Proverbs 12:25
Worry weighs us down;
a cheerful word picks us up.
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.
About 20 years ago, the
father of a young man who was our youth pastor suffered a heart attack
and died. Several church members traveled to another state to attend
the funeral and support this young man and his family during their time
of grief. After the service, one of these members told the young man,
“Son, it’s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.”
Later, the youth minister said to me, “WHY would anyone say that to me?
That was NOT what I needed to hear!” All I could do was shake my head,
say I was sorry, and tell him that I had no clue what would cause
someone to say such a thing. In all honesty, it would have been better
if that “brother in Christ” had stayed home!
Let’s be real…what
the man said may have very well been true…but did it help this person to
heal from his grief? Did it offer hope and a promise of better days?
What would have been wrong with saying, “Give yourself time…things WILL
get better”…or “We’re gonna help you get through today…and tomorrow,
we’ll do it again.” Where was the testimony that God grants us peace
and helps us to heal from sadness and sorrow?
And where in your
daily conversation, are you the “Grand Master of Gloom and Doom?” Do
you see the world as a “glass half empty?” Or is your “glass” half
full? Because EVERYONE has worries and concerns. No one is immune to
problems, stresses and challenges. But we Christians are supposed to
have a built-in support system in form of the Holy Spirit! We are
supposed to trust that the God we serve is bigger than any of our
struggles…that there is no mountain too high for Him to climb…no grief
too big for Him to manage and comfort…no disease that He cannot heal…and
no problem that He cannot solve.
I don’t mean to imply that we
should be phonies…that there are not times in all of our lives when “the
chips are down,” and we can’t help but show it. But when we hang out
in the “Land of Worries and Negativity” or enjoy a pity party just a tad
too long or too often, we totally blow our demonstration of the power,
strength, grace and mercy that we claim to have through Jesus Christ.
When we offer others pitiful consolation, as this church member did for a
grieving young man, we have failed miserably to be a light for Christ!
Let’s
ALL check our thoughts and actions and see where we have let worry and
pessimism creep into our vocabulary and our demonstrations. Let’s ask
God to help us get back on track…to project a genuine hope and
encouragement based in personal experience that God is able to do…” far
more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest
dreams!”(Ephesians 3:20) Let’s operate in encouragement rather than
worry - and be living examples of the hope of Jesus in motion. I’m
ready to give it a whirl…are you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label speaking positively. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speaking positively. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 13, 2015
Ephesians 4:29
Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Acronyms are a strange phenomenon…particularly in the world of texting and social media. More than a few people have thought they knew what certain sets of capital letters stood for…only to learn that the meaning was totally different. I read an interesting blog post recently about how people have made OMG a common acronym – and phrase – to write or speak. In reality, this oath takes the LORD’s name in vain and shows disrespect for God and His commandments.
We’ve grown complacent - and in some cases, sloppy – with our language. More and more “curse words” have crept into common vernacular and are now readily “accepted” on mainstream television and radio. I cringe every time I hear someone say, “Oh, my God!” – even when they are doing so in a show of empathy or concern toward another person. I have made a point not to use OMG or some form of it in my own conversation.
But more than this, we need to guard EVERY word we say. I’d be willing to bet that your mother taught me, as mine did, that “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Yet the temptation is there…to criticize…to be negative…to cut others down in retaliation for their own hurtful words. We are sometimes moved to lash out and say ugly things when life takes a turn we don’t like and we feel that God has let us down. Even writing this, it sounds absurd. God never fails us!
So our challenge today is to guard our heart – and our words. We must guard against not only speaking the four-letter variety in haste or out of habit…we must also guard our everyday comments and language. Make every word count…or don’t say a word! In The Message translation, this verse says, “Say only what helps, each word a gift.” Oh, that we would internalize this command and make it a part of our daily living. I’m going to try…what about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Acronyms are a strange phenomenon…particularly in the world of texting and social media. More than a few people have thought they knew what certain sets of capital letters stood for…only to learn that the meaning was totally different. I read an interesting blog post recently about how people have made OMG a common acronym – and phrase – to write or speak. In reality, this oath takes the LORD’s name in vain and shows disrespect for God and His commandments.
