saved me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
No doubt you have watched at least one football game where a player broke free from the blocks and tackles of defenders and sprinted down the field for a touchdown…perhaps with an opponent or two hot on his heels - yet unable to catch him. When the ball carrier realizes that he is going to make it safely into the end zone, you can almost read the sense of “wild abandon” in his body language. It is as if he sees an imaginary “savior” waiting for him…arms outstretched…saying, “Come to Poppa!” The runner scores…the crowd goes wild with celebration and exuberance…and the opponents lick their wounds and regroup for another play!
Maybe it’s because we’re in the throes of football season, but this was the image I got as I read this verse from Psalm 35. I pictured myself running toward God… arms outstretched to receive me…the worries and pressures of the world nipping at my heels from behind – yet unable to take me to the ground. I know that the “enemy” is continually regrouping…plotting and planning his next move. But I also know that God is always several steps ahead of the opponent!
So I celebrate my rescue and redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ. I thank God for His wisdom, protection, grace, mercy, love and care…for planning for my future and always keeping me safe from the schemes and snares of the devil and his cohorts. For me, every day represents “touchdowns” and “extra points”…a veritable “party in the end zone” with God Almighty!
Recently, the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrated a victory over the LSU Tigers…breaking a 17-game losing streak in conference play. When the game ended, Razorback fans stormed the field, reveling in the joy, relief and release of this monumental win. If only we could celebrate God’s victories in our lives half as much!
It says something about us as Christians that we can’t seem to muster even a portion of this excitement over something so precious and vital in our lives. We will talk about a big sports play for days/weeks/months. We will replay it on “highlight reels” for years to come. Yet we can hardly mention God’s name and acknowledge His importance in our lives…much less give Him even a portion of the praise and recognition that He so richly deserves.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a good football game…or with celebrating a great play. These happy moments are blessings from God just as much as any other. But we need to take inventory of our priorities and make sure that God is at the forefront…that in our jubilation over things of this world, we don’t neglect our gratitude for Him.
Sometimes only the length of an outstretched arm separates us from a tackle by the devil…and the grip of God’s grace. Won’t you thank God today for giving you that last burst of energy to sprint toward the “end zone” and the safety of His love and care? Isn’t it time to celebrate our victory in Jesus Christ? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I will celebrate and be joyful
because you, Lord,
have saved me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
No doubt you have watched at least one football game where a player broke free from the blocks and tackles of defenders and sprinted down the field for a touchdown…perhaps with an opponent or two hot on his heels - yet unable to catch him. When the ball carrier realizes that he is going to make it safely into the end zone, you can almost read the sense of “wild abandon” in his body language. It is as if he sees an imaginary “savior” waiting for him…arms outstretched…saying, “Come to Poppa!” The runner scores…the crowd goes wild with celebration and exuberance…and the opponents lick their wounds and regroup for another play!
Maybe it’s because we’re in the throes of football season, but this was the image I got as I read this verse from Psalm 35. I pictured myself running toward God… arms outstretched to receive me…the worries and pressures of the world nipping at my heels from behind – yet unable to take me to the ground. I know that the “enemy” is continually regrouping…plotting and planning his next move. But I also know that God is always several steps ahead of the opponent!
So I celebrate my rescue and redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ. I thank God for His wisdom, protection, grace, mercy, love and care…for planning for my future and always keeping me safe from the schemes and snares of the devil and his cohorts. For me, every day represents “touchdowns” and “extra points”…a veritable “party in the end zone” with God Almighty!
Recently, the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrated a victory over the LSU Tigers…breaking a 17-game losing streak in conference play. When the game ended, Razorback fans stormed the field, reveling in the joy, relief and release of this monumental win. If only we could celebrate God’s victories in our lives half as much!
It says something about us as Christians that we can’t seem to muster even a portion of this excitement over something so precious and vital in our lives. We will talk about a big sports play for days/weeks/months. We will replay it on “highlight reels” for years to come. Yet we can hardly mention God’s name and acknowledge His importance in our lives…much less give Him even a portion of the praise and recognition that He so richly deserves.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a good football game…or with celebrating a great play. These happy moments are blessings from God just as much as any other. But we need to take inventory of our priorities and make sure that God is at the forefront…that in our jubilation over things of this world, we don’t neglect our gratitude for Him.
Sometimes only the length of an outstretched arm separates us from a tackle by the devil…and the grip of God’s grace. Won’t you thank God today for giving you that last burst of energy to sprint toward the “end zone” and the safety of His love and care? Isn’t it time to celebrate our victory in Jesus Christ? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 14, 2014
John 11:41
After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, “Father, I thank you for answering my prayer.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my cousin J.D. lost his wife, Angie, to breast cancer a few years ago, he went to the funeral home and prayed over her dead body for more an hour and asked God to bring her back to life. He told me later, “Lazarus had been dead in the tomb for four days, and God raised him. I had to try…surely He could bring Angie back to me if He wanted.”
Lazarus was restored to life and my cousin’s wife was not. Does this mean that God gave Jesus’ prayer special consideration? Does God really hear our prayers and praises…and is it “worth our time” to offer them?
If you continue reading in John 11, you will see that Jesus offered this prayer of thanksgiving to God in front of a crowd of people, to demonstrate that He was the Son of God. He said in verse 42…”I know that you always answer my prayers. But I said this, so that the people here would believe that you sent me.”
One thing that I find interesting…and possibly very important…is that scripture does not tell us exactly what Jesus said to God in His prayer. Jesus thanked God for answering…but we can only assume that He asked for the resurrection of Lazarus. Did Jesus pray for God’s will? Did Jesus ask God to do what He felt was best in this situation? We simply do not know. All we have is John’s account that Jesus thanked our Heavenly Father for answering His prayer…and then He ordered Lazarus to come forth from the tomb.
