Philippians 3:15-19
So let’s keep focused on that
goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have
something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will
clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right
track, let’s stay on it.
Stick with me, friends. Keep track of
those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There
are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying
to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times;
sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They
hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who
live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all
they can think of is their appetites.
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.
It
started simply enough…I opened a drawer in the kitchen one morning,
rummaged for what I was needing, and ended up taking everything out of
the drawer and reorganizing it. Soon, I had moved on to the next
drawer…and the next…and a couple of hours later, every drawer in the
kitchen had been cleaned and organized. I felt like a new woman! That
was early January. I was so inspired and motivated by my newly
organized kitchen drawers that I moved on to other drawers and closets.
I am not finished, but I am just a closet and a couple of
drawers away from having reorganized my entire house. It’s not
perfect…by a long stretch. And I bet I could go back through and weed
out even more unnecessary “stuff” and make things look a whole lot
better. But I am very much a “work in progress” – even in the areas of
closets and drawers!
I’ll admit…more than once, I got sidetracked
– and discouraged. After all, what difference does it make if there is
a mess behind the cabinet doors? Who cares what’s in the drawers...
and is it really worth my time and energy to finish this project? I
only had to think of the time I’ve wasted looking for a particular
fastener or thread spool in my sewing cabinet to realize that the days I
spent organizing, cleaning and alphabetizing these items will make my
future sewing projects – and other activities - go so much smoother.
And I will be able to accomplish a lot more with less stress!
The old adage that anything worth doing is worth doing right is
true…and nowhere more than in our Spiritual life. If we are going to
do this “Disciple of Christ thing”…if we are going to walk with Jesus,
follow His teachings, share His Good News, and bask in His
blessings…doesn’t it make sense to stay on course and do the hard work?
Jesus does not offer us short-cuts to full-blown
discipleship…and with good reason – He doesn’t take them, either! Read
the New Testament and study His 30+ years on this earth. Read Paul’s
letters and see how Jesus left a legacy of ministry with His
disciples…to be carried on through the generations – even to us and
beyond. There is very little that is easy and simple, once you open
your heart and invite Jesus to dwell there and guide your every breath.
But oh, it’s so worth the effort. The joy and blessings you feel in
opening your Spiritual “closet and drawers” and finding peace and
organization… purpose and overflow…are so worth any struggle and
challenge.
Will everything stay neat and orderly? Probably not?
Will you have to reorganize a “drawer or closet” from time to time –
both spiritually and physically? Most likely. Will it be worth the
effort? Most definitely!
Won’t you make this the day that you
start to get organized…in your Spiritual fellowship with Jesus AND maybe
your physical life? Will this be the day that you open your heart and
see Christ in charge instead of chaos? Are you ready to get busy
“cleaning” and get back on the right path? Don’t you think you should
be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label reorganizing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reorganizing. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for June 18, 2013
2 Corinthians 7:1
With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine sums up her life like this… “Oh, look… a squirrel!” In other words, she is easily distracted by something as simple as a squirrel passing through her yard. And let’s be honest… there are countless interruptions in our everyday life that can divert our attention. Staying focused and “on task” is not easy!
At any given moment, my mind is racing between a dozen or more trains of thought… what I have on my “to-do list” for the day…what to say in this devotional… what to cook for dinner…when I will have time to fit in a workout…what day will be good for the children to visit…I forgot to water the plants…did I turn off the iron?...I wish I hadn’t said/done such-and-such to one person or another… why did I eat that last chicken strip?... I need to check and answer e-mail…and so much more! And I bet you could give me a similar list. While all of this is going on in our brains, we are trying to concentrate on specific tasks… studying…working at our job…caring for our children, friends or other family members… driving… texting or e-mailing… carrying on a conversation with someone…or even reading our Bible or praying!
Paul is telling us in this passage that we need to clean out the clutter. We need to call on God to help us gain focus – and keep it. We need to learn to concentrate on one, maybe two tasks at a time…to limit the minutes we spend daydreaming… to get organized… and to prioritize. When we “see a squirrel,” we need to essentially say, “Yep, that’s a squirrel!” and return to the task at hand.
We need to start replacing some of the mindless drivel that occupies our mind – and our time – with a dialog between ourselves and God, Bible study, and a focus on things that honor and glorify Him. We need to evaluate every aspect of our lives… from the junk food we ingest to our lack of exercise and proper rest to the activities that consume our days and nights… and see where these things line up with God’s plan for us.
