Hebrews 11:32-40
What else can I say? There isn’t
enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David,
Samuel, and the prophets. Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and
because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws
of lions and put out raging fires and escaped from the swords of their
enemies. Although they were weak, they were given the strength and power
to chase foreign armies away.
Some women received their loved
ones back from death. Many of these people were tortured, but they
refused to be released. They were sure that they would get a better
reward when the dead are raised to life. Others were made fun of and
beaten with whips, and some were chained in jail. Still others were
stoned to death or sawed in two or killed with swords. Some had nothing
but sheep skins or goat skins to wear. They were poor, mistreated, and
tortured. The world did not deserve these good people, who had to wander
in deserts and on mountains and had to live in caves and holes in the
ground.
All of them pleased God because of their faith! But still
they died without being given what had been promised. This was because
God had something better in store for us. And he did not want them to
reach the goal of their faith without us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Nathan
and I were watching YouTube videos the other day of ordinary people
opening boxed toys. Every few minutes, Nathan would say, “I want that!”
or “I need that toy, Debbie…can we get it?” I would tell him, “Not
now,” as I made a mental note of what he liked – or put something on my
“wish list” at Amazon.com for future reference. Then Nathan would
say…”Yeah…but for my birthday!” I would acknowledge…”Well, MAYBE for
your birthday.”
It’s April…Nathan’s birthday is not until
August. For a 3½-year-old, waiting that long is akin to adults waiting
for Jesus’ second coming…it’s a LONG TIME! And if the truth be told, a
lot of the toys on “the list” will never be purchased. If Nathan
doesn’t receive a Spider-Man mask that talks and a Spider-Man glove that
“spins webs,” he will survive. And he will be so excited over what he
DOES get, that he will hardly notice that anything is missing.
Life
is largely about priorities. In one of my mother’s journals, she
mentioned her arch-enemy…time. Mother never had enough of it. She said
her husband pointed out to her that we all have 24 hours in a day. I’m
sure that did not go over well…and I get that! We all have desires and
goals…aspirations for things we want to accomplish. We all have
struggles and challenges…illnesses and injuries…hurts and heavy hearts
at times. And we all hope against hope that God will fix ALL of this!
And He does…but not always as we imagined or intended!
Just as
there will be birthday parties – and presents – for Nathan and his
siblings, there will be a “party to end all parties” someday for us in
Heaven, if we have surrendered our hearts - and sins - to Jesus. All of
the things we hoped and dreamed for – and all of the requests we made
known to God - will not matter at that time, because the Ultimate Prize
of His perfect promises and designs for our Eternity will be
manifested. In other words…a lot of the things we fight so hard for -
and think we want or need on this earth - really won’t matter in the
long run.
Believe me…I’ve thought about this a lot lately. My
mother left many “projects” on the table - books and articles she wanted
to write…trips she wanted to take…things she wanted to do with her
great-grandchildren…and more. She quite literally ran out of time. And
you know what? None of it matters today. She sits in Heaven at the
feet of Jesus with other believers who went before her…and she would not
return to work on her “list” for all of the tea in China! God has
rewarded her with more time than she can use…and glorious activities to
fill it. She is at peace and has no frustration or sense of urgency
about anything. And this is waiting for us someday, as well.
So
let’s shift our focus a little. We must continue to have goals…and
hope. We must continue to believe that God is in the business of
fulfilling promises…healing and righting wrongs…fixing our messes and
giving us the desires of our heart. But we must also understand that
these must all line up with HIS desires and plans for us…and it all
pales in comparison to what He has waiting for us in Heaven.
If we got all that God promised us now, there would nothing to look forward to afterward. We must live with faith that everything gets better in Paradise…and operate in hope and confidence until the day comes that we see it firsthand. Are you pleasing God with your faith these days?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label trusting God for outcomes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trusting God for outcomes. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for April 8, 2016
Hebrews 11:1-2
What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
On September 16, 2015, I received an e-mail from my mother, telling me she had gone to the clinic with a urinary tract infection…and during her exam, a nurse practitioner discovered an abnormality on Mother’s stomach. The nurse sent Mother to our local hospital for a CT-scan, where a mass was found…and subsequent blood work and a biopsy were ordered. Mother said, “Just pray that this mass is benign. God is in control. It will be okay." In a subsequent message a few days later, Mother said, “This is going to be OK—no matter what. Just going to be a battle ahead.”
And it was a battle. As many of you know, my mother’s diagnosis was Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer, and the multiple tumors did not respond to chemotherapy. In fact, they almost doubled in size in three months. On January 12, 2016, my mother’s battle ended. And she continually insisted that God was in control, but...“He has other plans.”
Like the “men of God in days of old,” my mother was famous for her faith. In reading through her Bible study workbooks and other writings, I can see that what she hoped for more than anything was to see Jesus in person – and to please Him while she was still on this earth. She could not see exactly when – or how – this would happen…but she had faith that it would indeed be so. And I have faith and confidence that she was right on both counts.
I hear so many people say, “My faith is weak.” And I get that. There are times when we all face challenges and obstacles that seem too big to overcome. We will all face numerous situations that test – and hopefully strengthen – our faith.
My mother noted that there was “going to be a battle ahead”…but do not miss that she prefaced this acknowledgment with a statement of faith…”This is going to be OK – no matter what.” Herein lies the message for us. We don’t always know the where, when, how or why of the things that happen to us. But when we trust God…when we make a concerted effort to have faith that He is in complete control of a perfect outcome…God will confirm this in ways that we cannot even begin to imagine – and fill us with complete peace in the process.
What sort of faith do you have these days? Do you believe for the things that you want to happen…and trust God to bring about the perfect end result? Or do you throw up your hands at the first sign of trouble and say, “This is simply too much for me”…and cower in a corner? The Bible is filled with examples of people who exercised a strong “faith muscle” - and the sad story of some who folded and let the devil have the victory.
I encourage you to spend some time with God today and surrender your burdens and fears to Him. Pray this prayer…”LORD…I don’t know what You have in store for me…or how You plan to manage the events and challenges of my life. But I give them all to You. I am filled with faith and confidence that You know what lies ahead…and You are in complete control. I thank You for loving me - and for Your perfect plans for my life. I surrender MY will to YOURS with complete assurance that all will be well, according to Your will. Amen.”
When others look at you, do they see someone with a profound faith in God…or someone who operates in fear and uncertainty? What is faith to you? Isn’t it time you knew?
©2016 Debbie Robus
What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
On September 16, 2015, I received an e-mail from my mother, telling me she had gone to the clinic with a urinary tract infection…and during her exam, a nurse practitioner discovered an abnormality on Mother’s stomach. The nurse sent Mother to our local hospital for a CT-scan, where a mass was found…and subsequent blood work and a biopsy were ordered. Mother said, “Just pray that this mass is benign. God is in control. It will be okay." In a subsequent message a few days later, Mother said, “This is going to be OK—no matter what. Just going to be a battle ahead.”
And it was a battle. As many of you know, my mother’s diagnosis was Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer, and the multiple tumors did not respond to chemotherapy. In fact, they almost doubled in size in three months. On January 12, 2016, my mother’s battle ended. And she continually insisted that God was in control, but...“He has other plans.”
Like the “men of God in days of old,” my mother was famous for her faith. In reading through her Bible study workbooks and other writings, I can see that what she hoped for more than anything was to see Jesus in person – and to please Him while she was still on this earth. She could not see exactly when – or how – this would happen…but she had faith that it would indeed be so. And I have faith and confidence that she was right on both counts.
I hear so many people say, “My faith is weak.” And I get that. There are times when we all face challenges and obstacles that seem too big to overcome. We will all face numerous situations that test – and hopefully strengthen – our faith.
My mother noted that there was “going to be a battle ahead”…but do not miss that she prefaced this acknowledgment with a statement of faith…”This is going to be OK – no matter what.” Herein lies the message for us. We don’t always know the where, when, how or why of the things that happen to us. But when we trust God…when we make a concerted effort to have faith that He is in complete control of a perfect outcome…God will confirm this in ways that we cannot even begin to imagine – and fill us with complete peace in the process.
What sort of faith do you have these days? Do you believe for the things that you want to happen…and trust God to bring about the perfect end result? Or do you throw up your hands at the first sign of trouble and say, “This is simply too much for me”…and cower in a corner? The Bible is filled with examples of people who exercised a strong “faith muscle” - and the sad story of some who folded and let the devil have the victory.
