Romans 8:32
Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t he also surely give us everything else?
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
For the last 25 days (or
longer, for those who put up their trees around Halloween!), we have
celebrated Christmas with family members and friends. We’ve decorated
our homes…sent greeting cards…shopped…baked…eaten delectable
foods…wrapped gifts…presented and enjoyed holiday programs…attended
parties…worshipped together…and shared gifts and merriment with each
other. We've celebrated Jesus’ birthday, lit the advent candle, and sung carols to herald His arrival.
The
festivities will continue for a few more days for some of us. For
others, it’s all over but the clean-up! But honestly, Christmas isn’t
over for any who believe in Jesus Christ. In fact…it’s just beginning!
God
knew when He sent Jesus to earth that His would not be an easy life.
He knew that there would be ridicule, misunderstanding, persecution…and a
crucifixion. And He sent Jesus anyway. He sent His Son as a tiny baby
so that we could fully see perfection in human form – from the cradle
to adulthood. Physically, God wanted Jesus to be “one of us.” But all
along, God knew that Jesus would suffer and die for us…that He would
shed His blood as the perfect Lamb - sacrificed for our sins.
God
didn’t just send a baby and say, “Here you go folks…figure out the
rest!” He knew all along just how things would happen – and why. And
that’s why “Christmas” doesn’t end today…or tomorrow…or next week or
next year. When we know Jesus as our Savior, every day is
“Christmas”…and a gift from God Almighty.
Someone noted today
on Facebook that historically, Jesus probably was born in the spring -
not in December…that December 25 is likely not actually Jesus’ real
birth date. It doesn’t matter what day has been chosen to mark the
birth of our Savior. It doesn’t change the fact that some 2050 years
ago, God sent His Son - against all odds - to save us from our sins.
And He has been in the “giving” business ever since.
I don’t
understand God’s grace and generosity. I cannot explain His mercy…or
why He continues to bless us with abundance. It is beyond my
comprehension that God’s gift of Jesus was not enough…that He continues
to meet our every need and lavish us with gifts that we will never
deserve. I honestly don’t know why God didn’t dust off His hands after
sending Jesus to earth and basically say, “Merry Christmas…and to all a
Good Night!” and be done with us. But I’m very glad that He didn’t.
God
loves us beyond anything we can comprehend. He sent Jesus to show us
how to live and serve…and to die for our sins. And now, God walks with
us each and every day…hears our prayers…heals us in every sense of the
word…and blesses us beyond human understanding. I don’t understand His
generosity…but I will never doubt it!
So take down the tree…and
pack away the lights, tinsel and decorations for the next few months.
But don’t pack away “Christmas.” Let the spirit of God’s greatest Gift
live on in your heart each and every day. Embrace His gift of
Salvation…and watch His blessings and abundance flow in your life. Live
and serve with gratitude for such an amazing Gift…and make every day a
reason to celebrate! Merry Christmas!
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label recognizing God's gifts and blessings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recognizing God's gifts and blessings. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 30, 2014
Ruth 2:10-11
She thanked him warmly. “How can you be so kind to me?” she asked. “You must know I am only a foreigner.”
“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied, “and I also know about all the love and kindness you have shown your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you left your father and mother in your own land and have come here to live among strangers.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Boaz didn’t really know Ruth. She was little more than a foreigner who had moved into town – and she asked Boaz’s foreman if she could tag along to the wheat fields and pick up the leftovers. Yet something about Ruth intrigued Boaz. He told her to stay close to the other women – and he told the men to stay away from Ruth. And Boaz made sure that she had plenty of wheat to take home at the end of the day.
There are two things happening in this scripture passage that are noteworthy…1) Boaz was moved by the way Ruth sacrificed her own desires and happiness for that of her mother-in-law, Naomi - how she gave up her homeland and her family to move from Moab to Bethlehem; and 2) Boaz extended his gratitude to Ruth for her dedication by treating her kindly and generously.
