Psalm 31:19
You are wonderful,
and while everyone watches,
you store up blessings for all
who honor and trust you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recent
events have caused me to reflect on my life and the lives of those I
love. I found myself reading through some old prayer journals, and I
realized once again just how blessed I have been. Prayer after prayer
has been answered. Situations that seemed impossible have resolved –
and perfectly. Healings have taken place…people have turned their
hearts to Jesus…and yes, some have been called to Heaven for all of
eternity.
In each instance, I see how God worked. I am blessed –
and also humbled. I am reminded how ridiculous it is to question
Him…or to waste time on worry and fear. I see how God has safely
steered me through situations that I thought I could not handle…and
comforted me when I thought that something in “life” was more than I
could possibly bear.
As I read this passage, I had a mental image
of a child stacking blocks. I’ve done this countless times with
Timothy, Zola and Nathan. I’ve watched the tower rise higher and higher
into the air. I also was reminded of the story of “Jack and the
Beanstalk,” where the vine wound its way up into the heavens. I
couldn’t help but picture God stacking blessings and care…healings and
resolutions…comfort and peace…and untold love – winding them higher and
higher into the heavens on our behalf, while everyone stands and
watches.
The trouble is…some of us are not paying attention! We
are not watching God do this for us, because we are busy tending to our
own desires…wringing our hands in frustration, anger or worry…or
throwing our own giant pity party. It is time we shifted our focus and
began to pay attention to what God is really doing in our lives…how He
is meeting our every need.
This is the day to begin to seek God
in all things…to honor and trust Him for every single circumstance in
our lives. Are you ready to do this? Will this be the day that you your
focus shifts to God and the plans that He has for you – the blessings
He longs to stack on your behalf? Don’t you think it’s time?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label self-centered living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-centered living. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 10, 2015
Isaiah 13:15-16
But there will be rewards for those who live right and tell the truth, for those who refuse to take money by force or accept bribes, for all who hate murder and violent crimes. They will live in a fortress high on a rocky cliff, where they will have food and plenty of water.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, our great niece Kelsey Lynn goes for “assessments” to start her kindergarten year (which technically begins in another week). Next Monday, Timothy will begin the school year as a first grader. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have high aspirations for these two…and (collectively) their three siblings, and my other little cousins and young friends. I pray every day that God will bless and prosper these children…that they will be surrounded by a hedge of protection against things like drug abuse, alcohol, bullying and abuse of all kinds, and more. I want them to be all that God plans for them…and above everything else, I want them to know and love Jesus.
We joke (and dream) about this child becoming the next big model or entertainer…or that one becoming a doctor/scientist who cures cancer…or another becoming a pro athlete. But at the end of the day, we truly want our children to live “in a fortress high on a rocky cliff” and have “food and plenty of water.” What do I mean by this? Our ultimate goal is that our children live and grow in such a way that God blesses them with plenty. Where some of us get into trouble is with our interpretation of this word.
So the challenge for each of us is to recognize that what God has planned for us – and our children – may not be what we anticipate and dream. But if we live according to His will and trust His plans…we will always operate in the “Land of Plenty.” Do not misunderstand me…our goal should not be to acquire God’s blessings and abundance. We should not live in "What's in it for me?" mode. Just because we do our dead-level best to live according to God’s will and Word does not guarantee that we will be rich and/or famous…and most certainly it doesn’t mean that our lives will be free of troubles and worries.
Still, our ultimate desire should be to live according to God’s commands and to please Him in all things out of a sense of deep love and respect for Him. We should strive to live right and tell the truth, to operate honestly in business and trade, and to take the high road and avoid desires for revenge or ill will of any kind toward others. When we live in a way that pleases God, we will always have plenty. It may seem like “just enough” at times…but we will always have the confidence that our obedience has delighted our Heavenly Father – and He has met our needs.
This is my prayer for our little ones…that they would grow and learn…and have countless new adventures at school. More importantly, I pray that they would also grow in the wisdom of the LORD and become all that He wants them to be…and that each of them lives “high on a cliff” with “plenty.” This should be our personal goal, as well… regardless of whether we are five…or 95! Where do you live these days?
©2015 Debbie Robus
But there will be rewards for those who live right and tell the truth, for those who refuse to take money by force or accept bribes, for all who hate murder and violent crimes. They will live in a fortress high on a rocky cliff, where they will have food and plenty of water.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, our great niece Kelsey Lynn goes for “assessments” to start her kindergarten year (which technically begins in another week). Next Monday, Timothy will begin the school year as a first grader. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have high aspirations for these two…and (collectively) their three siblings, and my other little cousins and young friends. I pray every day that God will bless and prosper these children…that they will be surrounded by a hedge of protection against things like drug abuse, alcohol, bullying and abuse of all kinds, and more. I want them to be all that God plans for them…and above everything else, I want them to know and love Jesus.
We joke (and dream) about this child becoming the next big model or entertainer…or that one becoming a doctor/scientist who cures cancer…or another becoming a pro athlete. But at the end of the day, we truly want our children to live “in a fortress high on a rocky cliff” and have “food and plenty of water.” What do I mean by this? Our ultimate goal is that our children live and grow in such a way that God blesses them with plenty. Where some of us get into trouble is with our interpretation of this word.
So the challenge for each of us is to recognize that what God has planned for us – and our children – may not be what we anticipate and dream. But if we live according to His will and trust His plans…we will always operate in the “Land of Plenty.” Do not misunderstand me…our goal should not be to acquire God’s blessings and abundance. We should not live in "What's in it for me?" mode. Just because we do our dead-level best to live according to God’s will and Word does not guarantee that we will be rich and/or famous…and most certainly it doesn’t mean that our lives will be free of troubles and worries.
Still, our ultimate desire should be to live according to God’s commands and to please Him in all things out of a sense of deep love and respect for Him. We should strive to live right and tell the truth, to operate honestly in business and trade, and to take the high road and avoid desires for revenge or ill will of any kind toward others. When we live in a way that pleases God, we will always have plenty. It may seem like “just enough” at times…but we will always have the confidence that our obedience has delighted our Heavenly Father – and He has met our needs.
This is my prayer for our little ones…that they would grow and learn…and have countless new adventures at school. More importantly, I pray that they would also grow in the wisdom of the LORD and become all that He wants them to be…and that each of them lives “high on a cliff” with “plenty.” This should be our personal goal, as well… regardless of whether we are five…or 95! Where do you live these days?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 20, 2015
June 20 ~ Luke 17:28-30
“It was the same in the time of Lot—the people carrying on, having a good time, business as usual right up to the day Lot walked out of Sodom and a firestorm swept down and burned everything to a crisp. That’s how it will be—sudden, total—when the Son of Man is revealed."
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 have to admit…the massacre of nine people at the “Mother Emmanuel” A.M.E. church in Charleston, South Carolina last Wednesday evening has caused a major shift in my thinking…and not in the way you might think. I had grown comfortable – and complacent – in a particular area of my faith. Sure, I love Jesus…and He is front and center (most of the time) in my thoughts and actions. Yes, I am certain that Heaven will be my eternal home…that my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life…and that God is guiding my steps (though He may occasionally wring his hands and ask, “What on earth is she thinking?!”)
The much-needed “jolt” that this tragic event of June 17th provided for me is a reminder of 1) how precarious and temporary this life is, and 2) Who is really in control! See, while I am ready for heaven in many ways, I realized that I have held subconscious thoughts that nothing will happen to me, because I still have work to do on this earth. There are family members to nurture and care for…there are dozens of “important” projects to complete. I have photos to scan and devos to write and children to drive to swim lessons and VBS… and so many more “important” things to accomplish! But this week, I’ve very clearly felt God showing me that I am indeed important to Him…but I am not indispensible. In other words, there is nothing about me that makes me more special than anyone else…more extraordinary…or more useful.
So when I saw a state senator and pastor swept to heaven in the middle of a sermon, I knew that the Son of Man can be revealed to any of us in a heartbeat. When I learned that a young man who just graduated from college has “graduated” to heaven…I realized that the plans we have cannot hold a candle to those of God. When I heard about the seven other church members who nurtured a hate-filled, angry, malicious young man for more than an hour – and he shot them dead anyway…I realized that when God is ready for me, there won’t be a thing that I can do about it. And more importantly - I won’t want to!
So I am looking at my life through a new lens…and I encourage you to do the same. I am thinking more about every word and action…because they might be my last. Did I offer kindness and a word from God to a would-be killer…or more likely, to someone so mired in depression or difficulties that he/she was facing a mental or emotional breakdown and considering suicide? Did I waste time checking social media or watching a dumb reality TV show instead of playing with my little niece and nephews…doing something with my husband or other loved ones…or visiting someone who is sick, grieving or lonely? Did I pay close enough attention to the people around me…both those I know and love – and those I’ve merely shared space with at the grocery check-out line, passed in a hallway at church, or swam next to at the community pool?
Have my comments on social media been kind and reflected God’s word and will? Have I taken advantage of the minutes/hours/days/weeks/years that God has granted me on this earth? Have I been like Lot…so busy carrying on and having a good time that I didn’t see the firestorm that was brewing…or recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life? If you and I were staring down the barrel of a gun as we attended a Bible study or prayer meeting – and given a moment to reflect before the trigger was pulled – what would we be the focal point of our last thoughts?
Are you ready for heaven? Are you aware that the time of your departure is NOT your decision to make…and are you truly at peace with this? We have seen this week that even the most faithful among us are not indispensible when God is ready for us to sit at Jesus’ feet. When our perspective shifts and we change our attitude, we can start to really make the most of the time that we have left – and the blessings that God has given us. I know I plan to…what about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
“It was the same in the time of Lot—the people carrying on, having a good time, business as usual right up to the day Lot walked out of Sodom and a firestorm swept down and burned everything to a crisp. That’s how it will be—sudden, total—when the Son of Man is revealed."
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 have to admit…the massacre of nine people at the “Mother Emmanuel” A.M.E. church in Charleston, South Carolina last Wednesday evening has caused a major shift in my thinking…and not in the way you might think. I had grown comfortable – and complacent – in a particular area of my faith. Sure, I love Jesus…and He is front and center (most of the time) in my thoughts and actions. Yes, I am certain that Heaven will be my eternal home…that my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life…and that God is guiding my steps (though He may occasionally wring his hands and ask, “What on earth is she thinking?!”)
The much-needed “jolt” that this tragic event of June 17th provided for me is a reminder of 1) how precarious and temporary this life is, and 2) Who is really in control! See, while I am ready for heaven in many ways, I realized that I have held subconscious thoughts that nothing will happen to me, because I still have work to do on this earth. There are family members to nurture and care for…there are dozens of “important” projects to complete. I have photos to scan and devos to write and children to drive to swim lessons and VBS… and so many more “important” things to accomplish! But this week, I’ve very clearly felt God showing me that I am indeed important to Him…but I am not indispensible. In other words, there is nothing about me that makes me more special than anyone else…more extraordinary…or more useful.
So when I saw a state senator and pastor swept to heaven in the middle of a sermon, I knew that the Son of Man can be revealed to any of us in a heartbeat. When I learned that a young man who just graduated from college has “graduated” to heaven…I realized that the plans we have cannot hold a candle to those of God. When I heard about the seven other church members who nurtured a hate-filled, angry, malicious young man for more than an hour – and he shot them dead anyway…I realized that when God is ready for me, there won’t be a thing that I can do about it. And more importantly - I won’t want to!
So I am looking at my life through a new lens…and I encourage you to do the same. I am thinking more about every word and action…because they might be my last. Did I offer kindness and a word from God to a would-be killer…or more likely, to someone so mired in depression or difficulties that he/she was facing a mental or emotional breakdown and considering suicide? Did I waste time checking social media or watching a dumb reality TV show instead of playing with my little niece and nephews…doing something with my husband or other loved ones…or visiting someone who is sick, grieving or lonely? Did I pay close enough attention to the people around me…both those I know and love – and those I’ve merely shared space with at the grocery check-out line, passed in a hallway at church, or swam next to at the community pool?