I encourage you to spend some time with God today and surrender your burdens and fears to Him. Pray this prayer…”LORD…I don’t know what You have in store for me…or how You plan to manage the events and challenges of my life. But I give them all to You. I am filled with faith and confidence that You know what lies ahead…and You are in complete control. I thank You for loving me - and for Your perfect plans for my life. I surrender MY will to YOURS with complete assurance that all will be well, according to Your will. Amen.”
When others look at you, do they see someone with a profound faith in God…or someone who operates in fear and uncertainty? What is faith to you? Isn’t it time you knew?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 28, 2015
Matthew 11:28
If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I got a phone message today at 1:47 a.m. - alerting me with another flood warning for our area. I had forgotten to mute my phone’s volume before I went to bed. So after getting this “alert,” I had a little trouble going back to sleep for a bit. I wasn’t worried about a flood in our neighborhood, since we live on a bluff! But I started thinking about all of the people who needed a special touch from God…and I probably spent a good half hour or more praying and asking God to take their burdens. And then I was able to sleep soundly for several more hours.
This is a favorite scripture passage…and as I read it today, I thought of how I handed my burdens to God in prayer this morning - and trusted Him to manage them. A few close friends and I have exchanged more than one message lately where we noted that the prayer lists and “burdens” seem especially lengthy in recent days. I can tell you firsthand that it has been so comforting to be able to say to God, “Only YOU can fix these things…and I’m going to let You!”
There have been nights when I should have tossed and turned with frustration and worry – and plenty of times in the past that I did exactly that! But of late, I’ve found that I’m sleeping very well, and I know it is because I am letting God carry the heavy stuff!
When Jesus gave us these words of assurance, He did so with complete authority. There is no reason for us to doubt Him…or to try to handle things on our own. I don’t know about you, but I discovered that trying to carry heavy burdens was exhausting – and fruitless. This way seems to be working so much better, and I plan on sticking with it. What about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I got a phone message today at 1:47 a.m. - alerting me with another flood warning for our area. I had forgotten to mute my phone’s volume before I went to bed. So after getting this “alert,” I had a little trouble going back to sleep for a bit. I wasn’t worried about a flood in our neighborhood, since we live on a bluff! But I started thinking about all of the people who needed a special touch from God…and I probably spent a good half hour or more praying and asking God to take their burdens. And then I was able to sleep soundly for several more hours.
This is a favorite scripture passage…and as I read it today, I thought of how I handed my burdens to God in prayer this morning - and trusted Him to manage them. A few close friends and I have exchanged more than one message lately where we noted that the prayer lists and “burdens” seem especially lengthy in recent days. I can tell you firsthand that it has been so comforting to be able to say to God, “Only YOU can fix these things…and I’m going to let You!”
There have been nights when I should have tossed and turned with frustration and worry – and plenty of times in the past that I did exactly that! But of late, I’ve found that I’m sleeping very well, and I know it is because I am letting God carry the heavy stuff!
When Jesus gave us these words of assurance, He did so with complete authority. There is no reason for us to doubt Him…or to try to handle things on our own. I don’t know about you, but I discovered that trying to carry heavy burdens was exhausting – and fruitless. This way seems to be working so much better, and I plan on sticking with it. What about you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 25, 2015
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, I filled in for the teacher of the 2nd-3rd graders at Sunday school. Our lesson was on making good choices…and the introductory premise was that even though it seems like “bad people” often “get away with murder”…while “good people” are allowed to suffer and struggle. But this is not God’s plan at all. The children were encouraged to continue to make good choices…to ask, “What would Jesus do?” - and to follow His example. They were reminded that those who “suffer” with Jesus will be rewarded.
It’s especially hard for seven and eight-year-olds to understand how they are to continue to obey, serve, and trust God in all things when they see people around them who behave badly and seem to be rewarded. There is a tremendous challenge in convincing these youngsters that “God wins in the end” – and those who serve with Him win also. It’s hard for us as adults to understand this, too! There are times when we are all tempted to cut corners or “go with the flow” - and just hope that we don’t get caught!
But as I pointed out this morning, God always knows everything! I shared with them a story of an embarrassing experience I had in high school when a friend approached me one day with a very long snake. The snake was dead, but I didn’t know that – and it really didn’t matter. He knew how frightened I was of snakes, and his very intention was to scare the bejeepers out of me! And it worked! I took off running – in a new dress and wedge sandals - and I fell and probably landed with my skirt up over my head!
My first, second and third thoughts were of revenge…and several mutual friends and I concocted a plot to sneak up behind this boy as he played the piano for our church youth choir and snip off his long, curly hair. That would teach him! When I shared this with the children this morning, there were chants of “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Please tell us you did it!” Well, I didn’t – much to their chagrin - and I am glad. The boy had apologized, and while I felt at the time that he was not sincere, my misdeed would not have served any purpose. We talked about the potential outcomes of such an action…loss of a friendship…further retaliation…serious trouble with adults. In the end, I told the children I had something of a “WWJD moment.”
I also shared with the children that I can look back over my life and see how some who have mistreated me don’t seem to have had as many blessings in their life as I have experienced. I’m not saying that God punished them directly for their bad behavior…but I do believe that He planned all along for my life – and my blessings. And because of the ways that I have tried to honor Him in several instances, I believe the tide has turned in my favor as a result.
I also pointed out that our definition of “good” is not the same as God’s. This does not mean that we will live in mansions and drive fancy cars and, as one boy put it…”have MILLIONS of dollars!” What God feels is in our best interest may remain a mystery to us for a long time…maybe our entire earthly lifetime! It may seem like God allows one bad thing after another to happen to us…but all the while, we may be missing the blessings and positive results that He is enacting as a result of our misfortune or suffering.
In the end, I believe this verse from Jeremiah 29 is profoundly important for us as Christians. It is a hallmark of what God promises to each of us who “make good choices” and stay in the right “lane” - those who ask each and every day, “What would Jesus do?” and act accordingly. I cling to this promise…I live in the hope that EVERYTHING that God has planned for me is perfect – even when I can’t see it. I trust that for every blessing I experience along this journey called Life, God is waiting for me at the “Finish Line” with more rewards than I can possibly count…much less carry! I’m trusting His plans…are you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, I filled in for the teacher of the 2nd-3rd graders at Sunday school. Our lesson was on making good choices…and the introductory premise was that even though it seems like “bad people” often “get away with murder”…while “good people” are allowed to suffer and struggle. But this is not God’s plan at all. The children were encouraged to continue to make good choices…to ask, “What would Jesus do?” - and to follow His example. They were reminded that those who “suffer” with Jesus will be rewarded.
It’s especially hard for seven and eight-year-olds to understand how they are to continue to obey, serve, and trust God in all things when they see people around them who behave badly and seem to be rewarded. There is a tremendous challenge in convincing these youngsters that “God wins in the end” – and those who serve with Him win also. It’s hard for us as adults to understand this, too! There are times when we are all tempted to cut corners or “go with the flow” - and just hope that we don’t get caught!
But as I pointed out this morning, God always knows everything! I shared with them a story of an embarrassing experience I had in high school when a friend approached me one day with a very long snake. The snake was dead, but I didn’t know that – and it really didn’t matter. He knew how frightened I was of snakes, and his very intention was to scare the bejeepers out of me! And it worked! I took off running – in a new dress and wedge sandals - and I fell and probably landed with my skirt up over my head!
My first, second and third thoughts were of revenge…and several mutual friends and I concocted a plot to sneak up behind this boy as he played the piano for our church youth choir and snip off his long, curly hair. That would teach him! When I shared this with the children this morning, there were chants of “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Please tell us you did it!” Well, I didn’t – much to their chagrin - and I am glad. The boy had apologized, and while I felt at the time that he was not sincere, my misdeed would not have served any purpose. We talked about the potential outcomes of such an action…loss of a friendship…further retaliation…serious trouble with adults. In the end, I told the children I had something of a “WWJD moment.”
I also shared with the children that I can look back over my life and see how some who have mistreated me don’t seem to have had as many blessings in their life as I have experienced. I’m not saying that God punished them directly for their bad behavior…but I do believe that He planned all along for my life – and my blessings. And because of the ways that I have tried to honor Him in several instances, I believe the tide has turned in my favor as a result.
I also pointed out that our definition of “good” is not the same as God’s. This does not mean that we will live in mansions and drive fancy cars and, as one boy put it…”have MILLIONS of dollars!” What God feels is in our best interest may remain a mystery to us for a long time…maybe our entire earthly lifetime! It may seem like God allows one bad thing after another to happen to us…but all the while, we may be missing the blessings and positive results that He is enacting as a result of our misfortune or suffering.