We’ve grown complacent - and in some cases, sloppy – with our language. More and more “curse words” have crept into common vernacular and are now readily “accepted” on mainstream television and radio. I cringe every time I hear someone say, “Oh, my God!” – even when they are doing so in a show of empathy or concern toward another person. I have made a point not to use OMG or some form of it in my own conversation.
But more than this, we need to guard EVERY word we say. I’d be willing to bet that your mother taught me, as mine did, that “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Yet the temptation is there…to criticize…to be negative…to cut others down in retaliation for their own hurtful words. We are sometimes moved to lash out and say ugly things when life takes a turn we don’t like and we feel that God has let us down. Even writing this, it sounds absurd. God never fails us!
So our challenge today is to guard our heart – and our words. We must guard against not only speaking the four-letter variety in haste or out of habit…we must also guard our everyday comments and language. Make every word count…or don’t say a word! In The Message translation, this verse says, “Say only what helps, each word a gift.” Oh, that we would internalize this command and make it a part of our daily living. I’m going to try…what about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 15, 2012
Matthew 3:33-37
“If you grow a healthy tree, you’ll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you’ll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree.
“You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.”
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.
Several years ago, the father of a friend of mine passed away suddenly. My friend was understandably devastated. He was in his twenties at the time, and his dad had died at a very young age. At the funeral, a fellow church member approached my grieving friend and said, “It’s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.” I am fairly certain this person meant well… but those words rang in my friend’s ear… and some ten years later, I still remember the look on his face as he told me all of this. There are times when words truly can be our damnation. In other words, sometimes we should keep our thoughts to ourselves!
Whether this person meant to be helpful or not, his words were reckless. And we so often do this. Teachers ask children why they cannot make good grades or conduct themselves like their older brother or sister, not realizing the stress and pressure that this puts on a kid to live up to someone else’s expectations… real or imaginary. A single comment made to someone about an aspect of his/her appearance can scar them for life. Forever and a day that person will worry about his/her big nose, crooked teeth, crazy cow-lick, or toothpick legs. Unkind nicknames can haunt a person for years… or a lifetime.
Continual talk of sickness can actually make you sick. There are even those who believe that if you talk about getting a disease – like cancer – often and long enough, you can manifest this into your life. The late Rev. John Osteen, father to Joel Osteen, wrote a booklet entitled, “There is a Miracle In Your Mouth.” You can order a copy from http://amazon.com. Rev. Osteen outlines through scripture how we speak both negativity and positive outcomes into our lives… and how our words have a profound effect on the direction we take each day.
Today, Joel Osteen is a champion of speaking good things into your life and the lives of others. He suggests that we get up every day, look in the mirror, and say, “I am valuable. I am loved. God has a great plan for my life.” Instead, most of us get up, look at our image in the mirror and groan at the new wrinkle, or the pimple that showed up overnight, our receding hairline, the extra strands of gray, or something that disappoints us. And let’s be honest, this sets in motion what is at least a subconscious negative attitude… if not an outright bad mood for the day.
My challenge for each of us is to consider our words. Do we speak as if we are valued by God and he has great plans for our life? Do we offer encouragement and hope to others? Or are we continually negative, careless, and hurtful with our words? Are our words those of salvation or damnation?
Joel Osteen says, “If you can change your words, you can change your world.” Are you willing to change today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
“If you grow a healthy tree, you’ll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you’ll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree.
“You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.”
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.
Several years ago, the father of a friend of mine passed away suddenly. My friend was understandably devastated. He was in his twenties at the time, and his dad had died at a very young age. At the funeral, a fellow church member approached my grieving friend and said, “It’s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.” I am fairly certain this person meant well… but those words rang in my friend’s ear… and some ten years later, I still remember the look on his face as he told me all of this. There are times when words truly can be our damnation. In other words, sometimes we should keep our thoughts to ourselves!
Whether this person meant to be helpful or not, his words were reckless. And we so often do this. Teachers ask children why they cannot make good grades or conduct themselves like their older brother or sister, not realizing the stress and pressure that this puts on a kid to live up to someone else’s expectations… real or imaginary. A single comment made to someone about an aspect of his/her appearance can scar them for life. Forever and a day that person will worry about his/her big nose, crooked teeth, crazy cow-lick, or toothpick legs. Unkind nicknames can haunt a person for years… or a lifetime.