I recently served on a jury in a civil trial. The judge admonished us to only consider the evidence we were presented…and our own common sense and personal experiences as related to the case. We were not to add or remove anything else. We could only rule based on the facts that we were given. When we petition God and ask for a “verdict”, we must understand that He considers man factors and decides what is best for His plans – and for us. So if we apply this to the Biblical account of Lazarus’s resurrection - and to our own prayers and praises - we can present our “case” to God…but we must trust Him to answer in a way that is best for His purposes – and ours.
The key to this passage is the timing of our prayers. Do we have the faith and confidence in God to offer a prayer of thanks and gratitude before we know the outcome? Do we demonstrate our Christian faith…and do we genuinely believe that God will answer in the best possible manner – even before He does so?
Anyone can thank God after the fact. But when we begin to trust God in all things…and to operate in gratitude for His perfect plans in all circumstances and outcomes before they are evidenced…our Christian discipleship takes a leap to a whole other level. This is my goal…my desire…to be grateful in all things, even before I know the results. I want to operate in faith so profound that I never doubt God’s power and presence in my life. I want to believe that God could bring loved ones back to life if He desired…and to trust His wisdom in these decisions and others – no matter how great or small.
In John 11:40, Jesus asked Lazarus’ sister Martha…“Didn’t I tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?” I want to see God’s glory more clearly in all situations and circumstances…and I am working to grow in my faith so that I can. What about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, “Father, I thank you for answering my prayer.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my cousin J.D. lost his wife, Angie, to breast cancer a few years ago, he went to the funeral home and prayed over her dead body for more an hour and asked God to bring her back to life. He told me later, “Lazarus had been dead in the tomb for four days, and God raised him. I had to try…surely He could bring Angie back to me if He wanted.”
Lazarus was restored to life and my cousin’s wife was not. Does this mean that God gave Jesus’ prayer special consideration? Does God really hear our prayers and praises…and is it “worth our time” to offer them?
If you continue reading in John 11, you will see that Jesus offered this prayer of thanksgiving to God in front of a crowd of people, to demonstrate that He was the Son of God. He said in verse 42…”I know that you always answer my prayers. But I said this, so that the people here would believe that you sent me.”
One thing that I find interesting…and possibly very important…is that scripture does not tell us exactly what Jesus said to God in His prayer. Jesus thanked God for answering…but we can only assume that He asked for the resurrection of Lazarus. Did Jesus pray for God’s will? Did Jesus ask God to do what He felt was best in this situation? We simply do not know. All we have is John’s account that Jesus thanked our Heavenly Father for answering His prayer…and then He ordered Lazarus to come forth from the tomb.
I recently served on a jury in a civil trial. The judge admonished us to only consider the evidence we were presented…and our own common sense and personal experiences as related to the case. We were not to add or remove anything else. We could only rule based on the facts that we were given. When we petition God and ask for a “verdict”, we must understand that He considers man factors and decides what is best for His plans – and for us. So if we apply this to the Biblical account of Lazarus’s resurrection - and to our own prayers and praises - we can present our “case” to God…but we must trust Him to answer in a way that is best for His purposes – and ours.
The key to this passage is the timing of our prayers. Do we have the faith and confidence in God to offer a prayer of thanks and gratitude before we know the outcome? Do we demonstrate our Christian faith…and do we genuinely believe that God will answer in the best possible manner – even before He does so?
Anyone can thank God after the fact. But when we begin to trust God in all things…and to operate in gratitude for His perfect plans in all circumstances and outcomes before they are evidenced…our Christian discipleship takes a leap to a whole other level. This is my goal…my desire…to be grateful in all things, even before I know the results. I want to operate in faith so profound that I never doubt God’s power and presence in my life. I want to believe that God could bring loved ones back to life if He desired…and to trust His wisdom in these decisions and others – no matter how great or small.
In John 11:40, Jesus asked Lazarus’ sister Martha…“Didn’t I tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?” I want to see God’s glory more clearly in all situations and circumstances…and I am working to grow in my faith so that I can. What about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 13, 2014
James 1:16-18
So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
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.
A friend of mine recently had to surrender the 4-month-old foster child she and her family had nurtured since he was just seven days old. The court apparently determined that it was in this baby’s best interest to be placed with another family who had adopted his older sibling. Imagine this couple’s anguish as they counted off the days until the precious child that they had hoped to possibly adopt was set to leave their home…probably forever. I am sure that they pled with God to change this. I have no doubt that they hoped that even at the eleventh hour, they would get a phone call and learn that this was all a mistake…that they could keep “their” baby. But in the end, the child was taken from their home and placed in the care of another family.
It would be easy to question God on this one…to wring hands and cry out, “Why, LORD…WHY?” There are plenty of situations and circumstances where we are tempted to ask God, “Why?”…
This scripture passage reminds us to “keep the faith” and “stay the course”! We may not see desirable and beneficial gifts coming out of heaven like rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light…but they are there, all the same. We may not understand God’s thought process - or His methods. He may seem to be fickle and two-faced…aloof and apathetic. But nothing could be further from the truth.
God loves us…always and forever. He wants nothing but His very best for us…we just don’t always know what that is! When God allows us to experience a heartache or a challenge, it isn’t because He wants to hurt us. God wants us to lean on Him…to trust Him in all things…to understand that He can work anything and everything together for His good purposes.
