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
Showing posts with label self-worth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-worth. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 25, 2011
Judges 16:15-21
"Samson," Delilah said, "you claim to love me, but you don't mean it! You've made me look like a fool three times now, and you still haven't told me why you are so strong."
Delilah started nagging and pestering him day after day, until he couldn't stand it any longer. Finally, Samson told her the truth. "I have belonged to God ever since I was born, so my hair has never been cut. If it were ever cut off, my strength would leave me, and I would be as weak as anyone else."
Delilah realized that he was telling the truth. So she sent someone to tell the Philistine rulers, "Come to my house one more time. Samson has finally told me the truth." The Philistine rulers went to Delilah's house, and they brought along the silver they had promised her.
Delilah had lulled Samson to sleep with his head resting in her lap. She signaled to one of the Philistine men as she began cutting off Samson's seven braids. And by the time she was finished, Samson's strength was gone. Delilah tied him up and shouted, "Samson, the Philistines are attacking!”
Samson woke up and thought, "I'll break loose and escape, just as I always do." He did not realize that the LORD had stopped helping him. The Philistines grabbed Samson and poked out his eyes. They took him to the prison in Gaza and chained him up. Then they put him to work, turning a millstone to grind grain.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was teaching school, I can’t count the number of times I asked a child, “Why did you do such-and-such?” and the child replied, “He/she told me to!” Apparently, school-age children are helpless against the suggestions and persuasions of their peers! But the same might be said of “children” of all ages.
Teenagers are influenced by their friends to participate in all sorts of activities… drinking, drug abuse, sexual experimentation, “youthful mischief” and more. Adults are seduced, literally, by their own desires for the acceptance and approval of others, gratification of a variety of appetites and addictions, and self-validation. So it’s no stretch to see how Samson caved when Delilah persisted. She wooed Samson and accused him of not loving her. She played on his vulnerabilities and emotions and totally manipulated him. In the end, Samson abandoned his sensibility, his reliance on God, and his principles… and it cost him dearly.
When Delilah told the Philistines to cut Samson’s hair, the Bible says that God stopped helping him. Our strength from God may not lie in our hair, but we are still a lot like Samson. We want so badly to be loved and accepted… to be appreciated and to fit in with our friends and family… and we often compromise our faith in an attempt to accomplish this. Samson would have done just about anything to please Delilah… and he pretty well did. But the Philistines, who were in cahoots with Delilah, gouged out Samson’s eyes and put him in prison! Things did not turn out anywhere close to what Samson had hoped would happen!
Things often don’t go as we had hoped, either. Our best efforts to fit in or attain the level of satisfaction we were seeking are thwarted… and sometimes they end badly. We fail to recognize that God has stopped helping us, too. Notice I did not say that God left us… because He doesn’t do that. But when we step away from God and try to do things our own way, He does sometimes take a step backward and rein in His help for awhile.
God used a human like Samson to accomplish many things. But like all humans, Samson had his weaknesses. One of those was what can be seen as a “disconnect” from God. What would have happened if Samson had taken the time to ask God what to do before he told Delilah about his hair? What if Samson had just stopped and asked God to guide his words and his choices… and to give him the strength to do the right thing – even if he was tempted to choose otherwise?
What if we did this? Would the outcome in many of our situations be different? Wouldn’t it make sense that taking a few minutes to talk with God and seek His advice could result in better outcomes… and prevent a lot of heartache and frustration? Isn’t it worth a shot? Isn’t it time we stop trying to “fly by the seat of our pants” and making choices just because they make us feel good or please others… and start living out our faith in God by consulting Him about all aspects of our life each and every day?
We do carry the strength and power of God with us… maybe not in a long thick head of hair - but in our heart and soul, nonetheless. Are we willing to risk losing even some of this power by making poor choices? Who is telling you what to do and how to act these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"Samson," Delilah said, "you claim to love me, but you don't mean it! You've made me look like a fool three times now, and you still haven't told me why you are so strong."
Delilah started nagging and pestering him day after day, until he couldn't stand it any longer. Finally, Samson told her the truth. "I have belonged to God ever since I was born, so my hair has never been cut. If it were ever cut off, my strength would leave me, and I would be as weak as anyone else."
Delilah realized that he was telling the truth. So she sent someone to tell the Philistine rulers, "Come to my house one more time. Samson has finally told me the truth." The Philistine rulers went to Delilah's house, and they brought along the silver they had promised her.
Delilah had lulled Samson to sleep with his head resting in her lap. She signaled to one of the Philistine men as she began cutting off Samson's seven braids. And by the time she was finished, Samson's strength was gone. Delilah tied him up and shouted, "Samson, the Philistines are attacking!”
Samson woke up and thought, "I'll break loose and escape, just as I always do." He did not realize that the LORD had stopped helping him. The Philistines grabbed Samson and poked out his eyes. They took him to the prison in Gaza and chained him up. Then they put him to work, turning a millstone to grind grain.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was teaching school, I can’t count the number of times I asked a child, “Why did you do such-and-such?” and the child replied, “He/she told me to!” Apparently, school-age children are helpless against the suggestions and persuasions of their peers! But the same might be said of “children” of all ages.
Teenagers are influenced by their friends to participate in all sorts of activities… drinking, drug abuse, sexual experimentation, “youthful mischief” and more. Adults are seduced, literally, by their own desires for the acceptance and approval of others, gratification of a variety of appetites and addictions, and self-validation. So it’s no stretch to see how Samson caved when Delilah persisted. She wooed Samson and accused him of not loving her. She played on his vulnerabilities and emotions and totally manipulated him. In the end, Samson abandoned his sensibility, his reliance on God, and his principles… and it cost him dearly.
When Delilah told the Philistines to cut Samson’s hair, the Bible says that God stopped helping him. Our strength from God may not lie in our hair, but we are still a lot like Samson. We want so badly to be loved and accepted… to be appreciated and to fit in with our friends and family… and we often compromise our faith in an attempt to accomplish this. Samson would have done just about anything to please Delilah… and he pretty well did. But the Philistines, who were in cahoots with Delilah, gouged out Samson’s eyes and put him in prison! Things did not turn out anywhere close to what Samson had hoped would happen!
Things often don’t go as we had hoped, either. Our best efforts to fit in or attain the level of satisfaction we were seeking are thwarted… and sometimes they end badly. We fail to recognize that God has stopped helping us, too. Notice I did not say that God left us… because He doesn’t do that. But when we step away from God and try to do things our own way, He does sometimes take a step backward and rein in His help for awhile.
God used a human like Samson to accomplish many things. But like all humans, Samson had his weaknesses. One of those was what can be seen as a “disconnect” from God. What would have happened if Samson had taken the time to ask God what to do before he told Delilah about his hair? What if Samson had just stopped and asked God to guide his words and his choices… and to give him the strength to do the right thing – even if he was tempted to choose otherwise?
What if we did this? Would the outcome in many of our situations be different? Wouldn’t it make sense that taking a few minutes to talk with God and seek His advice could result in better outcomes… and prevent a lot of heartache and frustration? Isn’t it worth a shot? Isn’t it time we stop trying to “fly by the seat of our pants” and making choices just because they make us feel good or please others… and start living out our faith in God by consulting Him about all aspects of our life each and every day?
