1 Corinthians 10:13
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.
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.
My husband and I watched Ken Burn’s documentary, The Dust Bowl, about the tragic situation man created in the Great Plains of America in the 1930s by turning the grasslands into wheat farms. When a drought ensued, huge storm clouds of dust were created as the winds whipped across the Plains. Much of the land in four or five states was buried beneath the soil. Cattle, crops and homes were destroyed and/or buried. Families gave up and moved away… many to California. Still others stayed and toughed it out… some became so despondent that they committed suicide. One woman who was interviewed told of her mother walking away one day and never returning. The woman was just a tiny girl at the time. That was the last time she ever saw her mother.
Burns interviewed a number of survivors who experienced the Dust Bowl as small children. The pervading story they told was one of perseverance… and of faith. One man told of being at church with his sister when a particular storm hit. Others spoke of parents and grandparents who were “religious sorts” or had a strong faith [in God] that sustained them.
What struck me profoundly as I watched this film was that all of the troubles and tribulations we face today are certainly nothing new… financial woes, sick and hungry children and family members, natural disasters, loss of jobs and relationships, homelessness, depression and despondency. I was reminded that God never left the people of the Great Plains… and He will never leave us. Sure, many succumbed to temptations… or lost their lives to such things as dust pneumonia, getting buried in a dust storm – or even suicide. But many hung on and survived. And I have to believe that a good number of them recognized God’s presence by their side.
I don’t know what you are facing today. I don’t know what tempts or troubles you. I have no idea what challenges you face each day… or whether you feel discouraged – or even hopeless. But I am here to tell you that God is still with you. He has not left… and He will not desert you. If you will only call on Him, you can feel Him lifting you out of the dirt and saying, “I’m gonna help you… we’ve got this!” You are not alone… you are not experiencing anything that God has not helped countless others survive already… and He will do the same for you. Have you asked Him to help? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label persistence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label persistence. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 25, 2012
Galatians 6:9
Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Somewhere around 1980, when I was teaching kindergarten, the principal asked me if a first-grade boy could spend most of his day in my classroom, because he was not able to function properly in his own. The child was evaluated and deemed to perform on the level of a child of about age 3. So I agreed to let Chuckie play in my classroom. And he did spend most of his day quietly playing with toys, puzzles and games. The other children even accepted that this was what Chuckie did all day - that is…when he wasn’t eating.
I could not feed this little boy enough. Clearly, the only time Chuckie really ate was when he was at school. The cafeteria manager gave him double helpings. I fed him “snacks” for breakfast and again before the last bell rang. I knew that he might not eat again until the next morning. He would tell me that he and his sister ate “pasketti” (spaghetti)… but all they got was what was left after his mother ate. Chuckie’s dad was determined to keep Mom happy, so she ate first.
The Department of Human Services was notified of this situation, and a caseworker was assigned. And the more she did for this family, the more the parents demanded. One day, the father was listing his “needs” to the caseworker, and he ended with… “Oh, and we need a car.” The caseworker replied, “What color would you like?” She said, “This was such a preposterous request that I figured it deserved a similar response!”
Ultimately, most everyone who tried to help this family came together in a court of law, where a judge was prepared to sign adoption papers for the children to be placed with a loving, stable couple. The parents were ready to sign, until the judge told them they would never get their children back. The parents reneged. And a local pediatrician bought the entire family bus tickets to Pennsylvania, where other relatives lived. Those in the courtroom had reached the end of their rope… they had given all the help they could… they were exhausted and exasperated.
I don’t know whatever happened to Chuckie and his family. I probably don’t want to know. I don’t fault those who made the decision to stop trying to help, because they had given all they had to give… and more. Their efforts were better served helping children whose families were more cooperative. But I do wonder about Chuckie…and others like him. And I think about people in our own circles who exhaust and exasperate us - so we throw up our hands and move away. What happens to them? Do they find other benefactors? More importantly, what if God threw up His hands and walked away from us?
Here’s what I have concluded. When you are tired and fed up… when you don’t have anything left to give to others…you can still love them and pray for them… and that is something. But don’t close the door completely. Don’t shut them out of your heart and stop caring. There is always hope. You don’t have to spend yourself into bankruptcy. You don’t have to give of your physical time and energy until you are literally sick and tired. But you must continue to care. And prayer is a powerful tool…often the only one we really need.