This is so hard…I wouldn’t for a minute suggest that there is anything easy about hurtful or difficult situations of any kind – nor diminish what you are experiencing in any way. But I can tell you from personal experience that even in your worst pain, God is working. He is preparing gifts and blessings for you that you cannot even imagine. The outcome may not be at all what you had hoped or planned…but it will be perfect – and it might just be better! Ultimately, God will prevail and bring about His flawlessness. If we can just trust in this and continue to believe in Him, we will see this displayed in our own lives.
We can find it incredibly hard to be grateful in times of trouble, hardship and suffering. But these are the times when we should double our efforts to thank God for His amazing love and care. He will meet our needs and bless us in this more than we can ever imagine. Where is God working for your good in a potentially hurtful or hopeless situation? Have you thanked Him for His presence and precision? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
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.
A friend of mine recently had to surrender the 4-month-old foster child she and her family had nurtured since he was just seven days old. The court apparently determined that it was in this baby’s best interest to be placed with another family who had adopted his older sibling. Imagine this couple’s anguish as they counted off the days until the precious child that they had hoped to possibly adopt was set to leave their home…probably forever. I am sure that they pled with God to change this. I have no doubt that they hoped that even at the eleventh hour, they would get a phone call and learn that this was all a mistake…that they could keep “their” baby. But in the end, the child was taken from their home and placed in the care of another family.
It would be easy to question God on this one…to wring hands and cry out, “Why, LORD…WHY?” There are plenty of situations and circumstances where we are tempted to ask God, “Why?”…
- When a relationship is “circling the drain” or a loved one is terminally ill…
- When you are bullied or cannot find a job and the bill collectors are at your door like wolves…
- When you cannot a handle on the balance of studies, work, and extracurricular life…
- When you cannot seem to lose those last pounds and inches despite your best efforts…or you have health issues and can’t seem to get well and stay that way…
- When children of all ages get Ebola in an African country and die…
- When pets and people are abused and neglected…
- When people in your own community are homeless and hungry…
This scripture passage reminds us to “keep the faith” and “stay the course”! We may not see desirable and beneficial gifts coming out of heaven like rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light…but they are there, all the same. We may not understand God’s thought process - or His methods. He may seem to be fickle and two-faced…aloof and apathetic. But nothing could be further from the truth.
God loves us…always and forever. He wants nothing but His very best for us…we just don’t always know what that is! When God allows us to experience a heartache or a challenge, it isn’t because He wants to hurt us. God wants us to lean on Him…to trust Him in all things…to understand that He can work anything and everything together for His good purposes.
This is so hard…I wouldn’t for a minute suggest that there is anything easy about hurtful or difficult situations of any kind – nor diminish what you are experiencing in any way. But I can tell you from personal experience that even in your worst pain, God is working. He is preparing gifts and blessings for you that you cannot even imagine. The outcome may not be at all what you had hoped or planned…but it will be perfect – and it might just be better! Ultimately, God will prevail and bring about His flawlessness. If we can just trust in this and continue to believe in Him, we will see this displayed in our own lives.
We can find it incredibly hard to be grateful in times of trouble, hardship and suffering. But these are the times when we should double our efforts to thank God for His amazing love and care. He will meet our needs and bless us in this more than we can ever imagine. Where is God working for your good in a potentially hurtful or hopeless situation? Have you thanked Him for His presence and precision? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 12, 2014
Hebrews 13:13-15
So let us go out to him beyond the city walls (that is, outside the interests of this world, being willing to be despised) to suffer with him there, bearing his shame. For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.
With Jesus’ help we will continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by telling others of the glory of his name.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In one way or another, we Christians have probably all stepped “outside of the box” at one time or another. Maybe you paid the bill of the person behind you in the line at McDonald’s…or maybe you stepped up to serve on a committee when you weren’t sure you had adequate knowledge and expertise – but you felt led to do so anyway. Maybe you intervened in a situation where many would have said…”Not my circus; not my monkeys.” Maybe you loaned someone money when others said, “Don’t do it.” Or perhaps you stepped up to someone you didn’t know very well and asked, “Have you met Jesus?”
The point is that there will be times in all of our lives when God will call on us to do something daring…unconventional…maybe even a little bit crazy – and most certainly daunting or uncomfortable! He will ask us to step over the line and stand on His side, rather than the world’s. God will essentially ask us, “Are you really with me? Do you trust me? Do you genuinely appreciate what I have done for you…enough to demonstrate it with courage and just a bit of abandon?
How we answer will say a lot about our level of faith…and our gratitude. Do we really have confidence in God to stand in the gap and make the difference between our perceived abilities and circumstances – and what He can do with the least of our efforts? Are we honestly grateful for what God has done in our lives…and what He promises to do in the days/weeks/years/eternity yet to be? Will we “cross the line” of faith and thankfulness and demonstrate to God - and to others - just how much our salvation means to us?
Are we truly willing to offer a sacrifice of praise to God by telling – and showing – others the glory of His name? Isn’t it time we were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
So let us go out to him beyond the city walls (that is, outside the interests of this world, being willing to be despised) to suffer with him there, bearing his shame. For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.
With Jesus’ help we will continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by telling others of the glory of his name.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In one way or another, we Christians have probably all stepped “outside of the box” at one time or another. Maybe you paid the bill of the person behind you in the line at McDonald’s…or maybe you stepped up to serve on a committee when you weren’t sure you had adequate knowledge and expertise – but you felt led to do so anyway. Maybe you intervened in a situation where many would have said…”Not my circus; not my monkeys.” Maybe you loaned someone money when others said, “Don’t do it.” Or perhaps you stepped up to someone you didn’t know very well and asked, “Have you met Jesus?”