Have my comments on social media been kind and reflected God’s word and will? Have I taken advantage of the minutes/hours/days/weeks/years that God has granted me on this earth? Have I been like Lot…so busy carrying on and having a good time that I didn’t see the firestorm that was brewing…or recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life? If you and I were staring down the barrel of a gun as we attended a Bible study or prayer meeting – and given a moment to reflect before the trigger was pulled – what would we be the focal point of our last thoughts?
Are you ready for heaven? Are you aware that the time of your departure is NOT your decision to make…and are you truly at peace with this? We have seen this week that even the most faithful among us are not indispensible when God is ready for us to sit at Jesus’ feet. When our perspective shifts and we change our attitude, we can start to really make the most of the time that we have left – and the blessings that God has given us. I know I plan to…what about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 2, 2014
1 Timothy 1:5-7
The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
As Greg and I sat down to watch the final two hours of the History Channel mini-series The Bible, he jokingly said, “We know how it ends.” And as true as that statement is, I think we both came away from this movie with a renewed perspective on our life in Christ. The suffering of Jesus was almost unbearable to watch…even though we both knew we were merely watching a movie. The raw emotions of the disciples, Jesus’ mother Mary, John and Mary Magdalene - and even Jesus himself - were so compelling. The depiction of the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples was breathtaking. And through it all, one pervading theme shone…”Love one another."
In Romans 13:8-10, we read…”Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.’ These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”
If we truly believe the words in this scripture passage…if we are genuinely committed to following Jesus, and we fully grasp the unbelievable price He paid for our sins and entrance into heaven…then we have to take a hard look at how we are treating one another. Do we gossip? Do we present a “my-way-or-the-highway” view of our faith? Do we belittle those who disagree with us or differ from us in some manner? Are we quick to judge…and slow to offer a hand up or a handout? Have we become so smug in our own narrow view of Jesus and His message that we have totally missed the whole point?
A Facebook friend recently shared the observations of a writer who had grown up in an affluent household in a northern state. He was appalled to discover that there were actually people in America who had never eaten at a sit-down restaurant and ordered from a menu. He could not comprehend that there were socio-economic classes inf this country’s population that did not possess two forms of ID – or have a bank account. A stint in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina served to open his eyes to an entire segment of the public that was truly oppressed…one that he never knew existed prior to this disastrous event.
I wonder how many of us wear similar “blinders”…by virtue of our upbringing – or by choice? Do we prefer to ignore those in need…to look the other way…to pretend that as long as everything is hunky-dory in our little corner of the world, it must be so for everyone else? Or do we seek to operate from a pure heart, a clear conscience, a genuine faith…and compassionate, unconditional love toward all people? When others look at us, do they see the face of Jesus and feel His warmth, grace and caring? Or do they see a selfish, “teacher of the Law” who is rigid, arrogant, and complacent?
Before His ascension into Heaven, Jesus called upon ordinary men and women to go and do extraordinary things in His name…literally at the risk of life and limb. And they did it…without question. Could you do this? Would you suffer and sacrifice in Jesus’ name to share His love and good news with others? These are tough questions…but they must be addressed. Just how loving and compassionate are you toward even the least of God’s creatures? How do you truly represent Jesus? Isn’t it time you knew?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
As Greg and I sat down to watch the final two hours of the History Channel mini-series The Bible, he jokingly said, “We know how it ends.” And as true as that statement is, I think we both came away from this movie with a renewed perspective on our life in Christ. The suffering of Jesus was almost unbearable to watch…even though we both knew we were merely watching a movie. The raw emotions of the disciples, Jesus’ mother Mary, John and Mary Magdalene - and even Jesus himself - were so compelling. The depiction of the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples was breathtaking. And through it all, one pervading theme shone…”Love one another."
In Romans 13:8-10, we read…”Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.’ These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”
If we truly believe the words in this scripture passage…if we are genuinely committed to following Jesus, and we fully grasp the unbelievable price He paid for our sins and entrance into heaven…then we have to take a hard look at how we are treating one another. Do we gossip? Do we present a “my-way-or-the-highway” view of our faith? Do we belittle those who disagree with us or differ from us in some manner? Are we quick to judge…and slow to offer a hand up or a handout? Have we become so smug in our own narrow view of Jesus and His message that we have totally missed the whole point?
A Facebook friend recently shared the observations of a writer who had grown up in an affluent household in a northern state. He was appalled to discover that there were actually people in America who had never eaten at a sit-down restaurant and ordered from a menu. He could not comprehend that there were socio-economic classes inf this country’s population that did not possess two forms of ID – or have a bank account. A stint in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina served to open his eyes to an entire segment of the public that was truly oppressed…one that he never knew existed prior to this disastrous event.
I wonder how many of us wear similar “blinders”…by virtue of our upbringing – or by choice? Do we prefer to ignore those in need…to look the other way…to pretend that as long as everything is hunky-dory in our little corner of the world, it must be so for everyone else? Or do we seek to operate from a pure heart, a clear conscience, a genuine faith…and compassionate, unconditional love toward all people? When others look at us, do they see the face of Jesus and feel His warmth, grace and caring? Or do they see a selfish, “teacher of the Law” who is rigid, arrogant, and complacent?
Before His ascension into Heaven, Jesus called upon ordinary men and women to go and do extraordinary things in His name…literally at the risk of life and limb. And they did it…without question. Could you do this? Would you suffer and sacrifice in Jesus’ name to share His love and good news with others? These are tough questions…but they must be addressed. Just how loving and compassionate are you toward even the least of God’s creatures? How do you truly represent Jesus? Isn’t it time you knew?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 17, 2013
Romans 10:8-10
It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In her book, Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz tells the story of a mother and son who enjoy a glorious day together at the beach. They soak up the son, revel in each other’s company, and relax in the quietness of the ocean waves. As the sun begins to set, they hear screaming in the distance, and they realize that a woman is drowning down the beach a ways… pulled under by the current of a rip tide. The son swims out to rescue the woman and pulls her to safety, but when she emerges from the water, he is nowhere to be found. The mother is understandably distraught. The rescued woman walks over and tells the mother that her son didn’t have to do anything – and he certainly did not have to die… that she would have somehow managed on her own.
Lotz makes the suggestion that this is how many of us are with Jesus. He quietly and bravely suffered and died on our behalf, and all we offer in return is indignation. We were doing just fine… we didn’t need “saving”. We seem to somehow manage pretty well on our own… who says we need a redeemer? Besides, we’ve really not done anything to earn God’s favor. In fact, we’ve been pretty rotten at times. Why would Jesus want to risk His own life for ours? What’s in it for Him?
The answer to these questions encompasses the beauty of our relationship with Jesus. We are not expected to “do” anything… Jesus didn’t die for us out of anything but a deep sense of love and concern. Just as the young son who rushed into the water to rescue a woman he did not know in the least, Jesus comes after us. The young son didn’t have a clue about this woman. She might have been a horrible person… a hardened criminal… an abusive parent…a truly hateful individual. The young man didn’t consider any of this… he just saw a woman in peril, and he rushed to save her. Jesus knows each of us… our past, present and future… and still, He gave His life for ours. All we have to do is accept His hand… His offer of salvation… His “rescue plan”.
Here’s where our story differs from the woman’s. Once we have been saved by faith… rescued by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ… we are called to “name it and claim it.” Unlike the woman who disavowed her deliverance from the treacherous ocean waters, we are called to embrace our new life in Christ… to declare Him as our LORD and Savior… and to live in such a way that all can see that we belong to Him… and to be grateful.
As Lotz noted, many have accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation… but with something of a dismissive attitude. We’ve either failed to share Jesus with others through our words and actions… or we have essentially scorned Him by acting as if we were managing perfectly well on our own. And we are all guilty of this in one form or another at times. We should all take a long, hard look at our Christian faith… and how we are treating Jesus. Have we truly chosen to follow Him? If so, have we fully committed to acknowledging Him in every aspect of our lives… and are we grateful for His amazing sacrifice?
Are you in need of a Christian “attitude adjustment” these days? God has done His part to set things right … have YOU?
©2013 Debbie Robus
It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In her book, Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz tells the story of a mother and son who enjoy a glorious day together at the beach. They soak up the son, revel in each other’s company, and relax in the quietness of the ocean waves. As the sun begins to set, they hear screaming in the distance, and they realize that a woman is drowning down the beach a ways… pulled under by the current of a rip tide. The son swims out to rescue the woman and pulls her to safety, but when she emerges from the water, he is nowhere to be found. The mother is understandably distraught. The rescued woman walks over and tells the mother that her son didn’t have to do anything – and he certainly did not have to die… that she would have somehow managed on her own.
Lotz makes the suggestion that this is how many of us are with Jesus. He quietly and bravely suffered and died on our behalf, and all we offer in return is indignation. We were doing just fine… we didn’t need “saving”. We seem to somehow manage pretty well on our own… who says we need a redeemer? Besides, we’ve really not done anything to earn God’s favor. In fact, we’ve been pretty rotten at times. Why would Jesus want to risk His own life for ours? What’s in it for Him?
The answer to these questions encompasses the beauty of our relationship with Jesus. We are not expected to “do” anything… Jesus didn’t die for us out of anything but a deep sense of love and concern. Just as the young son who rushed into the water to rescue a woman he did not know in the least, Jesus comes after us. The young son didn’t have a clue about this woman. She might have been a horrible person… a hardened criminal… an abusive parent…a truly hateful individual. The young man didn’t consider any of this… he just saw a woman in peril, and he rushed to save her. Jesus knows each of us… our past, present and future… and still, He gave His life for ours. All we have to do is accept His hand… His offer of salvation… His “rescue plan”.
Here’s where our story differs from the woman’s. Once we have been saved by faith… rescued by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ… we are called to “name it and claim it.” Unlike the woman who disavowed her deliverance from the treacherous ocean waters, we are called to embrace our new life in Christ… to declare Him as our LORD and Savior… and to live in such a way that all can see that we belong to Him… and to be grateful.
As Lotz noted, many have accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation… but with something of a dismissive attitude. We’ve either failed to share Jesus with others through our words and actions… or we have essentially scorned Him by acting as if we were managing perfectly well on our own. And we are all guilty of this in one form or another at times. We should all take a long, hard look at our Christian faith… and how we are treating Jesus. Have we truly chosen to follow Him? If so, have we fully committed to acknowledging Him in every aspect of our lives… and are we grateful for His amazing sacrifice?
Are you in need of a Christian “attitude adjustment” these days? God has done His part to set things right … have YOU?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 31, 2013
Romans 8:5-8
Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In the interest of fairness, I will talk about our other cat, Lucy, today. Lucy is a “tuxedo” (black and white) who is pretty much attached to me (while her sister, Mabel, prefers to hang with Greg 99% of the time). To say that Lucy is self-absorbed would be an understatement. Don’t get me wrong, we love and adore both of our cats – and spoil them rotten! Both are the most vocal cats we have ever known… but “No!” is not in Lucy’s vocabulary! When she wants my attention, she will squawk and squall like she is dying. Or if I am trying to sleep and she wants my attention, she will either paw at me incessantly (front paws declawed, thankfully!) or she will lie down next to me and thump her tail so loudly it echoes in the bed springs!
Granted, Lucy is a cat. And I guess a cat is entitled to be self-centered… it’s kinda their job! But when it comes to our own lives, we are often so much like Lucy – or worse – and God is not pleased. We are either kicking, screaming and insisting that He do something for us… that He give us every one of our heart’s desires (which are not necessarily the same as His desires for us)… or we completely ignore Him and strike out on our own to do things our way. OR… we figure out another way to get what we want. Like Lucy, if God doesn’t answer as quickly as we wish – or in the manner we prefer – we have ways of making our requirements known!
