Psalm 109:26-28
Please help me, LORD God! Come and save me because of your love. Let others know that you alone have saved me. I don't care if they curse me, as long as you bless me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you want a true lesson in frustration, try reasoning with a two-year-old. Tell this small child that the nice doctor with the scary device he is aiming at your ear will not hurt. Convince him/her that you have to stop doing something fun and go to sleep… and that you will play again tomorrow… whatever that means!
To God, we must be as frustrating as a two-year-old! He has shown us and told us repeatedly that His plans are good ones… that His will is perfect… that He wants only the best for us. Yet we are scared to death to surrender and operate in His will. “But I won’t have any more fun!” you may be saying. “But I’m scared… what if I lose my friends?” “I’ll lose my job… my club membership… my family/spouse/significant other!”
First of all, you may have more fun when you operate in God’s will than you ever imagined. Whomever you lose… whatever is taken from you… won’t matter nearly as much as you think. God will make everything right. It may seem hard at first… and you may wonder if you made the right choice. But the minute you surrender to God’s will and allow Him to have control, the blessings will start to flow in ways you never realized.
You might find that your significant other, family, and friends take a look at your life and make changes in their own. God might leave you in your present job or situation, so that you can serve Him “from the inside.” You really don’t know what God will do… and that doesn’t matter… because it will be the right thing. That’s all you have to know.
So pray the prayer that David prayed. Ask God to come and save you… and to let others know that He alone did this. Let others see you operating in the will of God, regardless of the “consequences” – and how He blesses you for your obedience. Allow God to show you how abundantly He can fill your life and compensate for any losses you may fear. Give Him the chance to defend you to others… and to give you amazing freedom in the form of His love and blessings.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label surrender. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surrender. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 8, 2011
John 9:24-33
They called the man back a second time—the man who had been blind— and told him, "Give credit to God. We know this man is an impostor." He replied, "I know nothing about that one way or the other. But I know one thing for sure: I was blind . . . I now see."
They said, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" "I've told you over and over and you haven't listened. Why do you want to hear it again? Are you so eager to become his disciples?” With that they jumped all over him. "You might be a disciple of that man, but we're disciples of Moses. We know for sure that God spoke to Moses, but we have no idea where this man even comes from."
The man replied, "This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about him, but the fact is, he opened my eyes! It's well known that God isn't at the beck and call of sinners, but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will. That someone opened the eyes of a man born blind has never been heard of—ever. If this man didn't come from God, he wouldn't be able to do anything."
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.
Jerry Betnar is a friend of mine who recently posted on Facebook … “Putting God first was the hardest thing of all as I struggled to let go....and only now I see that it is not my Dream that I seek, but a story written in the Mind of God....made possible by the Love and Sacrifice of my Lord Jesus Christ and the Guiding Hand and Light of the Holy Spirit… working together to shape me into what I was always meant to be!”
Do you hear what Jerry is saying? Many of us are waiting for Jesus to descend to earth and literally rub mud in our eyes before we will believe in His gift of salvation… and trust Him to operate in the power of God to effect real, permanent changes in our lives. Everything will never be perfect. We’re never going to escape problems, challenges, frustrations, illness, and more. But by the power of Jesus’ blood, we can handle all of this… and much more.
We so underestimate the power of God. We do not fully comprehend His amazing gift of Jesus Christ… and what He means for us. We pray and ask for help… but we don’t truly expect it to come. We say, “God can change anything”… but we still listen to the devil’s voice whispering, “Are you sure?”
Even when we get “mud in our eye” and see clearly how the hand of God has orchestrated certain events, we still question His continual power in our lives. The least little bump in the road, and we are back to “Square One”…wringing our hands, wondering what to do to fix things, and feeling vulnerable and alone.
I don’t think it is any accident that Jerry posted these comments on Facebook. I believe that God is calling us to stop and take a look at this testimony… and to hop on the bandwagon! Our story has also been written in the mind of God… made possible by the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God, through Jesus, is working to shape us into what we were always meant to be. The question is… will we open our ears and our heart… and truly believe?
©2011 Debbie Robus
They called the man back a second time—the man who had been blind— and told him, "Give credit to God. We know this man is an impostor." He replied, "I know nothing about that one way or the other. But I know one thing for sure: I was blind . . . I now see."
They said, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" "I've told you over and over and you haven't listened. Why do you want to hear it again? Are you so eager to become his disciples?” With that they jumped all over him. "You might be a disciple of that man, but we're disciples of Moses. We know for sure that God spoke to Moses, but we have no idea where this man even comes from."
The man replied, "This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about him, but the fact is, he opened my eyes! It's well known that God isn't at the beck and call of sinners, but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will. That someone opened the eyes of a man born blind has never been heard of—ever. If this man didn't come from God, he wouldn't be able to do anything."
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.
Jerry Betnar is a friend of mine who recently posted on Facebook … “Putting God first was the hardest thing of all as I struggled to let go....and only now I see that it is not my Dream that I seek, but a story written in the Mind of God....made possible by the Love and Sacrifice of my Lord Jesus Christ and the Guiding Hand and Light of the Holy Spirit… working together to shape me into what I was always meant to be!”
Do you hear what Jerry is saying? Many of us are waiting for Jesus to descend to earth and literally rub mud in our eyes before we will believe in His gift of salvation… and trust Him to operate in the power of God to effect real, permanent changes in our lives. Everything will never be perfect. We’re never going to escape problems, challenges, frustrations, illness, and more. But by the power of Jesus’ blood, we can handle all of this… and much more.
We so underestimate the power of God. We do not fully comprehend His amazing gift of Jesus Christ… and what He means for us. We pray and ask for help… but we don’t truly expect it to come. We say, “God can change anything”… but we still listen to the devil’s voice whispering, “Are you sure?”
Even when we get “mud in our eye” and see clearly how the hand of God has orchestrated certain events, we still question His continual power in our lives. The least little bump in the road, and we are back to “Square One”…wringing our hands, wondering what to do to fix things, and feeling vulnerable and alone.
I don’t think it is any accident that Jerry posted these comments on Facebook. I believe that God is calling us to stop and take a look at this testimony… and to hop on the bandwagon! Our story has also been written in the mind of God… made possible by the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God, through Jesus, is working to shape us into what we were always meant to be. The question is… will we open our ears and our heart… and truly believe?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 19, 2011
1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth. So I beg you not to surrender to those desires that fight against you. Always let others see you behaving properly, even though they may still accuse you of doing wrong. Then on the day of judgment, they will honor God by telling the good things they saw you do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother told us recently about visiting a “ghost-town-turned-tourist-trap” in Arizona, where they observed an interesting exchange between a man and a horse. It seems the man was trying to lead the horse across a roadway – and away from other horses – toward what appeared to be a large trough of water. (Interject “you can lead a horse to water…” joke here!)
