1 Corinthians 3:16-17
You realize, don’t you, that
you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? No one
will get by with vandalizing God’s temple, you can be sure of that.
God’s temple is sacred—and you, remember, are the temple.
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.
Everywhere we turn, someone
is telling us how to treat our bodies. Eat this…don’t eat that…use this
workout program to lose the most weight in the shortest amount of
time…stop smoking…drink responsibly…just say no to drugs…take this
drug/supplement…beware of XYZ medication if you suffer from any of a
litany of conditions, and anticipate even worse side effects than what
you took the drug to treat in the first place…YOU may be a candidate for
lapband or the latest curative surgery…visit ABC cosmetic center and
get lifted, tucked, lipo’d and restructured! It’s all a bit mind
boggling!
Not to be outdone, we can work on our hearts and
minds, as well. We can read books, watch videos, and attend seminars to
get ahead in our careers, better parent our children, rescue any
relationship, and improve our abilities to be all that we can be!
When
we read this passage from Paul to the people of Corinth, we generally
tend to think in terms of things like overeating, smoking, drinking and
drug abuse. But if we stop and consider His words carefully…that our
body is God’s sacred temple…we come to realize that most of us vandalize
this “temple” every single day in one way or another. I keep being
reminded of the phrase, “Garbage in…garbage out!”
I am guilty of
eating the wrong things – and too much in general. I spend excess time
in front of a TV or computer screen rather than exercising my body. I am
also prone to watch more reality TV than I should, spend too much time
viewing one more cute cat video that I found on Facebook or “liking”
other friends’ posts…and giving far too much energy and consideration to
“mindless drivel” and “piddling”. And I am not all that different from
you or anyone else.
Not a single one of us would seriously
consider vandalizing property – our own or that of another person. Most
certainly, we would never even think about doing harm to a church or
temple. So why do we treat our own “temples” so cavalierly?
We
talk about doing all the right things…but we often do exactly the
opposite. Why is this? Why do we “vandalize” our “temples?” I know it
sounds cliché, but I believe it comes down to a matter of willpower -
ours (fueled by encouragement from the devil) vs. that of God Almighty.
This is why Paul tells us in Romans 7:14-16 that “Yes. I’m full of
myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t
understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act
another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to
figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious
that God’s command is necessary.”
This is our answer, also.
God’s command IS necessary. We must spend more time with Him, learning
His ways, listening for His voice…and putting His will for our lives
into action. It may be challenging at first – maybe even a little bit
difficult as we surrender to God and allow Him to have control. But we
will be healthier in every way because of it. We will be stronger – and
ultimately more confident and complete - because of WHO is powering our
efforts. Our “temples” will glorify God and represent a place that He
is proud to inhabit. This should be our ultimate goal! Is it yours?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label surrender of self. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surrender of self. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 22, 2015
John 6:53-58
But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my blood you enter into me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Several years ago, friends invited us to join several other couples for the sharing of a potluck meal in their home…and a visit afterward. We had all read a book called So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Any More*…and the hosts suggested that we discuss our thoughts on this book after dinner. We went around the living room, discussing the parts of the book that spoke to us the most…and sharing experiences and opinions. We also shared our “faith” – how we got from “Point A” to “Point B” in our journey with Christ…questions and concerns we still have…and how God works in and through us each day. It was a wonderful evening. At times, the feelings and expressions were raw, as we spoke openly and from the heart…but generally, it was a sweet time that bonded us as friends – and brothers and sisters in Christ.
At the end of the evening, the hosts produced a bottle of wine and some bread, and we shared in Holy Communion. This might sound sacrilegious or disrespectful to you, but I assure you, it was incredibly holy. We had shared such an amazing time of worship and reflection. We prayed…we held hands…we shed more than a few tears. And we felt the presence of Jesus. It was only natural that we would “eat and drink flesh and blood”…that we would “die to ourselves” and live in Jesus.
The service of Holy Communion is a profoundly humbling and meaningful time…or at least, it should be. Whether you kneel at the altar rail in a church sanctuary, are presented with bread and “wine” at your bedside or on a church pew, or even partake in the sacraments in a friend’s living room…this commitment to surrender your sin to the body and blood of Jesus is incredibly powerful.
Don’t just go through the motions of Holy Communion. The next time you are offered the “bread and wine,” really think about what you are doing. Remind yourself that the bread does indeed represent Jesus’ body…broken for you. When you eat the bread, you surrender your heart – and your sins – to Him. When you drink the “wine,” you are allowing Jesus’ blood to wash over you and remove every trace and blemish of your transgressions. You are committing to a New Life in Christ…and you are reminded of this covenant. This is a precious, sacred moment.
When you participate in Holy Communion, think about the piece of bread you are handed…and the “cup” you drink. Thank Jesus for His amazing sacrifice, and vow to honor Him with your daily living. We who share in the flesh and blood of the Son of Man with a heart of genuine commitment to serve Him are promised a life that never ends. The “exchange” is more than we could ever expect or deserve…but everything about the love of Christ is “too much.” And aren’t we glad and grateful for His gifts?!
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Want-Church-Anymore/dp/0964729229
But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my blood you enter into me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Several years ago, friends invited us to join several other couples for the sharing of a potluck meal in their home…and a visit afterward. We had all read a book called So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Any More*…and the hosts suggested that we discuss our thoughts on this book after dinner. We went around the living room, discussing the parts of the book that spoke to us the most…and sharing experiences and opinions. We also shared our “faith” – how we got from “Point A” to “Point B” in our journey with Christ…questions and concerns we still have…and how God works in and through us each day. It was a wonderful evening. At times, the feelings and expressions were raw, as we spoke openly and from the heart…but generally, it was a sweet time that bonded us as friends – and brothers and sisters in Christ.
At the end of the evening, the hosts produced a bottle of wine and some bread, and we shared in Holy Communion. This might sound sacrilegious or disrespectful to you, but I assure you, it was incredibly holy. We had shared such an amazing time of worship and reflection. We prayed…we held hands…we shed more than a few tears. And we felt the presence of Jesus. It was only natural that we would “eat and drink flesh and blood”…that we would “die to ourselves” and live in Jesus.
The service of Holy Communion is a profoundly humbling and meaningful time…or at least, it should be. Whether you kneel at the altar rail in a church sanctuary, are presented with bread and “wine” at your bedside or on a church pew, or even partake in the sacraments in a friend’s living room…this commitment to surrender your sin to the body and blood of Jesus is incredibly powerful.
Don’t just go through the motions of Holy Communion. The next time you are offered the “bread and wine,” really think about what you are doing. Remind yourself that the bread does indeed represent Jesus’ body…broken for you. When you eat the bread, you surrender your heart – and your sins – to Him. When you drink the “wine,” you are allowing Jesus’ blood to wash over you and remove every trace and blemish of your transgressions. You are committing to a New Life in Christ…and you are reminded of this covenant. This is a precious, sacred moment.
When you participate in Holy Communion, think about the piece of bread you are handed…and the “cup” you drink. Thank Jesus for His amazing sacrifice, and vow to honor Him with your daily living. We who share in the flesh and blood of the Son of Man with a heart of genuine commitment to serve Him are promised a life that never ends. The “exchange” is more than we could ever expect or deserve…but everything about the love of Christ is “too much.” And aren’t we glad and grateful for His gifts?!
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Want-Church-Anymore/dp/0964729229
Daily Devotional for February 24, 2015
Jeremiah 22:15-16
But a beautiful palace does not make a great king! Why did your father Josiah reign so long? Because he was just and fair in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him. He saw to it that justice and help were given the poor and the needy and all went well for him. This is how a man lives close to God.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
A friend and I were recently discussing how we Christians treat others…and how our words and actions are perceived by those in our midst. We both acknowledged firsthand acquaintance with more than one person who appears to “have it all”…yet they seem about as spiritually empty as one can get. When you examine how these folks treat others, it’s not a stretch to explain the correlation.
Let’s be honest… when “it’s all about me”…it’s not about God. When you are “in it”…meaning life, your business, personal relationships - or whatever thoughts and activities fill your day – for the sheer purpose of what YOU can gain or how YOU can benefit…there isn’t much - if any - room for God or others.
This is not about wealth, money or power…because I know people with plenty of all three who still manage to keep the balance. They fully utilize their “blessings” to serve God. Their first step is to ask Him, “What should I do for YOU today?”…and they plot their course accordingly. There are others who focus totally on their own gain. By all appearances, these people may be highly successful. But if you study the whole of their lives, I bet you will find that they truly are anything BUT close to God.
Understand what I am saying…you cannot “have it all” until you step outside of your SELF and focus on God. HE gave us every blessing that we enjoy! Our job is to be good stewards of these gifts. My challenge is that we examine our priorities – and our hearts. This is not about the quantity in our lives…but rather, the quality of our choices and actions with regard to what we have been given. The goal is to draw close to God…to find Him in our daily living and keep Him near to us at all times. In order to do this, we have to stay busy thinking about God and others…and forgetting ourselves.
Do you feel close to God? Is it all about you – or Him? Is it time to shift your focus? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
But a beautiful palace does not make a great king! Why did your father Josiah reign so long? Because he was just and fair in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him. He saw to it that justice and help were given the poor and the needy and all went well for him. This is how a man lives close to God.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
A friend and I were recently discussing how we Christians treat others…and how our words and actions are perceived by those in our midst. We both acknowledged firsthand acquaintance with more than one person who appears to “have it all”…yet they seem about as spiritually empty as one can get. When you examine how these folks treat others, it’s not a stretch to explain the correlation.
Let’s be honest… when “it’s all about me”…it’s not about God. When you are “in it”…meaning life, your business, personal relationships - or whatever thoughts and activities fill your day – for the sheer purpose of what YOU can gain or how YOU can benefit…there isn’t much - if any - room for God or others.