Continual talk of sickness can actually make you sick. There are even those who believe that if you talk about getting a disease – like cancer – often and long enough, you can manifest this into your life. The late Rev. John Osteen, father to Joel Osteen, wrote a booklet entitled, “There is a Miracle In Your Mouth.” You can order a copy from http://amazon.com. Rev. Osteen outlines through scripture how we speak both negativity and positive outcomes into our lives… and how our words have a profound effect on the direction we take each day.
Today, Joel Osteen is a champion of speaking good things into your life and the lives of others. He suggests that we get up every day, look in the mirror, and say, “I am valuable. I am loved. God has a great plan for my life.” Instead, most of us get up, look at our image in the mirror and groan at the new wrinkle, or the pimple that showed up overnight, our receding hairline, the extra strands of gray, or something that disappoints us. And let’s be honest, this sets in motion what is at least a subconscious negative attitude… if not an outright bad mood for the day.
My challenge for each of us is to consider our words. Do we speak as if we are valued by God and he has great plans for our life? Do we offer encouragement and hope to others? Or are we continually negative, careless, and hurtful with our words? Are our words those of salvation or damnation?
Joel Osteen says, “If you can change your words, you can change your world.” Are you willing to change today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 8, 2012
Proverbs 15:2
Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.
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.
When I was a little girl, we used go to a place west of town called Stacy Springs. Today a house sits where there once was an open pavilion. Groups from area clubs and churches would gather there for picnics. It’s not far above the “Big Dike” area on Greers Ferry Lake. We would hike away from the pavilion a few yards to a natural spring that bubbled from the ground. The clean water seemed to magically gurgle from the ground in a gentle, steady flow.
Years ago, people often depended on springs like this one for a clean water supply. My great-grandmother and her family lived near more than one fresh-water spring. They trusted the cool, clear water to be pure and safe.
I recently watched a “House and Garden” show where a family was renovating their basement, and they discovered dirty, moldy water damage caused by a leaky pipe upstairs. The water had seeped down the wall, through the floor and created a murky mess on the ground level… compromising that surface and rendering it unsafe.
If you stop and think about it, we all know people who are like a freshwater spring. They seem to be a steady source of wisdom… trustworthy and dependable for information and advice that is sound and true. We also know people who are like the leaky pipe or faucet. They always have an opinion – and are glad to share it – but mostly spew hearsay, unkindness, or unsubstantiated viewpoints. It doesn’t necessarily take a rocket scientist to discern which is which… but we do have to stay on our toes.
How do you know what you are seeing and hearing is truthful? How do you figure it all out? What if someone is telling you that his/her way is accurate, because “I am a Christian, and God has told me this”? My simplest answer is, “Ask God for yourself!” Do some digging. Get the facts. See if what this person is saying really lines up with the word of God. Ask God if what is being said makes sense, is loving and kind - and honors His word and His will.
God wants us to always operate in the truth. He gave us a brain… and a direct line of communication to Him. He expects us to use both! Don’t believe everything you see and hear… not even from those who claim to be Christians. Do your own investigating and discover whether what you are ingesting is clean, pure “spring water,” or the rotten murky nonsense from a “leaky faucet.” Learn to tell the difference… God is waiting to show you how!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.
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.
When I was a little girl, we used go to a place west of town called Stacy Springs. Today a house sits where there once was an open pavilion. Groups from area clubs and churches would gather there for picnics. It’s not far above the “Big Dike” area on Greers Ferry Lake. We would hike away from the pavilion a few yards to a natural spring that bubbled from the ground. The clean water seemed to magically gurgle from the ground in a gentle, steady flow.
Years ago, people often depended on springs like this one for a clean water supply. My great-grandmother and her family lived near more than one fresh-water spring. They trusted the cool, clear water to be pure and safe.
I recently watched a “House and Garden” show where a family was renovating their basement, and they discovered dirty, moldy water damage caused by a leaky pipe upstairs. The water had seeped down the wall, through the floor and created a murky mess on the ground level… compromising that surface and rendering it unsafe.
If you stop and think about it, we all know people who are like a freshwater spring. They seem to be a steady source of wisdom… trustworthy and dependable for information and advice that is sound and true. We also know people who are like the leaky pipe or faucet. They always have an opinion – and are glad to share it – but mostly spew hearsay, unkindness, or unsubstantiated viewpoints. It doesn’t necessarily take a rocket scientist to discern which is which… but we do have to stay on our toes.
