December 11 ~ Philippians 4:13
Christ gives me the strength to face anything.
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 his book, Become a Better You, Joel Osteen admonishes us to quit putting ourselves down… that doesn’t do us any good. Forget the past… it’s over and done and can’t be changed. If we continue feel guilty about the past, we will lack the strength to live victoriously today – and beyond.” I’m paraphrasing here, but Pastor Osteen makes a very important point.
While Christ gives us the strength to face anything, a lot of us are pretty busy counteracting that strength at every turn by living in the past, wallowing in guilt and shame over something that happened ten years ago, or blaming our childhood for the mistakes we make today! We need to recognize that we are all human. We all have moments that we regret… something we said that was not so kind, a poorly made choice. Who among us hasn’t said (if only to ourselves), “You didn’t do your best on that test… you should have studied more,” or “You should pray more… longer… harder…” or “I can’t believe you gave such a lousy performance – on the court, the field, or in the concert. You should have practiced more”… or even “You are a lousy mom/dad/grandparent/friend. How could you treat this person so badly”?
You can fill in the blanks with your own litany of criticisms. But the point is that we are wasting valuable time living in guilt, shame and resentment and frustration instead of saying, “LORD, I have all of the strength I need because of You… help me to focus my thoughts and actions in a positive direction. Forgive me for the things I’ve done… and help me to do better.” This is what God asks of us… that we humbly admit our shortcomings and disappointments – then try to do better moving forward.
We must remember that God knows what flawed creatures we are… and He loves us anyway. He wants us to succeed… to be happy, productive, hopeful servants. And He has equipped us with everything we need. OUR JOB is to recognize His power within us… and to embrace it!
I’m not suggesting that we limp along in life, make mistakes, then throw up our hands and say, “Oh, well!” We must take responsibility for our actions… and our faults. But we serve a God who stands ready to pick us up and deliver us into a better day… if only we will receive His gifts of wisdom, hope, forgiveness – and strength.
We have a choice today… we can continue to wallow in the past and let the devil remind us about the mistakes we have made – or we can invite Christ Jesus to fill us with His Holy Spirit and give us all the strength we will ever need… and more. We can stay stuck in our rut… or we can let Jesus propel us into a hopeful, productive future. Which way will you decide to go?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label recognizing how important we are to God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recognizing how important we are to God. Show all posts
Romans 12:16
Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have probably told this story before, but when I was in fifth grade, my family moved to Gore, Oklahoma, for about six months so that my dad could work as a welder on a lock and dam being constructed on the Arkansas River. For the first time in my childhood, we had discretionary income. We drove about 30 miles to Muskogee to shop and eat out. We got toys and new clothes for our Barbies – and it wasn’t even our birthday or Christmas!
Gore had a tiny elementary school – one class for each grade level. Most of the students were either children of construction workers – or very poor Native Americans. But the “construction children” were the ones others seemed to look down upon in this community. We were considered “nomads” who wandered in for a few months, then moved on to another location – some referred to us as “trailer trash.” And I can assure you, the way some folks acted toward us was anything but fun or pleasant!
I think this was the first time I realized how it felt to be “ordinary” – or something less. I recognized that people didn’t see us for who we were… we were judged on a far more exacting criteria. The one place where we were treated somewhat respectfully was at the local Baptist church… because my mom, sister and I could play the piano and organ. We were considered beneficial.
Even though this job offered my dad the opportunity to provide for his family, my mom didn’t have to work outside the home, and we had “spending money”…we were miserable. We wanted to come home, where people loved us and cared about us - and treated us like we mattered.
Think about this in the context of your life today. Do you feel like you are smarter – or better – than anyone else? Are there people in your class… at work… or in your church or community who you avoid or have an unfriendly feeling toward, for some reason? Have you examined why you feel this way? Does it really matter?
Our community holds an annual class reunion of sorts each October. The class who graduated 50 years ago serves as the hosts, and a program provides brief biographies on each class member. I have yet to come away from one where I was not amazed at the accomplishments of at least one classmate… usually the one nobody ever thought would amount to anything! Chemists and scientists, college professors, doctors, lawyers, architects, artists, world travelers, and much more are represented among these students once considered “ordinary,” or even poor – and unintelligent. How many times have you heard someone express astonishment at the success of someone who was always considered to be a lousy student?
The time has come for us to recognize that this is NOT how Jesus treats us. He does not look at any of us and say, “This one is poor and doesn’t matter… he/she isn’t the brightest bulb in the box… that one has crooked teeth or a big nose. I did not die on the cross for ‘ordinary’ people!” Each of us is precious to Jesus… so precious that He gave His very life for us. He would never treat even one of us as less than another. If we want to be like Jesus, we have to do the same.
Do you have some re-evaluating to do today? Isn’t it time we all made a little attitude check and figured out where ours needs an “alignment” of sorts? How many “ordinary people” can you count among your friends?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have probably told this story before, but when I was in fifth grade, my family moved to Gore, Oklahoma, for about six months so that my dad could work as a welder on a lock and dam being constructed on the Arkansas River. For the first time in my childhood, we had discretionary income. We drove about 30 miles to Muskogee to shop and eat out. We got toys and new clothes for our Barbies – and it wasn’t even our birthday or Christmas!
Gore had a tiny elementary school – one class for each grade level. Most of the students were either children of construction workers – or very poor Native Americans. But the “construction children” were the ones others seemed to look down upon in this community. We were considered “nomads” who wandered in for a few months, then moved on to another location – some referred to us as “trailer trash.” And I can assure you, the way some folks acted toward us was anything but fun or pleasant!
I think this was the first time I realized how it felt to be “ordinary” – or something less. I recognized that people didn’t see us for who we were… we were judged on a far more exacting criteria. The one place where we were treated somewhat respectfully was at the local Baptist church… because my mom, sister and I could play the piano and organ. We were considered beneficial.
