1 Peter 3:13-15
Usually no one will hurt you for
wanting to do good. But even if they should, you are to be envied, for
God will reward you for it. Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord,
and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and
do it in a gentle and respectful way.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Our three little ones LOVE
Play-doh®. Because Play-doh® is not cheap, I am a big meanie about
“mixing the colors.” The kids ask nearly every day if they can put two
or more colors together to create the animals and objects pictured on
the box…and as long as the clay is pliable, I resist saying “Yes.” I
remind them that once the colors are mixed, we cannot undo it!
This
week, I picked up a package of Play-doh® at the store that was designed
to be used as party favors. There were 15 mini cans of the clay in a
variety of colors. I set the bag on the counter, where the kids readily
spotted it. I told them that each child could have several cans, and
they could “mix” to their heart’s content! Timothy was over-the-moon
excited and asked, “WHY are you so nice to us?!” Greg and I both told
him that we love them…and we enjoy doing nice things for them.
Later
in the day, the children and I went swimming. As we drove home
afterward, Timothy asked, “Debbie…why are y’all always so joyful and
happy?” I was touched that this is how he thinks of Greg and me. I
responded that because God has been so good, we have every reason to be
happy…that even when unpleasant things happen, we don’t stay sad very
long, because God helps us through them. Timothy wanted to know if God
could help anyone be happy? I told him that I believe that God
can indeed do this…that God can do ANYTHING…and when we ask Him to help
us – with anything - He surely will.
There are probably some who
think that we do too much for our little ones…that we spoil them or
lavish too much time and attention on them. And for the record, we do
not give “prizes” every day. But when I hear one of these children ask
me why we are so happy…when I see that they notice our “joy in the
LORD”…I know that we are on the right track.
I also know that
there are days when my 59-year-old self asks, “What were you thinking?”
as I try to physically keep up with these little balls of energy. But I
am aware that the time is short…that before we can blink, these
children will be grown…and what we do for them now matters greatly.
Every opportunity we have to love them and show them how significant our
relationship with Jesus is - in our lives and theirs - will be critical.
Here
I go again…but as much as our three little ones are watching us, others
are watching, too. They are looking to see how we conduct “daily
business”…what we say and do in every arena - from our homes to our jobs
to our church and other public venues…on social media…and even in how
we look at others we pass in the grocery aisles or at the gas pumps!
When someone sees us operating with joy and a positive attitude –
especially if we claim to be redeemed by the blood of Jesus – they take
notice of what God is doing for us. To the contrary, when we operate
with a glum demeanor or a negative attitude…others are left to wonder
where the joy of a relationship with the LORD is – or if it even truly
exists!
My questions for us to ponder today are…“What are we
showing others? Do they see someone who lives in the joy of Jesus and
the confidence that He can help them through any and all situations? Or
do we let “life” drag us down? When people look at us, do they see
someone whose mood is dictated by the events of the day…or do we remain
relatively solid and steadfast through all circumstances?
Are
we busy doing good and trusting God to direct our words and actions, or
are we worried about the opinions and ideas of others? Who is really
running our lives? Are we joyful and happy most of the time…or do we
sway with the wind?
We all have our “moments,” but for the most
part, we have every reason to be joyful – and to demonstrate this to
others. I realize that I have at least three sets of little eyes on me,
so I have got to bring my “A-game!” How are you sharing Jesus
these days? Are you so filled with the joy and goodness of Jesus that
even a little child would take notice? Isn’t it time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label operating in joy and peace of Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label operating in joy and peace of Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for July 24, 2015
Colossians 3:1-2
So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.
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.
Greg and I have been watching a special series on CNN called “The Seventies.” We are finding these hour-long looks at the past especially interesting because this was “our era.” Several BIG things happened to us in the 1970s…and this “trip down Memory Lane” has been good for us. We have been reminded of happy times…but our memories have also been jogged about several events that we had put out of our thoughts – if not altogether forgotten. In particular, we watched a segment recently that noted serial killers like the Hillside Strangler and Ted Bundy - and the cult activities of Charles Manson and Jim Jones.
We get so caught up in what is happening in our world today – and it IS tragic, in many instances. But we forget that these things are not new – or necessarily worse. The terrible shootings and acts of violence occurring today had a counterpart in prior decades. We’ve had plenty to hang our heads about. I remember being a new bride in 1975 when Saigon fell…and wondering what lay ahead for all of us…and my mother tells of rocking me as an infant during the Cuban Missile Crisis and worrying about the same things.
