Philippians 2:12-13
What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
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.
Every single one of us knows someone who is on his/her best behavior around other people… but acts like a stinker the rest of the time. I’ve heard people say of a young child… “He/she doesn’t ever act like that when his dad is around,” or “So-and-so is a pretty nice guy to your face, but when you’re not around, she says awful things,” or “What’s-his-name is all about ministry when people are watching. But if there’s nothing in it for him, he won’t even show up.” Sadly, some rendition of these type of comments may fit even you and me!
We’ve all got excuses… “I was tired or stressed out”… “Everybody has an “off day”… “The devil made me do it!”… or even “I don’t know what came over me!” But the simple fact is that when we do not live in responsive obedience to God, our witness becomes miserably ineffective. And let’s be honest… if even one person sees us on an “off day,” and that is all he/she gets, our demonstration to that person of God at work in our lives was an “epic fail.”
Our constant prayer needs to be for God’s energy… that energy deep within you that permeates your very being and works for His pleasure even when you are exhausted. I have found myself repeating over and again lately, “I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.” When you think you can’t be nice… when you are so tired you can’t put one foot in front of another… when the task seems incredibly daunting… remember WHO is giving you strength and energy.
Keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. Live in responsive obedience. Redouble your efforts to be energetic, reverent, and sensitive. Allow God to give you energy beyond anything you could ever imagine… and work at what gives Him pleasure. God will energize you and bless your efforts… and that’s the essence of a disciple’s life. Are you an energized disciple today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label strength. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strength. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for February 4, 2012
Ephesians 3:14-19
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I was in my twenties, I was a runner. I competed in 5k races and ran three to six miles nearly every day. I still remember the first time I finished five miles. My brother-in-law, who was running marathons at the time, told me that “If you can run three miles, you can run five.” In other words, I could push myself and do more… and I did. I was my own worst enemy... limiting my potential with fear, complacency, and a lack of focus. I ultimately gave up running for several reasons – including the number it did on my knees! Over the years, I satisfied myself with other exercises… primarily walking. There is nothing wrong with walking for exercise, but it doesn’t do much to build muscle strength – especially in the upper body. By limiting myself, I failed to maintain adequate physical strength, and made myself vulnerable to illness, fatigue, and more.
Not quite 18 months ago, I started a weight-lifting program, combined with workouts to strengthen my “inner core” and cardio training. Today, I feel physically stronger than I have ever felt in my adult life. In the last few years, I have also worked on my “inner strength.” I won’t say I came to this willingly, but God has allowed my faith to be tested in ways I could never have envisioned… and He has strengthened me by His Spirit. I have to tell you… if I had to choose between physical strength and “inner strength,” I would choose the latter every time.
As I grow physically stronger, I’ve learned a lot about my body and what it is capable of sustaining. I’ve discovered that I can do a lot of things I never dreamed possible… that I am often limited only by my own fears and lack of focus. And it’s exactly like that with my “heart,” as well. There are times when I begin to falter… to wonder if I can really do this… to question how I will handle challenges or endure struggles. This is when I need to plant both feet firmly, to reach out and experience the breadth of Christ’s love! I need to fully test the lengths… to plumb the depths and rise to the heights! I need to a full life - full in the fullness of God!
Truly, the dimensions of Christ’s love for me exceed anything I can ever imagine. The limits are all my doing. I need to maintain focus, to keep “working out” with Him each and every day. We all need to realize that exercising our heart muscle includes much more than a 20-minute workout routine with some cardio and a couple of hand weights. We have to strengthen the Spiritual heart muscle as well… through prayer, Bible study, exercising our faith when tests come along, and more.
My question for you today is this… how fit are you - physically AND Spiritually? Have you allowed your faith and strength to be limited by outside influences and your own fears and lack of focus? The devil is so pleased when we become complacent. He will fill us with a million reasons to skip our “workouts.” Do not listen! Never give up! Open the door… invite Jesus into your heart and do all you can to keep Him there! Exercise and build your glorious inner strength first. See how strong God makes you in all areas of life as a result.
©2012 Debbie Robus
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I was in my twenties, I was a runner. I competed in 5k races and ran three to six miles nearly every day. I still remember the first time I finished five miles. My brother-in-law, who was running marathons at the time, told me that “If you can run three miles, you can run five.” In other words, I could push myself and do more… and I did. I was my own worst enemy... limiting my potential with fear, complacency, and a lack of focus. I ultimately gave up running for several reasons – including the number it did on my knees! Over the years, I satisfied myself with other exercises… primarily walking. There is nothing wrong with walking for exercise, but it doesn’t do much to build muscle strength – especially in the upper body. By limiting myself, I failed to maintain adequate physical strength, and made myself vulnerable to illness, fatigue, and more.
Not quite 18 months ago, I started a weight-lifting program, combined with workouts to strengthen my “inner core” and cardio training. Today, I feel physically stronger than I have ever felt in my adult life. In the last few years, I have also worked on my “inner strength.” I won’t say I came to this willingly, but God has allowed my faith to be tested in ways I could never have envisioned… and He has strengthened me by His Spirit. I have to tell you… if I had to choose between physical strength and “inner strength,” I would choose the latter every time.
As I grow physically stronger, I’ve learned a lot about my body and what it is capable of sustaining. I’ve discovered that I can do a lot of things I never dreamed possible… that I am often limited only by my own fears and lack of focus. And it’s exactly like that with my “heart,” as well. There are times when I begin to falter… to wonder if I can really do this… to question how I will handle challenges or endure struggles. This is when I need to plant both feet firmly, to reach out and experience the breadth of Christ’s love! I need to fully test the lengths… to plumb the depths and rise to the heights! I need to a full life - full in the fullness of God!
Truly, the dimensions of Christ’s love for me exceed anything I can ever imagine. The limits are all my doing. I need to maintain focus, to keep “working out” with Him each and every day. We all need to realize that exercising our heart muscle includes much more than a 20-minute workout routine with some cardio and a couple of hand weights. We have to strengthen the Spiritual heart muscle as well… through prayer, Bible study, exercising our faith when tests come along, and more.
