Ephesians 4:14
We must stop acting like children. We
must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which
are like winds that toss us around from place to place.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One
day last week, I fixed lunch for the children, and I made “ants on a
log.” For those who have not heard of this, it’s celery pieces filled
with peanut butter and topped with raisins. Timothy immediately told me
that he did not like celery, so I made his “logs” with apple slices.
Kids can be picky eaters…and ours are no exceptions. One loves cherry
tomatoes…the others won’t touch them. Zola wants her cheese sandwiches
without mayonnaise…Timothy wants “extra mayo!”
I put some fruit
and Ritz® crackers on the plates, and the children had varied reactions.
Timothy insisted he did not like crackers. I suggested that this
one was more like a cookie…and after close examination and a sniff or
two, he tasted it – and liked it! I know there are some who try to
trick their kids into eating things they don’t like. Some go so far as
to try to “sneak” healthy ingredients into foods the children will eat.
And I guess I do a little manipulating by making the food “fun”…like
“dolphin bananas” and smiley-faced pancakes. But generally, if the kids won't eat something with a little encouragement to try it, I just ignore the situation and let them decide.
Subtle tricks of
manipulation are nothing new. Satan convinced Eve to try the apple in
the Garden of Eden. A lot of folks have been coaxed into tasting
something that they would otherwise never eat because they had no clue
what they were sampling. And you can bet your bottom dollar that the
devil uses slick tricks and manipulations to get us to change our minds
and follow false teachings and listen to someone other than God…and he
does this ALL.THE.TIME!
One of Satan’s best tricks is peer
pressure. If everyone thinks that XYZ is right…especially someone we
know/love/respect – a member of our family, co-workers or fellow church
members – then these opinions must be correct. How often do you see
families who are (at least, to some degree) split apart because one or
two people decide that the “party line” philosophy about certain issues
is not their own? I think one of the devil’s favorite phrases must
be…”It’s always been done this way.” And he truly believes that we will
support this notion!
Today, I am calling on each of us to search our hearts…and God’s word…and see what He has
to say about the issues and challenges of our day. Just as I
encouraged Timothy to try the cracker and see for himself whether he
liked it…I urge you to sample God’s word – in print and as He speaks to
you through prayer and meditation. Listen to Him and trust His
directives. If they differ from the ones of those in your circle of
influence, trust God to give you the strength and courage to stand up
for them.
BE SURE that you are hearing from God…and not from someone in your circle who is telling you what they think God said to them!
Use your brain! Open your own heart and mind and invite God to speak
directly to you. We cannot take someone else’s word for it on these
matters. We have to know for ourselves what God has to say. Have you
talked with Him lately? Don’t you think it’s time you did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label peer pressure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peer pressure. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 27, 2014
Psalm 41:1-3
You, Lord God, bless everyone
who cares for the poor,
and you rescue those people
in times of trouble.
You protect them
and keep them alive.
You make them happy here
in this land,
and you don’t hand them over
to their enemies.
You always heal them
and restore their strength
when they are sick.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
An acquaintance recently posted a link to a video that I was gullible enough to watch. The speaker was talking about how (IN HIS OPINION, NOT MINE!) we Christians are being overtaken by evil forces at every turn, and this is resulting in terrible things happening in our world. The "kicker" to his ridiculous rant came in the closing sentence, when he said something about how "they" (the "evil ones") will even "take our money and our cars!" And this man was supposedly some sort of pastor!
C'mon now! You know this isn't right! Yet I see it played out all the time as I shop at our local Wal-Mart and thrift store and interact with others around town. Since we live in a fairly small community, I know a lot of people...many who would "swear on a stack of Bibles" that they are faith-filled Christians. Some of these same people practice what I call "Country Club Religion"...and a whole lotta folks are not members of the "Club". And boy, do they know it! They know by the way they are smiled at with pity or disdain...or the way they are not included in table discussions at school or a local church circle. They know where they "fit" (or don't), because a lot of us "Christians" are quite open about how we feel toward those who are not like us in some way...race or skin color, ethnicity, lifestyle, socio-economic level, education level - even which church someone attends - and so much more.
It starts early. I am seeing the "cliques" develop even among Timothy, Zola and Nathan's age groups and how certain children are treated one way or another. If you read the rest of Psalm 41, you will see that David addresses this. He talks to God about people who come to see him when he is sick and pretend to care...then go out and gossip about him in the community. He notes that even his best friend did this...he told others that David had some sort of deadly disease - and that they should stay away from him.
Isn't that what we often do? We tell others, "Well, he/she is _______." You can fill in the blank. We do it with everyone from the person who sits next to us in class or at church all the way to our President and world leaders. We protect our "stuff" and our "position" at all costs - even at the expense of another of God's children. And we expect God to pat us on the head and tell us that this is all okay.