There is no time like the present to clear the clutter – physically, mentally, and Spiritually. Every single one of us has some area of our life with which we are less than serene. Even those of us who feel that life is pretty good can name something that could use improvement… an aspect that we could work on that would bring us more into sync with God – and create a more peaceful existence in the bargain.
Clearing the clutter and making more room for God is something each of us should consider. God will help us figure out what needs to stay and what should go. And when we “see a squirrel”…He can help us learn how to momentarily admire it and get right back on track! Aren’t you ready to rid yourself of distractions and the troubles that come with them? Don’t you want to focus more clearly on God and His plan for your life? Isn’t it time to bring His peace and order into your daily living? Will this be the day you begin… or are you still too busy looking at squirrels?
©2013 Debbie Robus
With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine sums up her life like this… “Oh, look… a squirrel!” In other words, she is easily distracted by something as simple as a squirrel passing through her yard. And let’s be honest… there are countless interruptions in our everyday life that can divert our attention. Staying focused and “on task” is not easy!
At any given moment, my mind is racing between a dozen or more trains of thought… what I have on my “to-do list” for the day…what to say in this devotional… what to cook for dinner…when I will have time to fit in a workout…what day will be good for the children to visit…I forgot to water the plants…did I turn off the iron?...I wish I hadn’t said/done such-and-such to one person or another… why did I eat that last chicken strip?... I need to check and answer e-mail…and so much more! And I bet you could give me a similar list. While all of this is going on in our brains, we are trying to concentrate on specific tasks… studying…working at our job…caring for our children, friends or other family members… driving… texting or e-mailing… carrying on a conversation with someone…or even reading our Bible or praying!
Paul is telling us in this passage that we need to clean out the clutter. We need to call on God to help us gain focus – and keep it. We need to learn to concentrate on one, maybe two tasks at a time…to limit the minutes we spend daydreaming… to get organized… and to prioritize. When we “see a squirrel,” we need to essentially say, “Yep, that’s a squirrel!” and return to the task at hand.
We need to start replacing some of the mindless drivel that occupies our mind – and our time – with a dialog between ourselves and God, Bible study, and a focus on things that honor and glorify Him. We need to evaluate every aspect of our lives… from the junk food we ingest to our lack of exercise and proper rest to the activities that consume our days and nights… and see where these things line up with God’s plan for us.
There is no time like the present to clear the clutter – physically, mentally, and Spiritually. Every single one of us has some area of our life with which we are less than serene. Even those of us who feel that life is pretty good can name something that could use improvement… an aspect that we could work on that would bring us more into sync with God – and create a more peaceful existence in the bargain.
Clearing the clutter and making more room for God is something each of us should consider. God will help us figure out what needs to stay and what should go. And when we “see a squirrel”…He can help us learn how to momentarily admire it and get right back on track! Aren’t you ready to rid yourself of distractions and the troubles that come with them? Don’t you want to focus more clearly on God and His plan for your life? Isn’t it time to bring His peace and order into your daily living? Will this be the day you begin… or are you still too busy looking at squirrels?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 6, 2011
Psalm 102:25-27
In the beginning, LORD, you laid the earth's foundation and created the heavens. They will all disappear and wear out like clothes. You change them, as you would a coat, but you last forever. You are always the same. Years cannot change you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I gave my closet what I considered a “good cleaning.” I have items of clothing that are more than a decade old… and some jackets that are even older. I know that a few people are probably saying, “I believe it… no wonder you look so outdated!” But I do not like to get rid of things. And honestly, some of these items are still in style – or they have come back into style – and they have a lot of good “wear” left in them!
Some of my shoes are really well-made and appear to be headed toward lasting forever. Others… like my favorite pair of more-than-10-year-old fake leather boots… recently started to “flake” apart. I had to admit that they were worn out and needed to go. And on closer inspection, a lot of the items I thought I couldn’t live without had seen better days or no longer were right for me. So I sacked and sorted and donated and threw away. And I have to admit… I’m really happy with my “new” closet. Even though there are fewer items there, it seems more orderly and spacious… and what is left seems to make more sense.
This is a good time of year for us to clean our “Spiritual” closet, too. It’s time to let go of some old, outdated – or misinformed – concepts we have and seek a sleeker, cleaner, more organized relationship with God. Because you see, His truths are not going anywhere! The love, grace, mercy, and indisputable word of God will never change. But our level of faith… our attitudes and study habits… our level of communication and connection with God… seems to fluctuate. We appear to change our relationship with God often - like we change our wardrobe!