So what does this have to do with these verses in Colossians 3? I believe we have a choice…particularly as Christians. We can hang our heads and talk “gloom and doom.” We can wring our hands and worry about what the world is coming to. Or we can lift our heads, stand up straight and tall, and say, “I serve a God who is fully in control, and I trust Him to make things right.” We can live - and love others - in a way that fosters this concept. When others ask us how we are, we can genuinely answer, “I am well” – regardless of what is happening in our lives.
“But that’s dishonest!” you may say. And I would have to respectfully disagree. Because if we truly believe in God’s promises…if we are confident that Jesus is who He says He is…that He died for our sins and prepares an Eternal home for us in Heaven…then we truly are well. There may be troubles at every turn…we may be sick or injured, hurting from grief or disappointment, struggling to pay bills and worried about the troubled person who may sit next to us in a movie theater with a gun or come after us because we don’t agree with his/her views – on anything!
But we serve a God who is bigger than ALL of this…and He will never let us down. So stand tall, lift your chin, put on a smile, and BE WELL! Speak positively, and let others know that you serve a God who is in complete control…and that they can, too! Recognize that there is nothing new under the sun…and what God did for previous generations, He will do for us, also.
We serve an awesome God who totally has our back every minute of the day. It’s time for us to stand up and act like we believe it!
©2015 Debbie Robus
So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.
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.
Greg and I have been watching a special series on CNN called “The Seventies.” We are finding these hour-long looks at the past especially interesting because this was “our era.” Several BIG things happened to us in the 1970s…and this “trip down Memory Lane” has been good for us. We have been reminded of happy times…but our memories have also been jogged about several events that we had put out of our thoughts – if not altogether forgotten. In particular, we watched a segment recently that noted serial killers like the Hillside Strangler and Ted Bundy - and the cult activities of Charles Manson and Jim Jones.
We get so caught up in what is happening in our world today – and it IS tragic, in many instances. But we forget that these things are not new – or necessarily worse. The terrible shootings and acts of violence occurring today had a counterpart in prior decades. We’ve had plenty to hang our heads about. I remember being a new bride in 1975 when Saigon fell…and wondering what lay ahead for all of us…and my mother tells of rocking me as an infant during the Cuban Missile Crisis and worrying about the same things.
So what does this have to do with these verses in Colossians 3? I believe we have a choice…particularly as Christians. We can hang our heads and talk “gloom and doom.” We can wring our hands and worry about what the world is coming to. Or we can lift our heads, stand up straight and tall, and say, “I serve a God who is fully in control, and I trust Him to make things right.” We can live - and love others - in a way that fosters this concept. When others ask us how we are, we can genuinely answer, “I am well” – regardless of what is happening in our lives.
“But that’s dishonest!” you may say. And I would have to respectfully disagree. Because if we truly believe in God’s promises…if we are confident that Jesus is who He says He is…that He died for our sins and prepares an Eternal home for us in Heaven…then we truly are well. There may be troubles at every turn…we may be sick or injured, hurting from grief or disappointment, struggling to pay bills and worried about the troubled person who may sit next to us in a movie theater with a gun or come after us because we don’t agree with his/her views – on anything!
But we serve a God who is bigger than ALL of this…and He will never let us down. So stand tall, lift your chin, put on a smile, and BE WELL! Speak positively, and let others know that you serve a God who is in complete control…and that they can, too! Recognize that there is nothing new under the sun…and what God did for previous generations, He will do for us, also.
We serve an awesome God who totally has our back every minute of the day. It’s time for us to stand up and act like we believe it!
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 30, 2015
Joel 2:28-32
“After I have poured out my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all of you! Your sons and daughters will prophesy; your old men will dream dreams, and your young men see visions. And I will pour out my Spirit even on your slaves, men and women alike, and put strange symbols in the earth and sky—blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
“The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible Day of the Lord shall come.
“Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved; even in Jerusalem some will escape, just as the Lord has promised, for he has chosen some to survive.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Have you heard about the “Blood Moons?” According to information found at EarthSky.org…” The first Blood Moon eclipse in a series of four happened on the night of April 14-15, 2014. The second one took place on the night of October 7-8, 2014. The third one is coming up on April 4, 2015 and will be visible to North American skywatchers. A series of four total lunar eclipses is called a tetrad. We in astronomy had not heard the term Blood Moon used in quite this way before this year, but now the term has become widespread in the media.”*
Another lunar eclipse is scheduled to occur on September 28, 2015. There are pastors and others in the religious community who cite Joel 2:31 – and the rest of this passage – and try to make a correlation between these events and the Second Coming of Christ. Books have been written…seminars have been held and attended…and a general state of unrest has been stirred among some believers.