Often, end result is not pretty. We end up miserable, defeated and disappointed… and feeling anything but peaceful. If only we had sense enough to trust God… to seek Him in all things and to desire what He desires. If only we thought of God first…and second… and third…and put our ego on the back burner. We can’t even begin to imagine what God would do for us if we would do this for Him. But as my Mam-ma Polly would say, “I tell you what”… I’m willing to try. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In the interest of fairness, I will talk about our other cat, Lucy, today. Lucy is a “tuxedo” (black and white) who is pretty much attached to me (while her sister, Mabel, prefers to hang with Greg 99% of the time). To say that Lucy is self-absorbed would be an understatement. Don’t get me wrong, we love and adore both of our cats – and spoil them rotten! Both are the most vocal cats we have ever known… but “No!” is not in Lucy’s vocabulary! When she wants my attention, she will squawk and squall like she is dying. Or if I am trying to sleep and she wants my attention, she will either paw at me incessantly (front paws declawed, thankfully!) or she will lie down next to me and thump her tail so loudly it echoes in the bed springs!Granted, Lucy is a cat. And I guess a cat is entitled to be self-centered… it’s kinda their job! But when it comes to our own lives, we are often so much like Lucy – or worse – and God is not pleased. We are either kicking, screaming and insisting that He do something for us… that He give us every one of our heart’s desires (which are not necessarily the same as His desires for us)… or we completely ignore Him and strike out on our own to do things our way. OR… we figure out another way to get what we want. Like Lucy, if God doesn’t answer as quickly as we wish – or in the manner we prefer – we have ways of making our requirements known!
Often, end result is not pretty. We end up miserable, defeated and disappointed… and feeling anything but peaceful. If only we had sense enough to trust God… to seek Him in all things and to desire what He desires. If only we thought of God first…and second… and third…and put our ego on the back burner. We can’t even begin to imagine what God would do for us if we would do this for Him. But as my Mam-ma Polly would say, “I tell you what”… I’m willing to try. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 27, 2013
March 27 ~ Psalm 15:1-5
Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Suppose you wanted to throw a dinner party in your home. Who would be on your guest list? Would you include someone you do not like… or someone whose company you don’t enjoy? Would you invite people who have a reputation for gossip or those who speak evil of their friends? Would your list include some who you know to be dishonest and deceitful? Would bigots and those who are brazen and foul-mouthed be allowed? Would you ask known thieves to attend?
If some of these people showed up uninvited, how would you treat them? Would you usher them out and tell them never to visit your home again… or would you treat them kindly and gently – but with guarded hospitality? Would you make sure that they were sufficiently humiliated in front of the other guests… or would you be gracious toward them?
This is what God does for us. He prefers that His “house” be filled with those who operate with integrity. But God is gracious and will not embarrass those of us who behave inappropriately. God does not appreciate our disrespect and dishonor... but He will not stoop to our level. Instead, God blesses and rewards those who lead blameless lives and do what is right. He bestows incredible favor on those who speak the truth from sincere hearts. He promises perpetual love and care to those who keep their promises even when it hurts… the honest and upright who cannot be bribed or persuaded to disobey.
I know it may seem like some people skirt through life doing as they please and getting by with it. You may be able to name a few people who appear to live a charmed life and “have it made” even though they have a penchant for impropriety and ill-gotten gain. But I can assure you, they do not have God’s favor… and their assurances of His blessings and care will not be everlasting and secure. I don’t know about you, but I’m in it with God for the long haul. I want all He offers… and I plan to do everything possible to live in a way that ensures that He is pleased with me!
Lest you think that this is about what God can do for me… I assure you, it is not! The truth is that God has done far and above anything I could ever hope to deserve for me already… He sent His only Son to die on a cross for my sins. He sacrificed everything for someone who can give Him little to nothing in return… who certainly can never repay this tremendous gift. And that person is me! It is also you… and the next guy… and the next! We cannot earn God’s favor or blessings. But we can honor and respect Him by living with integrity… by leading blameless lives, operating with sincerity and authenticity… and a having genuine heart. Even when we are ridiculed and mistreated, we can continue to show love, grace, mercy and forgiveness… and in doing so, we can say, “I’m striving to imitate you as closely as possible, LORD!”
THESE are the kinds of people who find sanctuary in the LORD. These are the ones whom He desires to invite to His table… the ones who will find blessings and favor… who will stand firm forever. I want to be among them… don’t you? Are you a worthy dinner guest? Aren’t you ready to become one?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Suppose you wanted to throw a dinner party in your home. Who would be on your guest list? Would you include someone you do not like… or someone whose company you don’t enjoy? Would you invite people who have a reputation for gossip or those who speak evil of their friends? Would your list include some who you know to be dishonest and deceitful? Would bigots and those who are brazen and foul-mouthed be allowed? Would you ask known thieves to attend?
If some of these people showed up uninvited, how would you treat them? Would you usher them out and tell them never to visit your home again… or would you treat them kindly and gently – but with guarded hospitality? Would you make sure that they were sufficiently humiliated in front of the other guests… or would you be gracious toward them?
This is what God does for us. He prefers that His “house” be filled with those who operate with integrity. But God is gracious and will not embarrass those of us who behave inappropriately. God does not appreciate our disrespect and dishonor... but He will not stoop to our level. Instead, God blesses and rewards those who lead blameless lives and do what is right. He bestows incredible favor on those who speak the truth from sincere hearts. He promises perpetual love and care to those who keep their promises even when it hurts… the honest and upright who cannot be bribed or persuaded to disobey.
I know it may seem like some people skirt through life doing as they please and getting by with it. You may be able to name a few people who appear to live a charmed life and “have it made” even though they have a penchant for impropriety and ill-gotten gain. But I can assure you, they do not have God’s favor… and their assurances of His blessings and care will not be everlasting and secure. I don’t know about you, but I’m in it with God for the long haul. I want all He offers… and I plan to do everything possible to live in a way that ensures that He is pleased with me!
Lest you think that this is about what God can do for me… I assure you, it is not! The truth is that God has done far and above anything I could ever hope to deserve for me already… He sent His only Son to die on a cross for my sins. He sacrificed everything for someone who can give Him little to nothing in return… who certainly can never repay this tremendous gift. And that person is me! It is also you… and the next guy… and the next! We cannot earn God’s favor or blessings. But we can honor and respect Him by living with integrity… by leading blameless lives, operating with sincerity and authenticity… and a having genuine heart. Even when we are ridiculed and mistreated, we can continue to show love, grace, mercy and forgiveness… and in doing so, we can say, “I’m striving to imitate you as closely as possible, LORD!”
THESE are the kinds of people who find sanctuary in the LORD. These are the ones whom He desires to invite to His table… the ones who will find blessings and favor… who will stand firm forever. I want to be among them… don’t you? Are you a worthy dinner guest? Aren’t you ready to become one?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 23, 2013
March 23 – Proverbs 2:20-22
So—join the company of good men and women, keep your feet on the tried-and-true paths. It’s the men who walk straight who will settle this land, the women with integrity who will last here. The corrupt will lose their lives; the dishonest will be gone for good.
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.
This morning, I read “The Three Little Bears” to my almost-two-year-old niece, Zola. You know the story… Momma Bear makes porridge for herself, Poppa Bear and Baby Bear, and while it cools, they take a walk. A little girl named Goldilocks comes along while out for a walk in the woods. She knocks on the door, and when no one answers… she goes right in and helps herself to food, seating, and a bed for a nap! She even breaks Baby Bear’s chair when she sits in it.
When the bears return, they discover the intruder. Goldilocks wakes up, sees the bears, lets out a yell and runs out of the house… and the story says she was gone for good, because she never went for a walk in the woods again.
Clearly, nobody explained integrity to Goldilocks! She thought nothing of entering someone else’s home, eating their food, sitting in their chairs, or sleeping in their beds. And a lot of us are very much like her! We do what we please… when we please… and take whatever we want as if we are entitled. We say things we shouldn’t. We step off the “straight-and-narrow path” and dance to the beat of our own drummer… or that of the devil himself. And ultimately, our dishonesty and brazenness catch up with us, and we are “gone for good.” Nobody wants anything to do with us… and who could blame them?!
Too many of us have our sights fixed on instant gratification… a “what’s-in-it-for-me-now” mentality. We need to focus on the things of God… His will for our lives and what He wants us to accomplish in His name for the long haul. We need to think more about eternity and how we get there than on a temporary gratification… a warm bowl of porridge, a chair and a comfortable bed, so to speak!
What about you? Are you sticking to a path that leads to lasting rewards and eternity with Jesus… or are you living as if you are on a walk through the woods – hoping to find momentary pleasure in the things of this world? Are you treating others with respect and dignity… do you value their property and their feelings? Have you asked God to show you the path you should take in order to fulfill His purpose for your life? Have you prayed for moral character and integrity… have you asked God to reveal His plan for your life? Isn’t today a great day to do all of this?
Even if you started down another path, there is still time to turn back and regroup. You don’t have to be like Goldilocks and never take a walk in the woods again. You just have to stay on the right trail and let God lead the way. Who is guiding your steps these days? Whose path are you following… and where are you ultimately headed?
©2013 Debbie Robus
So—join the company of good men and women, keep your feet on the tried-and-true paths. It’s the men who walk straight who will settle this land, the women with integrity who will last here. The corrupt will lose their lives; the dishonest will be gone for good.
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.
This morning, I read “The Three Little Bears” to my almost-two-year-old niece, Zola. You know the story… Momma Bear makes porridge for herself, Poppa Bear and Baby Bear, and while it cools, they take a walk. A little girl named Goldilocks comes along while out for a walk in the woods. She knocks on the door, and when no one answers… she goes right in and helps herself to food, seating, and a bed for a nap! She even breaks Baby Bear’s chair when she sits in it.
When the bears return, they discover the intruder. Goldilocks wakes up, sees the bears, lets out a yell and runs out of the house… and the story says she was gone for good, because she never went for a walk in the woods again.
Clearly, nobody explained integrity to Goldilocks! She thought nothing of entering someone else’s home, eating their food, sitting in their chairs, or sleeping in their beds. And a lot of us are very much like her! We do what we please… when we please… and take whatever we want as if we are entitled. We say things we shouldn’t. We step off the “straight-and-narrow path” and dance to the beat of our own drummer… or that of the devil himself. And ultimately, our dishonesty and brazenness catch up with us, and we are “gone for good.” Nobody wants anything to do with us… and who could blame them?!
Too many of us have our sights fixed on instant gratification… a “what’s-in-it-for-me-now” mentality. We need to focus on the things of God… His will for our lives and what He wants us to accomplish in His name for the long haul. We need to think more about eternity and how we get there than on a temporary gratification… a warm bowl of porridge, a chair and a comfortable bed, so to speak!
What about you? Are you sticking to a path that leads to lasting rewards and eternity with Jesus… or are you living as if you are on a walk through the woods – hoping to find momentary pleasure in the things of this world? Are you treating others with respect and dignity… do you value their property and their feelings? Have you asked God to show you the path you should take in order to fulfill His purpose for your life? Have you prayed for moral character and integrity… have you asked God to reveal His plan for your life? Isn’t today a great day to do all of this?
Even if you started down another path, there is still time to turn back and regroup. You don’t have to be like Goldilocks and never take a walk in the woods again. You just have to stay on the right trail and let God lead the way. Who is guiding your steps these days? Whose path are you following… and where are you ultimately headed?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 12, 2012
Luke 9:23
Then Jesus said to all the people: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Whew! Was I ever “brought up short” about this today! I was helping my grandmother with her lunch at the assisted living facility when an aide came to sit at the table and help feed another resident. I would guess she was in her late 30s or early 40s. She asked if I was ready for Christmas, and we began to visit. She told me about her four-year-old grand-daughter who is coming… and what she had asked for (and this woman had purchased) as gifts. As she rose to help another resident, she said, “Since I lost my husband, Christmas just isn’t the same.” I asked how long he had been gone, and she said, “a few years… he suffered a heart attack while we were en route to the hospital to see about a family member, and he died in my arms.” I swallowed hard to fight back tears. I told her how sorry I was, and she smiled and wished me a good day as she left.