In the end, I believe this verse from Jeremiah 29 is profoundly important for us as Christians. It is a hallmark of what God promises to each of us who “make good choices” and stay in the right “lane” - those who ask each and every day, “What would Jesus do?” and act accordingly. I cling to this promise…I live in the hope that EVERYTHING that God has planned for me is perfect – even when I can’t see it. I trust that for every blessing I experience along this journey called Life, God is waiting for me at the “Finish Line” with more rewards than I can possibly count…much less carry! I’m trusting His plans…are you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 10, 2015
Isaiah 13:15-16
But there will be rewards for those who live right and tell the truth, for those who refuse to take money by force or accept bribes, for all who hate murder and violent crimes. They will live in a fortress high on a rocky cliff, where they will have food and plenty of water.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, our great niece Kelsey Lynn goes for “assessments” to start her kindergarten year (which technically begins in another week). Next Monday, Timothy will begin the school year as a first grader. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have high aspirations for these two…and (collectively) their three siblings, and my other little cousins and young friends. I pray every day that God will bless and prosper these children…that they will be surrounded by a hedge of protection against things like drug abuse, alcohol, bullying and abuse of all kinds, and more. I want them to be all that God plans for them…and above everything else, I want them to know and love Jesus.
We joke (and dream) about this child becoming the next big model or entertainer…or that one becoming a doctor/scientist who cures cancer…or another becoming a pro athlete. But at the end of the day, we truly want our children to live “in a fortress high on a rocky cliff” and have “food and plenty of water.” What do I mean by this? Our ultimate goal is that our children live and grow in such a way that God blesses them with plenty. Where some of us get into trouble is with our interpretation of this word.
So the challenge for each of us is to recognize that what God has planned for us – and our children – may not be what we anticipate and dream. But if we live according to His will and trust His plans…we will always operate in the “Land of Plenty.” Do not misunderstand me…our goal should not be to acquire God’s blessings and abundance. We should not live in "What's in it for me?" mode. Just because we do our dead-level best to live according to God’s will and Word does not guarantee that we will be rich and/or famous…and most certainly it doesn’t mean that our lives will be free of troubles and worries.
Still, our ultimate desire should be to live according to God’s commands and to please Him in all things out of a sense of deep love and respect for Him. We should strive to live right and tell the truth, to operate honestly in business and trade, and to take the high road and avoid desires for revenge or ill will of any kind toward others. When we live in a way that pleases God, we will always have plenty. It may seem like “just enough” at times…but we will always have the confidence that our obedience has delighted our Heavenly Father – and He has met our needs.
This is my prayer for our little ones…that they would grow and learn…and have countless new adventures at school. More importantly, I pray that they would also grow in the wisdom of the LORD and become all that He wants them to be…and that each of them lives “high on a cliff” with “plenty.” This should be our personal goal, as well… regardless of whether we are five…or 95! Where do you live these days?
©2015 Debbie Robus
But there will be rewards for those who live right and tell the truth, for those who refuse to take money by force or accept bribes, for all who hate murder and violent crimes. They will live in a fortress high on a rocky cliff, where they will have food and plenty of water.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, our great niece Kelsey Lynn goes for “assessments” to start her kindergarten year (which technically begins in another week). Next Monday, Timothy will begin the school year as a first grader. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have high aspirations for these two…and (collectively) their three siblings, and my other little cousins and young friends. I pray every day that God will bless and prosper these children…that they will be surrounded by a hedge of protection against things like drug abuse, alcohol, bullying and abuse of all kinds, and more. I want them to be all that God plans for them…and above everything else, I want them to know and love Jesus.
We joke (and dream) about this child becoming the next big model or entertainer…or that one becoming a doctor/scientist who cures cancer…or another becoming a pro athlete. But at the end of the day, we truly want our children to live “in a fortress high on a rocky cliff” and have “food and plenty of water.” What do I mean by this? Our ultimate goal is that our children live and grow in such a way that God blesses them with plenty. Where some of us get into trouble is with our interpretation of this word.
So the challenge for each of us is to recognize that what God has planned for us – and our children – may not be what we anticipate and dream. But if we live according to His will and trust His plans…we will always operate in the “Land of Plenty.” Do not misunderstand me…our goal should not be to acquire God’s blessings and abundance. We should not live in "What's in it for me?" mode. Just because we do our dead-level best to live according to God’s will and Word does not guarantee that we will be rich and/or famous…and most certainly it doesn’t mean that our lives will be free of troubles and worries.
Still, our ultimate desire should be to live according to God’s commands and to please Him in all things out of a sense of deep love and respect for Him. We should strive to live right and tell the truth, to operate honestly in business and trade, and to take the high road and avoid desires for revenge or ill will of any kind toward others. When we live in a way that pleases God, we will always have plenty. It may seem like “just enough” at times…but we will always have the confidence that our obedience has delighted our Heavenly Father – and He has met our needs.
This is my prayer for our little ones…that they would grow and learn…and have countless new adventures at school. More importantly, I pray that they would also grow in the wisdom of the LORD and become all that He wants them to be…and that each of them lives “high on a cliff” with “plenty.” This should be our personal goal, as well… regardless of whether we are five…or 95! Where do you live these days?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 19, 2015
Philippians 2:5-11
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God 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.
I saw this quote Facebook…”Don't worry about what I'm doing. Worry about why you're worried about what I'm doing.” The author was un-cited. As I read this scripture passage, I was struck by a couple of thoughts. I’m reading Marjorie Holmes’ book, Three From Galilee*, a fictional novel based on the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Through this account, the reader is able to see Jesus as a real person…a little boy very much like our nephews Timothy and Nathan…or a precocious pre-teen like our nephew Chase.
I am still reading the book, so I do not know whether this story concludes before Jesus becomes a man. But the point is that even in this fictional depiction, Jesus took on the very ordinary life of a young boy. He played and worked alongside Joseph, did chores for His mother, and was very much an “ordinary” boy. Jesus set aside His “position” and became 100% human!
Okay, so what does this mean for us? It means that Jesus KNOWS what it’s like to be us…I mean, He really knows! He understands what we have gone through – and what is ahead for us, because He lived much of it! He endured things that – hopefully – none of us will ever have to experience…torture, unimaginable ridicule, and the most heinous of deaths. Jesus gets us!
Again I thought about this quote…and how we are often consumed with what others are thinking and/or how they are acting. We are so worried about what he did or she said – and WHY – and in doing so, we elevate ourselves to a level of superiority that is unmerited. If Jesus Christ humbled Himself and didn’t “play the Son of God card” as a general rule…what right do we have to judge others and act all high and mighty? The bottom line is that we do not know what is in another person’s heart…we have no clue what demons they battle, how well they slept last night, or what is going on behind the closed doors of their abode. But God does.
So we must trust God to judge…to rule…to “fix people”…and we must concentrate on our own relationship with Him and doing what WE are supposed to do. We must look at Jesus’ model and learn His ways. We must humbly interact with others and serve God with faithful obedience…and He will bless us in ways we cannot begin to imagine.
Where is God in these everyday situations? Sometimes, it is hard to see His presence in many people and circumstances of our everyday living. But I assure you…God is with us! Just as surely as He operated through the human Jesus, God is with us, each and every minute of the day. We can allow Him room to work…or we can muddy the waters with our meddling. Which will you choose?
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://www.amazon.com/Three-From-Galilee-Young-Nazareth/dp/0425205509
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God 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.
I saw this quote Facebook…”Don't worry about what I'm doing. Worry about why you're worried about what I'm doing.” The author was un-cited. As I read this scripture passage, I was struck by a couple of thoughts. I’m reading Marjorie Holmes’ book, Three From Galilee*, a fictional novel based on the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Through this account, the reader is able to see Jesus as a real person…a little boy very much like our nephews Timothy and Nathan…or a precocious pre-teen like our nephew Chase.
I am still reading the book, so I do not know whether this story concludes before Jesus becomes a man. But the point is that even in this fictional depiction, Jesus took on the very ordinary life of a young boy. He played and worked alongside Joseph, did chores for His mother, and was very much an “ordinary” boy. Jesus set aside His “position” and became 100% human!
Okay, so what does this mean for us? It means that Jesus KNOWS what it’s like to be us…I mean, He really knows! He understands what we have gone through – and what is ahead for us, because He lived much of it! He endured things that – hopefully – none of us will ever have to experience…torture, unimaginable ridicule, and the most heinous of deaths. Jesus gets us!