My question for you today is this… how fit are you - physically AND Spiritually? Have you allowed your faith and strength to be limited by outside influences and your own fears and lack of focus? The devil is so pleased when we become complacent. He will fill us with a million reasons to skip our “workouts.” Do not listen! Never give up! Open the door… invite Jesus into your heart and do all you can to keep Him there! Exercise and build your glorious inner strength first. See how strong God makes you in all areas of life as a result.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 20, 2011
John 13:36-38
Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You can't go with me now, but later on you will." Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I go with you now? I would die for you!" "Would you really die for me?" Jesus asked. "I tell you for certain that before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't even know me."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If an emergency arises on an airplane, adult passengers traveling with a child are told to put on their oxygen masks first before they mask their children. This is to ensure that they have the capability to assist their little ones. In other words, they have to save themselves first in order to be able to save anyone else.
Sometimes there is a progression that must be followed in certain situations in order to obtain the desired outcome. Peter had to go through some things to strengthen his faith. Jesus knew this. He knew that Peter would ultimately be an amazing Apostle… and He referred to him as “the rock” in Matthew 16. That’s a pretty strong endorsement in my book! Yet Peter denied Jesus – three times!! - despite his insistence that this would never happen. And we often behave in much the same manner.
Who among us has not affirmed that we were faith-filled Christians who trust God to meet our every need… then whined, cried and wrung our hands over all sorts of issues both great and small? How many of us have claimed that God is our fortress… mighty and strong… then fallen apart and said, “I just can’t take this!”? Someone said to me recently, “I just want to be happy.” My response was that sometimes we have to be unhappy for a while in order to get to “happy!” And I think this is illustrated beautifully in this scripture passage. Jesus knew that Peter was going to have to suffer and go through some things in order to come out strong and truly dependent on Him for His strength and power.
None of us thinks we would blatantly deny Jesus Christ… yet we do this every day in many ways by wavering in our faith and wallowing in fear, self-pity, and impatience. We need to take a deep breath, say a heart-felt prayer, ask God to help us with whatever is challenging us in any way… then thank Him for answering according to His will. The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus is still with us when we emerge from our trials and tribulations… He never deserts us… and for this we should be incredibly grateful.
We may never be “rock star” Apostles for Jesus… but we can become the most humble, devoted servants possible and witness for Him in every circumstance. We may have to go through some things and be unhappy or uncomfortable in order to become the Disciple of Christ that God desires. Or, we can continue to deny Jesus… whether we realize we are doing so or not… and wallow in the misery of the pit that Satan has designed for us. The choice is ours… how will you decide?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You can't go with me now, but later on you will." Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I go with you now? I would die for you!" "Would you really die for me?" Jesus asked. "I tell you for certain that before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't even know me."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If an emergency arises on an airplane, adult passengers traveling with a child are told to put on their oxygen masks first before they mask their children. This is to ensure that they have the capability to assist their little ones. In other words, they have to save themselves first in order to be able to save anyone else.
Sometimes there is a progression that must be followed in certain situations in order to obtain the desired outcome. Peter had to go through some things to strengthen his faith. Jesus knew this. He knew that Peter would ultimately be an amazing Apostle… and He referred to him as “the rock” in Matthew 16. That’s a pretty strong endorsement in my book! Yet Peter denied Jesus – three times!! - despite his insistence that this would never happen. And we often behave in much the same manner.
Who among us has not affirmed that we were faith-filled Christians who trust God to meet our every need… then whined, cried and wrung our hands over all sorts of issues both great and small? How many of us have claimed that God is our fortress… mighty and strong… then fallen apart and said, “I just can’t take this!”? Someone said to me recently, “I just want to be happy.” My response was that sometimes we have to be unhappy for a while in order to get to “happy!” And I think this is illustrated beautifully in this scripture passage. Jesus knew that Peter was going to have to suffer and go through some things in order to come out strong and truly dependent on Him for His strength and power.
None of us thinks we would blatantly deny Jesus Christ… yet we do this every day in many ways by wavering in our faith and wallowing in fear, self-pity, and impatience. We need to take a deep breath, say a heart-felt prayer, ask God to help us with whatever is challenging us in any way… then thank Him for answering according to His will. The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus is still with us when we emerge from our trials and tribulations… He never deserts us… and for this we should be incredibly grateful.
We may never be “rock star” Apostles for Jesus… but we can become the most humble, devoted servants possible and witness for Him in every circumstance. We may have to go through some things and be unhappy or uncomfortable in order to become the Disciple of Christ that God desires. Or, we can continue to deny Jesus… whether we realize we are doing so or not… and wallow in the misery of the pit that Satan has designed for us. The choice is ours… how will you decide?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 7, 2011
Psalm 118:14-17
My power and my strength come from the LORD, and he has saved me. From the tents of God's people come shouts of victory: "The LORD is powerful! With his mighty arm the LORD wins victories! The LORD is powerful!" And so my life is safe, and I will live to tell what the LORD has done.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I never know where God will lead me for inspiration as I write these devotionals. In recent months, I’ve pretty much written them one at a time, rather than writing several in advance… trusting God each day to show me what I need to share. Today is no exception. I found this scripture passage, then walked away to pray and consider what I should write as commentary. God led me to the piano, where I keep a book my mother gave me one year for Christmas. It is titled “Then Sings My Soul” and contains 300 of the world’s greatest hymns, along with a commentary about each and how it was written.
I thumbed through and the page opened to a hymn I have always loved, based on 2 Timothy 1:12 – “I Know Whom I Have Believed.” The back story explained how Major Daniel Webster Whittle enlisted in the 72nd Illinois Infantry when the Civil War began. He was seriously injured in the Battle of Vicksburg and lost an arm. Out of boredom, Whittle picked up a New Testament and began to read. He considered inviting Jesus to be his Savior, but drifted off to sleep. An orderly woke him and asked him to pray with a POW who was dying. Whittle declined, and the orderly told him that he assumed Whittle was a Christian, because… “I have seen you reading your Bible.” At that moment, Whittle did confess his sins to Jesus and invited Him into his heart. Then he knelt and prayed with the POW, rising to see that the young boy had died, but his once-troubled face was peaceful. Whittle recognized the power of God to use him to lead this young man to trust Jesus for himself and find peace and pardon. Later, he penned this hymn to express his own faith.