Here’s how we can apply these things to our own life. First, we can ask God to make us more aware of what is happening in our midst. We can look for opportunities to be kind to others – even when we don’t know them or they are a “foreigner” or different in some way. Additionally, we can make a concerted effort to show our gratitude to those who do things for us and for those we care about – just to let them know that we notice – and appreciate - their efforts. And finally, we can thank God for blessing us – so that we might be a blessing to others.
I believe God placed Ruth and Boaz together. The Bible tells us that their marriage and the birth of a son, Obed, was a blessing not only to them – but also to Naomi and others. We have no clue who God might be putting in our path on any given day – or for what purpose. Don’t miss a chance to bless them…and to show gratitude to God – and to others – in the process. Be thankful for all of the opportunities that God provides for us to be kind and show gratitude – and for the “foreigners” who may deliver them!
©2014 Debbie Robus
She thanked him warmly. “How can you be so kind to me?” she asked. “You must know I am only a foreigner.”
“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied, “and I also know about all the love and kindness you have shown your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you left your father and mother in your own land and have come here to live among strangers.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Boaz didn’t really know Ruth. She was little more than a foreigner who had moved into town – and she asked Boaz’s foreman if she could tag along to the wheat fields and pick up the leftovers. Yet something about Ruth intrigued Boaz. He told her to stay close to the other women – and he told the men to stay away from Ruth. And Boaz made sure that she had plenty of wheat to take home at the end of the day.
There are two things happening in this scripture passage that are noteworthy…1) Boaz was moved by the way Ruth sacrificed her own desires and happiness for that of her mother-in-law, Naomi - how she gave up her homeland and her family to move from Moab to Bethlehem; and 2) Boaz extended his gratitude to Ruth for her dedication by treating her kindly and generously.
Here’s how we can apply these things to our own life. First, we can ask God to make us more aware of what is happening in our midst. We can look for opportunities to be kind to others – even when we don’t know them or they are a “foreigner” or different in some way. Additionally, we can make a concerted effort to show our gratitude to those who do things for us and for those we care about – just to let them know that we notice – and appreciate - their efforts. And finally, we can thank God for blessing us – so that we might be a blessing to others.
I believe God placed Ruth and Boaz together. The Bible tells us that their marriage and the birth of a son, Obed, was a blessing not only to them – but also to Naomi and others. We have no clue who God might be putting in our path on any given day – or for what purpose. Don’t miss a chance to bless them…and to show gratitude to God – and to others – in the process. Be thankful for all of the opportunities that God provides for us to be kind and show gratitude – and for the “foreigners” who may deliver them!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 24, 2014
Psalm 106:1
We will celebrate
and praise you, Lord!
You are good to us,
and your love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, I thought about a dear lady in our community who was laid to rest yesterday. Mrs. Wanda was beautiful…inside and out. Yet every time I encountered her, she would say, “You look so pretty” and make me feel like a million bucks! I actually tried to “beat her to the punch” a couple of times…but you had to be pretty darn quick! And she didn’t just toss out compliments to be friendly…she always went on to express genuine interest…she really wanted to know how I was doing and what was new in my life. So when I thanked God this morning for my blessings, encounters with Mrs. Wanda were among them.
At the other end of the spectrum…I also thanked God today for a newborn baby boy named Max. His parents, Courtney and Aaron, brother Clark and sister Chloe welcomed him into this world today, and I know that he will be blessed – and a blessing. Max’s parents are Sunday school teachers for our niece, Zola…and last year our nephew Timothy was in their class. Courtney and Aaron are so kind and loving – and I know they love God and want to share Him with the little ones. So I know that Max will grow up in a Christian home and become a wonderful asset to our church family. And I thanked God for healthy babies and loving parents who nurture them…and their peers.
I also thanked God today for a lady who has been something of “another mother” to me for most of my life. I shared a phone visit with “Dot” – the mother of my childhood friend, Martha. Dot was one of my Girl Scout leaders, and she has just always been in my corner. We see each other at church, and we visit by phone every couple of months to “catch up” on what is happening in our lives and the community at large. She is one of my “go-to” people for advice on everything from cooking and sewing to ministry…and her demonstration of faithfulness and service to others truly encourages and motivates me.