I am grateful to know that God never gives up on me… even when I exhaust and exasperate Him (which must be a dozen times a day or more!). And I must remind myself not to give up on others. I am not looking for a tangible “reward” – and neither should you. It should be payment enough to know that we are doing what God does for us… that we are serving Him as the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth – and showing His love to others in the bargain. In my heart, I am believing that God sent another loving group of people to minister to Chuckie and his sister. And I am thankful for the opportunity I had to look after this child, if only for a few brief months. I was greatly blessed by this experience… and forever changed.
How and where is God using you in the life of someone who needs help? And how are you answering His call?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Somewhere around 1980, when I was teaching kindergarten, the principal asked me if a first-grade boy could spend most of his day in my classroom, because he was not able to function properly in his own. The child was evaluated and deemed to perform on the level of a child of about age 3. So I agreed to let Chuckie play in my classroom. And he did spend most of his day quietly playing with toys, puzzles and games. The other children even accepted that this was what Chuckie did all day - that is…when he wasn’t eating.
I could not feed this little boy enough. Clearly, the only time Chuckie really ate was when he was at school. The cafeteria manager gave him double helpings. I fed him “snacks” for breakfast and again before the last bell rang. I knew that he might not eat again until the next morning. He would tell me that he and his sister ate “pasketti” (spaghetti)… but all they got was what was left after his mother ate. Chuckie’s dad was determined to keep Mom happy, so she ate first.
The Department of Human Services was notified of this situation, and a caseworker was assigned. And the more she did for this family, the more the parents demanded. One day, the father was listing his “needs” to the caseworker, and he ended with… “Oh, and we need a car.” The caseworker replied, “What color would you like?” She said, “This was such a preposterous request that I figured it deserved a similar response!”
Ultimately, most everyone who tried to help this family came together in a court of law, where a judge was prepared to sign adoption papers for the children to be placed with a loving, stable couple. The parents were ready to sign, until the judge told them they would never get their children back. The parents reneged. And a local pediatrician bought the entire family bus tickets to Pennsylvania, where other relatives lived. Those in the courtroom had reached the end of their rope… they had given all the help they could… they were exhausted and exasperated.
I don’t know whatever happened to Chuckie and his family. I probably don’t want to know. I don’t fault those who made the decision to stop trying to help, because they had given all they had to give… and more. Their efforts were better served helping children whose families were more cooperative. But I do wonder about Chuckie…and others like him. And I think about people in our own circles who exhaust and exasperate us - so we throw up our hands and move away. What happens to them? Do they find other benefactors? More importantly, what if God threw up His hands and walked away from us?
Here’s what I have concluded. When you are tired and fed up… when you don’t have anything left to give to others…you can still love them and pray for them… and that is something. But don’t close the door completely. Don’t shut them out of your heart and stop caring. There is always hope. You don’t have to spend yourself into bankruptcy. You don’t have to give of your physical time and energy until you are literally sick and tired. But you must continue to care. And prayer is a powerful tool…often the only one we really need.
I am grateful to know that God never gives up on me… even when I exhaust and exasperate Him (which must be a dozen times a day or more!). And I must remind myself not to give up on others. I am not looking for a tangible “reward” – and neither should you. It should be payment enough to know that we are doing what God does for us… that we are serving Him as the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth – and showing His love to others in the bargain. In my heart, I am believing that God sent another loving group of people to minister to Chuckie and his sister. And I am thankful for the opportunity I had to look after this child, if only for a few brief months. I was greatly blessed by this experience… and forever changed.
How and where is God using you in the life of someone who needs help? And how are you answering His call?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 30, 2012
James 5:19-20
My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.
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 day last week, I made tuna salad. As I opened the cans of tuna fish, my cat, Lucy, came into the kitchen and began to cry and rub my legs. I have never given Lucy and Mabel tuna fish. They get a small spoonful of canned cat food each night, but never “human” food! I was tempted to give Lucy a small bite of the tuna, but I knew from experience with our first two cats that this would start something that I could never reverse!
We could apply this same principle to how we treat others… we cannot get this started! When someone wanders off track… engages in behavior that is irresponsible at best… or even downright immoral or ungodly… we must not dismiss them. We must never say, “Well, I tried… I gave it my best… but I’m done.” We most certainly cannot become disgusted and give up on them. If we give up on others, this will have a cumulative effect. We will find it easier and easier to throw up our hands, concede defeat and walk away. And the devil will dance.
Jesus never gives up on us. If we want to be like Him, we can never give up on others, either. We must continue to pray and trust God for His will to be manifested. We have to stay positive and faithful. We don’t need to preach and lecture. But we must maintain contact and offer love and kindness… let the other person know we still care - no matter what.
