Daily Devotional for November 12, 2015

Psalm 23:1-6

You, Lord, are my shepherd.
    I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields
    of green grass.
You lead me to streams
    of peaceful water,
    and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name,
    and you lead me
    along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys
    as dark as death,
    but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me,
    and your shepherd’s rod
    makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast,
    while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
    and you fill my cup
    until it overflows.
Your kindness and love
    will always be with me
    each day of my life,
    and I will live forever
    in your house, Lord.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

A couple of years ago, my brother’s childhood friend, Amy, died suddenly from a head injury that she suffered in a fall.  Her sister asked me to speak at her funeral…to offer some words of comfort to family members and friends.  God led me to the 23rd Psalm. 

We all know this passage.  You can probably recite at least most of it from heart.  “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.”  But look at how this translation explains that sentence. 

“YOU Lord, are my shepherd…I will never be in need.”  Let this concept “soak in” for a bit.

”I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe.” Consider these words as you wrestle with the challenges and scary situations in your own life – or that of someone you love.
 
“Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life…” Imagine the arm of Jesus enveloping you as you take each and every daily step.  Feel His loving presence in each breath you take…welcome His kindness even when your world seems to be crumbling around you.

I went through “The 23rd Psalm” line by line at Amy’s funeral and detailed how the words related to God’s care for her – and for each of us.  In doing so, I gained a new perspective on these words and how much God loves us.  I was reminded to worry less, and trust God more…because He truly IS meeting our every need, whether we recognize it or not.

My prayer today is that we would embrace the words of Psalm 23 and take them to heart…that we really would begin to believe in God’s presence and care and grow in confidence that He will always be with us…that we have nothing to fear…that we are safe in the love and kindness of His powerful – yet gentle – arms.  The Lord IS my shepherd, and I will never be in need.  Do you believe this?  Isn’t it time you did?
   
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 7, 2014

Revelation 14:11-13
If you worship the beast and the idol and accept the mark of its name, you will be tortured day and night. The smoke from your torture will go up forever and ever, and you will never be able to rest.

God’s people must learn to endure. They must also obey his commands and have faith in Jesus.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Put this in writing. From now on, the Lord will bless everyone who has faith in him when they die.”

The Spirit answered, “Yes, they will rest from their hard work, and they will be rewarded for what they have done.”

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Our little great-niece Kelsey was sporting a “Hello Kitty” temporary tattoo on her tummy a few days ago.  Her mom let her wear it underneath her blouse where it wasn’t readily visible…but Kelsey was happy to show it to anyone and everyone.  Her dad teased her and said, “I think we need to do some scrubbing and get that off of there!”  Kelsey giggled.  In a few days, all traces of the harmless little cartoon kitty will be history.

My cousins Janette and Natalie never steer me wrong.  When they recommend a book, I listen.  So when Janette told me about One Thousand Gifts* by Ann Voskamp, I made a mental note to check it out…and now I can’t stop reading!  I have posted a link to a website where you can read the first chapter.  Please keep reading…this first chapter is a tough one!  Voskamp talks about the death of her toddler sister, Aimee, when Ann was a little girl…and what it did to her family – especially her dad.  She says that after her sister’s death, a church bus picked Voskamp up each Sunday for services…but her parents stopped going to church altogether.

Ann Voskamp says, “Really, when you bury a child — or when you just simply get up every day and live life raw — you murmur the question soundlessly. No one hears. Can there be a good God? A God who graces with good gifts when a crib lies empty through long nights, and bugs burrow through coffins? Where is God, really? How can He be good when babies die, and marriages implode, and dreams blow away, dust in the wind? Where is grace bestowed when cancer gnaws and loneliness aches and nameless places in us soundlessly die, break off without reason, erode away. Where hides this joy of the Lord, this God who fills the earth with good things, and how do I fully live when life is full of hurt? How do I wake up to joy and grace and beauty and all that is the fullest life when I must stay numb to losses and crushed dreams and all that empties me out?”

Thankfully, many of us have never witnessed a delivery truck running smack over our precious baby.  But other life events have caused us to turn away from God, all the same. 

Voskamp describes the reaction she observed in her own family…”No, God, we won’t take what You give. No, God, Your plans are a gutted, bleeding mess and I didn’t sign up for this and You really thought I’d go for this? No, God, this is ugly and this is a mess and can’t You get anything right and just haul all this pain out of here and I’ll take it from here, thanks. And God? Thanks for nothing.”  She adds…”I wake and put the feet to the plank floors, and I believe the Serpent’s hissing lie, the repeating refrain of his campaign through the ages: God isn’t good. It’s the cornerstone of his movement. That God withholds good from His children, that God does not genuinely, fully, love us.” 

In other words, life gets tough, and we “accept the mark” of the devil’s name…we tattoo His claim on our bellies or forehead and go on with our lives.  In Voskamp’s words, “Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren’t satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other. If I’m ruthlessly honest, I may have said yes to God, yes to Christianity, but really, I have lived the no.”

I can hear you now.  “I would NEVER take the mark of the devil!  I would never turn my back on God and follow him.”  Really?  Let’s be honest.  There have been times when God seemed silent…distant…and our world seemed to be crumbling around us over SOMETHING…and we were at the very least tempted to say, “That’s it…I’m done! Trusting God is simply not working for me!”   And that’s where these verses from Revelation hit home.  Stick with God…have faith…hang in there. “He means to fill us with glory again. With glory and grace,” Voskamp writes.

She points out that “…maybe you don’t want to change the story, because you don’t know what a different ending holds. There’s a reason I am not writing the story and God is. He knows how it all works out, where it all leads, what it all means. I don’t.”  The Bible tells us that the “end of the story” is beautiful…glorious…and worth the effort and faith to persevere.