There’s no place like your local Wal-Mart to meet up with old friends and share a few minutes of conversation…and today was no exception for me. I not only bumped into my mother-in-law, but I also visited with Kathryn, another classmate’s mother who is a long-time friend…a former co-worker - Ramona…and a lady named Tommie, who was one of my Sunday school teachers when I was a child – and who has been another one of those “go-to” friends for as long as I can remember. A lady from the water aerobics class I used to attend stopped me to say “Hi” and to tell me that I am missed – and that I am welcome to join them again any time.
I waved and said “Hello” to probably a half dozen other acquaintances and friends, exchanged pleasantries with the clerk who checked my groceries – and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving - and I left with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. There was a cold, brisk wind, but the sun was shining brightly as I loaded groceries into the car. I thanked God for dear friends, for money to buy the things that I had purchased, for a good car to get me where I needed to go – and gas to power it – and a zillion other things, both named and unspoken.
The bottom line is that in life and death and every season in between…from year to year and one holiday to the next…we have so much to celebrate – so many reasons to praise God. Not every day is filled with extraordinary blessings. Some days, we move along with our routine, and everything seems to be fairly “normal” – maybe even mundane. Sometimes, our days are filled with troubles, headaches and heartaches at every turn, and it’s hard to even SEE the blessings! But they are always there…just the same.
Every day, there is some reason to celebrate and praise God. Some days, you may have to dig a little deeper than others…but the reasons for gratitude are there. And if you think about it a little, I bet you can name more than a few people who God has placed in your life to bless, encourage and nurture you in some way…not because you are a family member and/or they feel an obligation – but because God has filled them with a deep and abiding love and care for you.
I challenge you to find someone and/or something to thank God for every single day. I’m talking about the extras…the blessings that you might not even consider all that often that enrich your life in ways you don’t even realize. Thank God for these, along with the things you normally list…but this time, ponder each blessing and truly offer up genuine gratitude. Let Him know that you appreciate how deeply He cares for you…profoundly enough to put these people and experiences in your life for enhancement and added “oomph”! Celebrate just how good God is to you…how unfailing His love is…and how He is always working on new ways to fill your life with blessings and joy.
We tend to rattle off a list of things for which we are grateful with little to no real consideration for them. Let’s change that today. Let’s examine our blessings – all of them – a little more closely…and truly celebrate God with some genuine praise. It’s about time…wouldn’t you agree?
©2014 Debbie Robus
We will celebrate
and praise you, Lord!
You are good to us,
and your love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, I thought about a dear lady in our community who was laid to rest yesterday. Mrs. Wanda was beautiful…inside and out. Yet every time I encountered her, she would say, “You look so pretty” and make me feel like a million bucks! I actually tried to “beat her to the punch” a couple of times…but you had to be pretty darn quick! And she didn’t just toss out compliments to be friendly…she always went on to express genuine interest…she really wanted to know how I was doing and what was new in my life. So when I thanked God this morning for my blessings, encounters with Mrs. Wanda were among them.
At the other end of the spectrum…I also thanked God today for a newborn baby boy named Max. His parents, Courtney and Aaron, brother Clark and sister Chloe welcomed him into this world today, and I know that he will be blessed – and a blessing. Max’s parents are Sunday school teachers for our niece, Zola…and last year our nephew Timothy was in their class. Courtney and Aaron are so kind and loving – and I know they love God and want to share Him with the little ones. So I know that Max will grow up in a Christian home and become a wonderful asset to our church family. And I thanked God for healthy babies and loving parents who nurture them…and their peers.
I also thanked God today for a lady who has been something of “another mother” to me for most of my life. I shared a phone visit with “Dot” – the mother of my childhood friend, Martha. Dot was one of my Girl Scout leaders, and she has just always been in my corner. We see each other at church, and we visit by phone every couple of months to “catch up” on what is happening in our lives and the community at large. She is one of my “go-to” people for advice on everything from cooking and sewing to ministry…and her demonstration of faithfulness and service to others truly encourages and motivates me.