We do carry the strength and power of God with us… maybe not in a long thick head of hair - but in our heart and soul, nonetheless. Are we willing to risk losing even some of this power by making poor choices? Who is telling you what to do and how to act these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 26, 2011
Luke 12:6-10
What's the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.
"Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God's angels. But if you pretend you don't know me, do you think I'll defend you before God's angels?
"If you bad-mouth the Son of Man out of misunderstanding or ignorance, that can be overlooked. But if you're knowingly attacking God himself, taking aim at the Holy Spirit, that won't be overlooked.
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.
Take a look at yourself in the mirror. Imagine it… God knows exactly how many hairs are on your head… and mine… and his… and hers… and theirs. Incredible, isn’t it?! “So what?” you may say… “Why would God even care about my hair?” Because God cares about everything about you! You are the apple of His eye. He knows every single detail of your life… and He loves you anyway!
So often – and for a number of reasons – people start to feel like nobody cares. Nobody is paying attention…nobody notices. I’m talking about more than self-pity… I’m talking about a feeling that we are incredibly insignificant in the scheme of things. If we died tomorrow, would it matter? The truth is that God created each of us for a purpose… and if we are not around to fulfill that purpose, it matters greatly!
God is always ready to meet you where you are… to stand with you – and to stand up for you! If someone tries to tell you that you don’t matter… or if the devil tries to plant those thoughts in your head, do not listen! Stand up, square your shoulders and say, “I’m worth more than a million canaries!” Because honestly, if God cares about every feather of a tiny canary, He surely cares about each of us even more.
There’s one other thing… because God is so loving, gracious, and merciful, and always willing to stand up for us… we must be willing to do the same. If we turn our back on God and try to make a go of things on our own terms, we can’t expect Him to bail us out of the mess we make! God is not Burger King… we can’t have it our way… and we can’t pick and choose when to serve Him and when we want to try something different! We really don’t want to do that anyway… because we’ve all seen how badly things go when we try to do them without God in control.
So thank God today for valuing you so highly – for caring about every intricate detail of your life. Ask Him to show you how to serve Him better… and take a stab at caring about the details of HIS life in return. Stand proudly knowing you are so important to Almighty God… and always remember who has your back!
©2011 Debbie Robus
What's the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.
"Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God's angels. But if you pretend you don't know me, do you think I'll defend you before God's angels?
"If you bad-mouth the Son of Man out of misunderstanding or ignorance, that can be overlooked. But if you're knowingly attacking God himself, taking aim at the Holy Spirit, that won't be overlooked.
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.
Take a look at yourself in the mirror. Imagine it… God knows exactly how many hairs are on your head… and mine… and his… and hers… and theirs. Incredible, isn’t it?! “So what?” you may say… “Why would God even care about my hair?” Because God cares about everything about you! You are the apple of His eye. He knows every single detail of your life… and He loves you anyway!
So often – and for a number of reasons – people start to feel like nobody cares. Nobody is paying attention…nobody notices. I’m talking about more than self-pity… I’m talking about a feeling that we are incredibly insignificant in the scheme of things. If we died tomorrow, would it matter? The truth is that God created each of us for a purpose… and if we are not around to fulfill that purpose, it matters greatly!
God is always ready to meet you where you are… to stand with you – and to stand up for you! If someone tries to tell you that you don’t matter… or if the devil tries to plant those thoughts in your head, do not listen! Stand up, square your shoulders and say, “I’m worth more than a million canaries!” Because honestly, if God cares about every feather of a tiny canary, He surely cares about each of us even more.
There’s one other thing… because God is so loving, gracious, and merciful, and always willing to stand up for us… we must be willing to do the same. If we turn our back on God and try to make a go of things on our own terms, we can’t expect Him to bail us out of the mess we make! God is not Burger King… we can’t have it our way… and we can’t pick and choose when to serve Him and when we want to try something different! We really don’t want to do that anyway… because we’ve all seen how badly things go when we try to do them without God in control.
So thank God today for valuing you so highly – for caring about every intricate detail of your life. Ask Him to show you how to serve Him better… and take a stab at caring about the details of HIS life in return. Stand proudly knowing you are so important to Almighty God… and always remember who has your back!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 22, 2011
Mark 4:24-25
Listen carefully to what you hear! The way you treat others will be the way you will be treated--and even worse. Everyone who has something will be given more. But people who don't have anything will lose what little they have.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine posted this quote on Facebook recently: “To get what you want, help others get what they want first.” A few days later, I was reading Joel Osteen’s book, Daily Readings from Becoming a Better You*, and I read this… “If you want your life to increase, if you want your life to get better, then you need to help improve somebody else’s life. If you will help somebody else become successful, God will make sure that you are successful.”
You may be wondering… “What do I have to give? I’m just a kid… I’m broke…I’m old… I’m disabled or handicapped in some way… I’m busy… I’m shy… I’m unattractive… I need help myself!” The truth is, you are a precious child of the Most High God, and as the saying goes, “God don’t make junk!” You have something to offer to someone that he/she desperately needs! It may be a smile… a kind word…your compassion and forgiveness. It may be a word of encouragement or a helping hand with something you see as insignificant.
I still remember an experience with my dear friend Betty Ray, who now rests with Jesus. She told me once that a hug I gave her in line for Holy Communion one Sunday had been just what she needed at that moment – it made her day! The hug did not cost me anything… and honestly, it was a spontaneous gesture rather than an intentional one. But so many things we can offer to others are just that – free, spontaneous, heartfelt gestures that could make all the difference.
We need to start operating in positives. Instead of finding fault with others… we need to look for good things… and actually encourage them. Remind yourself often that “the other guy” is just as precious to God as you are… no different whatsoever! What God does for you, He wants to do for that person, and vice versa. Don’t miss out on God’s blessings for either of you. Don’t stand in the way of your own portion by failing to give to others.
Start looking for ways to bless others in Jesus’ name. Get so comfortable doing this that it becomes second nature. Don’t do this simply so that you get more blessings from God, but because His blessings are more than enough to go around, and you want others to enjoy what you have. Share the wealth, and watch God’s blessings multiply – in your life and the lives of others.
©2011 Debbie Robus
*©2008 Joel Osteen - Daily Readings from Becoming a Better You - Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Listen carefully to what you hear! The way you treat others will be the way you will be treated--and even worse. Everyone who has something will be given more. But people who don't have anything will lose what little they have.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine posted this quote on Facebook recently: “To get what you want, help others get what they want first.” A few days later, I was reading Joel Osteen’s book, Daily Readings from Becoming a Better You*, and I read this… “If you want your life to increase, if you want your life to get better, then you need to help improve somebody else’s life. If you will help somebody else become successful, God will make sure that you are successful.”
You may be wondering… “What do I have to give? I’m just a kid… I’m broke…I’m old… I’m disabled or handicapped in some way… I’m busy… I’m shy… I’m unattractive… I need help myself!” The truth is, you are a precious child of the Most High God, and as the saying goes, “God don’t make junk!” You have something to offer to someone that he/she desperately needs! It may be a smile… a kind word…your compassion and forgiveness. It may be a word of encouragement or a helping hand with something you see as insignificant.