How do you know what you are seeing and hearing is truthful? How do you figure it all out? What if someone is telling you that his/her way is accurate, because “I am a Christian, and God has told me this”? My simplest answer is, “Ask God for yourself!” Do some digging. Get the facts. See if what this person is saying really lines up with the word of God. Ask God if what is being said makes sense, is loving and kind - and honors His word and His will.
God wants us to always operate in the truth. He gave us a brain… and a direct line of communication to Him. He expects us to use both! Don’t believe everything you see and hear… not even from those who claim to be Christians. Do your own investigating and discover whether what you are ingesting is clean, pure “spring water,” or the rotten murky nonsense from a “leaky faucet.” Learn to tell the difference… God is waiting to show you how!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 1, 2012
Psalm 35:28
Then I will shout all day, “Praise the Lord God! He did what was right.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I seriously considered closing my Facebook account today. The vile, venomous, hate-filled posts seem to have escalated in recent weeks to a point that I find intolerable. When I come away from my computer filled with sadness and disappointment in people I care about who seem to delight in spreading unkindness and intolerance, I have to ask myself, “Why am I doing this?” I wonder if God asks the same question every day as He watches us operate in anything but love, grace, mercy and forgiveness – and often hide behind His name while doing so.
But then, there are the positive comments… the scripture verses from some of my friends and family members… their happy photos…prayer requests… notices for everything from a city-wide back-to-school shoe drive to a summer lunch program for hungry children… and updates from a little cousin who has to frequent Mayo Clinic for chronic health issues. Just as I become disheartened and consider clicking off the page, God reminds me that there are still reasons for praise... and for sticking around.
There are two things I hope we will all consider today…
But we can do better! We can start today. We can make sure that everything we post on Facebook… everything we utter to another person or write in an e-mail message or note is expresses God’s goodness, power and blessings. We can ask God to help us make a habit of removing negativity, criticism, and anything that might be construed as hateful or evil from our language and behavior.
I am sticking around on Facebook for the moment… but I am making my opening daily prayer one of submission to God… a desire to operate only from a positive base that honors Him and brings Him joy and honor. Won’t you join me? Who has control of your tongue today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Then I will shout all day, “Praise the Lord God! He did what was right.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I seriously considered closing my Facebook account today. The vile, venomous, hate-filled posts seem to have escalated in recent weeks to a point that I find intolerable. When I come away from my computer filled with sadness and disappointment in people I care about who seem to delight in spreading unkindness and intolerance, I have to ask myself, “Why am I doing this?” I wonder if God asks the same question every day as He watches us operate in anything but love, grace, mercy and forgiveness – and often hide behind His name while doing so.
But then, there are the positive comments… the scripture verses from some of my friends and family members… their happy photos…prayer requests… notices for everything from a city-wide back-to-school shoe drive to a summer lunch program for hungry children… and updates from a little cousin who has to frequent Mayo Clinic for chronic health issues. Just as I become disheartened and consider clicking off the page, God reminds me that there are still reasons for praise... and for sticking around.
There are two things I hope we will all consider today…
- Our mouth is a conduit - for good and evil. What others hear is our choice… and it does matter. When we “speak first and ask questions later,” we dishonor God. The first thing we need to do is prayerfully ask God how HE wants us to proceed… and to call on Him to put His words on our tongue.
- We must learn to offer others the same things we ask God to grant us… grace, peace, mercy, forgiveness, unconditional love… and we must trust HIM to do what is right.
But we can do better! We can start today. We can make sure that everything we post on Facebook… everything we utter to another person or write in an e-mail message or note is expresses God’s goodness, power and blessings. We can ask God to help us make a habit of removing negativity, criticism, and anything that might be construed as hateful or evil from our language and behavior.
I am sticking around on Facebook for the moment… but I am making my opening daily prayer one of submission to God… a desire to operate only from a positive base that honors Him and brings Him joy and honor. Won’t you join me? Who has control of your tongue today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 17, 2012
Romans 7:21-23
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
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.