The point is that there will be times in all of our lives when God will call on us to do something daring…unconventional…maybe even a little bit crazy – and most certainly daunting or uncomfortable! He will ask us to step over the line and stand on His side, rather than the world’s. God will essentially ask us, “Are you really with me? Do you trust me? Do you genuinely appreciate what I have done for you…enough to demonstrate it with courage and just a bit of abandon?
How we answer will say a lot about our level of faith…and our gratitude. Do we really have confidence in God to stand in the gap and make the difference between our perceived abilities and circumstances – and what He can do with the least of our efforts? Are we honestly grateful for what God has done in our lives…and what He promises to do in the days/weeks/years/eternity yet to be? Will we “cross the line” of faith and thankfulness and demonstrate to God - and to others - just how much our salvation means to us?
Are we truly willing to offer a sacrifice of praise to God by telling – and showing – others the glory of His name? Isn’t it time we were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 11, 2014
Hebrews 12:28
We should be grateful that we were given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And in this kingdom we please God by worshiping him and by showing him great honor and respect.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today is Veteran’s Day in America…a day to salute all who have served our country in some branch of the military. A lot of people want to gripe and complain about what is wrong with our country…but at the end of the day, we’re still standing! And thousands of people have sacrificed greatly so that we can enjoy the blessings and freedoms that are ours as Americans. So it is fitting that we should stop on this day and “thank a vet!” In fact, we should thank these men and women more than once per year…but as a nation, we pause to show our appreciation on this specific day each November.
In essence, God is our Army/Navy/Marine Corps/Air Force/Coast Guard/National Guard of ONE. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, He has secured for us a “kingdom that cannot be shaken”. God does battle with the devil on our behalf every minute of the day. He doesn’t get “leave”…there is no end to His enlistment…He has no TDY (temporary duty). God fights for us every single day of every single year. He never rests.
This passage from Hebrews in The Message* reads… “Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander.” Do we truly see what we’ve got? Are we really, genuinely thankful for all that God does for us? Do we show great honor and respect? Isn’t it time we did?
Every day should be “Veterans Day” for God. We should be thanking Him and demonstrating our profound appreciation – in our words, thoughts and actions – each minute of the day. We should be keenly aware of what God has done for us…and He should know that we are truly grateful.
It’s easy to stop for one day and thank someone for their service…but it is quite another thing to be genuinely and humbly thankful all the time. God deserves no less than this from each of us. Are you truly grateful to God for all that He has done for you? Does He know it? Don’t you think He should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
We should be grateful that we were given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And in this kingdom we please God by worshiping him and by showing him great honor and respect.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today is Veteran’s Day in America…a day to salute all who have served our country in some branch of the military. A lot of people want to gripe and complain about what is wrong with our country…but at the end of the day, we’re still standing! And thousands of people have sacrificed greatly so that we can enjoy the blessings and freedoms that are ours as Americans. So it is fitting that we should stop on this day and “thank a vet!” In fact, we should thank these men and women more than once per year…but as a nation, we pause to show our appreciation on this specific day each November.
In essence, God is our Army/Navy/Marine Corps/Air Force/Coast Guard/National Guard of ONE. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, He has secured for us a “kingdom that cannot be shaken”. God does battle with the devil on our behalf every minute of the day. He doesn’t get “leave”…there is no end to His enlistment…He has no TDY (temporary duty). God fights for us every single day of every single year. He never rests.
This passage from Hebrews in The Message* reads… “Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander.” Do we truly see what we’ve got? Are we really, genuinely thankful for all that God does for us? Do we show great honor and respect? Isn’t it time we did?
Every day should be “Veterans Day” for God. We should be thanking Him and demonstrating our profound appreciation – in our words, thoughts and actions – each minute of the day. We should be keenly aware of what God has done for us…and He should know that we are truly grateful.
It’s easy to stop for one day and thank someone for their service…but it is quite another thing to be genuinely and humbly thankful all the time. God deserves no less than this from each of us. Are you truly grateful to God for all that He has done for you? Does He know it? Don’t you think He should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 10, 2014
Ephesians 5:20
Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Imagine that someone threw you a lavish party. You’d be grateful and thank them afterward…right? But what if you knew that the person who hosted the party truly did little more than write checks to cover the party venue, catering, gifts, and whatever else was provided? What if all he/she had to do was dress up and show up…and greet you and your guests? Of course you would still thank this person and be grateful for his/her wonderful hospitality and generosity. But there would be “behind-the-scenes” individuals and groups who deserved acknowledgment, too!
Quite often, I see posts on Facebook with photos of amazingly-decorated party cakes, or beautiful family portraits…or even a wonderful party or event – and the person who posted will say, “Thank you to So-and-So for the great cake/photos/effort of some sort.” These people acknowledged those who worked in the background. They understood that they could not have accomplished such things on their own. They needed the expertise and care of someone else to make it happen. In a nutshell…they gave credit where credit was due!
So often, we fail to give Jesus the credit for what is happening in our lives. Oh, we are right there to gripe and complain to Him when things go wrong. But when life is rolling along pretty well, we “zone out” and tend to forget Who is really “driving the car” or “preparing for the party”. And many times, if we DO acknowledge our blessings…we actually take most of the credit for them. “I worked so hard!” or “I had such a good day on the court or field…at work…at school…on a date or outing with friends.” We fail to recognize WHO did all of the work in the background to power our “good day or event”!