Well, it's not alright! And as David tells God in verse 12..."You have helped me because I am innocent, and You will always be close to my side." A lot of people are "sick and suffering" because of mistreatment by "Christians". Many have decided that God must not love them...because in so many ways, they have been told this repeatedly by people who claim to know Jesus and to follow Him, while they deride and judge others - and sometimes not all that subtly.
Here's a news flash...God loves the "poor" - those who are physically in need, and those who are poor in spirit. He cares about those who are sick in the body, sick at heart, and just plain sick and tired. He cares about them just as much as the next person, and His deepest desire is to heal them and to bring joy, peace and salvation into their lives. I serve a God of abundant, profound, all-encompassing love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. He could care less what I wear, what kind of car I drive, or whether I just got the latest version of the newest smart phone! Moreover, He knows what race I am...the color of my skin...my sexual orientation...and my very DNA - because HE MADE ME! And you know what? HE LOVES ME JUST LIKE THIS!
If I sound upset or angry, I’m not – I'm just disheartened. I am so tired of hearing about "Christian values" and what is wrong with our world, when what is really wrong is that we have failed to hear God's voice and meet the needs of ALL of His people...RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE! I'm sorry if this upsets you, but the "Christian Country Club" needs to GO! We need to pull out our Bibles, spend some serious time in study and prayer, and figure out what God is calling us to do...then get busy doing it!
You have a choice...you can be one of those "friends" who visits the sick - or smiles at your neighbor - and talks about them later. Or you can fall to your knees and ask God to show you how, when and where to serve Him...unconditionally. You can ask God to show you where and how to minister in His name to the "sick" and the poor...and to guard your heart and mind from judging another living soul in the process. You can serve as a catalyst for healing, joy, restoration and salvation. Or you can sit home and worry about your car and your "stuff". The choice is totally yours. What do you think God would want you to do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
You, Lord God, bless everyone
who cares for the poor,
and you rescue those people
in times of trouble.
You protect them
and keep them alive.
You make them happy here
in this land,
and you don’t hand them over
to their enemies.
You always heal them
and restore their strength
when they are sick.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
An acquaintance recently posted a link to a video that I was gullible enough to watch. The speaker was talking about how (IN HIS OPINION, NOT MINE!) we Christians are being overtaken by evil forces at every turn, and this is resulting in terrible things happening in our world. The "kicker" to his ridiculous rant came in the closing sentence, when he said something about how "they" (the "evil ones") will even "take our money and our cars!" And this man was supposedly some sort of pastor!
C'mon now! You know this isn't right! Yet I see it played out all the time as I shop at our local Wal-Mart and thrift store and interact with others around town. Since we live in a fairly small community, I know a lot of people...many who would "swear on a stack of Bibles" that they are faith-filled Christians. Some of these same people practice what I call "Country Club Religion"...and a whole lotta folks are not members of the "Club". And boy, do they know it! They know by the way they are smiled at with pity or disdain...or the way they are not included in table discussions at school or a local church circle. They know where they "fit" (or don't), because a lot of us "Christians" are quite open about how we feel toward those who are not like us in some way...race or skin color, ethnicity, lifestyle, socio-economic level, education level - even which church someone attends - and so much more.
It starts early. I am seeing the "cliques" develop even among Timothy, Zola and Nathan's age groups and how certain children are treated one way or another. If you read the rest of Psalm 41, you will see that David addresses this. He talks to God about people who come to see him when he is sick and pretend to care...then go out and gossip about him in the community. He notes that even his best friend did this...he told others that David had some sort of deadly disease - and that they should stay away from him.
Isn't that what we often do? We tell others, "Well, he/she is _______." You can fill in the blank. We do it with everyone from the person who sits next to us in class or at church all the way to our President and world leaders. We protect our "stuff" and our "position" at all costs - even at the expense of another of God's children. And we expect God to pat us on the head and tell us that this is all okay.
Well, it's not alright! And as David tells God in verse 12..."You have helped me because I am innocent, and You will always be close to my side." A lot of people are "sick and suffering" because of mistreatment by "Christians". Many have decided that God must not love them...because in so many ways, they have been told this repeatedly by people who claim to know Jesus and to follow Him, while they deride and judge others - and sometimes not all that subtly.
Here's a news flash...God loves the "poor" - those who are physically in need, and those who are poor in spirit. He cares about those who are sick in the body, sick at heart, and just plain sick and tired. He cares about them just as much as the next person, and His deepest desire is to heal them and to bring joy, peace and salvation into their lives. I serve a God of abundant, profound, all-encompassing love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. He could care less what I wear, what kind of car I drive, or whether I just got the latest version of the newest smart phone! Moreover, He knows what race I am...the color of my skin...my sexual orientation...and my very DNA - because HE MADE ME! And you know what? HE LOVES ME JUST LIKE THIS!