The aide who came to replace her at the table sat down, and I said, “She just told me about her husband.” This woman looked like maybe she was in her 50s, and she said, “Yes, we commiserate a lot, because I lost my husband, too.” This woman went on to tell me that her husband died a year ago of cancer. She was equally friendly and positive as she talked about her grandchildren and caring for others. Both women were incredibly sweet and attentive to my grandmother and to her table-mate.
When I looked at my scripture outline for these devos and read the verse for today, I knew why God placed me at the facility during lunch. Even in the midst of my frenzy to get things done for Christmas… my worries and concerns about my grandmother, who appears to be in her last weeks, if not days… the general busyness of our day and all of the myriad of other “stressors” we each encounter… nothing is about ME… or YOU! It’s about serving Jesus… being His hands and feet for others… and sharing His Good News at every turn.
The question today is… “How are you doing?” Are you joyful and patient, positive and helpful? Or are you a miserable example of what it means to be a Disciple of Christ? Do you go around with the weight of the world on your shoulders… are you a drag to be around – or a delight? Is everything about you and your troubles… or are you genuinely interested in the well-being of others? Do you bother to find out about their day or what is going on in their life? Or are you too busy letting others know – either by body language, your comments, or both - just how bad you’ve got it?
Jesus is calling us to take up His cross and follow Him… to lay aside the worries of our day and let Him handle them… to focus on loving others and showing care and concern for what is challenging or frustrating them – and to share their joys and triumphs. Again I ask… “How are you doing?” It would seem that most of us have plenty of room for improvement in this area. Are you ready to follow Jesus completely? Are YOU ready to really focus on serving Him in everything? Who needs to know this day that you truly care? Isn’t it time you showed them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Then Jesus said to all the people: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Whew! Was I ever “brought up short” about this today! I was helping my grandmother with her lunch at the assisted living facility when an aide came to sit at the table and help feed another resident. I would guess she was in her late 30s or early 40s. She asked if I was ready for Christmas, and we began to visit. She told me about her four-year-old grand-daughter who is coming… and what she had asked for (and this woman had purchased) as gifts. As she rose to help another resident, she said, “Since I lost my husband, Christmas just isn’t the same.” I asked how long he had been gone, and she said, “a few years… he suffered a heart attack while we were en route to the hospital to see about a family member, and he died in my arms.” I swallowed hard to fight back tears. I told her how sorry I was, and she smiled and wished me a good day as she left.
The aide who came to replace her at the table sat down, and I said, “She just told me about her husband.” This woman looked like maybe she was in her 50s, and she said, “Yes, we commiserate a lot, because I lost my husband, too.” This woman went on to tell me that her husband died a year ago of cancer. She was equally friendly and positive as she talked about her grandchildren and caring for others. Both women were incredibly sweet and attentive to my grandmother and to her table-mate.
When I looked at my scripture outline for these devos and read the verse for today, I knew why God placed me at the facility during lunch. Even in the midst of my frenzy to get things done for Christmas… my worries and concerns about my grandmother, who appears to be in her last weeks, if not days… the general busyness of our day and all of the myriad of other “stressors” we each encounter… nothing is about ME… or YOU! It’s about serving Jesus… being His hands and feet for others… and sharing His Good News at every turn.
The question today is… “How are you doing?” Are you joyful and patient, positive and helpful? Or are you a miserable example of what it means to be a Disciple of Christ? Do you go around with the weight of the world on your shoulders… are you a drag to be around – or a delight? Is everything about you and your troubles… or are you genuinely interested in the well-being of others? Do you bother to find out about their day or what is going on in their life? Or are you too busy letting others know – either by body language, your comments, or both - just how bad you’ve got it?
Jesus is calling us to take up His cross and follow Him… to lay aside the worries of our day and let Him handle them… to focus on loving others and showing care and concern for what is challenging or frustrating them – and to share their joys and triumphs. Again I ask… “How are you doing?” It would seem that most of us have plenty of room for improvement in this area. Are you ready to follow Jesus completely? Are YOU ready to really focus on serving Him in everything? Who needs to know this day that you truly care? Isn’t it time you showed them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 2, 2012
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
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.
We all know the adage, “When all else fails, read the instructions.” But very few of us pay much attention to this in our daily living. We “skim” the directions on the box, at best. We half listen when the doctor or pharmacist says, “Be sure to take that medication with food or drink plenty of water.” The speed limit number is just a suggestion… right? Just because the coach/fitness instructor says to eat several small meals a day and do 20 reps of each exercise doesn’t mean that we won’t reach our goal faster if we skip most meals and double the reps. After all, we know our own body/limits better than they do! Sure, the doctor said not to walk on that broken foot for another two weeks, but we have games to play and places to be… it really doesn’t hurt that badly!
I could continue to list examples of ways people try to guide us with sound advice, and we stubbornly choose to muddle through in our own way. But I think you get the picture. While the consequences of these actions may not be that significant in our daily living, when we fail to listen to the instructions and guidance we receive from God, this is a whole other story.
It’s hard to say why we find it so hard to listen to God’s advice – and even harder to take it! But I know that God will never steer us in the wrong direction. His plans are always perfect and designed to propel us in exactly the way we need to go. Will His course always be easy? Will we always want to follow His lead? Absolutely not! Should we do this anyway? Most definitely!
Most of us probably have a pretty good idea when we are hearing from God… we just don’t always choose to listen. The scriptures are telling us that this is “stinkin’ thinkin’” – and we need to change course immediately! Trust in God to show you the right path to take. Trust HIS guidance… not your own. You can listen to your gut… but check with God to make sure that His is the voice you are finding there! Save yourself heartache and frustration in the long run by putting God’s plans into action instead of your own. Allow Him to keep you on track… then thank Him for doing exactly that!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
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.
We all know the adage, “When all else fails, read the instructions.” But very few of us pay much attention to this in our daily living. We “skim” the directions on the box, at best. We half listen when the doctor or pharmacist says, “Be sure to take that medication with food or drink plenty of water.” The speed limit number is just a suggestion… right? Just because the coach/fitness instructor says to eat several small meals a day and do 20 reps of each exercise doesn’t mean that we won’t reach our goal faster if we skip most meals and double the reps. After all, we know our own body/limits better than they do! Sure, the doctor said not to walk on that broken foot for another two weeks, but we have games to play and places to be… it really doesn’t hurt that badly!
I could continue to list examples of ways people try to guide us with sound advice, and we stubbornly choose to muddle through in our own way. But I think you get the picture. While the consequences of these actions may not be that significant in our daily living, when we fail to listen to the instructions and guidance we receive from God, this is a whole other story.
It’s hard to say why we find it so hard to listen to God’s advice – and even harder to take it! But I know that God will never steer us in the wrong direction. His plans are always perfect and designed to propel us in exactly the way we need to go. Will His course always be easy? Will we always want to follow His lead? Absolutely not! Should we do this anyway? Most definitely!
Most of us probably have a pretty good idea when we are hearing from God… we just don’t always choose to listen. The scriptures are telling us that this is “stinkin’ thinkin’” – and we need to change course immediately! Trust in God to show you the right path to take. Trust HIS guidance… not your own. You can listen to your gut… but check with God to make sure that His is the voice you are finding there! Save yourself heartache and frustration in the long run by putting God’s plans into action instead of your own. Allow Him to keep you on track… then thank Him for doing exactly that!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 13, 2012
Matthew 12:11-13
Jesus answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you lift it out? People are worth much more than sheep, and so it is right to do good on the Sabbath.” Then Jesus told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man did, and it became as healthy as the other one.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last week, I visited with my grandmother. I can never stay long enough with her… she always asks in one way or another, “What’s your hurry?” Last week, I explained (in terms I felt such a hard worker as she would understand) that… “I have to go home and get our laundry done and clean our house. I’m way behind on such things.” Even though a stroke has left her unable to say more than a word or two, she managed to convey… “still there.” In other words, the chores would keep! And she was right. This is the same woman who frequently commented that she didn’t feel well as she hurried out the door to do something – often for someone else – and added, “I won’t feel a bit worse there than I would sitting at home.”
What’s my point? To me, this passage is about much more than keeping the Sabbath. In actuality, Jesus is “schooling” us on priorities. We have choices to make every day. Yes, our rooms and homes have to get cleaned. Yes, we have jobs, school work, laundry, meals to prepare, yards to mow and vehicles to wash – and our own families to see after and care about. Yes, we have to take care of certain things first… we must prioritize. But we also have to look at the “fringe” activities and choose whether to minister to others in Jesus’ name or satisfy our own selfish interests.
Do you really have to watch that program on television? Could you record it for later viewing… or skip it altogether? Is it more important that you spend the next few weeks in a frenzy over Christmas shopping and attending parties… or finding ways to help those less fortunate for whom Christmas is anything but a joyful occasion? Is there someone who needs to hear from you today? Should you spend a little time sending a note or e-mail – or making a phone call – or is it more important that you have that second cup of coffee while reading the morning newspaper? Will the world come to an end if you let a few things go in the next month or two while you help a senior citizen downsize and prepare for a move to a smaller residence… or tutor a child or young person who is studying for major exams or trying to improve test scores?
What if you gave up the next several Saturdays to help a young person earn a scouting badge… or forfeited an afternoon of decorating your own home for Christmas in order to decorate your church facilities… or put a few wreaths and baubles up at the home of an elderly shut-in… or visit someone in a nursing home or hospital for whom Christmas will pretty well come and go without fanfare?
Exactly where do your priorities lie? Just as Jesus demonstrated that doing the LORD’s work on the Sabbath was more important than observing the date on the calendar… He is calling on each of us to set aside our own agendas when He presents us with an opportunity to serve. I managed to get my house clean and the laundry done… but I’m still working on the ironing. And I’ll get there. I have discovered that laying aside my own agenda to serve in the LORD’s army often gives me renewed energy for completing the tasks on my own list. Somehow, He shows us where/how to get everything done that is necessary. Are you willing to discover this for yourself?
I don’t know what your “sheep in the ditch” moments will be… but I know God will present them to you. The question is… how will you respond?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Jesus answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you lift it out? People are worth much more than sheep, and so it is right to do good on the Sabbath.” Then Jesus told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man did, and it became as healthy as the other one.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last week, I visited with my grandmother. I can never stay long enough with her… she always asks in one way or another, “What’s your hurry?” Last week, I explained (in terms I felt such a hard worker as she would understand) that… “I have to go home and get our laundry done and clean our house. I’m way behind on such things.” Even though a stroke has left her unable to say more than a word or two, she managed to convey… “still there.” In other words, the chores would keep! And she was right. This is the same woman who frequently commented that she didn’t feel well as she hurried out the door to do something – often for someone else – and added, “I won’t feel a bit worse there than I would sitting at home.”
What’s my point? To me, this passage is about much more than keeping the Sabbath. In actuality, Jesus is “schooling” us on priorities. We have choices to make every day. Yes, our rooms and homes have to get cleaned. Yes, we have jobs, school work, laundry, meals to prepare, yards to mow and vehicles to wash – and our own families to see after and care about. Yes, we have to take care of certain things first… we must prioritize. But we also have to look at the “fringe” activities and choose whether to minister to others in Jesus’ name or satisfy our own selfish interests.
Do you really have to watch that program on television? Could you record it for later viewing… or skip it altogether? Is it more important that you spend the next few weeks in a frenzy over Christmas shopping and attending parties… or finding ways to help those less fortunate for whom Christmas is anything but a joyful occasion? Is there someone who needs to hear from you today? Should you spend a little time sending a note or e-mail – or making a phone call – or is it more important that you have that second cup of coffee while reading the morning newspaper? Will the world come to an end if you let a few things go in the next month or two while you help a senior citizen downsize and prepare for a move to a smaller residence… or tutor a child or young person who is studying for major exams or trying to improve test scores?