The horse apparently did NOT want to go, and he reared up at the man and retreated to the point of origin and took his place with the other horses. The man tried again (remember our definition of insanity?!) and got the same results. Clearly the horse did not want to surrender to the man. This animal could not understand that the man’s intention (purpose) was a good one. His plans were to provide the horse with necessary nurture and care, i.e. water!
Aren’t we just like the horse? God is trying to give us so much, but for whatever reason… fear, selfishness, ego, stubbornness, sin, and more… we rear up, stomp and pitch a fit, dig in our heels and refuse to budge. We retreat to what we know… what is comfortable… even if it’s all wrong for us. We think we know better than God what is right for us… what we need… what will make the most sense in our lives.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren says “Surrender doesn’t weaken you, it strengthens you.” The Bible gives us tremendous examples of people who surrendered to God when it didn’t make a lick of sense… Noah, Moses, Queen Esther… even Jesus Christ. Surrender to God does not equal an admission of defeat… it reflects maturity in our faith and a true desire to live fully in the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father.
We are like the stubborn horse who foregoes life-sustaining water in favor of a comfortable stance on the sidelines. When we fail to surrender to God, we fail to enjoy a complete relationship with Him – and all that He wants to give us. Where are you standing today? Will you “cross the road” and surrender completely to God and start living in His grace, mercy, love… and abundance? Or are you kicking up your feet and taking a stand… stuck in the same old rut? Are you ready to let God take the reins and lead you to “the good stuff”? Are you ready to surrender completely?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth. So I beg you not to surrender to those desires that fight against you. Always let others see you behaving properly, even though they may still accuse you of doing wrong. Then on the day of judgment, they will honor God by telling the good things they saw you do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother told us recently about visiting a “ghost-town-turned-tourist-trap” in Arizona, where they observed an interesting exchange between a man and a horse. It seems the man was trying to lead the horse across a roadway – and away from other horses – toward what appeared to be a large trough of water. (Interject “you can lead a horse to water…” joke here!)
The horse apparently did NOT want to go, and he reared up at the man and retreated to the point of origin and took his place with the other horses. The man tried again (remember our definition of insanity?!) and got the same results. Clearly the horse did not want to surrender to the man. This animal could not understand that the man’s intention (purpose) was a good one. His plans were to provide the horse with necessary nurture and care, i.e. water!
Aren’t we just like the horse? God is trying to give us so much, but for whatever reason… fear, selfishness, ego, stubbornness, sin, and more… we rear up, stomp and pitch a fit, dig in our heels and refuse to budge. We retreat to what we know… what is comfortable… even if it’s all wrong for us. We think we know better than God what is right for us… what we need… what will make the most sense in our lives.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren says “Surrender doesn’t weaken you, it strengthens you.” The Bible gives us tremendous examples of people who surrendered to God when it didn’t make a lick of sense… Noah, Moses, Queen Esther… even Jesus Christ. Surrender to God does not equal an admission of defeat… it reflects maturity in our faith and a true desire to live fully in the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father.
We are like the stubborn horse who foregoes life-sustaining water in favor of a comfortable stance on the sidelines. When we fail to surrender to God, we fail to enjoy a complete relationship with Him – and all that He wants to give us. Where are you standing today? Will you “cross the road” and surrender completely to God and start living in His grace, mercy, love… and abundance? Or are you kicking up your feet and taking a stand… stuck in the same old rut? Are you ready to let God take the reins and lead you to “the good stuff”? Are you ready to surrender completely?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 10, 2010
Isaiah 61:1-4God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—
and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness"
planted by God to display his glory.
They'll rebuild the old ruins,
raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They'll start over on the ruined cities,
take the rubble left behind and make it new.
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 holiday season, we hear news reports about a house fire during the holidays. Just this past week, a home burned in our county, and area churches rallied to provide for the family – clothing, cleaning supplies, physical labor, and more. On the morning of December 20, 1981, my grandmother was frying sausage on her stove, preparing breakfast for herself and my grandfather before they dressed for church. My grandfather had been outside checking on his cattle. Mam-ma thought she heard sleet on their tin roof, but a glimpse out her kitchen window revealed sunshine.
My grandfather came through the door and told my Mam-ma that their house was on fire. Ironically, she turned off the burner under her sausage, then she began grabbing clothing from dresser drawers, as my grandfather hurried to move their car and truck from the carport and away from the house. A passerby stopped and helped remove items from the house as it burned… a small living room chair, the mantel clock, the family Bible and a few photos, and most of my grandparents’ clothing. They didn’t think to get wallets, eye glasses, the quilt rack in the front bedroom that held probably a half dozen of my grandmother’s hand-made creations, or even the Christmas presents sitting under the tree just inside the front door.
At the end of the day, the home my grandparents had occupied for 47 years was reduced to smoldering cinders. The fire was so hot that even the cast-iron skillets and claw-footed bath tub were reduced to ashes. This fire was determined to be due to some old faulty wiring… not a truly Christmas-related disaster. And I have shared this story before… how the churches and our community rallied to help my grandparents rebuild… how my dad called on his construction contacts to get a new house built as quickly as possible and people “pounded” my grandparents with necessary household staples and more.
I’ve talked about the yard full of petunias that rose the following spring where the old farmhouse once sat… a true “beauty for ashes” trade. But what I have not really talked about directly is the impact that the fire had on my entire family. Whether we realize it or not, that day was a huge turning point for us. It signaled the end of an era… the only home for my grandparents that I, my sister and brother had ever known. The fire resulted in the loss of countless treasures… mere things… and a greater realization of what really mattered, as we counted our blessings that my grandmother and grandfather both escaped safely.
Even though the new house and many of the replacement items were far nicer than what my grandparents had previously owned, it wasn’t the same… ever. And in thinking about this day again… as I do every December 20th… I was struck by how this correlates for us spiritually. See, we all have “fires” in our lives… moments or events or seasons that define us… change us… move us in a new direction. And these are often hard, devastating, gut-wrenching changes that grieve us and truly break our hearts – and sometimes our emotional spirit.
But God stands ready to give us “bouquets of roses for ashes”… to restore us, repair our hearts, rebuild our spirit. Sometimes, He even gives us something better to replace what was taken from us… or at least something equally wonderful. I told you that my grandparents were not ones to question “Why me?” but rather to look ahead and ask “What next?” – and as I look at my now-98-year-old grandmother and think of all of the things she has endured and how she persevered, I see another “lesson.”