If I sound upset or angry, I’m not – I'm just disheartened. I am so tired of hearing about "Christian values" and what is wrong with our world, when what is really wrong is that we have failed to hear God's voice and meet the needs of ALL of His people...RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE! I'm sorry if this upsets you, but the "Christian Country Club" needs to GO! We need to pull out our Bibles, spend some serious time in study and prayer, and figure out what God is calling us to do...then get busy doing it!
You have a choice...you can be one of those "friends" who visits the sick - or smiles at your neighbor - and talks about them later. Or you can fall to your knees and ask God to show you how, when and where to serve Him...unconditionally. You can ask God to show you where and how to minister in His name to the "sick" and the poor...and to guard your heart and mind from judging another living soul in the process. You can serve as a catalyst for healing, joy, restoration and salvation. Or you can sit home and worry about your car and your "stuff". The choice is totally yours. What do you think God would want you to do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 22, 2012
Romans 12:1-2
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
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.
One of my dearest friends (who is now in Heaven) used to say, “I never did anything with my life.” This was so far from the truth that it was almost laughable. What Becky meant was that she never finished college – never got the nursing degree she had hoped to obtain… never “spread her wings” and lived anywhere but her home town. What she didn’t always recognize was how successful she was as a wife, mother, servant in her church and community, office manager in her dad’s construction business, and friend to more than she could count. Becky could never fathom that her life would leave such a mark on others that we still speak of her with admiration and respect to this day.
The point is that God doesn’t call everyone to become a celebrity or live in the limelight. And honestly, He uses the ordinary, everyday experiences of our lives as much or more than those we consider grand and impressive – if we are living for Him. In the coming weeks, many will graduate from high school or college, marry, move, or begin new jobs and new adventures. If you are one of them, remember that whatever you do is important to God… when you offer it to Him.
Whether you are spending the summer as an intern, babysitting, or filling boats with gas at a marina, you can serve God. If you are starting graduate school or an entry-level job, you can offer your work to Him and conduct yourself in a way that glorifies His name. If you are a stay-at-home mom or a retired grandpa who spends his days building bluebird houses or piddling in the garden, you can give these activities to God, and He will bless them.
My point is that God can use anything and everyone. When you do the laundry clean your house, wash the car or mow the lawn, you are caring for your family and being a good steward of God’s blessings… and He will bless you for doing so. When you nurture children, smile at the clerk at Wal-Mart, or rescue stray animals, God can be glorified. You don’t have to earn a Ph.D. or live in a mega-mansion for God to use you… although He can! You don’t have to be a certain age, have a specific amount of money, be a world-class athlete, or look like a model…you are special to God just as you are!
You may have heard the phrase, “Bloom where you are planted.” God wants us to bloom for Him… wherever He plants us. Recognize that everything you do and say is an opportunity to glorify His name. Don’t try to become something you are not – or that God did not design for you. Don’t let the world dictate how you think, speak or act. Ask GOD who you should be… and live comfortably and simply in His will… regardless of your age or where you find yourself these days,
If you are not completely certain you are living a mature, Christ-centered life, ask God to help you shift your focus and turn your attention back to Him. Whatever your age or station in life, you can focus on God and glorify Him in all you do. Are you blooming where you’ve been planted?
©2012 Debbie Robus
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
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.
One of my dearest friends (who is now in Heaven) used to say, “I never did anything with my life.” This was so far from the truth that it was almost laughable. What Becky meant was that she never finished college – never got the nursing degree she had hoped to obtain… never “spread her wings” and lived anywhere but her home town. What she didn’t always recognize was how successful she was as a wife, mother, servant in her church and community, office manager in her dad’s construction business, and friend to more than she could count. Becky could never fathom that her life would leave such a mark on others that we still speak of her with admiration and respect to this day.
The point is that God doesn’t call everyone to become a celebrity or live in the limelight. And honestly, He uses the ordinary, everyday experiences of our lives as much or more than those we consider grand and impressive – if we are living for Him. In the coming weeks, many will graduate from high school or college, marry, move, or begin new jobs and new adventures. If you are one of them, remember that whatever you do is important to God… when you offer it to Him.
Whether you are spending the summer as an intern, babysitting, or filling boats with gas at a marina, you can serve God. If you are starting graduate school or an entry-level job, you can offer your work to Him and conduct yourself in a way that glorifies His name. If you are a stay-at-home mom or a retired grandpa who spends his days building bluebird houses or piddling in the garden, you can give these activities to God, and He will bless them.
My point is that God can use anything and everyone. When you do the laundry clean your house, wash the car or mow the lawn, you are caring for your family and being a good steward of God’s blessings… and He will bless you for doing so. When you nurture children, smile at the clerk at Wal-Mart, or rescue stray animals, God can be glorified. You don’t have to earn a Ph.D. or live in a mega-mansion for God to use you… although He can! You don’t have to be a certain age, have a specific amount of money, be a world-class athlete, or look like a model…you are special to God just as you are!