It’s time to “remove the tattoo”…to scrub our skin and come clean with God…and to trust that His plans – and the yet-to-be-seen outcomes – are perfect.  Perfect rest from all of our struggles and heartaches awaits…it really does…if only we will hold on and keep believing in the promises of God.  Voskamp tells us…”To fully live — to live full of grace and joy and all that is beauty eternal. It is possible, wildly.”  I honestly believe this…do you?
©2014 Debbie Robus

* http://onethousandgifts.com/

To read the first chapter of One Thousand Gifts, go to http://www.scribd.com/doc/46474858/One-Thousand-Gifts-by-Ann-Voskamp-Excerpt

Daily Devotional for June 7, 2014

Isaiah 57:1-2
The good men perish; the godly die before their time, and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from evil days ahead. For the godly who die shall rest in peace.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Do not stop reading.  This is a message of life…not death – although death is very much a part of life.  This is a message of hope for God’s children…for those who know Him as the “Giver of Rest”.

Many of us have seen the news reports in recent days about the 70th anniversary of D-Day…the amphibious invasion of France that took place on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.  Allied forces from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Free French Forces were the initial “troops on the ground”…joined soon by soldiers from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Greece, the Netherlands, and Belgium – and air support from Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.  It has been noted that 2,499 Americans who died in Normandy on D-Day…more casualties than in ten years of war in Afghanistan.

Many of these soldiers were among “the godly who died before their time”.  If you study interviews with veterans who survived D-Day – or any wartime experience – you realize that many of these soldiers were men and women who, in many cases, were barely out of their teens.  They were placed in harm’s way, and countless numbers perished…leaving others to wonder why so many were taken from us so soon.

I read an account in a recent issue of the AARP Bulletin about letters written by soldiers to the folks back home during wartime. Many knew they were dying…some even as young as ages 15 and 18.  But their letters were hopeful and comforting.  They were at peace, because they knew that their passing would “take them away from evil days ahead”.  They knew that God was in control and would give them rest.

We have plenty of opportunities in our lifetime to question “why”...and to feel as if no one seems to care – especially God. But in truth, God cares aplenty…and so do many others.  The simple fact is that, while we do not always understand situations and circumstances, we cannot see how God is orchestrating the events of our lives.  We cannot possibly fathom that what God allows in our lives might be far better – and less painful or difficult – than what would happen if He allowed our course to be altered.

We wonder why God allows us to get sick, suffer and die.  We wonder why we graduate with honors from a prestigious college and cannot find a job.  We wonder why our house doesn’t sell so that we can move to another city, take a better job, and become more productive and successful.  We wonder why people slip and fall down stairways or off porches…why cars and motorcycles collide with other vehicles or inanimate objects…and why natural disasters destroy our home and our livelihood.  We cry out and ask God why relationships fail...why jobs are lost and wars are fought…and so much more.  And all the while, we grow more and more weary – if only from the asking of the question, “Why?”

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of asking…and wondering…and feeling restless and frustrated because I don’t have the answers.  I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time to rest in the LORD…to trust Him and believe that He knows a thing or two that I don’t!  I am sure I won’t like everything that God allows.  There will be sadness and sorrow and challenges galore.  But they will strengthen me…if I will let them.  If I will lean on God and trust Him to design the life that is perfect for me, He will do exactly that.  If I will believe that even the things I do not understand may be part of a plan to protect me from something far more devastating – even when that seems impossible to fathom – I will have found true rest in this lifetime.

This week, a young father named Adam, who I’ve come to know only through his wife’s blog posts, succumbed to brain cancer.  Adam’s wife, Beth, grew up in my hometown. On the day that Adam died, Beth posted a poem by the late Maya Angelou that seemed to sum up Adam’s earthly life.  The poem is titled, “When Great Trees Fall”.  I encourage you to search for it online and read the entire piece.*  Angelou ends the poem this way…

And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly.  Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed.  They existed.
We can be.  Be and be
better.  For they existed.

As I read today’s scripture passage from Isaiah, this part of the poem came to mind.   With God, we can be – and be better.  We can rest in Him and trust His plans for our lives.  We can exist – in Him, and because of Him.  And once and for all, we can find rest.

©2014 Debbie Robus

*http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/281946-when-great-trees-fall-when-great-trees-fall-rocks-on

Daily Devotional for June 6, 2014

Isaiah 40:28-31
Don’t you know?
    Haven’t you heard?
The Lord is the eternal God,
    Creator of the earth.
He never gets weary or tired;
his wisdom cannot be measured.

The Lord gives strength
    to those who are weary.
Even young people get tired,
    then stumble and fall.
But those who trust the Lord
    will find new strength.
They will be strong like eagles
    soaring upward on wings;
they will walk and run
    without getting tired.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

There is something so bittersweet about watching a little child who cannot stay awake. Their actions can range from comical to pitiful as they struggle to keep their eyes open and/or remain upright.  I remember one evening when my mom came to visit Timothy, and as she sat on our hearth and held him, his little head began to bob…his eyes began to droop…and soon he was slumped over - sound asleep as he sat on her knee.  One night last winter, Zola pulled a little child’s rocking chair (that had been mine when I was little) right in front of the TV and began to “rock her babies” (a couple of stuffed teddy bears).  Soon, her head began to droop until she was nearly bent over double…she had completely rocked HERSELF to sleep!  Looking at her, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry!

Now we all know that little children do not sleep for very long, unless they are sick or injured.  Soon enough, they spring back to life, fully energized and rejuvenated.  And complain as they may, the rest is always good for them.  Truthfully, rest is vital for ALL of us…critical to our good health and well-being!