I still remember an experience with my dear friend Betty Ray, who now rests with Jesus. She told me once that a hug I gave her in line for Holy Communion one Sunday had been just what she needed at that moment – it made her day! The hug did not cost me anything… and honestly, it was a spontaneous gesture rather than an intentional one. But so many things we can offer to others are just that – free, spontaneous, heartfelt gestures that could make all the difference.
We need to start operating in positives. Instead of finding fault with others… we need to look for good things… and actually encourage them. Remind yourself often that “the other guy” is just as precious to God as you are… no different whatsoever! What God does for you, He wants to do for that person, and vice versa. Don’t miss out on God’s blessings for either of you. Don’t stand in the way of your own portion by failing to give to others.
Start looking for ways to bless others in Jesus’ name. Get so comfortable doing this that it becomes second nature. Don’t do this simply so that you get more blessings from God, but because His blessings are more than enough to go around, and you want others to enjoy what you have. Share the wealth, and watch God’s blessings multiply – in your life and the lives of others.
©2011 Debbie Robus
*©2008 Joel Osteen - Daily Readings from Becoming a Better You - Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Daily Devotional for February 8, 2011
Matthew 23:8-12
But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters. Don't call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven. None of you should be called the leader. The Messiah is your only leader. Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In recent weeks, two women in their late eighties passed away. One lived in Iowa… the other in Arkansas. Both were mothers, wives, and grandmothers. Both were businesswomen… one of them worked for years alongside her husband in a dry cleaning business. The other was a housekeeper for several clients – and still helped her grand-daughters with ironing and dusting duties in recent months. One died at home. The other died in a skilled care nursing facility.
One woman was surrounded by children and grandchildren who visited often. The other scarcely saw her two children, who both lived on opposite ends of the country. Her only visitors were nieces and an occasional fellow church member.
The lady with the big family was eulogized and remembered at a funeral service attended by a huge contingent of family and friends. There was a visitation, a memorial service, a private burial service for family members… and even a community meal for those who attended the services. The other lady received a private burial attended by three nieces and a nephew, her pastors, and a couple who were her former neighbors and fellow church members.
Both of these ladies were Christians. Both were God’s children, saved by the blood of Jesus. Just because one of them had more attention from family and friends did not mean she was a better person… or more deserving. It did not make her more important in God’s eyes or give her a “better seat at the heavenly banquet table.” We all deserve respect… to be treated with love and dignity - even in our death. But even this doesn’t change our status with God.
I know that today, both of these dear ladies are sitting at God’s table, feasting on all of the riches of heaven. No distinction is made, and it doesn’t matter how big their funeral was or even how many people “saw after” them in their earthly life or what kind of work they did. And this should be the message for us. If you feel in any way insignificant or lowly… if someone has made you feel badly about yourself or treated you in an inferior manner… know that this is not how God sees you! In His eyes, no one is better than you. No celebrity is richer, no politician is smarter, no athlete brings Him more pride. YOU are equal to any other child of God. YOU are entitled to the same salvation, love, grace and mercy. Jesus Christ died for YOU just as equally as He did anyone else on the planet.
If you are putting yourself ahead of anyone else… in any way, shape or form, this is also a message for you to consider. Before you start to look down your nose at anyone else – or elevate your own stature… ESPECIALLY when it comes to service to God and your life as a Christian… read this passage again and think twice about what you are doing and saying.
God’s love for us is HUGE… so vast we cannot comprehend it… and far more inclusive than we often care to realize. Many of us need to take a long, hard look at our lives and how we are living for Christ… and see where we need to humble ourselves before Him. Many of us need to recognize how much He values us… how important we are in His eyes. The balance between self-worth and humility is a delicate one… but maintaining it makes all the difference. Are you in balance today? Do you need to move to one side or the other? Ask God to show you where you need to stand… and get busy making the needed adjustments to put you in perfect balance.
©2011 Debbie Robus
But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters. Don't call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven. None of you should be called the leader. The Messiah is your only leader. Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In recent weeks, two women in their late eighties passed away. One lived in Iowa… the other in Arkansas. Both were mothers, wives, and grandmothers. Both were businesswomen… one of them worked for years alongside her husband in a dry cleaning business. The other was a housekeeper for several clients – and still helped her grand-daughters with ironing and dusting duties in recent months. One died at home. The other died in a skilled care nursing facility.
One woman was surrounded by children and grandchildren who visited often. The other scarcely saw her two children, who both lived on opposite ends of the country. Her only visitors were nieces and an occasional fellow church member.
The lady with the big family was eulogized and remembered at a funeral service attended by a huge contingent of family and friends. There was a visitation, a memorial service, a private burial service for family members… and even a community meal for those who attended the services. The other lady received a private burial attended by three nieces and a nephew, her pastors, and a couple who were her former neighbors and fellow church members.
Both of these ladies were Christians. Both were God’s children, saved by the blood of Jesus. Just because one of them had more attention from family and friends did not mean she was a better person… or more deserving. It did not make her more important in God’s eyes or give her a “better seat at the heavenly banquet table.” We all deserve respect… to be treated with love and dignity - even in our death. But even this doesn’t change our status with God.
I know that today, both of these dear ladies are sitting at God’s table, feasting on all of the riches of heaven. No distinction is made, and it doesn’t matter how big their funeral was or even how many people “saw after” them in their earthly life or what kind of work they did. And this should be the message for us. If you feel in any way insignificant or lowly… if someone has made you feel badly about yourself or treated you in an inferior manner… know that this is not how God sees you! In His eyes, no one is better than you. No celebrity is richer, no politician is smarter, no athlete brings Him more pride. YOU are equal to any other child of God. YOU are entitled to the same salvation, love, grace and mercy. Jesus Christ died for YOU just as equally as He did anyone else on the planet.
If you are putting yourself ahead of anyone else… in any way, shape or form, this is also a message for you to consider. Before you start to look down your nose at anyone else – or elevate your own stature… ESPECIALLY when it comes to service to God and your life as a Christian… read this passage again and think twice about what you are doing and saying.
God’s love for us is HUGE… so vast we cannot comprehend it… and far more inclusive than we often care to realize. Many of us need to take a long, hard look at our lives and how we are living for Christ… and see where we need to humble ourselves before Him. Many of us need to recognize how much He values us… how important we are in His eyes. The balance between self-worth and humility is a delicate one… but maintaining it makes all the difference. Are you in balance today? Do you need to move to one side or the other? Ask God to show you where you need to stand… and get busy making the needed adjustments to put you in perfect balance.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 4, 2011
Psalm 22:15, 24
My strength has dried up like a broken clay pot, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You, God, have left me to die in the dirt.
The LORD doesn't hate or despise the helpless in all of their troubles. When I cried out, he listened and did not turn away.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I moved all of my “treasures” from one antique store to another recently, I dropped a little decorative plate. It splintered into about 5 pieces. This was not an expensive plate – I probably paid at most a couple of dollars for it at a garage sale or auction. But it was beautiful… a robin’s-egg blue scalloped edge tipped in gold, delicate pink roses and raised white dots called a “moriage” technique. It would have been a perfect accent for a shelf or display cabinet… or a nice little dish to set out with a few candies for guests.