There’s no place like your local Wal-Mart to meet up with old friends and share a few minutes of conversation…and today was no exception for me. I not only bumped into my mother-in-law, but I also visited with Kathryn, another classmate’s mother who is a long-time friend…a former co-worker - Ramona…and a lady named Tommie, who was one of my Sunday school teachers when I was a child – and who has been another one of those “go-to” friends for as long as I can remember. A lady from the water aerobics class I used to attend stopped me to say “Hi” and to tell me that I am missed – and that I am welcome to join them again any time.
I waved and said “Hello” to probably a half dozen other acquaintances and friends, exchanged pleasantries with the clerk who checked my groceries – and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving - and I left with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. There was a cold, brisk wind, but the sun was shining brightly as I loaded groceries into the car. I thanked God for dear friends, for money to buy the things that I had purchased, for a good car to get me where I needed to go – and gas to power it – and a zillion other things, both named and unspoken.
The bottom line is that in life and death and every season in between…from year to year and one holiday to the next…we have so much to celebrate – so many reasons to praise God. Not every day is filled with extraordinary blessings. Some days, we move along with our routine, and everything seems to be fairly “normal” – maybe even mundane. Sometimes, our days are filled with troubles, headaches and heartaches at every turn, and it’s hard to even SEE the blessings! But they are always there…just the same.
Every day, there is some reason to celebrate and praise God. Some days, you may have to dig a little deeper than others…but the reasons for gratitude are there. And if you think about it a little, I bet you can name more than a few people who God has placed in your life to bless, encourage and nurture you in some way…not because you are a family member and/or they feel an obligation – but because God has filled them with a deep and abiding love and care for you.
I challenge you to find someone and/or something to thank God for every single day. I’m talking about the extras…the blessings that you might not even consider all that often that enrich your life in ways you don’t even realize. Thank God for these, along with the things you normally list…but this time, ponder each blessing and truly offer up genuine gratitude. Let Him know that you appreciate how deeply He cares for you…profoundly enough to put these people and experiences in your life for enhancement and added “oomph”! Celebrate just how good God is to you…how unfailing His love is…and how He is always working on new ways to fill your life with blessings and joy.
We tend to rattle off a list of things for which we are grateful with little to no real consideration for them. Let’s change that today. Let’s examine our blessings – all of them – a little more closely…and truly celebrate God with some genuine praise. It’s about time…wouldn’t you agree?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 20, 2014
Psalm 92:1-3
What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks,
to sing an anthem to you, the High God!
To announce your love each daybreak,
sing your faithful presence all through the night,
Accompanied by dulcimer and harp,
the full-bodied music of strings.
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.
Timothy and I were sitting in my office, and he was watching “Wubbzy” videos on my computer. The TV was on, but I was not paying any attention. A NASCAR race was about to begin, and they sang the “Star Spangled Banner”. Timothy suddenly shouted, "BOW YOUR HEAD!" I looked over, and he had his head bowed. A minister was praying at the race venue. So I bowed my head, and when the minister was done, Timothy said, "A-MEN!" Then he muttered, "Man…that was a long one!”
It was a precious moment, and I have to admit that I was proud that our little 5-year-old nephew respected a prayer enough to bow his head – even one offered over the television airwaves! But here’s the thing…we wouldn’t think of attending a sporting event and not singing the national anthem before it began. A lot of public sporting events also begin with a prayer. MANY of us don’t give this a second thought…unless it doesn’t happen!
I don’t know about you, but when I place my hand across my heart and listen to – or sing along with – “The Star Spangled Banner”, something is stirred in my heart. I am reminded of the privileges we enjoy in this country…and the unity of standing as a group and singing an anthem for the nation we love and the freedoms we enjoy. I am humbled by how blessed we are.