I do not mean to belittle anyone’s faith. But here is my “take” on all of this. The “blood moons” (a phrase coined by one of those “religious” authors) are beautiful. If you get a chance to observe one, by all means, do so! But do not panic. If Jesus is just about ready to return, so what? This is GREAT NEWS! As I told a neighbor who wanted to talk to me about “End Times” recently…”Bring ‘em! I don’t plan on being here!”
See, I’ve already been “bought and paid for” by the blood of Jesus. I surrendered my heart to Him a long time ago, and whenever He is ready for me, I’m ready to go to heaven. This could happen in the next 30 minutes…or I could still be here when He returns for His church at large. Either way, I know that this is not my final destination, but just an important stop along the way. I have work to do on behalf of my Lord and Savior…and He is going to provide me with signs, wonders, dreams, visions, and beautiful phenomena like “blood moons” to enjoy during the journey.
I don’t have an “exclusive” on salvation. What God has done for me through Jesus Christ…He will gladly do for you. No one needs operate in fear for even one minute. This is glorious…amazing…exciting! Embrace it…embrace Jesus! And revel in the promise that you will LIVE with Him for all eternity…whenever He decides to call for you!
And let’s stop scaring folks about the “End Times”. Let’s talk about how wonderful heaven is…how blessed we are to serve a Risen Savior…and how glorious it will be to belong to Him for all eternity. We Christians have operated in fear long enough…and it’s not working for us OR those we wish to reach for Jesus! Let’s start showing others how joyful and excited we are to be children of the Most High God…and demonstrate happy anticipation of all that He has in store for us!
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://earthsky.org
“After I have poured out my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all of you! Your sons and daughters will prophesy; your old men will dream dreams, and your young men see visions. And I will pour out my Spirit even on your slaves, men and women alike, and put strange symbols in the earth and sky—blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
“The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible Day of the Lord shall come.
“Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved; even in Jerusalem some will escape, just as the Lord has promised, for he has chosen some to survive.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Have you heard about the “Blood Moons?” According to information found at EarthSky.org…” The first Blood Moon eclipse in a series of four happened on the night of April 14-15, 2014. The second one took place on the night of October 7-8, 2014. The third one is coming up on April 4, 2015 and will be visible to North American skywatchers. A series of four total lunar eclipses is called a tetrad. We in astronomy had not heard the term Blood Moon used in quite this way before this year, but now the term has become widespread in the media.”*
Another lunar eclipse is scheduled to occur on September 28, 2015. There are pastors and others in the religious community who cite Joel 2:31 – and the rest of this passage – and try to make a correlation between these events and the Second Coming of Christ. Books have been written…seminars have been held and attended…and a general state of unrest has been stirred among some believers.
I do not mean to belittle anyone’s faith. But here is my “take” on all of this. The “blood moons” (a phrase coined by one of those “religious” authors) are beautiful. If you get a chance to observe one, by all means, do so! But do not panic. If Jesus is just about ready to return, so what? This is GREAT NEWS! As I told a neighbor who wanted to talk to me about “End Times” recently…”Bring ‘em! I don’t plan on being here!”
See, I’ve already been “bought and paid for” by the blood of Jesus. I surrendered my heart to Him a long time ago, and whenever He is ready for me, I’m ready to go to heaven. This could happen in the next 30 minutes…or I could still be here when He returns for His church at large. Either way, I know that this is not my final destination, but just an important stop along the way. I have work to do on behalf of my Lord and Savior…and He is going to provide me with signs, wonders, dreams, visions, and beautiful phenomena like “blood moons” to enjoy during the journey.
I don’t have an “exclusive” on salvation. What God has done for me through Jesus Christ…He will gladly do for you. No one needs operate in fear for even one minute. This is glorious…amazing…exciting! Embrace it…embrace Jesus! And revel in the promise that you will LIVE with Him for all eternity…whenever He decides to call for you!
And let’s stop scaring folks about the “End Times”. Let’s talk about how wonderful heaven is…how blessed we are to serve a Risen Savior…and how glorious it will be to belong to Him for all eternity. We Christians have operated in fear long enough…and it’s not working for us OR those we wish to reach for Jesus! Let’s start showing others how joyful and excited we are to be children of the Most High God…and demonstrate happy anticipation of all that He has in store for us!
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://earthsky.org
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