God is not in the business of punishing us… or making us suffer to “teach us a lesson.” When we are in pain, He is in pain. When we grieve, He grieves. When our heart breaks, His heart breaks for us. But God can do something about all of this. He truly is the only One who can really fix things… and He wants to do this for us. But we have to trust Him. We have to let Him work. We have to ask Him, “What next?” and mean it. We have to open our eyes and see His beauty in the ashes…and we have to be grateful to Him for doing this for us.
Where is God trying to give you a bouquet of roses for ashes? Where are you blocking His efforts? In what ways do you need to move aside and let Him work? Examine your heart and your life today… find your “fires” and sift through the “ashes.” See what God has in store for you, and give Him room to do His work.
©2010 Debbie Robus
a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—
and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness"
planted by God to display his glory.
They'll rebuild the old ruins,
raise a new city out of the wreckage.
They'll start over on the ruined cities,
take the rubble left behind and make it new.
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 holiday season, we hear news reports about a house fire during the holidays. Just this past week, a home burned in our county, and area churches rallied to provide for the family – clothing, cleaning supplies, physical labor, and more. On the morning of December 20, 1981, my grandmother was frying sausage on her stove, preparing breakfast for herself and my grandfather before they dressed for church. My grandfather had been outside checking on his cattle. Mam-ma thought she heard sleet on their tin roof, but a glimpse out her kitchen window revealed sunshine.
My grandfather came through the door and told my Mam-ma that their house was on fire. Ironically, she turned off the burner under her sausage, then she began grabbing clothing from dresser drawers, as my grandfather hurried to move their car and truck from the carport and away from the house. A passerby stopped and helped remove items from the house as it burned… a small living room chair, the mantel clock, the family Bible and a few photos, and most of my grandparents’ clothing. They didn’t think to get wallets, eye glasses, the quilt rack in the front bedroom that held probably a half dozen of my grandmother’s hand-made creations, or even the Christmas presents sitting under the tree just inside the front door.
At the end of the day, the home my grandparents had occupied for 47 years was reduced to smoldering cinders. The fire was so hot that even the cast-iron skillets and claw-footed bath tub were reduced to ashes. This fire was determined to be due to some old faulty wiring… not a truly Christmas-related disaster. And I have shared this story before… how the churches and our community rallied to help my grandparents rebuild… how my dad called on his construction contacts to get a new house built as quickly as possible and people “pounded” my grandparents with necessary household staples and more.
I’ve talked about the yard full of petunias that rose the following spring where the old farmhouse once sat… a true “beauty for ashes” trade. But what I have not really talked about directly is the impact that the fire had on my entire family. Whether we realize it or not, that day was a huge turning point for us. It signaled the end of an era… the only home for my grandparents that I, my sister and brother had ever known. The fire resulted in the loss of countless treasures… mere things… and a greater realization of what really mattered, as we counted our blessings that my grandmother and grandfather both escaped safely.
Even though the new house and many of the replacement items were far nicer than what my grandparents had previously owned, it wasn’t the same… ever. And in thinking about this day again… as I do every December 20th… I was struck by how this correlates for us spiritually. See, we all have “fires” in our lives… moments or events or seasons that define us… change us… move us in a new direction. And these are often hard, devastating, gut-wrenching changes that grieve us and truly break our hearts – and sometimes our emotional spirit.
But God stands ready to give us “bouquets of roses for ashes”… to restore us, repair our hearts, rebuild our spirit. Sometimes, He even gives us something better to replace what was taken from us… or at least something equally wonderful. I told you that my grandparents were not ones to question “Why me?” but rather to look ahead and ask “What next?” – and as I look at my now-98-year-old grandmother and think of all of the things she has endured and how she persevered, I see another “lesson.”
God is not in the business of punishing us… or making us suffer to “teach us a lesson.” When we are in pain, He is in pain. When we grieve, He grieves. When our heart breaks, His heart breaks for us. But God can do something about all of this. He truly is the only One who can really fix things… and He wants to do this for us. But we have to trust Him. We have to let Him work. We have to ask Him, “What next?” and mean it. We have to open our eyes and see His beauty in the ashes…and we have to be grateful to Him for doing this for us.
Where is God trying to give you a bouquet of roses for ashes? Where are you blocking His efforts? In what ways do you need to move aside and let Him work? Examine your heart and your life today… find your “fires” and sift through the “ashes.” See what God has in store for you, and give Him room to do His work.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 20, 2010
Luke 9:61-62
Then someone said to Jesus, "I want to go with you, Lord, but first let me go back and take care of things at home." Jesus answered, "Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For several years, a dear friend of mine gently nudged me to attend a Walk to Emmaus. “You don’t need to go,” he would tell me… “you deserve it.” He would continue by explaining that the Walk to Emmaus was an exercise in being completely served and loved unconditionally. “Your every need will be met for the entire 3 days,” he said. “Think of it as Spiritual pampering.”
My problem – and it was MY problem – was that I thought I had to fix myself before I went. I thought that there were areas of my life I needed to work on first before I was “worthy” to attend the Walk to Emmaus. I truly didn’t understand. I guess I somehow felt like I would get there and someone would stand up, point a finger and say, “Oh, look… she doesn’t deserve to be here!”
The fact is, God doesn’t want us to try to fix ourselves… HE will do that. I didn’t have to do a thing except show up… Jesus did the rest, just like He did on the cross when He paid for our sins. But we have this mindset that we have to fix everything before we can serve… or be blessed… and that is just incredibly stinkin’ thinkin’!
This is just another in a long line of excuses we create to keep from serving or answering God’s call. We’ll do it tomorrow, when all the stars align! We’ll help out when we aren’t so young, old, tired, busy, stressed, sick, or needy. The truth is… God wants us to “come as you are” and answer His call. If we have to keep working on other projects – or trying to do His job for Him with regard to our own lives – we just as well stay home.
The end of the story is that I finally decided that I wanted to go to Emmaus worse than I wanted to fix myself first. And the result was life changing. I found a peace and a love in Jesus there that I never had even realized was possible before. I found the courage to give Him everything – warts and all – and let Him sort it out and see what He could use… and what needed to be resolved.