You know me and my “reality TV” hobby… I was watching a show called “My 600-lb. Life” on TLC, and this morbidly obese man, Henry, had gastric bypass surgery. Initially weighing in at 715 lbs., Henry ultimately lost 500 pounds over the course of five years. Some of this came in the form of cosmetic surgery to remove excessive skin… but most was a result of eating less and burning body fat. However, this was a very difficult journey for Henry, as it is for so many… in large part because of the temptations that surrounded him.
Henry’s family continued to eat all the wrong things – in excessive quantities – directly in front of him. Once, when he returned home after a month in the hospital for “skin” surgery, his sister said something to the effect of… “We’ve got to stop and get Momma something to eat on the way home. She said she was hungry and not to come home without a sandwich or something.” The next scene was all of Henry’s family, chowing down on burgers, fries and more, while he looked on pitifully. He admitted that sometimes he wanted to throw up his hands and just go back to eating. The man who had overcome so much… lost at least two persons in body weight… acquired an entirely new, much smaller wardrobe – even down to underwear, socks and shoes… and rekindled his relationship with the love of his life… still wanted to eat whatever and whenever he pleased.
Surely this passage has it right… there are times when parts of us covertly rebel and take charge. And like Henry, this is when we have to stand up and leave the room or do whatever it takes to strengthen our resolve to stay on course. This is when we truly have to “speak of things that be not as though they are!” We must use our mouth to call on God to rescue us… and we must do so with confidence that He will do exactly this!
The point is that life is hard… there are always going to be challenges, and Satan is NEVER going away. The minute we think we have it all together is the very moment he will show up full force to try to derail us. We must speak against anything that comes between us and living in God’s will. We must declare that we will not give in – or fold up. We will persevere by the strength of God Almighty, and we will come out on top. You may only have 5 pounds you wish to lose, but temptations still abound. You may have a “habit” you are trying to kick, and temptations keep trying to reel you back in.
You may be working toward a goal, like a college degree, training for a job promotion, or just getting your life on track in general… and roadblocks may keep appearing. Don’t give up! Keep on working toward whatever God is trying to give you. Call on Him to help you – and declare that you know He is going to deliver!
We know that when we get on track, challenges are going to show up almost like clockwork. By God’s grace, we are bigger than those challenges… and we have His full force behind us. Tell whatever part of you that is listening to Satan to get on board or move over, because you are committed to God, and He will not allow you to fail! This is great news! This is worthy of a shout! Praise God… with Him all things are possible… with God, we cannot be defeated!
©2012 Debbie Robus
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
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.
You know me and my “reality TV” hobby… I was watching a show called “My 600-lb. Life” on TLC, and this morbidly obese man, Henry, had gastric bypass surgery. Initially weighing in at 715 lbs., Henry ultimately lost 500 pounds over the course of five years. Some of this came in the form of cosmetic surgery to remove excessive skin… but most was a result of eating less and burning body fat. However, this was a very difficult journey for Henry, as it is for so many… in large part because of the temptations that surrounded him.
Henry’s family continued to eat all the wrong things – in excessive quantities – directly in front of him. Once, when he returned home after a month in the hospital for “skin” surgery, his sister said something to the effect of… “We’ve got to stop and get Momma something to eat on the way home. She said she was hungry and not to come home without a sandwich or something.” The next scene was all of Henry’s family, chowing down on burgers, fries and more, while he looked on pitifully. He admitted that sometimes he wanted to throw up his hands and just go back to eating. The man who had overcome so much… lost at least two persons in body weight… acquired an entirely new, much smaller wardrobe – even down to underwear, socks and shoes… and rekindled his relationship with the love of his life… still wanted to eat whatever and whenever he pleased.
Surely this passage has it right… there are times when parts of us covertly rebel and take charge. And like Henry, this is when we have to stand up and leave the room or do whatever it takes to strengthen our resolve to stay on course. This is when we truly have to “speak of things that be not as though they are!” We must use our mouth to call on God to rescue us… and we must do so with confidence that He will do exactly this!
The point is that life is hard… there are always going to be challenges, and Satan is NEVER going away. The minute we think we have it all together is the very moment he will show up full force to try to derail us. We must speak against anything that comes between us and living in God’s will. We must declare that we will not give in – or fold up. We will persevere by the strength of God Almighty, and we will come out on top. You may only have 5 pounds you wish to lose, but temptations still abound. You may have a “habit” you are trying to kick, and temptations keep trying to reel you back in.