I can’t tell you how or when things will turn around… or if you will ever physically see the results of your efforts. I can assure you that if/when someone who has wandered away does make a change, you will be blessed… and so glad you didn’t give up on him/her. Either way, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you did what God asked of you… that you persisted in showing love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Never let it be said of you that these attributes have limits in your life. Love as Jesus did… without conditions or constraints.
Be ready to go the distance for others, just as Jesus does for us. And if/when the person does come back to God’s truth, be grateful… not for what you have done, but for how generous and dependable our Heavenly Father is toward each of us. Humble yourself and thank God for allowing you to play even the smallest part in showing unconditional love – and persistent faith – to others. This is not only our duty… it’s our privilege as Christians and Disciples of Christ. Are you doing your part to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.
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 day last week, I made tuna salad. As I opened the cans of tuna fish, my cat, Lucy, came into the kitchen and began to cry and rub my legs. I have never given Lucy and Mabel tuna fish. They get a small spoonful of canned cat food each night, but never “human” food! I was tempted to give Lucy a small bite of the tuna, but I knew from experience with our first two cats that this would start something that I could never reverse!
We could apply this same principle to how we treat others… we cannot get this started! When someone wanders off track… engages in behavior that is irresponsible at best… or even downright immoral or ungodly… we must not dismiss them. We must never say, “Well, I tried… I gave it my best… but I’m done.” We most certainly cannot become disgusted and give up on them. If we give up on others, this will have a cumulative effect. We will find it easier and easier to throw up our hands, concede defeat and walk away. And the devil will dance.
Jesus never gives up on us. If we want to be like Him, we can never give up on others, either. We must continue to pray and trust God for His will to be manifested. We have to stay positive and faithful. We don’t need to preach and lecture. But we must maintain contact and offer love and kindness… let the other person know we still care - no matter what.
I can’t tell you how or when things will turn around… or if you will ever physically see the results of your efforts. I can assure you that if/when someone who has wandered away does make a change, you will be blessed… and so glad you didn’t give up on him/her. Either way, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you did what God asked of you… that you persisted in showing love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Never let it be said of you that these attributes have limits in your life. Love as Jesus did… without conditions or constraints.
Be ready to go the distance for others, just as Jesus does for us. And if/when the person does come back to God’s truth, be grateful… not for what you have done, but for how generous and dependable our Heavenly Father is toward each of us. Humble yourself and thank God for allowing you to play even the smallest part in showing unconditional love – and persistent faith – to others. This is not only our duty… it’s our privilege as Christians and Disciples of Christ. Are you doing your part to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 23, 2012
Hebrews 11:11
Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was reading a story in Good Housekeeping magazine about a woman named Angie Hernandez, whose young adult son, Ryan, was in the end stages of kidney failure as a result of Goodpasture’s syndrome - a rare disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the lungs and kidneys. With hopes of receiving a kidney transplant dwindling, 23-year-old Ryan told his mother that he didn’t know how much longer he could hold out. He was tired and unsure he could live long enough to get the transplant.
If you know anything about kidney disease and dialysis, you understand the toll it takes on the patient – and family members and friends. The daily struggle just to stay alive can be physically and emotionally draining. It’s not hard to see how someone in this position would long for the peace and healing of heaven and an end to this earthly suffering… especially if that person is a believer in Christ and anticipates eternity in His presence.
Like any mother, Angie Hernandez was not ready to lose her son. A cousin had created a three-minute video montage of Ryan’s life, set it to music, and posted it on YouTube. Angie asked her Facebook friends to share the video on their Walls… and to solicit potential kidney donors in doing so. Amazingly, Angie’s half-sister, whom she had not seen in more than a decade, contacted the family and offered to help. Her kidney was a match! Today, Ryan has recovered, and the splintered family has reconnected… blessings have multiplied!
The slant of this article is how social media is helping in many arenas, like the solicitation of medical information and organ donors. The article does not discuss Christian faith… and I am left to assume that this mother surely must have prayed and believed for a miracle. I can’t imagine enduring something like this without a constant conversation with God… and faith in Him to keep His promises to handle all of our worries and cares.
My point in sharing this story is that this mother did not give up. Abraham’s elderly wife, Sarah, did not give up… and neither should we! When everything seems impossible… when we do not understand the “whys and wherefores” of a situation, God does… and He has promised to handle everything for us. Our job is to trust Him… to believe in Him… and to never give up!