I realized what it means to truly serve, because I saw people give 1000% of themselves to serve me and the other “pilgrims” on the Walk for 72 straight hours. This public, personal example of the service and sacrifice for Christ showed me what Jesus is explaining in Luke 9. We don’t need to waste time and energy trying to get our house in order before we serve Jesus… we just need to get up and get busy. Are you ready to do this? Isn’t it time you stopped looking back and started moving forward with Christ? Isn’t this a great day to begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Then someone said to Jesus, "I want to go with you, Lord, but first let me go back and take care of things at home." Jesus answered, "Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For several years, a dear friend of mine gently nudged me to attend a Walk to Emmaus. “You don’t need to go,” he would tell me… “you deserve it.” He would continue by explaining that the Walk to Emmaus was an exercise in being completely served and loved unconditionally. “Your every need will be met for the entire 3 days,” he said. “Think of it as Spiritual pampering.”
My problem – and it was MY problem – was that I thought I had to fix myself before I went. I thought that there were areas of my life I needed to work on first before I was “worthy” to attend the Walk to Emmaus. I truly didn’t understand. I guess I somehow felt like I would get there and someone would stand up, point a finger and say, “Oh, look… she doesn’t deserve to be here!”
The fact is, God doesn’t want us to try to fix ourselves… HE will do that. I didn’t have to do a thing except show up… Jesus did the rest, just like He did on the cross when He paid for our sins. But we have this mindset that we have to fix everything before we can serve… or be blessed… and that is just incredibly stinkin’ thinkin’!
This is just another in a long line of excuses we create to keep from serving or answering God’s call. We’ll do it tomorrow, when all the stars align! We’ll help out when we aren’t so young, old, tired, busy, stressed, sick, or needy. The truth is… God wants us to “come as you are” and answer His call. If we have to keep working on other projects – or trying to do His job for Him with regard to our own lives – we just as well stay home.
The end of the story is that I finally decided that I wanted to go to Emmaus worse than I wanted to fix myself first. And the result was life changing. I found a peace and a love in Jesus there that I never had even realized was possible before. I found the courage to give Him everything – warts and all – and let Him sort it out and see what He could use… and what needed to be resolved.
I realized what it means to truly serve, because I saw people give 1000% of themselves to serve me and the other “pilgrims” on the Walk for 72 straight hours. This public, personal example of the service and sacrifice for Christ showed me what Jesus is explaining in Luke 9. We don’t need to waste time and energy trying to get our house in order before we serve Jesus… we just need to get up and get busy. Are you ready to do this? Isn’t it time you stopped looking back and started moving forward with Christ? Isn’t this a great day to begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 1, 2010
Romans 12:1
[Christ Brings New Life] Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever watched “Let’s Make a Deal”? Often, the host of the show gives someone a wonderful prize, and then he says something, “I’ll give you what’s behind Door #2, if you’ll give me the new couch I just gave you.” In order to get something potentially greater, the contestant has to be willing to sacrifice what he/she just won. Whether the prize behind Door #2 is actually better is not known until the curtain goes up. Choosing to do this is a 50-50 gamble. And some contestants are not willing to take the chance.
In order to experience new life in Christ, we have to “sacrifice” something … our sinful nature. When you get down to it, that’s not much of a “sacrifice” per se, but for some of us, it can feel like a hard choice or a gamble – especially at first. Some of us enjoy our old, sinful lives, and letting go of the past and the lifestyle and behaviors we are comfortable with can be daunting. What many don’t realize is how incredibly amazing – how pure and pleasing – life in Christ can be. Like the people on “Let’s Make a Deal,” we are nervous about what lies “behind Door #2”.
I won’t lie to you … choosing to follow Jesus is not always easy. You may lose a few “friends” or have to stop going some of the places you used to go and doing the things you used to do. But God will send you new friends. He will give you new activities and interests. If you fill your days and nights with loving, serving and studying Him, He will fill YOU!
What are you waiting for? Stand up and choose “what’s behind the door.” Tell God your fears and apprehensions about accepting His offer of a new life in Christ. Let Him help you work through the growing pains and attain the peace and joy that being in a right relationship with Him brings. We all get discouraged from time to time … and you will, too! But God is waiting to set you back on your feet and give you the desires of your heart. All you have to do is choose His “door”.
©2010 Debbie Robus
[Christ Brings New Life] Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever watched “Let’s Make a Deal”? Often, the host of the show gives someone a wonderful prize, and then he says something, “I’ll give you what’s behind Door #2, if you’ll give me the new couch I just gave you.” In order to get something potentially greater, the contestant has to be willing to sacrifice what he/she just won. Whether the prize behind Door #2 is actually better is not known until the curtain goes up. Choosing to do this is a 50-50 gamble. And some contestants are not willing to take the chance.
In order to experience new life in Christ, we have to “sacrifice” something … our sinful nature. When you get down to it, that’s not much of a “sacrifice” per se, but for some of us, it can feel like a hard choice or a gamble – especially at first. Some of us enjoy our old, sinful lives, and letting go of the past and the lifestyle and behaviors we are comfortable with can be daunting. What many don’t realize is how incredibly amazing – how pure and pleasing – life in Christ can be. Like the people on “Let’s Make a Deal,” we are nervous about what lies “behind Door #2”.
I won’t lie to you … choosing to follow Jesus is not always easy. You may lose a few “friends” or have to stop going some of the places you used to go and doing the things you used to do. But God will send you new friends. He will give you new activities and interests. If you fill your days and nights with loving, serving and studying Him, He will fill YOU!
What are you waiting for? Stand up and choose “what’s behind the door.” Tell God your fears and apprehensions about accepting His offer of a new life in Christ. Let Him help you work through the growing pains and attain the peace and joy that being in a right relationship with Him brings. We all get discouraged from time to time … and you will, too! But God is waiting to set you back on your feet and give you the desires of your heart. All you have to do is choose His “door”.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 11, 2010
May 11 ~ Romans 8:37-39
In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love--not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Someone sent me an e-mail recently and asked some very good questions with regard to our scripture passage from Psalm 91. This person said, “I am a believer and even believe every word and promise in the Bible. However, my problem is sometimes with verses like the one you have used. The verse makes no provisions other than for us to ‘Run to him for safety, and no disaster will strike you or your home.’ Just think of the millions that have been struck by disaster since Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, earthquakes, and recent tornadoes, then the drowning in Tennessee last week. I simply must believe that some of those who died were true believers who ran to God for safety. Help me! How can this be, according to the scripture?”
I do not have all of the answers, but this is my take on things... yes, troubles will come... and I say that over and over in my devotionals. If we did not endure hardship and trouble, we wouldn't need God's safety and care. I try very hard to convey my sincere conviction that even in the depths of the worst tragedy and disaster, God is there. Surely God was with Ward Baldridge when He called him to heaven recently during a tornado that struck Pearson, Arkansas - and I believe the Baldridge family would tell you today that God's care and protection has been evidenced to them in the days since the disastrous tornado - from the people who helped them clean up to the medical care given to Ward’s grandson, Blake, and his wife, Iva Jean (both seriously injured), to the thousands of prayers that have been offered for this family and others who suffered destruction and loss.