You may have heard the phrase, “Bloom where you are planted.” God wants us to bloom for Him… wherever He plants us. Recognize that everything you do and say is an opportunity to glorify His name. Don’t try to become something you are not – or that God did not design for you. Don’t let the world dictate how you think, speak or act. Ask GOD who you should be… and live comfortably and simply in His will… regardless of your age or where you find yourself these days,
If you are not completely certain you are living a mature, Christ-centered life, ask God to help you shift your focus and turn your attention back to Him. Whatever your age or station in life, you can focus on God and glorify Him in all you do. Are you blooming where you’ve been planted?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 29, 2012
Proverbs 2:1-7
My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions. Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense. Beg as loud as you can for good common sense. Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God. All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) ran out of coffee filters one morning, so she tried using a paper plate as a substitute. I can only imagine the mess that ensued… and she readily admitted that this did not work. In north-central Arkansas, the aunt of little 4-year-old Caleb Linn told him to follow a dirt road alongside a wooded riverbank and catch up with cousins who had returned to camp, while she continued working to clear debris from a low-water bridge on the river. Little Caleb apparently got lost or lost his footing, and rescue workers searched for approximately four days before locating his lifeless body a half a mile down river.
I truly do not mean to judge the people in these examples. But in each case, there appears to be a clear lack of common sense. While the mess that resulted from the coffee pot fiasco was no fun to remedy, the ramifications of allowing this little child to wander down a dirt road unattended will be life-long for all who survive him.
My point for today is reinforced in this scripture passage… “Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.” We all have lapses in judgment… and I have plenty of what I call “blond moments.” As I have illustrated, some can be relatively harmless… while others change the course of our life forever. Underestimating the size of a container and pouring in too much liquid is one thing. Driving through flood waters that rush across a roadway can be something else entirely. Making a sudden turn that upends your purse or something else in the passenger seat of your car can cause a mess (think a soupy dish you are taking to a church supper or that jug of milk that overturns on the way home from the store). Reaching down to retrieve something that has spilled can cause a crash… and possible injury to you, your vehicle, and others in your path.
We’ve all seen the funny home videos of ridiculous things people have attempted… and lived to tell. But we’ve also heard news reports of people who attempted something they shouldn’t (think climbing onto a steep roof to hang Christmas lights) and suffered life-changing injuries – or even death. Pulling a harmless prank on a friend may not turn out as you hoped… and even result in some hurt feelings temporarily. Accepting a dare from your buddies to do something stupid could result in all kinds of trouble, personal injury, and damage to your reputation that follows you for decades.
The message for all of us is to seek God’s wisdom at all times… in all things. We need to beg Him every single day for good common sense. We should ask God to protect us… from the devil – and ourselves! Ask Him to speak to you when He sees you sliding off course… even in the small things. Then listen to that “still small voice” in your head that says, “Are you really sure you want to do this?” Take a moment to stop and ask God, “Is this a good idea? What are the potential pitfalls?”
I don’t believe that God causes the disasters (large and small) that result when we fail to exercise common sense. But I do think He uses them to teach us… to remind us to rely on Him more - and our own devices less. Often, we act – or react – in a split second… with little or no time to really think through what we are doing. This is where we truly need to depend on common sense - and God’s wisdom - to help us make the right choices. Today, let’s ask God to give us huge, healthy doses of His wisdom – AND common sense - and to help us respect these treasures… and to always pay close attention when He delivers them.
©2012 Debbie Robus
My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions. Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense. Beg as loud as you can for good common sense. Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God. All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) ran out of coffee filters one morning, so she tried using a paper plate as a substitute. I can only imagine the mess that ensued… and she readily admitted that this did not work. In north-central Arkansas, the aunt of little 4-year-old Caleb Linn told him to follow a dirt road alongside a wooded riverbank and catch up with cousins who had returned to camp, while she continued working to clear debris from a low-water bridge on the river. Little Caleb apparently got lost or lost his footing, and rescue workers searched for approximately four days before locating his lifeless body a half a mile down river.
I truly do not mean to judge the people in these examples. But in each case, there appears to be a clear lack of common sense. While the mess that resulted from the coffee pot fiasco was no fun to remedy, the ramifications of allowing this little child to wander down a dirt road unattended will be life-long for all who survive him.
My point for today is reinforced in this scripture passage… “Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.” We all have lapses in judgment… and I have plenty of what I call “blond moments.” As I have illustrated, some can be relatively harmless… while others change the course of our life forever. Underestimating the size of a container and pouring in too much liquid is one thing. Driving through flood waters that rush across a roadway can be something else entirely. Making a sudden turn that upends your purse or something else in the passenger seat of your car can cause a mess (think a soupy dish you are taking to a church supper or that jug of milk that overturns on the way home from the store). Reaching down to retrieve something that has spilled can cause a crash… and possible injury to you, your vehicle, and others in your path.