What if you gave up the next several Saturdays to help a young person earn a scouting badge… or forfeited an afternoon of decorating your own home for Christmas in order to decorate your church facilities… or put a few wreaths and baubles up at the home of an elderly shut-in… or visit someone in a nursing home or hospital for whom Christmas will pretty well come and go without fanfare?
Exactly where do your priorities lie? Just as Jesus demonstrated that doing the LORD’s work on the Sabbath was more important than observing the date on the calendar… He is calling on each of us to set aside our own agendas when He presents us with an opportunity to serve. I managed to get my house clean and the laundry done… but I’m still working on the ironing. And I’ll get there. I have discovered that laying aside my own agenda to serve in the LORD’s army often gives me renewed energy for completing the tasks on my own list. Somehow, He shows us where/how to get everything done that is necessary. Are you willing to discover this for yourself?
I don’t know what your “sheep in the ditch” moments will be… but I know God will present them to you. The question is… how will you respond?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 9, 2012
Matthew 10:32-39
“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I’ll cover for you?
“Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy. I’ve come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don’t deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don’t deserve me.
“If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.
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.
Someone was telling me recently about visiting the home of a friend, and there was a pillow in one room that said, “It’s all about ME!” Sadly, this is not a joke for some of us! Many people function in this world under the assumption that it truly is all about them. Their focus is on their own agenda… the next purchase…who is paying attention to them… what is happening in their own little circle… and how they appear to others – on every level.
Forget asking these people to change their plans or forego a “treat” for themselves to help someone else. Remember, it’s all about them! Never mind asking them to put the needs of another person ahead of their own… or to say, I had planned to give such-and-such to my parents or my child… but this person is in dire straits and needs it worse, so I will proceed in a different direction.
When it comes to our Christian Discipleship, even more of us have a problem in this area. Ask yourself… “Would I be willing to forego a daily/semi-weekly cup of specialty coffee or a large soft drink in order to sponsor a child in Compassion, International or help another worthwhile charity? Could I give up an hour or so a week of doing something I really enjoy in order to help someone who had a physical need I could meet… running errands, help with lawn maintenance, delivering Meals on Wheels, giving a shut-in a ride somewhere, etc.? What if I turned off my television each day for one hour and spent that time in quiet prayer and meditation for others?”
I don’t know what God is calling you to do. I don’t know where your path to Discipleship leads you. But I do know that a lot of us are far less obedient and selfless in these areas than we ought to be. When it comes to our Christian witness and Discipleship, more than a handful of us could sport a pillow that says “It’s all about ME.”
I’m asking you to examine your heart… and your lifestyle… and see where you are acting selfishly and with a self-centered heart. Then ask God to help you turn things around. Start operating from a place of incredible generosity… the old “give until it hurts – and then some” mentality. I’m not talking about money, per se… unless that is what God asks you to give. I’m talking time, talents, energy - whatever He requests. Be willing to give…and then give some more. Stand up for God, and He will stand up for you! Life may not always be cozy,but you will be blessed. You will know that you can someday stand before God with honor and the confidence that you went all the way with Him. You gave everything you had to give… and then some.
If it’s all about GOD, He will see that your needs are met in the bargain. And when God meets your needs, nothing is lacking…and He is truly enough. Aren’t you ready for this? Won’t you ask God to help you change your focus?
©2012 Debbie Robus
“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I’ll cover for you?
“Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy. I’ve come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don’t deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don’t deserve me.
“If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.
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.
Someone was telling me recently about visiting the home of a friend, and there was a pillow in one room that said, “It’s all about ME!” Sadly, this is not a joke for some of us! Many people function in this world under the assumption that it truly is all about them. Their focus is on their own agenda… the next purchase…who is paying attention to them… what is happening in their own little circle… and how they appear to others – on every level.
Forget asking these people to change their plans or forego a “treat” for themselves to help someone else. Remember, it’s all about them! Never mind asking them to put the needs of another person ahead of their own… or to say, I had planned to give such-and-such to my parents or my child… but this person is in dire straits and needs it worse, so I will proceed in a different direction.
When it comes to our Christian Discipleship, even more of us have a problem in this area. Ask yourself… “Would I be willing to forego a daily/semi-weekly cup of specialty coffee or a large soft drink in order to sponsor a child in Compassion, International or help another worthwhile charity? Could I give up an hour or so a week of doing something I really enjoy in order to help someone who had a physical need I could meet… running errands, help with lawn maintenance, delivering Meals on Wheels, giving a shut-in a ride somewhere, etc.? What if I turned off my television each day for one hour and spent that time in quiet prayer and meditation for others?”
I don’t know what God is calling you to do. I don’t know where your path to Discipleship leads you. But I do know that a lot of us are far less obedient and selfless in these areas than we ought to be. When it comes to our Christian witness and Discipleship, more than a handful of us could sport a pillow that says “It’s all about ME.”
I’m asking you to examine your heart… and your lifestyle… and see where you are acting selfishly and with a self-centered heart. Then ask God to help you turn things around. Start operating from a place of incredible generosity… the old “give until it hurts – and then some” mentality. I’m not talking about money, per se… unless that is what God asks you to give. I’m talking time, talents, energy - whatever He requests. Be willing to give…and then give some more. Stand up for God, and He will stand up for you! Life may not always be cozy,but you will be blessed. You will know that you can someday stand before God with honor and the confidence that you went all the way with Him. You gave everything you had to give… and then some.
If it’s all about GOD, He will see that your needs are met in the bargain. And when God meets your needs, nothing is lacking…and He is truly enough. Aren’t you ready for this? Won’t you ask God to help you change your focus?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 10, 2012
James 3:13-16
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.
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.
One of our niece’s high school classmates is a pediatrician at a hospital in Little Rock, where she also teaches at a university hospital. She is also a newlywed whose husband was diagnosed this summer with a very serious form of brain cancer – a highly aggressive malignancy known as glioblastoma. Through surgery, radiation and chemo treatments, this young woman has kept family and friends updated via a CaringBridge journal. In recent posts, she has noted that she doesn’t know how people without her knowledge and expertise navigate the unbelievable maze of medical jargon, paperwork, diagnoses, and treatment directives.
While this ordeal is incredibly heartbreaking, this woman also notes that she has become a better physician as a result of her experience. Many of us have been in a situation where medical staff threw big words, acronyms, numbers and data at us in rapid-fire succession – assuming we understood what they were telling us… while we wondered, “What in the world does this all mean?” – or our mind raced in a thousand other directions. Our niece’s friend writes …”I have become a more compassionate doctor for my families that turn up in the ED (Emergency Department) because they just didn't know what else to do. And while I can rarely solve their problem, I can sit and let them vent about the mess that for-profit medicine has created.”
We can’t merely point to the medical community as the only example of this, because we all act this way, to some degree. We set ourselves up on a pedestal and offer our supreme wisdom to others… often with a hefty dose of condescension or pride in our own capabilities. We lord it over others who really only needed to vent or – as this physician put it – just didn’t know what else to do. We operate in arrogance… that we are better at our job, our sport, parenting our children, being a good friend – and worst of all, being a Christian. By operating in mean-spirited ambition or superiority, we are anything but wise.
Each one of us needs to take a good look at our own life and how we act toward others. Ask yourself, “Am I operating in humility and wisdom… or arrogance and selfish ambition? Am I more concerned with how I appear and stroking my own ego… or sharing my God-given blessings with others? Do others come to me because they know I will offer humble, non-judgmental wisdom and comfort… or am I avoided because of my know-it-all attitude and hypercriticism?”
Won’t you ask God today to grant you true wisdom… and a spirit of honesty, generosity, and humility – as you interact with others? Ask God to make you a person others actually want to be around. Be the humble Christian witness who shares the love of Christ without cramming your vast Bible knowledge or “direct line” arrogance down the throats of others. Build a reputation as someone who lives well, wisely, and humbly. And while you are at it… please pray for this young woman and her husband – and their two young sons – who continue to fight “the beast,” as she describes glioblastoma.
As the adage goes…“People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” What do others know about you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.
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.
One of our niece’s high school classmates is a pediatrician at a hospital in Little Rock, where she also teaches at a university hospital. She is also a newlywed whose husband was diagnosed this summer with a very serious form of brain cancer – a highly aggressive malignancy known as glioblastoma. Through surgery, radiation and chemo treatments, this young woman has kept family and friends updated via a CaringBridge journal. In recent posts, she has noted that she doesn’t know how people without her knowledge and expertise navigate the unbelievable maze of medical jargon, paperwork, diagnoses, and treatment directives.
While this ordeal is incredibly heartbreaking, this woman also notes that she has become a better physician as a result of her experience. Many of us have been in a situation where medical staff threw big words, acronyms, numbers and data at us in rapid-fire succession – assuming we understood what they were telling us… while we wondered, “What in the world does this all mean?” – or our mind raced in a thousand other directions. Our niece’s friend writes …”I have become a more compassionate doctor for my families that turn up in the ED (Emergency Department) because they just didn't know what else to do. And while I can rarely solve their problem, I can sit and let them vent about the mess that for-profit medicine has created.”
We can’t merely point to the medical community as the only example of this, because we all act this way, to some degree. We set ourselves up on a pedestal and offer our supreme wisdom to others… often with a hefty dose of condescension or pride in our own capabilities. We lord it over others who really only needed to vent or – as this physician put it – just didn’t know what else to do. We operate in arrogance… that we are better at our job, our sport, parenting our children, being a good friend – and worst of all, being a Christian. By operating in mean-spirited ambition or superiority, we are anything but wise.
Each one of us needs to take a good look at our own life and how we act toward others. Ask yourself, “Am I operating in humility and wisdom… or arrogance and selfish ambition? Am I more concerned with how I appear and stroking my own ego… or sharing my God-given blessings with others? Do others come to me because they know I will offer humble, non-judgmental wisdom and comfort… or am I avoided because of my know-it-all attitude and hypercriticism?”
Won’t you ask God today to grant you true wisdom… and a spirit of honesty, generosity, and humility – as you interact with others? Ask God to make you a person others actually want to be around. Be the humble Christian witness who shares the love of Christ without cramming your vast Bible knowledge or “direct line” arrogance down the throats of others. Build a reputation as someone who lives well, wisely, and humbly. And while you are at it… please pray for this young woman and her husband – and their two young sons – who continue to fight “the beast,” as she describes glioblastoma.
As the adage goes…“People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” What do others know about you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 14, 2012
Matthew 6:19-21
Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
After my husband and I both graduated from college, we moved back to Heber Springs and worked for one year. The following year, we got an opportunity to return to Russellville, Arkansas, where we had attended college. I applied for a teaching job and received a call for an interview. I wore the only decent dress I had… made by my mother from green polka dot jersey knit. About two weeks later, I was called back for a second interview. I didn’t have another dress to wear… or time to shop for one. Clothing stores were not exactly on every corner of Heber Springs in 1977 – and there were no malls in nearby towns. So I had no choice but to wear the same dress to the second interview.
After all of the questions had been asked and I stood to leave, the school superintendent asked, “Isn’t that is the same dress you wore to the first interview?” Embarrassed that he remembered, I replied, “Yes, sir, it is.” “It looks very nice,” he replied with a smile. Pleasantly surprised – and relieved – I thanked him and hurried from the building. I got the job… and the superintendent, became a friend and mentor over the next eight years.
I don’t know if my superintendent realized that I could only afford one decent dress… or wearing the same dress to both interviews made me more memorable to him and the rest of the interview panel. But I like to think that I was judged on my merits and my resume… and not on whether or not I had a closet full of beautiful clothes. I learned two things from this experience: 1) I probably needed at least one more dress in my wardrobe, and 2) substance trumps surplus.
One school year, I conducted an experiment. I created enough “uniforms” for two consecutive weeks. One week, I mixed and matched a pair of pants, a skirt, a sweater and a blouse to create five outfits for work. The next week, I did the same thing with about a half dozen clothing items in a different color scheme. Nobody ever mentioned that I was wearing the same clothes over and again. Nobody complained about my teaching ability. I had less laundry and more time. I didn’t have to spend as much time thinking about what I was going to wear. I had confidence that I was neatly clothed, and I was free to concentrate on my students, my work, and my personal life.