I believe that the real "meat" and meaning of this scripture passage is not that "disaster will not strike your home," but rather that no disaster will strike your home that God cannot handle for you - and help you to endure. I have asked God why family members have had to suffer and die... I've asked Him why young men have to endure the horrors of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why was there a Holocaust? The only thing that makes sense to me is a pervading feeling that out of these horrific tragedies have come much trust and faith that God can sustain us... and an assurance that even in the darkest hours, He was with those who suffered, just as He was with Jesus on the cross.
What I hope we gain from studying these scriptures - and the insights I try to provide - is that nothing is beyond our capability to handle with God... and even when we struggle and suffer, God hears us and answers according to a far greater plan for our lives than we are able to comprehend. I go back to my opening comment that we would have no need for God if no challenges ever presented themselves. I do not believe God uses these things to humble us... but rather that He uses circumstances and events to show us how to draw closer to Him and call on Him when life is too big for us to handle. I know that has been the case in my own life... and I hope I am truly growing in trust and letting go of fears, believing that God will be with me no matter what happens.
I hope this makes sense. I welcome all questions and comments, and I hope you know that my responses do not mean I believe that I have all the answers. These are my opinions, based on prayer, study, personal experience – and conversations with others with more expertise in Bible study than I have. I encourage you to also dig and study for yourself and see where God leads you – what answers He presents. I believe God’s desire is for us to continually grow and learn about His will for our lives. Ultimately, the “big picture” will be revealed to us in Heaven…and this gives me hope and encouragement for what is yet to come. I pray that it does the same for you.
The person who wrote to ask the question replied, “If one does not read the Bible and sometimes wonder -- then I wonder why he/she does not read more.” I wholeheartedly agree. Keep learning and seeking God – see what amazing things He will reveal to you in the process!
©2010 Debbie Robus
In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love--not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Someone sent me an e-mail recently and asked some very good questions with regard to our scripture passage from Psalm 91. This person said, “I am a believer and even believe every word and promise in the Bible. However, my problem is sometimes with verses like the one you have used. The verse makes no provisions other than for us to ‘Run to him for safety, and no disaster will strike you or your home.’ Just think of the millions that have been struck by disaster since Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, earthquakes, and recent tornadoes, then the drowning in Tennessee last week. I simply must believe that some of those who died were true believers who ran to God for safety. Help me! How can this be, according to the scripture?”
I do not have all of the answers, but this is my take on things... yes, troubles will come... and I say that over and over in my devotionals. If we did not endure hardship and trouble, we wouldn't need God's safety and care. I try very hard to convey my sincere conviction that even in the depths of the worst tragedy and disaster, God is there. Surely God was with Ward Baldridge when He called him to heaven recently during a tornado that struck Pearson, Arkansas - and I believe the Baldridge family would tell you today that God's care and protection has been evidenced to them in the days since the disastrous tornado - from the people who helped them clean up to the medical care given to Ward’s grandson, Blake, and his wife, Iva Jean (both seriously injured), to the thousands of prayers that have been offered for this family and others who suffered destruction and loss.
I believe that the real "meat" and meaning of this scripture passage is not that "disaster will not strike your home," but rather that no disaster will strike your home that God cannot handle for you - and help you to endure. I have asked God why family members have had to suffer and die... I've asked Him why young men have to endure the horrors of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why was there a Holocaust? The only thing that makes sense to me is a pervading feeling that out of these horrific tragedies have come much trust and faith that God can sustain us... and an assurance that even in the darkest hours, He was with those who suffered, just as He was with Jesus on the cross.
What I hope we gain from studying these scriptures - and the insights I try to provide - is that nothing is beyond our capability to handle with God... and even when we struggle and suffer, God hears us and answers according to a far greater plan for our lives than we are able to comprehend. I go back to my opening comment that we would have no need for God if no challenges ever presented themselves. I do not believe God uses these things to humble us... but rather that He uses circumstances and events to show us how to draw closer to Him and call on Him when life is too big for us to handle. I know that has been the case in my own life... and I hope I am truly growing in trust and letting go of fears, believing that God will be with me no matter what happens.
I hope this makes sense. I welcome all questions and comments, and I hope you know that my responses do not mean I believe that I have all the answers. These are my opinions, based on prayer, study, personal experience – and conversations with others with more expertise in Bible study than I have. I encourage you to also dig and study for yourself and see where God leads you – what answers He presents. I believe God’s desire is for us to continually grow and learn about His will for our lives. Ultimately, the “big picture” will be revealed to us in Heaven…and this gives me hope and encouragement for what is yet to come. I pray that it does the same for you.
The person who wrote to ask the question replied, “If one does not read the Bible and sometimes wonder -- then I wonder why he/she does not read more.” I wholeheartedly agree. Keep learning and seeking God – see what amazing things He will reveal to you in the process!
©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
November 2009 Devotionals - Week 2
November 14 ~ 1 Chronicles 29:16-17
Our LORD God, we have brought all these things for building a temple to honor you. They belong to you, and you gave them to us. But we are happy, because everyone has voluntarily given you these things. You know what is in everyone's heart, and you are pleased when people are honest.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Have you ever gone to church on Sunday when you would rather have stayed home? But you went to church anyway, thinking all the while you wished you were home, still in bed or sipping coffee and reading the Sunday newspaper. I’m not saying that anytime we wake up on Sunday and wish we could sleep in, we should skip church. But when we go to church wishing we were somewhere else, God knows what is in our heart. So maybe I am suggesting an “attitude adjustment” is in order on our part?
When we give to the church or charities or make any donation, and we do it because “it’s the thing to do,” or our friends are giving - or we feel obligated in any way - God knows our heart. When we pretend to be nice to people but talk about them behind their backs, God sees our heart. When we act one way in front of some people and another when they aren’t around, God sees this.
God knows our heart. He knows when we do things out of love and a desire to serve and honor Him. He sees when we are genuinely kind to others… when we give generously out of a desire to help others… when we strive to be moral and upright out of respect for Him – and for ourselves. And this pleases Him immensely.