This is not about wealth, money or power…because I know people with plenty of all three who still manage to keep the balance. They fully utilize their “blessings” to serve God. Their first step is to ask Him, “What should I do for YOU today?”…and they plot their course accordingly. There are others who focus totally on their own gain. By all appearances, these people may be highly successful. But if you study the whole of their lives, I bet you will find that they truly are anything BUT close to God.
Understand what I am saying…you cannot “have it all” until you step outside of your SELF and focus on God. HE gave us every blessing that we enjoy! Our job is to be good stewards of these gifts. My challenge is that we examine our priorities – and our hearts. This is not about the quantity in our lives…but rather, the quality of our choices and actions with regard to what we have been given. The goal is to draw close to God…to find Him in our daily living and keep Him near to us at all times. In order to do this, we have to stay busy thinking about God and others…and forgetting ourselves.
Do you feel close to God? Is it all about you – or Him? Is it time to shift your focus? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2013
April 20 ~ John 6:61-65
Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My mother’s husband, Lee, agreed to watch Timothy during my grandmother’s funeral service last month – and to take him to another room to play if he grew restless. As everyone was seated for the service and the opening music began to play, Timothy and Pap-paw Lee entered the sanctuary, and we all heard Timothy say, “But I’m not tired… well, I’m a little tired.” And he actually did nap on Lee’s lap for a while during the funeral service.
Some of us have tried to be “a little Christian” for a long time now. We are willing to serve God when it is convenient. We will follow the teachings of Jesus – if they don’t contradict our own agenda… or if nothing better comes along. I have a book in my collection called The Hard Sayings of Jesus by F.F. Bruce. On the back cover of the book, the description says in part, “Like his original hearers, many people today find Jesus’ sayings hard. Some sayings are hard because they are difficult to understand… others because the demands they make on us are only too clear.”
Today’s scripture passage and surrounding verses from John 6 are examined in this book. In part, Bruce says that Jesus was not telling His disciples to practice cannibalism. Jesus did not literally mean that we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood. But Bruce cites a Twelfth Century French abbot, whom Pope Pius VII titled “Doctor of the Church” – Bernard of Clairvaux – who explains that… “If you suffer with me, you will also reign with me.” We all want to reign with Christ for all eternity, but many of us are unwilling to truly “suffer” with Him in this lifetime. So we have a hard time accepting that ALL who call on Jesus to forgive their sins will be granted salvation and Eternal Life. We can’t comprehend that we truly are to love our enemies and forgive them. Some of us don’t want to accept that Jesus loves believers of all races, creeds, colors, lifestyles and socio-economic levels – that they are equal partakers in His Kingdom with us.
When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” more than a few of us are pretty sure He didn’t mean for us to do this. When He said to “take up your cross and follow Me,” we're fairly certain that He didn’t mean that we had to sacrifice anything or give up any friendships or relationships of any kind – or to change our lifestyle in any way. When Jesus told us that those who have shown love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and kindness to “the least of my brethren” have done this to Him…we’re pretty sure He didn’t mean EVERYONE. Surely we are not to make these generous gestures toward the drunk driver who killed our loved one, a child molester, or even a 19-year-old terrorist in Boston. We Christians find a lot of the things Jesus calls us to do incredibly difficult to actually put into practice! But these very acts of faithful obedience are what define our discipleship and devotion to Christ.
So where does this leave us? Where are you “a little tired” – or acting like you are “a little Christian” …because there really is no such thing as the latter description. Jesus didn’t say, “Follow me whenever and however you feel like it.” He was very clear. He also knew that we could not do this under our own power… because we humans are weak. So God gave us the strength and inner resolve to do this… but we have to faithfully trust Him to help us accomplish this. We have to step up and out and say, “I’m willing to ‘suffer’ with Christ in order to reign with Him. Wherever He calls me to go… whatever I am commanded to do… I’m with Him all the way.” We must obediently and faithfully believe in even “the hard sayings of Jesus” and trust God to grant us wisdom and discernment for difficult situations and choices.
There will be plenty of days when we are all “a little tired” – and even a few when we are bone weary. But we must never tire of serving Jesus... nor fail to give Him less than our very best each and every day. Where have you grown “a little tired” in your faith? Jesus says that all who labor and are burdened can find rest in Him… but we are called to follow Him completely in return. What is your excuse these days? Are you ready to give Him all you’ve got?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My mother’s husband, Lee, agreed to watch Timothy during my grandmother’s funeral service last month – and to take him to another room to play if he grew restless. As everyone was seated for the service and the opening music began to play, Timothy and Pap-paw Lee entered the sanctuary, and we all heard Timothy say, “But I’m not tired… well, I’m a little tired.” And he actually did nap on Lee’s lap for a while during the funeral service.
Some of us have tried to be “a little Christian” for a long time now. We are willing to serve God when it is convenient. We will follow the teachings of Jesus – if they don’t contradict our own agenda… or if nothing better comes along. I have a book in my collection called The Hard Sayings of Jesus by F.F. Bruce. On the back cover of the book, the description says in part, “Like his original hearers, many people today find Jesus’ sayings hard. Some sayings are hard because they are difficult to understand… others because the demands they make on us are only too clear.”
Today’s scripture passage and surrounding verses from John 6 are examined in this book. In part, Bruce says that Jesus was not telling His disciples to practice cannibalism. Jesus did not literally mean that we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood. But Bruce cites a Twelfth Century French abbot, whom Pope Pius VII titled “Doctor of the Church” – Bernard of Clairvaux – who explains that… “If you suffer with me, you will also reign with me.” We all want to reign with Christ for all eternity, but many of us are unwilling to truly “suffer” with Him in this lifetime. So we have a hard time accepting that ALL who call on Jesus to forgive their sins will be granted salvation and Eternal Life. We can’t comprehend that we truly are to love our enemies and forgive them. Some of us don’t want to accept that Jesus loves believers of all races, creeds, colors, lifestyles and socio-economic levels – that they are equal partakers in His Kingdom with us.
When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” more than a few of us are pretty sure He didn’t mean for us to do this. When He said to “take up your cross and follow Me,” we're fairly certain that He didn’t mean that we had to sacrifice anything or give up any friendships or relationships of any kind – or to change our lifestyle in any way. When Jesus told us that those who have shown love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and kindness to “the least of my brethren” have done this to Him…we’re pretty sure He didn’t mean EVERYONE. Surely we are not to make these generous gestures toward the drunk driver who killed our loved one, a child molester, or even a 19-year-old terrorist in Boston. We Christians find a lot of the things Jesus calls us to do incredibly difficult to actually put into practice! But these very acts of faithful obedience are what define our discipleship and devotion to Christ.
So where does this leave us? Where are you “a little tired” – or acting like you are “a little Christian” …because there really is no such thing as the latter description. Jesus didn’t say, “Follow me whenever and however you feel like it.” He was very clear. He also knew that we could not do this under our own power… because we humans are weak. So God gave us the strength and inner resolve to do this… but we have to faithfully trust Him to help us accomplish this. We have to step up and out and say, “I’m willing to ‘suffer’ with Christ in order to reign with Him. Wherever He calls me to go… whatever I am commanded to do… I’m with Him all the way.” We must obediently and faithfully believe in even “the hard sayings of Jesus” and trust God to grant us wisdom and discernment for difficult situations and choices.
There will be plenty of days when we are all “a little tired” – and even a few when we are bone weary. But we must never tire of serving Jesus... nor fail to give Him less than our very best each and every day. Where have you grown “a little tired” in your faith? Jesus says that all who labor and are burdened can find rest in Him… but we are called to follow Him completely in return. What is your excuse these days? Are you ready to give Him all you’ve got?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 7, 2013
Job13:15
God might kill me, but I have no other hope.
I am going to argue my case with him.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I spoke with my cousin JD this morning for quite a while. He is determined to carry on his tent revival ministry, despite the sudden and unexpected death yesterday of his wife and ministry partner, Angie. He reminded me that “my best Bible teacher has been pain.” And JD has endured much pain and challenge in his 30+ years - some of it self-induced, but also some that is simply part of life… the death of his mother to breast cancer when he was about twenty, the near-fatal logging accident four years ago, and several life-threatening accidents and illnesses involving his dad, just to name a few.
JD told me, “The devil has thrown prison, bankruptcy, near-death, drug abuse and more at me… and each time, I’ve shown him that He can’t beat me.” Now JD faces a tremendous hurdle… how to carry on his ministry without Angie. He is already “arguing his case”… planning his return to the mission field in Florida, as he and Angie had hoped to do later this month. As we talked, I heard such sadness and grief in JD’s voice… but I also detected a spirit of hope.
Here is some of what we shared… and what I want you to take from all of this today…
There is a profound difference between saying that you trust God, and truly TRUSTING Him. If you have ever been knocked to your knees in some way and gotten back up, you know the power of God to rescue and sustain you. Are you calling on that power as you move forward? When you plead your case before God, can you genuinely say that you have completely surrendered and relied on Him fully for strength and sustenance? If you or I woke up in the next few minutes in heaven, would we be able to plead our case with God as His faithful servant? Or do we still have work to do? I don’t believe our work for the LORD ever ends… or that we can possibly do enough for God in this lifetime… but our gauge of this and His are different. Satisfying God and fully yielding to His will is ALL that matters! How are you doing these days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God might kill me, but I have no other hope.
I am going to argue my case with him.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I spoke with my cousin JD this morning for quite a while. He is determined to carry on his tent revival ministry, despite the sudden and unexpected death yesterday of his wife and ministry partner, Angie. He reminded me that “my best Bible teacher has been pain.” And JD has endured much pain and challenge in his 30+ years - some of it self-induced, but also some that is simply part of life… the death of his mother to breast cancer when he was about twenty, the near-fatal logging accident four years ago, and several life-threatening accidents and illnesses involving his dad, just to name a few.