I carefully gathered up the shards and put them in a container and brought them home. I could have dumped this plate into the trash, but instead, I got out my bottle of glue and began to reassemble the piece. I still don’t know if it will hold together – or if so, for how long – but it’s worth a shot. Once glued, this plate still has potential. It can be tucked in behind something else so that the broken parts are not readily visible. It still has purpose… beauty… value.
To God, we are the broken plates. While HE did not drop us or cause us to break, in our sin and our “humanity” we did just that. But we still have value… worth… beauty… purpose. God knows this. He stands ready to glue the pieces back together. We may not be the same. Like the plate, there may be rough edges and little cracks where a splinter or two were not recovered. But God will fill in the rough spots. He will make us whole, useful, and able to serve once again.
The key to being restored and repurposed is to acknowledge God. It may seem like He deserts us from time to time… leaves us on the scrap heap in a zillion broken shards. But this is not the case. He is waiting for us to reach up to Him and believe that He can fix us… that He can heal the broken parts and restore us to serve another day. Have you called on God lately? Are you piled up on the scrap heap, wallowing in self-pity? Or are you standing ready to be reglued… repaired… repurposed… and given another chance? The choice is yours…what will you do?
©2011 Debbie Robus
My strength has dried up like a broken clay pot, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You, God, have left me to die in the dirt.
The LORD doesn't hate or despise the helpless in all of their troubles. When I cried out, he listened and did not turn away.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I moved all of my “treasures” from one antique store to another recently, I dropped a little decorative plate. It splintered into about 5 pieces. This was not an expensive plate – I probably paid at most a couple of dollars for it at a garage sale or auction. But it was beautiful… a robin’s-egg blue scalloped edge tipped in gold, delicate pink roses and raised white dots called a “moriage” technique. It would have been a perfect accent for a shelf or display cabinet… or a nice little dish to set out with a few candies for guests.
I carefully gathered up the shards and put them in a container and brought them home. I could have dumped this plate into the trash, but instead, I got out my bottle of glue and began to reassemble the piece. I still don’t know if it will hold together – or if so, for how long – but it’s worth a shot. Once glued, this plate still has potential. It can be tucked in behind something else so that the broken parts are not readily visible. It still has purpose… beauty… value.
To God, we are the broken plates. While HE did not drop us or cause us to break, in our sin and our “humanity” we did just that. But we still have value… worth… beauty… purpose. God knows this. He stands ready to glue the pieces back together. We may not be the same. Like the plate, there may be rough edges and little cracks where a splinter or two were not recovered. But God will fill in the rough spots. He will make us whole, useful, and able to serve once again.
The key to being restored and repurposed is to acknowledge God. It may seem like He deserts us from time to time… leaves us on the scrap heap in a zillion broken shards. But this is not the case. He is waiting for us to reach up to Him and believe that He can fix us… that He can heal the broken parts and restore us to serve another day. Have you called on God lately? Are you piled up on the scrap heap, wallowing in self-pity? Or are you standing ready to be reglued… repaired… repurposed… and given another chance? The choice is yours…what will you do?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 13, 2010
Psalm 84:9
You are the shield that protects your people, and I am your chosen one. Won't you smile on me?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know many people who don’t respond positively to a smile. I know it is one of the first gestures we develop. Even tiny babies smile. This has to be instinctive… they do it without prompting. And by the same token, they seem to understand a smile at a very early age. All we have to do is smile at Timothy, and he breaks into a wide grin or a giggle. He will often look toward us to see how we will react, and when we smile, it’s clear that he is very pleased and excited.
Have you ever felt God smile? Have you ever felt so covered in His love, protection and blessings that it seemed as if you were looking toward heaven and literally seeing Him smile back at you? Can you remember what you were doing at that moment? Does this happen often…sometimes…not at all?
God wants to smile on each of us. We are His chosen ones…His prize creations. He pours out blessings, protection, mercy, and grace on us in amazingly abundant quantities. What are we giving in return? Are we acting like His children? Are we behaving as if we were personally chosen by God? We should be feeling God’s smile often. We should be walking around feeling so protected – and blessed – that we almost glow with joy that Someone would love us that much. If our “smile quota” is low, it’s not God’s fault.
So what are we going to do to correct this? Examine your life, and ask God to show you where you can make changes that will be pleasing to Him. Everyone loves a smile… and God’s are the best of all. Be sure you are getting them every day!
©2010 Debbie Robus
You are the shield that protects your people, and I am your chosen one. Won't you smile on me?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know many people who don’t respond positively to a smile. I know it is one of the first gestures we develop. Even tiny babies smile. This has to be instinctive… they do it without prompting. And by the same token, they seem to understand a smile at a very early age. All we have to do is smile at Timothy, and he breaks into a wide grin or a giggle. He will often look toward us to see how we will react, and when we smile, it’s clear that he is very pleased and excited.
Have you ever felt God smile? Have you ever felt so covered in His love, protection and blessings that it seemed as if you were looking toward heaven and literally seeing Him smile back at you? Can you remember what you were doing at that moment? Does this happen often…sometimes…not at all?
God wants to smile on each of us. We are His chosen ones…His prize creations. He pours out blessings, protection, mercy, and grace on us in amazingly abundant quantities. What are we giving in return? Are we acting like His children? Are we behaving as if we were personally chosen by God? We should be feeling God’s smile often. We should be walking around feeling so protected – and blessed – that we almost glow with joy that Someone would love us that much. If our “smile quota” is low, it’s not God’s fault.
So what are we going to do to correct this? Examine your life, and ask God to show you where you can make changes that will be pleasing to Him. Everyone loves a smile… and God’s are the best of all. Be sure you are getting them every day!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 11, 2010
Leviticus 20:26
I am the LORD, the holy God. You have been chosen to be my people, and so you must be holy too.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“You have been selected…” Have you ever received mail that contained this phrase? Have you ever been chosen for inclusion in something like Beta Club, the National Honor Society, Rotary Club, or even cheer squad or a sports team at school? At the very least, you’ve probably participated in a neighborhood game of kickball or baseball – or even Red Rover – where teams were chosen. So you know how it feels to be selected… and what it feels like when you are left behind.
We have been chosen by God. It doesn’t get better than this! No other selection committee in the universe can hold a candle to our Heavenly Father. He chose us… He selected each of us specifically. The honor of this selection is HUGE, and it should not be lost on us. When you are chosen for something you perceive to be prestigious, your demeanor changes, doesn’t it? Don’t you feel a little more special? Don’t you desire to give your very best in all areas to show your respect and gratitude? Shouldn’t this apply to our Christian living, as well?
We were chosen by God. He is holy, so we must be, also. Check your behavior and see how you are doing. There is room for improvement in all of us. Ask God to show you how to become more holy and pleasing to Him, then get busy implementing the changes. You’ve been chosen by Almighty God… now act like it!