Spiritual rest is essential, too.  There will come a time in every person’s life where something will cause him/her to grow weary… to say, “I am not sure I can do this.”  This is when God will step in and undergird us with His strength and wisdom…His love and grace.  He carries us when we are so weak, tired or burdened that we can no longer “hold our eyes open”.  God grants us a season of rest, infuses us with His energy and potency, and stands us upright under HIS power, rather than our own.

I have no doubt that many are weary today…and you may be among them.  Teachers (AND students) who are finishing their last day or week of school are exhausted and in need of rest – or at least a change of scenery for a few weeks.  I know friends who are burying loved ones and dealing with the aftermath that comes with a death.  Still, others are moving and scrambling to buy and sell houses, sort through their “stuff” and get every last box packed securely.  Some are looking for a job…and finding the prospects frustrating, at best.  Others are struggling with relationship issues, facing a health crisis, or dealing with mountains of bills and financial woes.  Many are aging and dealing with all that this stage of life brings.

Regardless of what zaps your strength and energy, God can help you to rest and rejuvenate.  He is in the “restoration” business!  You owe it to yourself to sit down, put up your feet, and spend a few minutes resting with Him. I promise… it will be the most “therapeutic” activity of your day!  Aren’t you ready to soar like an eagle under the power of God?  Will this be the day that you begin to rest in Him?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 31, 2014

Exodus 23:12
“Work six days only, and rest the seventh; this is to give your oxen and donkeys a rest, as well as the people of your household—your slaves and visitors."

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Recently I joined a water aerobics class at our community’s Aquatic Center.  The class met Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at eight o’clock.  Anyone who knows me very well knows that especially in recent years, I am anything BUT a morning person.  9:00 a.m. is EARLY for me!  So making the commitment to be “up and at ‘em” - and ready to get into a pool of chilly water at 8:00 a.m. - was really a stretch for me.  But I did it - for a few weeks.  I’m also something of a “night owl”.  Try as I might to get to bed earlier, I found myself thinking, “I’ll try to fit in an afternoon nap,” or “I’ll make up for lost sleep on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings.”  But my body began to adjust to the early morning wake-up time, and I found myself unable to sleep an extra hour or two on those “days off” from swimming! 

I finally realized that this class was just not working for me…for a number of reasons.  I made a few trips to the pool to work out on my own – at later daytime hours – and I found that I was a much happier camper.  So I opted to drop the class and commit to an individual workout program at a more convenient time.  In doing so, I discovered just how tired I had become, when one evening last week I could not hold my eyes open for very long past the 8:00 hour!  I went to bed early – and slept LATE the next morning.  Clearly, I was in need of some rest!  And that’s what this scripture in Exodus seems to be reminding us today…that rest is important – for everyone!

Now believe me, I know that there are extenuating circumstances.  As the sole employees of a small business, Greg and I used to work at least several hours of EVERY single day…and we did this for eighteen years.  There was always work to be done, and we were the only ones who could do much of it!  So we worked through holidays, anniversaries, weekends and much more.  And yes, we grew weary.  As much as this is often unavoidable in many situations, I think we need to listen to God’s admonition to rest when and where we can.

I’m not suggesting that we all become slackers.  There is a delicate balance to maintain.  But so many of us have filled every minute of our day with some kind of activity, and we have made these far more important than just taking time to sit, rest, relax, breathe in and out, maybe say a prayer or two, and simply renew our minds and our souls.  In other words, a lot of us need to clear out the clutter!  I’d say that if you cannot find a way to rest every six days or so – at least for a part of the day – this scripture applies to you!  There may be a season of extenuating circumstances.  You may be caring for someone who is ill, or working on a major project for several weeks.  But over the long haul, everyone needs to make sure that they get enough rest…and this is ordained by GOD!

Today as I worked out at the pool, I watched two young children who were playing in the shallow end…apparently a brother and sister.  Two women who I surmised to be their mother and grandmother settled into chairs along the wall of windows.  The younger woman took out her phone and began to scroll through messages or something.  The older woman read a flyer.  A man arrived who must have been the children’s dad.  He settled himself in the corner of the room farthest from the pool, opened up a laptop, and got busy reading and typing.  He barely looked up from his computer screen. The children laughed and giggled and did “tricks”…and kept looking toward the adults to see if they had noticed.  They had not.  They would smile at me as if, “Wasn’t that a neat trick?” and I would smile back.  But it seemed like they wanted the adults who were with them to pay attention and smile, too…even though they never said, “Watch this!” or asked for their notice.

I felt sad as I observed this…that these three adults could not stop for an hour and just “rest” in the moment with their kids.  I had seen this same scenario play out a few days earlier as a grandmother brought a little girl to swim.  The little girl DID ask for attention…and her grandmother finally put down her copy of The National Enquirer.  As I left the pool, the woman struck up a conversation with me and volunteered that she has been keeping grandchildren for a few weeks now, and she was tired. She told me that she had stopped and picked up this tabloid (to the tune of $5) to read while her granddaughter swam.  I tried not to judge, but a voice in my head said, “Children and grandbabies grow up overnight – and no longer want to be seen with parents and grandparents...much less ask for their attention while they swim or play.” 

Parents and grandparents grow old and are gone, and we wish we had spent a little more time with them…asked more questions…shown more respect.  Relationships fall apart when one person or the other is too busy, too tired, or too caught up in trying to do more than is humanly possible.  Employees become disgruntled when we work them to death.  Friends and family members grow distant when we expect too much of them.  Ministries become ineffective when those who are involved become overworked or burned out.  Even Jesus and His disciples took time to rest!

