Isaiah 66:2
I have made everything;
that’s how it all came to be.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
The people I treasure most
are the humble—
they depend only on me
and tremble when I speak.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have
you ever gone into a room and forgotten why you were there? I know I
have. I will stop and stand still and say to myself, “Now, I know I
came in here for something!” In my case, it might be a bit of
simple forgetfulness that comes with age! But often, the problem is that
we are trying to do too much at once.
I know it sounds cliché, but this is one of the busiest times of the year. We are consumed with decorations,
parties, gifts and festivities…musical programs and parades…food galore
and opportunities at every turn for revelry. And in the midst of all of
this, we find it very easy to forget “why we came into the room.” In
other words, we get so caught up in the merriment and celebration that
we forget WHO we are celebrating.
This scripture passage from
Isaiah reminds us that God treasures most those who are humble…the ones
who depend on Him and “tremble when I speak.” In other words, God
treasures the ones who maintain focus…listen for His voice…and pay
attention to His message. God treasures those who are more interested
in what He thinks and has to say than what the world says…the ones who care more about seeking Him
in the everyday, ordinary things of life than making sure everything is
just perfect in their holiday celebrations and décor. He values those
who care more about meeting the physical, mental and spiritual needs of
others than buying the perfect gift for Aunt Sue.
At the end of
the day…we need to stop, take a breath, and refocus. Two weeks from
Friday (if not sooner) a lot of people will pack away the decorations,
undress the tree, and close the book on Christmas for another eleven
months. And more than a few will pack away their relationship with
Jesus, too.
Let’s promise right now that we won’t do this! Let’s
get our priorities straight now…today…December 16th. Let’s humble
ourselves before God and thank Him for all that He has made…for
everything that He has given us. And let’s ask Him to show us what is
most important…”why we came into the room” in the first place!
I
want to be among those whom God treasures most…don’t you? Are you
taking the necessary steps to make it so? Don’t you think it’s time you
did?
© Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label putting God first. Show all posts
Showing posts with label putting God first. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 31, 2015
Matthew 17:1-8
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John to the top of a high and lonely hill, and as they watched, his appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun and his clothing became dazzling white.
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with him. Peter blurted out, “Sir, it’s wonderful that we can be here! If you want me to, I’ll make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him. Obey him.”
At this the disciples fell face downward to the ground, terribly frightened. Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said, “don’t be afraid.”
And when they looked, only Jesus was with them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Billy Graham…John Hagee…Joyce Meyer…Beth Moore…Dr. Phil…Deepak Chopra…the Dalai Lama…Bill O’Reilly…Anderson Cooper…Rachel Maddow…Megyn Kelly...your pastor…your children…your spouse or significant other…your home, car and possessions…your job…your hobby…your favorite team…your pet...your favorite entertainer or celebrity...
All of these, and countless other people and things that we could list, have been given a place of “worship” in the lives of many of us. We have essentially made “shelters” for people and things that are not nearly as worthy of adoration as we make them. In fact, God clearly indicates in this passage that only ONE is worthy of praise and reverence! Even the likes of Moses and Elijah – both great men of God – are not who we should place on such a pedestal.
There is nothing wrong with having respect and admiration for great men and women of God…or people whom we feel are intelligent and have their finger on the pulse of current events or seem to have figured out quite a bit about mental health and sound living. We should honor our spouses, children and pets – and care deeply about them. We need to work hard, do our best, and make every effort to be well-rounded and interesting. It’s fine to have hobbies and to support a team or three – or to enjoy the performances and talents of someone else.
But we must be careful to remember Who deserves our ultimate worship. We must remember that God chose Jesus…His beloved Son, to lead and guide us. He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins…and in return, we are told to obey Him…to follow His teachings and make Him the center of our being - not something or someone else.
So let’s examine our hearts and lives today and see Who we have made the object of our adoration. Where have we misplaced our loyalties…if only a little. Where do we need to shift and adjust our focus – and place it more squarely on Jesus Christ? Are we ready to make only ONE shelter in our hearts and minds – for the One who truly deserves it? Don’t you think this is a good day to start?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John to the top of a high and lonely hill, and as they watched, his appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun and his clothing became dazzling white.
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with him. Peter blurted out, “Sir, it’s wonderful that we can be here! If you want me to, I’ll make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him. Obey him.”
At this the disciples fell face downward to the ground, terribly frightened. Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said, “don’t be afraid.”
And when they looked, only Jesus was with them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Billy Graham…John Hagee…Joyce Meyer…Beth Moore…Dr. Phil…Deepak Chopra…the Dalai Lama…Bill O’Reilly…Anderson Cooper…Rachel Maddow…Megyn Kelly...your pastor…your children…your spouse or significant other…your home, car and possessions…your job…your hobby…your favorite team…your pet...your favorite entertainer or celebrity...