Every minute, Jesus is working in the background to affect your life and the activities that embody it. He is orchestrating the good things, “troubleshooting” the “bad” ones, and propelling you forward through it all. As much as we need to be grateful for His presence in our lives…we also need to be sure that we give Him the credit and glory. Pretty much all we do in life is show up…Jesus does the rest. Don’t you think it’s time you acknowledged His efforts?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Imagine that someone threw you a lavish party. You’d be grateful and thank them afterward…right? But what if you knew that the person who hosted the party truly did little more than write checks to cover the party venue, catering, gifts, and whatever else was provided? What if all he/she had to do was dress up and show up…and greet you and your guests? Of course you would still thank this person and be grateful for his/her wonderful hospitality and generosity. But there would be “behind-the-scenes” individuals and groups who deserved acknowledgment, too!
Quite often, I see posts on Facebook with photos of amazingly-decorated party cakes, or beautiful family portraits…or even a wonderful party or event – and the person who posted will say, “Thank you to So-and-So for the great cake/photos/effort of some sort.” These people acknowledged those who worked in the background. They understood that they could not have accomplished such things on their own. They needed the expertise and care of someone else to make it happen. In a nutshell…they gave credit where credit was due!
So often, we fail to give Jesus the credit for what is happening in our lives. Oh, we are right there to gripe and complain to Him when things go wrong. But when life is rolling along pretty well, we “zone out” and tend to forget Who is really “driving the car” or “preparing for the party”. And many times, if we DO acknowledge our blessings…we actually take most of the credit for them. “I worked so hard!” or “I had such a good day on the court or field…at work…at school…on a date or outing with friends.” We fail to recognize WHO did all of the work in the background to power our “good day or event”!
Every minute, Jesus is working in the background to affect your life and the activities that embody it. He is orchestrating the good things, “troubleshooting” the “bad” ones, and propelling you forward through it all. As much as we need to be grateful for His presence in our lives…we also need to be sure that we give Him the credit and glory. Pretty much all we do in life is show up…Jesus does the rest. Don’t you think it’s time you acknowledged His efforts?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 9, 2014
Ephesians 1:15-19
That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In 1998, my cousin Natalie got married. This wedding was a big deal in my family, and we were all excited about the special day. My niece Jasmine was 8 years old at the time, and I bought her a new dress to wear to the ceremony and reception. A few days after I delivered the dress to her, I received a thick, roughly folded and sealed set of papers in the mail that had been addressed to me – and I think there were two postage stamps applied to ensure delivery.
The papers were a thank-you letter to me from Jasmine – along with a self-portrait of her in the new pink dress and a vivid description of how her mother was sick with a stomach bug but would hopefully be well in time for the wedding! I still have that note and drawing! It was more than a “thank-you”…it conveyed my niece’s gratitude, her love for me, AND her desire to share the activities of her life with me – even if it included a stomach virus!
From an early age, my mother taught us to write thank-you notes. She instilled in us the notion that anyone can say “Thank You,” but people truly value the effort one makes to write a note and send it. This conveys that the recipient not only appreciates the gesture/gift…but they also care about the sender. They recognize the energy, effort and care behind the act…enough to stop and put pen to paper and say so!
Sadly, note, card and letter writing are quickly becoming lost arts. With all of our electronic technology, most people are lucky to receive a quickly-fashioned e-mail or text from us…or a quick “thank you” as we pass them on the street or in a hallway, parking lot or store. I can pretty well tell one of two things when I get a hand-written note these days…1) the person was born somewhere before 1970, or 2) this person had a parent, grandparent, relative or teacher who instilled in them the importance of hand-written acknowledgments!
But this scripture passage about a lot more than just cards, letters and thank-you notes. These verses remind us to live intentionally…to be thankful for others and what they mean to us – with more than mere “lip service”. We are to fully appreciate others…to care about their well-being, their hopes, dreams, worries and concerns. We are to pray for them…to thank God for blessing us by allowing their presence in our lives…and to genuinely petition Him to meet their every need.
Our relationship with God – and with others – is a precious, sacred thing. But so often, we take these associations for granted. We treat them far less tenderly than we ought. We fail to do the little things…much less the big ones…that truly nurture our bond. Anyone can say “thank you” – to God or to someone he/she encounters. But to genuinely be thankful…to express this with actions, prayers, and heartfelt interest and concern…shows a depth of gratitude and understanding that is befitting of a true disciple of Christ.
How grateful are you? Have you become lazy and complacent in your acts of gratitude and appreciation? Do you truly demonstrate Christian love and care to others…and are you genuinely and emphatically grateful to God for His blessings over your life and the lives of those He introduces to you? Isn’t this the perfect season to start living more intentionally…to begin to fully note the blessings God is placing in your path each and every day – and to acknowledge them in the proper manner?
When was the last time you really took time to thank God and/or someone else for a blessing or an act of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and care? Isn’t this a good day to rectify that situation? On a scale of 1-10, where would you rank your level of gratitude? Will this be the day that you begin to revise that number?
©2014 Debbie Robus
That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In 1998, my cousin Natalie got married. This wedding was a big deal in my family, and we were all excited about the special day. My niece Jasmine was 8 years old at the time, and I bought her a new dress to wear to the ceremony and reception. A few days after I delivered the dress to her, I received a thick, roughly folded and sealed set of papers in the mail that had been addressed to me – and I think there were two postage stamps applied to ensure delivery.
The papers were a thank-you letter to me from Jasmine – along with a self-portrait of her in the new pink dress and a vivid description of how her mother was sick with a stomach bug but would hopefully be well in time for the wedding! I still have that note and drawing! It was more than a “thank-you”…it conveyed my niece’s gratitude, her love for me, AND her desire to share the activities of her life with me – even if it included a stomach virus!
From an early age, my mother taught us to write thank-you notes. She instilled in us the notion that anyone can say “Thank You,” but people truly value the effort one makes to write a note and send it. This conveys that the recipient not only appreciates the gesture/gift…but they also care about the sender. They recognize the energy, effort and care behind the act…enough to stop and put pen to paper and say so!