I will admit… after several weeks, I got tired of wearing the same things over and over… I’m not a big fan of uniforms for the long haul! But how many of us have closets filled with clothes - and we open the doors and say, “I have nothing to wear.” By and large, we have become mass consumers who are largely insatiable. We constantly need more STUFF!
There is nothing wrong with having nice clothes – or the latest gadget or gizmo. Living in abundance is neither a sin nor a crime. But when STUFF becomes our focus… this is a whole other matter! For many of us, the focus of our worship has become our things… homes, cars, clothing, and gadgets. We would rather shop for new shoes than spend time helping the hungry and homeless. We are willing to buy clothing for someone in need… but only if we can buy something for ourselves, too. We will give what we can of our time, talents and money… but only after we have taken care of Numero Uno!
All you have to do is go to a couple or three estate sales and see what “moths and rust” do to STUFF! The things of this world do not make us better friends, teachers, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, ministers, or disciples. What matters is our relationship – with God first, and then with others. If you really want to live in abundance, you have to trim the fat – in every area of your life. You have to focus on the treasures of heaven – living for Jesus and serving as His hands and feet in this lifetime – and care little for the things of this world.
This is not a call to toss all of your clothes and wear the same thing every day. I’m not suggesting you sell your car, home and all of your belongings and live in a pup tent. The key is balance… and single-mindedness – on Jesus Christ. When you store up “treasures of heaven” and help to build the Kingdom of God, earthly blessings and provisions will follow. You will always have plenty. Your closets and shelves may not be full… but your heart will be overflowing. Where is your focus... where are you storing up treasures?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
After my husband and I both graduated from college, we moved back to Heber Springs and worked for one year. The following year, we got an opportunity to return to Russellville, Arkansas, where we had attended college. I applied for a teaching job and received a call for an interview. I wore the only decent dress I had… made by my mother from green polka dot jersey knit. About two weeks later, I was called back for a second interview. I didn’t have another dress to wear… or time to shop for one. Clothing stores were not exactly on every corner of Heber Springs in 1977 – and there were no malls in nearby towns. So I had no choice but to wear the same dress to the second interview.
After all of the questions had been asked and I stood to leave, the school superintendent asked, “Isn’t that is the same dress you wore to the first interview?” Embarrassed that he remembered, I replied, “Yes, sir, it is.” “It looks very nice,” he replied with a smile. Pleasantly surprised – and relieved – I thanked him and hurried from the building. I got the job… and the superintendent, became a friend and mentor over the next eight years.
I don’t know if my superintendent realized that I could only afford one decent dress… or wearing the same dress to both interviews made me more memorable to him and the rest of the interview panel. But I like to think that I was judged on my merits and my resume… and not on whether or not I had a closet full of beautiful clothes. I learned two things from this experience: 1) I probably needed at least one more dress in my wardrobe, and 2) substance trumps surplus.
One school year, I conducted an experiment. I created enough “uniforms” for two consecutive weeks. One week, I mixed and matched a pair of pants, a skirt, a sweater and a blouse to create five outfits for work. The next week, I did the same thing with about a half dozen clothing items in a different color scheme. Nobody ever mentioned that I was wearing the same clothes over and again. Nobody complained about my teaching ability. I had less laundry and more time. I didn’t have to spend as much time thinking about what I was going to wear. I had confidence that I was neatly clothed, and I was free to concentrate on my students, my work, and my personal life.
I will admit… after several weeks, I got tired of wearing the same things over and over… I’m not a big fan of uniforms for the long haul! But how many of us have closets filled with clothes - and we open the doors and say, “I have nothing to wear.” By and large, we have become mass consumers who are largely insatiable. We constantly need more STUFF!
There is nothing wrong with having nice clothes – or the latest gadget or gizmo. Living in abundance is neither a sin nor a crime. But when STUFF becomes our focus… this is a whole other matter! For many of us, the focus of our worship has become our things… homes, cars, clothing, and gadgets. We would rather shop for new shoes than spend time helping the hungry and homeless. We are willing to buy clothing for someone in need… but only if we can buy something for ourselves, too. We will give what we can of our time, talents and money… but only after we have taken care of Numero Uno!
All you have to do is go to a couple or three estate sales and see what “moths and rust” do to STUFF! The things of this world do not make us better friends, teachers, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, ministers, or disciples. What matters is our relationship – with God first, and then with others. If you really want to live in abundance, you have to trim the fat – in every area of your life. You have to focus on the treasures of heaven – living for Jesus and serving as His hands and feet in this lifetime – and care little for the things of this world.
This is not a call to toss all of your clothes and wear the same thing every day. I’m not suggesting you sell your car, home and all of your belongings and live in a pup tent. The key is balance… and single-mindedness – on Jesus Christ. When you store up “treasures of heaven” and help to build the Kingdom of God, earthly blessings and provisions will follow. You will always have plenty. Your closets and shelves may not be full… but your heart will be overflowing. Where is your focus... where are you storing up treasures?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 10, 2012
Matthew 16:23
Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!"
But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."
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 I probably struggle with offense as much – or more – than anything else the devil throws at me. I am an easy mark, I guess. And maybe you are, too! When we are offended, Satan claps and laughs. I know that offense is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the New Testament. Jesus reminds us over and again not to be offended. But that doesn’t stop the devil from trying to ruffle our feathers… and he has a pretty hefty success rate – at least with me!
Recently I read a devotional that spoke of offense as a self-centered behavior. When we are offended, we think of ourselves. When we begin to focus more on God and less on ourselves, we cannot be offended. The offense means nothing to us. I really want that… don’t you? I want to be so focused on God and serving Him… living a full life in Christ and His teachings… that I have no time or energy for dwelling on offenses.
Does this mean that people will no longer offend me or insult me? Does this mean that Satan will stop trying to use offense to trip me up and make me a little neurotic? Absolutely not! But I can lean on God and ask Him to strengthen my resolve to ignore these ploys. I can ask Him to deepen my focus on Jesus and fill my heart and mind with thoughts of Him… until there is absolutely NO room for thoughts of the offense.
I’m with Peter… I would have been offended at the thought of the Romans abusing Jesus. And you may feel your feelings of offense are justified. You may feel, “I was wronged”… and maybe you were. But dwelling on the offense gets us nowhere. It makes us miserable and really doesn’t hurt the offender in the least. Truly the only offense you should acknowledge is that of Satan… and only long enough to tell him to “beat it!” and to turn to Jesus for strength and courage.
Don’t let the devil win – even if only momentarily. Kick him to the curb… along with all of his attempts to drag you down in offense. When you feel wronged or offended, stop and pray for deliverance. Ask God to strengthen you… to take the offense… to give you confidence and courage. Then move on and get busy doing the work you have been called to as Jesus’ disciple. Hold your head high and say, “I will not let the devil have the last laugh.” Focus on Christ… fill your head and heart with thoughts of Him… and leave no room for any of the devil’s tools. Be able to truly say, “No offense taken… and mean it!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!"
But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."
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 I probably struggle with offense as much – or more – than anything else the devil throws at me. I am an easy mark, I guess. And maybe you are, too! When we are offended, Satan claps and laughs. I know that offense is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the New Testament. Jesus reminds us over and again not to be offended. But that doesn’t stop the devil from trying to ruffle our feathers… and he has a pretty hefty success rate – at least with me!
Recently I read a devotional that spoke of offense as a self-centered behavior. When we are offended, we think of ourselves. When we begin to focus more on God and less on ourselves, we cannot be offended. The offense means nothing to us. I really want that… don’t you? I want to be so focused on God and serving Him… living a full life in Christ and His teachings… that I have no time or energy for dwelling on offenses.
Does this mean that people will no longer offend me or insult me? Does this mean that Satan will stop trying to use offense to trip me up and make me a little neurotic? Absolutely not! But I can lean on God and ask Him to strengthen my resolve to ignore these ploys. I can ask Him to deepen my focus on Jesus and fill my heart and mind with thoughts of Him… until there is absolutely NO room for thoughts of the offense.
I’m with Peter… I would have been offended at the thought of the Romans abusing Jesus. And you may feel your feelings of offense are justified. You may feel, “I was wronged”… and maybe you were. But dwelling on the offense gets us nowhere. It makes us miserable and really doesn’t hurt the offender in the least. Truly the only offense you should acknowledge is that of Satan… and only long enough to tell him to “beat it!” and to turn to Jesus for strength and courage.
Don’t let the devil win – even if only momentarily. Kick him to the curb… along with all of his attempts to drag you down in offense. When you feel wronged or offended, stop and pray for deliverance. Ask God to strengthen you… to take the offense… to give you confidence and courage. Then move on and get busy doing the work you have been called to as Jesus’ disciple. Hold your head high and say, “I will not let the devil have the last laugh.” Focus on Christ… fill your head and heart with thoughts of Him… and leave no room for any of the devil’s tools. Be able to truly say, “No offense taken… and mean it!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 22, 2012
Psalm 128:1
The Lord will bless you if you respect him and obey his laws.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently I saw a news report on a documentary film that has been made about drug dealers in Mexico… except the actors were all children instead of adults. The four-minute film is a commentary on the upcoming presidential elections in our neighboring country to the south. Deemed a “wake-up” call, this “mocumentary” has gone viral on YouTube and ends with a little girl saying, “If this is the future that awaits me, I don't want it. Enough of working for your political parties instead of for us. Enough of cosmetic changes.”
As I watched the video, I was struck by the thought that every adult is someone’s child. And in that context, I would hope we find it a little more difficult to be so harsh and judgmental toward others. At the very least, when we think about the person who commits a heinous crime and see his/her grieving parents on the news, we should have compassion… for them AND – to some degree - for the culprit. Somewhere along the line, this person lost his/her respect for – and obedience to – God’s laws. And in many ways, we have all done the same thing as we choose to follow our own desires – or the will of man – rather than God’s.
We are all familiar with the “Ten Commandments” as given to Moses by God. We probably all know them pretty well by heart. But in the New Testament, Jesus gave us two basic “laws”… “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind and soul,” and “Love one another as He has loved us.” If/when we do these things, everything else falls into place. All you have to do is stop and ask yourself if your words and actions reflect a love for God with all your heart, mind and soul… and whether they show a love for others. It’s truly that simple… and that complicated all at once!
If we consider Jesus’ commands, we cannot be judgmental, immoral, unkind, indecent, or perverse. We cannot be arrogant, pious, or proud. We cannot murder, steal, lie or cheat. To love God on this level means we must fully surrender our “program” for God’s… and walk in respect and reverence of Him at all times.
I don’t know what man-made “laws” - or interpretations of God’s law - are governing (and/or burdening) you today. But I do know that the only laws that matter are God’s… and it’s up to us to determine which are which! If we operate in the fear (respect and reverence) of the LORD and walk in His ways… obey His laws… our choices and decisions become fairly simple – and the blessings are sure to be evident. Ask yourself simply and prayerfully, “Does this line up with the word and will of God?” Your answer will determine how you proceed… and inevitably control the outcome.
To paraphrase the little girl in the movie…“Enough of living according to man’s law and his interpretation of the word of God. Enough of pretending to serve God while serving our own interests.” It’s time to make sure we are in step with God’s will at all times. Are you asking the right questions? Whose laws are you following these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
The Lord will bless you if you respect him and obey his laws.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently I saw a news report on a documentary film that has been made about drug dealers in Mexico… except the actors were all children instead of adults. The four-minute film is a commentary on the upcoming presidential elections in our neighboring country to the south. Deemed a “wake-up” call, this “mocumentary” has gone viral on YouTube and ends with a little girl saying, “If this is the future that awaits me, I don't want it. Enough of working for your political parties instead of for us. Enough of cosmetic changes.”