All of these, and countless other people and things that we could list, have been given a place of “worship” in the lives of many of us. We have essentially made “shelters” for people and things that are not nearly as worthy of adoration as we make them. In fact, God clearly indicates in this passage that only ONE is worthy of praise and reverence! Even the likes of Moses and Elijah – both great men of God – are not who we should place on such a pedestal.
There is nothing wrong with having respect and admiration for great men and women of God…or people whom we feel are intelligent and have their finger on the pulse of current events or seem to have figured out quite a bit about mental health and sound living. We should honor our spouses, children and pets – and care deeply about them. We need to work hard, do our best, and make every effort to be well-rounded and interesting. It’s fine to have hobbies and to support a team or three – or to enjoy the performances and talents of someone else.
But we must be careful to remember Who deserves our ultimate worship. We must remember that God chose Jesus…His beloved Son, to lead and guide us. He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins…and in return, we are told to obey Him…to follow His teachings and make Him the center of our being - not something or someone else.
So let’s examine our hearts and lives today and see Who we have made the object of our adoration. Where have we misplaced our loyalties…if only a little. Where do we need to shift and adjust our focus – and place it more squarely on Jesus Christ? Are we ready to make only ONE shelter in our hearts and minds – for the One who truly deserves it? Don’t you think this is a good day to start?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 19, 2015
Luke 16:10-13
Jesus went on to make these comments:
If you’re honest in small things,
you’ll be honest in big things;
If you’re a crook in small things,
you’ll be a crook in big things.
If you’re not honest in small jobs,
who will put you in charge of the store?
No worker can serve two bosses:
He’ll either hate the first and love the second
Or adore the first and despise the second.
You can’t serve both God and the Bank.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine works out at our local CrossFit gym. According to information at the CrossFit website*, “CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program…designed for universal scalability, making it the perfect application for any committed individual regardless of experience. We’ve used our same routines for elderly individuals with heart disease and cage fighters one month out from televised bouts. We scale load and intensity; we don’t change programs.”
Recently, my friend shared on Facebook that she had struggled with “box jumps”…an exercise in which one jumps from the ground and lands with both feet on top of an elevated box. It’s harder than it sounds…and my friend struggled for weeks to perform this exercise. Meanwhile, she fell several times and developed a “mental block” about completing the jump…until her husband and workout buddies encouraged her and supported (quite literally) her effort. Now that she has done one successful “box jump”…she is off and running. These will likely become easier and easier for her.
Even though a “box jump” is a positive example of something getting easier with practice…we have plenty of situations and circumstances in our lives where “one thing leads to another” – and not in a good way. Small lies become big ones…stealing something seemingly insignificant becomes the gateway to taking bigger things. Looking the other way on something that doesn’t seem all that important can lead to covering up a major wrong down the road. Working too much…participating in your favorite game, sport or activity…overeating or drinking too much…and wasting time on “mindless drivel” may seem harmless in the short run…but these can become nasty (and sinful) habits over time.
The bottom line is that little things matter…in every aspect of our lives. Just like my friend who was encouraged to persist in achieving the “box jump,” we must keep focused on accomplishing the big things for God. And we must encourage others in the same manner. We must “zero in” on what pleases God…what is really significant…what furthers His missions and His kingdom…and make these the goal of our daily living.
We must demonstrate at every turn that we are trustworthy in the little things…or God will never trust us with the bigger ones. If you read a few more verses in Luke 16, you’ll see that Jesus tells the Pharisees…”What society sees and calls monumental, God sees through and calls monstrous.” This is a profound statement that needs to soak into our hearts and souls.
Are we faithful to God in all things…even the little ones? Or have we allowed ourselves to be caught up in the “monumental” things of society and created something of a “monster” in the process? It’s time we settled this once and for all…made the vertical leap to trustworthy discipleship…and left the devil in the dust. Are you ready to “jump” with me?
©2015 Debbie Robus
* http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/what-crossfit.html
Jesus went on to make these comments:
If you’re honest in small things,
you’ll be honest in big things;
If you’re a crook in small things,
you’ll be a crook in big things.
If you’re not honest in small jobs,
who will put you in charge of the store?
No worker can serve two bosses:
He’ll either hate the first and love the second
Or adore the first and despise the second.
You can’t serve both God and the Bank.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine works out at our local CrossFit gym. According to information at the CrossFit website*, “CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program…designed for universal scalability, making it the perfect application for any committed individual regardless of experience. We’ve used our same routines for elderly individuals with heart disease and cage fighters one month out from televised bouts. We scale load and intensity; we don’t change programs.”