We’ve all seen the funny home videos of ridiculous things people have attempted… and lived to tell. But we’ve also heard news reports of people who attempted something they shouldn’t (think climbing onto a steep roof to hang Christmas lights) and suffered life-changing injuries – or even death. Pulling a harmless prank on a friend may not turn out as you hoped… and even result in some hurt feelings temporarily. Accepting a dare from your buddies to do something stupid could result in all kinds of trouble, personal injury, and damage to your reputation that follows you for decades.
The message for all of us is to seek God’s wisdom at all times… in all things. We need to beg Him every single day for good common sense. We should ask God to protect us… from the devil – and ourselves! Ask Him to speak to you when He sees you sliding off course… even in the small things. Then listen to that “still small voice” in your head that says, “Are you really sure you want to do this?” Take a moment to stop and ask God, “Is this a good idea? What are the potential pitfalls?”
I don’t believe that God causes the disasters (large and small) that result when we fail to exercise common sense. But I do think He uses them to teach us… to remind us to rely on Him more - and our own devices less. Often, we act – or react – in a split second… with little or no time to really think through what we are doing. This is where we truly need to depend on common sense - and God’s wisdom - to help us make the right choices. Today, let’s ask God to give us huge, healthy doses of His wisdom – AND common sense - and to help us respect these treasures… and to always pay close attention when He delivers them.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 28, 2012
Ephesians 2:1-6
It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
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.
There is a long-standing joke in my family about how my grandmother never hesitates to tell us when she feels we are “getting too fat”… while she is simultaneously shoving sugar cookies, peanut brittle, candy of some sort, pie, or a hot homemade roll in our direction. We all know we could shed a few pounds, but the treats look so delicious! We fool ourselves into believing that “It’s Christmas – we’re supposed to indulge” or “One little bite/cookie/slice of pie won’t hurt” or “We’ll hurt Mam-ma’s feelings if we don’t eat this!” And we let “the world” tell us how to live and lull us into a false confidence that we are healthy and fit. Some of us have gotten to a point where we feel things are so far gone and hopeless that we no longer care… we just consume everything in sight (and I am not just talking food here!).
We are bombarded with commercials for all sorts of tantalizing fast food… burgers, steaks, ice cream treats, gourmet coffee concoctions, and more. We go to the doctor, and he/she tells us that our cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure are through the roof… then we stop on the way home and pick up a burger, fries and shake. We see ads at every turn for this gadget or that item that we simply have to have to be happy. We are told that we have to look like this celebrity or perform like that entertainer or athlete or operate in business like such-and-such executive in order to truly enjoy success and happiness. And yes, it’s a wonder God doesn’t just call us home and end the madness!
While good health is important- and we need to start exercising and eating a healthy diet from childhood – our “Spiritual health” is far more critical. We need to learn to say a polite “No” to a steady diet of fast food, sweet treats, inactivity and lethargy… and an even more emphatic “No!” to the lies and sins of this world. The problem many of us have with all of this is a level of commitment.
When we asked Jesus to forgive our sins and become LORD of our life, we entered into a “blood covenant” partnership with Him. We made a commitment and agreement to carry out His assignment… to love Him with all of our heart, mind, body and soul… to love others as we love ourselves… and to share His Good News throughout the world. This is not the same as a contract with Weight Watchers® or NutriSystem® to follow their plan. We are not signing up for a few weeks of fitness training at the local gym. We’re not promising to make payments on a house… car… boat or student loan. We have committed to a lifetime of service and obedience to God… with the promise of Eternal Life and the earthly presence of His Holy Spirit in the meantime.
My prayer for all of us today is that we would start to take commitments of all kinds more seriously… especially our commitment to Jesus Christ. God has so freely and extravagantly gifted us with His love, grace, mercy, and a new life in Jesus Christ. When we insult Him with our insolent, sinful lifestyles, we “violate the contract.” And often, we “shoot ourselves in the foot” and block the blessings He wants to give us, because of our own selfish actions.
If we will truly commit to God, He will show up in our lives in ways we never even expected. If we will honor our partnership by pledging love, loyalty, service and the abandonment of our sinful behaviors, God will bless us in areas we haven’t even considered… maybe even shedding a few pounds and becoming more fit! Just like the commitment to diet and exercise, a covenant with God will require hard work, time and energy. But the end results will be more than worth the effort. Are you ready to truly enter into a partnership with God and enjoy all that He has in store for you? How committed are you to God today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
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.