Healing may not come on this earth, but it will come. Our answers may not be evident in this lifetime… but someday, we will have them. Even when we cannot see, hear, or feel God at work… He is still on the clock, meeting our every need. Don’t give up! Don’t stop believing in God’s promises… never underestimate His power in your life and the lives of others.
In The Message*, Hebrews 11:11-12 says, “By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.” God may not give you millions of children, but He will meet your needs and fulfill His promises for your life. What do you believe God for today? Are you holding on and expecting Him to fulfill His promises? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
*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.
Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was reading a story in Good Housekeeping magazine about a woman named Angie Hernandez, whose young adult son, Ryan, was in the end stages of kidney failure as a result of Goodpasture’s syndrome - a rare disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the lungs and kidneys. With hopes of receiving a kidney transplant dwindling, 23-year-old Ryan told his mother that he didn’t know how much longer he could hold out. He was tired and unsure he could live long enough to get the transplant.
If you know anything about kidney disease and dialysis, you understand the toll it takes on the patient – and family members and friends. The daily struggle just to stay alive can be physically and emotionally draining. It’s not hard to see how someone in this position would long for the peace and healing of heaven and an end to this earthly suffering… especially if that person is a believer in Christ and anticipates eternity in His presence.
Like any mother, Angie Hernandez was not ready to lose her son. A cousin had created a three-minute video montage of Ryan’s life, set it to music, and posted it on YouTube. Angie asked her Facebook friends to share the video on their Walls… and to solicit potential kidney donors in doing so. Amazingly, Angie’s half-sister, whom she had not seen in more than a decade, contacted the family and offered to help. Her kidney was a match! Today, Ryan has recovered, and the splintered family has reconnected… blessings have multiplied!
The slant of this article is how social media is helping in many arenas, like the solicitation of medical information and organ donors. The article does not discuss Christian faith… and I am left to assume that this mother surely must have prayed and believed for a miracle. I can’t imagine enduring something like this without a constant conversation with God… and faith in Him to keep His promises to handle all of our worries and cares.
My point in sharing this story is that this mother did not give up. Abraham’s elderly wife, Sarah, did not give up… and neither should we! When everything seems impossible… when we do not understand the “whys and wherefores” of a situation, God does… and He has promised to handle everything for us. Our job is to trust Him… to believe in Him… and to never give up!
Healing may not come on this earth, but it will come. Our answers may not be evident in this lifetime… but someday, we will have them. Even when we cannot see, hear, or feel God at work… He is still on the clock, meeting our every need. Don’t give up! Don’t stop believing in God’s promises… never underestimate His power in your life and the lives of others.
In The Message*, Hebrews 11:11-12 says, “By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.” God may not give you millions of children, but He will meet your needs and fulfill His promises for your life. What do you believe God for today? Are you holding on and expecting Him to fulfill His promises? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
*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.
Daily Devotional for January 29, 2012
Genesis 15:1-6
After all these things, this word of God came to Abram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Abram. I'm your shield. Your reward will be grand!" Abram said, "God, Master, what use are your gifts as long as I'm childless and Eliezer of Damascus is going to inherit everything?" Abram continued, "See, you've given me no children, and now a mere house servant is going to get it all."
Then God's Message came: "Don't worry, he won't be your heir; a son from your body will be your heir." Then he took him outside and said, "Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it? Count your descendants! You're going to have a big family, Abram!" And he believed! Believed God! God declared him "Set-Right-with-God."
Romans 4:17-18
We call Abraham "father" not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn't that what we've always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, "I set you up as father of many peoples"? Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, "You're going to have a big family, Abraham!”
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 October 2010, I bought a workout video and told myself that I would do this… I would get in shape and become more healthy. The first day, I put the DVD in the machine and did as much of the workout as I could… and I honestly thought I might die. My legs shook like jelly for about an hour. I could not get my breath, my heart pounded, and I hurt – everywhere. The trainer on the DVD said, “If you are on Day Six or Seven, these exercises are probably already a little easier than on Day One.” Yeah, right! I wondered if I would ever even see Day Six or Seven. But her words encouraged me, and I took a giant leap of faith and trusted that in time, I truly would be able to do the workout routine… and hopefully I would become healthier and more fit.
More than a year later, I am able to do things I never dreamed I could do –pushups, jogging and weight lifting. I can balance and flex in ways I never thought possible at my age, and I’ve lowered my cholesterol and other “numbers” while becoming more fit and healthy. I listened to the trainer and kept the faith that she would deliver on her promises of strength and stamina. Now, when I face an exercise that seems daunting – or impossible – I look at how far I have come, and I realize that maybe I can actually do this! I know it is at least worth my best shot!