But I wonder…how many of us are as concerned about singing an anthem to God each day? How many of us stop to consider the awesome privilege it is to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ – to belong to God for all eternity and rest in the assurance of spending Eternity with Him in heaven? How many of us are humbled and stirred by the tremendous blessings we enjoy because of Jesus…and how often are we moved to sing out to Him in gratitude?
Somehow, I have a feeling we are more diligent about singing the national anthem and offering a prayer at a sporting event than we are about praising God for His incredible love and care. And as kids like to say, “that’s messed up!” And there is no time like the present to start making amends.
Stop today and look around you. Thank God for ALL that He does for you 24/7/365. Give Him some of your time. BOW YOUR HEAD and tell Him just how grateful you are for His love and care…for His wisdom and power…for JESUS! God deserves our songs of gratitude and praise…our prayers of love and allegiance. Will this be the day that you begin to sing an anthem for Him? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks,
to sing an anthem to you, the High God!
To announce your love each daybreak,
sing your faithful presence all through the night,
Accompanied by dulcimer and harp,
the full-bodied music of strings.
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.
Timothy and I were sitting in my office, and he was watching “Wubbzy” videos on my computer. The TV was on, but I was not paying any attention. A NASCAR race was about to begin, and they sang the “Star Spangled Banner”. Timothy suddenly shouted, "BOW YOUR HEAD!" I looked over, and he had his head bowed. A minister was praying at the race venue. So I bowed my head, and when the minister was done, Timothy said, "A-MEN!" Then he muttered, "Man…that was a long one!”
It was a precious moment, and I have to admit that I was proud that our little 5-year-old nephew respected a prayer enough to bow his head – even one offered over the television airwaves! But here’s the thing…we wouldn’t think of attending a sporting event and not singing the national anthem before it began. A lot of public sporting events also begin with a prayer. MANY of us don’t give this a second thought…unless it doesn’t happen!
I don’t know about you, but when I place my hand across my heart and listen to – or sing along with – “The Star Spangled Banner”, something is stirred in my heart. I am reminded of the privileges we enjoy in this country…and the unity of standing as a group and singing an anthem for the nation we love and the freedoms we enjoy. I am humbled by how blessed we are.
But I wonder…how many of us are as concerned about singing an anthem to God each day? How many of us stop to consider the awesome privilege it is to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ – to belong to God for all eternity and rest in the assurance of spending Eternity with Him in heaven? How many of us are humbled and stirred by the tremendous blessings we enjoy because of Jesus…and how often are we moved to sing out to Him in gratitude?
Somehow, I have a feeling we are more diligent about singing the national anthem and offering a prayer at a sporting event than we are about praising God for His incredible love and care. And as kids like to say, “that’s messed up!” And there is no time like the present to start making amends.
Stop today and look around you. Thank God for ALL that He does for you 24/7/365. Give Him some of your time. BOW YOUR HEAD and tell Him just how grateful you are for His love and care…for His wisdom and power…for JESUS! God deserves our songs of gratitude and praise…our prayers of love and allegiance. Will this be the day that you begin to sing an anthem for Him? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 15, 2014
Lamentations 3:21-23
Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My sister was going through some things she had stored away, and she found our maternal great-grandmother Hassell’s family Bible. Tucked into the pages was a small envelope of photograph negatives and a couple of tiny pictures of my mom as a toddler. My sister asked me to scan the negatives and invert them for printing. I have done this before with other old negatives we found amongst family photos, and the “reveal” is always fascinating.
This set was no exception and provided us with a couple of new photos of my favorite uncle, Frank…husband to my great-aunt Altha. My mother refers to little blessings like this as a “silver box”…and mine for today was new pictures of my Uncle Frank, my mom as a small girl, and the houses that made up my grandparents’ neighborhood only a block from the home in which I was reared. Today, the land where these houses once sat is cleared…a vacant lot offers little to no evidence that three homes and a garage once occupied that particular plot of land.