©2010 Debbie Robus
I am the LORD, the holy God. You have been chosen to be my people, and so you must be holy too.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“You have been selected…” Have you ever received mail that contained this phrase? Have you ever been chosen for inclusion in something like Beta Club, the National Honor Society, Rotary Club, or even cheer squad or a sports team at school? At the very least, you’ve probably participated in a neighborhood game of kickball or baseball – or even Red Rover – where teams were chosen. So you know how it feels to be selected… and what it feels like when you are left behind.
We have been chosen by God. It doesn’t get better than this! No other selection committee in the universe can hold a candle to our Heavenly Father. He chose us… He selected each of us specifically. The honor of this selection is HUGE, and it should not be lost on us. When you are chosen for something you perceive to be prestigious, your demeanor changes, doesn’t it? Don’t you feel a little more special? Don’t you desire to give your very best in all areas to show your respect and gratitude? Shouldn’t this apply to our Christian living, as well?
We were chosen by God. He is holy, so we must be, also. Check your behavior and see how you are doing. There is room for improvement in all of us. Ask God to show you how to become more holy and pleasing to Him, then get busy implementing the changes. You’ve been chosen by Almighty God… now act like it!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 9, 2010
Philippians 4:12-13
I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. Christ gives me the strength to face anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
No matter what you have experienced, I guarantee you the Apostle Paul endured worse. Yet he boldly acknowledged that Christ gave him strength to face anything. Don’t you believe that God will do the same for you? If you have studied Paul’s life, you know that he was not always so faithful. You know that once, he was an enemy of Jesus… and may have even been present at the crucifixion, known then as Saul.
I know some of you have endured incredible hardships and challenges. I know some of you face tremendous uncertainties, heartaches, and disappointments. But I also know that what God did for Saul/Paul, He will most certainly do for us. And we can all face anything if we put our trust in Jesus Christ.
Regardless of who you are or where you are in life… no matter what you are facing… God’s grace and strength are sufficient for each of us. Step out in faith and ask Him to guide you. Put Christ at the forefront of your thoughts, and focus on Him as you tackle any and all challenges… from the tiniest issue to those that seem insurmountable. See how well He cares for you… how He strengthens you each day. I hope we never have to endure the trials and tribulations that Paul faced. But I know that Christ Jesus will give us the strength to face whatever comes our way. Do you believe this?
©2010 Debbie Robus
I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. Christ gives me the strength to face anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
No matter what you have experienced, I guarantee you the Apostle Paul endured worse. Yet he boldly acknowledged that Christ gave him strength to face anything. Don’t you believe that God will do the same for you? If you have studied Paul’s life, you know that he was not always so faithful. You know that once, he was an enemy of Jesus… and may have even been present at the crucifixion, known then as Saul.
I know some of you have endured incredible hardships and challenges. I know some of you face tremendous uncertainties, heartaches, and disappointments. But I also know that what God did for Saul/Paul, He will most certainly do for us. And we can all face anything if we put our trust in Jesus Christ.
Regardless of who you are or where you are in life… no matter what you are facing… God’s grace and strength are sufficient for each of us. Step out in faith and ask Him to guide you. Put Christ at the forefront of your thoughts, and focus on Him as you tackle any and all challenges… from the tiniest issue to those that seem insurmountable. See how well He cares for you… how He strengthens you each day. I hope we never have to endure the trials and tribulations that Paul faced. But I know that Christ Jesus will give us the strength to face whatever comes our way. Do you believe this?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 7, 2010
Isaiah 43:1
Descendants of Jacob, I, the LORD, created you and formed your nation. Israel, don't be afraid. I have rescued you. I have called you by name; now you belong to me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently I was watching episodes of TLC’s Cake Boss. A man from Italy came into the shop and asked Buddy, the “Cake Boss,” to make an authentic Italian tiramisu cake for his parents, who were coming from Italy for a visit. Buddy made the cake, following a family recipe his own father had used, and he created a beautiful tiramisu for this man. He also made an extra cake in a small container. When the man and his wife came to collect their cake, Buddy passed out spoons and invited them to taste the smaller tiramisu. Buddy took the first bite and proudly showed off his skills as a baker.
Why is this important… and why did the baker take the first bite? It goes back to an old adage among good cooks… “Never serve your guests something you would not eat yourself.” And in some instances, kings and rulers even had tasters who “tested” food for them to make sure it was safe for them to eat!
You may be wondering what on earth this has to do with Isaiah 43:1. My point is that God has created us… He’s done all the prep work AND the sampling, and we are His pride and joy – His beautiful creation. We belong to Him, and He has put His “stamp” on each of us. So we truly have nothing to fear. This is the ultimate endorsement. Whatever we face, God is there with us… guarding His prized possessions and clearing the way for us.
The question for us becomes… “Are we living up to this honor?” None of us deserve it, but we can do all in our power to show our honor and respect to God for this gift by operating in confidence and courage. Are you courageous today? No matter what you are facing, have you put your trust in your Creator to guide your steps? Thank God for choosing you, and honor Him in the way you live each day. Do all you can to be a person of courage and faith… and believe in God to do the rest.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Descendants of Jacob, I, the LORD, created you and formed your nation. Israel, don't be afraid. I have rescued you. I have called you by name; now you belong to me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently I was watching episodes of TLC’s Cake Boss. A man from Italy came into the shop and asked Buddy, the “Cake Boss,” to make an authentic Italian tiramisu cake for his parents, who were coming from Italy for a visit. Buddy made the cake, following a family recipe his own father had used, and he created a beautiful tiramisu for this man. He also made an extra cake in a small container. When the man and his wife came to collect their cake, Buddy passed out spoons and invited them to taste the smaller tiramisu. Buddy took the first bite and proudly showed off his skills as a baker.
Why is this important… and why did the baker take the first bite? It goes back to an old adage among good cooks… “Never serve your guests something you would not eat yourself.” And in some instances, kings and rulers even had tasters who “tested” food for them to make sure it was safe for them to eat!
You may be wondering what on earth this has to do with Isaiah 43:1. My point is that God has created us… He’s done all the prep work AND the sampling, and we are His pride and joy – His beautiful creation. We belong to Him, and He has put His “stamp” on each of us. So we truly have nothing to fear. This is the ultimate endorsement. Whatever we face, God is there with us… guarding His prized possessions and clearing the way for us.
The question for us becomes… “Are we living up to this honor?” None of us deserve it, but we can do all in our power to show our honor and respect to God for this gift by operating in confidence and courage. Are you courageous today? No matter what you are facing, have you put your trust in your Creator to guide your steps? Thank God for choosing you, and honor Him in the way you live each day. Do all you can to be a person of courage and faith… and believe in God to do the rest.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 1, 2010
Colossians 1:21-23
You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.
But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently my mom floated the Buffalo River with her husband’s family, and at one “swimming hole,” people were climbing massive bluffs and jumping back into the river. Swimmers below were encouraging those jumping to “conquer your fears,” and telling them, “You can do it!” And Mom said most did just that – even those whose faces indicated they were scared silly! However, she said one or two climbed back down and accepted defeat… and in this instance, that was just fine.
In our spiritual life, “backing off” and “climbing down” are not okay. Defeat is not an option. The cost of our salvation was far too high. The price Jesus Christ paid to stand in the gap for us with God was just too costly for us to back down and stop fighting. We must keep trusting – keep believing – and keep holding on to the promises of God for us and others. And more than this, we must never give up on one another. We must become, as the Apostle Paul, “a servant of this message.” We must vigilantly remind others how precious they are to God. We must pray for them, encourage them, and never, never, EVER give up.