As I watched the video, I was struck by the thought that every adult is someone’s child. And in that context, I would hope we find it a little more difficult to be so harsh and judgmental toward others. At the very least, when we think about the person who commits a heinous crime and see his/her grieving parents on the news, we should have compassion… for them AND – to some degree - for the culprit. Somewhere along the line, this person lost his/her respect for – and obedience to – God’s laws. And in many ways, we have all done the same thing as we choose to follow our own desires – or the will of man – rather than God’s.
We are all familiar with the “Ten Commandments” as given to Moses by God. We probably all know them pretty well by heart. But in the New Testament, Jesus gave us two basic “laws”… “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind and soul,” and “Love one another as He has loved us.” If/when we do these things, everything else falls into place. All you have to do is stop and ask yourself if your words and actions reflect a love for God with all your heart, mind and soul… and whether they show a love for others. It’s truly that simple… and that complicated all at once!
If we consider Jesus’ commands, we cannot be judgmental, immoral, unkind, indecent, or perverse. We cannot be arrogant, pious, or proud. We cannot murder, steal, lie or cheat. To love God on this level means we must fully surrender our “program” for God’s… and walk in respect and reverence of Him at all times.
I don’t know what man-made “laws” - or interpretations of God’s law - are governing (and/or burdening) you today. But I do know that the only laws that matter are God’s… and it’s up to us to determine which are which! If we operate in the fear (respect and reverence) of the LORD and walk in His ways… obey His laws… our choices and decisions become fairly simple – and the blessings are sure to be evident. Ask yourself simply and prayerfully, “Does this line up with the word and will of God?” Your answer will determine how you proceed… and inevitably control the outcome.
To paraphrase the little girl in the movie…“Enough of living according to man’s law and his interpretation of the word of God. Enough of pretending to serve God while serving our own interests.” It’s time to make sure we are in step with God’s will at all times. Are you asking the right questions? Whose laws are you following these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 15, 2012
Philippians 2:5-11
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
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.
All someone has to say to me is some form of “Do you realize who you are dealing with?”… “Do you realize who I am?” and my hackles are raised immediately. There are plenty of people in this world who think that others should bow down and cater to their every whim because of who they are… or who their parents are… how wealthy they may be… or their “position” in life as a business person, politician, or celebrity (if only in their own mind!).
Wouldn’t it have been easy for Jesus to ask this question…“Do you realize who I am? Do you know you are dealing with the Son of God?” He could have stood tall against the Roman soldiers and said, “STOP! You are in the presence of Greatness! You cannot treat me this way.” And yes, He could have stopped all of the torture and the crucifixion any time He wanted. Instead, Jesus chose to suffer and die… for you and me. He chose to minister to people by meeting them where they were… on a level playing field… rather than riding in on a white horse wearing a flowing robe and crown and carrying a royal scepter.
Let me ask you something… who would you rather encounter – someone who is genuine, humble and truly seems to care about you and what you have to say? Or would you rather be in the presence of someone who perceives himself/herself to be superior – and expects you to recognize this and react accordingly? When you go about your day, will others be drawn to you because you are warm, real and sincere… or will you turn them off with your arrogance and piety?
Who do you think you are? Who are you really? There may be a difference! We need to recognize that we are the children of God Almighty – cleansed by the blood of Jesus and heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. But we also need to behave as Jesus did… humbly and gently… never lording it over others or giving them even one hint of superiority or condescension. If we have any hope of being effective ministers for Christ, we have to follow His model of humility. We have to focus on relating to people in their comfort zone … to help them to discover the Good News of Jesus and experience the promises of God in their own lives.
If we “keep it real,” we can be assured that God will bless us… that we will be rewarded with the applause of Heaven. I don’t know about you, but that is more than enough recognition for me! I know who I am already… and I’m not keeping it a secret. But I hope I never give anyone else the impression that I am unapproachable or superior in any way – especially because of my relationship with God. Someday, I hope to proudly claim my place as an heir to God’s Kingdom!” That will be all of the recognition I ever need. What about you? Who do others think you are these days? Is it time for a “humility check?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.
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.
All someone has to say to me is some form of “Do you realize who you are dealing with?”… “Do you realize who I am?” and my hackles are raised immediately. There are plenty of people in this world who think that others should bow down and cater to their every whim because of who they are… or who their parents are… how wealthy they may be… or their “position” in life as a business person, politician, or celebrity (if only in their own mind!).
Wouldn’t it have been easy for Jesus to ask this question…“Do you realize who I am? Do you know you are dealing with the Son of God?” He could have stood tall against the Roman soldiers and said, “STOP! You are in the presence of Greatness! You cannot treat me this way.” And yes, He could have stopped all of the torture and the crucifixion any time He wanted. Instead, Jesus chose to suffer and die… for you and me. He chose to minister to people by meeting them where they were… on a level playing field… rather than riding in on a white horse wearing a flowing robe and crown and carrying a royal scepter.
Let me ask you something… who would you rather encounter – someone who is genuine, humble and truly seems to care about you and what you have to say? Or would you rather be in the presence of someone who perceives himself/herself to be superior – and expects you to recognize this and react accordingly? When you go about your day, will others be drawn to you because you are warm, real and sincere… or will you turn them off with your arrogance and piety?
Who do you think you are? Who are you really? There may be a difference! We need to recognize that we are the children of God Almighty – cleansed by the blood of Jesus and heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. But we also need to behave as Jesus did… humbly and gently… never lording it over others or giving them even one hint of superiority or condescension. If we have any hope of being effective ministers for Christ, we have to follow His model of humility. We have to focus on relating to people in their comfort zone … to help them to discover the Good News of Jesus and experience the promises of God in their own lives.
If we “keep it real,” we can be assured that God will bless us… that we will be rewarded with the applause of Heaven. I don’t know about you, but that is more than enough recognition for me! I know who I am already… and I’m not keeping it a secret. But I hope I never give anyone else the impression that I am unapproachable or superior in any way – especially because of my relationship with God. Someday, I hope to proudly claim my place as an heir to God’s Kingdom!” That will be all of the recognition I ever need. What about you? Who do others think you are these days? Is it time for a “humility check?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 15, 2012
Acts 2:29-36
My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king.
David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay. All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!
Jesus was taken up to sit at the right side of God, and he was given the Holy Spirit, just as the Father had promised. Jesus is also the one who has given the Spirit to us, and that is what you are now seeing and hearing. David didn't go up to heaven. So he wasn't talking about himself when he said, "The Lord told my Lord to sit at his right side, until he made my Lord's enemies into a footstool for him." Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For a decade or longer, Barbara Walters has selected a group of the Ten Most Fascinating People to interview each year. The group includes celebrities, politicians, and maybe a “hero” or two, like General David Petraeus. I get the premise of Ms. Walters’ program, but I honestly have to ask myself, “What makes these people so fascinating?”
I’ll be honest… I find a lot of people – and things - interesting. I am impressed with the fortitude of some individuals… the struggles and adversities they overcame to achieve a level of success or fame. I appreciate the physical dedication and determination of certain athletes… the absolute resolve of someone like Gabrielle Giffords to recover from what should have been a deadly head trauma – or the incredible inner strength of those who survived such human injustices as the concentration camps of war or the civil rights movements in our own country. I am amazed and fascinated by the miracle of life… a newborn baby… how the feathers of a bird come together to create incredible color patterns…the beauty and intricacy of the tiniest wildflowers on a forest floor.
But in all of these people and things, I recognize the One who truly deserves our fascination. The truly fascinating Being is the Giver of Life… our Almighty God. Without Him, none of us would exist. Without God, there would be no plants or animals… no starry skies or blazing sunsets. The fortitude and inner strength… resolve and determination… courage and beauty… all come from our amazing God. Without the gift of Jesus and His blood on the cross, we would have to fear death… and the prospect of an eternity in hell.
The people we consider fascinating are nothing in and of themselves. Whether they realize it or not, they got where they are because of our Heavenly Father. Any success they enjoy… any great accomplishments they achieve… any accolades they receive… any horrific experiences they overcame… are all because of the blessings, goodness, grace and mercy of God Almighty.
For me, this scripture passage is screaming, “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU… IT’S ABOUT JESUS!” We’ve put the focus on ourselves. Peter is pointing out that David knew that God would make one of his sons a king… but he would make HIS Son the King of Kings. David got it… he realized this was not about him or his family, but about God and His kingdom. The question is… do we get it now? Are we busy focusing on Jesus… or are we self-absorbed and focused on ourselves and what God can do for us?
We need to recognize that we are nothing apart from God. We need to understand that we desperately need the Holy Spirit to guide us each and every day. We need to acknowledge that it is not about us… it’s all about Him. Where is your focus? What – and who – really fascinates you? Is Jesus at the top of your list? Shouldn’t He be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king.
David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay. All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!
Jesus was taken up to sit at the right side of God, and he was given the Holy Spirit, just as the Father had promised. Jesus is also the one who has given the Spirit to us, and that is what you are now seeing and hearing. David didn't go up to heaven. So he wasn't talking about himself when he said, "The Lord told my Lord to sit at his right side, until he made my Lord's enemies into a footstool for him." Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For a decade or longer, Barbara Walters has selected a group of the Ten Most Fascinating People to interview each year. The group includes celebrities, politicians, and maybe a “hero” or two, like General David Petraeus. I get the premise of Ms. Walters’ program, but I honestly have to ask myself, “What makes these people so fascinating?”
I’ll be honest… I find a lot of people – and things - interesting. I am impressed with the fortitude of some individuals… the struggles and adversities they overcame to achieve a level of success or fame. I appreciate the physical dedication and determination of certain athletes… the absolute resolve of someone like Gabrielle Giffords to recover from what should have been a deadly head trauma – or the incredible inner strength of those who survived such human injustices as the concentration camps of war or the civil rights movements in our own country. I am amazed and fascinated by the miracle of life… a newborn baby… how the feathers of a bird come together to create incredible color patterns…the beauty and intricacy of the tiniest wildflowers on a forest floor.
But in all of these people and things, I recognize the One who truly deserves our fascination. The truly fascinating Being is the Giver of Life… our Almighty God. Without Him, none of us would exist. Without God, there would be no plants or animals… no starry skies or blazing sunsets. The fortitude and inner strength… resolve and determination… courage and beauty… all come from our amazing God. Without the gift of Jesus and His blood on the cross, we would have to fear death… and the prospect of an eternity in hell.
The people we consider fascinating are nothing in and of themselves. Whether they realize it or not, they got where they are because of our Heavenly Father. Any success they enjoy… any great accomplishments they achieve… any accolades they receive… any horrific experiences they overcame… are all because of the blessings, goodness, grace and mercy of God Almighty.
For me, this scripture passage is screaming, “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU… IT’S ABOUT JESUS!” We’ve put the focus on ourselves. Peter is pointing out that David knew that God would make one of his sons a king… but he would make HIS Son the King of Kings. David got it… he realized this was not about him or his family, but about God and His kingdom. The question is… do we get it now? Are we busy focusing on Jesus… or are we self-absorbed and focused on ourselves and what God can do for us?
We need to recognize that we are nothing apart from God. We need to understand that we desperately need the Holy Spirit to guide us each and every day. We need to acknowledge that it is not about us… it’s all about Him. Where is your focus? What – and who – really fascinates you? Is Jesus at the top of your list? Shouldn’t He be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 21, 2011
1 Kings 11:9-13
The LORD God of Israel had appeared to Solomon two times and warned him not to worship foreign gods. But Solomon disobeyed and did it anyway. This made the LORD very angry, and he said to Solomon:
You did what you wanted and not what I told you to do. Now I'm going to take your kingdom from you and give it to one of your officials. But because David was your father, you will remain king as long as you live. I will wait until your son becomes king, then I will take the kingdom from him. When I do, I will still let him rule one tribe, because I have not forgotten that David was my servant and Jerusalem is my city.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A young friend of ours recently injured his ankle in a football game. The injury does not appear to be as bad as everyone thought initially, but there is still injury and stress on the ankle that has to heal. The young man is anxious to get back on the football field as conference play begins. Like many other adults, we have cautioned him to be patient and make sure he is fully healed. I have especially tried to share my own experience with a broken ankle and torn ligaments… encouraging him to do all of the recommended therapies and take the needed time to repair this damage. I’ve told him, “When you are my age, you will be glad you listened!”