Doesn’t it seem a little preposterous to think that God wouldn’t know our heart? Doesn’t it seem phony and disrespectful to try to pretend to Him that we feel one way when He knows good and well our feelings are the opposite? Do we really want to please God? Isn’t being honest and showing Him a genuine heart a good place to start? Open up to God and share your true self… He knows already, but He will be so pleased when you are real with Him. When you honor God and respect your relationship with Him in this manner, you be blessed with joy and satisfaction in knowing you did the right thing.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 13 ~ 1 Chronicles 16:10
Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
We have no trouble cheering and celebrating when the home team wins a football game. Pretty well everybody in Arkansas and several surrounding states knows how to “call the Hogs!” Little girls (and a few not-so-little ones) go ga-ga over Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift… and people line up for days to see the American Idol tour. We “celebrate with all our heart” at these events and others.
But when we think of God, do we celebrate as fervently? Do we feel so excited and genuinely ecstatic that we want to jump for joy in our heart, if not with our physical body? When we worship, are we totally in the moment, forgetting everything from what we will do after church service to the pot roast we left in the oven to the friends we hung out with the night before?
Doesn’t God deserve better?
Let’s make an effort to give God the celebration and worship He deserves. I’m not saying we have to jump up and shout – or even wiggle our big toe! But let’s focus totally on Him when we pray, read the Bible, or gather together for a worship service. Let’s celebrate Him in the way we live our daily lives and demonstrate clearly to others Who we serve.
God DOES deserve better than we give Him. Let’s start making changes and truly celebrate and worship His holy name with all our heart.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 12 ~ 1 Kings 8:39
You know what is in everyone's heart. So from your home in heaven answer their prayers, according to the way they live and what is in their hearts.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Suppose you are struggling to make ends meet. There always seems to be a whole lot more month than money. But in your heart, you desire to do great things for God… to accomplish things that you cannot physically afford. If you pray about this, and pour out your desires to God, don’t you think He will figure out a way for these things to be accomplished? Let’s be more specific. Our church is having a “Shoe Box Drive” to send decorated shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies, toiletries, and more to needy children. Sounds like a great project, right? But what if your financial situation doesn’t match your desire to participate? How can you possibly help?
I believe that in this situation, you could pray and ask God to see that enough boxes were donated. Ask Him to soften the hearts of those who can afford to pack a shoe box. This would be one example of God looking at your heart and answering according to what He finds there, rather than on what you were physically able to accomplish. The same could be said for being a prayer warrior. When you don’t feel you can do anything else, you can certainly pray for others and their needs. This shows God your heart… your desire to serve, witness and make changes in His name.
God looks at our heart… and when He sees that what we harbor there is pure and loving and obedient, He is moved… and He does move! Keep a close check on your heart and its motives… be bold and ask God for great things from the depths of your heart… then sit back and watch Him work!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 11 ~ 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD told him, "Samuel, don't think Eliab is the one just because he's tall and handsome. He isn't the one I've chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts."
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Man, is this ever a hard lesson for us! We form our impressions of people in the first few seconds… and often, we don’t give them – or ourselves – a chance to decide otherwise! How many times have you met someone, and instantly you disliked something about him/her, only to find out later what a wonderful person he/she was.
Think about a coconut. On the outside, it looks pretty rough, doesn’t it! In fact, the hard, ugly brown shell is fairly impenetrable. But once you get inside, you find this wonderful milk and coconut “meat.” The heart is home to the good stuff! Imagine if God judged us by outward appearances. If God judged us by the things we said and how we looked and acted, most of us would be in pretty sad shape. Aren’t you glad He looks at the heart?
Let’s make sure our heart is right… that when God looks deep within us, He sees someone who is striving to serve Him and be obedient, even if it doesn’t always show on the outside. And let’s give others a second look. Let’s look at their heart and not make rash judgments. Surely if God judges us by our hearts, we should do the same for others. How are you evaluating others these days? Do you only see the “coconut shell” on the outside? What is in your heart?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 10 ~ 1 Samuel 12:20-24
Even though what you did was wrong, you don't need to be afraid. But you must always follow the LORD and worship him with all your heart. Don't worship idols! They don't have any power, and they can't help you or save you when you're in trouble. But the LORD has chosen you to be his own people. He will always take care of you so that everyone will know how great he is.
I would be disobeying the LORD if I stopped praying for you! I will always teach you how to live right. You also must obey the LORD - you must worship him with all your heart and remember the great things he has done for you.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
When you were a child, did you ever do something wrong and then hide, hoping nobody would find you and discover what had happened? Or maybe you hoped your grandparents would come along and stick up for you. If only you could find someone to be on your side and protect you from punishment and disapproval! If you are like most people, there has been at least one time in your life when you felt like you had messed things up so badly that God would never forgive you! Or maybe you feared that the “wrath of God” was about to rain down on you for your sins or misdeeds. And sometimes, in fear, we turn to people we think can help us… or worse yet, we turn to Satan. “Devil,” we say… “help me create a story to cover this. Give me an alibi… justify what I did, so that I can get out of this mess!”
The truth is, we go “looking for love in all the wrong places.” God is not standing with a whip and a chair, ready to beat us senseless for our sins. Hello! Jesus took every single one of those when He died on the cross. They are paid in full! If someone bought your lunch at a restaurant, you wouldn’t try to pay again, would you? So why do we think we have to pay over and over for the sins that Jesus bought with His own blood? This is not what God desires. All He wants is for us to love and worship Him out of the depths of our heart (that means with everything we have in us!). If we love with our whole heart, it will be harder and harder for us to sin… it just won’t feel right to us… it will go against everything we hold dear.
Our grandparents and others may be able to save us from certain troubles when we are children, but that doesn’t work well for very long. It’s time we grew up in our faith and trusted God for the promises He has given us… and loved Him with our whole heart. This is true protection and freedom… this is true safety and comfort… this is where the real blessings lie. Who has your heart today?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 9 ~ Deuteronomy 30:11-14
You know God's laws, and it isn't impossible to obey them. His commands aren't in heaven, so you can't excuse yourselves by saying, "How can we obey the LORD's commands? They are in heaven, and no one can go up to get them, then bring them down and explain them to us." And you can't say, "How can we obey the LORD's commands? They are across the sea, and someone must go across, then bring them back and explain them to us." No, these commands are nearby and you know them by heart. All you have to do is obey!
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
This is one of the hardest things for some people to grasp. How do we worship and obey a God we have never physically seen? How do we trust that what is written in the Bible is infallible… that the Bible really IS God’s word? How do we know for sure that following God’s commands will work… that this really IS the way to Heaven?
For me, this is where the heart comes into play. See, for nearly 35 years, I knew in my head that God was real and that the Bible was filled with guidance and perfect law for my life. I had heard this over and over from countless people. I had studied and prayed and attended church services and Sunday School classes. I had participated in Training Union on Sunday nights, “Bible drills,” youth classes and more.