JD told me, “The devil has thrown prison, bankruptcy, near-death, drug abuse and more at me… and each time, I’ve shown him that He can’t beat me.” Now JD faces a tremendous hurdle… how to carry on his ministry without Angie. He is already “arguing his case”… planning his return to the mission field in Florida, as he and Angie had hoped to do later this month. As we talked, I heard such sadness and grief in JD’s voice… but I also detected a spirit of hope.
Here is some of what we shared… and what I want you to take from all of this today…
- When sadness and tragedy occurs in our life, it is okay to grieve – even as a faith-filled Christian. Jesus grieved over the death of Lazarus. God understands our pain… and He grieves for us in our heartache. But He also sustains us and gives us hope and strength.
- Even in death, Angie’s ministry continues. If you could read her Facebook page, you would see that she continues to be the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth to those who knew and loved her. Are you living in such a way that the same could be said of you?
- God may allow us to endure tragic circumstances… illness, accidents, debt, natural disaster, and even loss of life… but He never leaves us. He provides us with a protective shield – sometimes in the form of shock and numbness for a time. He gives us the fortitude and courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other – and to continue serving Him.
- Healing takes many forms. We are elated when healing comes in an earthly form… but ultimate restoration comes in Heaven. So we must celebrate today that Angie has received the definitive reward… she has seen the face of Jesus, and she is radiant and exquisite in His presence.
There is a profound difference between saying that you trust God, and truly TRUSTING Him. If you have ever been knocked to your knees in some way and gotten back up, you know the power of God to rescue and sustain you. Are you calling on that power as you move forward? When you plead your case before God, can you genuinely say that you have completely surrendered and relied on Him fully for strength and sustenance? If you or I woke up in the next few minutes in heaven, would we be able to plead our case with God as His faithful servant? Or do we still have work to do? I don’t believe our work for the LORD ever ends… or that we can possibly do enough for God in this lifetime… but our gauge of this and His are different. Satisfying God and fully yielding to His will is ALL that matters! How are you doing these days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 24, 2012
Galatians 2:19-21
What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.
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.
It’s Christmas Eve, and like many people, we are scurrying to do last-minute things before the family arrives for dinner and holiday festivities. There was a time, not so many years ago, when I would have thrown myself into a tizzy…cooking, cleaning, decorating and getting everything “just so” for the arrival of my family and friends. I did clean our house and decorate - and there will be a delicious potluck meal… although traditional turkey and ham are not on the menu this year! But my focus has definitely shifted from concentrating on everything being “Christmas-card perfect” to spending time with those who visit and truly enjoying the hours we will share together.
For the first time in at least 15 years, I did not write a “Christmas newsletter” to enclose in holiday cards… and I scaled back my Christmas card list significantly. I still care deeply about every person on the list… but I’m finding other ways throughout the year to let them know this, so I don’t feel that a card during the Christmas season is as necessary as I once did. Instead, I spent the two-plus days it would have taken me to address these cards to play with Timothy and Zola and introduce them to the wonder and excitement of Christmas.
Last Christmas Eve, we got everything ready for a big holiday dinner… decorated the house…filled the stockings… sent the cards and prepared for an evening of fun and festivities. Then my grandmother fell on our driveway as she stepped from the car and suffered a bloody puncture wound and concussion. We ate in shifts… and my grandmother spent two nights in the hospital. She never made it inside our house. That was when the “Christmas rules” totally flew out the door for me.
Sitting in a hospital room late on Christmas Eve, looking at my frail little grandmother with her head wrapped in a turban of gauze, I watched nurses and aides scurry in and out to check on her. They were not home enjoying a family dinner… they were ministering to others in God’s name. The next morning, a very cheerful aide came in to straighten the room. She was bubbling with “Merry Christmas!” greetings. She could have been grumpy and full of complaints about missing Christmas morning with her children and extended family. Instead, she did everything possible to make my grandmother comfortable and to bring her cheer.
THIS is what God asks of us. He wants us to toss the “rules” of the world to the curb and focus on being the hands and feet of Jesus. The true celebration of Christ’s birth is to bring joy, grace, mercy, peace and comfort to others. It won’t matter if there is dust on our furniture or we don’t have turkey and ham this year. What will matter is that we gather and share this holiday… that we revel in the surprise and amazement of the little ones as they open their packages and stare at the lights… that we hug each other and thank God that we are together, with plenty to eat, warm beds in which to sleep, and all of our basic needs more than met.
Each one of us celebrates Christmas for a few of the 365 days in each year. But what we really need to do is to celebrate Christmas every day… to surrender our ego and focus on serving Jesus and sharing His love with others. If we don’t do this, the Apostle Paul is right… Jesus came to earth, suffered, bled and died for nothing. I don’t believe for one minute that this is the case - do you? What will you do to demonstrate this today… and in the year ahead?
I pray that your Christmas Eve is blessed… that you share love, peace and joy with at least one other person. If you are spending the holidays alone, pick up the phone and call someone to say, “I love you.” Attend a worship service and celebrate Christ’s birth with others. Visit a shut-in or someone in the nursing home… or spend some quiet time talking to God and thanking Him for all of His blessings in your life. But let this be the year that you toss “rules” to the curb and really start to live in Christ Jesus. Make this the Christmas that you truly begin to celebrate Him! Merry Christmas Eve!
©2012 Debbie Robus
What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.
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.
It’s Christmas Eve, and like many people, we are scurrying to do last-minute things before the family arrives for dinner and holiday festivities. There was a time, not so many years ago, when I would have thrown myself into a tizzy…cooking, cleaning, decorating and getting everything “just so” for the arrival of my family and friends. I did clean our house and decorate - and there will be a delicious potluck meal… although traditional turkey and ham are not on the menu this year! But my focus has definitely shifted from concentrating on everything being “Christmas-card perfect” to spending time with those who visit and truly enjoying the hours we will share together.
For the first time in at least 15 years, I did not write a “Christmas newsletter” to enclose in holiday cards… and I scaled back my Christmas card list significantly. I still care deeply about every person on the list… but I’m finding other ways throughout the year to let them know this, so I don’t feel that a card during the Christmas season is as necessary as I once did. Instead, I spent the two-plus days it would have taken me to address these cards to play with Timothy and Zola and introduce them to the wonder and excitement of Christmas.
Last Christmas Eve, we got everything ready for a big holiday dinner… decorated the house…filled the stockings… sent the cards and prepared for an evening of fun and festivities. Then my grandmother fell on our driveway as she stepped from the car and suffered a bloody puncture wound and concussion. We ate in shifts… and my grandmother spent two nights in the hospital. She never made it inside our house. That was when the “Christmas rules” totally flew out the door for me.
Sitting in a hospital room late on Christmas Eve, looking at my frail little grandmother with her head wrapped in a turban of gauze, I watched nurses and aides scurry in and out to check on her. They were not home enjoying a family dinner… they were ministering to others in God’s name. The next morning, a very cheerful aide came in to straighten the room. She was bubbling with “Merry Christmas!” greetings. She could have been grumpy and full of complaints about missing Christmas morning with her children and extended family. Instead, she did everything possible to make my grandmother comfortable and to bring her cheer.
THIS is what God asks of us. He wants us to toss the “rules” of the world to the curb and focus on being the hands and feet of Jesus. The true celebration of Christ’s birth is to bring joy, grace, mercy, peace and comfort to others. It won’t matter if there is dust on our furniture or we don’t have turkey and ham this year. What will matter is that we gather and share this holiday… that we revel in the surprise and amazement of the little ones as they open their packages and stare at the lights… that we hug each other and thank God that we are together, with plenty to eat, warm beds in which to sleep, and all of our basic needs more than met.
Each one of us celebrates Christmas for a few of the 365 days in each year. But what we really need to do is to celebrate Christmas every day… to surrender our ego and focus on serving Jesus and sharing His love with others. If we don’t do this, the Apostle Paul is right… Jesus came to earth, suffered, bled and died for nothing. I don’t believe for one minute that this is the case - do you? What will you do to demonstrate this today… and in the year ahead?
I pray that your Christmas Eve is blessed… that you share love, peace and joy with at least one other person. If you are spending the holidays alone, pick up the phone and call someone to say, “I love you.” Attend a worship service and celebrate Christ’s birth with others. Visit a shut-in or someone in the nursing home… or spend some quiet time talking to God and thanking Him for all of His blessings in your life. But let this be the year that you toss “rules” to the curb and really start to live in Christ Jesus. Make this the Christmas that you truly begin to celebrate Him! Merry Christmas Eve!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 12, 2012
Luke 9:23
Then Jesus said to all the people: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Whew! Was I ever “brought up short” about this today! I was helping my grandmother with her lunch at the assisted living facility when an aide came to sit at the table and help feed another resident. I would guess she was in her late 30s or early 40s. She asked if I was ready for Christmas, and we began to visit. She told me about her four-year-old grand-daughter who is coming… and what she had asked for (and this woman had purchased) as gifts. As she rose to help another resident, she said, “Since I lost my husband, Christmas just isn’t the same.” I asked how long he had been gone, and she said, “a few years… he suffered a heart attack while we were en route to the hospital to see about a family member, and he died in my arms.” I swallowed hard to fight back tears. I told her how sorry I was, and she smiled and wished me a good day as she left.
The aide who came to replace her at the table sat down, and I said, “She just told me about her husband.” This woman looked like maybe she was in her 50s, and she said, “Yes, we commiserate a lot, because I lost my husband, too.” This woman went on to tell me that her husband died a year ago of cancer. She was equally friendly and positive as she talked about her grandchildren and caring for others. Both women were incredibly sweet and attentive to my grandmother and to her table-mate.
When I looked at my scripture outline for these devos and read the verse for today, I knew why God placed me at the facility during lunch. Even in the midst of my frenzy to get things done for Christmas… my worries and concerns about my grandmother, who appears to be in her last weeks, if not days… the general busyness of our day and all of the myriad of other “stressors” we each encounter… nothing is about ME… or YOU! It’s about serving Jesus… being His hands and feet for others… and sharing His Good News at every turn.