In my twenties, a doctor told me, “Today’s runners are tomorrow’s arthritics!” I laughed as I looked at this overweight physician who was counseling a slender, healthy woman who ran as much as six miles a day. Now, when I walk up and down our stairs on a rainy day, my knees remind me of this doctor’s words! I am not saying that running is bad for you, but I should have paced myself more and paid attention. I have found other ways to exercise and stay in shape, but I listen to my body now and treat my joints with respect and care!
When I read this scripture passage, I was immediately struck by two things… 1) God loves us, no matter what… and He will never go back on His promises; and 2) sometimes our consequences are not immediate… but that doesn’t mean we got a free pass! God loved David passionately – and the feeling was mutual. David was not perfect, but he never loved anyone but God. David’s son, Solomon, on the other hand, was dazzled by wealth and fame… women and power… and he made them the focus of his devotion. While God did not blast Solomon with great and immediate punishment for this, He did promise to strip him of everything by taking the kingdom from Solomon’s heirs. Solomon’s legacy was everything to him… so losing it to another lineage was huge! This reminds me of the adage, “Pay now, or pay later.”
Know this… God will never turn His back on you completely, if you have confessed your sins and asked Him to save you. He will never change His mind about loving you. But He will have consequences if you disobey and turn your back on Him. You may not see it for years to come. You may play fast and loose with alcohol and drugs, overeating, gambling, flitting from one job to another and getting in and out of all kinds of relationships with seemingly minor consequences or adjustments in your daily living. You may treat others poorly and live by the philosophy, “What’s in it for me?” But some day, this will all change. God will remind you of your indiscretions and poor choices, and He will mete out His justice for your disobedience and disloyal actions.
So how do you stop this? How do you turn things around now before “the shoe falls?” Turn back to God. Stop what you are doing and humbly confess that you have not been obedient and loyal. You have worshipped other things… people, money, alcohol, drugs and more. You have allowed Satan to present you with false idols, and you have worshipped them. You think more of yourself than you should and have elevated yourself to a status that you do not deserve… one that God did not give you. Tell God you are sorry, and that you are making significant changes. Kick your false idols to the curb, and ask God to help you make a fresh start. He will gladly do this!
If I had listened to the doctor in my twenties, I might have still been able to run a few miles without pain in my thirties and forties. My knees might not be a better barometer than the local weatherman. If Solomon had just taken a step back and looked at what he was doing, he could have returned to God’s favor. Don’t be stubborn. Don’t be blinded by the glitz and lure of sins and vices. Recognize these tools of the devil… turn around and walk the other way- toward God - and enjoy His blessings and protection... now and always.
©2011 Debbie Robus
The LORD God of Israel had appeared to Solomon two times and warned him not to worship foreign gods. But Solomon disobeyed and did it anyway. This made the LORD very angry, and he said to Solomon:
You did what you wanted and not what I told you to do. Now I'm going to take your kingdom from you and give it to one of your officials. But because David was your father, you will remain king as long as you live. I will wait until your son becomes king, then I will take the kingdom from him. When I do, I will still let him rule one tribe, because I have not forgotten that David was my servant and Jerusalem is my city.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A young friend of ours recently injured his ankle in a football game. The injury does not appear to be as bad as everyone thought initially, but there is still injury and stress on the ankle that has to heal. The young man is anxious to get back on the football field as conference play begins. Like many other adults, we have cautioned him to be patient and make sure he is fully healed. I have especially tried to share my own experience with a broken ankle and torn ligaments… encouraging him to do all of the recommended therapies and take the needed time to repair this damage. I’ve told him, “When you are my age, you will be glad you listened!”
In my twenties, a doctor told me, “Today’s runners are tomorrow’s arthritics!” I laughed as I looked at this overweight physician who was counseling a slender, healthy woman who ran as much as six miles a day. Now, when I walk up and down our stairs on a rainy day, my knees remind me of this doctor’s words! I am not saying that running is bad for you, but I should have paced myself more and paid attention. I have found other ways to exercise and stay in shape, but I listen to my body now and treat my joints with respect and care!
When I read this scripture passage, I was immediately struck by two things… 1) God loves us, no matter what… and He will never go back on His promises; and 2) sometimes our consequences are not immediate… but that doesn’t mean we got a free pass! God loved David passionately – and the feeling was mutual. David was not perfect, but he never loved anyone but God. David’s son, Solomon, on the other hand, was dazzled by wealth and fame… women and power… and he made them the focus of his devotion. While God did not blast Solomon with great and immediate punishment for this, He did promise to strip him of everything by taking the kingdom from Solomon’s heirs. Solomon’s legacy was everything to him… so losing it to another lineage was huge! This reminds me of the adage, “Pay now, or pay later.”
Know this… God will never turn His back on you completely, if you have confessed your sins and asked Him to save you. He will never change His mind about loving you. But He will have consequences if you disobey and turn your back on Him. You may not see it for years to come. You may play fast and loose with alcohol and drugs, overeating, gambling, flitting from one job to another and getting in and out of all kinds of relationships with seemingly minor consequences or adjustments in your daily living. You may treat others poorly and live by the philosophy, “What’s in it for me?” But some day, this will all change. God will remind you of your indiscretions and poor choices, and He will mete out His justice for your disobedience and disloyal actions.
So how do you stop this? How do you turn things around now before “the shoe falls?” Turn back to God. Stop what you are doing and humbly confess that you have not been obedient and loyal. You have worshipped other things… people, money, alcohol, drugs and more. You have allowed Satan to present you with false idols, and you have worshipped them. You think more of yourself than you should and have elevated yourself to a status that you do not deserve… one that God did not give you. Tell God you are sorry, and that you are making significant changes. Kick your false idols to the curb, and ask God to help you make a fresh start. He will gladly do this!
If I had listened to the doctor in my twenties, I might have still been able to run a few miles without pain in my thirties and forties. My knees might not be a better barometer than the local weatherman. If Solomon had just taken a step back and looked at what he was doing, he could have returned to God’s favor. Don’t be stubborn. Don’t be blinded by the glitz and lure of sins and vices. Recognize these tools of the devil… turn around and walk the other way- toward God - and enjoy His blessings and protection... now and always.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 14, 2011
Luke 16:8-9
"Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."
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 is a new television show on one of the cable networks called “Extreme Couponing.” People across America have become obsessed with clipping coupons. They combine them with store sales, store discount cards, and other special offers to purchase hundreds-to-thousands of dollars in merchandise for as little as pennies. Some have even done so well that the store paid them to carry home enough products to fill multiple shopping carts.
I’ve always been a coupon clipper. I almost always have coupons for paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent and dish-washing liquid. I hardly ever pay full price for toothpaste, cereal, or diapers. But “extreme couponers” will buy more than a hundred bottles of hot sauce because they have coupons that can be coupled with store sales to get these items “for free.” Their storage rooms are filled with items that nobody in their family uses. The single woman with a shelf unit full of diapers… the couple with a wall lined with dog food and no dog… the man who has closet shelf full of vitamins and more pain reliever than he could ever possibly use… all have truly taken couponing to the “extreme!”
Don’t get me wrong… I’m all for people saving money on their grocery bill… and if these folks want to spend their lives clipping and filing coupons, researching store sales and trying to score dozens of products for free… that’s their business. But stockpiling items you will never need or use, just because you can, doesn’t seem quite right to me. However, there are several “extreme couponers” who are sharing the wealth. They are using the hundreds of tubes of toothpaste, bars of soap and bottles of shampoo to create “toiletries kits” for soldiers and the homeless. One mom is feeding her extended family, her neighbors, and the teenage friends of her children with the products she amasses. Another young woman is providing her elderly grandmother with “free” groceries and household goods from her stock closet.
My point is that God wants us to look at the “street-wise” behavior of those who may be focusing on themselves and their own agendas and see where we can take some of those same tactics and use them in the right manner. He is not encouraging us to lie, cheat, or steal… but rather to “make lemons out of lemonade.” He is telling us that our focus is not to be on what we can get for ourselves, but what we can do for others. So instead of concentrating on how to cut corners, “play the system,” and get something for nothing… we should be using our wits to figure out how to genuinely accomplish more for God’s Kingdom, serve others in His name, and meet the needs of people wherever they are.
We all know people who say they are doing things “in the name of Jesus” – all the while hiding behind our LORD in order to make themselves look good… and to get ahead. This is exactly what Jesus is warning against. He wants us to be smart… but in a way that glorifies Him. Instead of stockpiling toothpaste, soap and toilet paper “because we can,” He wants us to use our ability to amass these products to share with those who can’t afford to buy them. The same energy some of us spend applying for loans, grants and public assistance, and "get-rich-quick schemes" to help us pay bills and put food on the table could be spent on getting a job with benefits and earning our own way.
Are we smart with the gifts God has given us… and are we using them to serve Him and those around us… or ourselves? Isn’t it time we stopped focusing inward and started looking around to see where and how we can truly live… and serve… in Jesus name? Just how “street smart” for Jesus are you these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."
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 is a new television show on one of the cable networks called “Extreme Couponing.” People across America have become obsessed with clipping coupons. They combine them with store sales, store discount cards, and other special offers to purchase hundreds-to-thousands of dollars in merchandise for as little as pennies. Some have even done so well that the store paid them to carry home enough products to fill multiple shopping carts.
I’ve always been a coupon clipper. I almost always have coupons for paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent and dish-washing liquid. I hardly ever pay full price for toothpaste, cereal, or diapers. But “extreme couponers” will buy more than a hundred bottles of hot sauce because they have coupons that can be coupled with store sales to get these items “for free.” Their storage rooms are filled with items that nobody in their family uses. The single woman with a shelf unit full of diapers… the couple with a wall lined with dog food and no dog… the man who has closet shelf full of vitamins and more pain reliever than he could ever possibly use… all have truly taken couponing to the “extreme!”
Don’t get me wrong… I’m all for people saving money on their grocery bill… and if these folks want to spend their lives clipping and filing coupons, researching store sales and trying to score dozens of products for free… that’s their business. But stockpiling items you will never need or use, just because you can, doesn’t seem quite right to me. However, there are several “extreme couponers” who are sharing the wealth. They are using the hundreds of tubes of toothpaste, bars of soap and bottles of shampoo to create “toiletries kits” for soldiers and the homeless. One mom is feeding her extended family, her neighbors, and the teenage friends of her children with the products she amasses. Another young woman is providing her elderly grandmother with “free” groceries and household goods from her stock closet.
My point is that God wants us to look at the “street-wise” behavior of those who may be focusing on themselves and their own agendas and see where we can take some of those same tactics and use them in the right manner. He is not encouraging us to lie, cheat, or steal… but rather to “make lemons out of lemonade.” He is telling us that our focus is not to be on what we can get for ourselves, but what we can do for others. So instead of concentrating on how to cut corners, “play the system,” and get something for nothing… we should be using our wits to figure out how to genuinely accomplish more for God’s Kingdom, serve others in His name, and meet the needs of people wherever they are.
We all know people who say they are doing things “in the name of Jesus” – all the while hiding behind our LORD in order to make themselves look good… and to get ahead. This is exactly what Jesus is warning against. He wants us to be smart… but in a way that glorifies Him. Instead of stockpiling toothpaste, soap and toilet paper “because we can,” He wants us to use our ability to amass these products to share with those who can’t afford to buy them. The same energy some of us spend applying for loans, grants and public assistance, and "get-rich-quick schemes" to help us pay bills and put food on the table could be spent on getting a job with benefits and earning our own way.
Are we smart with the gifts God has given us… and are we using them to serve Him and those around us… or ourselves? Isn’t it time we stopped focusing inward and started looking around to see where and how we can truly live… and serve… in Jesus name? Just how “street smart” for Jesus are you these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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