So often, we fail to recognize the power and strength of God in our daily lives… the ability He gives us to do all things – from the simple to the extraordinary. We miss opportunities to convey the safety of trusting God to claim victory over sin in our lives – and to give us tremendous comfort and care.
Today, as you read the words of this beautiful hymn, claim victory in Jesus for yourself. Recognize the strength and power of God in your life… His desire and ability to conquer all challenges and sins - and give you total victory. Know Whom you have believed… and be persuaded that He is able to keep that which you have committed to Him forever and ever.
©2011 Debbie Robus
My power and my strength come from the LORD, and he has saved me. From the tents of God's people come shouts of victory: "The LORD is powerful! With his mighty arm the LORD wins victories! The LORD is powerful!" And so my life is safe, and I will live to tell what the LORD has done.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I never know where God will lead me for inspiration as I write these devotionals. In recent months, I’ve pretty much written them one at a time, rather than writing several in advance… trusting God each day to show me what I need to share. Today is no exception. I found this scripture passage, then walked away to pray and consider what I should write as commentary. God led me to the piano, where I keep a book my mother gave me one year for Christmas. It is titled “Then Sings My Soul” and contains 300 of the world’s greatest hymns, along with a commentary about each and how it was written.
I thumbed through and the page opened to a hymn I have always loved, based on 2 Timothy 1:12 – “I Know Whom I Have Believed.” The back story explained how Major Daniel Webster Whittle enlisted in the 72nd Illinois Infantry when the Civil War began. He was seriously injured in the Battle of Vicksburg and lost an arm. Out of boredom, Whittle picked up a New Testament and began to read. He considered inviting Jesus to be his Savior, but drifted off to sleep. An orderly woke him and asked him to pray with a POW who was dying. Whittle declined, and the orderly told him that he assumed Whittle was a Christian, because… “I have seen you reading your Bible.” At that moment, Whittle did confess his sins to Jesus and invited Him into his heart. Then he knelt and prayed with the POW, rising to see that the young boy had died, but his once-troubled face was peaceful. Whittle recognized the power of God to use him to lead this young man to trust Jesus for himself and find peace and pardon. Later, he penned this hymn to express his own faith.
So often, we fail to recognize the power and strength of God in our daily lives… the ability He gives us to do all things – from the simple to the extraordinary. We miss opportunities to convey the safety of trusting God to claim victory over sin in our lives – and to give us tremendous comfort and care.
Today, as you read the words of this beautiful hymn, claim victory in Jesus for yourself. Recognize the strength and power of God in your life… His desire and ability to conquer all challenges and sins - and give you total victory. Know Whom you have believed… and be persuaded that He is able to keep that which you have committed to Him forever and ever.
- I Know Whom I Have Believed
Daniel W. Whittle, pub.1883 - now public domain
I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.
I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.
I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.
I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.
Refrain:
But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 26, 2011
Judges 16:26-30
A young man was leading Samson by the hand, and Samson said to him, "I need to lean against something. Take me over to the columns that hold up the roof." The Philistine rulers were celebrating in a temple packed with people and with three thousand more on the flat roof. They had all been watching Samson and making fun of him.
Samson prayed, "Please remember me, LORD God. The Philistines poked out my eyes, but make me strong one last time, so I can take revenge for at least one of my eyes!" Samson was standing between the two middle columns that held up the roof. He felt around and found one column with his right hand, and the other with his left hand.
Then he shouted, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He pushed against the columns as hard as he could, and the temple collapsed with the Philistine rulers and everyone else still inside. Samson killed more Philistines when he died than he had killed during his entire life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched CNN’s Anderson Cooper interview a young woman in Joplin, Missouri, who was caught in the devastating tornado that ravaged her community. The woman said that while she took refuge underneath an overpass, she observed an eighteen-wheeler flying through the air… literally tossed about by the tornado. When it came to rest, the vehicle was on its side. She left her car and rushed to check on the driver, who was trapped in the cab. The windshield was loose in one spot, and she somehow managed to grab hold of the windshield wipers and rip the windshield away so that the man could climb out and free himself.
She explained that after she rescued this driver, she returned to her car, and a law enforcement officer approached her with a person who was injured and asked her to drive this person to medical help. She began searching for a Red Cross rescue unit for this person… thinking she could stick around and volunteer. The woman explained that she had volunteered for the Red Cross before in disasters that were far more minor.
Anderson Cooper was amazed that this young woman who had just experienced such a shocking event was willing and able to volunteer to help others. He was even more stunned when she casually said, “Well, my home was destroyed, so this gave me something to do.” It was as if she said, “Lord, my eyes have been poked out by the enemy, but please remember me one more time. Let me bring something constructive and good out of all of this chaos.”
I wonder… how often do we do this? When our “eyes” are gouged out by the enemy, do we ask God to give us opportunities to serve? Or do we “tuck tail” and run for the hills? Samson was by no means a perfect man. He had his flaws… and his failures. His faith may have faltered at times, but He never gave up on God… and God never gave up on Samson!
God has not given up on you, either. It may seem like He has turned His back on you… but truly, this is not the case. God may step back and give us a little room to squirm… a chance to learn a few hard lessons… but He never deserts us completely. We are the ones who walk away. But it doesn’t have to be like this. We have everything to gain by staying faithful to God… and everything to lose by trying to do things our own way. We shouldn’t have to have a tornado or an “eyes gouged out” moment to shake us into a right relationship with God, but if that’s where you find yourself… there is still hope.
Stop what you are doing and talk with God. Ask Him to forgive you for wandering away and thinking you could make it on your own. Humbly come before Him and offer yourself to Him…gouged eyes and all…and see what He has in store. Discover the opportunities that God has waiting for you… to serve… to be a blessing… and to be blessed.
©2011 Debbie Robus
A young man was leading Samson by the hand, and Samson said to him, "I need to lean against something. Take me over to the columns that hold up the roof." The Philistine rulers were celebrating in a temple packed with people and with three thousand more on the flat roof. They had all been watching Samson and making fun of him.
Samson prayed, "Please remember me, LORD God. The Philistines poked out my eyes, but make me strong one last time, so I can take revenge for at least one of my eyes!" Samson was standing between the two middle columns that held up the roof. He felt around and found one column with his right hand, and the other with his left hand.