We can do it! We must “conquer our fears” – with the Lord’s help – and trust Him to honor His promises… to us and to others. We must stay deeply rooted and firm in our faith and be servants of God’s message to everyone around us. I say again… defeat is not an option when it comes to Jesus and our faith. How deeply are you rooted these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.
But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently my mom floated the Buffalo River with her husband’s family, and at one “swimming hole,” people were climbing massive bluffs and jumping back into the river. Swimmers below were encouraging those jumping to “conquer your fears,” and telling them, “You can do it!” And Mom said most did just that – even those whose faces indicated they were scared silly! However, she said one or two climbed back down and accepted defeat… and in this instance, that was just fine.
In our spiritual life, “backing off” and “climbing down” are not okay. Defeat is not an option. The cost of our salvation was far too high. The price Jesus Christ paid to stand in the gap for us with God was just too costly for us to back down and stop fighting. We must keep trusting – keep believing – and keep holding on to the promises of God for us and others. And more than this, we must never give up on one another. We must become, as the Apostle Paul, “a servant of this message.” We must vigilantly remind others how precious they are to God. We must pray for them, encourage them, and never, never, EVER give up.
We can do it! We must “conquer our fears” – with the Lord’s help – and trust Him to honor His promises… to us and to others. We must stay deeply rooted and firm in our faith and be servants of God’s message to everyone around us. I say again… defeat is not an option when it comes to Jesus and our faith. How deeply are you rooted these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 26, 2010
April 26 ~ Proverbs 15:30-33
A friendly smile makes you happy, and good news makes you feel strong. Healthy correction is good, and if you accept it, you will be wise. You hurt only yourself by rejecting instruction, but it makes good sense to accept it. Showing respect to the LORD will make you wise, and being humble will bring honor to you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Some of you have heard my story about the time my sister, my cousin and I went to my Mam-ma’s house before Christmas to get a lesson in making peanut brittle. For the record, my Mam-ma Polly is the undisputed Queen of Peanut Brittle Making. Hers is thick and filled with peanuts, but it’s as light and crisp as any of that thin stuff people sell in the buckets… and much tastier. She can still wield a heavy cooking pot of the molten candy, although at 97+ and getting a little shaky, we’d rather she didn’t!
Anyway, several years ago we went for “the lesson,” and she carefully instructed us to stir the sugar and water mixture over heat until it made what she called a “hair” (a very thin ribbon of candy syrup that resembles a curly hair) when you dipped a spoon in it and held it up to let the liquid flow back into the pot. We watched carefully and tried to do it just right. The candy made thin stream of syrup that did indeed look like a little curly “hair,” and we added the peanuts and let them cook. Then we added baking soda and let the mixture foam. We were supposed to stir vigorously at this point, and we took turns doing the various steps. When it came time to pour the hot candy onto a buttered cookie sheet, I was holding the pan, and I took my spoon and started to “help” the candy out of the pan and onto the sheet. BIG MISTAKE! My grandmother went nothing short of ballistic and started screaming, “NO! DON’T EVER SCRAPE IT OUT OF THE PAN! YOU’LL RUIN IT!”
To this day, I have never made a decent batch of peanut brittle. I guess my idea of a good “hair” and my grandmother’s are not the same, because my candy is always chewy, and she says it’s because I don’t cook it long enough. Mine certainly never pours smoothly from the pan, although I have never used a spoon to help it along again! I have decided that I will not be the one carrying on the family legacy of peanut brittle making to future generations. Thankfully my grandmother was more successful at teaching me to make yeast rolls and sweet potato pie. I’ll carry the torch on those and leave the candy to someone else!
We’ve had dozens of good laughs over that day and my “mistake” of pulling the candy from the pot… and my grandmother’s reaction. And it IS good to laugh and smile. But sometimes, we receive instruction from others that we fail to accept, and the results are not funny at all. We sometimes fail to recognize when someone is lovingly offering advice or help, and we interpret their efforts as a judgment on us that we are not doing a good enough job. Or we resent the fact that someone thought we needed help or advice in the first place. OR… we feel our way is better, and we are insulted by the offer.
Sadly, we often reject the instruction of our Heavenly Father… and this is serious business. How many times have you clearly heard or felt God telling you to do something – or to proceed in a certain way – and you did something else? Tell me… how did that work for you? If ever someone was trying to offer help and advice – or instruction – that we truly need, it was God! And He will continue to guide our path. The question is… will we listen? Unlike carrying on a legacy of making delicious peanut brittle, we don’t have the luxury of saying, “I think I’ll pass on God’s guidance.” Oh… many will try… but the results will be far more disastrous than a ruined pan filled with cooked-on candy. Humbly consider this scripture passage today… see where you need to accept good counsel from God – and from mere humans. Grow in wisdom by learning from others – and have the good sense to take a little advice along the way.
©2010 Debbie Robus
A friendly smile makes you happy, and good news makes you feel strong. Healthy correction is good, and if you accept it, you will be wise. You hurt only yourself by rejecting instruction, but it makes good sense to accept it. Showing respect to the LORD will make you wise, and being humble will bring honor to you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Some of you have heard my story about the time my sister, my cousin and I went to my Mam-ma’s house before Christmas to get a lesson in making peanut brittle. For the record, my Mam-ma Polly is the undisputed Queen of Peanut Brittle Making. Hers is thick and filled with peanuts, but it’s as light and crisp as any of that thin stuff people sell in the buckets… and much tastier. She can still wield a heavy cooking pot of the molten candy, although at 97+ and getting a little shaky, we’d rather she didn’t!
Anyway, several years ago we went for “the lesson,” and she carefully instructed us to stir the sugar and water mixture over heat until it made what she called a “hair” (a very thin ribbon of candy syrup that resembles a curly hair) when you dipped a spoon in it and held it up to let the liquid flow back into the pot. We watched carefully and tried to do it just right. The candy made thin stream of syrup that did indeed look like a little curly “hair,” and we added the peanuts and let them cook. Then we added baking soda and let the mixture foam. We were supposed to stir vigorously at this point, and we took turns doing the various steps. When it came time to pour the hot candy onto a buttered cookie sheet, I was holding the pan, and I took my spoon and started to “help” the candy out of the pan and onto the sheet. BIG MISTAKE! My grandmother went nothing short of ballistic and started screaming, “NO! DON’T EVER SCRAPE IT OUT OF THE PAN! YOU’LL RUIN IT!”
To this day, I have never made a decent batch of peanut brittle. I guess my idea of a good “hair” and my grandmother’s are not the same, because my candy is always chewy, and she says it’s because I don’t cook it long enough. Mine certainly never pours smoothly from the pan, although I have never used a spoon to help it along again! I have decided that I will not be the one carrying on the family legacy of peanut brittle making to future generations. Thankfully my grandmother was more successful at teaching me to make yeast rolls and sweet potato pie. I’ll carry the torch on those and leave the candy to someone else!