So often in life, we consider the problem… and not the promise. We look at the obstacles in our life… age, heritage, home life, health, economic status, race, level of education, and more… and we say, “There’s no way I can overcome this. I can never do what God is asking of me. I can never be what He thinks I can be. This is totally hopeless.” In truth, whatever God desires for you is entirely possible… from serving others in His name to serving on a committee at church or in your community to being a leader in your community, state, or country.
If God wants you to be a parent, head a major corporation, or serve as a missionary in a foreign land… He will equip you for the task. If He wants you to be able to purchase your own home and vehicle, overcome an addiction, or even lose a few pounds and get in shape, He can help you accomplish this. Our job is to focus on the promise… not the problem. Satan will try to trip us up at every turn by telling us that we are not good enough… that our situation is hopeless… that the promises are too grand, out of our league, and completely unattainable.
God has created a covenant partnership with us, as believers in Jesus Christ. He has promised that all things are possible, according to His will, when we trust Him. God NEVER defaults on a promise. The best thing we can do is continue to trust God even when we can’t see how things are going to come together. Just as it took several weeks of huffing and puffing and only being able to do small portions of the daily workout routine before I began to see any results, we often have to huff and puff along with God for a while before we catch a glimmer of the work He is doing in our lives.
We must not stagger… we must not backslide… and we most certainly must not give up! Have faith that God will deliver on His promises… keep plugging away at whatever path He has placed before you. Live on the basis of what God has said He will do… not what you can’t accomplish on your own. Pay attention to the small gains you make along the way, and stop to thank God for even small victories. When everything looks hopeless, listen for God’s voice… and keep going. Strengthen your faith as you grow in God’s promises. Focus on the potential for days when your “workout” will become easier… and all that you strived to accomplish has been delivered.
©2012 Debbie Robus
After all these things, this word of God came to Abram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Abram. I'm your shield. Your reward will be grand!" Abram said, "God, Master, what use are your gifts as long as I'm childless and Eliezer of Damascus is going to inherit everything?" Abram continued, "See, you've given me no children, and now a mere house servant is going to get it all."
Then God's Message came: "Don't worry, he won't be your heir; a son from your body will be your heir." Then he took him outside and said, "Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it? Count your descendants! You're going to have a big family, Abram!" And he believed! Believed God! God declared him "Set-Right-with-God."
Romans 4:17-18
We call Abraham "father" not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn't that what we've always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, "I set you up as father of many peoples"? Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, "You're going to have a big family, Abraham!”
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 October 2010, I bought a workout video and told myself that I would do this… I would get in shape and become more healthy. The first day, I put the DVD in the machine and did as much of the workout as I could… and I honestly thought I might die. My legs shook like jelly for about an hour. I could not get my breath, my heart pounded, and I hurt – everywhere. The trainer on the DVD said, “If you are on Day Six or Seven, these exercises are probably already a little easier than on Day One.” Yeah, right! I wondered if I would ever even see Day Six or Seven. But her words encouraged me, and I took a giant leap of faith and trusted that in time, I truly would be able to do the workout routine… and hopefully I would become healthier and more fit.
More than a year later, I am able to do things I never dreamed I could do –pushups, jogging and weight lifting. I can balance and flex in ways I never thought possible at my age, and I’ve lowered my cholesterol and other “numbers” while becoming more fit and healthy. I listened to the trainer and kept the faith that she would deliver on her promises of strength and stamina. Now, when I face an exercise that seems daunting – or impossible – I look at how far I have come, and I realize that maybe I can actually do this! I know it is at least worth my best shot!
So often in life, we consider the problem… and not the promise. We look at the obstacles in our life… age, heritage, home life, health, economic status, race, level of education, and more… and we say, “There’s no way I can overcome this. I can never do what God is asking of me. I can never be what He thinks I can be. This is totally hopeless.” In truth, whatever God desires for you is entirely possible… from serving others in His name to serving on a committee at church or in your community to being a leader in your community, state, or country.
If God wants you to be a parent, head a major corporation, or serve as a missionary in a foreign land… He will equip you for the task. If He wants you to be able to purchase your own home and vehicle, overcome an addiction, or even lose a few pounds and get in shape, He can help you accomplish this. Our job is to focus on the promise… not the problem. Satan will try to trip us up at every turn by telling us that we are not good enough… that our situation is hopeless… that the promises are too grand, out of our league, and completely unattainable.