Again I thought about this quote…and how we are often consumed with what others are thinking and/or how they are acting. We are so worried about what he did or she said – and WHY – and in doing so, we elevate ourselves to a level of superiority that is unmerited. If Jesus Christ humbled Himself and didn’t “play the Son of God card” as a general rule…what right do we have to judge others and act all high and mighty? The bottom line is that we do not know what is in another person’s heart…we have no clue what demons they battle, how well they slept last night, or what is going on behind the closed doors of their abode. But God does.
So we must trust God to judge…to rule…to “fix people”…and we must concentrate on our own relationship with Him and doing what WE are supposed to do. We must look at Jesus’ model and learn His ways. We must humbly interact with others and serve God with faithful obedience…and He will bless us in ways we cannot begin to imagine.
Where is God in these everyday situations? Sometimes, it is hard to see His presence in many people and circumstances of our everyday living. But I assure you…God is with us! Just as surely as He operated through the human Jesus, God is with us, each and every minute of the day. We can allow Him room to work…or we can muddy the waters with our meddling. Which will you choose?
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://www.amazon.com/Three-From-Galilee-Young-Nazareth/dp/0425205509
Daily Devotional for October 3, 2014
James 5:13-16
Is anyone among you suffering? He should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually be singing praises to the Lord.
Is anyone sick? He should call for the elders of the church and they should pray over him and pour a little oil upon him, calling on the Lord to heal him. And their prayer, if offered in faith, will heal him, for the Lord will make him well; and if his sickness was caused by some sin, the Lord will forgive him.
Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I pushed my 3-year-old friend Isaac across the floor of the church nursery as he rode a four-wheeled scooter of sorts. When I stopped, he said, “Do it again!” I told him that I needed to rest. “Why?” he asked. “Because I’m tired!” “But why?” he protested. “Because I’m old!” Again he asked, “But WHY?” “I just am, Buddy,” I told him...”I just am.”
“Why?” is one of the most frequent questions we ask.
Hear the words of James: “...pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest power of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.” Does it say anywhere in this passage that God will give us exactly what we prayed for – specifically as we asked for it? Does James tell us that God is selfish and answers where, when and how He wants – just to feel superior? While God would have every right to do this, He simply doesn’t operate that way!
God loves you. He wants you to be well...healthy...whole...complete in every way. But God has a grand plan for all of us...and even though it might not seem so, His designs are always perfect. So when you feel like you can’t catch a break, God may be building your strength and character. When your relationships don’t work out, God may be grooming the perfect friend or partner for you – and teaching you the art of patience. When you want to “skip steps” and move on to another phase of your life, God may be slowing you in order to prevent some sort of unfortunate or disastrous outcome.
When you can’t find a job or feel unhappy or unfulfilled in the one you have, God may be preparing you - for a better one. When you or someone you love is sick or injured - and healing doesn’t seem to come as you asked - know that God IS at work. Healing comes in many forms...and God will choose what is best for His purposes - and for your situation.
When you feel that God is not answering your prayers, examine HOW you are praying. Do you place conditions on Him? Do you pray specifically – and expect only that outcome? Or do you ask God to meet your needs and the needs of those for whom you pray – but always according to HIS will and the plans that He has prepared? Do you really TRUST God to do what is best...do you petition Him in prayer and then allow Him room to work?
Believe me, I know this is hard. Timothy loves to watch the old classic “Frosty the Snowman.” In the story, the magician tells the children and Frosty, “I want that [magic] hat...and I want it NOW!” I think of this phrase often when I am talking to God, because so often, we pray for the “magic hat”! We want Him to answer us exactly as we asked...and we want it NOW! This is simply not how God operates...and with good reason. But I cannot underscore enough how much He loves you and wants to hear from you...how much God wants to give you the very best. And He will do exactly this, if we will only call on Him in faith to answer our prayers and heal us in every way.
How will you talk to God today? Will you allow Him to answer you in His way...to heal you according to His will? Are you ready to trust in His love completely and believe that He has your best interest at heart? Will your prayers be filled with “Whys”...or with praise for the answers He will surely give? What perfect healing will God accomplish in your life today? Aren’t you ready to find out?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Is anyone among you suffering? He should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually be singing praises to the Lord.
Is anyone sick? He should call for the elders of the church and they should pray over him and pour a little oil upon him, calling on the Lord to heal him. And their prayer, if offered in faith, will heal him, for the Lord will make him well; and if his sickness was caused by some sin, the Lord will forgive him.
Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I pushed my 3-year-old friend Isaac across the floor of the church nursery as he rode a four-wheeled scooter of sorts. When I stopped, he said, “Do it again!” I told him that I needed to rest. “Why?” he asked. “Because I’m tired!” “But why?” he protested. “Because I’m old!” Again he asked, “But WHY?” “I just am, Buddy,” I told him...”I just am.”
“Why?” is one of the most frequent questions we ask.
- “Why can’t I catch a break?”
- “Why can’t I find a mate – or maintain a relationship?”
- “Why can’t I skip college and get on with my life?”
- “Why can’t I find a job?”
- “Why can’t I – or someone I love – get well?”
- “Why won’t You answer my prayers, LORD?”
Hear the words of James: “...pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest power of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.” Does it say anywhere in this passage that God will give us exactly what we prayed for – specifically as we asked for it? Does James tell us that God is selfish and answers where, when and how He wants – just to feel superior? While God would have every right to do this, He simply doesn’t operate that way!
God loves you. He wants you to be well...healthy...whole...complete in every way. But God has a grand plan for all of us...and even though it might not seem so, His designs are always perfect. So when you feel like you can’t catch a break, God may be building your strength and character. When your relationships don’t work out, God may be grooming the perfect friend or partner for you – and teaching you the art of patience. When you want to “skip steps” and move on to another phase of your life, God may be slowing you in order to prevent some sort of unfortunate or disastrous outcome.
When you can’t find a job or feel unhappy or unfulfilled in the one you have, God may be preparing you - for a better one. When you or someone you love is sick or injured - and healing doesn’t seem to come as you asked - know that God IS at work. Healing comes in many forms...and God will choose what is best for His purposes - and for your situation.
When you feel that God is not answering your prayers, examine HOW you are praying. Do you place conditions on Him? Do you pray specifically – and expect only that outcome? Or do you ask God to meet your needs and the needs of those for whom you pray – but always according to HIS will and the plans that He has prepared? Do you really TRUST God to do what is best...do you petition Him in prayer and then allow Him room to work?
Believe me, I know this is hard. Timothy loves to watch the old classic “Frosty the Snowman.” In the story, the magician tells the children and Frosty, “I want that [magic] hat...and I want it NOW!” I think of this phrase often when I am talking to God, because so often, we pray for the “magic hat”! We want Him to answer us exactly as we asked...and we want it NOW! This is simply not how God operates...and with good reason. But I cannot underscore enough how much He loves you and wants to hear from you...how much God wants to give you the very best. And He will do exactly this, if we will only call on Him in faith to answer our prayers and heal us in every way.
How will you talk to God today? Will you allow Him to answer you in His way...to heal you according to His will? Are you ready to trust in His love completely and believe that He has your best interest at heart? Will your prayers be filled with “Whys”...or with praise for the answers He will surely give? What perfect healing will God accomplish in your life today? Aren’t you ready to find out?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 17, 2014
Acts 10:37-38
“You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we think of “healing”, we think of some sort of physical illness or injury. But everywhere you look, people are in need of “healing” from all kinds of “ailments”. Students are struggling with homework assignments and concepts they can’t seem to grasp and retain. Parents are concerned about every aspect of the lives of their children. There are people struggling with bills, jobs, physical illnesses and injuries, loneliness, relationship issues, and grief. Seniors have a plethora of troubles related to aging and declining health. And we haven’t even mentioned those “sicknesses” that grip our headlines...abuse of children and spouses..., conflict and combat in American cities and on foreign soil...retaliatory beheadings and senseless brutality...and even natural disasters like drought, wildfires and flooding. We truly are a sick world in need of healing!
What struck me instantly about the scripture passage today was this sentence...”He was able to do all this because God was with him.” Even Jesus - the Great Healer and Physician - needed God’s power and presence. If Jesus Christ needed God with Him in order to be well and heal others, don’t you think we certainly need Him in our lives?
Let’s be honest...we can’t do this on our own or under our own power! The only way we even have a CHANCE is to embrace God and ask Him to wield His power in our lives. Our “healing” starts with a liberal dose of the anointing by God with the Holy Spirit - who will dwell in our heart and guide our steps. Again, if it was important for Jesus, it surely is vital for us!