In short, God ordained rest because He knows we need it!  When was the last time you cleared out the clutter in your life and truly “rested”?  Is it time to evaluate your priorities and make a few adjustments?  Will this be the day that you begin?
   
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 30, 2014

Deuteronomy 33:12
Concerning the tribe of Benjamin, Moses said:

“He is beloved of God
And lives in safety beside him.
God surrounds him with his loving care,
And preserves him from every harm.”

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

As with certain areas of Arkansas, the “oil boom” is alive and well in North Dakota, where countless people are involved in drilling for oil and natural gas.  Because many parts of North Dakota are sparsely populated, makeshift communities, often referred to as “man camps”, have sprung up in recent years. Housing consists of pre-fabricated homes similar to military barracks.  People also live in cars, trucks, tents and RVs.  So when a rare, but potentially deadly tornado came barreling down the main “escape route” in Watford City on Memorial Day 2014, “residents” had nowhere to go.  Many hunkered down in their trailers and “shelters” and rode out the 120-mile-per-hour winds that accompanied this EF-2 tornado. 

Fifteen people were injured, including a 15-year-old girl who was visiting relatives and suffered critical wounds that required med-flight to a hospital in Minot. There was so much noise from the rain and hail that accompanied the storm that many were unable to heed any warning sirens that sounded.  And even at that, there was pretty much nowhere to go.

In Arkansas, tornadoes occur every year.  Many people place a high premium on living where storm shelters are readily available. In recent years, communities have banded together to create facilities, such as reinforced school buildings, that will house and shelter a large number of people in the event of a potentially deadly storm.  I will tell you that I rest a little easier knowing that we have a “safe room” in our house where we can retreat from harm when necessary.

One of the residents of Watford City remarked that there…”ain’t no place to take cover.”  Isn’t that how it is for some of us in our spiritual life?  We live without the benefit of God’s safety and shelter…not because He doesn’t offer - but because we don’t accept it.  Now surely there are those in North Dakota who feel they have no choice.  They need employment, and the jobs and money are there for those who can do the work.  But they are also accepting the accompanying risks.  Granted, tornadoes are rare in this part of the country…reports are that there have been just 14 since 1950.  But the potential and susceptibility to such peril does exist…as well as other consequences that can come from living in temporary group housing or an otherwise vulnerable structure. 

In our spiritual lives, we are offered God’s shelter and protective arms.  We are presented with the opportunity to rest and relax in the comfort and safety of His loving care.  God is our omnipresent “safe room”.  But some of us will choose to venture out on our own and live in a “spiritual trailer” in the middle of nowhere.  We will risk the potential for peril in exchange for what we value – what we perceive as important.  The din of our prospects for money, fame, fortune, prestige, personal relationships, acceptance, and personal success will drown out any warning signals that might be present.  What we fail to recognize in doing this is that God offers us the possibility for all of these things that we desire – and more.  He knows what we need…what will truly satisfy.  His aspirations for us most likely are not a mirror image of our own…but they are far better in every regard.

As glad as I am to have a concrete “safe room” built into my house…as important as it is to me to always live where such shelter is readily available…it is even more important that I live in the shadow of God’s “safe room”.  I don’t want to be away from the security and protection of His loving arms for even one minute.  I’m all for being adventurous…but not with my soul and all Eternity…or that of my family and friends! 

So what about you?  Do you have a “safe room” – both physically, and in terms of your soul?  When the storms of life come barreling down and you are directly in their path, you do have a secure place to take cover…if only you will recognize it?  Is God providing you with around-the-clock safety and care?  Is His “safe room” available to you always – in all ways?  Are you fully resting in the protection He offers?  Don’t you think it’s time you were? 
   
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 26, 2014

2 Samuel 7:18-29
David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. Then he sat there and prayed:

Lord All-Powerful, my family and I don’t deserve what you have already done for us, and yet you have promised to do even more. Is this the way you usually treat people?  I am your servant, and you know my thoughts, so there is nothing more that I need to say. You have done this wonderful thing, and you have let me know about it, because you wanted to keep your promise.

Lord All-Powerful, you are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true. And there is no other nation on earth like Israel, the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and their gods out of your land, so your people could live here. You have chosen Israel to be your people forever, and you have become their God.

And now, Lord God, please do what you have promised me and my descendants. Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, “The Lord God All-Powerful rules Israel, and David’s descendants are his chosen kings.” After all, you really are Israel’s God, the Lord All-Powerful. You’ve told me that you will let my descendants be kings. That’s why I have the courage to pray to you like this, even though I am only your servant.

Lord All-Powerful, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise. Please bless my descendants and let them always be your chosen kings. You have already promised, and I’m sure that you will bless my family forever.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep!” You have probably heard this adage or some form of it. And maybe you have heard this one…”You can tell a lot about a man by the promises he keeps – and breaks.”  Both of these quotes have their basis in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5…”God doesn’t like fools. So don’t be slow to keep your promises to God. It’s better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it.” 

I bet if you are honest, you’ve probably forgotten a lot of promises that were made to you and never kept.  But over the course of your life, there are probably at least one or two promises you were given that never happened.  And you remember this like it happened yesterday.  I try to be very careful about promises – especially to my little ones.  They have memories like elephants!  If I promise that the next time they visit, we will make s’mores, they remind me.  If I promise Owen that I will make him a surprise, his first question is, “What did you bring me?”  Sometimes, they add…”But you promised!”  Sometimes it is implied.  Either way, I feel like I let them down – if even in a small way.  

See, the trouble with “small” broken promises is that they have a way of mushrooming into big ones.  It’s sort of like “little white lies”.  Once you get comfortable telling them, you find it exponentially easier to lie about more significant things.  The next thing you know, your life is anything but peaceful, as you struggle to remember who you told or promised what…and you wrestle to figure out how to get out of the mess you’ve created!