There is a long-standing joke in my family about how my grandmother never hesitates to tell us when she feels we are “getting too fat”… while she is simultaneously shoving sugar cookies, peanut brittle, candy of some sort, pie, or a hot homemade roll in our direction. We all know we could shed a few pounds, but the treats look so delicious! We fool ourselves into believing that “It’s Christmas – we’re supposed to indulge” or “One little bite/cookie/slice of pie won’t hurt” or “We’ll hurt Mam-ma’s feelings if we don’t eat this!” And we let “the world” tell us how to live and lull us into a false confidence that we are healthy and fit. Some of us have gotten to a point where we feel things are so far gone and hopeless that we no longer care… we just consume everything in sight (and I am not just talking food here!).
We are bombarded with commercials for all sorts of tantalizing fast food… burgers, steaks, ice cream treats, gourmet coffee concoctions, and more. We go to the doctor, and he/she tells us that our cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure are through the roof… then we stop on the way home and pick up a burger, fries and shake. We see ads at every turn for this gadget or that item that we simply have to have to be happy. We are told that we have to look like this celebrity or perform like that entertainer or athlete or operate in business like such-and-such executive in order to truly enjoy success and happiness. And yes, it’s a wonder God doesn’t just call us home and end the madness!
While good health is important- and we need to start exercising and eating a healthy diet from childhood – our “Spiritual health” is far more critical. We need to learn to say a polite “No” to a steady diet of fast food, sweet treats, inactivity and lethargy… and an even more emphatic “No!” to the lies and sins of this world. The problem many of us have with all of this is a level of commitment.
When we asked Jesus to forgive our sins and become LORD of our life, we entered into a “blood covenant” partnership with Him. We made a commitment and agreement to carry out His assignment… to love Him with all of our heart, mind, body and soul… to love others as we love ourselves… and to share His Good News throughout the world. This is not the same as a contract with Weight Watchers® or NutriSystem® to follow their plan. We are not signing up for a few weeks of fitness training at the local gym. We’re not promising to make payments on a house… car… boat or student loan. We have committed to a lifetime of service and obedience to God… with the promise of Eternal Life and the earthly presence of His Holy Spirit in the meantime.
My prayer for all of us today is that we would start to take commitments of all kinds more seriously… especially our commitment to Jesus Christ. God has so freely and extravagantly gifted us with His love, grace, mercy, and a new life in Jesus Christ. When we insult Him with our insolent, sinful lifestyles, we “violate the contract.” And often, we “shoot ourselves in the foot” and block the blessings He wants to give us, because of our own selfish actions.
If we will truly commit to God, He will show up in our lives in ways we never even expected. If we will honor our partnership by pledging love, loyalty, service and the abandonment of our sinful behaviors, God will bless us in areas we haven’t even considered… maybe even shedding a few pounds and becoming more fit! Just like the commitment to diet and exercise, a covenant with God will require hard work, time and energy. But the end results will be more than worth the effort. Are you ready to truly enter into a partnership with God and enjoy all that He has in store for you? How committed are you to God today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 4, 2011
Psalm 141:3-5
Post a guard at my mouth, God, set a watch at the door of my lips. Don't let me so much as dream of evil or thoughtlessly fall into bad company. And these people who only do wrong—don't let them lure me with their sweet talk! May the Just One set me straight, may the Kind One correct me.
Don't let sin anoint my head. I'm praying hard against their evil ways!
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.
We have entered the “Holiday Season” – the time when diets are broken and people throw caution to the wind. It’s the Christmas Season, after all… we are supposed to indulge. So go ahead… eat that extra piece of fudge… have too much to drink at the office Christmas party… celebrate with your friends when finals are over… get in the holiday spirit! NOT!!!
We are so easily swayed, and we will use the smallest excuse to misbehave. We want to give our children, significant others, our family, and ourselves the best Christmas possible. So we max out every credit card and blow our entire paycheck on things we cannot afford and truly don’t need. Our lights and decorations have to be as good as – or better than – the neighbor’s, so we blow the budget trying to create the “Clark Griswold Extravaganza” that will leave the town talking! And these are just the things we do in November and December!
Think of the countless other ways we are so easily influenced by peer pressure and the wiles of advertisers. At every turn, the devil is at work using others to make us feel inferior… to tempt us to do things we know we shouldn’t just to create an image that makes us feel good about ourselves and accepted by others.
This passage is so important for us. We simply cannot stay on the right path by ourselves… we must rely on God to keep us headed in the right direction and to correct us when we wander. And the only way to do this is to stay in continual contact with Him. We must always be seeking Him in prayer, Bible study, and through association with others who are seeking Him as well.