Wouldn’t it feel good to “clean out the closet” once and for all… to get rid of the old, worn-out habits and ideas that stymie your faith and your walk with God? Wouldn’t it be great to have a “Spiritual closet” filled with the “timeless classics” of a solid relationship with Almighty God and His Holy Spirit? Set aside some time to search your heart… to talk to God about what needs to stay, what is missing… and what needs to go. Then give your heart the “Spiritual cleaning” of a lifetime. This time, vow to keep things in order. With God’s help, we can do this… and our Spiritual life will always be in style.
©2010 Debbie Robus
In the beginning, LORD, you laid the earth's foundation and created the heavens. They will all disappear and wear out like clothes. You change them, as you would a coat, but you last forever. You are always the same. Years cannot change you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I gave my closet what I considered a “good cleaning.” I have items of clothing that are more than a decade old… and some jackets that are even older. I know that a few people are probably saying, “I believe it… no wonder you look so outdated!” But I do not like to get rid of things. And honestly, some of these items are still in style – or they have come back into style – and they have a lot of good “wear” left in them!
Some of my shoes are really well-made and appear to be headed toward lasting forever. Others… like my favorite pair of more-than-10-year-old fake leather boots… recently started to “flake” apart. I had to admit that they were worn out and needed to go. And on closer inspection, a lot of the items I thought I couldn’t live without had seen better days or no longer were right for me. So I sacked and sorted and donated and threw away. And I have to admit… I’m really happy with my “new” closet. Even though there are fewer items there, it seems more orderly and spacious… and what is left seems to make more sense.
This is a good time of year for us to clean our “Spiritual” closet, too. It’s time to let go of some old, outdated – or misinformed – concepts we have and seek a sleeker, cleaner, more organized relationship with God. Because you see, His truths are not going anywhere! The love, grace, mercy, and indisputable word of God will never change. But our level of faith… our attitudes and study habits… our level of communication and connection with God… seems to fluctuate. We appear to change our relationship with God often - like we change our wardrobe!
Wouldn’t it feel good to “clean out the closet” once and for all… to get rid of the old, worn-out habits and ideas that stymie your faith and your walk with God? Wouldn’t it be great to have a “Spiritual closet” filled with the “timeless classics” of a solid relationship with Almighty God and His Holy Spirit? Set aside some time to search your heart… to talk to God about what needs to stay, what is missing… and what needs to go. Then give your heart the “Spiritual cleaning” of a lifetime. This time, vow to keep things in order. With God’s help, we can do this… and our Spiritual life will always be in style.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 9, 2010
April 9 ~ 2 Peter 1:3
We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, my husband and I set out with Timmy to attend a high school baseball game. I packed a bag with everything I thought I would need – diapers, bottles, a blanket, a sweater, wet wipes, sunscreen, and a toy. You would be proud of me… I did not carry my purse! I stuck the few things I felt I might need for myself in the baby’s bag. We tossed the stroller in the back of the vehicle and headed to the ball field… and the game had been cancelled. As usual, I had over-packed… although this time, I might have actually needed everything I brought if the game had taken place.
How often do we over-pack our lives? God gave us everything we need when we invited Jesus into our hearts… salvation, Eternal Life, the Holy Spirit to guide us each day, Scripture, prayer for communicating with Him directly, comfort, joy, peace, protection, and more. We are continually trying to add to this… worry, concern, fear, loneliness, frustration, pain, sorrow, discord, strife, busyness, over-indulgence, gluttony, envy, jealousy - and sins on every side.
It’s time to “un-pack the bag” and get rid of the things we really don’t need. It’s time to de-clutter our lives and get back to the basics of our faith. It’s time to take a good hard look at the things God put in the bag and see their value… and to get rid of anything that isn’t necessary or put there by God! Going to that ballgame without my big purse full of “stuff” was a huge step for me. I have to admit, I was a little uneasy at first… but in the end, it was extremely freeing. Our baggage and “extras” drag us down. What baggage have you added lately? Isn’t it time you cleaned out the bag and got back to the basics God provides? This truly is everything we need… and more. The rest is total clutter - and needs to go. Are you ready?
©2010 Debbie Robus
We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, my husband and I set out with Timmy to attend a high school baseball game. I packed a bag with everything I thought I would need – diapers, bottles, a blanket, a sweater, wet wipes, sunscreen, and a toy. You would be proud of me… I did not carry my purse! I stuck the few things I felt I might need for myself in the baby’s bag. We tossed the stroller in the back of the vehicle and headed to the ball field… and the game had been cancelled. As usual, I had over-packed… although this time, I might have actually needed everything I brought if the game had taken place.