Thankfully, God never breaks a promise.  So we need look no further than His word for countless examples of promises made…and kept.  I love the verses in this passage where David tells God that “even though I am only your servant, I have the courage to pray to you like this,” because he knows that God has promised to hear his prayers – and to bless him and his family.  David can truly “rest in the LORD” because He knows that God will never fail him.

Do you know this sort of “rest”?  Do you believe in the steadfastness of God’s promises…the surety that He will never say one thing and then do another?  Are you a faithful model of this in your own life?  Are you a person of your word, or are you restless and irritable as you scramble to “keep all of the balls – and stories – in the air” in your relationships with others?  Isn’t it time to lay aside all of the excuses, doubts and fears – and truly operate in a restful relationship of kept promises with God?  Wouldn’t this be the perfect day to start?  You won’t regret it…I promise!

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 3, 2012

Hosea 6:1-3
Let’s return to the Lord. He has torn us to shreds, but he will bandage our wounds and make us well. In two or three days he will heal us and restore our strength that we may live with him. Let’s do our best to know the Lord. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

I am sitting in the hospital with my grandmother, and she is crying out in pain. It is a hard thing to endure…watching her suffer. The natural instinct would be to cry out to God and ask WHY this little faithful servant of His must go through such an ordeal. Why, at almost 100 years old, must her life include such a miserable challenge.

I opened my Kindle this morning to read from God Calling – a daily devotional book. With all of this “excitement,” I had not read from this book in a few days, so my first “devo” was for April 28 – Hosea 6:1-3. Isn’t that just like God to give me exactly what I need today? I can’t begin to tell you how comforted I was to read that what God has allowed to be “torn to shreds,” He will bandage and make well. He will restore strength as sure as morning sun or refreshing rain.

So as much as it breaks my heart to hear my grandmother cry out in pain, I am at peace… knowing that God is holding her in the palm of His hand. He is using this experience for His good… as He has worked in and through her for almost a century. I don’t know who my grandmother is touching in God’s name… or how He is at work. But I know that He is not wasting a minute of this… and one way or another, my Mam-ma Polly will be ultimately refreshed and restored.

I don’t know what challenges you today… what pain and suffering you may experience… or how God will work in and through you. But I know that He will… and I pray that you find His peace and comfort…and rest in His promises for complete healing. To God be the glory for His amazing grace and mercy, now and forever. Amen.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 27, 2012

Mark 3:10
After Jesus had healed many people, the other sick people begged him to let them touch him.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

In my daily devotional book, God Calling, the commentary for today was about touch… not just hearing from God or speaking to Him, but sitting still and feeling His presence – His touch. As if this were not inspiration enough, I opened a magazine, and the first article I turned to was about the healing effects of - you guessed it - touch! If this isn’t a clear sign that I am supposed to address the subject of touch today, I don’t know what is!

Over and again in scripture, we read about touch… a touch from God… the healing touch of Jesus… the woman who said (paraphrased), “If only I could touch the hem of His garment.” We hear Jesus feel the healing power leave his body and ask, “Who touched my clothing?” Touch is powerful! And just as I read in my devotional book today, we need to stop and rest in the moment and truly experience God’s touch.

The article I read suggested that the touch of another could lower blood pressure, facilitate physical healing, and soothe the soul. Even snuggling into a warm bathrobe or cupping a steaming mug of coffee or tea can elicit calm and a sense of well-being as your skin comes into contact with something soothing and warm. Stroking a devoted pet can make everything better. And the touch of God Almighty can truly heal and restore you in every area of life.

My husband and I used to have a farm house with a big front porch. Even on cold nights, I would sit there in a chair or swing… bundled in a warm bathrobe with a cup of hot tea to warm my hands… and I would talk to God. I would feel the warmth and comfort of His presence… like big arms wrapped around me. This was my sanctuary – my healing place – and God touched me there. I’ll be honest… I need to find a new sanctuary and rekindle that kind of daily “touch” from God… and maybe you do, as well. Make this the week you begin to find time each day to receive a touch from God… and to look for opportunities to offer a touch to someone else.

In the magazine article I read, there was a story from a 27-year-old single woman who attended church, and one Sunday the pastor said, “When you share God’s peace with others, reach over and touch somebody. Some people in here have not been touched all week.” She thought to herself that it was sad that there must be a lot of older people in the service who needed this touch. Then it hit her – SHE was one of those people! Are you one of those people who need a touch – from God and/or others? Have you made yourself available to God? Have you “stilled” yourself long enough for Him to touch you in whatever manner you need? Who do you need to reach out and touch this week with God’s love?

Make this the week that you beg to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Make this the week that you begin to experience the blessings that result from the touch of God. Find your sanctuary and spend time in His presence… then pass on the blessings to others. Feel them multiply exponentially as you experience – and share - the healing power of God’s touch.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 25, 2012

Isaiah 43:19
I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

We’ve been spoiled lately by some pretty amazing days weather-wise. Temps have warmed to nearly 80 degrees – a rare treat for mid-to-late February. Trees have started to bud, and daffodils are blooming. This happens every winter, to some degree… but we seem to forget from year to year. So we are always enthralled with the promise of spring and all of the “newness” that will come with it.

A lot of our trouble is that we “wake up in a new world every day,” so to speak. We are not paying attention to our surroundings. We are “living in the moment” – but we are not truly soaking in each of these moments and living in them. We miss so many of God’s gifts because we are too busy hurrying from one to the next, and we fail to stop, breathe deeply, and inhale the blessings that His Holy Spirit bestows on us each and every day. Our mantra is “I don’t have time for this.”