The question today is… “How are you doing?” Are you joyful and patient, positive and helpful? Or are you a miserable example of what it means to be a Disciple of Christ? Do you go around with the weight of the world on your shoulders… are you a drag to be around – or a delight? Is everything about you and your troubles… or are you genuinely interested in the well-being of others? Do you bother to find out about their day or what is going on in their life? Or are you too busy letting others know – either by body language, your comments, or both - just how bad you’ve got it?
Jesus is calling us to take up His cross and follow Him… to lay aside the worries of our day and let Him handle them… to focus on loving others and showing care and concern for what is challenging or frustrating them – and to share their joys and triumphs. Again I ask… “How are you doing?” It would seem that most of us have plenty of room for improvement in this area. Are you ready to follow Jesus completely? Are YOU ready to really focus on serving Him in everything? Who needs to know this day that you truly care? Isn’t it time you showed them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Then Jesus said to all the people: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Whew! Was I ever “brought up short” about this today! I was helping my grandmother with her lunch at the assisted living facility when an aide came to sit at the table and help feed another resident. I would guess she was in her late 30s or early 40s. She asked if I was ready for Christmas, and we began to visit. She told me about her four-year-old grand-daughter who is coming… and what she had asked for (and this woman had purchased) as gifts. As she rose to help another resident, she said, “Since I lost my husband, Christmas just isn’t the same.” I asked how long he had been gone, and she said, “a few years… he suffered a heart attack while we were en route to the hospital to see about a family member, and he died in my arms.” I swallowed hard to fight back tears. I told her how sorry I was, and she smiled and wished me a good day as she left.
The aide who came to replace her at the table sat down, and I said, “She just told me about her husband.” This woman looked like maybe she was in her 50s, and she said, “Yes, we commiserate a lot, because I lost my husband, too.” This woman went on to tell me that her husband died a year ago of cancer. She was equally friendly and positive as she talked about her grandchildren and caring for others. Both women were incredibly sweet and attentive to my grandmother and to her table-mate.
When I looked at my scripture outline for these devos and read the verse for today, I knew why God placed me at the facility during lunch. Even in the midst of my frenzy to get things done for Christmas… my worries and concerns about my grandmother, who appears to be in her last weeks, if not days… the general busyness of our day and all of the myriad of other “stressors” we each encounter… nothing is about ME… or YOU! It’s about serving Jesus… being His hands and feet for others… and sharing His Good News at every turn.
The question today is… “How are you doing?” Are you joyful and patient, positive and helpful? Or are you a miserable example of what it means to be a Disciple of Christ? Do you go around with the weight of the world on your shoulders… are you a drag to be around – or a delight? Is everything about you and your troubles… or are you genuinely interested in the well-being of others? Do you bother to find out about their day or what is going on in their life? Or are you too busy letting others know – either by body language, your comments, or both - just how bad you’ve got it?
Jesus is calling us to take up His cross and follow Him… to lay aside the worries of our day and let Him handle them… to focus on loving others and showing care and concern for what is challenging or frustrating them – and to share their joys and triumphs. Again I ask… “How are you doing?” It would seem that most of us have plenty of room for improvement in this area. Are you ready to follow Jesus completely? Are YOU ready to really focus on serving Him in everything? Who needs to know this day that you truly care? Isn’t it time you showed them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 9, 2012
Matthew 10:32-39
“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I’ll cover for you?
“Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy. I’ve come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don’t deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don’t deserve me.
“If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Someone was telling me recently about visiting the home of a friend, and there was a pillow in one room that said, “It’s all about ME!” Sadly, this is not a joke for some of us! Many people function in this world under the assumption that it truly is all about them. Their focus is on their own agenda… the next purchase…who is paying attention to them… what is happening in their own little circle… and how they appear to others – on every level.
Forget asking these people to change their plans or forego a “treat” for themselves to help someone else. Remember, it’s all about them! Never mind asking them to put the needs of another person ahead of their own… or to say, I had planned to give such-and-such to my parents or my child… but this person is in dire straits and needs it worse, so I will proceed in a different direction.
When it comes to our Christian Discipleship, even more of us have a problem in this area. Ask yourself… “Would I be willing to forego a daily/semi-weekly cup of specialty coffee or a large soft drink in order to sponsor a child in Compassion, International or help another worthwhile charity? Could I give up an hour or so a week of doing something I really enjoy in order to help someone who had a physical need I could meet… running errands, help with lawn maintenance, delivering Meals on Wheels, giving a shut-in a ride somewhere, etc.? What if I turned off my television each day for one hour and spent that time in quiet prayer and meditation for others?”
I don’t know what God is calling you to do. I don’t know where your path to Discipleship leads you. But I do know that a lot of us are far less obedient and selfless in these areas than we ought to be. When it comes to our Christian witness and Discipleship, more than a handful of us could sport a pillow that says “It’s all about ME.”
I’m asking you to examine your heart… and your lifestyle… and see where you are acting selfishly and with a self-centered heart. Then ask God to help you turn things around. Start operating from a place of incredible generosity… the old “give until it hurts – and then some” mentality. I’m not talking about money, per se… unless that is what God asks you to give. I’m talking time, talents, energy - whatever He requests. Be willing to give…and then give some more. Stand up for God, and He will stand up for you! Life may not always be cozy,but you will be blessed. You will know that you can someday stand before God with honor and the confidence that you went all the way with Him. You gave everything you had to give… and then some.
If it’s all about GOD, He will see that your needs are met in the bargain. And when God meets your needs, nothing is lacking…and He is truly enough. Aren’t you ready for this? Won’t you ask God to help you change your focus?
©2012 Debbie Robus
“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I’ll cover for you?
“Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy. I’ve come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don’t deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don’t deserve me.
“If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Someone was telling me recently about visiting the home of a friend, and there was a pillow in one room that said, “It’s all about ME!” Sadly, this is not a joke for some of us! Many people function in this world under the assumption that it truly is all about them. Their focus is on their own agenda… the next purchase…who is paying attention to them… what is happening in their own little circle… and how they appear to others – on every level.
Forget asking these people to change their plans or forego a “treat” for themselves to help someone else. Remember, it’s all about them! Never mind asking them to put the needs of another person ahead of their own… or to say, I had planned to give such-and-such to my parents or my child… but this person is in dire straits and needs it worse, so I will proceed in a different direction.
When it comes to our Christian Discipleship, even more of us have a problem in this area. Ask yourself… “Would I be willing to forego a daily/semi-weekly cup of specialty coffee or a large soft drink in order to sponsor a child in Compassion, International or help another worthwhile charity? Could I give up an hour or so a week of doing something I really enjoy in order to help someone who had a physical need I could meet… running errands, help with lawn maintenance, delivering Meals on Wheels, giving a shut-in a ride somewhere, etc.? What if I turned off my television each day for one hour and spent that time in quiet prayer and meditation for others?”
I don’t know what God is calling you to do. I don’t know where your path to Discipleship leads you. But I do know that a lot of us are far less obedient and selfless in these areas than we ought to be. When it comes to our Christian witness and Discipleship, more than a handful of us could sport a pillow that says “It’s all about ME.”
I’m asking you to examine your heart… and your lifestyle… and see where you are acting selfishly and with a self-centered heart. Then ask God to help you turn things around. Start operating from a place of incredible generosity… the old “give until it hurts – and then some” mentality. I’m not talking about money, per se… unless that is what God asks you to give. I’m talking time, talents, energy - whatever He requests. Be willing to give…and then give some more. Stand up for God, and He will stand up for you! Life may not always be cozy,but you will be blessed. You will know that you can someday stand before God with honor and the confidence that you went all the way with Him. You gave everything you had to give… and then some.
If it’s all about GOD, He will see that your needs are met in the bargain. And when God meets your needs, nothing is lacking…and He is truly enough. Aren’t you ready for this? Won’t you ask God to help you change your focus?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 18, 2012
Matthew 4:18-22
While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. Jesus said to them, “Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him too. Right away they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One day a few months before my grandmother moved to the assisted living facility, I drove over to her house, and she wasn’t there. The door was unlocked, her purse was where she kept it, as was her walker… but she was nowhere to be found. After several minutes of frantically searching through her house and around the yard outside, I decided she had gone somewhere with a friend. If she had left for a walk around the block, she would have taken her walker. Sure enough, in a few more minutes a truck pulled up, and my grandmother and two feeble, elderly, and most unwell friends emerged. They had all been to buy some peaches somewhere out in the countryside. I reminded my grandmother that she had agreed not to ride with these people because they were in such poor health, and she said, “… but they wanted me to go with them.”
My grandmother was a “gad-about” in her time. We had a running joke that even on her sickest day, she would get up and go with the first person who stopped by and invited her. It didn’t matter who it was or where they were going, really… or in this case, that her “driver” had no business being behind the wheel of a vehicle. Someone said, “Come with me!” And she did!
If only we were as eager to follow Jesus! If only we were eager and willing to get up on our worst day and do whatever He needed us to do! But we find all sorts of excuses, don’t we? “Not today, LORD. Maybe next week – or next year. I’m not able… I’m not well… I’m not dressed nicely enough… I’m having a bad hair day…I’m busy…I’m not interested.”
When we come to the point where we can drop what we are doing to follow Jesus and serve Him, who we are as a Christian disciple changes dramatically. Total obedience to God is one of the hardest things for Christians to attain. Part of our resistance lies in our human selfishness… and part lies in the devil’s ability to fill us with fear and to convince us that following Jesus will cost us – freedom, friends, ridicule, and more. And he’ll tell you that the last thing you want to do is to “give up” anything in your already great life.