We’ve had dozens of good laughs over that day and my “mistake” of pulling the candy from the pot… and my grandmother’s reaction. And it IS good to laugh and smile. But sometimes, we receive instruction from others that we fail to accept, and the results are not funny at all. We sometimes fail to recognize when someone is lovingly offering advice or help, and we interpret their efforts as a judgment on us that we are not doing a good enough job. Or we resent the fact that someone thought we needed help or advice in the first place. OR… we feel our way is better, and we are insulted by the offer.
Sadly, we often reject the instruction of our Heavenly Father… and this is serious business. How many times have you clearly heard or felt God telling you to do something – or to proceed in a certain way – and you did something else? Tell me… how did that work for you? If ever someone was trying to offer help and advice – or instruction – that we truly need, it was God! And He will continue to guide our path. The question is… will we listen? Unlike carrying on a legacy of making delicious peanut brittle, we don’t have the luxury of saying, “I think I’ll pass on God’s guidance.” Oh… many will try… but the results will be far more disastrous than a ruined pan filled with cooked-on candy. Humbly consider this scripture passage today… see where you need to accept good counsel from God – and from mere humans. Grow in wisdom by learning from others – and have the good sense to take a little advice along the way.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 24, 2010
April 24 ~ Proverbs 14:14
You harvest what you plant, whether good or bad.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Most of us understand the concept that:
• If you overeat – you will probably gain weight.
• If you smoke cigarettes – you are a candidate for lung cancer.
• If you expose your skin to the sun or a tanning bed – you will age your skin and possibly get skin cancer.
• If you have unprotected sex – you could make a baby or get an STD.
• If you don’t go to class – you probably won’t pass.
• If you break the law – you may go to jail.
I could go on, but you get the picture. When things are “black and white,” we have no trouble grasping them. Where we sometimes fail to understand this is in the “grey areas” of life.
• If you cheat – on your taxes, on a significant other, at school, at work, by speeding or drinking and driving… or even in a sport… you might seem to “get by” with it. But somewhere down the road, this type of behavior will catch up with you. You may never get caught actually cheating at something, but your behavior may lead to other dishonesty that is discovered or an activity that harms your relationships with others. And over time, cheating and dishonesty eat away at your character.
• If you are kind and generous with what you have, even if it seems like very little – time, talents, and money – you will benefit in ways you can’t even imagine. You may never be “rich” in money or material things, but you will be wealthy beyond measure in other ways. Blessings will come your way when you least expect them – and from sources you would never have expected.
• If you are faithful and trusting of God – and trustworthy – He will answer your prayers, solve your problems, heal you of diseases, protect you, promote you, and bless you incredibly. And you will operate in confidence that Someone else is helping you handle every situation.
• If you are a “hit-and-miss” Christian who worships, prays and studies when it is convenient – or when there is a crisis – expect “hit-and-miss” results and blessings. It’s not that God is ignoring you – or even punishing you – but God does pour out His abundance on those who are most faithful, and we need to understand and appreciate how this exchange with Him works.
This is the familiar “you reap what you sow” passage. It may be hard for you to see how what you are doing today is going to affect you down the road. But it will. Make sure that everything you do this day lines up with the will and the word of God. Make sure that every choice you make, every word from your mouth, every gesture, facial expression and step you take is approved by God. If you do this, you will sow blessings so abundant you can’t even count them. Don’t worry about what happens if you make poor choices – don’t even go there! Don’t risk missing a single one of the blessings God has in store for you. Sow good things, positive words, faithful service and continual trust. Sow LOVE and the light of Christ… and be amazed by what you reap!
©2010 Debbie Robus
You harvest what you plant, whether good or bad.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Most of us understand the concept that:
• If you overeat – you will probably gain weight.
• If you smoke cigarettes – you are a candidate for lung cancer.
• If you expose your skin to the sun or a tanning bed – you will age your skin and possibly get skin cancer.
• If you have unprotected sex – you could make a baby or get an STD.
• If you don’t go to class – you probably won’t pass.
• If you break the law – you may go to jail.
I could go on, but you get the picture. When things are “black and white,” we have no trouble grasping them. Where we sometimes fail to understand this is in the “grey areas” of life.
• If you cheat – on your taxes, on a significant other, at school, at work, by speeding or drinking and driving… or even in a sport… you might seem to “get by” with it. But somewhere down the road, this type of behavior will catch up with you. You may never get caught actually cheating at something, but your behavior may lead to other dishonesty that is discovered or an activity that harms your relationships with others. And over time, cheating and dishonesty eat away at your character.
• If you are kind and generous with what you have, even if it seems like very little – time, talents, and money – you will benefit in ways you can’t even imagine. You may never be “rich” in money or material things, but you will be wealthy beyond measure in other ways. Blessings will come your way when you least expect them – and from sources you would never have expected.
• If you are faithful and trusting of God – and trustworthy – He will answer your prayers, solve your problems, heal you of diseases, protect you, promote you, and bless you incredibly. And you will operate in confidence that Someone else is helping you handle every situation.
• If you are a “hit-and-miss” Christian who worships, prays and studies when it is convenient – or when there is a crisis – expect “hit-and-miss” results and blessings. It’s not that God is ignoring you – or even punishing you – but God does pour out His abundance on those who are most faithful, and we need to understand and appreciate how this exchange with Him works.
This is the familiar “you reap what you sow” passage. It may be hard for you to see how what you are doing today is going to affect you down the road. But it will. Make sure that everything you do this day lines up with the will and the word of God. Make sure that every choice you make, every word from your mouth, every gesture, facial expression and step you take is approved by God. If you do this, you will sow blessings so abundant you can’t even count them. Don’t worry about what happens if you make poor choices – don’t even go there! Don’t risk missing a single one of the blessings God has in store for you. Sow good things, positive words, faithful service and continual trust. Sow LOVE and the light of Christ… and be amazed by what you reap!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 21, 2010
April 21 ~ Luke 6:27-36
This is what I say to all who will listen to me:
Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you. Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, don't stop that person from slapping you on the other cheek. If someone wants to take your coat, don't try to keep back your shirt. Give to everyone who asks and don't ask people to return what they have taken from you. Treat others just as you want to be treated.
If you love only someone who loves you, will God praise you for that? Even sinners love people who love them. If you are kind only to someone who is kind to you, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners are kind to people who are kind to them. If you lend money only to someone you think will pay you back, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners lend to sinners because they think they will get it all back.
But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel. Have pity on others, just as your Father has pity on you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Probably one of the hardest things we can ever do is to love our enemies… because this totally runs counter to human nature. But Scripture tells us that true Christians love their enemies and are good to them. The first question you have to ask is, “Who are your enemies?” Is your enemy the guy or girl who broke up with you – or the “friend” who is now spreading lies and vicious rumors about you throughout the school? Is your enemy an ex-wife or husband who seems to challenge you at every turn about everything from alimony to child custody? Is your enemy a boss, co-worker, teacher, coach or neighbor who makes life miserable for you every day with unreasonable demands and unkind or unfair treatment? Are your parents your enemies? Are your government officials your “enemies” because they do not legislate as you would prefer? Are your church leaders or certain members of the congregation your “enemies” because they pressure you to believe a certain doctrine or judge you in some way? Is the world your “enemy” because you feel like you haven’t gotten a fair shake in some way?