Even though this job offered my dad the opportunity to provide for his family, my mom didn’t have to work outside the home, and we had “spending money”…we were miserable. We wanted to come home, where people loved us and cared about us - and treated us like we mattered.
Think about this in the context of your life today. Do you feel like you are smarter – or better – than anyone else? Are there people in your class… at work… or in your church or community who you avoid or have an unfriendly feeling toward, for some reason? Have you examined why you feel this way? Does it really matter?
Our community holds an annual class reunion of sorts each October. The class who graduated 50 years ago serves as the hosts, and a program provides brief biographies on each class member. I have yet to come away from one where I was not amazed at the accomplishments of at least one classmate… usually the one nobody ever thought would amount to anything! Chemists and scientists, college professors, doctors, lawyers, architects, artists, world travelers, and much more are represented among these students once considered “ordinary,” or even poor – and unintelligent. How many times have you heard someone express astonishment at the success of someone who was always considered to be a lousy student?
The time has come for us to recognize that this is NOT how Jesus treats us. He does not look at any of us and say, “This one is poor and doesn’t matter… he/she isn’t the brightest bulb in the box… that one has crooked teeth or a big nose. I did not die on the cross for ‘ordinary’ people!” Each of us is precious to Jesus… so precious that He gave His very life for us. He would never treat even one of us as less than another. If we want to be like Jesus, we have to do the same.
Do you have some re-evaluating to do today? Isn’t it time we all made a little attitude check and figured out where ours needs an “alignment” of sorts? How many “ordinary people” can you count among your friends?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 17, 2012
1 Chronicles 17:16-18
David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. He sat there and prayed: Lord God, my family and I don’t deserve what you have already done for us, and yet you have promised to do even more for my descendants. You are treating me as if I am a very important person. I am your servant, and you know my thoughts. What else can I say, except that you have honored me?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our great-nephew, Chase, is eight years old. He is totally mesmerized by all things “Titanic”. He knows facts and figures about the R.M.S. Titanic, the names of many passengers and whether they lived or perished, and much more. A couple of months ago, the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri, had a Centennial Tribute to commemorate 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic. My mother learned of Chase’s fascination with this vessel… as well as that of a teenage boy who lives in our town. She knows people on the staff at the Titanic Museum Attraction, and she told them about these two boys.
The staff invited Chase and the other young man to be V.I.P. guests for the day on April 14th, when the Centennial Tribute festivities were held. Chase and his dad drove across southern Missouri to be there. He was given a V.I.P. badge – and the “royal treatment.” On a recent visit to our house, Chase recanted how he was a “very important person” that day… and told us what all he had seen and done. Needless to say, he felt honored to have received such special care and attention.
Everyone likes to feel important. I seriously doubt any of us would turn down V.I.P. treatment. Most of us would be honored to be given such status – and all that accompanies it - in any given circumstance. What we do not realize is that God offers us V.I.P. status every day… and we don’t even recognize it – much less feel a sense of honor and humility. Sadly, we take much of what God grants us for granted. And still, He continues to bless us with His grace, mercy, love and forgiveness.
Don’t you think it’s time we stopped and paid a little attention to what God is doing in our lives? Isn’t it time to recognize how “royally” God treats us… and to thank Him for this? Doesn’t God deserve our respect and humility – our gratitude and behavior that at least begins to reflect someone worthy of such blessings?
Think about everything that God does for you. Now consider that He has promised to do even more for your descendants! Pretty amazing, isn’t it?! Don’t you feel honored? Don’t you feel humbled… and desire to show your gratitude in any and every way you can? Isn’t today a good day to get started on this?
©2012 Debbie Robus
David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. He sat there and prayed: Lord God, my family and I don’t deserve what you have already done for us, and yet you have promised to do even more for my descendants. You are treating me as if I am a very important person. I am your servant, and you know my thoughts. What else can I say, except that you have honored me?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our great-nephew, Chase, is eight years old. He is totally mesmerized by all things “Titanic”. He knows facts and figures about the R.M.S. Titanic, the names of many passengers and whether they lived or perished, and much more. A couple of months ago, the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri, had a Centennial Tribute to commemorate 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic. My mother learned of Chase’s fascination with this vessel… as well as that of a teenage boy who lives in our town. She knows people on the staff at the Titanic Museum Attraction, and she told them about these two boys.
The staff invited Chase and the other young man to be V.I.P. guests for the day on April 14th, when the Centennial Tribute festivities were held. Chase and his dad drove across southern Missouri to be there. He was given a V.I.P. badge – and the “royal treatment.” On a recent visit to our house, Chase recanted how he was a “very important person” that day… and told us what all he had seen and done. Needless to say, he felt honored to have received such special care and attention.
Everyone likes to feel important. I seriously doubt any of us would turn down V.I.P. treatment. Most of us would be honored to be given such status – and all that accompanies it - in any given circumstance. What we do not realize is that God offers us V.I.P. status every day… and we don’t even recognize it – much less feel a sense of honor and humility. Sadly, we take much of what God grants us for granted. And still, He continues to bless us with His grace, mercy, love and forgiveness.
Don’t you think it’s time we stopped and paid a little attention to what God is doing in our lives? Isn’t it time to recognize how “royally” God treats us… and to thank Him for this? Doesn’t God deserve our respect and humility – our gratitude and behavior that at least begins to reflect someone worthy of such blessings?
Think about everything that God does for you. Now consider that He has promised to do even more for your descendants! Pretty amazing, isn’t it?! Don’t you feel honored? Don’t you feel humbled… and desire to show your gratitude in any and every way you can? Isn’t today a good day to get started on this?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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