Does this guarantee that we will have “smooth sailing?” Is this an instant “cure” for all that ails us? Yes...and NO! Think of it this way...if you have allergies, you take an antihistamine to alleviate the symptoms. This drug doesn’t remove your condition – but you are able to manage it. If something causes you pain - like a splinter in your hand or a broken toe - you determine the problem and take measures to address it. Sometimes these ailments or injuries can be fully cured and alleviated. At other times, we determine methods of coping with these challenges and relieving some of the symptoms.
This is how it is with God’s power and care. There are burdens and “ailments” that He will remove from you completely. In other cases, He will show you how to cope with your circumstances...and grow and learn from the experience. But God will never leave you to flounder and struggle without any hope of relief. He will never allow you to be completely beaten down by the devil.
So think about what “ails” you today. Consider the “sicknesses” of this world and how the devil attempts to beat us down each and every day. Then turn to God and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit...to “inoculate” you against Satan’s attempts to capture you and destroy your “health” – in every area of life. Trust God to know the right “prescription” for you and your circumstances...and never, ever let go of His power and presence! If Jesus needed God with Him...surely we do, as well. Who is your “Great Physician”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we think of “healing”, we think of some sort of physical illness or injury. But everywhere you look, people are in need of “healing” from all kinds of “ailments”. Students are struggling with homework assignments and concepts they can’t seem to grasp and retain. Parents are concerned about every aspect of the lives of their children. There are people struggling with bills, jobs, physical illnesses and injuries, loneliness, relationship issues, and grief. Seniors have a plethora of troubles related to aging and declining health. And we haven’t even mentioned those “sicknesses” that grip our headlines...abuse of children and spouses..., conflict and combat in American cities and on foreign soil...retaliatory beheadings and senseless brutality...and even natural disasters like drought, wildfires and flooding. We truly are a sick world in need of healing!
What struck me instantly about the scripture passage today was this sentence...”He was able to do all this because God was with him.” Even Jesus - the Great Healer and Physician - needed God’s power and presence. If Jesus Christ needed God with Him in order to be well and heal others, don’t you think we certainly need Him in our lives?
Let’s be honest...we can’t do this on our own or under our own power! The only way we even have a CHANCE is to embrace God and ask Him to wield His power in our lives. Our “healing” starts with a liberal dose of the anointing by God with the Holy Spirit - who will dwell in our heart and guide our steps. Again, if it was important for Jesus, it surely is vital for us!
Does this guarantee that we will have “smooth sailing?” Is this an instant “cure” for all that ails us? Yes...and NO! Think of it this way...if you have allergies, you take an antihistamine to alleviate the symptoms. This drug doesn’t remove your condition – but you are able to manage it. If something causes you pain - like a splinter in your hand or a broken toe - you determine the problem and take measures to address it. Sometimes these ailments or injuries can be fully cured and alleviated. At other times, we determine methods of coping with these challenges and relieving some of the symptoms.
This is how it is with God’s power and care. There are burdens and “ailments” that He will remove from you completely. In other cases, He will show you how to cope with your circumstances...and grow and learn from the experience. But God will never leave you to flounder and struggle without any hope of relief. He will never allow you to be completely beaten down by the devil.
So think about what “ails” you today. Consider the “sicknesses” of this world and how the devil attempts to beat us down each and every day. Then turn to God and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit...to “inoculate” you against Satan’s attempts to capture you and destroy your “health” – in every area of life. Trust God to know the right “prescription” for you and your circumstances...and never, ever let go of His power and presence! If Jesus needed God with Him...surely we do, as well. Who is your “Great Physician”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 2, 2014
Psalm 86:1-7
Bend down and hear my prayer, O Lord, and answer me, for I am deep in trouble.
Protect me from death, for I try to follow all your laws. Save me, for I am serving you and trusting you. Be merciful, O Lord, for I am looking up to you in constant hope. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I worship only you. O Lord, you are so good and kind, so ready to forgive, so full of mercy for all who ask your aid.
Listen closely to my prayer, O God. Hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever trouble strikes, and you will help me.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
We’re a couple of weeks into the school year...and already, you’re struggling to keep up in a class or two. The doctor just told you that you have a major illness and gave you treatment options to consider. You (or an elderly friend or loved one) are experiencing difficulty in managing your daily living on your own, and it may be time to consider getting some help or moving into a facility where assistance is available. Someone has betrayed you – at school, in the workplace, at church, or even at home – and you don’t quite know what to do with these feelings. Your aging pet is in constant pain or has become quite ill, and you must make a gut-wrenching choice about his/her life. A certain set of circumstances has resulted in your need to make major decisions that could potentially cost you dearly in terms of time, money, relationships, and more.
Every day, many of us face some pretty big challenges. They may not actually be “life or death” situations...but a lot of them will certainly feel like it! We will find ourselves at least whispering under our breath, “I am deep trouble.” We will call on God to help us...to relieve us of these issues and give us hope and happiness. And our merciful God hears our pleas...and He so wants to help.
Here’s the thing...we ask for help, and then we often tie God’s hands. We do this by not completely trusting Him to do what we have asked – and what He has promised. We say, “Lord, help me!” And then we act in a way that says, “I need Your help, but I’m not sure you really can provide it.” We wring our hands and wallow in our fears, disappointments, frustrations, and concerns...and God essentially folds His arms and asks, “Do you really want My help...or not?”
I get it! I do this, too. But I am determined to stop, because I am convinced that I block God’s answers and blessings, to some degree. I believe that there are times when we wonder why God has not given us clear answers or direction...and when you really take a hard look at the situation, you see that YOU were the roadblock. Think of a time when you have asked God to help you with something, and then all you did was “worry the problem to death” with talk and thoughts that clearly indicated that you did not truly trust Him to handle things.
We have to give God room to work. We have to step aside and let Him have control. Imagine that you are in one room, God is in another...and there is a door between you. God hears your pleas for help...but in order for Him to work, you have to step away from the doorway and allow Him to step through. You continue to stand at the door holding onto the handle, crying for help and wondering aloud just how this situation could possibly be resolved...what would be the best option...who you should consult or how you should proceed. All you have to do is step aside and let God come through the door, and He will handle everything – perfectly. But you have to move out of His way first.
Isn’t today the perfect day to step aside and allow God to “come through the door”? Aren’t you ready to experience his mercy, grace and compassion...to truly operate in the hope and happiness of allowing God to offer help and protection? Will you “let go and let God”...and feel the joy and peace that comes from trusting Him completely? Or will you continue to stand on “the other side of the door” and whisper, “Lord, I am in deep trouble.”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Bend down and hear my prayer, O Lord, and answer me, for I am deep in trouble.
Protect me from death, for I try to follow all your laws. Save me, for I am serving you and trusting you. Be merciful, O Lord, for I am looking up to you in constant hope. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I worship only you. O Lord, you are so good and kind, so ready to forgive, so full of mercy for all who ask your aid.
Listen closely to my prayer, O God. Hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever trouble strikes, and you will help me.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
We’re a couple of weeks into the school year...and already, you’re struggling to keep up in a class or two. The doctor just told you that you have a major illness and gave you treatment options to consider. You (or an elderly friend or loved one) are experiencing difficulty in managing your daily living on your own, and it may be time to consider getting some help or moving into a facility where assistance is available. Someone has betrayed you – at school, in the workplace, at church, or even at home – and you don’t quite know what to do with these feelings. Your aging pet is in constant pain or has become quite ill, and you must make a gut-wrenching choice about his/her life. A certain set of circumstances has resulted in your need to make major decisions that could potentially cost you dearly in terms of time, money, relationships, and more.
Every day, many of us face some pretty big challenges. They may not actually be “life or death” situations...but a lot of them will certainly feel like it! We will find ourselves at least whispering under our breath, “I am deep trouble.” We will call on God to help us...to relieve us of these issues and give us hope and happiness. And our merciful God hears our pleas...and He so wants to help.
Here’s the thing...we ask for help, and then we often tie God’s hands. We do this by not completely trusting Him to do what we have asked – and what He has promised. We say, “Lord, help me!” And then we act in a way that says, “I need Your help, but I’m not sure you really can provide it.” We wring our hands and wallow in our fears, disappointments, frustrations, and concerns...and God essentially folds His arms and asks, “Do you really want My help...or not?”
I get it! I do this, too. But I am determined to stop, because I am convinced that I block God’s answers and blessings, to some degree. I believe that there are times when we wonder why God has not given us clear answers or direction...and when you really take a hard look at the situation, you see that YOU were the roadblock. Think of a time when you have asked God to help you with something, and then all you did was “worry the problem to death” with talk and thoughts that clearly indicated that you did not truly trust Him to handle things.