God has created a covenant partnership with us, as believers in Jesus Christ. He has promised that all things are possible, according to His will, when we trust Him. God NEVER defaults on a promise. The best thing we can do is continue to trust God even when we can’t see how things are going to come together. Just as it took several weeks of huffing and puffing and only being able to do small portions of the daily workout routine before I began to see any results, we often have to huff and puff along with God for a while before we catch a glimmer of the work He is doing in our lives.
We must not stagger… we must not backslide… and we most certainly must not give up! Have faith that God will deliver on His promises… keep plugging away at whatever path He has placed before you. Live on the basis of what God has said He will do… not what you can’t accomplish on your own. Pay attention to the small gains you make along the way, and stop to thank God for even small victories. When everything looks hopeless, listen for God’s voice… and keep going. Strengthen your faith as you grow in God’s promises. Focus on the potential for days when your “workout” will become easier… and all that you strived to accomplish has been delivered.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 8, 2012
Psalm 148:1-4
Shout praises to the LORD! Shout the LORD's praises in the highest heavens. All of you angels, and all who serve him above, come and offer praise. Sun and moon, and all of you bright stars, come and offer praise. Highest heavens, and the water above the highest heavens, come and offer praise.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One year ago this day, my cousin J.D. and a woman named Angie were married. While all wedding anniversaries are milestones, what makes this one particularly worthy of mention lies in the story of how these two were brought together in the first place… and how God works in our lives each and every day. On his website at www.kingdomcallministries.org, J.D. tells his story… how he became consumed with both using and dealing drugs as a teenager… how he was in and out of rehabs and jails – and ultimately he was incarcerated in prison for more than three years. True to his nature and the pull of the devil on his heart, J.D. was rebellious and uncooperative, and he became a frequent visitor to “The Hole” – also known as solitary confinement.
J.D. writes that… “Being sent to prison relegates you to a low class. Being sent to a prison within in a prison places one in the top ranks of the biggest losers… that is where I was. Most, I’m sure, had given up on me ever becoming a productive human being. My life was a mess, my brain was shot, and my situation was hopeless.” J.D. got some of it right… a few people did give up on him. But others did not. We prayed, we encouraged… and God kept working. And one day while sitting alone in “The Hole,” J.D. had a visit from Jesus that totally transformed his life.
After his release from prison in 2007, J.D. returned home and found a job – and a church home. He grew in his faith and found that God was calling Him to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others… to be a living testament to His ability to make a way where none seems possible. It wasn’t easy… and Satan would not go away. In 2009, J.D. awoke in a hospital with virtually every bone in his face broken, and his jaws wired shut. He had been involved in a horrible logging accident where a pine tree fell directly onto his face. In his words…“Satan had tried to take me out with that pine tree and had come awfully close to succeeding.”
But J.D. recovered fully from his injuries, and he began to share the word of God wherever a church would invite him to speak. He spent his days immersed in prayer and studying God’s word. He trusted God to provide for his needs via “love offerings” and a small business he managed selling chainsaws and parts online. And one evening as he stopped to attend a tent revival near Romance, Arkansas, he greeted the evangelist and his assistant – a woman named Angie, who would soon become his wife.
In the past year, J.D. and Angie have begun their own ministry and shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others in churches and via tent revivals from Arkansas to Indiana. The young man who was hopeless and helpless is now using his own story of rescue and redemption to offer the hope and promise of a life in Christ to others. And at every turn, he and Angie are praising God for His faithfulness… and encouraging others to do the same.
J.D. and I have laughed and agreed that the God who can fix him can fix anybody! But really, this is no laughing matter… it’s the plain and simple truth. I don’t know what you are facing. I don’t know your challenges… your concerns… your needs and fears. But I know that God can accomplish ANYTHING. So I am asking you to hang on… to keep the faith… to never give up… and to always… ALWAYS, give Him the praise He so richly deserves. To God be the glory for rescuing J.D. and uniting Him with Angie. To God be the glory for the miraculous and wonderful things He is doing – and will continue – in each of our lives. Won’t you come and offer Him YOUR praise today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Shout praises to the LORD! Shout the LORD's praises in the highest heavens. All of you angels, and all who serve him above, come and offer praise. Sun and moon, and all of you bright stars, come and offer praise. Highest heavens, and the water above the highest heavens, come and offer praise.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One year ago this day, my cousin J.D. and a woman named Angie were married. While all wedding anniversaries are milestones, what makes this one particularly worthy of mention lies in the story of how these two were brought together in the first place… and how God works in our lives each and every day. On his website at www.kingdomcallministries.org, J.D. tells his story… how he became consumed with both using and dealing drugs as a teenager… how he was in and out of rehabs and jails – and ultimately he was incarcerated in prison for more than three years. True to his nature and the pull of the devil on his heart, J.D. was rebellious and uncooperative, and he became a frequent visitor to “The Hole” – also known as solitary confinement.