Recently, my friend shared on Facebook that she had struggled with “box jumps”…an exercise in which one jumps from the ground and lands with both feet on top of an elevated box. It’s harder than it sounds…and my friend struggled for weeks to perform this exercise. Meanwhile, she fell several times and developed a “mental block” about completing the jump…until her husband and workout buddies encouraged her and supported (quite literally) her effort. Now that she has done one successful “box jump”…she is off and running. These will likely become easier and easier for her.
Even though a “box jump” is a positive example of something getting easier with practice…we have plenty of situations and circumstances in our lives where “one thing leads to another” – and not in a good way. Small lies become big ones…stealing something seemingly insignificant becomes the gateway to taking bigger things. Looking the other way on something that doesn’t seem all that important can lead to covering up a major wrong down the road. Working too much…participating in your favorite game, sport or activity…overeating or drinking too much…and wasting time on “mindless drivel” may seem harmless in the short run…but these can become nasty (and sinful) habits over time.
The bottom line is that little things matter…in every aspect of our lives. Just like my friend who was encouraged to persist in achieving the “box jump,” we must keep focused on accomplishing the big things for God. And we must encourage others in the same manner. We must “zero in” on what pleases God…what is really significant…what furthers His missions and His kingdom…and make these the goal of our daily living.
We must demonstrate at every turn that we are trustworthy in the little things…or God will never trust us with the bigger ones. If you read a few more verses in Luke 16, you’ll see that Jesus tells the Pharisees…”What society sees and calls monumental, God sees through and calls monstrous.” This is a profound statement that needs to soak into our hearts and souls.
Are we faithful to God in all things…even the little ones? Or have we allowed ourselves to be caught up in the “monumental” things of society and created something of a “monster” in the process? It’s time we settled this once and for all…made the vertical leap to trustworthy discipleship…and left the devil in the dust. Are you ready to “jump” with me?
©2015 Debbie Robus
* http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/what-crossfit.html
Daily Devotional for September 27, 2013
Luke 14:25-27
One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.
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 property is located near a national nature trail. Recently, builders have reconstructed a wooden overlook that anchors the end of the trail closest to our house. This was done in preparation for the 50th anniversary celebration of the dedication of Greers Ferry Dam, a concrete dam built on the Little Red River for flood control and hydroelectric power. Last night after dinner, Greg, Timothy and I took a walk to check out the overlook. We had to go down a dirt path through a heavily wooded area. The overlook is surrounded on three sides by thick woods, and the bluff underneath that leads to the river is thickly forested, also. Timothy’s latest “thing” is a fear of the forest. He told me all afternoon that there were monsters, alligators and crocodiles (and zombies and vampires!) in the forest, and that his dad would protect him from all of these… that “Daddy will defeat the monsters in the forest.”
As we walked, Timothy talked of being afraid, even though we assured him that he was safe with us… that we would protect him. He clung to our hands and even said a few times, “Let’s go back… we better go back!” Finally, Greg walked away from Timothy and up the trail a few yards. Timothy was upset at first, but then he realized that he was okay… that he could manage on his own and conquer his fears. He even climbed a big rock and stood atop it, pretending to be a ‘mean Indian”. As we walked home and got close to our cul-de-sac, he took off running ahead of us, exploring the street and our yard and running with wild abandon. He knew we were near… that we were still present and a part of his life… but he took ownership of his actions and ran happily ahead of us.
I’ll be the first to tell you that putting Jesus first can be scary. We depend on our relationships with others… they make us feel safe, loved, important. Our earthly relationships represent a “comfort zone” that can extend to material possessions, our job, our hobbies and interests, and more. Change is often hard… and letting go of what we know and love can be truly difficult and uncomfortable.
Just as we were not asking Timothy to stay in the woods by himself, God isn’t calling you to do this with Him, either. He’s not saying you have to fend for yourself. But you have to be willing to trust Him and step out on your own – with only Him – in order to fully experience Christian discipleship. While this sometimes means you have to disassociate completely from people and things that compete for your attention, it often means you just have to reorder your priorities. So you don’t have to “divorce” yourself completely from your spouse or partner, your parents, siblings, cousins, friends… or even your hobbies and possessions. You just have to understand that they all take a backseat to Jesus Christ and your relationship with Him!
I’m amazed at how a four-year-old like Timothy can grasp something we often cannot. In his night-time prayers, he said, “Father, thank You for keeping Uncle Greg and Debbie and me safe in the woods…and for letting me be the ‘mean Indian on the rock’.” (Yes, he referred to God as "Father" - probably mimicking me or another adult he has heard offer a prayer!) Timothy recognized Who was really in charge… Who truly kept him safe. It didn’t diminish his love for us…he merely put it into perspective. What about you… do you have your priorities straight? Do you have the right perspective on your relationship with Jesus Christ – and others? Are you ready to shoulder your own cross… step out on your own… and truly follow Him? Isn’t it time you were?