We have to give God room to work. We have to step aside and let Him have control. Imagine that you are in one room, God is in another...and there is a door between you. God hears your pleas for help...but in order for Him to work, you have to step away from the doorway and allow Him to step through. You continue to stand at the door holding onto the handle, crying for help and wondering aloud just how this situation could possibly be resolved...what would be the best option...who you should consult or how you should proceed. All you have to do is step aside and let God come through the door, and He will handle everything – perfectly. But you have to move out of His way first.
Isn’t today the perfect day to step aside and allow God to “come through the door”? Aren’t you ready to experience his mercy, grace and compassion...to truly operate in the hope and happiness of allowing God to offer help and protection? Will you “let go and let God”...and feel the joy and peace that comes from trusting Him completely? Or will you continue to stand on “the other side of the door” and whisper, “Lord, I am in deep trouble.”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 7, 2014
Isaiah 57:1-2
The good men perish; the godly die before their time, and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from evil days ahead. For the godly who die shall rest in peace.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Do not stop reading. This is a message of life…not death – although death is very much a part of life. This is a message of hope for God’s children…for those who know Him as the “Giver of Rest”.
Many of us have seen the news reports in recent days about the 70th anniversary of D-Day…the amphibious invasion of France that took place on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Allied forces from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Free French Forces were the initial “troops on the ground”…joined soon by soldiers from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Greece, the Netherlands, and Belgium – and air support from Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. It has been noted that 2,499 Americans who died in Normandy on D-Day…more casualties than in ten years of war in Afghanistan.
Many of these soldiers were among “the godly who died before their time”. If you study interviews with veterans who survived D-Day – or any wartime experience – you realize that many of these soldiers were men and women who, in many cases, were barely out of their teens. They were placed in harm’s way, and countless numbers perished…leaving others to wonder why so many were taken from us so soon.
I read an account in a recent issue of the AARP Bulletin about letters written by soldiers to the folks back home during wartime. Many knew they were dying…some even as young as ages 15 and 18. But their letters were hopeful and comforting. They were at peace, because they knew that their passing would “take them away from evil days ahead”. They knew that God was in control and would give them rest.
We have plenty of opportunities in our lifetime to question “why”...and to feel as if no one seems to care – especially God. But in truth, God cares aplenty…and so do many others. The simple fact is that, while we do not always understand situations and circumstances, we cannot see how God is orchestrating the events of our lives. We cannot possibly fathom that what God allows in our lives might be far better – and less painful or difficult – than what would happen if He allowed our course to be altered.
We wonder why God allows us to get sick, suffer and die. We wonder why we graduate with honors from a prestigious college and cannot find a job. We wonder why our house doesn’t sell so that we can move to another city, take a better job, and become more productive and successful. We wonder why people slip and fall down stairways or off porches…why cars and motorcycles collide with other vehicles or inanimate objects…and why natural disasters destroy our home and our livelihood. We cry out and ask God why relationships fail...why jobs are lost and wars are fought…and so much more. And all the while, we grow more and more weary – if only from the asking of the question, “Why?”
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of asking…and wondering…and feeling restless and frustrated because I don’t have the answers. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time to rest in the LORD…to trust Him and believe that He knows a thing or two that I don’t! I am sure I won’t like everything that God allows. There will be sadness and sorrow and challenges galore. But they will strengthen me…if I will let them. If I will lean on God and trust Him to design the life that is perfect for me, He will do exactly that. If I will believe that even the things I do not understand may be part of a plan to protect me from something far more devastating – even when that seems impossible to fathom – I will have found true rest in this lifetime.
This week, a young father named Adam, who I’ve come to know only through his wife’s blog posts, succumbed to brain cancer. Adam’s wife, Beth, grew up in my hometown. On the day that Adam died, Beth posted a poem by the late Maya Angelou that seemed to sum up Adam’s earthly life. The poem is titled, “When Great Trees Fall”. I encourage you to search for it online and read the entire piece.* Angelou ends the poem this way…
As I read today’s scripture passage from Isaiah, this part of the poem came to mind. With God, we can be – and be better. We can rest in Him and trust His plans for our lives. We can exist – in Him, and because of Him. And once and for all, we can find rest.
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/281946-when-great-trees-fall-when-great-trees-fall-rocks-on
The good men perish; the godly die before their time, and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from evil days ahead. For the godly who die shall rest in peace.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Do not stop reading. This is a message of life…not death – although death is very much a part of life. This is a message of hope for God’s children…for those who know Him as the “Giver of Rest”.
Many of us have seen the news reports in recent days about the 70th anniversary of D-Day…the amphibious invasion of France that took place on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Allied forces from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Free French Forces were the initial “troops on the ground”…joined soon by soldiers from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Greece, the Netherlands, and Belgium – and air support from Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. It has been noted that 2,499 Americans who died in Normandy on D-Day…more casualties than in ten years of war in Afghanistan.
Many of these soldiers were among “the godly who died before their time”. If you study interviews with veterans who survived D-Day – or any wartime experience – you realize that many of these soldiers were men and women who, in many cases, were barely out of their teens. They were placed in harm’s way, and countless numbers perished…leaving others to wonder why so many were taken from us so soon.
I read an account in a recent issue of the AARP Bulletin about letters written by soldiers to the folks back home during wartime. Many knew they were dying…some even as young as ages 15 and 18. But their letters were hopeful and comforting. They were at peace, because they knew that their passing would “take them away from evil days ahead”. They knew that God was in control and would give them rest.
We have plenty of opportunities in our lifetime to question “why”...and to feel as if no one seems to care – especially God. But in truth, God cares aplenty…and so do many others. The simple fact is that, while we do not always understand situations and circumstances, we cannot see how God is orchestrating the events of our lives. We cannot possibly fathom that what God allows in our lives might be far better – and less painful or difficult – than what would happen if He allowed our course to be altered.
We wonder why God allows us to get sick, suffer and die. We wonder why we graduate with honors from a prestigious college and cannot find a job. We wonder why our house doesn’t sell so that we can move to another city, take a better job, and become more productive and successful. We wonder why people slip and fall down stairways or off porches…why cars and motorcycles collide with other vehicles or inanimate objects…and why natural disasters destroy our home and our livelihood. We cry out and ask God why relationships fail...why jobs are lost and wars are fought…and so much more. And all the while, we grow more and more weary – if only from the asking of the question, “Why?”
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of asking…and wondering…and feeling restless and frustrated because I don’t have the answers. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time to rest in the LORD…to trust Him and believe that He knows a thing or two that I don’t! I am sure I won’t like everything that God allows. There will be sadness and sorrow and challenges galore. But they will strengthen me…if I will let them. If I will lean on God and trust Him to design the life that is perfect for me, He will do exactly that. If I will believe that even the things I do not understand may be part of a plan to protect me from something far more devastating – even when that seems impossible to fathom – I will have found true rest in this lifetime.
This week, a young father named Adam, who I’ve come to know only through his wife’s blog posts, succumbed to brain cancer. Adam’s wife, Beth, grew up in my hometown. On the day that Adam died, Beth posted a poem by the late Maya Angelou that seemed to sum up Adam’s earthly life. The poem is titled, “When Great Trees Fall”. I encourage you to search for it online and read the entire piece.* Angelou ends the poem this way…
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
As I read today’s scripture passage from Isaiah, this part of the poem came to mind. With God, we can be – and be better. We can rest in Him and trust His plans for our lives. We can exist – in Him, and because of Him. And once and for all, we can find rest.
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/281946-when-great-trees-fall-when-great-trees-fall-rocks-on
Daily Devotional for June 4, 2014
Isaiah 14:3-4
In that wonderful day when the Lord gives his people rest from sorrow and fear, from slavery and chains, you will jeer at the king of Babylon and say, “You bully, you! At last you have what was coming to you.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Greg and I started watching the new “24” series on DVR last night. We watched every season of the original series, so we thought we would give these episodes a try. If you are not familiar with the “24” series, each episode represents one hour in a 24-hour day. A digital “clock” counts down the time in a particular hour, so that if a commercial break is 3 minutes and 30 seconds, that amount of time is removed from the hour when the actual show resumes. Over the course of 24 episodes, we will follow a story that supposedly took place in one full day/night.