The second question to ask is, “How can you love these people?” How can you turn down the volume on the gossip someone spreads about you? How can you get along with your ex, your parents, your mean boss or teacher, or even someone who is abusive? How can you love the elected official with whom you vehemently disagree about everything – or the church leaders or members who continually rub you the wrong way?
I can’t answer question #1 for you, but I can help you find the answer to the second part… and it begins with attitude. See, every person you see as an enemy, God sees as valuable and special – just like He sees you. For every “enemy” you have, it’s quite possible someone views you as their enemy. None of us wants to be considered an enemy – and the way to combat that is to begin to love our own. Does this make sense? Notice I didn’t say it would be easy… but a whole lot of being a Christian is hard work! It is also well worth the effort.
Don’t misunderstand… I’m not saying you have to become a doormat or compromise your values. You just have to adjust how these people and situations affect you and your witness. Many have pointed out that it’s hard to be bitter and upset – or to feel persecuted or sorry for yourself – when you are busy doing things for others. So this is a call for us to get busy! Start looking for ways to love and serve… and see how little time you have to nurture grudges and harbor enemies! Focus on loving God and treating others as you wish to be treated – and see how quickly things change. Remember…God has mercy on you – show the same to others in His name!
©2010 Debbie Robus
This is what I say to all who will listen to me:
Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you. Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, don't stop that person from slapping you on the other cheek. If someone wants to take your coat, don't try to keep back your shirt. Give to everyone who asks and don't ask people to return what they have taken from you. Treat others just as you want to be treated.
If you love only someone who loves you, will God praise you for that? Even sinners love people who love them. If you are kind only to someone who is kind to you, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners are kind to people who are kind to them. If you lend money only to someone you think will pay you back, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners lend to sinners because they think they will get it all back.
But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel. Have pity on others, just as your Father has pity on you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Probably one of the hardest things we can ever do is to love our enemies… because this totally runs counter to human nature. But Scripture tells us that true Christians love their enemies and are good to them. The first question you have to ask is, “Who are your enemies?” Is your enemy the guy or girl who broke up with you – or the “friend” who is now spreading lies and vicious rumors about you throughout the school? Is your enemy an ex-wife or husband who seems to challenge you at every turn about everything from alimony to child custody? Is your enemy a boss, co-worker, teacher, coach or neighbor who makes life miserable for you every day with unreasonable demands and unkind or unfair treatment? Are your parents your enemies? Are your government officials your “enemies” because they do not legislate as you would prefer? Are your church leaders or certain members of the congregation your “enemies” because they pressure you to believe a certain doctrine or judge you in some way? Is the world your “enemy” because you feel like you haven’t gotten a fair shake in some way?
The second question to ask is, “How can you love these people?” How can you turn down the volume on the gossip someone spreads about you? How can you get along with your ex, your parents, your mean boss or teacher, or even someone who is abusive? How can you love the elected official with whom you vehemently disagree about everything – or the church leaders or members who continually rub you the wrong way?
I can’t answer question #1 for you, but I can help you find the answer to the second part… and it begins with attitude. See, every person you see as an enemy, God sees as valuable and special – just like He sees you. For every “enemy” you have, it’s quite possible someone views you as their enemy. None of us wants to be considered an enemy – and the way to combat that is to begin to love our own. Does this make sense? Notice I didn’t say it would be easy… but a whole lot of being a Christian is hard work! It is also well worth the effort.
Don’t misunderstand… I’m not saying you have to become a doormat or compromise your values. You just have to adjust how these people and situations affect you and your witness. Many have pointed out that it’s hard to be bitter and upset – or to feel persecuted or sorry for yourself – when you are busy doing things for others. So this is a call for us to get busy! Start looking for ways to love and serve… and see how little time you have to nurture grudges and harbor enemies! Focus on loving God and treating others as you wish to be treated – and see how quickly things change. Remember…God has mercy on you – show the same to others in His name!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 26, 2010
February 26 ~ Isaiah 45:9-13
The LORD said: Israel, you have no right to argue with your Creator. You are merely a clay pot shaped by a potter. The clay doesn't ask, "Why did you make me this way? Where are the handles?"
Children don't have the right to demand of their parents, "What have you done to make us what we are?" I am the LORD, the Creator, the holy God of Israel. Do you dare question me about my own nation or about what I have done?
I created the world and covered it with people; I stretched out the sky and filled it with stars.
I have done the right thing by placing Cyrus in power, and I will make the roads easy for him to follow. I am the LORD All-Powerful! Cyrus will rebuild my city and set my people free without being paid a thing. I, the LORD, have spoken.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Every single one of us will question God at some point. “Why did you give me this body shape?” “Why did you allow me to be born to parents who were abusive or addictive?” “Why did you allow me to have a huge birthmark on the side of my face?” “Why was I born?”
The answer is found in Isaiah 45. God knows more than we do. His ways may be mysterious, and even seem unfair at times. But we were created by the God of the Universe, the Holy Creator who can design the world and cover it with people – stretch out the sky and fill it with stars – and we want to ask Him why we have a certain hair color or freckles on our nose?
We seem to have forgotten WHO we serve. Sometimes it seems like we have decided we are entitled to tell God how to run things, as if we could do so much better. We need to remind ourselves WHO is in charge… and why. We need to realize that the all-powerful God of the Universe didn’t just create us… He ADORES us and wants to give us untold blessings. Are we paying attention? Are we embracing our wonderful, unique selves as God made us? Are we recognizing God’s power and bowing before Him? Shouldn’t we be?
©2009 Debbie Robus
The LORD said: Israel, you have no right to argue with your Creator. You are merely a clay pot shaped by a potter. The clay doesn't ask, "Why did you make me this way? Where are the handles?"
Children don't have the right to demand of their parents, "What have you done to make us what we are?" I am the LORD, the Creator, the holy God of Israel. Do you dare question me about my own nation or about what I have done?
I created the world and covered it with people; I stretched out the sky and filled it with stars.
I have done the right thing by placing Cyrus in power, and I will make the roads easy for him to follow. I am the LORD All-Powerful! Cyrus will rebuild my city and set my people free without being paid a thing. I, the LORD, have spoken.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Every single one of us will question God at some point. “Why did you give me this body shape?” “Why did you allow me to be born to parents who were abusive or addictive?” “Why did you allow me to have a huge birthmark on the side of my face?” “Why was I born?”
The answer is found in Isaiah 45. God knows more than we do. His ways may be mysterious, and even seem unfair at times. But we were created by the God of the Universe, the Holy Creator who can design the world and cover it with people – stretch out the sky and fill it with stars – and we want to ask Him why we have a certain hair color or freckles on our nose?
We seem to have forgotten WHO we serve. Sometimes it seems like we have decided we are entitled to tell God how to run things, as if we could do so much better. We need to remind ourselves WHO is in charge… and why. We need to realize that the all-powerful God of the Universe didn’t just create us… He ADORES us and wants to give us untold blessings. Are we paying attention? Are we embracing our wonderful, unique selves as God made us? Are we recognizing God’s power and bowing before Him? Shouldn’t we be?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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