Don’t let the devil use excuses cloud your judgment. There is no “free pass” because of the holiday season. There is never a time when it’s okay to let down your guard for even an hour. All Satan needs is a tiny crack, and he can worm his way in and wreak havoc. Stay close to God. Ask Him to guard your heart and your thoughts at all times… then LISTEN for His voice and guidance. Enjoy your holiday season knowing that you are operating fully within God’s will… and both of you are pleased with your choices.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Post a guard at my mouth, God, set a watch at the door of my lips. Don't let me so much as dream of evil or thoughtlessly fall into bad company. And these people who only do wrong—don't let them lure me with their sweet talk! May the Just One set me straight, may the Kind One correct me.
Don't let sin anoint my head. I'm praying hard against their evil ways!
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.
We have entered the “Holiday Season” – the time when diets are broken and people throw caution to the wind. It’s the Christmas Season, after all… we are supposed to indulge. So go ahead… eat that extra piece of fudge… have too much to drink at the office Christmas party… celebrate with your friends when finals are over… get in the holiday spirit! NOT!!!
We are so easily swayed, and we will use the smallest excuse to misbehave. We want to give our children, significant others, our family, and ourselves the best Christmas possible. So we max out every credit card and blow our entire paycheck on things we cannot afford and truly don’t need. Our lights and decorations have to be as good as – or better than – the neighbor’s, so we blow the budget trying to create the “Clark Griswold Extravaganza” that will leave the town talking! And these are just the things we do in November and December!
Think of the countless other ways we are so easily influenced by peer pressure and the wiles of advertisers. At every turn, the devil is at work using others to make us feel inferior… to tempt us to do things we know we shouldn’t just to create an image that makes us feel good about ourselves and accepted by others.
This passage is so important for us. We simply cannot stay on the right path by ourselves… we must rely on God to keep us headed in the right direction and to correct us when we wander. And the only way to do this is to stay in continual contact with Him. We must always be seeking Him in prayer, Bible study, and through association with others who are seeking Him as well.
Don’t let the devil use excuses cloud your judgment. There is no “free pass” because of the holiday season. There is never a time when it’s okay to let down your guard for even an hour. All Satan needs is a tiny crack, and he can worm his way in and wreak havoc. Stay close to God. Ask Him to guard your heart and your thoughts at all times… then LISTEN for His voice and guidance. Enjoy your holiday season knowing that you are operating fully within God’s will… and both of you are pleased with your choices.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 25, 2011
Judges 16:15-21
"Samson," Delilah said, "you claim to love me, but you don't mean it! You've made me look like a fool three times now, and you still haven't told me why you are so strong."
Delilah started nagging and pestering him day after day, until he couldn't stand it any longer. Finally, Samson told her the truth. "I have belonged to God ever since I was born, so my hair has never been cut. If it were ever cut off, my strength would leave me, and I would be as weak as anyone else."
Delilah realized that he was telling the truth. So she sent someone to tell the Philistine rulers, "Come to my house one more time. Samson has finally told me the truth." The Philistine rulers went to Delilah's house, and they brought along the silver they had promised her.
Delilah had lulled Samson to sleep with his head resting in her lap. She signaled to one of the Philistine men as she began cutting off Samson's seven braids. And by the time she was finished, Samson's strength was gone. Delilah tied him up and shouted, "Samson, the Philistines are attacking!”
Samson woke up and thought, "I'll break loose and escape, just as I always do." He did not realize that the LORD had stopped helping him. The Philistines grabbed Samson and poked out his eyes. They took him to the prison in Gaza and chained him up. Then they put him to work, turning a millstone to grind grain.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was teaching school, I can’t count the number of times I asked a child, “Why did you do such-and-such?” and the child replied, “He/she told me to!” Apparently, school-age children are helpless against the suggestions and persuasions of their peers! But the same might be said of “children” of all ages.
Teenagers are influenced by their friends to participate in all sorts of activities… drinking, drug abuse, sexual experimentation, “youthful mischief” and more. Adults are seduced, literally, by their own desires for the acceptance and approval of others, gratification of a variety of appetites and addictions, and self-validation. So it’s no stretch to see how Samson caved when Delilah persisted. She wooed Samson and accused him of not loving her. She played on his vulnerabilities and emotions and totally manipulated him. In the end, Samson abandoned his sensibility, his reliance on God, and his principles… and it cost him dearly.
When Delilah told the Philistines to cut Samson’s hair, the Bible says that God stopped helping him. Our strength from God may not lie in our hair, but we are still a lot like Samson. We want so badly to be loved and accepted… to be appreciated and to fit in with our friends and family… and we often compromise our faith in an attempt to accomplish this. Samson would have done just about anything to please Delilah… and he pretty well did. But the Philistines, who were in cahoots with Delilah, gouged out Samson’s eyes and put him in prison! Things did not turn out anywhere close to what Samson had hoped would happen!
Things often don’t go as we had hoped, either. Our best efforts to fit in or attain the level of satisfaction we were seeking are thwarted… and sometimes they end badly. We fail to recognize that God has stopped helping us, too. Notice I did not say that God left us… because He doesn’t do that. But when we step away from God and try to do things our own way, He does sometimes take a step backward and rein in His help for awhile.