J.D. writes that… “Being sent to prison relegates you to a low class. Being sent to a prison within in a prison places one in the top ranks of the biggest losers… that is where I was. Most, I’m sure, had given up on me ever becoming a productive human being. My life was a mess, my brain was shot, and my situation was hopeless.” J.D. got some of it right… a few people did give up on him. But others did not. We prayed, we encouraged… and God kept working. And one day while sitting alone in “The Hole,” J.D. had a visit from Jesus that totally transformed his life.
After his release from prison in 2007, J.D. returned home and found a job – and a church home. He grew in his faith and found that God was calling Him to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others… to be a living testament to His ability to make a way where none seems possible. It wasn’t easy… and Satan would not go away. In 2009, J.D. awoke in a hospital with virtually every bone in his face broken, and his jaws wired shut. He had been involved in a horrible logging accident where a pine tree fell directly onto his face. In his words…“Satan had tried to take me out with that pine tree and had come awfully close to succeeding.”
But J.D. recovered fully from his injuries, and he began to share the word of God wherever a church would invite him to speak. He spent his days immersed in prayer and studying God’s word. He trusted God to provide for his needs via “love offerings” and a small business he managed selling chainsaws and parts online. And one evening as he stopped to attend a tent revival near Romance, Arkansas, he greeted the evangelist and his assistant – a woman named Angie, who would soon become his wife.
In the past year, J.D. and Angie have begun their own ministry and shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others in churches and via tent revivals from Arkansas to Indiana. The young man who was hopeless and helpless is now using his own story of rescue and redemption to offer the hope and promise of a life in Christ to others. And at every turn, he and Angie are praising God for His faithfulness… and encouraging others to do the same.
J.D. and I have laughed and agreed that the God who can fix him can fix anybody! But really, this is no laughing matter… it’s the plain and simple truth. I don’t know what you are facing. I don’t know your challenges… your concerns… your needs and fears. But I know that God can accomplish ANYTHING. So I am asking you to hang on… to keep the faith… to never give up… and to always… ALWAYS, give Him the praise He so richly deserves. To God be the glory for rescuing J.D. and uniting Him with Angie. To God be the glory for the miraculous and wonderful things He is doing – and will continue – in each of our lives. Won’t you come and offer Him YOUR praise today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 3, 2011
Psalm 141:1-2
God, come close. Come quickly! Open your ears—it's my voice you're hearing!
Treat my prayer as sweet incense rising; my raised hands are my evening prayers.
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.
My mother was telling us recently that her dog, Spot, will often come and stand beside her at the dining table and beg for his own dinner – almost as if he is quite literally talking to her. Spot likes soft, wet dog food atop his crunchy kibble. If he gets hungry for it, he lets her know. She said if she ignores him, he gets louder and louder until she and her husband can no longer talk to each other over the noise.
We often behave much like this when we talk to God. We are persistent to the point of being almost pesky…except for the fact that you can never pester God. He always wants to hear from us. Where we often “don’t get it,” is in understanding how clearly God does hear us. He knows our voice. But God will not intrude. He is waiting for us to invite Him to come closer. God wants us to call on Him… to say, “Come quickly! Open your ears and treat my prayer as sweet incense.”
I don’t know about you, but lately I’ve spent a lot of time with my hands “raised in evening (and morning and daytime) prayers.” I’ve been pestering God and reminding Him of needs and concerns that are on my heart and saying, “Come quickly! It’s me again… do you hear me?” I know that God does hear me… and I have peppered my prayers with praise for His constant love and care.
Whatever is on your heart, I hope you are turning to God and asking Him to come quickly to your side… to hear your prayers and bless them as the sweet offering you intend them to be.
I can’t imagine trying to handle life on my own without God. I am so thankful that we can never pester Him enough… that He always welcomes us and our persistence. God delights in knowing we seek Him that earnestly! What about you? Are you standing at His table and begging… growing louder and louder as you call on Him to “Come quickly?” Wouldn’t it be worth a shot to see what happens when you do?
©2011 Debbie Robus
God, come close. Come quickly! Open your ears—it's my voice you're hearing!