Sadly, note, card and letter writing are quickly becoming lost arts. With all of our electronic technology, most people are lucky to receive a quickly-fashioned e-mail or text from us…or a quick “thank you” as we pass them on the street or in a hallway, parking lot or store. I can pretty well tell one of two things when I get a hand-written note these days…1) the person was born somewhere before 1970, or 2) this person had a parent, grandparent, relative or teacher who instilled in them the importance of hand-written acknowledgments!
But this scripture passage about a lot more than just cards, letters and thank-you notes. These verses remind us to live intentionally…to be thankful for others and what they mean to us – with more than mere “lip service”. We are to fully appreciate others…to care about their well-being, their hopes, dreams, worries and concerns. We are to pray for them…to thank God for blessing us by allowing their presence in our lives…and to genuinely petition Him to meet their every need.
Our relationship with God – and with others – is a precious, sacred thing. But so often, we take these associations for granted. We treat them far less tenderly than we ought. We fail to do the little things…much less the big ones…that truly nurture our bond. Anyone can say “thank you” – to God or to someone he/she encounters. But to genuinely be thankful…to express this with actions, prayers, and heartfelt interest and concern…shows a depth of gratitude and understanding that is befitting of a true disciple of Christ.
How grateful are you? Have you become lazy and complacent in your acts of gratitude and appreciation? Do you truly demonstrate Christian love and care to others…and are you genuinely and emphatically grateful to God for His blessings over your life and the lives of those He introduces to you? Isn’t this the perfect season to start living more intentionally…to begin to fully note the blessings God is placing in your path each and every day – and to acknowledge them in the proper manner?
When was the last time you really took time to thank God and/or someone else for a blessing or an act of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and care? Isn’t this a good day to rectify that situation? On a scale of 1-10, where would you rank your level of gratitude? Will this be the day that you begin to revise that number?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 3, 2014
1 Corinthians 15:10
But whatever I am now it is all because God poured out such kindness and grace upon me—and not without results: for I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet actually I wasn’t doing it, but God working in me, to bless me.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Children of the Lord
Do you remember this song we sang as kids? It starts off…”The lord said to Noah: there's gonna be a floody, floody” - and “Rise and shine” is the chorus of this little song that has been around for decades. I was unable to find its origin, although there are derivations of it sung as “spirituals” that may be centuries old. But the theme seems to originate from Isaiah 60:1, which says, “Arise, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you.”
My Mam-ma Polly was a notoriously early riser. She could accomplish more before 9:00 a.m. than most people get done in a day or more! And a common question that she asked me a zillion times, it seems, was…”What have you done today?” Often, this was asked as I had my first or second cup of coffee - while still wearing my pajamas! She was not necessarily asking to make a point…I think she just assumed that the whole world “got up and at ‘em” like she did! To be perfectly honest…my idea of “rise and shine” occurs somewhere later in the morning!
The thing is…while I marveled at all that my grandmother was able to accomplish each day, she brushed it off as “business as usual”…merely “all in a day’s work”. In other word, her deeds were nothing special or extraordinary – certainly nothing that she would brag about! My grandmother did not seek the praise of others for what she had done – especially if it involved helping someone else! She was grateful for the energy and ability to do these things – and she knew WHO gave her the strength and power to accomplish them.
Did my grandmother work harder than most people? Perhaps. But she didn’t see it that way. My grandmother was not the richest woman in the world, but her needs were always met. She worked at more than one job out of necessity to pay her bills…but she gave of her time and talents out of the abundance of her heart and a spirit of gratitude for God’s blessings. There was always room for one more at her table – even when it appeared there was only enough food for her own plate. She always had a clean spare bed if someone needed a place to stay. She was ready to take food to a sick or grieving family…or to pack a shoebox for a Christmas mission project at her church. She shared flowers from her yard and her creative talents to decorate for parties and church functions. She sewed perfectly tailored garments and created amazing quits – totally by hand – and she shared many of these with others.
I will admit…my grandmother had talents and creativity in spades. But we all do in our own way…because God is “at the wheel”. You may not be able to cook a meal or grow a flower – much less arrange the cuttings beautiful in a vase or create a hand-sewn quilt. But God has plans to use you in some way…to bless you with “talents” and abilities that no one else has…to work through you to reach others in a way that nobody else ever could. OUR JOB is to open our hearts and minds to the endless possibilities…to look at the needs that surround us and “RISE AND SHINE” to meet them under God’s power…then “give God the glory” for what He can do with us.
If we would wake up every morning and say, “Here I am LORD…what would You like for me to do today?”…our lives would be so very different. I’m not suggesting that you start walking around telling everyone that you are something special…or that you are the hardest working disciple for Christ. But I am suggesting that you open your heart and mind to the possibilities with God…and that you work hard every single day to give Him your best - whether anyone else recognizes it or not. Operate from a place of incredible gratitude…as if you cannot possibly do enough to thank God for all that He has done for you…and see what happens!
“Rise and shine…and give God the glory!” If you are a child of the LORD…it’s time to act like it!
©2014 Debbie Robus
But whatever I am now it is all because God poured out such kindness and grace upon me—and not without results: for I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet actually I wasn’t doing it, but God working in me, to bless me.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Rise and shine
And give God the glory, glory
Children of the Lord
Do you remember this song we sang as kids? It starts off…”The lord said to Noah: there's gonna be a floody, floody” - and “Rise and shine” is the chorus of this little song that has been around for decades. I was unable to find its origin, although there are derivations of it sung as “spirituals” that may be centuries old. But the theme seems to originate from Isaiah 60:1, which says, “Arise, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you.”