©2013 Debbie Robus
One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.
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 property is located near a national nature trail. Recently, builders have reconstructed a wooden overlook that anchors the end of the trail closest to our house. This was done in preparation for the 50th anniversary celebration of the dedication of Greers Ferry Dam, a concrete dam built on the Little Red River for flood control and hydroelectric power. Last night after dinner, Greg, Timothy and I took a walk to check out the overlook. We had to go down a dirt path through a heavily wooded area. The overlook is surrounded on three sides by thick woods, and the bluff underneath that leads to the river is thickly forested, also. Timothy’s latest “thing” is a fear of the forest. He told me all afternoon that there were monsters, alligators and crocodiles (and zombies and vampires!) in the forest, and that his dad would protect him from all of these… that “Daddy will defeat the monsters in the forest.”
I’ll be the first to tell you that putting Jesus first can be scary. We depend on our relationships with others… they make us feel safe, loved, important. Our earthly relationships represent a “comfort zone” that can extend to material possessions, our job, our hobbies and interests, and more. Change is often hard… and letting go of what we know and love can be truly difficult and uncomfortable.
Just as we were not asking Timothy to stay in the woods by himself, God isn’t calling you to do this with Him, either. He’s not saying you have to fend for yourself. But you have to be willing to trust Him and step out on your own – with only Him – in order to fully experience Christian discipleship. While this sometimes means you have to disassociate completely from people and things that compete for your attention, it often means you just have to reorder your priorities. So you don’t have to “divorce” yourself completely from your spouse or partner, your parents, siblings, cousins, friends… or even your hobbies and possessions. You just have to understand that they all take a backseat to Jesus Christ and your relationship with Him!
I’m amazed at how a four-year-old like Timothy can grasp something we often cannot. In his night-time prayers, he said, “Father, thank You for keeping Uncle Greg and Debbie and me safe in the woods…and for letting me be the ‘mean Indian on the rock’.” (Yes, he referred to God as "Father" - probably mimicking me or another adult he has heard offer a prayer!) Timothy recognized Who was really in charge… Who truly kept him safe. It didn’t diminish his love for us…he merely put it into perspective. What about you… do you have your priorities straight? Do you have the right perspective on your relationship with Jesus Christ – and others? Are you ready to shoulder your own cross… step out on your own… and truly follow Him? Isn’t it time you were?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 15, 2013
Galatians 6:7-8
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
There’s a new Sonic® commercial where two guys are sitting in the car, and one of them says that he woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, and the other guy says, “Tell me about it”… then proceeds to talk about something. Guy #1 says, “Wait a minute! You said ‘tell me about it,’ and then you didn’t give me a chance to tell you!” Guy #2 says, “Man, you really did wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning!” It’s a silly commercial… not as funny in my opinion as most by these two actors… but it does make a good point.
We are often so caught up in our own life that we really don’t give the other person a chance to “tell us about it.” We ask people how they are doing as we pass them… but we certainly don’t intend for them to answer us - and we’re not about to stop what we are doing long enough to hear their answer! We don’t notice that others have needs, because we are so busy whining and complaining about our own. We can’t be bothered to help a friend, because we might have to give up or postpone something that we want to do for ourselves. We’ll spend hours shopping online or in a store for just the right shoes, purses, golf clubs, hunting rifle, fishing pole, or outfit to wear to an event… but we can’t spend thirty minutes talking to a friend in need… much less take an hour or two on Sunday to attend a worship service.
We don’t stop to think how others are affected by our decisions because we are too busy worrying about whether or not we will be “fulfilled”, satisfied or happy with the choice. I’m just as guilty as the rest of you… I have made my share of excuses when I didn’t want to do something. But I have also done things I didn’t want to do because they were the right choice… like spend time taking my grandmother to events that didn’t interest me because she had no other way to get there and needed assistance getting around once there. I don’t always want to bite my tongue when someone says something that I disagree with, even though I know to respond might start World War Three or destroy a friendship. I have to consciously choose to pay the guy at the farmer’s market more than he is asking for his home-grown vegetables, even when it means I’m giving him the last of my change… or to tell the girl who sells me her daughters’ hand-me-downs that she is undercharging and give her extra money, even though she didn’t ask for it, and I could rightfully pay her pennies on the dollar.
The point is that we have choices. We can choose to serve ourselves and always do what “feels good.” Or we can ask, “Does this please God and honor my commitment to serve Him as a Christian disciple?” and choose to do what is right. Sometimes, that choice actually feels good and serves us, whether we intended for it to do so or not. Often, we get the bigger blessing when we make a hard choice. Either way, we must deal with our decisions and face the results.