You may be working toward a goal, like a college degree, training for a job promotion, or just getting your life on track in general… and roadblocks may keep appearing. Don’t give up! Keep on working toward whatever God is trying to give you. Call on Him to help you – and declare that you know He is going to deliver!
We know that when we get on track, challenges are going to show up almost like clockwork. By God’s grace, we are bigger than those challenges… and we have His full force behind us. Tell whatever part of you that is listening to Satan to get on board or move over, because you are committed to God, and He will not allow you to fail! This is great news! This is worthy of a shout! Praise God… with Him all things are possible… with God, we cannot be defeated!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 12, 2012
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
There is a new commercial airing for StraightTalk cell phone service that has people talking like they are rich and worldly, while they look for their clunker car in the parking lot. In this commercial, a lady is talking on her cell phone to someone about serving Cornish game hen versus chicken, because “everyone gets their own baby chicken on their own baby plate” and an endive salad. She then argues about the pronunciation of the word “endive” as she tries to open a very expensive car that is dubbed “the car of a hip-hop music mogul.” She asks her husband why her keyless remote will not open the car door, and he points across the lot and says, “… because we drive a station wagon.” The point of the commercial is that saving money on her cell phone bill has made the woman feel rich and important - and speak to others with arrogance.
A lot of us are trying to be something or someone we aren’t. Even more of us are failing to recognize who we truly are! We are the chosen heirs of God Almighty, which makes each a prince or a princess… our Father is the King of Kings! Too many of us make excuses… “I’m not smart enough… thin enough, rich enough… from the right family. I’m the wrong color or the wrong gender. I didn’t go to college. I’m different… people don’t like me. I’m ugly, my hair is too curly (or straight)… my nose is too big… I’m too short or too tall.” We give up quickly and let poor health, our social, economic, and educational status (or lack of one), and more limit what God can do with us. We fail to recognize the power of positive thinking and speaking… a need to change our words!
Today, let’s start speaking positively. Let’s “call things that be not as though they were.” In other words, try saying “I can,” instead of “I can’t.” Recognize that God wants to do amazing things in and through you… and if He believes you are good enough, this is all that matters. Don’t start talking like someone else and pretending to be more important than you already are. Realize that you are amazing, incredible, and perfectly formed by God Almighty… and that’s more than enough. Ask God to show you how and where to use what He has given you - for His glory. Blow a trumpet for God, and get ready for Him to knock your socks off with blessings.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
There is a new commercial airing for StraightTalk cell phone service that has people talking like they are rich and worldly, while they look for their clunker car in the parking lot. In this commercial, a lady is talking on her cell phone to someone about serving Cornish game hen versus chicken, because “everyone gets their own baby chicken on their own baby plate” and an endive salad. She then argues about the pronunciation of the word “endive” as she tries to open a very expensive car that is dubbed “the car of a hip-hop music mogul.” She asks her husband why her keyless remote will not open the car door, and he points across the lot and says, “… because we drive a station wagon.” The point of the commercial is that saving money on her cell phone bill has made the woman feel rich and important - and speak to others with arrogance.
A lot of us are trying to be something or someone we aren’t. Even more of us are failing to recognize who we truly are! We are the chosen heirs of God Almighty, which makes each a prince or a princess… our Father is the King of Kings! Too many of us make excuses… “I’m not smart enough… thin enough, rich enough… from the right family. I’m the wrong color or the wrong gender. I didn’t go to college. I’m different… people don’t like me. I’m ugly, my hair is too curly (or straight)… my nose is too big… I’m too short or too tall.” We give up quickly and let poor health, our social, economic, and educational status (or lack of one), and more limit what God can do with us. We fail to recognize the power of positive thinking and speaking… a need to change our words!
Today, let’s start speaking positively. Let’s “call things that be not as though they were.” In other words, try saying “I can,” instead of “I can’t.” Recognize that God wants to do amazing things in and through you… and if He believes you are good enough, this is all that matters. Don’t start talking like someone else and pretending to be more important than you already are. Realize that you are amazing, incredible, and perfectly formed by God Almighty… and that’s more than enough. Ask God to show you how and where to use what He has given you - for His glory. Blow a trumpet for God, and get ready for Him to knock your socks off with blessings.
©2012 Debbie Robus
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