In truth, the devil wants you to stay right where you are… to never go anywhere. He wants you stuck in a rut… focused on yourself, and operating in fear. If you really, truly drop everything and follow Jesus, be prepared for some tough times, because Satan will fight like mad to get you to quit and go home. But also get ready to experience true joy and blessings. When we are fully obedient to God, even when what He asks us to do makes no sense at all, we experience real abundance. I can’t explain it fully – you have to experience this for yourself. But the best description I can offer is that complete surrender to God will bring you a joy and peace you have never known before. Even on your worst day with God, you will feel better than you did sitting at home with the devil.
So get up… get going. When Jesus says, “Come with me,” be ready to roll! Don’t look back… look to Heaven! Don’t ask, “Why, LORD?” Ask, “What next?” Make this the day you turn the corner and truly surrender to Jesus. Operate fully in the will of God, with total abandon… and experience complete joy in the LORD. Are you ready to really follow Jesus? When He calls…will you answer?
©2012 Debbie Robus
While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. Jesus said to them, “Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him too. Right away they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One day a few months before my grandmother moved to the assisted living facility, I drove over to her house, and she wasn’t there. The door was unlocked, her purse was where she kept it, as was her walker… but she was nowhere to be found. After several minutes of frantically searching through her house and around the yard outside, I decided she had gone somewhere with a friend. If she had left for a walk around the block, she would have taken her walker. Sure enough, in a few more minutes a truck pulled up, and my grandmother and two feeble, elderly, and most unwell friends emerged. They had all been to buy some peaches somewhere out in the countryside. I reminded my grandmother that she had agreed not to ride with these people because they were in such poor health, and she said, “… but they wanted me to go with them.”
My grandmother was a “gad-about” in her time. We had a running joke that even on her sickest day, she would get up and go with the first person who stopped by and invited her. It didn’t matter who it was or where they were going, really… or in this case, that her “driver” had no business being behind the wheel of a vehicle. Someone said, “Come with me!” And she did!
If only we were as eager to follow Jesus! If only we were eager and willing to get up on our worst day and do whatever He needed us to do! But we find all sorts of excuses, don’t we? “Not today, LORD. Maybe next week – or next year. I’m not able… I’m not well… I’m not dressed nicely enough… I’m having a bad hair day…I’m busy…I’m not interested.”
When we come to the point where we can drop what we are doing to follow Jesus and serve Him, who we are as a Christian disciple changes dramatically. Total obedience to God is one of the hardest things for Christians to attain. Part of our resistance lies in our human selfishness… and part lies in the devil’s ability to fill us with fear and to convince us that following Jesus will cost us – freedom, friends, ridicule, and more. And he’ll tell you that the last thing you want to do is to “give up” anything in your already great life.
In truth, the devil wants you to stay right where you are… to never go anywhere. He wants you stuck in a rut… focused on yourself, and operating in fear. If you really, truly drop everything and follow Jesus, be prepared for some tough times, because Satan will fight like mad to get you to quit and go home. But also get ready to experience true joy and blessings. When we are fully obedient to God, even when what He asks us to do makes no sense at all, we experience real abundance. I can’t explain it fully – you have to experience this for yourself. But the best description I can offer is that complete surrender to God will bring you a joy and peace you have never known before. Even on your worst day with God, you will feel better than you did sitting at home with the devil.
So get up… get going. When Jesus says, “Come with me,” be ready to roll! Don’t look back… look to Heaven! Don’t ask, “Why, LORD?” Ask, “What next?” Make this the day you turn the corner and truly surrender to Jesus. Operate fully in the will of God, with total abandon… and experience complete joy in the LORD. Are you ready to really follow Jesus? When He calls…will you answer?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 7, 2012
Galatians 2:19-20
What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.
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.
Our friends’ daughter is getting married soon, and I am part of a group hosting a bridal shower for her. One of my responsibilities was to address the invitations. In doing so, questions came up about the “rules of etiquette” for addressing invitations. For instance, if a mother and daughter who live at the same address are both invited, do you send one invitation or two? (Answer: Proper etiquette dictates that anyone in the household over age 16 get his/her own invitation!) Do you include a return address on the envelope? (Answer: Yes… you include the address of the shower host/hostess.)
With knowledge of the “rules for what is proper” in hand, I addressed the envelopes and mailed the invitations. This was a case where following the rules was not a bad idea… but it was fairly insignificant in the overall scheme of things.
On the other hand, some of the hard, fast rules that Christians like to hold to have very little to do with living for Jesus… and more to do with convention and traditions created by human beings. One example of this is mealtime prayers. I know people who insist on a pre-meal prayer, whether they are at their own dining table or in a crowded restaurant. I grew up in a household where pre-meal prayers happened every day… and I am as grateful as the next person for the food God puts before me. But I have been in crowded restaurants where someone at my table insisted on praying before we eat, and I’ve looked up to see a waiter standing awkwardly, waiting to set down one last dish or to refill drink glasses.
It isn’t as if we simply MUST pray at this particular moment, as much as we are either so bound by the “laws” of our faith – or in some cases, we want to “witness” to others by our prayer. If praying before we eat is truly about communion with God to thank Him, why not stop and take a few seconds to offer a silent blessing, regardless of what others are doing at the table.
By the same token, people have gotten so upset about “taking prayer out of school.” Nobody has taken prayer out of school. Children and adults alike are still free to pray any time they please… just not out loud and forcing everyone else to participate. Matthew 6:5-6 says "And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”
Still others think that all “good Christians” attend church services every Sunday – and some even believe you must return on Sunday night and Wednesday! While attending worship services is a wonderful day to grow and fellowship with other believers, the act of attending a worship service does not necessarily bring you into closer communion with Jesus – much less impress Him while you warm a pew!
The bottom line is that there are times when we need to pay attention to the “laws” and use proper etiquette… and there are times when we need to stop putting on a show and surrender to Jesus. Until we are willing to leave our ego at the door and lay ourselves bare before Him, the real work He wants to do in and through us cannot begin. Today, as we look toward Resurrection Sunday and reflect on the sacrifices Jesus made for us on the cross, I can think of no better time for us to strip down to the nuts and bolts… to set aside all of the barriers, stumbling blocks - and yes, rules - that have prevented us from getting real about Christ and our relationship with Him.
When we stop trying to impress God and please others with our actions and behaviors, we are free to allow Jesus to operate fully within us. When we set aside our ego and the “rules of religion” and focus on Jesus Christ alone, we become more like Him… and fully validate all that He has done on our behalf. And that is when our true relationship with Christ can begin. Where are you in your journey? Are your ego and the “laws of religion” central to your faith? Are you striving to impress God – and others? Or have you truly been crucified with Christ? Does Jesus live in you today? Isn’t this a good time to surrender to Him?
©2012 Debbie Robus
What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.
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.
Our friends’ daughter is getting married soon, and I am part of a group hosting a bridal shower for her. One of my responsibilities was to address the invitations. In doing so, questions came up about the “rules of etiquette” for addressing invitations. For instance, if a mother and daughter who live at the same address are both invited, do you send one invitation or two? (Answer: Proper etiquette dictates that anyone in the household over age 16 get his/her own invitation!) Do you include a return address on the envelope? (Answer: Yes… you include the address of the shower host/hostess.)
With knowledge of the “rules for what is proper” in hand, I addressed the envelopes and mailed the invitations. This was a case where following the rules was not a bad idea… but it was fairly insignificant in the overall scheme of things.
On the other hand, some of the hard, fast rules that Christians like to hold to have very little to do with living for Jesus… and more to do with convention and traditions created by human beings. One example of this is mealtime prayers. I know people who insist on a pre-meal prayer, whether they are at their own dining table or in a crowded restaurant. I grew up in a household where pre-meal prayers happened every day… and I am as grateful as the next person for the food God puts before me. But I have been in crowded restaurants where someone at my table insisted on praying before we eat, and I’ve looked up to see a waiter standing awkwardly, waiting to set down one last dish or to refill drink glasses.
It isn’t as if we simply MUST pray at this particular moment, as much as we are either so bound by the “laws” of our faith – or in some cases, we want to “witness” to others by our prayer. If praying before we eat is truly about communion with God to thank Him, why not stop and take a few seconds to offer a silent blessing, regardless of what others are doing at the table.
By the same token, people have gotten so upset about “taking prayer out of school.” Nobody has taken prayer out of school. Children and adults alike are still free to pray any time they please… just not out loud and forcing everyone else to participate. Matthew 6:5-6 says "And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”
Still others think that all “good Christians” attend church services every Sunday – and some even believe you must return on Sunday night and Wednesday! While attending worship services is a wonderful day to grow and fellowship with other believers, the act of attending a worship service does not necessarily bring you into closer communion with Jesus – much less impress Him while you warm a pew!
The bottom line is that there are times when we need to pay attention to the “laws” and use proper etiquette… and there are times when we need to stop putting on a show and surrender to Jesus. Until we are willing to leave our ego at the door and lay ourselves bare before Him, the real work He wants to do in and through us cannot begin. Today, as we look toward Resurrection Sunday and reflect on the sacrifices Jesus made for us on the cross, I can think of no better time for us to strip down to the nuts and bolts… to set aside all of the barriers, stumbling blocks - and yes, rules - that have prevented us from getting real about Christ and our relationship with Him.
When we stop trying to impress God and please others with our actions and behaviors, we are free to allow Jesus to operate fully within us. When we set aside our ego and the “rules of religion” and focus on Jesus Christ alone, we become more like Him… and fully validate all that He has done on our behalf. And that is when our true relationship with Christ can begin. Where are you in your journey? Are your ego and the “laws of religion” central to your faith? Are you striving to impress God – and others? Or have you truly been crucified with Christ? Does Jesus live in you today? Isn’t this a good time to surrender to Him?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 26, 2012
1 John 3:7-10
Children, don't be fooled. Anyone who does right is good, just like Christ himself. Anyone who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done. God's children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so that they cannot keep on sinning. You can tell God's children from the devil's children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On the reality TV show, “What Not to Wear,” the fashion experts take all of the clothing in a person’s closet and analyze each piece. Most, if not all of it, ends up in a symbolic trash can. The person with such poor fashion sense is told, “You can never wear this again.” A lot of these people protest, beg, plead, and even cry. They want to keep “just one thing,” for “old time’s sake”. But the fashion experts are insistent that the old things must go. When the person is “made over,” they usually comment that they would not want their old things in the closet again. They see how much better the “new person” they have become truly is… and often the transformation is internal as well as external.