I have to admit, when I look out on that bare parcel and remember when there were houses there - filled with people who shaped my childhood - I can get a little sad. Yet here today was this “silver box” of photos and memories…confirmation that there was once “life” on that block…that people lived, loved, and no doubt “cussed and discussed” in those tiny homes that seemed so big back then…that little girls and collie dogs stood in the street or sat on porch steps and had their picture snapped for posterity…that their memory lives on, thanks to photographs and those of us who are old enough to remember them and tell the next generation.
As I looked at these photos and read this scripture passage, I thought of the biggest “silver box” of all…God’s faithfulness. I considered His mercies and compassion – new every day for each of us. I thought about how these gifts keep us from complete destruction and give us hope and courage to live another day, no matter what is happening in our immediate world – or the world at large. And I was filled with a heart of gratitude.
See, God didn’t have to do any of this for you and me. He doesn’t have to keep picking us up and setting us back on track day after day. There is no reason for Him to care so deeply about us other than an amazing, abiding, unconditional love that we cannot even begin to comprehend. The least we can do is to offer Him our thanks and praise. It’s all we have…because we can never match Him…not in any way, shape or form.
So I want you to think about your day and figure out where you might have overlooked a “silver box”. Consider how God has blessed you and refreshed your hope and energy today…how He has granted you His mercy and compassion, lifted you out of a mess, or soothed your weary and broken soul in some situation. Spend some time telling God how much this means to you…how full your heart is at the very thought of His love and care…how grateful you are that He loves you this much.
Like images that come to life when negatives are inverted and edited, God has refreshed us this very day with His amazing and capable handiwork. Don’t you think He deserves a few minutes of our time spent in gratitude and praise? Won’t you stop and thank Him for His fresh and tender mercies this day…and in every day to come? Isn’t it time you thanked God for His “silver boxes” in your life? Wouldn’t this be a perfect time to start?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My sister was going through some things she had stored away, and she found our maternal great-grandmother Hassell’s family Bible. Tucked into the pages was a small envelope of photograph negatives and a couple of tiny pictures of my mom as a toddler. My sister asked me to scan the negatives and invert them for printing. I have done this before with other old negatives we found amongst family photos, and the “reveal” is always fascinating.
This set was no exception and provided us with a couple of new photos of my favorite uncle, Frank…husband to my great-aunt Altha. My mother refers to little blessings like this as a “silver box”…and mine for today was new pictures of my Uncle Frank, my mom as a small girl, and the houses that made up my grandparents’ neighborhood only a block from the home in which I was reared. Today, the land where these houses once sat is cleared…a vacant lot offers little to no evidence that three homes and a garage once occupied that particular plot of land.
I have to admit, when I look out on that bare parcel and remember when there were houses there - filled with people who shaped my childhood - I can get a little sad. Yet here today was this “silver box” of photos and memories…confirmation that there was once “life” on that block…that people lived, loved, and no doubt “cussed and discussed” in those tiny homes that seemed so big back then…that little girls and collie dogs stood in the street or sat on porch steps and had their picture snapped for posterity…that their memory lives on, thanks to photographs and those of us who are old enough to remember them and tell the next generation.
As I looked at these photos and read this scripture passage, I thought of the biggest “silver box” of all…God’s faithfulness. I considered His mercies and compassion – new every day for each of us. I thought about how these gifts keep us from complete destruction and give us hope and courage to live another day, no matter what is happening in our immediate world – or the world at large. And I was filled with a heart of gratitude.
See, God didn’t have to do any of this for you and me. He doesn’t have to keep picking us up and setting us back on track day after day. There is no reason for Him to care so deeply about us other than an amazing, abiding, unconditional love that we cannot even begin to comprehend. The least we can do is to offer Him our thanks and praise. It’s all we have…because we can never match Him…not in any way, shape or form.
So I want you to think about your day and figure out where you might have overlooked a “silver box”. Consider how God has blessed you and refreshed your hope and energy today…how He has granted you His mercy and compassion, lifted you out of a mess, or soothed your weary and broken soul in some situation. Spend some time telling God how much this means to you…how full your heart is at the very thought of His love and care…how grateful you are that He loves you this much.