My Mam-ma Polly was a notoriously early riser. She could accomplish more before 9:00 a.m. than most people get done in a day or more! And a common question that she asked me a zillion times, it seems, was…”What have you done today?” Often, this was asked as I had my first or second cup of coffee - while still wearing my pajamas! She was not necessarily asking to make a point…I think she just assumed that the whole world “got up and at ‘em” like she did! To be perfectly honest…my idea of “rise and shine” occurs somewhere later in the morning!
The thing is…while I marveled at all that my grandmother was able to accomplish each day, she brushed it off as “business as usual”…merely “all in a day’s work”. In other word, her deeds were nothing special or extraordinary – certainly nothing that she would brag about! My grandmother did not seek the praise of others for what she had done – especially if it involved helping someone else! She was grateful for the energy and ability to do these things – and she knew WHO gave her the strength and power to accomplish them.
Did my grandmother work harder than most people? Perhaps. But she didn’t see it that way. My grandmother was not the richest woman in the world, but her needs were always met. She worked at more than one job out of necessity to pay her bills…but she gave of her time and talents out of the abundance of her heart and a spirit of gratitude for God’s blessings. There was always room for one more at her table – even when it appeared there was only enough food for her own plate. She always had a clean spare bed if someone needed a place to stay. She was ready to take food to a sick or grieving family…or to pack a shoebox for a Christmas mission project at her church. She shared flowers from her yard and her creative talents to decorate for parties and church functions. She sewed perfectly tailored garments and created amazing quits – totally by hand – and she shared many of these with others.
I will admit…my grandmother had talents and creativity in spades. But we all do in our own way…because God is “at the wheel”. You may not be able to cook a meal or grow a flower – much less arrange the cuttings beautiful in a vase or create a hand-sewn quilt. But God has plans to use you in some way…to bless you with “talents” and abilities that no one else has…to work through you to reach others in a way that nobody else ever could. OUR JOB is to open our hearts and minds to the endless possibilities…to look at the needs that surround us and “RISE AND SHINE” to meet them under God’s power…then “give God the glory” for what He can do with us.
If we would wake up every morning and say, “Here I am LORD…what would You like for me to do today?”…our lives would be so very different. I’m not suggesting that you start walking around telling everyone that you are something special…or that you are the hardest working disciple for Christ. But I am suggesting that you open your heart and mind to the possibilities with God…and that you work hard every single day to give Him your best - whether anyone else recognizes it or not. Operate from a place of incredible gratitude…as if you cannot possibly do enough to thank God for all that He has done for you…and see what happens!
“Rise and shine…and give God the glory!” If you are a child of the LORD…it’s time to act like it!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 2, 2014
1 Chronicles 23:30
Each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing thanks and praise to him.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I am really trying to be more intentionally grateful. Ann Voskamp writes in her book, One Thousand Gifts* that the more we operate in gratitude, the less room we will have in our hearts and minds for other things…like a bad attitude, hatefulness, self-pity or self-loathing, and sinful thoughts of all kinds. She maintains that a heart of gratitude cannot co-exist with these things…at least not for very long.
With this thought in mind, the suggestion offered in this scripture verse to “sing thanks and praise” to the LORD each morning and evening makes perfect sense. Were we to stop for a few minutes at the beginning and end of our day and note a few reasons to be grateful, this might set the tone for the rest of our waking moments. As we learn to operate more in gratitude to God for all that He has done for us, this attitude spills over into other areas of our life…how we interact with other people…what triggers moments of stress…how we react to every situation and circumstance in our day.
We truly owe God more than two times of “intentional gratitude” each day…but it’s a good start. Let’s try this…let’s take just a minute or two each morning and evening to note a handful of things for which we are grateful. This is not the time to talk to God about your worries and concerns...but rather, let’s give God just a couple of minutes twice a day in which we really, truly notice some of the things that He has done for us. Let’s thank Him for some of the ways that He has blessed us…little nuances and gifts that make a difference – but we often take them for granted. Let’s enumerate the oft-unnoticed blessings God presents to us – and thank Him for them.
If we make twice-daily exercises in gratitude a part of our routine, we might just find that they become more prevalent at other times of our day. As we give God glory and praise for all that He has done in our lives, we may start to see Him more clearly in everyday, ordinary experiences. As we practice “intentional gratitude”, we may draw closer to God in ways we never expected. And this is a very good thing. Are you ready and willing to get started? What will you thank Him for first?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
Each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing thanks and praise to him.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I am really trying to be more intentionally grateful. Ann Voskamp writes in her book, One Thousand Gifts* that the more we operate in gratitude, the less room we will have in our hearts and minds for other things…like a bad attitude, hatefulness, self-pity or self-loathing, and sinful thoughts of all kinds. She maintains that a heart of gratitude cannot co-exist with these things…at least not for very long.
With this thought in mind, the suggestion offered in this scripture verse to “sing thanks and praise” to the LORD each morning and evening makes perfect sense. Were we to stop for a few minutes at the beginning and end of our day and note a few reasons to be grateful, this might set the tone for the rest of our waking moments. As we learn to operate more in gratitude to God for all that He has done for us, this attitude spills over into other areas of our life…how we interact with other people…what triggers moments of stress…how we react to every situation and circumstance in our day.
We truly owe God more than two times of “intentional gratitude” each day…but it’s a good start. Let’s try this…let’s take just a minute or two each morning and evening to note a handful of things for which we are grateful. This is not the time to talk to God about your worries and concerns...but rather, let’s give God just a couple of minutes twice a day in which we really, truly notice some of the things that He has done for us. Let’s thank Him for some of the ways that He has blessed us…little nuances and gifts that make a difference – but we often take them for granted. Let’s enumerate the oft-unnoticed blessings God presents to us – and thank Him for them.