Then he shouted, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He pushed against the columns as hard as he could, and the temple collapsed with the Philistine rulers and everyone else still inside. Samson killed more Philistines when he died than he had killed during his entire life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched CNN’s Anderson Cooper interview a young woman in Joplin, Missouri, who was caught in the devastating tornado that ravaged her community. The woman said that while she took refuge underneath an overpass, she observed an eighteen-wheeler flying through the air… literally tossed about by the tornado. When it came to rest, the vehicle was on its side. She left her car and rushed to check on the driver, who was trapped in the cab. The windshield was loose in one spot, and she somehow managed to grab hold of the windshield wipers and rip the windshield away so that the man could climb out and free himself.
She explained that after she rescued this driver, she returned to her car, and a law enforcement officer approached her with a person who was injured and asked her to drive this person to medical help. She began searching for a Red Cross rescue unit for this person… thinking she could stick around and volunteer. The woman explained that she had volunteered for the Red Cross before in disasters that were far more minor.
Anderson Cooper was amazed that this young woman who had just experienced such a shocking event was willing and able to volunteer to help others. He was even more stunned when she casually said, “Well, my home was destroyed, so this gave me something to do.” It was as if she said, “Lord, my eyes have been poked out by the enemy, but please remember me one more time. Let me bring something constructive and good out of all of this chaos.”
I wonder… how often do we do this? When our “eyes” are gouged out by the enemy, do we ask God to give us opportunities to serve? Or do we “tuck tail” and run for the hills? Samson was by no means a perfect man. He had his flaws… and his failures. His faith may have faltered at times, but He never gave up on God… and God never gave up on Samson!
God has not given up on you, either. It may seem like He has turned His back on you… but truly, this is not the case. God may step back and give us a little room to squirm… a chance to learn a few hard lessons… but He never deserts us completely. We are the ones who walk away. But it doesn’t have to be like this. We have everything to gain by staying faithful to God… and everything to lose by trying to do things our own way. We shouldn’t have to have a tornado or an “eyes gouged out” moment to shake us into a right relationship with God, but if that’s where you find yourself… there is still hope.
Stop what you are doing and talk with God. Ask Him to forgive you for wandering away and thinking you could make it on your own. Humbly come before Him and offer yourself to Him…gouged eyes and all…and see what He has in store. Discover the opportunities that God has waiting for you… to serve… to be a blessing… and to be blessed.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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 December 24, 2010
Psalm 59:16
But I will sing about your strength, my God, and I will celebrate because of your love. You are my fortress, my place of protection in times of trouble.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Around 4:00 a.m. on Christmas Eve 1997, we were awakened by a phone call from my mom. She and my brother were taking my dad to the ER. He was having trouble breathing. My dad was already very ill, having suffered kidney failure following an arteriogram to test for vascular blockage in October of that year. My husband and I rushed to the hospital, where doctors eventually determined that my dad needed to be transported by ambulance to Little Rock. We had planned a huge “open house” at our home for Christmas Eve afternoon… lots of food, fun and visits with family and friends. But none of that mattered now… we needed to get my mom to Little Rock and see about my dad.
Mom had other ideas. “You are to stay here,” she insisted. “I’ll go home and gather some things and be on my way… I won’t be far behind the ambulance. You are to go ahead with your open house as planned… that’s what your dad and I want. You don’t need to worry about me… I’ll be fine.” My mother inherited her dad’s stubborn streak, and it was shining brightly at the moment! Standing in her raincoat, her curly white hair peeking from the hood, my mother looked small, but determined. And on this Christmas Eve morning, I was immediately reminded of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Historians say that Mary was very young – possibly no more than thirteen when Jesus was born. Yet we know nothing of the parents of Mary and Joseph. We do know that Mary had a cousin named Elizabeth. And Scripture tells us that when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she was pregnant, she trusted this information and accepted it on faith, even though she was a virgin.
So I can imagine that a very pregnant Mary said to her parents, “Don’t worry about me… I’ll be fine.” I can just see her hugging her parents and telling them good-bye, then climbing atop Joseph’s donkey to make the trip to Bethlehem. And her parents must have been equally faithful… confident that letting their daughter go off with her fiancé to a foreign land in this condition – as crazy as it seemed - was exactly what was supposed to happen!
We went ahead with our “open house”. My dad was released from the hospital a few days later, and he and my mom returned home. We celebrated Christmas as a family on New Year’s weekend. And just as she had said, my mom made it safely to Little Rock and back. I can’t say she was “fine,” because I know she spent a lonely, difficult Christmas in that hospital by my dad’s bedside. I’m sure she was worried for him and homesick for us. But God gave her the strength, courage and resolve to make it through this and many other challenging situations.
I saw God do the same thing for the wife of my cousin a few years later, when she traveled alone in the dark of night back and forth between Heber Springs and Memphis, where her husband was hospitalized. She told her children the same thing, “I’ll be fine.” And because she and my mother share the same kind of abiding, unwavering faith, I knew in reason she would be. I was able to reassure them with confidence – and experience – that this was the case.
You and I have quite a legacy of faith… not to mention the protection of God. So often we panic and wring our hands and forget that He promised long, long ago to take care of us… and He’s still in the business of doing so today. Just as God was a fortress for Joseph and Mary, and millions of other people through the ages, He is our fortress today.
I don’t know what you are going through. I don’t know if you are facing scary things this Christmas Eve… the prospect of being alone for the holidays… or huge challenges that loom in the future. But I know that with God, all things are possible. With God as your fortress, you can handle anything. You can put your trust in Him to walk with you and offer you protection and guidance every step of the way… and you can rest in the faith that He will do this.
God’s word was good enough for Mary and Joseph… it was good enough for my mom and countless others through the centuries… and it’s good enough for us! Are we faithful enough to believe it? Isn’t today the perfect time to begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
But I will sing about your strength, my God, and I will celebrate because of your love. You are my fortress, my place of protection in times of trouble.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Around 4:00 a.m. on Christmas Eve 1997, we were awakened by a phone call from my mom. She and my brother were taking my dad to the ER. He was having trouble breathing. My dad was already very ill, having suffered kidney failure following an arteriogram to test for vascular blockage in October of that year. My husband and I rushed to the hospital, where doctors eventually determined that my dad needed to be transported by ambulance to Little Rock. We had planned a huge “open house” at our home for Christmas Eve afternoon… lots of food, fun and visits with family and friends. But none of that mattered now… we needed to get my mom to Little Rock and see about my dad.