Today, take time to “sit a spell”… to look around you and soak in what you see and hear… to breathe deeply. God has indeed made all things new… from the tiny flowers of spring to His gift of Jesus Christ to pay for our sins. Unlike God’s children of the Old Testament, we do not have to spend our time making sacrifices, burning offerings, and more. We can concentrate on truly serving God and sharing His message with others. When we are bogged down with “busyness”, we often miss the true blessings.

Today, my prayer is that you will find even a few minutes to stop and “be”… to soak in what God is trying to give you… to enjoy your blessings… to communicate with God… and to truly thank Him for all of this. Ask God, “What am I supposed to do with Your blessings? What is Your plan for me?” Then LISTEN for His direction. God is trying to do new things in and through us each and every day… our job is to pay attention so that we don’t miss this. Are you “living in the moment”… or are you “living in this moment?” There is a difference… do you get it?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 4, 2011

Psalm 127:1-2
If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?

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.

I don’t know about you, but plop me in front of the television after dinner, and unless the show or movie is really compelling – or I have something to do with my hands, like folding clothes – I will often be asleep before the first sitcom ends! Yet when I go to bed, I toss and turn and am wide awake! My mind races and I think of all sorts of things… what I need to do the next day, what I must buy at the grocery store, wondering why I ate that ice cream and/or didn’t work out, and more. If something happens to be weighing on my mind – a concern or a problem – I find drifting off to sleep even more challenging.

For some, going to sleep is not the issue – it’s staying asleep! Some people wake up too early in the mornings – others wake in the middle of the night. But many find going back to sleep to be difficult, if not impossible.

If you are one of those who cannot fall asleep because your “worries of the day” are weighing you down, this passage is for you. If you wake in the night, and your mind starts to race and keep you up, this passage is also for you. The bottom line is that God wants us to rest. He wants to take our worries, cares, mental lists and the “video loop of our day” and handle all of these things for us… and we need to let Him.

“Oh, if it were only that simple!” you may say. It actually can be. The next time you find yourself wide awake, pray. Ask God to take whatever is on your mind and keeping you up and handle it for you. Then simply start to talk to God… to pray for others… to express your cares and your burdens. I find that often I am talking to God one minute, and the next thing I know, I’ve “prayed myself to sleep!” The worst that can happen is that you make good use of your awake time by communicating with God. And often, as you share your thoughts with Him, He gathers them up and handles them so that you can rest.

You might think this passage is telling you not to work so hard. There is nothing wrong with hard work. But this passage is about a healthy balance… and rest… and resting in the LORD. The latter is something we all need to do more often. God is better than Ambien, Lunesta or Tylenol P.M.! If you are trying to handle life without Him, you’re bound to be in for some sleepless nights.

How much have you made God a part of things in your life? Do you have a good balance of work and rest? Is He handling things for you on a regular basis? How well have you been sleeping lately?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 11, 2011

Psalm 91:1-4
You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, say this: "GOD, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!"

That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

My mother recently wrote a blog post about her memories of tornadoes in Arkansas. Much of my early childhood was spent in a storm cellar. This was in the days before “Five-live Dopplar,” satellite imagery, and more. Our “menfolk” would stand on the porch and “watch the clouds”… and as Mother pointed out, more than once they literally dove into the cellar for cover as a storm approached.

However, most nights we children would sit in the cellar with all of the women from the neighborhood and listen as they talked about the day’s events. When one of us needed a bathroom break, a man would be summoned from the porch. We were wrapped in a quilt and carried into the house, then returned to the cellar. I can still remember the snug safety of that quilt “cocoon” – wrapped tightly and held in the arms of my dad, my then-high-school-aged cousin Jim, or someone else I trusted to protect me.

As an adult, when I read this passage, I am reminded of the snug safety of those summer-time quilts and the arms of a loved one wrapped around me. I am reminded of how safe I felt in the shadow of pine trees that lined a creek bed across the road from my paternal grandparents’ farmhouse… how I took refuge there often on the soft mossy bank and listened to the soothing “whisper” of the wind in the pines. And I am comforted to think that God’s protection of me is much the same… loving, strong – yet as gentle and soothing as the whisper of that wind – safe and protective. He truly does fend off all harm.

What about you? Are you trusting God today? I will admit that sometimes fear and insecurity sneak in, and I am momentarily caught off-guard. The devil loves to try to steal my peace and try to fill me with lies and worries. But I’m not having it… and neither should you. We “dwell in the shelter of the Most High” and “rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Let that soak in… truly think about how powerful this is! God is our refuge and fortress… we trust Him (or we should!)… and in His arms – no matter what comes our way - we are perfectly safe. Do you feel His presence and comfort? Are you snug and comfortable in the “quilt” of His love and protection? Won’t you allow Him to handle your cares and worries… and rest in His peace?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 16, 2011

Proverbs 12:25
Worry is a heavy burden, but a kind word always brings cheer.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Legendary news anchor Barbara Walters says that when she underwent open heart surgery last year, she recalls that she was not anxious (worried) as she was wheeled into the operating room. She thought to herself… “If I die on the operating table, I won’t know it.” If only it were always that simple to free ourselves of worry and anxiety! This scripture is right… worry is a heavy burden… and Satan makes sure most of us get a big dose of it daily.

We worry about everything from the weather to tests to whether or not our jeans will fit or we will have the right outfit for an upcoming event. We worry about big things in our lives… and the seemingly insignificant ones, as well. Many of us carry the burden of worry like a badge of honor. We’ve made a career out of brooding over worries.

God wants us to give our worries to Him. He wants us to lighten up… to be more trusting and faithful in His ability to work and bring about good in our lives. And He wants us to share that positive energy and outlook with others. We must offer a word of cheer and encouragement whenever we can, to lighten the burden of worry for the other guy.