How often do we over-pack our lives? God gave us everything we need when we invited Jesus into our hearts… salvation, Eternal Life, the Holy Spirit to guide us each day, Scripture, prayer for communicating with Him directly, comfort, joy, peace, protection, and more. We are continually trying to add to this… worry, concern, fear, loneliness, frustration, pain, sorrow, discord, strife, busyness, over-indulgence, gluttony, envy, jealousy - and sins on every side.
It’s time to “un-pack the bag” and get rid of the things we really don’t need. It’s time to de-clutter our lives and get back to the basics of our faith. It’s time to take a good hard look at the things God put in the bag and see their value… and to get rid of anything that isn’t necessary or put there by God! Going to that ballgame without my big purse full of “stuff” was a huge step for me. I have to admit, I was a little uneasy at first… but in the end, it was extremely freeing. Our baggage and “extras” drag us down. What baggage have you added lately? Isn’t it time you cleaned out the bag and got back to the basics God provides? This truly is everything we need… and more. The rest is total clutter - and needs to go. Are you ready?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 8, 2010
April 8 ~ 1 Timothy 6:6-8
And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have. We didn't bring anything into this world, and we won't take anything with us when we leave. So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I recently watched an episode of The History Channel’s “American Pickers,” about two men from Iowa who trek across the country in search of “one man’s junk” that can be recycled and restored and turned into another man’s “treasure.” On the episode I viewed, the men visited a gentleman who has an incredible collection that includes a turn-of-the-century wood rim bicycle and a high-wheeler from the 1880’s. At every turn, the two men asked the owner, “How much for this?” The man’s standard reply was, “Oh… a couple thousand.” In other words, he didn’t want to sell! He even remarked, “I am going to have to buy a really big casket to take all this with me!”
The truth is, we won’t take any of our “stuff” with us when we die, and a lot of it isn’t adding much to our lives in the present! I know, I know… I have closets full of things I don’t need, too. But sadly, for a lot of us, we fill our lives with things we don’t even want out of some deep-seated idea that we can gain satisfaction with “stuff!” The truth is that what we really need is more of JESUS!
Many people are trying to fill a void with things, people, trips and activities, drugs, alcohol and more… and there is never enough. If you just had one more car, video game or pair of shoes… that would be enough. If you could just go to Europe or take a cruise one more time, your life would be complete. Have you ever seen the Kohler bath commercial where the Italian grandma is dying, and she is saying that her life is complete… she accomplished and experienced everything she could possibly want – until the door opens to show a beautiful woman running her hands through the water that fills a bath tub in a spa-like setting. The grandma utters a curse word and dies, regretting that this was the one thing she missed.
What are you missing? If we truly search our hearts, I think most of us would find we are missing more of Jesus. We are missing a deeper sense of trust, a stronger faith, a more intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. I recently commented to my mom that if I spent adequate time praying over the people and concerns on my prayer list these days, I would be in prayer all day… and then we both laughed. We both realized the absurdity of what I had just said, because this obviously is not the priority in my life it should be. See, I’ve let “things” get in the way of spending time with God, and I suspect you may have, too. I could give up a couple of mindless television shows per day to pray. I could walk an extra loop on my exercise route and talk to God a little longer. Instead of surfing the Internet shopping for my next purchase, I could be covering someone in prayer who has deep needs… or finding out what God wants me to do with the next few hours/minutes/days of my life.
We need to realize what is really important. It’s okay to have nice things… to live full lives and go places and do things. But it is not okay to give these first place in our lives. Priorities matter… GOD matters. We can’t take it with us when we die… and we wouldn’t want to anyway. Where are your priorities? What are your treasures?
Leland's Cafe. (2010). The History Channel website. Retrieved 3:33, April 6, 2010, from http://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers/episodes/american-pickers-episodes#slide-2.
©2010 Debbie Robus
And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have. We didn't bring anything into this world, and we won't take anything with us when we leave. So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I recently watched an episode of The History Channel’s “American Pickers,” about two men from Iowa who trek across the country in search of “one man’s junk” that can be recycled and restored and turned into another man’s “treasure.” On the episode I viewed, the men visited a gentleman who has an incredible collection that includes a turn-of-the-century wood rim bicycle and a high-wheeler from the 1880’s. At every turn, the two men asked the owner, “How much for this?” The man’s standard reply was, “Oh… a couple thousand.” In other words, he didn’t want to sell! He even remarked, “I am going to have to buy a really big casket to take all this with me!”