Mom had other ideas. “You are to stay here,” she insisted. “I’ll go home and gather some things and be on my way… I won’t be far behind the ambulance. You are to go ahead with your open house as planned… that’s what your dad and I want. You don’t need to worry about me… I’ll be fine.” My mother inherited her dad’s stubborn streak, and it was shining brightly at the moment! Standing in her raincoat, her curly white hair peeking from the hood, my mother looked small, but determined. And on this Christmas Eve morning, I was immediately reminded of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Historians say that Mary was very young – possibly no more than thirteen when Jesus was born. Yet we know nothing of the parents of Mary and Joseph. We do know that Mary had a cousin named Elizabeth. And Scripture tells us that when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she was pregnant, she trusted this information and accepted it on faith, even though she was a virgin.
So I can imagine that a very pregnant Mary said to her parents, “Don’t worry about me… I’ll be fine.” I can just see her hugging her parents and telling them good-bye, then climbing atop Joseph’s donkey to make the trip to Bethlehem. And her parents must have been equally faithful… confident that letting their daughter go off with her fiancé to a foreign land in this condition – as crazy as it seemed - was exactly what was supposed to happen!
We went ahead with our “open house”. My dad was released from the hospital a few days later, and he and my mom returned home. We celebrated Christmas as a family on New Year’s weekend. And just as she had said, my mom made it safely to Little Rock and back. I can’t say she was “fine,” because I know she spent a lonely, difficult Christmas in that hospital by my dad’s bedside. I’m sure she was worried for him and homesick for us. But God gave her the strength, courage and resolve to make it through this and many other challenging situations.
I saw God do the same thing for the wife of my cousin a few years later, when she traveled alone in the dark of night back and forth between Heber Springs and Memphis, where her husband was hospitalized. She told her children the same thing, “I’ll be fine.” And because she and my mother share the same kind of abiding, unwavering faith, I knew in reason she would be. I was able to reassure them with confidence – and experience – that this was the case.
You and I have quite a legacy of faith… not to mention the protection of God. So often we panic and wring our hands and forget that He promised long, long ago to take care of us… and He’s still in the business of doing so today. Just as God was a fortress for Joseph and Mary, and millions of other people through the ages, He is our fortress today.
I don’t know what you are going through. I don’t know if you are facing scary things this Christmas Eve… the prospect of being alone for the holidays… or huge challenges that loom in the future. But I know that with God, all things are possible. With God as your fortress, you can handle anything. You can put your trust in Him to walk with you and offer you protection and guidance every step of the way… and you can rest in the faith that He will do this.
God’s word was good enough for Mary and Joseph… it was good enough for my mom and countless others through the centuries… and it’s good enough for us! Are we faithful enough to believe it? Isn’t today the perfect time to begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 3, 2010
Psalm 31:24
All who trust the LORD, be cheerful and strong.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Is life getting you down these days? Do you feel like you don’t have what it takes to keep going? Then you need to hear about Charlsie Baldridge Little, a woman who had plenty of reasons to give up and let life get her down. Mrs. Little died on June 30, at the age of 102. She was a single mother and a "career woman" long before either of those terms was commonly applied to women. On “Pearl Harbor Day” – December 7, 1941 - her husband James was helping fight a fire at the GEM theater in Heber Springs, when a wall collapsed. James was critically injured and died, leaving Charlsie with two young sons to rear alone. She was a school teacher, and her salary was only $100 a month.
Mrs. Little managed to save enough money from her meager salary to take the boys on summer vacations and to attend cultural events, such as operas and plays. Her son Jack tells of traveling by bus to Little Rock to hear his first opera at the Robinson Auditorium when he was a small boy. In the summers, Mrs. Little left her boys with their grandparents, while she attended Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, and obtained a Master’s Degree in education. She taught in schools throughout the state of Arkansas and ultimately became an elementary principal and college supervisor of teachers before she retired in 1973. But Mrs. Little did not retire from education completely. She helped to establish the Cleburne County Historical Society and served as the editor of its member publication. Later, she wrote a book, Upon this Rock, chronicling the history of the First Baptist Church of Heber Springs. For this she traveled to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia to gather information.
Throughout all of her life, Mrs. Little was pragmatic – always sensible and strong. She trusted God to see her through every trial and difficulty, and she met them head-on. Her daughter-in-law, Barbara, described her as “a force to be reckoned with” – and indeed, she was, in her matter-of-fact, no-nonsense manner. In recent years, she buried her son, Jim, who died suddenly of a heart attack, and after that, grandson Aaron, who had cancer. She endured the loss of brothers and other family members. And anyone who lives 102 years just sees a lot of challenges and hardships along the way. But Mrs. Little met them with dignity and courage, and she served as a tremendous influence and role model for countless people, particularly women. At her funeral, the pastor said, “Charlsie showed young women that they can have a career and be successful.” She also modeled strength and faith in God for each person she encountered.
Hardships and struggles are nothing new. Ours just seem worse because they are our own! But the God who met Charlsie Little’s needs is the same God who can carry our burdens and give us new joys. With God, all things are possible – even those that seem so very hard. Trust Him… be strong and of good cheer. Take a good look at faithful men and women like Charlsie Little, and be encouraged and inspired… and keep trying. At Mrs. Charlsie’s funeral, we sang “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” and “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” In the latter hymn, the chorus says in part, “Morning by morning new mercies I see… All I have needed Thy hand hath provided… Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.” This is a good “mantra” for all of us… all that we need God HAS provided… and his faithfulness toward us is indeed great.
©2010 Debbie Robus
All who trust the LORD, be cheerful and strong.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Is life getting you down these days? Do you feel like you don’t have what it takes to keep going? Then you need to hear about Charlsie Baldridge Little, a woman who had plenty of reasons to give up and let life get her down. Mrs. Little died on June 30, at the age of 102. She was a single mother and a "career woman" long before either of those terms was commonly applied to women. On “Pearl Harbor Day” – December 7, 1941 - her husband James was helping fight a fire at the GEM theater in Heber Springs, when a wall collapsed. James was critically injured and died, leaving Charlsie with two young sons to rear alone. She was a school teacher, and her salary was only $100 a month.