Treat my prayer as sweet incense rising; my raised hands are my evening prayers.
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.
My mother was telling us recently that her dog, Spot, will often come and stand beside her at the dining table and beg for his own dinner – almost as if he is quite literally talking to her. Spot likes soft, wet dog food atop his crunchy kibble. If he gets hungry for it, he lets her know. She said if she ignores him, he gets louder and louder until she and her husband can no longer talk to each other over the noise.
We often behave much like this when we talk to God. We are persistent to the point of being almost pesky…except for the fact that you can never pester God. He always wants to hear from us. Where we often “don’t get it,” is in understanding how clearly God does hear us. He knows our voice. But God will not intrude. He is waiting for us to invite Him to come closer. God wants us to call on Him… to say, “Come quickly! Open your ears and treat my prayer as sweet incense.”
I don’t know about you, but lately I’ve spent a lot of time with my hands “raised in evening (and morning and daytime) prayers.” I’ve been pestering God and reminding Him of needs and concerns that are on my heart and saying, “Come quickly! It’s me again… do you hear me?” I know that God does hear me… and I have peppered my prayers with praise for His constant love and care.
Whatever is on your heart, I hope you are turning to God and asking Him to come quickly to your side… to hear your prayers and bless them as the sweet offering you intend them to be.
I can’t imagine trying to handle life on my own without God. I am so thankful that we can never pester Him enough… that He always welcomes us and our persistence. God delights in knowing we seek Him that earnestly! What about you? Are you standing at His table and begging… growing louder and louder as you call on Him to “Come quickly?” Wouldn’t it be worth a shot to see what happens when you do?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 28, 2010
Proverbs 25:15
Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
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.
Our Timothy is like most babies … as he discovers his voice, he enjoys using it … often at warp volume! With my recent voice troubles, I’ve found myself speaking more softly. And at times, I almost whisper to Timothy … and he has started to whisper in return! It’s so cute, and he doesn’t really understand the concept – he is just mimicking what he hears. But it does somewhat prove the point of this scripture.
Often, we want to solve conflicts and disagreements – or even differences of opinions – by shouting. Just last week, the women of The View got into a very heated argument over political issues. Finally, Barbara Walters said something to the effect of, “this is ridiculous … we are arguing over issues that people are shouting about – and we are doing so by shouting.” She added, “…and we actually like each other!”
Believe it or not, the patient, quiet act of praying for someone can bring results. These results may not be quick – and you might not ever see much evidence of change. But quietly praying for someone or loving them from afar can break down “rigid defenses.” Whether the person admits it or not, they will know that you love them. They will see that you care. They will appreciate that you cared enough NOT to shout at them and badger them with constant nagging or criticism … but you never stopped caring.
There is an old adage that “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” That may work in certain situations, but when it comes to human relationships, the best way to “win people over” is through gentleness and patient persistence. Don’t give up on your friends and relatives. Don’t stop loving them, caring for them, offering help where you can. But don’t speak harshly, critically, or become a pest. Share your love in quiet and faithful ways, and then give God room to work out the details.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
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.
Our Timothy is like most babies … as he discovers his voice, he enjoys using it … often at warp volume! With my recent voice troubles, I’ve found myself speaking more softly. And at times, I almost whisper to Timothy … and he has started to whisper in return! It’s so cute, and he doesn’t really understand the concept – he is just mimicking what he hears. But it does somewhat prove the point of this scripture.
Often, we want to solve conflicts and disagreements – or even differences of opinions – by shouting. Just last week, the women of The View got into a very heated argument over political issues. Finally, Barbara Walters said something to the effect of, “this is ridiculous … we are arguing over issues that people are shouting about – and we are doing so by shouting.” She added, “…and we actually like each other!”
Believe it or not, the patient, quiet act of praying for someone can bring results. These results may not be quick – and you might not ever see much evidence of change. But quietly praying for someone or loving them from afar can break down “rigid defenses.” Whether the person admits it or not, they will know that you love them. They will see that you care. They will appreciate that you cared enough NOT to shout at them and badger them with constant nagging or criticism … but you never stopped caring.
There is an old adage that “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” That may work in certain situations, but when it comes to human relationships, the best way to “win people over” is through gentleness and patient persistence. Don’t give up on your friends and relatives. Don’t stop loving them, caring for them, offering help where you can. But don’t speak harshly, critically, or become a pest. Share your love in quiet and faithful ways, and then give God room to work out the details.
©2010 Debbie Robus
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