The truth is, we won’t take any of our “stuff” with us when we die, and a lot of it isn’t adding much to our lives in the present! I know, I know… I have closets full of things I don’t need, too. But sadly, for a lot of us, we fill our lives with things we don’t even want out of some deep-seated idea that we can gain satisfaction with “stuff!” The truth is that what we really need is more of JESUS!
Many people are trying to fill a void with things, people, trips and activities, drugs, alcohol and more… and there is never enough. If you just had one more car, video game or pair of shoes… that would be enough. If you could just go to Europe or take a cruise one more time, your life would be complete. Have you ever seen the Kohler bath commercial where the Italian grandma is dying, and she is saying that her life is complete… she accomplished and experienced everything she could possibly want – until the door opens to show a beautiful woman running her hands through the water that fills a bath tub in a spa-like setting. The grandma utters a curse word and dies, regretting that this was the one thing she missed.
What are you missing? If we truly search our hearts, I think most of us would find we are missing more of Jesus. We are missing a deeper sense of trust, a stronger faith, a more intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. I recently commented to my mom that if I spent adequate time praying over the people and concerns on my prayer list these days, I would be in prayer all day… and then we both laughed. We both realized the absurdity of what I had just said, because this obviously is not the priority in my life it should be. See, I’ve let “things” get in the way of spending time with God, and I suspect you may have, too. I could give up a couple of mindless television shows per day to pray. I could walk an extra loop on my exercise route and talk to God a little longer. Instead of surfing the Internet shopping for my next purchase, I could be covering someone in prayer who has deep needs… or finding out what God wants me to do with the next few hours/minutes/days of my life.
We need to realize what is really important. It’s okay to have nice things… to live full lives and go places and do things. But it is not okay to give these first place in our lives. Priorities matter… GOD matters. We can’t take it with us when we die… and we wouldn’t want to anyway. Where are your priorities? What are your treasures?
Leland's Cafe. (2010). The History Channel website. Retrieved 3:33, April 6, 2010, from http://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers/episodes/american-pickers-episodes#slide-2.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 15, 2010
February 15 ~ Matthew 14:23
Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that evening, he was still there.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
How is it that we can sit through three-hour movies, a whole afternoon of football or basketball games, hours of playing video games, or chatting/texting with friends on the phone or computer, but we cannot find five minutes to pray? How often do we sit down to do something and forget all about the time… looking up hours later to realize we haven’t noticed how much time has elapsed? Yet we seldom sit quietly and just talk to God. Why is this?
I will be the first to admit that I am guilty as charged. I have the best intentions of spending a “quiet time” each day with God, but about the most I muster is my 3-mile walk a few times a week. And that’s not all bad. But doesn’t God deserve some “alone time” with us? Doesn’t He deserve some time when we “go to the mountain alone” and sit with Him for a while?
I am challenging each of us to do better in this area – myself included. I am suggesting we give up a television program, a game of solitaire, a few minutes of chat or whatever eats up our time… and spend some “quiet alone time” with our Heavenly Father. I think we will all find that this becomes the best part of our day… the most productive, rewarding, and blessed time. I believe this time spent with God could make every aspect of the rest of our day better. Are you willing to find out?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that evening, he was still there.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
How is it that we can sit through three-hour movies, a whole afternoon of football or basketball games, hours of playing video games, or chatting/texting with friends on the phone or computer, but we cannot find five minutes to pray? How often do we sit down to do something and forget all about the time… looking up hours later to realize we haven’t noticed how much time has elapsed? Yet we seldom sit quietly and just talk to God. Why is this?
I will be the first to admit that I am guilty as charged. I have the best intentions of spending a “quiet time” each day with God, but about the most I muster is my 3-mile walk a few times a week. And that’s not all bad. But doesn’t God deserve some “alone time” with us? Doesn’t He deserve some time when we “go to the mountain alone” and sit with Him for a while?
I am challenging each of us to do better in this area – myself included. I am suggesting we give up a television program, a game of solitaire, a few minutes of chat or whatever eats up our time… and spend some “quiet alone time” with our Heavenly Father. I think we will all find that this becomes the best part of our day… the most productive, rewarding, and blessed time. I believe this time spent with God could make every aspect of the rest of our day better. Are you willing to find out?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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