Mrs. Little managed to save enough money from her meager salary to take the boys on summer vacations and to attend cultural events, such as operas and plays. Her son Jack tells of traveling by bus to Little Rock to hear his first opera at the Robinson Auditorium when he was a small boy. In the summers, Mrs. Little left her boys with their grandparents, while she attended Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, and obtained a Master’s Degree in education. She taught in schools throughout the state of Arkansas and ultimately became an elementary principal and college supervisor of teachers before she retired in 1973. But Mrs. Little did not retire from education completely. She helped to establish the Cleburne County Historical Society and served as the editor of its member publication. Later, she wrote a book, Upon this Rock, chronicling the history of the First Baptist Church of Heber Springs. For this she traveled to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia to gather information.
Throughout all of her life, Mrs. Little was pragmatic – always sensible and strong. She trusted God to see her through every trial and difficulty, and she met them head-on. Her daughter-in-law, Barbara, described her as “a force to be reckoned with” – and indeed, she was, in her matter-of-fact, no-nonsense manner. In recent years, she buried her son, Jim, who died suddenly of a heart attack, and after that, grandson Aaron, who had cancer. She endured the loss of brothers and other family members. And anyone who lives 102 years just sees a lot of challenges and hardships along the way. But Mrs. Little met them with dignity and courage, and she served as a tremendous influence and role model for countless people, particularly women. At her funeral, the pastor said, “Charlsie showed young women that they can have a career and be successful.” She also modeled strength and faith in God for each person she encountered.
Hardships and struggles are nothing new. Ours just seem worse because they are our own! But the God who met Charlsie Little’s needs is the same God who can carry our burdens and give us new joys. With God, all things are possible – even those that seem so very hard. Trust Him… be strong and of good cheer. Take a good look at faithful men and women like Charlsie Little, and be encouraged and inspired… and keep trying. At Mrs. Charlsie’s funeral, we sang “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” and “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” In the latter hymn, the chorus says in part, “Morning by morning new mercies I see… All I have needed Thy hand hath provided… Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.” This is a good “mantra” for all of us… all that we need God HAS provided… and his faithfulness toward us is indeed great.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 19, 2010
June 19 ~ Joel 2:20-21
...The LORD works wonders and does great things. So tell the soil to celebrate and wild animals to stop being afraid. Grasslands are green again; fruit trees and fig trees are loaded with fruit. Grapevines are covered with grapes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When 9-11, Hurricane Katrina, and the earthquake in Haiti occurred, we all wondered how in the world recovery would ever be possible. Where does one even begin to clean up a mess such as these? But in each case, we have seen – and are seeing still – the order created from chaos. We’ve seen the rubble removed, and new growth emerge. I am reminded of my grandparents’ house fire in 1982, where the fire raged hot enough to reduce even a cast-iron claw-footed bath tub to ashes. When spring and summer came, beautiful petunias bloomed where the house foundation had been bulldozed away… a testament to rebirth and a new day.
In this passage, God is telling us that destruction and devastation will come, but so will a new day… a reason for the soil to celebrate. Vegetation returns to burning mountainsides and forests. Droughts are replaced by thirst-quenching rains – and flooding waters recede. Even the present-day oil spill crisis will resolve in time and beaches will be clean again. And our own lives have an ebb and flow – even if it seems like yours is filled with one challenge or disaster after another. For me, it seemed liked the 1990s were filled with nothing but the loss of loved ones. Every time we turned around, we were planning the funeral of a family member and/or dear friend. You may be suffering with a debilitating illness or injury – or caring for someone who is seriously (or terminally) ill. You may have lost your job or your home. You may have lost loved ones. Or you may have just started a new job, moved into a new home, or had a new baby. All of these are stressors… and our lives are filled with “ups and downs” and challenges at every turn. But the good news is that God is right there with us. He never moves… and whatever is taken from you – whatever you suffer – God will make right at some point. “WHEN?” you may be asking. You may feel that you’ve had enough already. Trust God’s timing. I can’t tell you when or how He will work in your life, but He surely will.
I can’t stress enough – even to myself – that we simply must stop operating in fear and recognize God’s presence in our lives. We have to turn to Him for strength and protection, and leave hand-wringing and debilitating worry behind. The LORD works wonders and does great things. It’s high time we recognize Him and give Him command and control.
©2010 Debbie Robus
...The LORD works wonders and does great things. So tell the soil to celebrate and wild animals to stop being afraid. Grasslands are green again; fruit trees and fig trees are loaded with fruit. Grapevines are covered with grapes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When 9-11, Hurricane Katrina, and the earthquake in Haiti occurred, we all wondered how in the world recovery would ever be possible. Where does one even begin to clean up a mess such as these? But in each case, we have seen – and are seeing still – the order created from chaos. We’ve seen the rubble removed, and new growth emerge. I am reminded of my grandparents’ house fire in 1982, where the fire raged hot enough to reduce even a cast-iron claw-footed bath tub to ashes. When spring and summer came, beautiful petunias bloomed where the house foundation had been bulldozed away… a testament to rebirth and a new day.
In this passage, God is telling us that destruction and devastation will come, but so will a new day… a reason for the soil to celebrate. Vegetation returns to burning mountainsides and forests. Droughts are replaced by thirst-quenching rains – and flooding waters recede. Even the present-day oil spill crisis will resolve in time and beaches will be clean again. And our own lives have an ebb and flow – even if it seems like yours is filled with one challenge or disaster after another. For me, it seemed liked the 1990s were filled with nothing but the loss of loved ones. Every time we turned around, we were planning the funeral of a family member and/or dear friend. You may be suffering with a debilitating illness or injury – or caring for someone who is seriously (or terminally) ill. You may have lost your job or your home. You may have lost loved ones. Or you may have just started a new job, moved into a new home, or had a new baby. All of these are stressors… and our lives are filled with “ups and downs” and challenges at every turn. But the good news is that God is right there with us. He never moves… and whatever is taken from you – whatever you suffer – God will make right at some point. “WHEN?” you may be asking. You may feel that you’ve had enough already. Trust God’s timing. I can’t tell you when or how He will work in your life, but He surely will.