It’s been three or four years since the original “24” series ended, so I had to sort of regroup and remind myself of how this all goes. At one point, I said to Greg, “By the end of this show, Jack Bauer (the lead character, played by Kiefer Sutherland) will fix everything.” He replied, “I don’t think so…it’s just the first hour of the 24!” Oh, yeah! That’s right! We will have twists and turns for another 23 episodes before this is all resolved! I think we pretty much know how this will ultimately finish. There will be surprises along the way and the finale may not be exactly as we pictured…but I’m pretty sure the “bad guy” will get his/her just desserts.
This series has tension and drama and often leaves us on the edge of our seats. But all we have to do is remind ourselves that it’s just a TV show…that we can rest and relax. The shoot-‘em-up scenes are not real…the torturous interrogations didn’t really happen…and there isn’t really a bad guy lurking behind every door! I’m sure in the end, we will root for the “good guys” and cheer that the “bullies” got what they deserved.
We have to laugh sometimes, because in the course of “24 hours”, Jack Bauer can survive attacks, falls from multi-storied buildings, car crashes, beatings, wounds and injuries that would be the end of most mere mortals in the first 10 minutes! As Greg reminded me sarcastically…”It’s only a flesh wound!”…and our hero is soon on his feet and headed back for more! He seems to have a supernatural strength and stamina!
We “regular Joes” are faced with countless challenges throughout our lifetime. Our daily activities may not be as exciting – or as harrowing – as Jack Bauer’s. But there will be times when we come up against obstacles that are daunting, to say the least…and sometimes downright terrifying and exhausting. We will wonder how we can make it through an entire day…and who truly will “win” at the end of it!
Thankfully, as Christians, we are undergirded, quite literally, by Supernatural strength and power. We are able to stare down the “enemy” with the more-than-able protection of our Hero and real-life Savior, Jesus Christ. We really do know how the story ends…and Who wins! So as we go through each day and handle tasks and trials both great and small, we can do so without sorrow and fear. We can rest in the protective shelter of God Almighty…and we can anticipate the “ultimate rest” in His presence when our life’s journey ends.
Ours is not some made-for-TV fantasy thriller…this is real life, baby! With Christ in the leading role, we’ve truly got this! Are you with me?
©2014 Debbie Robus
In that wonderful day when the Lord gives his people rest from sorrow and fear, from slavery and chains, you will jeer at the king of Babylon and say, “You bully, you! At last you have what was coming to you.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Greg and I started watching the new “24” series on DVR last night. We watched every season of the original series, so we thought we would give these episodes a try. If you are not familiar with the “24” series, each episode represents one hour in a 24-hour day. A digital “clock” counts down the time in a particular hour, so that if a commercial break is 3 minutes and 30 seconds, that amount of time is removed from the hour when the actual show resumes. Over the course of 24 episodes, we will follow a story that supposedly took place in one full day/night.
It’s been three or four years since the original “24” series ended, so I had to sort of regroup and remind myself of how this all goes. At one point, I said to Greg, “By the end of this show, Jack Bauer (the lead character, played by Kiefer Sutherland) will fix everything.” He replied, “I don’t think so…it’s just the first hour of the 24!” Oh, yeah! That’s right! We will have twists and turns for another 23 episodes before this is all resolved! I think we pretty much know how this will ultimately finish. There will be surprises along the way and the finale may not be exactly as we pictured…but I’m pretty sure the “bad guy” will get his/her just desserts.
This series has tension and drama and often leaves us on the edge of our seats. But all we have to do is remind ourselves that it’s just a TV show…that we can rest and relax. The shoot-‘em-up scenes are not real…the torturous interrogations didn’t really happen…and there isn’t really a bad guy lurking behind every door! I’m sure in the end, we will root for the “good guys” and cheer that the “bullies” got what they deserved.
We have to laugh sometimes, because in the course of “24 hours”, Jack Bauer can survive attacks, falls from multi-storied buildings, car crashes, beatings, wounds and injuries that would be the end of most mere mortals in the first 10 minutes! As Greg reminded me sarcastically…”It’s only a flesh wound!”…and our hero is soon on his feet and headed back for more! He seems to have a supernatural strength and stamina!
We “regular Joes” are faced with countless challenges throughout our lifetime. Our daily activities may not be as exciting – or as harrowing – as Jack Bauer’s. But there will be times when we come up against obstacles that are daunting, to say the least…and sometimes downright terrifying and exhausting. We will wonder how we can make it through an entire day…and who truly will “win” at the end of it!
Thankfully, as Christians, we are undergirded, quite literally, by Supernatural strength and power. We are able to stare down the “enemy” with the more-than-able protection of our Hero and real-life Savior, Jesus Christ. We really do know how the story ends…and Who wins! So as we go through each day and handle tasks and trials both great and small, we can do so without sorrow and fear. We can rest in the protective shelter of God Almighty…and we can anticipate the “ultimate rest” in His presence when our life’s journey ends.
Ours is not some made-for-TV fantasy thriller…this is real life, baby! With Christ in the leading role, we’ve truly got this! Are you with me?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 10, 2014
Psalm 111:4
The Lord God is famous
for his wonderful deeds,
and he is kind and merciful.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning I got an e-mail message with news that a friend of ours has received the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma - kidney cancer. This occurred quite suddenly, and he is scheduled for immediate removal of one of his kidneys. Friends and fellow church members will gather during the surgery itself to pray for him and the medical team…and of course, prayers have already begun in earnest for this young father of three small children. These prayers are acts of compassion and care…and we believe that God will deliver a positive outcome, according to His will.
As I went about my morning activities, I muddled over all of this “news”. My first thought was of Dr. Jennifer Arnold, the “little person” I mentioned in another devotional who just completed chemotherapy for a rare form of cancer and “rang the bell” in her oncology ward to signify an “all clear” diagnosis. I pictured my friend doing the same thing. But then the devil filled my head with doubts, fears, panic and all sorts of questions. And I started to ask God, “What about this? Why that? What will happen if???”
Very clearly, I felt God telling me to “settle down”…to come back to “center” and remember WHO He is! I immediately changed my prayer from one of “Lord…NO!” to one of “LORD…I know You’ve got this!” God emphatically reminded me of the countless “Oh, NO!” moments in my own life that He handled perfectly. Notice I did NOT say that God handled each of these experiences as I wished…but I can see that the outcome had great purpose - HIS purpose.
In 1994, my classmate friend Sandra died of breast cancer. She left behind two young boys – ages six and nine. For a long time, I asked God over and over…“Why her and not me? I have no children…she is a single mother with two little boys. Didn’t she need to stick around to rear them?” I don’t know why God took Sandra…but I now understand at least in part why I am still here. I had children and a grandmother to care for…my husband needed me to help him with our business…and apparently, God has other things in store for me – at least so far this day!
The point is that God truly IS kind and merciful…and famous for wonderful deeds. And we must remind each other of this…even in the midst of a crisis or an event or experience that frightens and bewilders us. We must turn our “Oh, NO!” moments into “God’s got this!” affirmations. We must encourage others to do the same and lift them up with prayers of hope and assurance…hugs and words of promise and possibility…and a confident attitude that God never wastes an opportunity or experience.
I don’t know what your “Oh, NO!” moments entail…but I’m pretty sure you have had some – or you will at some point. And I’m fairly certain that family members and friends will have them, also. How will you handle them? Will you trust God to deliver you with kindness and mercy? Will you encourage each other as you call on Him to demonstrate His wonderful deeds? Will you empathize with those who are in the middle of a “rough patch” and assure them that God is still in control?
Do you truly believe the claim of this scripture passage from Psalm 111…and are you living out its message in your own thoughts and actions? Isn’t it time you took this to heart and claimed it – for your own life and the lives of others? Will this be the day you do exactly that? “God’s got this!” He truly does. Do you believe it…and does it show?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The Lord God is famous
for his wonderful deeds,
and he is kind and merciful.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning I got an e-mail message with news that a friend of ours has received the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma - kidney cancer. This occurred quite suddenly, and he is scheduled for immediate removal of one of his kidneys. Friends and fellow church members will gather during the surgery itself to pray for him and the medical team…and of course, prayers have already begun in earnest for this young father of three small children. These prayers are acts of compassion and care…and we believe that God will deliver a positive outcome, according to His will.
As I went about my morning activities, I muddled over all of this “news”. My first thought was of Dr. Jennifer Arnold, the “little person” I mentioned in another devotional who just completed chemotherapy for a rare form of cancer and “rang the bell” in her oncology ward to signify an “all clear” diagnosis. I pictured my friend doing the same thing. But then the devil filled my head with doubts, fears, panic and all sorts of questions. And I started to ask God, “What about this? Why that? What will happen if???”