In terms of our Christian faith, we have been “made over.” And many of us have tossed our “old life” into the trash can. The trouble is… a lot of us kept one or two things in the back of the closet… for sentimental reasons…out of fear… or “just because.” And we keep dragging these things back out from time to time and wearing them!
You may have read today’s passage and asked, “If God saved us through the blood of Jesus, why are we still bothered by the devil?” In my prayer journal/sermon notes, I have written that the word “destroy” is a Greek root word – luo – which means “to undo and loosen.” Jesus “loosed” us from the curse of sin. He did not “half-save” us… but He didn’t wipe it out the curse of sin, because we have to do that by choosing to follow God completely. It may seem like we are free from the bondage of sin, doing things our way and receiving blessings… but until we completely follow the will of God, we will never experience His full blessings.
If you want to be blessed, to prosper and fully lose the curses of your old sinful life, you must obey God’s word. You must ask Him to strengthen you with the courage to dump ALL of your old ways in the “trash can” and “dress yourself” in His grace, mercy, love, and righteousness.
Too many of us are bogged down by the baggage of old sins that we cannot seem to surrender. We often make excuses… “it’s always been this way”…”this is as good as it gets”…”this is all I deserve”…”I’m doing the best I can.” In truth, God has so much more He wants to give us… we deserve more as His heirs… and until we completely surrender to His will, we can do much more to draw closer to Him!
Ask God to show you how and where you need to shed roadblocks to living fully in His blessings. Listen for His answers. Trust Him to give you the strength and courage to take whatever steps are necessary… and put on His full armor. Dress yourself in the glory of the LORD, and get ready to be amazed by His blessings upon the “new you”… and the lives of those you encounter.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Children, don't be fooled. Anyone who does right is good, just like Christ himself. Anyone who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done. God's children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so that they cannot keep on sinning. You can tell God's children from the devil's children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On the reality TV show, “What Not to Wear,” the fashion experts take all of the clothing in a person’s closet and analyze each piece. Most, if not all of it, ends up in a symbolic trash can. The person with such poor fashion sense is told, “You can never wear this again.” A lot of these people protest, beg, plead, and even cry. They want to keep “just one thing,” for “old time’s sake”. But the fashion experts are insistent that the old things must go. When the person is “made over,” they usually comment that they would not want their old things in the closet again. They see how much better the “new person” they have become truly is… and often the transformation is internal as well as external.
In terms of our Christian faith, we have been “made over.” And many of us have tossed our “old life” into the trash can. The trouble is… a lot of us kept one or two things in the back of the closet… for sentimental reasons…out of fear… or “just because.” And we keep dragging these things back out from time to time and wearing them!
You may have read today’s passage and asked, “If God saved us through the blood of Jesus, why are we still bothered by the devil?” In my prayer journal/sermon notes, I have written that the word “destroy” is a Greek root word – luo – which means “to undo and loosen.” Jesus “loosed” us from the curse of sin. He did not “half-save” us… but He didn’t wipe it out the curse of sin, because we have to do that by choosing to follow God completely. It may seem like we are free from the bondage of sin, doing things our way and receiving blessings… but until we completely follow the will of God, we will never experience His full blessings.
If you want to be blessed, to prosper and fully lose the curses of your old sinful life, you must obey God’s word. You must ask Him to strengthen you with the courage to dump ALL of your old ways in the “trash can” and “dress yourself” in His grace, mercy, love, and righteousness.
Too many of us are bogged down by the baggage of old sins that we cannot seem to surrender. We often make excuses… “it’s always been this way”…”this is as good as it gets”…”this is all I deserve”…”I’m doing the best I can.” In truth, God has so much more He wants to give us… we deserve more as His heirs… and until we completely surrender to His will, we can do much more to draw closer to Him!
Ask God to show you how and where you need to shed roadblocks to living fully in His blessings. Listen for His answers. Trust Him to give you the strength and courage to take whatever steps are necessary… and put on His full armor. Dress yourself in the glory of the LORD, and get ready to be amazed by His blessings upon the “new you”… and the lives of those you encounter.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 23, 2012
2 Chronicles 6:28-31
When disasters strike, famine or catastrophe, crop failure or disease, locust or beetle, or when an enemy attacks their defenses—calamity of any sort—any prayer that's prayed from anyone at all among your people Israel, their hearts penetrated by disaster, hands and arms thrown out for help to this Temple, listen from your home in heaven, forgive and reward us: reward each life and circumstance, for you know each life from the inside, (you're the only one with such inside knowledge!), so they'll live before you in lifelong reverence and believing obedience on this land you gave our ancestors.
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.
My maternal grandmother’s uncle, Sam Dial, operated the local livery, where he stabled horses, rented cars and wagons, and served as something of the “cab driver” of the day. When a devastating tornado ravaged our town on Thanksgiving Day 1926, my Uncle Sam and his wife, Lucy, took a truck to the western part of town to collect the dead and dying. In the book Time and the River by Evalena Berry, Aunt Lucy is quoted as saying, “I helped Sam, and we loaded them in those trucks. I carried their feet and he carried their head and we loaded them in there like cord wood. We took them to the Court House and laid them out. When I got home you couldn’t tell what my dress was but mud and blood. That was the ’26 tornado.”
In all, 19 people lost their lives that day. My grandmother was 17 years old when this tornado tore through Heber Springs. She stood on the street and watched her aunt and uncle pass with the truckload of bodies, and she never forgot the gruesome image. This partly explains why we spent much of our childhood hiding in a storm cellar at the first hint of a dark cloud on the horizon. My grandmother was forever changed by this horrific event.
Others have been transformed by involvement with a drunk driver, a catastrophic illness, the loss of a loved one, and more – calamities of any sort. And many have reached out to God with a heart penetrated by disaster. Some are only temporarily transformed, while others are changed for good. But only God can truly know the person’s heart. When we reach out to Him in a genuine spirit of humility and yearning for His help… comfort… rescue… restoration… He answers. God knows when we are sincere in our desire for His help – and for change - and He stands ready to deliver us.
I don’t know your heart. Some people experience disaster and devastation at a young age… some not at all… and some have a lifetime that seems to be filled with such events. Whatever your situation… regardless of your “stage” in life… God stands ready to hear your prayers and meet your needs. If your heart is pure… if you truly desire His answers, He will give them, according to His will for your life.
Psalm 56:8 says “You have kept record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them.”* Give your tears to God today… ask Him to forgive your sins and repair your heart. Humbly and reverently seek Him, and He will reward your life and its circumstances. Give God your devotion and trust, and walk in confidence that He is guiding your steps and rewarding your obedience.
©2012 Debbie Robus
* Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When disasters strike, famine or catastrophe, crop failure or disease, locust or beetle, or when an enemy attacks their defenses—calamity of any sort—any prayer that's prayed from anyone at all among your people Israel, their hearts penetrated by disaster, hands and arms thrown out for help to this Temple, listen from your home in heaven, forgive and reward us: reward each life and circumstance, for you know each life from the inside, (you're the only one with such inside knowledge!), so they'll live before you in lifelong reverence and believing obedience on this land you gave our ancestors.
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.
My maternal grandmother’s uncle, Sam Dial, operated the local livery, where he stabled horses, rented cars and wagons, and served as something of the “cab driver” of the day. When a devastating tornado ravaged our town on Thanksgiving Day 1926, my Uncle Sam and his wife, Lucy, took a truck to the western part of town to collect the dead and dying. In the book Time and the River by Evalena Berry, Aunt Lucy is quoted as saying, “I helped Sam, and we loaded them in those trucks. I carried their feet and he carried their head and we loaded them in there like cord wood. We took them to the Court House and laid them out. When I got home you couldn’t tell what my dress was but mud and blood. That was the ’26 tornado.”
In all, 19 people lost their lives that day. My grandmother was 17 years old when this tornado tore through Heber Springs. She stood on the street and watched her aunt and uncle pass with the truckload of bodies, and she never forgot the gruesome image. This partly explains why we spent much of our childhood hiding in a storm cellar at the first hint of a dark cloud on the horizon. My grandmother was forever changed by this horrific event.
Others have been transformed by involvement with a drunk driver, a catastrophic illness, the loss of a loved one, and more – calamities of any sort. And many have reached out to God with a heart penetrated by disaster. Some are only temporarily transformed, while others are changed for good. But only God can truly know the person’s heart. When we reach out to Him in a genuine spirit of humility and yearning for His help… comfort… rescue… restoration… He answers. God knows when we are sincere in our desire for His help – and for change - and He stands ready to deliver us.
I don’t know your heart. Some people experience disaster and devastation at a young age… some not at all… and some have a lifetime that seems to be filled with such events. Whatever your situation… regardless of your “stage” in life… God stands ready to hear your prayers and meet your needs. If your heart is pure… if you truly desire His answers, He will give them, according to His will for your life.
Psalm 56:8 says “You have kept record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them.”* Give your tears to God today… ask Him to forgive your sins and repair your heart. Humbly and reverently seek Him, and He will reward your life and its circumstances. Give God your devotion and trust, and walk in confidence that He is guiding your steps and rewarding your obedience.
©2012 Debbie Robus
* Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Daily Devotional for January 15, 2012
Acts 2:29-36
My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king.
David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay. All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!