I don’t know what hard choices you are encountering. I don’t know whether you are serving yourself more than you serve God and others… or if you have made a habit of living selflessly. The balance can be delicate. But if you will practice serving God and others first, you will find that you end up served in the bargain more often than not. At the end of the day, God will be pleased with your decisions. And that’s really all that matters.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
There’s a new Sonic® commercial where two guys are sitting in the car, and one of them says that he woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, and the other guy says, “Tell me about it”… then proceeds to talk about something. Guy #1 says, “Wait a minute! You said ‘tell me about it,’ and then you didn’t give me a chance to tell you!” Guy #2 says, “Man, you really did wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning!” It’s a silly commercial… not as funny in my opinion as most by these two actors… but it does make a good point.
We are often so caught up in our own life that we really don’t give the other person a chance to “tell us about it.” We ask people how they are doing as we pass them… but we certainly don’t intend for them to answer us - and we’re not about to stop what we are doing long enough to hear their answer! We don’t notice that others have needs, because we are so busy whining and complaining about our own. We can’t be bothered to help a friend, because we might have to give up or postpone something that we want to do for ourselves. We’ll spend hours shopping online or in a store for just the right shoes, purses, golf clubs, hunting rifle, fishing pole, or outfit to wear to an event… but we can’t spend thirty minutes talking to a friend in need… much less take an hour or two on Sunday to attend a worship service.
We don’t stop to think how others are affected by our decisions because we are too busy worrying about whether or not we will be “fulfilled”, satisfied or happy with the choice. I’m just as guilty as the rest of you… I have made my share of excuses when I didn’t want to do something. But I have also done things I didn’t want to do because they were the right choice… like spend time taking my grandmother to events that didn’t interest me because she had no other way to get there and needed assistance getting around once there. I don’t always want to bite my tongue when someone says something that I disagree with, even though I know to respond might start World War Three or destroy a friendship. I have to consciously choose to pay the guy at the farmer’s market more than he is asking for his home-grown vegetables, even when it means I’m giving him the last of my change… or to tell the girl who sells me her daughters’ hand-me-downs that she is undercharging and give her extra money, even though she didn’t ask for it, and I could rightfully pay her pennies on the dollar.
The point is that we have choices. We can choose to serve ourselves and always do what “feels good.” Or we can ask, “Does this please God and honor my commitment to serve Him as a Christian disciple?” and choose to do what is right. Sometimes, that choice actually feels good and serves us, whether we intended for it to do so or not. Often, we get the bigger blessing when we make a hard choice. Either way, we must deal with our decisions and face the results.
I don’t know what hard choices you are encountering. I don’t know whether you are serving yourself more than you serve God and others… or if you have made a habit of living selflessly. The balance can be delicate. But if you will practice serving God and others first, you will find that you end up served in the bargain more often than not. At the end of the day, God will be pleased with your decisions. And that’s really all that matters.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 31, 2013
Romans 8:5-8
Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.
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 the interest of fairness, I will talk about our other cat, Lucy, today. Lucy is a “tuxedo” (black and white) who is pretty much attached to me (while her sister, Mabel, prefers to hang with Greg 99% of the time). To say that Lucy is self-absorbed would be an understatement. Don’t get me wrong, we love and adore both of our cats – and spoil them rotten! Both are the most vocal cats we have ever known… but “No!” is not in Lucy’s vocabulary! When she wants my attention, she will squawk and squall like she is dying. Or if I am trying to sleep and she wants my attention, she will either paw at me incessantly (front paws declawed, thankfully!) or she will lie down next to me and thump her tail so loudly it echoes in the bed springs!
Granted, Lucy is a cat. And I guess a cat is entitled to be self-centered… it’s kinda their job! But when it comes to our own lives, we are often so much like Lucy – or worse – and God is not pleased. We are either kicking, screaming and insisting that He do something for us… that He give us every one of our heart’s desires (which are not necessarily the same as His desires for us)… or we completely ignore Him and strike out on our own to do things our way. OR… we figure out another way to get what we want. Like Lucy, if God doesn’t answer as quickly as we wish – or in the manner we prefer – we have ways of making our requirements known!
Often, end result is not pretty. We end up miserable, defeated and disappointed… and feeling anything but peaceful. If only we had sense enough to trust God… to seek Him in all things and to desire what He desires. If only we thought of God first…and second… and third…and put our ego on the back burner. We can’t even begin to imagine what God would do for us if we would do this for Him. But as my Mam-ma Polly would say, “I tell you what”… I’m willing to try. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.