Worry and anxiety truly do not change the outcome… but God does! The sooner we learn to rest in God and give Him control over our lives, the sooner we can become a cheerleader for others… and encourage them to do the same. Worry is a tool of the devil… designed to drag us down and keep us from experiencing the richest blessings of God. Are you really going to let him have that sort of satisfaction? Isn’t today a good day to “cast all your cares upon the LORD” and let Him do His job? Let’s focus on being the cheerleader instead of the worry-wort. Let’s see what amazing things God has in store for us when we let Him handle our day!

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 30, 2011

Deuteronomy 4:39-40
Know this well, then. Take it to heart right now: GOD is in Heaven above; GOD is on Earth below. He's the only God there is. Obediently live by his rules and commands which I'm giving you today so that you'll live well and your children after you—oh, you'll live a long time in the land that GOD, your God, is giving you.

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.

There really isn’t a whole lot to add to this. Wherever we go… God is there. Isn’t this a comforting thought? Begin today to rest in this promise. Whatever comes your way – whatever challenges you face – remember that God is with you. When you encounter a difficult person or situation, remind yourself… “God is in Heaven above, and here on earth with me, in the land He gave me.”

We know the commandments… we’ve read them and heard them over and over again. We know what God expects of us… and what He has promised us in return. Now it’s time to start living like we believe this! It’s time to start standing in God’s promises, and recognizing His presence. It’s time to be confident, cool and collected… and take heart in knowing that our God… the only God… is everywhere.

Know this well… remind yourself of it often… and make this a great day in the name of the LORD!

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 3, 2011

Psalm 37:3-7
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

My grandmother often tells me, “I just can’t do everything like I used to.” I know what she means. Even though I am almost half her age, I have come to understand that I can get overloaded if I don’t take time to rest. And I know that when I do this, my body loses its ability to fight off germs and illnesses, and sometimes I can become physically sick. I’ve learned to pace myself, and when things get really hectic, I grab some time to be still and rest for awhile.

The truth is, we all can become mentally and spiritually overloaded at times. We can let the worries and stresses of the day… the challenges and temptations… the constant pestering of the devil to get us down. And if we are not careful – if we don’t give ourselves time to rest and restore – we will have a Spiritual breakdown. Satan loves this! He loves to dig at us, and he will not stop. He loves to catch us weak and vulnerable, and that’s when he really goes to work planting seeds of dissention, skepticism and second-guessing, discontent and more. All of this can leave us susceptible to sin and Spiritual sickness.

So how do we stay healthy? Physically, we listen to our bodies and rest when necessary. We skip that night out with friends to stay home in pj’s and “veg out” in front of the TV or read a good book. We eat right and stay hydrated… we exercise and stay fit. We don’t overindulge in bad foods and inactivity.

Spiritually, we spend time resting in the Lord. We set aside some quiet time to sit in a chair or on a rock or wherever it’s relatively peaceful, and we simply talk to God… pour out our hearts to Him, tell Him about our day, and then listen to what He has to say in return. We make time to read our Bible. We surround ourselves with people who love God and wish to wholeheartedly serve Him. We get away from the noise and busyness of the world and engage in some one-on-One time with the Lord… a walk, sitting and listening to our favorite Christian music, or just lying down and closing our eyes and shutting out everything but God.

Be still in the Lord… wait patiently for Him…make time in His presence a priority… and give yourself permission to rest in the Lord. This will be some of the best time you spend each day… and set the tone for everything else. Take time to delight in Him, and He really will give you the desires of your heart.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 15, 2011

Matthew 11:29-30
Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone. For some, I’m sure this is a great relief. Not everyone enjoys Valentine’s Day. Movies have been made about it… there are “I Hate Valentine’s” parties, and more. I’ll admit, Valentine’s Day is not my favorite holiday… and not because I have no one with whom to share it.

As a teenager, I remember the contrast of how it felt to have a special someone to give you a Valentine’s gift – and how it felt when others got them and you didn’t have anyone. When my grandfather died… and again when my father-in-law passed… I felt badly on Valentine’s Day for my grandmother and mother-in-law. My grandfather was not one to send cards, candy and such, but he had his way of showing love for his Valentine. My father-in-law was the card and candy type of guy, and I am sure my mother-in-law received both on many Valentine’s Days.

The year before my dad died, he was very sick and unable to shop for anything for my mom. But he wanted to remember his Valentine. He asked me to “get something for Momma” for Valentine’s Day. I don’t remember everything I got her, but I do remember a book I found that contained copies of love letters that famous people had written throughout history. My mother is a writer and a lover of old books and history. This was perfect for her. I showed it to my dad, and he approved. It’s probably not something he would have chosen if he had done the shopping, but the whole idea was more about the gesture than the gift itself at this point.

You may be thinking, “This devo is really sad,” and in some ways, it is. But I’m telling you all of this to make a point. Not everyone has a “significant other” or even a grandma or great-aunt or uncle or friend to share a Valentine gift with them. But we all have Someone who loves us more than we can imagine, and HE can comfort us even on our saddest, loneliest day. Jesus was the Ultimate Valentine. He died on the cross for us long before we were ever even born… and He loves us more than anyone else ever can or will.