Jesus was taken up to sit at the right side of God, and he was given the Holy Spirit, just as the Father had promised. Jesus is also the one who has given the Spirit to us, and that is what you are now seeing and hearing. David didn't go up to heaven. So he wasn't talking about himself when he said, "The Lord told my Lord to sit at his right side, until he made my Lord's enemies into a footstool for him." Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For a decade or longer, Barbara Walters has selected a group of the Ten Most Fascinating People to interview each year. The group includes celebrities, politicians, and maybe a “hero” or two, like General David Petraeus. I get the premise of Ms. Walters’ program, but I honestly have to ask myself, “What makes these people so fascinating?”
I’ll be honest… I find a lot of people – and things - interesting. I am impressed with the fortitude of some individuals… the struggles and adversities they overcame to achieve a level of success or fame. I appreciate the physical dedication and determination of certain athletes… the absolute resolve of someone like Gabrielle Giffords to recover from what should have been a deadly head trauma – or the incredible inner strength of those who survived such human injustices as the concentration camps of war or the civil rights movements in our own country. I am amazed and fascinated by the miracle of life… a newborn baby… how the feathers of a bird come together to create incredible color patterns…the beauty and intricacy of the tiniest wildflowers on a forest floor.
But in all of these people and things, I recognize the One who truly deserves our fascination. The truly fascinating Being is the Giver of Life… our Almighty God. Without Him, none of us would exist. Without God, there would be no plants or animals… no starry skies or blazing sunsets. The fortitude and inner strength… resolve and determination… courage and beauty… all come from our amazing God. Without the gift of Jesus and His blood on the cross, we would have to fear death… and the prospect of an eternity in hell.
The people we consider fascinating are nothing in and of themselves. Whether they realize it or not, they got where they are because of our Heavenly Father. Any success they enjoy… any great accomplishments they achieve… any accolades they receive… any horrific experiences they overcame… are all because of the blessings, goodness, grace and mercy of God Almighty.
For me, this scripture passage is screaming, “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU… IT’S ABOUT JESUS!” We’ve put the focus on ourselves. Peter is pointing out that David knew that God would make one of his sons a king… but he would make HIS Son the King of Kings. David got it… he realized this was not about him or his family, but about God and His kingdom. The question is… do we get it now? Are we busy focusing on Jesus… or are we self-absorbed and focused on ourselves and what God can do for us?
We need to recognize that we are nothing apart from God. We need to understand that we desperately need the Holy Spirit to guide us each and every day. We need to acknowledge that it is not about us… it’s all about Him. Where is your focus? What – and who – really fascinates you? Is Jesus at the top of your list? Shouldn’t He be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king.
David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay. All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!
Jesus was taken up to sit at the right side of God, and he was given the Holy Spirit, just as the Father had promised. Jesus is also the one who has given the Spirit to us, and that is what you are now seeing and hearing. David didn't go up to heaven. So he wasn't talking about himself when he said, "The Lord told my Lord to sit at his right side, until he made my Lord's enemies into a footstool for him." Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For a decade or longer, Barbara Walters has selected a group of the Ten Most Fascinating People to interview each year. The group includes celebrities, politicians, and maybe a “hero” or two, like General David Petraeus. I get the premise of Ms. Walters’ program, but I honestly have to ask myself, “What makes these people so fascinating?”
I’ll be honest… I find a lot of people – and things - interesting. I am impressed with the fortitude of some individuals… the struggles and adversities they overcame to achieve a level of success or fame. I appreciate the physical dedication and determination of certain athletes… the absolute resolve of someone like Gabrielle Giffords to recover from what should have been a deadly head trauma – or the incredible inner strength of those who survived such human injustices as the concentration camps of war or the civil rights movements in our own country. I am amazed and fascinated by the miracle of life… a newborn baby… how the feathers of a bird come together to create incredible color patterns…the beauty and intricacy of the tiniest wildflowers on a forest floor.
But in all of these people and things, I recognize the One who truly deserves our fascination. The truly fascinating Being is the Giver of Life… our Almighty God. Without Him, none of us would exist. Without God, there would be no plants or animals… no starry skies or blazing sunsets. The fortitude and inner strength… resolve and determination… courage and beauty… all come from our amazing God. Without the gift of Jesus and His blood on the cross, we would have to fear death… and the prospect of an eternity in hell.
The people we consider fascinating are nothing in and of themselves. Whether they realize it or not, they got where they are because of our Heavenly Father. Any success they enjoy… any great accomplishments they achieve… any accolades they receive… any horrific experiences they overcame… are all because of the blessings, goodness, grace and mercy of God Almighty.
For me, this scripture passage is screaming, “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU… IT’S ABOUT JESUS!” We’ve put the focus on ourselves. Peter is pointing out that David knew that God would make one of his sons a king… but he would make HIS Son the King of Kings. David got it… he realized this was not about him or his family, but about God and His kingdom. The question is… do we get it now? Are we busy focusing on Jesus… or are we self-absorbed and focused on ourselves and what God can do for us?
We need to recognize that we are nothing apart from God. We need to understand that we desperately need the Holy Spirit to guide us each and every day. We need to acknowledge that it is not about us… it’s all about Him. Where is your focus? What – and who – really fascinates you? Is Jesus at the top of your list? Shouldn’t He be?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 25, 2011
Psalm 119:57
You, LORD, are my choice, and I will obey you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think quickly… what was the last choice you had to make? Was it what to wear to school/work this morning? Was it whether or not to get up early and work out? Or maybe you had to choose what you would eat for breakfast… or at least which cereal you wanted. We make choices each and every day… often several times an hour! Some of our choices really don’t matter. The decision to eat Cheerios© vs Kelloggs Corn Flakes© is not critical. It really won’t affect our lives so much if we have orange juice or tomato juice… or no juice!
But there is one choice that does matter… and that is whether we choose to make God the LORD of our life and follow His rules. In fact, of all the choices we make in our lives, THIS is the biggest… the most important… the most crucial.
You may be saying, “I have plenty of time… I’ll do that later!” Pick up a newspaper and read the obituaries. Kids in their teens and twenties face challenges – and even die - every day. And the Bible is filled with examples of young people who served well and made a huge difference for the Kingdom of Heaven at an early age! God doesn’t want you to wait until you are 30, 40, or older to serve Him and submit to Him. If you are past this age, it’s not too late… but if you are a young person and think you will “play now” and serve God later… this choice will be a huge mistake!
I promise you… everything gets better when serving the LORD is your choice! The struggles and hardships don’t seem so difficult… the good times seem even better… and yes, you still have fun! Choosing God is not a surrender of freedom… you are choosing to be free – from sin, guilt, shame, and the burdens of living without the Holy Spirit!
Maybe you have chosen God, but you’ve sort of slipped Him to the corner for a while… pushed Him to the back burner and decided to try things your way and see how it goes. Again, this is a poor decision… and you’re risking disaster! It really doesn’t matter if you mix plaids with stripes, choose tater tots instead of fries, or decide to cheer for the underdog. But whether you choose to follow God and obey His laws or not matters greatly. What will you decide…Who will you choose to serve?
©2011 Debbie Robus
You, LORD, are my choice, and I will obey you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think quickly… what was the last choice you had to make? Was it what to wear to school/work this morning? Was it whether or not to get up early and work out? Or maybe you had to choose what you would eat for breakfast… or at least which cereal you wanted. We make choices each and every day… often several times an hour! Some of our choices really don’t matter. The decision to eat Cheerios© vs Kelloggs Corn Flakes© is not critical. It really won’t affect our lives so much if we have orange juice or tomato juice… or no juice!
But there is one choice that does matter… and that is whether we choose to make God the LORD of our life and follow His rules. In fact, of all the choices we make in our lives, THIS is the biggest… the most important… the most crucial.
You may be saying, “I have plenty of time… I’ll do that later!” Pick up a newspaper and read the obituaries. Kids in their teens and twenties face challenges – and even die - every day. And the Bible is filled with examples of young people who served well and made a huge difference for the Kingdom of Heaven at an early age! God doesn’t want you to wait until you are 30, 40, or older to serve Him and submit to Him. If you are past this age, it’s not too late… but if you are a young person and think you will “play now” and serve God later… this choice will be a huge mistake!
I promise you… everything gets better when serving the LORD is your choice! The struggles and hardships don’t seem so difficult… the good times seem even better… and yes, you still have fun! Choosing God is not a surrender of freedom… you are choosing to be free – from sin, guilt, shame, and the burdens of living without the Holy Spirit!
Maybe you have chosen God, but you’ve sort of slipped Him to the corner for a while… pushed Him to the back burner and decided to try things your way and see how it goes. Again, this is a poor decision… and you’re risking disaster! It really doesn’t matter if you mix plaids with stripes, choose tater tots instead of fries, or decide to cheer for the underdog. But whether you choose to follow God and obey His laws or not matters greatly. What will you decide…Who will you choose to serve?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 10, 2011
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
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
Daily Devotional for August 8, 2011
John 5:41-44
I'm not interested in crowd approval. And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God's love, is not on your working agenda. I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring 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.
Turn on the television, and you will find countless programs where people are clamoring to “be Somebody!” From the winner of Survivor to The Biggest Loser to the writer of the next Platinum Hit or HGTV’s Design Star and more… people want to be on top. Turn on a sports channel, and you will find athletes hoping to be a first-round draft pick or the winner of this award or that… or a whole team wanting to come out on top in the championship. Clearly, we are wired for crowd approval.
The sad thing is that we are so hungry for human approval… yet the approval that matters gets kicked to the curb. And I believe this is why so many human beings are discontent at best… and downright miserable in many cases. A few years ago, I wrote a song that I titled “I Am a Child of God.” In one of the verses, I said, “I used to care what others thought of me… it mattered that they liked me and approved. I wanted the assurance that in me, they could see something that was acceptable… something that was good.” Later, a verse says, “I tried to do the things that I thought would please others. But in the end, no one was pleased, and everything went wrong.” Do you relate to these phrases?