If we make twice-daily exercises in gratitude a part of our routine, we might just find that they become more prevalent at other times of our day. As we give God glory and praise for all that He has done in our lives, we may start to see Him more clearly in everyday, ordinary experiences. As we practice “intentional gratitude”, we may draw closer to God in ways we never expected. And this is a very good thing. Are you ready and willing to get started? What will you thank Him for first?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
Daily Devotional for October 25, 2014
Psalm 103:1-5
I bless the holy name of God with all my heart. Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with loving-kindness and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things! My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In the book One Thousand Gifts*, author Ann Voskamp reminds us repeatedly of the importance of gratitude...something she calls "eucharisteo". She makes the point that it's hard to be unhappy when you are busy being grateful...that you can truly draw closer to God by taking note of the blessings all around you than by enumerating your troubles...that the real path to a deeper relationship with God comes from learning to praise Him and express appreciation - even when with every fiber of your being, you don't feel like doing so.
I started making a list of 1,000 gifts or blessings...although I will admit that I have not been as diligent as I should in noting things each day. A few years ago, I read a book called 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life**, written by John Kralik. Over the course of a year, I actually wrote and sent more than 365 "thank-you" notes. I did this as an experiment at first...inspired by this book to be more grateful - and to tell others how they had blessed me. But as I wrote the notes, I began to seek more opportunities to send them. It wasn't a burden, as in "Oh, no...it's day #125, and I don't have anyone to thank!" It was often a case of having several people who deserved a note of appreciation...and I found myself increasingly recognizing opportunities to let someone know how humbled I was by their kindness, concern, assistance, and love.
It's funny how we find it so easy to go to God with our troubles...concerns...needs and desires. But we really spend very little time telling Him how grateful we are for all He does for us. You really should go back and read all of Psalm 103. David has done a beautiful job of listing many ways in which God has blessed and cared for him. He has enumerated many of the LORD's qualities...wisdom, a sympathetic and merciful heart, tenderness, the ability to "forgive and forget", His love and steadfast faithfulness toward us and the promises that He has made.
Like the "365 days of Thank Yous"...I believe that making note (mentally and/or physically) of daily blessings could change our thinking - AND our relationship with God. As we begin to focus more on the thousands of ways that He shows up in our lives each and every minute, we will find that we have less time for sin and the things of this world. When we are busy noting the beauty of fall leaves or the laugh of a child, we don't really have time to bother with what someone said or did (or didn't do), how lonely and neglected we are, or how many burdens and problems we may be facing.
In noting the "gifts" and blessings of our day, we are reminded just how incredible and amazing God's love is for us...and how blessed we are by this. And as our relationship with Him begins to change and deepen in "eucharisteo," we can change our earthly relationships and attitudes as well. Clearly God deserves this kind of attention. And if joy and a strengthened bond with Him are the by-products, then I am all in! What about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
** 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life ~ © 2010 John Kralik ~ Hyperion ~ All right reserved.
I bless the holy name of God with all my heart. Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with loving-kindness and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things! My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In the book One Thousand Gifts*, author Ann Voskamp reminds us repeatedly of the importance of gratitude...something she calls "eucharisteo". She makes the point that it's hard to be unhappy when you are busy being grateful...that you can truly draw closer to God by taking note of the blessings all around you than by enumerating your troubles...that the real path to a deeper relationship with God comes from learning to praise Him and express appreciation - even when with every fiber of your being, you don't feel like doing so.
I started making a list of 1,000 gifts or blessings...although I will admit that I have not been as diligent as I should in noting things each day. A few years ago, I read a book called 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life**, written by John Kralik. Over the course of a year, I actually wrote and sent more than 365 "thank-you" notes. I did this as an experiment at first...inspired by this book to be more grateful - and to tell others how they had blessed me. But as I wrote the notes, I began to seek more opportunities to send them. It wasn't a burden, as in "Oh, no...it's day #125, and I don't have anyone to thank!" It was often a case of having several people who deserved a note of appreciation...and I found myself increasingly recognizing opportunities to let someone know how humbled I was by their kindness, concern, assistance, and love.
It's funny how we find it so easy to go to God with our troubles...concerns...needs and desires. But we really spend very little time telling Him how grateful we are for all He does for us. You really should go back and read all of Psalm 103. David has done a beautiful job of listing many ways in which God has blessed and cared for him. He has enumerated many of the LORD's qualities...wisdom, a sympathetic and merciful heart, tenderness, the ability to "forgive and forget", His love and steadfast faithfulness toward us and the promises that He has made.
Like the "365 days of Thank Yous"...I believe that making note (mentally and/or physically) of daily blessings could change our thinking - AND our relationship with God. As we begin to focus more on the thousands of ways that He shows up in our lives each and every minute, we will find that we have less time for sin and the things of this world. When we are busy noting the beauty of fall leaves or the laugh of a child, we don't really have time to bother with what someone said or did (or didn't do), how lonely and neglected we are, or how many burdens and problems we may be facing.
In noting the "gifts" and blessings of our day, we are reminded just how incredible and amazing God's love is for us...and how blessed we are by this. And as our relationship with Him begins to change and deepen in "eucharisteo," we can change our earthly relationships and attitudes as well. Clearly God deserves this kind of attention. And if joy and a strengthened bond with Him are the by-products, then I am all in! What about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
** 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life ~ © 2010 John Kralik ~ Hyperion ~ All right reserved.
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