When we are lonely… when we have nobody on Valentine’s Day, the day after, or any other day… we still have Jesus, and nobody else truly matters. Jesus is more than enough. His yoke – what He asks of us – is easy compared to everything else. He will carry our burdens, sorrows and sadness. He will give us peace and joy in return. There may be a bump in the road once in awhile… and Valentine’s Day may still be a groaner for some… but with Jesus, everybody gets a Valentine… the very best One of all.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 10, 2011

Psalm 28:8-9
You give strength to your people, LORD, and you save and protect your chosen ones. Come save us and bless us. Be our shepherd and always carry us in your arms.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

My maternal grandmother’s sister Mary Louise, died recently at age 89. She had moved into a local nursing home six years ago following the death of her husband. Her son and daughter visited last fall when she became quite ill but was still somewhat alert. Neither of them returned to Arkansas for her burial. The only surviving relatives who were able to attend the graveside service were my sister and me, and my niece.

When I arrived at the cemetery on a very cold, windy, but sunny morning, my niece had brought her baby, Timothy, along. She didn’t have anyone to watch him, and the service was going to be brief. Timmy was wearing his coat… and he had on long jeans, but he didn’t have any gloves. My niece said several times, “I didn’t realize it was going to be this cold.”

At the last minute, I had tucked a crocheted neck scarf and a long silk shawl into my car, along with my heavy wool coat. I got the scarf and tied it around Timmy’s hood to keep it in place, and then we wrapped him in the shawl to keep the wind off of his hands. He wanted me to hold him during the service, so I did. I decided his legs might be cold, so I unbuttoned my coat and wrapped it around him, snuggling him to me as the pastor spoke about our aunt.

I gently bounced Timmy as scripture was read, and when I glanced down, I saw his eyes begin to droop. Soon, his head plopped onto my chest, and he was sound asleep. I snuggled him close and “loved on him” – one of my favorite things to do. When the service ended, I handed him to his mother so she could put him back in the car, and she said, “Timothy, you are so warm!”

I thought about this later and realized… this is just how God snuggles us as Christians. We are wrapped in the safe warmth of His arms… shielded from the blustery winds and cold of life… then welcomed home when we die. He loves us so much and delights in the time when we draw close and rest in Him. It is one of His favorite things to do, also!

When was the last time you let God “love on you?” When was the last time you surrendered and let Him hold you… take your cares and your concerns… and snuggle you in the warmth of his embrace. How long has it been since you rested and “napped” nestled against God’s chest? Isn’t it time you did? Wouldn’t His warmth feel good right about now? Let God hold you and give you comfort. Feel His arms surround you and provide you with a soft place to fall. He’s ready… are you?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 2, 2011

Psalm16:5-9
You, LORD, are all I want! You are my choice, and you keep me safe. You make my life pleasant, and my future is bright. I praise you, LORD, for being my guide. Even in the darkest night, your teachings fill my mind. I will always look to you, as you stand beside me and protect me from fear. With all my heart, I will celebrate, and I can safely rest.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

I’m always amazed by people who can simply “let life happen.” I would not necessarily categorize myself as a “control freak,” but I like to have a plan. Like most people, my plans do not always go as I had hoped, and I have to adjust. Some days I handle this better than others, but in recent months, I have learned to rely more on God and less on myself. And while my plans may still not go as I hope all the time, I am coping with the outcome better… much of the time. Hey, I’m still a work in progress!

Do you ever wake up in the night thinking about something… maybe what you have to do the next day, or an upcoming test or other class project, or something at work or a family issue? Does your mind start to race as you plan your strategy or review the test material? Do you toss and turn and repeatedly review the steps or thoughts like a tape loop? Do you ever ask God to help you with this?

Our fears… darkest nights… “tape loops” running through our heads… worries, frustrations and over-analyzing situations… all of these are tools of the devil. And all of these are easily handled by God. When we give over our plans to Him, things may not go exactly as we hoped, but all will be well. When we trust God to protect us and give Him our fears, our life is pleasant and bright, and our heart is filled with joy and rest. We can sleep like babies, knowing that God is “on the clock” and taking care of things for us.

This is hard to do sometimes… I get that. But the more we practice, the easier it becomes. In 1 Peter 5:7, we are told to cast all of our cares upon the Lord, because He cares for us… and nothing could be more accurate or more comforting. God does His most powerful work in us when we surrender and walk in faith… when we truly cast our cares upon Him.

Who is carrying your burdens today? Are you trying to shoulder your cares alone – or worse yet, with the constant “encouragement” of the devil? Isn’t it time we celebrated God’s great love for us, gave Him our cares… and rested?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 6, 2010

July 6 ~ Isaiah 40:29-31
The LORD gives strength to those who are weary. Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall. But those who trust the LORD will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Like many babies, Timothy fights sleep. We can tell when he is becoming tired. He wobbles and stumbles as he walks, drops toys, and cries. Dark circles form under his eyes, and he whines and becomes fussy. But let him have a good nap… and everything changes. His eyes brighten. He is steady on his feet, and his walk becomes almost a run at times. He can carry his toys and books with him and never drop anything, unless he wants to do so. Yes indeed, even young people get tired, stumble and fall.

In truth, this passage is not about being physically tired as much as mental and spiritual fatigue. And we all experience this from time to time. “Life” gets us down, and we become discouraged… and maybe even exhausted. But God can lift us. He is like the two-hour nap that refreshes a baby… He can give us new strength and courage for whatever we are facing.

When Timmy gets weary, he does everything he can to keep from falling asleep… hair and ear pulling, extra walking and tumbling, and pounding on his crib mattress with his fists and feet. Does this describe you when you are spiritually weary? Do you wring your hands and cry and stay up late and stew over your problems night and day? Just as we tell our little nephew, “You will feel better after you rest,” God is saying this to us… “Come rest in Me… let Me refresh you and handle your worries… see how much difference some ‘God-nap’ time can make.”

Everyone can benefit from a good nap. But the most important rest we can get may very well be “rest in the Lord.” Are you getting enough these days?

©2010 Debbie Robus