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 the interest of fairness, I will talk about our other cat, Lucy, today. Lucy is a “tuxedo” (black and white) who is pretty much attached to me (while her sister, Mabel, prefers to hang with Greg 99% of the time). To say that Lucy is self-absorbed would be an understatement. Don’t get me wrong, we love and adore both of our cats – and spoil them rotten! Both are the most vocal cats we have ever known… but “No!” is not in Lucy’s vocabulary! When she wants my attention, she will squawk and squall like she is dying. Or if I am trying to sleep and she wants my attention, she will either paw at me incessantly (front paws declawed, thankfully!) or she will lie down next to me and thump her tail so loudly it echoes in the bed springs!Granted, Lucy is a cat. And I guess a cat is entitled to be self-centered… it’s kinda their job! But when it comes to our own lives, we are often so much like Lucy – or worse – and God is not pleased. We are either kicking, screaming and insisting that He do something for us… that He give us every one of our heart’s desires (which are not necessarily the same as His desires for us)… or we completely ignore Him and strike out on our own to do things our way. OR… we figure out another way to get what we want. Like Lucy, if God doesn’t answer as quickly as we wish – or in the manner we prefer – we have ways of making our requirements known!
Often, end result is not pretty. We end up miserable, defeated and disappointed… and feeling anything but peaceful. If only we had sense enough to trust God… to seek Him in all things and to desire what He desires. If only we thought of God first…and second… and third…and put our ego on the back burner. We can’t even begin to imagine what God would do for us if we would do this for Him. But as my Mam-ma Polly would say, “I tell you what”… I’m willing to try. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 12, 2012
Luke 9:23
Then Jesus said to all the people: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Whew! Was I ever “brought up short” about this today! I was helping my grandmother with her lunch at the assisted living facility when an aide came to sit at the table and help feed another resident. I would guess she was in her late 30s or early 40s. She asked if I was ready for Christmas, and we began to visit. She told me about her four-year-old grand-daughter who is coming… and what she had asked for (and this woman had purchased) as gifts. As she rose to help another resident, she said, “Since I lost my husband, Christmas just isn’t the same.” I asked how long he had been gone, and she said, “a few years… he suffered a heart attack while we were en route to the hospital to see about a family member, and he died in my arms.” I swallowed hard to fight back tears. I told her how sorry I was, and she smiled and wished me a good day as she left.
The aide who came to replace her at the table sat down, and I said, “She just told me about her husband.” This woman looked like maybe she was in her 50s, and she said, “Yes, we commiserate a lot, because I lost my husband, too.” This woman went on to tell me that her husband died a year ago of cancer. She was equally friendly and positive as she talked about her grandchildren and caring for others. Both women were incredibly sweet and attentive to my grandmother and to her table-mate.
When I looked at my scripture outline for these devos and read the verse for today, I knew why God placed me at the facility during lunch. Even in the midst of my frenzy to get things done for Christmas… my worries and concerns about my grandmother, who appears to be in her last weeks, if not days… the general busyness of our day and all of the myriad of other “stressors” we each encounter… nothing is about ME… or YOU! It’s about serving Jesus… being His hands and feet for others… and sharing His Good News at every turn.
The question today is… “How are you doing?” Are you joyful and patient, positive and helpful? Or are you a miserable example of what it means to be a Disciple of Christ? Do you go around with the weight of the world on your shoulders… are you a drag to be around – or a delight? Is everything about you and your troubles… or are you genuinely interested in the well-being of others? Do you bother to find out about their day or what is going on in their life? Or are you too busy letting others know – either by body language, your comments, or both - just how bad you’ve got it?
Jesus is calling us to take up His cross and follow Him… to lay aside the worries of our day and let Him handle them… to focus on loving others and showing care and concern for what is challenging or frustrating them – and to share their joys and triumphs. Again I ask… “How are you doing?” It would seem that most of us have plenty of room for improvement in this area. Are you ready to follow Jesus completely? Are YOU ready to really focus on serving Him in everything? Who needs to know this day that you truly care? Isn’t it time you showed them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Then Jesus said to all the people: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Whew! Was I ever “brought up short” about this today! I was helping my grandmother with her lunch at the assisted living facility when an aide came to sit at the table and help feed another resident. I would guess she was in her late 30s or early 40s. She asked if I was ready for Christmas, and we began to visit. She told me about her four-year-old grand-daughter who is coming… and what she had asked for (and this woman had purchased) as gifts. As she rose to help another resident, she said, “Since I lost my husband, Christmas just isn’t the same.” I asked how long he had been gone, and she said, “a few years… he suffered a heart attack while we were en route to the hospital to see about a family member, and he died in my arms.” I swallowed hard to fight back tears. I told her how sorry I was, and she smiled and wished me a good day as she left.
The aide who came to replace her at the table sat down, and I said, “She just told me about her husband.” This woman looked like maybe she was in her 50s, and she said, “Yes, we commiserate a lot, because I lost my husband, too.” This woman went on to tell me that her husband died a year ago of cancer. She was equally friendly and positive as she talked about her grandchildren and caring for others. Both women were incredibly sweet and attentive to my grandmother and to her table-mate.