But it wasn’t until I began to truly invite the Holy Spirit to penetrate my heart and I revisited a scripture verse… John 20:29, in which…”Jesus said, ‘Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!’" I realized that Jesus was talking about you and ME! We have never seen Him, yet we believe, so we are blessed because of our faith!
As I meditated on this thought… and internalized it, I began to understand that yes, this IS all a leap of faith, but I learned something else. I learned to look for God in ordinary and unusual places… places besides just the Bible and my prayer time. I began to see His hand in the order and circumstances of my day… and in the timing and care of His children and the events of their lives. I began to see how much God blesses those who obey Him – and how hard things are for those who don’t. This is not because God punishes, but rather because He allows us to wander aimlessly if we choose… He allows us free will.
I don’t know about you, but I want every blessing God stands ready to give me. I want to obey Him – not out of fear or concern that He won’t bless – but out of love and adoration… gratefulness for all He has given me… and a deep desire of the heart to serve Him completely. If you love someone from the depths of your heart, you understand this desire. Who deserves our heartfelt love more than God? Are His commands in your heart? Won’t you make room for them and begin living in His abundance?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 8 ~ Deuteronomy 30:10
But you must decide once and for all to worship him with all your heart and soul and to obey everything in The Book of God's Law.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
On the surface, you may be thinking… “This is an easy one… I’ve already done it!” And maybe you have – if so, God bless you! But think about it… have you truly decided to worship Him with all your heart and soul and obey His word completely? Or do you still disrespect your parents? Do you send out disrespectful messages about others via e-mail or make derogatory comments on social network sites? Do you party too much and ask forgiveness later? Do you use foul language – in person and/or on the Internet? Are you unkind and/or quick-tempered with others? What haven’t you given to God?
Last week I told you about a friend suggesting that I write about loving God with our head and our heart. We all know what the Bible says… we all know the Ten Commandments… and even the commandments of Jesus to love others as we love ourselves, and to love God with our heart, mind, soul and strength. And intellectually, we do this… and we say, “I love God with all of these things.” But deep in our heart… do we? Do we love Him enough to say, “Lord, whatever You desire from me, I’ll give you. I will live for You and love You even when it is hard, painful, or even grieves me. If I have to give up some old habits – or even my friends, I’ll do it. If I have to step out of my comfort zone and serve you by serving someone else, I will do that!
I didn’t notice in this passage anything about whether or not we like doing this, necessarily. This may come in time, but not all of the choices to follow God are easy ones. Still, we will never experience God and His plans for us – or His blessings – until we decide once and for all to worship Him completely with our heart and soul. What’s holding you back today? What else do you need to surrender to God?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Our LORD God, we have brought all these things for building a temple to honor you. They belong to you, and you gave them to us. But we are happy, because everyone has voluntarily given you these things. You know what is in everyone's heart, and you are pleased when people are honest.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Have you ever gone to church on Sunday when you would rather have stayed home? But you went to church anyway, thinking all the while you wished you were home, still in bed or sipping coffee and reading the Sunday newspaper. I’m not saying that anytime we wake up on Sunday and wish we could sleep in, we should skip church. But when we go to church wishing we were somewhere else, God knows what is in our heart. So maybe I am suggesting an “attitude adjustment” is in order on our part?
When we give to the church or charities or make any donation, and we do it because “it’s the thing to do,” or our friends are giving - or we feel obligated in any way - God knows our heart. When we pretend to be nice to people but talk about them behind their backs, God sees our heart. When we act one way in front of some people and another when they aren’t around, God sees this.
God knows our heart. He knows when we do things out of love and a desire to serve and honor Him. He sees when we are genuinely kind to others… when we give generously out of a desire to help others… when we strive to be moral and upright out of respect for Him – and for ourselves. And this pleases Him immensely.
Doesn’t it seem a little preposterous to think that God wouldn’t know our heart? Doesn’t it seem phony and disrespectful to try to pretend to Him that we feel one way when He knows good and well our feelings are the opposite? Do we really want to please God? Isn’t being honest and showing Him a genuine heart a good place to start? Open up to God and share your true self… He knows already, but He will be so pleased when you are real with Him. When you honor God and respect your relationship with Him in this manner, you be blessed with joy and satisfaction in knowing you did the right thing.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 13 ~ 1 Chronicles 16:10
Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
We have no trouble cheering and celebrating when the home team wins a football game. Pretty well everybody in Arkansas and several surrounding states knows how to “call the Hogs!” Little girls (and a few not-so-little ones) go ga-ga over Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift… and people line up for days to see the American Idol tour. We “celebrate with all our heart” at these events and others.
But when we think of God, do we celebrate as fervently? Do we feel so excited and genuinely ecstatic that we want to jump for joy in our heart, if not with our physical body? When we worship, are we totally in the moment, forgetting everything from what we will do after church service to the pot roast we left in the oven to the friends we hung out with the night before?
Doesn’t God deserve better?
Let’s make an effort to give God the celebration and worship He deserves. I’m not saying we have to jump up and shout – or even wiggle our big toe! But let’s focus totally on Him when we pray, read the Bible, or gather together for a worship service. Let’s celebrate Him in the way we live our daily lives and demonstrate clearly to others Who we serve.
God DOES deserve better than we give Him. Let’s start making changes and truly celebrate and worship His holy name with all our heart.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 12 ~ 1 Kings 8:39
You know what is in everyone's heart. So from your home in heaven answer their prayers, according to the way they live and what is in their hearts.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Suppose you are struggling to make ends meet. There always seems to be a whole lot more month than money. But in your heart, you desire to do great things for God… to accomplish things that you cannot physically afford. If you pray about this, and pour out your desires to God, don’t you think He will figure out a way for these things to be accomplished? Let’s be more specific. Our church is having a “Shoe Box Drive” to send decorated shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies, toiletries, and more to needy children. Sounds like a great project, right? But what if your financial situation doesn’t match your desire to participate? How can you possibly help?
I believe that in this situation, you could pray and ask God to see that enough boxes were donated. Ask Him to soften the hearts of those who can afford to pack a shoe box. This would be one example of God looking at your heart and answering according to what He finds there, rather than on what you were physically able to accomplish. The same could be said for being a prayer warrior. When you don’t feel you can do anything else, you can certainly pray for others and their needs. This shows God your heart… your desire to serve, witness and make changes in His name.
God looks at our heart… and when He sees that what we harbor there is pure and loving and obedient, He is moved… and He does move! Keep a close check on your heart and its motives… be bold and ask God for great things from the depths of your heart… then sit back and watch Him work!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 11 ~ 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD told him, "Samuel, don't think Eliab is the one just because he's tall and handsome. He isn't the one I've chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts."