I can’t stress enough – even to myself – that we simply must stop operating in fear and recognize God’s presence in our lives. We have to turn to Him for strength and protection, and leave hand-wringing and debilitating worry behind. The LORD works wonders and does great things. It’s high time we recognize Him and give Him command and control.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 21, 2010
May 21 ~ Exodus 20:20
"Don't be afraid!" Moses replied. "God has come only to test you, so that by obeying him you won't sin."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was little, I spent a lot of time in the storm cellar. My maternal grandmother had witnessed the aftermath of some killer tornadoes in Heber Springs when she was a child, and she was greatly afraid of storms. We didn’t have “Five Live Dopplar Radar” and “Storm-trackers” when I was a child, so when the clouds darkened, we headed for cover! And to this day, I have a healthy respect – and a somewhat unhealthy fear – of storms and potential tornadoes. But one summer night, while visiting relatives at a farm down the road from my paternal grandparents’, my great-aunt “Babe” stood with me at the creaky screen door that led to the front porch. In the distance, we could see brilliant lightning that illuminated fluffy white clouds with hues of yellow, white and pink. We called it “heat lightning” because it usually was the result of a build-up of daytime heat that brought evening thundershowers.
Nonetheless, my Aunt Babe knelt and wrapped her arms around me and said, “Oh, look… isn’t it pretty?!” She assured me that the lightning would not hurt me… that it was far, far away. We respected the power of lightning… but we were in awe of the beauty of these colorful flashes. This is how I like to think of my relationship with God. I do not fear that he will strike me dead for my sins, like a bolt of lightning – although He surely could. Rather, I am in awe of His power… grace… mercy… love. He didn’t give us laws and rules to punish us… but rather to guide us in our Christian lives. We don’t have to be afraid of God because of our sin… He sent Jesus to free us from that burden and remove our fear. Like my relationship with storms and potential tornadoes… respect for God is healthy… genuine fear is not.
If you are fearful of God today, I suspect you don’t know Him as well as you should. But that’s okay – you can start working this very minute to make a change! Acknowledge that God knows you… warts, sins and all… and He still loves you. Start a dialogue with Him and get to know Him. Explore His majesty – and the depths of His love for you. Humble yourself before Him and show some respect for His power and sovereignty. And love Him - love Him for loving you so well. Don’t be afraid. God’s light is beautiful! “Step up to the screen door” and enjoy it fully!
©2010 Debbie Robus
"Don't be afraid!" Moses replied. "God has come only to test you, so that by obeying him you won't sin."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was little, I spent a lot of time in the storm cellar. My maternal grandmother had witnessed the aftermath of some killer tornadoes in Heber Springs when she was a child, and she was greatly afraid of storms. We didn’t have “Five Live Dopplar Radar” and “Storm-trackers” when I was a child, so when the clouds darkened, we headed for cover! And to this day, I have a healthy respect – and a somewhat unhealthy fear – of storms and potential tornadoes. But one summer night, while visiting relatives at a farm down the road from my paternal grandparents’, my great-aunt “Babe” stood with me at the creaky screen door that led to the front porch. In the distance, we could see brilliant lightning that illuminated fluffy white clouds with hues of yellow, white and pink. We called it “heat lightning” because it usually was the result of a build-up of daytime heat that brought evening thundershowers.
Nonetheless, my Aunt Babe knelt and wrapped her arms around me and said, “Oh, look… isn’t it pretty?!” She assured me that the lightning would not hurt me… that it was far, far away. We respected the power of lightning… but we were in awe of the beauty of these colorful flashes. This is how I like to think of my relationship with God. I do not fear that he will strike me dead for my sins, like a bolt of lightning – although He surely could. Rather, I am in awe of His power… grace… mercy… love. He didn’t give us laws and rules to punish us… but rather to guide us in our Christian lives. We don’t have to be afraid of God because of our sin… He sent Jesus to free us from that burden and remove our fear. Like my relationship with storms and potential tornadoes… respect for God is healthy… genuine fear is not.
If you are fearful of God today, I suspect you don’t know Him as well as you should. But that’s okay – you can start working this very minute to make a change! Acknowledge that God knows you… warts, sins and all… and He still loves you. Start a dialogue with Him and get to know Him. Explore His majesty – and the depths of His love for you. Humble yourself before Him and show some respect for His power and sovereignty. And love Him - love Him for loving you so well. Don’t be afraid. God’s light is beautiful! “Step up to the screen door” and enjoy it fully!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 6, 2010
May 6 ~ Psalm 91:1-2
Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. Then you will say to the LORD, "You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever seen a nature show on television where a storm was brewing, and a mother bird lifted her wings and gathered the babies underneath them. There the little baby birds rested in the shelter and safety of their mother, who was the most formidable being in their universe. It sometimes helps us grasp a concept if we can create a related visual image. Several years ago, I began to create a mental image of Jesus as He sits in heaven. He is wearing the softest, silkiest flowing robe – creamy white – and it smells like fresh air and clean laundry. His arms are extended, and He is welcoming me to fall into His arms. In my imagery, I do just that…drinking in the clean fragrance and feeling strong arms engulfed in silky soft fabric wrap around me. I am home… I am safe… I am in the presence of the most formidable Being in the universe.
We’ve all stood out in bright sunlight and felt its warmth – or in some cases, heat that quickly became uncomfortable, or even unbearable! We’ve all experienced the relief of stepping into the shade of a tree or building and escaping the heat and glare of the sunlight. God is like the shade of the tree or the building… ready to shield us from the glare and heat of sin and strife. His arms are like those of the mother bird…ready to shelter us from the “storms” of life. His love and power are like the strong, welcoming arms of Jesus, shrouded in a fragrant silky robe… ready to engulf us and provide us with a place of safety and comfort.
How do you envision God? Do you see Him as your protector… your fortress… your safe haven? Do you trust Him to provide you with all of these things – and more? Who gives you shelter in times of trouble? Who is providing your shadow these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. Then you will say to the LORD, "You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever seen a nature show on television where a storm was brewing, and a mother bird lifted her wings and gathered the babies underneath them. There the little baby birds rested in the shelter and safety of their mother, who was the most formidable being in their universe. It sometimes helps us grasp a concept if we can create a related visual image. Several years ago, I began to create a mental image of Jesus as He sits in heaven. He is wearing the softest, silkiest flowing robe – creamy white – and it smells like fresh air and clean laundry. His arms are extended, and He is welcoming me to fall into His arms. In my imagery, I do just that…drinking in the clean fragrance and feeling strong arms engulfed in silky soft fabric wrap around me. I am home… I am safe… I am in the presence of the most formidable Being in the universe.