When I looked at my scripture outline for these devos and read the verse for today, I knew why God placed me at the facility during lunch. Even in the midst of my frenzy to get things done for Christmas… my worries and concerns about my grandmother, who appears to be in her last weeks, if not days… the general busyness of our day and all of the myriad of other “stressors” we each encounter… nothing is about ME… or YOU! It’s about serving Jesus… being His hands and feet for others… and sharing His Good News at every turn.
The question today is… “How are you doing?” Are you joyful and patient, positive and helpful? Or are you a miserable example of what it means to be a Disciple of Christ? Do you go around with the weight of the world on your shoulders… are you a drag to be around – or a delight? Is everything about you and your troubles… or are you genuinely interested in the well-being of others? Do you bother to find out about their day or what is going on in their life? Or are you too busy letting others know – either by body language, your comments, or both - just how bad you’ve got it?
Jesus is calling us to take up His cross and follow Him… to lay aside the worries of our day and let Him handle them… to focus on loving others and showing care and concern for what is challenging or frustrating them – and to share their joys and triumphs. Again I ask… “How are you doing?” It would seem that most of us have plenty of room for improvement in this area. Are you ready to follow Jesus completely? Are YOU ready to really focus on serving Him in everything? Who needs to know this day that you truly care? Isn’t it time you showed them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2012
Psalm 34:9
Honor the Lord! You are his special people. No one who honors the Lord will ever be in need.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I launched Workamper News… a business that assists people in finding work while traveling and living in an RV (recreational vehicle). The world of RVing is like a lot of other things – the difference between the level of “need” and the level of “want” is vast. Some RVers are content to travel the country and Workamp, while living in a tent or a pop-up camper. Others would never consider taking a job of any sort and must have a top-of-the-line motorhome or fifth-wheel with granite counter tops, leather upholstery, and all of the latest electronic bells and whistles. You can find wonderful people in both categories – and all of the levels in between.
Some of the Workampers who sold their home and almost all of their belongings to move into a small RV and travel the country are among the happiest people I’ve ever met. They truly enjoy doing a great job for their employer in any situation… from taking tickets at an amusement park to packing orders for shipment at Amazon.com, working in a sugar beet harvest operation in the Midwest or volunteering in a federal or state park or wildlife preserve, or scrubbing shower houses in a campground, and MUCH more. These folks recognize that serving others and doing fair work for fair compensation… then enjoying the area in which they live and all of God’s creations and blessings… is more valuable than owning a lot of “stuff” and feeling “prestigious.”
The problem many of us have is discerning whether we are in “want” or honestly in need. And more than a few of us don’t realize how or when we are truly blessed. We think we have to have lots and lots of “stuff” to be happy. We have to be recognized by our peers as “successful”… and we aspire to be monetarily and materially “rich.” I always look to my grandmother, who lived modestly on an income that would have been a challenge for many of us to stretch each month. Her first payment was always to the church… and somehow, she always had money left over at the end of the month… if only a few dollars. God blessed her – and continues to bless her – by meeting all of her needs. Surely, SHE is one of the richest people I know.
I have seen firsthand how God blesses those who honor Him. I’ve watched God more than meet the needs of those who put Him first and sought to serve Him at every turn. I’ve also watched some pretty “rich” people suffer and struggle because of where they placed God in their list of priorities. And I know a LOT of people who are totally confused about what constitutes true needs and what are mere wants in their lives.
I challenge you to examine your life and discover your true needs. Make sure that you put God first… that everything you do honors Him. See for yourself how this ensures that God will meet your needs…and probably bless you far beyond this measure. Figure out what “needs” you have that are truly more in the “want” category, and ask yourself how critical these really are to you. Are they honestly worth pursuing at the cost of your relationship with God? I am quite certain that when we honor God in all things and put Him first, we will have more than enough of everything else.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Honor the Lord! You are his special people. No one who honors the Lord will ever be in need.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I launched Workamper News… a business that assists people in finding work while traveling and living in an RV (recreational vehicle). The world of RVing is like a lot of other things – the difference between the level of “need” and the level of “want” is vast. Some RVers are content to travel the country and Workamp, while living in a tent or a pop-up camper. Others would never consider taking a job of any sort and must have a top-of-the-line motorhome or fifth-wheel with granite counter tops, leather upholstery, and all of the latest electronic bells and whistles. You can find wonderful people in both categories – and all of the levels in between.