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Man, is this ever a hard lesson for us! We form our impressions of people in the first few seconds… and often, we don’t give them – or ourselves – a chance to decide otherwise! How many times have you met someone, and instantly you disliked something about him/her, only to find out later what a wonderful person he/she was.
Think about a coconut. On the outside, it looks pretty rough, doesn’t it! In fact, the hard, ugly brown shell is fairly impenetrable. But once you get inside, you find this wonderful milk and coconut “meat.” The heart is home to the good stuff! Imagine if God judged us by outward appearances. If God judged us by the things we said and how we looked and acted, most of us would be in pretty sad shape. Aren’t you glad He looks at the heart?
Let’s make sure our heart is right… that when God looks deep within us, He sees someone who is striving to serve Him and be obedient, even if it doesn’t always show on the outside. And let’s give others a second look. Let’s look at their heart and not make rash judgments. Surely if God judges us by our hearts, we should do the same for others. How are you evaluating others these days? Do you only see the “coconut shell” on the outside? What is in your heart?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 10 ~ 1 Samuel 12:20-24
Even though what you did was wrong, you don't need to be afraid. But you must always follow the LORD and worship him with all your heart. Don't worship idols! They don't have any power, and they can't help you or save you when you're in trouble. But the LORD has chosen you to be his own people. He will always take care of you so that everyone will know how great he is.
I would be disobeying the LORD if I stopped praying for you! I will always teach you how to live right. You also must obey the LORD - you must worship him with all your heart and remember the great things he has done for you.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
When you were a child, did you ever do something wrong and then hide, hoping nobody would find you and discover what had happened? Or maybe you hoped your grandparents would come along and stick up for you. If only you could find someone to be on your side and protect you from punishment and disapproval! If you are like most people, there has been at least one time in your life when you felt like you had messed things up so badly that God would never forgive you! Or maybe you feared that the “wrath of God” was about to rain down on you for your sins or misdeeds. And sometimes, in fear, we turn to people we think can help us… or worse yet, we turn to Satan. “Devil,” we say… “help me create a story to cover this. Give me an alibi… justify what I did, so that I can get out of this mess!”
The truth is, we go “looking for love in all the wrong places.” God is not standing with a whip and a chair, ready to beat us senseless for our sins. Hello! Jesus took every single one of those when He died on the cross. They are paid in full! If someone bought your lunch at a restaurant, you wouldn’t try to pay again, would you? So why do we think we have to pay over and over for the sins that Jesus bought with His own blood? This is not what God desires. All He wants is for us to love and worship Him out of the depths of our heart (that means with everything we have in us!). If we love with our whole heart, it will be harder and harder for us to sin… it just won’t feel right to us… it will go against everything we hold dear.
Our grandparents and others may be able to save us from certain troubles when we are children, but that doesn’t work well for very long. It’s time we grew up in our faith and trusted God for the promises He has given us… and loved Him with our whole heart. This is true protection and freedom… this is true safety and comfort… this is where the real blessings lie. Who has your heart today?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 9 ~ Deuteronomy 30:11-14
You know God's laws, and it isn't impossible to obey them. His commands aren't in heaven, so you can't excuse yourselves by saying, "How can we obey the LORD's commands? They are in heaven, and no one can go up to get them, then bring them down and explain them to us." And you can't say, "How can we obey the LORD's commands? They are across the sea, and someone must go across, then bring them back and explain them to us." No, these commands are nearby and you know them by heart. All you have to do is obey!
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
This is one of the hardest things for some people to grasp. How do we worship and obey a God we have never physically seen? How do we trust that what is written in the Bible is infallible… that the Bible really IS God’s word? How do we know for sure that following God’s commands will work… that this really IS the way to Heaven?
For me, this is where the heart comes into play. See, for nearly 35 years, I knew in my head that God was real and that the Bible was filled with guidance and perfect law for my life. I had heard this over and over from countless people. I had studied and prayed and attended church services and Sunday School classes. I had participated in Training Union on Sunday nights, “Bible drills,” youth classes and more.
But it wasn’t until I began to truly invite the Holy Spirit to penetrate my heart and I revisited a scripture verse… John 20:29, in which…”Jesus said, ‘Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!’" I realized that Jesus was talking about you and ME! We have never seen Him, yet we believe, so we are blessed because of our faith!
As I meditated on this thought… and internalized it, I began to understand that yes, this IS all a leap of faith, but I learned something else. I learned to look for God in ordinary and unusual places… places besides just the Bible and my prayer time. I began to see His hand in the order and circumstances of my day… and in the timing and care of His children and the events of their lives. I began to see how much God blesses those who obey Him – and how hard things are for those who don’t. This is not because God punishes, but rather because He allows us to wander aimlessly if we choose… He allows us free will.
I don’t know about you, but I want every blessing God stands ready to give me. I want to obey Him – not out of fear or concern that He won’t bless – but out of love and adoration… gratefulness for all He has given me… and a deep desire of the heart to serve Him completely. If you love someone from the depths of your heart, you understand this desire. Who deserves our heartfelt love more than God? Are His commands in your heart? Won’t you make room for them and begin living in His abundance?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 8 ~ Deuteronomy 30:10
But you must decide once and for all to worship him with all your heart and soul and to obey everything in The Book of God's Law.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
On the surface, you may be thinking… “This is an easy one… I’ve already done it!” And maybe you have – if so, God bless you! But think about it… have you truly decided to worship Him with all your heart and soul and obey His word completely? Or do you still disrespect your parents? Do you send out disrespectful messages about others via e-mail or make derogatory comments on social network sites? Do you party too much and ask forgiveness later? Do you use foul language – in person and/or on the Internet? Are you unkind and/or quick-tempered with others? What haven’t you given to God?
Last week I told you about a friend suggesting that I write about loving God with our head and our heart. We all know what the Bible says… we all know the Ten Commandments… and even the commandments of Jesus to love others as we love ourselves, and to love God with our heart, mind, soul and strength. And intellectually, we do this… and we say, “I love God with all of these things.” But deep in our heart… do we? Do we love Him enough to say, “Lord, whatever You desire from me, I’ll give you. I will live for You and love You even when it is hard, painful, or even grieves me. If I have to give up some old habits – or even my friends, I’ll do it. If I have to step out of my comfort zone and serve you by serving someone else, I will do that!
I didn’t notice in this passage anything about whether or not we like doing this, necessarily. This may come in time, but not all of the choices to follow God are easy ones. Still, we will never experience God and His plans for us – or His blessings – until we decide once and for all to worship Him completely with our heart and soul. What’s holding you back today? What else do you need to surrender to God?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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