We’ve all stood out in bright sunlight and felt its warmth – or in some cases, heat that quickly became uncomfortable, or even unbearable! We’ve all experienced the relief of stepping into the shade of a tree or building and escaping the heat and glare of the sunlight. God is like the shade of the tree or the building… ready to shield us from the glare and heat of sin and strife. His arms are like those of the mother bird…ready to shelter us from the “storms” of life. His love and power are like the strong, welcoming arms of Jesus, shrouded in a fragrant silky robe… ready to engulf us and provide us with a place of safety and comfort.
How do you envision God? Do you see Him as your protector… your fortress… your safe haven? Do you trust Him to provide you with all of these things – and more? Who gives you shelter in times of trouble? Who is providing your shadow these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 8, 2010
March 8 ~ Isaiah 26:4
So always trust the LORD because he is forever our mighty rock.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think about Sugarloaf Mountain. Picture the strong, sturdy rock formations at the top of that hill and how they have stood for centuries. Consider the strength of those rocks and try to imagine what type of force it would take to destroy them. Hard to even fathom, isn’t it?! The only force I can envision that could destroy Sugarloaf would be GOD Himself! So when we consider God as our “mighty rock” and think of Him in terms of such strength… it makes perfect sense to trust Him, doesn’t it? Think about climbing to the top of Sugarloaf and resting underneath a clear blue sky - feeling the wind blow across your face - and how comforted you are by this sensation… how exhilarated you are to have accomplished reaching the summit. Doesn’t the idea of trusting God to give you these feelings in everyday life make sense?
Don’t you want to trust Someone who will never let you down… Someone who will never let you fall? Don’t you want to trust someone who will always be there, day after month after year? Don’t you want to trust Someone who has the power and strength to, literally, move mountains… yet has the love, grace, mercy and compassion to treat us with the gentleness of an adoring father each and every day? Don’t you want to live in a way that you feel the “wind of God’s love” blow across your face?
We can have all of this, and more… God IS our mighty rock… and He is waiting for us to trust Him. I’m ready – are you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
So always trust the LORD because he is forever our mighty rock.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think about Sugarloaf Mountain. Picture the strong, sturdy rock formations at the top of that hill and how they have stood for centuries. Consider the strength of those rocks and try to imagine what type of force it would take to destroy them. Hard to even fathom, isn’t it?! The only force I can envision that could destroy Sugarloaf would be GOD Himself! So when we consider God as our “mighty rock” and think of Him in terms of such strength… it makes perfect sense to trust Him, doesn’t it? Think about climbing to the top of Sugarloaf and resting underneath a clear blue sky - feeling the wind blow across your face - and how comforted you are by this sensation… how exhilarated you are to have accomplished reaching the summit. Doesn’t the idea of trusting God to give you these feelings in everyday life make sense?
Don’t you want to trust Someone who will never let you down… Someone who will never let you fall? Don’t you want to trust someone who will always be there, day after month after year? Don’t you want to trust Someone who has the power and strength to, literally, move mountains… yet has the love, grace, mercy and compassion to treat us with the gentleness of an adoring father each and every day? Don’t you want to live in a way that you feel the “wind of God’s love” blow across your face?
We can have all of this, and more… God IS our mighty rock… and He is waiting for us to trust Him. I’m ready – are you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 6, 2010
March 6 ~ Psalm 20:7
Some people trust the power of chariots or horses, but we trust you, LORD God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Strength… when used for the right purposes, it can wield power, protection, and movement! When used for the wrong reasons, strength can be brutal. It can bruise, break, and cause great harm – literally, physically and emotionally. And sometimes, we foolishly – or even unknowingly – place our trust in the wrong types of strength. We count too heavily on human beings, who can disappoint. We trust the power of money, material possessions, or status. And somewhere down the line, we realize that these things do not satisfy – or sustain us – and sometimes they even hurt us.
True power and strength lies with God. HE is the one who guides and protects us. He is the one with the ability to move mountains – both literally and figuratively – in our lives. Remember, GOD is the ultimate Superhero! God will not harm us – He is our shield. He will not bruise us and beat us down – He is our protection. He will not abandon us – He is our Savior. We must learn to trust God completely – to surrender to His will and KNOW that what He does in and through us is most important – and in our best interest. We must realize that trusting God is not scary – it is comforting. He is our “soft place to fall.” He is our Rock and our Redeemer.
Friends and family, money and possessions have their place and purpose in our lives. But without trust in God and a strong relationship with Him, all other relationships and “trusts” are subject to failure. Make sure your trust is placed properly and that your relationship with God gets top priority. His strength is always a sure thing!
©2009 Debbie Robus
Some people trust the power of chariots or horses, but we trust you, LORD God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Strength… when used for the right purposes, it can wield power, protection, and movement! When used for the wrong reasons, strength can be brutal. It can bruise, break, and cause great harm – literally, physically and emotionally. And sometimes, we foolishly – or even unknowingly – place our trust in the wrong types of strength. We count too heavily on human beings, who can disappoint. We trust the power of money, material possessions, or status. And somewhere down the line, we realize that these things do not satisfy – or sustain us – and sometimes they even hurt us.
True power and strength lies with God. HE is the one who guides and protects us. He is the one with the ability to move mountains – both literally and figuratively – in our lives. Remember, GOD is the ultimate Superhero! God will not harm us – He is our shield. He will not bruise us and beat us down – He is our protection. He will not abandon us – He is our Savior. We must learn to trust God completely – to surrender to His will and KNOW that what He does in and through us is most important – and in our best interest. We must realize that trusting God is not scary – it is comforting. He is our “soft place to fall.” He is our Rock and our Redeemer.
Friends and family, money and possessions have their place and purpose in our lives. But without trust in God and a strong relationship with Him, all other relationships and “trusts” are subject to failure. Make sure your trust is placed properly and that your relationship with God gets top priority. His strength is always a sure thing!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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