Some of the Workampers who sold their home and almost all of their belongings to move into a small RV and travel the country are among the happiest people I’ve ever met. They truly enjoy doing a great job for their employer in any situation… from taking tickets at an amusement park to packing orders for shipment at Amazon.com, working in a sugar beet harvest operation in the Midwest or volunteering in a federal or state park or wildlife preserve, or scrubbing shower houses in a campground, and MUCH more. These folks recognize that serving others and doing fair work for fair compensation… then enjoying the area in which they live and all of God’s creations and blessings… is more valuable than owning a lot of “stuff” and feeling “prestigious.”
The problem many of us have is discerning whether we are in “want” or honestly in need. And more than a few of us don’t realize how or when we are truly blessed. We think we have to have lots and lots of “stuff” to be happy. We have to be recognized by our peers as “successful”… and we aspire to be monetarily and materially “rich.” I always look to my grandmother, who lived modestly on an income that would have been a challenge for many of us to stretch each month. Her first payment was always to the church… and somehow, she always had money left over at the end of the month… if only a few dollars. God blessed her – and continues to bless her – by meeting all of her needs. Surely, SHE is one of the richest people I know.
I have seen firsthand how God blesses those who honor Him. I’ve watched God more than meet the needs of those who put Him first and sought to serve Him at every turn. I’ve also watched some pretty “rich” people suffer and struggle because of where they placed God in their list of priorities. And I know a LOT of people who are totally confused about what constitutes true needs and what are mere wants in their lives.
I challenge you to examine your life and discover your true needs. Make sure that you put God first… that everything you do honors Him. See for yourself how this ensures that God will meet your needs…and probably bless you far beyond this measure. Figure out what “needs” you have that are truly more in the “want” category, and ask yourself how critical these really are to you. Are they honestly worth pursuing at the cost of your relationship with God? I am quite certain that when we honor God in all things and put Him first, we will have more than enough of everything else.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 28, 2011
Luke 21:34-36
"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."
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.
“Live for today!” “Seize the moment!” “Life is not a dress rehearsal!” “You only get one chance, so go for it!” “Just do it!” We’ve all heard these clichés and others. And there is some truth in each of them. A lot of people waste time procrastinating or waiting for someone to sweep them off their feet or their “ship to come in” – and they totally miss out on some of life’s best moments!
But there are also those who have a bad day, so they go shopping and pay with plastic for things they cannot afford and really don’t need, because it makes them feel better temporarily. Others party and go crazy and plan to settle down later. They even call it “sowing wild oats.” Still others figure, “My life is down the tubes anyway, so why bother?!” And all of these philosophies are simply “stinkin’ thinkin’!”
Do you remember a few weeks ago when air traffic controllers went to sleep on the job, and the result was some very scary near-misses by a few planes in the air… and a couple that were trying to land? Jesus is telling us “Don’t go to sleep at the switch.” We cannot get caught up in living for the moment and our own interests so much that we lose focus on Him and what He desires from us – and for us. We must put God first… then ask Him to show us how to prioritize everything – and everyone else – on our list.
Please understand… God wants us to fully enjoy our lives. He wants us to “seize the moment” and live every minute like it was our last. But He wants to show us how we can best accomplish this… how to live with no regrets, so that when He returns or calls us home, we can stand proudly before Him and hear, “You lived and served well.” All it takes is a shift in attitude on our part… moving a step closer to Him and away from our own selfish interests. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal… are you making the most of your shot at it?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."
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.
“Live for today!” “Seize the moment!” “Life is not a dress rehearsal!” “You only get one chance, so go for it!” “Just do it!” We’ve all heard these clichés and others. And there is some truth in each of them. A lot of people waste time procrastinating or waiting for someone to sweep them off their feet or their “ship to come in” – and they totally miss out on some of life’s best moments!
But there are also those who have a bad day, so they go shopping and pay with plastic for things they cannot afford and really don’t need, because it makes them feel better temporarily. Others party and go crazy and plan to settle down later. They even call it “sowing wild oats.” Still others figure, “My life is down the tubes anyway, so why bother?!” And all of these philosophies are simply “stinkin’ thinkin’!”
Do you remember a few weeks ago when air traffic controllers went to sleep on the job, and the result was some very scary near-misses by a few planes in the air… and a couple that were trying to land? Jesus is telling us “Don’t go to sleep at the switch.” We cannot get caught up in living for the moment and our own interests so much that we lose focus on Him and what He desires from us – and for us. We must put God first… then ask Him to show us how to prioritize everything – and everyone else – on our list.
Please understand… God wants us to fully enjoy our lives. He wants us to “seize the moment” and live every minute like it was our last. But He wants to show us how we can best accomplish this… how to live with no regrets, so that when He returns or calls us home, we can stand proudly before Him and hear, “You lived and served well.” All it takes is a shift in attitude on our part… moving a step closer to Him and away from our own selfish interests. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal… are you making the most of your shot at it?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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