When I learned to focus on pleasing only God, everything else started to fall into place. When I realized that the most important Being in the room was my Heavenly Father, and He was the only One who truly mattered…a huge weight was lifted. As long as we recognize – and welcome – God into our day, He will take care of the rest. If you have focused on giving God top priority… First Place… you can rest assured that He will meet your every need.
Doors will open… “championships” (of God’s choosing) will come. You will find a “position” in life – the one God chooses for you… and it will be exactly right. Will you win a sweepstakes or be elected to high office? Will people be rushing to your side and vying for your friendship and affection? Only if this is what fits into God’s grand plan. Will it matter if it doesn’t happen? Not one bit! What will matter is what God thinks… and He thinks you are the most important thing ever! What God brings to you is what counts… not the approval and accolades of the world.
So what will you do with the rest of your life? Will you spend it wandering aimlessly, so to speak… seeking the recognition and approval of mere mortals… the fleeting rewards and temporary thrills of feeling important to other human beings who are seeking the same sort of recognition and acceptance? Or will you focus on pleasing God… welcome Him with open arms and place your fate and your future in His hands? Will you bask in the glory of being His precious child? Will you make God most important in your life and focus on His love? He can make you a true champion… God can give you what you’ve been looking for all along. Are you ready to turn around and greet Him?
©2011 Debbie Robus
I'm not interested in crowd approval. And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God's love, is not on your working agenda. I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring 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.
Turn on the television, and you will find countless programs where people are clamoring to “be Somebody!” From the winner of Survivor to The Biggest Loser to the writer of the next Platinum Hit or HGTV’s Design Star and more… people want to be on top. Turn on a sports channel, and you will find athletes hoping to be a first-round draft pick or the winner of this award or that… or a whole team wanting to come out on top in the championship. Clearly, we are wired for crowd approval.
The sad thing is that we are so hungry for human approval… yet the approval that matters gets kicked to the curb. And I believe this is why so many human beings are discontent at best… and downright miserable in many cases. A few years ago, I wrote a song that I titled “I Am a Child of God.” In one of the verses, I said, “I used to care what others thought of me… it mattered that they liked me and approved. I wanted the assurance that in me, they could see something that was acceptable… something that was good.” Later, a verse says, “I tried to do the things that I thought would please others. But in the end, no one was pleased, and everything went wrong.” Do you relate to these phrases?
When I learned to focus on pleasing only God, everything else started to fall into place. When I realized that the most important Being in the room was my Heavenly Father, and He was the only One who truly mattered…a huge weight was lifted. As long as we recognize – and welcome – God into our day, He will take care of the rest. If you have focused on giving God top priority… First Place… you can rest assured that He will meet your every need.
Doors will open… “championships” (of God’s choosing) will come. You will find a “position” in life – the one God chooses for you… and it will be exactly right. Will you win a sweepstakes or be elected to high office? Will people be rushing to your side and vying for your friendship and affection? Only if this is what fits into God’s grand plan. Will it matter if it doesn’t happen? Not one bit! What will matter is what God thinks… and He thinks you are the most important thing ever! What God brings to you is what counts… not the approval and accolades of the world.
So what will you do with the rest of your life? Will you spend it wandering aimlessly, so to speak… seeking the recognition and approval of mere mortals… the fleeting rewards and temporary thrills of feeling important to other human beings who are seeking the same sort of recognition and acceptance? Or will you focus on pleasing God… welcome Him with open arms and place your fate and your future in His hands? Will you bask in the glory of being His precious child? Will you make God most important in your life and focus on His love? He can make you a true champion… God can give you what you’ve been looking for all along. Are you ready to turn around and greet Him?
©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 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 February 12, 2011
Matthew 26:36-41
Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. He was very sad and troubled, and he said to them, "I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me." Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want." He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, "Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever heard someone discuss a particular situation and say, “All we can do is pray.”? The truth of the matter is… prayer is often all that is needed. We tend to underestimate the power of our prayers… and I include myself when I say that for many of us, our prayer life needs some work! We are like James and John… we let “life” get in the way. We are too tired, too busy, or even too disinterested to make time for communication with God.
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying we can change the will of God with prayer any more than Jesus could… nor am I saying that God might have changed His mind, had James and John stayed awake and prayed with Jesus. But quite often, we gain more from praying even when we don’t get the outcome we desire. Notice I said it was our desired outcome, not God’s. To pray for God’s will, understanding that it may be different from our own, signifies a complete trust in His plans… and a surrender of our own.
At the same time, we really have no room to complain about any outcome if we didn’t pray at all. Prayer does change things. God hears our prayers. I believe that quite often, what God is really seeking from us in prayer is a total leap of faith and trust in His decision for the outcome. Many times we may feel helpless about things that are happening in our life or the lives of those for whom we care. Sometimes, all we feel we can do is pray. And often, our prayers are, indeed, enough… and all that God requires of us in that particular situation.
Once we begin to understand the power of prayer… and its importance for our lives and the lives of others in our circle… we may find it easier to make time to communicate with God. Sometimes, we don’t fully grasp this power and importance until we actually give prayer a try. Why not see for yourself how God responds to your prayers? Show Him that you trust His will for your life and are ready to seek it. You have nothing to lose… and you might just have everything to gain. Stay for awhile and talk to God… He’s waiting to hear from you!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. He was very sad and troubled, and he said to them, "I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me." Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want." He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, "Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever heard someone discuss a particular situation and say, “All we can do is pray.”? The truth of the matter is… prayer is often all that is needed. We tend to underestimate the power of our prayers… and I include myself when I say that for many of us, our prayer life needs some work! We are like James and John… we let “life” get in the way. We are too tired, too busy, or even too disinterested to make time for communication with God.
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying we can change the will of God with prayer any more than Jesus could… nor am I saying that God might have changed His mind, had James and John stayed awake and prayed with Jesus. But quite often, we gain more from praying even when we don’t get the outcome we desire. Notice I said it was our desired outcome, not God’s. To pray for God’s will, understanding that it may be different from our own, signifies a complete trust in His plans… and a surrender of our own.
At the same time, we really have no room to complain about any outcome if we didn’t pray at all. Prayer does change things. God hears our prayers. I believe that quite often, what God is really seeking from us in prayer is a total leap of faith and trust in His decision for the outcome. Many times we may feel helpless about things that are happening in our life or the lives of those for whom we care. Sometimes, all we feel we can do is pray. And often, our prayers are, indeed, enough… and all that God requires of us in that particular situation.
Once we begin to understand the power of prayer… and its importance for our lives and the lives of others in our circle… we may find it easier to make time to communicate with God. Sometimes, we don’t fully grasp this power and importance until we actually give prayer a try. Why not see for yourself how God responds to your prayers? Show Him that you trust His will for your life and are ready to seek it. You have nothing to lose… and you might just have everything to gain. Stay for awhile and talk to God… He’s waiting to hear from you!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 11, 2011
Matthew 24:42-44
So be on your guard! You don't know when your Lord will come. Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in. Always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know what it feels like to be caught unprepared? More than once, I’ve gotten a call that required I drop everything and go somewhere for some emergency. More than once I was left wishing I had gotten up that morning and put on my makeup, done my hair and put on nice clothes. But there I was, a total mess… and the emergency had come at an hour I didn’t expect!
The message of this passage is as simple as “be prepared” – for whatever arises… tests, emergencies, that unexpected encounter with a friend or someone you wish to impress, crises and surprises of all kinds. But it is more about being prepared spiritually. There is no such thing as living for today and “getting right with God tomorrow.” We’ve lost enough teens and young children in our own community to know that nobody is immune from death – expected or otherwise. This is one gamble we cannot afford to take.
I have said before that often, we hesitate to change our lives and totally surrender to God out of some semblance of fear… of the unknown, that we will have to “give up” our fun, or that we will be ostracized by family and friends or those with whom we wish to associate. The truth is that whatever you believe you will give up, God will restore to you exponentially. We truly can’t even begin to count the blessings God wants to send our way.
So in one sense, we need to drop our guard… let go of whatever is holding us back from surrendering totally to God. In the other sense, we need to prepare now for His coming. We may already be resting in His arms in heaven when He makes the glorious return to earth for His church… or He could arrive in the next thirty minutes. Either way, it’s time to spiritually “put on your good clothes, wash your face, and comb your hair” and be ready! Jesus is coming at an hour we don’t expect! In what condition will He find you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
So be on your guard! You don't know when your Lord will come. Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in. Always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know what it feels like to be caught unprepared? More than once, I’ve gotten a call that required I drop everything and go somewhere for some emergency. More than once I was left wishing I had gotten up that morning and put on my makeup, done my hair and put on nice clothes. But there I was, a total mess… and the emergency had come at an hour I didn’t expect!
The message of this passage is as simple as “be prepared” – for whatever arises… tests, emergencies, that unexpected encounter with a friend or someone you wish to impress, crises and surprises of all kinds. But it is more about being prepared spiritually. There is no such thing as living for today and “getting right with God tomorrow.” We’ve lost enough teens and young children in our own community to know that nobody is immune from death – expected or otherwise. This is one gamble we cannot afford to take.
I have said before that often, we hesitate to change our lives and totally surrender to God out of some semblance of fear… of the unknown, that we will have to “give up” our fun, or that we will be ostracized by family and friends or those with whom we wish to associate. The truth is that whatever you believe you will give up, God will restore to you exponentially. We truly can’t even begin to count the blessings God wants to send our way.
So in one sense, we need to drop our guard… let go of whatever is holding us back from surrendering totally to God. In the other sense, we need to prepare now for His coming. We may already be resting in His arms in heaven when He makes the glorious return to earth for His church… or He could arrive in the next thirty minutes. Either way, it’s time to spiritually “put on your good clothes, wash your face, and comb your hair” and be ready! Jesus is coming at an hour we don’t expect! In what condition will He find you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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