God used a human like Samson to accomplish many things. But like all humans, Samson had his weaknesses. One of those was what can be seen as a “disconnect” from God. What would have happened if Samson had taken the time to ask God what to do before he told Delilah about his hair? What if Samson had just stopped and asked God to guide his words and his choices… and to give him the strength to do the right thing – even if he was tempted to choose otherwise?
What if we did this? Would the outcome in many of our situations be different? Wouldn’t it make sense that taking a few minutes to talk with God and seek His advice could result in better outcomes… and prevent a lot of heartache and frustration? Isn’t it worth a shot? Isn’t it time we stop trying to “fly by the seat of our pants” and making choices just because they make us feel good or please others… and start living out our faith in God by consulting Him about all aspects of our life each and every day?
We do carry the strength and power of God with us… maybe not in a long thick head of hair - but in our heart and soul, nonetheless. Are we willing to risk losing even some of this power by making poor choices? Who is telling you what to do and how to act these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"Samson," Delilah said, "you claim to love me, but you don't mean it! You've made me look like a fool three times now, and you still haven't told me why you are so strong."
Delilah started nagging and pestering him day after day, until he couldn't stand it any longer. Finally, Samson told her the truth. "I have belonged to God ever since I was born, so my hair has never been cut. If it were ever cut off, my strength would leave me, and I would be as weak as anyone else."
Delilah realized that he was telling the truth. So she sent someone to tell the Philistine rulers, "Come to my house one more time. Samson has finally told me the truth." The Philistine rulers went to Delilah's house, and they brought along the silver they had promised her.
Delilah had lulled Samson to sleep with his head resting in her lap. She signaled to one of the Philistine men as she began cutting off Samson's seven braids. And by the time she was finished, Samson's strength was gone. Delilah tied him up and shouted, "Samson, the Philistines are attacking!”
Samson woke up and thought, "I'll break loose and escape, just as I always do." He did not realize that the LORD had stopped helping him. The Philistines grabbed Samson and poked out his eyes. They took him to the prison in Gaza and chained him up. Then they put him to work, turning a millstone to grind grain.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was teaching school, I can’t count the number of times I asked a child, “Why did you do such-and-such?” and the child replied, “He/she told me to!” Apparently, school-age children are helpless against the suggestions and persuasions of their peers! But the same might be said of “children” of all ages.
Teenagers are influenced by their friends to participate in all sorts of activities… drinking, drug abuse, sexual experimentation, “youthful mischief” and more. Adults are seduced, literally, by their own desires for the acceptance and approval of others, gratification of a variety of appetites and addictions, and self-validation. So it’s no stretch to see how Samson caved when Delilah persisted. She wooed Samson and accused him of not loving her. She played on his vulnerabilities and emotions and totally manipulated him. In the end, Samson abandoned his sensibility, his reliance on God, and his principles… and it cost him dearly.
When Delilah told the Philistines to cut Samson’s hair, the Bible says that God stopped helping him. Our strength from God may not lie in our hair, but we are still a lot like Samson. We want so badly to be loved and accepted… to be appreciated and to fit in with our friends and family… and we often compromise our faith in an attempt to accomplish this. Samson would have done just about anything to please Delilah… and he pretty well did. But the Philistines, who were in cahoots with Delilah, gouged out Samson’s eyes and put him in prison! Things did not turn out anywhere close to what Samson had hoped would happen!
Things often don’t go as we had hoped, either. Our best efforts to fit in or attain the level of satisfaction we were seeking are thwarted… and sometimes they end badly. We fail to recognize that God has stopped helping us, too. Notice I did not say that God left us… because He doesn’t do that. But when we step away from God and try to do things our own way, He does sometimes take a step backward and rein in His help for awhile.
God used a human like Samson to accomplish many things. But like all humans, Samson had his weaknesses. One of those was what can be seen as a “disconnect” from God. What would have happened if Samson had taken the time to ask God what to do before he told Delilah about his hair? What if Samson had just stopped and asked God to guide his words and his choices… and to give him the strength to do the right thing – even if he was tempted to choose otherwise?
What if we did this? Would the outcome in many of our situations be different? Wouldn’t it make sense that taking a few minutes to talk with God and seek His advice could result in better outcomes… and prevent a lot of heartache and frustration? Isn’t it worth a shot? Isn’t it time we stop trying to “fly by the seat of our pants” and making choices just because they make us feel good or please others… and start living out our faith in God by consulting Him about all aspects of our life each and every day?
We do carry the strength and power of God with us… maybe not in a long thick head of hair - but in our heart and soul, nonetheless. Are we willing to risk losing even some of this power by making poor choices? Who is telling you what to do and how to act these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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