Like images that come to life when negatives are inverted and edited, God has refreshed us this very day with His amazing and capable handiwork. Don’t you think He deserves a few minutes of our time spent in gratitude and praise? Won’t you stop and thank Him for His fresh and tender mercies this day…and in every day to come? Isn’t it time you thanked God for His “silver boxes” in your life? Wouldn’t this be a perfect time to start?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 2, 2014
1 Chronicles 23:30
Each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing thanks and praise to him.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I am really trying to be more intentionally grateful. Ann Voskamp writes in her book, One Thousand Gifts* that the more we operate in gratitude, the less room we will have in our hearts and minds for other things…like a bad attitude, hatefulness, self-pity or self-loathing, and sinful thoughts of all kinds. She maintains that a heart of gratitude cannot co-exist with these things…at least not for very long.
With this thought in mind, the suggestion offered in this scripture verse to “sing thanks and praise” to the LORD each morning and evening makes perfect sense. Were we to stop for a few minutes at the beginning and end of our day and note a few reasons to be grateful, this might set the tone for the rest of our waking moments. As we learn to operate more in gratitude to God for all that He has done for us, this attitude spills over into other areas of our life…how we interact with other people…what triggers moments of stress…how we react to every situation and circumstance in our day.
We truly owe God more than two times of “intentional gratitude” each day…but it’s a good start. Let’s try this…let’s take just a minute or two each morning and evening to note a handful of things for which we are grateful. This is not the time to talk to God about your worries and concerns...but rather, let’s give God just a couple of minutes twice a day in which we really, truly notice some of the things that He has done for us. Let’s thank Him for some of the ways that He has blessed us…little nuances and gifts that make a difference – but we often take them for granted. Let’s enumerate the oft-unnoticed blessings God presents to us – and thank Him for them.
If we make twice-daily exercises in gratitude a part of our routine, we might just find that they become more prevalent at other times of our day. As we give God glory and praise for all that He has done in our lives, we may start to see Him more clearly in everyday, ordinary experiences. As we practice “intentional gratitude”, we may draw closer to God in ways we never expected. And this is a very good thing. Are you ready and willing to get started? What will you thank Him for first?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
Each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing thanks and praise to him.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I am really trying to be more intentionally grateful. Ann Voskamp writes in her book, One Thousand Gifts* that the more we operate in gratitude, the less room we will have in our hearts and minds for other things…like a bad attitude, hatefulness, self-pity or self-loathing, and sinful thoughts of all kinds. She maintains that a heart of gratitude cannot co-exist with these things…at least not for very long.
With this thought in mind, the suggestion offered in this scripture verse to “sing thanks and praise” to the LORD each morning and evening makes perfect sense. Were we to stop for a few minutes at the beginning and end of our day and note a few reasons to be grateful, this might set the tone for the rest of our waking moments. As we learn to operate more in gratitude to God for all that He has done for us, this attitude spills over into other areas of our life…how we interact with other people…what triggers moments of stress…how we react to every situation and circumstance in our day.
We truly owe God more than two times of “intentional gratitude” each day…but it’s a good start. Let’s try this…let’s take just a minute or two each morning and evening to note a handful of things for which we are grateful. This is not the time to talk to God about your worries and concerns...but rather, let’s give God just a couple of minutes twice a day in which we really, truly notice some of the things that He has done for us. Let’s thank Him for some of the ways that He has blessed us…little nuances and gifts that make a difference – but we often take them for granted. Let’s enumerate the oft-unnoticed blessings God presents to us – and thank Him for them.
If we make twice-daily exercises in gratitude a part of our routine, we might just find that they become more prevalent at other times of our day. As we give God glory and praise for all that He has done in our lives, we may start to see Him more clearly in everyday, ordinary experiences. As we practice “intentional gratitude”, we may draw closer to God in ways we never expected. And this is a very good thing. Are you ready and willing to get started? What will you thank Him for first?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
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