Very clearly, I felt God telling me to “settle down”…to come back to “center” and remember WHO He is! I immediately changed my prayer from one of “Lord…NO!” to one of “LORD…I know You’ve got this!” God emphatically reminded me of the countless “Oh, NO!” moments in my own life that He handled perfectly. Notice I did NOT say that God handled each of these experiences as I wished…but I can see that the outcome had great purpose - HIS purpose.
In 1994, my classmate friend Sandra died of breast cancer. She left behind two young boys – ages six and nine. For a long time, I asked God over and over…“Why her and not me? I have no children…she is a single mother with two little boys. Didn’t she need to stick around to rear them?” I don’t know why God took Sandra…but I now understand at least in part why I am still here. I had children and a grandmother to care for…my husband needed me to help him with our business…and apparently, God has other things in store for me – at least so far this day!
The point is that God truly IS kind and merciful…and famous for wonderful deeds. And we must remind each other of this…even in the midst of a crisis or an event or experience that frightens and bewilders us. We must turn our “Oh, NO!” moments into “God’s got this!” affirmations. We must encourage others to do the same and lift them up with prayers of hope and assurance…hugs and words of promise and possibility…and a confident attitude that God never wastes an opportunity or experience.
I don’t know what your “Oh, NO!” moments entail…but I’m pretty sure you have had some – or you will at some point. And I’m fairly certain that family members and friends will have them, also. How will you handle them? Will you trust God to deliver you with kindness and mercy? Will you encourage each other as you call on Him to demonstrate His wonderful deeds? Will you empathize with those who are in the middle of a “rough patch” and assure them that God is still in control?
Do you truly believe the claim of this scripture passage from Psalm 111…and are you living out its message in your own thoughts and actions? Isn’t it time you took this to heart and claimed it – for your own life and the lives of others? Will this be the day you do exactly that? “God’s got this!” He truly does. Do you believe it…and does it show?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 6, 2013
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
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.
For days, all we heard from newscasters was “Get ready for the big storm.” We were told to make sure we had non-perishable food items, water, fuel, cash, flashlights, batteries and more… in case we were iced in for several days and lost power. We were warned to run any errands and make preparations to stay at home for a while. I saw people in Wal-Mart who were gathering games and other activities to occupy their kiddos over the weekend – especially things that wouldn’t require electrical power. I helped a couple of bewildered husbands find the candles their wives had sent them to purchase.
The ice came, and some areas lost power. Those who didn’t have a plan in place must take personal responsibility, because we were all given ample time and warning to face this storm with hope for a positive outcome.
Anyone who knows me very well can tell you that I am one of those people who like to have a plan. I don’t function well in the realm of “whatever comes along”. I can be spontaneous, and I can adjust on the fly… but I really like to know what’s on the agenda. Of course, there are always unknowns. We can’t always prepare for trees that fall on our house… cars that spin out of control on an icy driveway…or power outages that last far longer than we expected. We can’t know that we will get sick…that certain events will have to be cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control, and more. In short… we truly don’t know for certain what our future holds… at least not 100 percent!
The GOOD NEWS is that God knows exactly what’s in store for us. His plans are perfect. He knows what will be cancelled, what obstacles we will face… and even if the power will go out – and for how long! If we trust God’s plans for our lives… if we have faith and confidence that He will work things out for good and not for disaster… we can live with hope that our future is bright. We still won’t know what is going to happen at any given moment… but we know that God is working things out perfectly. In other words, we don’t know what the future holds, but we know WHO holds the future.
Because of this promise, I can handle the “surprises” that come my way… both the happy ones and those that are not so pleasant. I know that God is planning every minute of my future…and it is indeed a good one. Because I believe in God… because I trust His promises are true…I have hope - and I pray that the same can be said for you. Are you with me?
©2013 Debbie Robus
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
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.
For days, all we heard from newscasters was “Get ready for the big storm.” We were told to make sure we had non-perishable food items, water, fuel, cash, flashlights, batteries and more… in case we were iced in for several days and lost power. We were warned to run any errands and make preparations to stay at home for a while. I saw people in Wal-Mart who were gathering games and other activities to occupy their kiddos over the weekend – especially things that wouldn’t require electrical power. I helped a couple of bewildered husbands find the candles their wives had sent them to purchase.
The ice came, and some areas lost power. Those who didn’t have a plan in place must take personal responsibility, because we were all given ample time and warning to face this storm with hope for a positive outcome.
Anyone who knows me very well can tell you that I am one of those people who like to have a plan. I don’t function well in the realm of “whatever comes along”. I can be spontaneous, and I can adjust on the fly… but I really like to know what’s on the agenda. Of course, there are always unknowns. We can’t always prepare for trees that fall on our house… cars that spin out of control on an icy driveway…or power outages that last far longer than we expected. We can’t know that we will get sick…that certain events will have to be cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control, and more. In short… we truly don’t know for certain what our future holds… at least not 100 percent!
The GOOD NEWS is that God knows exactly what’s in store for us. His plans are perfect. He knows what will be cancelled, what obstacles we will face… and even if the power will go out – and for how long! If we trust God’s plans for our lives… if we have faith and confidence that He will work things out for good and not for disaster… we can live with hope that our future is bright. We still won’t know what is going to happen at any given moment… but we know that God is working things out perfectly. In other words, we don’t know what the future holds, but we know WHO holds the future.
Because of this promise, I can handle the “surprises” that come my way… both the happy ones and those that are not so pleasant. I know that God is planning every minute of my future…and it is indeed a good one. Because I believe in God… because I trust His promises are true…I have hope - and I pray that the same can be said for you. Are you with me?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 23, 2013
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
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.
On NBC’s The Biggest Loser, there is a lot of discussion about what is taking place with contestants… both “on the outside” and internally. The coaches will readily point out that a mental shift is as important to permanent weight loss as the physical work. So when a contestant exercises vigorously all week and eats a careful diet… and then shows a very small reduction on the scale – or sometimes no weight loss at all – the coach is quick to note that we cannot always “see” the success that is taking place. Progress may still have been made… particularly in the form of an attitude adjustment. The primary focus is not on how many pounds are lost in any given week… but on what will be the final – and hopefully lasting – result. And the hope of making great strides in the long term is what keeps everyone from giving up.
In my lifetime, there have been many situations where I felt like things were falling apart on the outside… but I could not see the “new life” God was creating on the inside. When I taught a junior high Sunday school class, I came home discouraged most Sundays. I felt as if the kids didn’t understand what I was sharing with them… or care. People told me over and again, “You may never know the seeds you have planted.” There were similar feelings with some of my kindergarten and first grade students. Did I really teach them anything? Did God really use me to make a difference in their lives? Over time, I am realizing that the answer is a resounding… “YES!”
Some of the “results” are still questionable… while others are readily visible. I’ve reconnected with many of my students in recent years, particularly via Facebook. To see all that they have accomplished…to witness how they have developed into productive, upstanding, faith-filled adults... to hear them say, “I remember when you taught us this or that – or when we did such-and-such”… to hear a student say, “I was incredibly blessed to have a Sunday school teacher who cared so much for me and my classmates”…this tells me that something went right. God’s grace unfolds before me as I see how He has worked in these young lives.
In other situations, I am still waiting on answers and results… and I bet you are, too. Not everything in life will turn out like we anticipate or in the timetable we desire… and there will be plenty of times when we want to throw up our hands and say, “I simply cannot take this anymore.” But we must never give up! We must keep on listening for God’s wisdom and guidance… and doing what He wants us to do. We must trust Him to make the difference… to turn these “small potatoes hard times” into lavish good times through His amazing grace. We must have hope… and we must have it abundantly!
If we never physically “see” results from our efforts, we must have confidence that they still exist. If the scale never shows that we have lost an ounce, yet we are more fit and healthy than ever - and working hard to stay that way - we must trust that God’s not done with us yet. We must hope and wait on Him… and trust that what we can’t see is most certainly in the works – and built to last forever. Do you have this kind of hope in God’s power and promises? I'm not giving up... are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
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.
On NBC’s The Biggest Loser, there is a lot of discussion about what is taking place with contestants… both “on the outside” and internally. The coaches will readily point out that a mental shift is as important to permanent weight loss as the physical work. So when a contestant exercises vigorously all week and eats a careful diet… and then shows a very small reduction on the scale – or sometimes no weight loss at all – the coach is quick to note that we cannot always “see” the success that is taking place. Progress may still have been made… particularly in the form of an attitude adjustment. The primary focus is not on how many pounds are lost in any given week… but on what will be the final – and hopefully lasting – result. And the hope of making great strides in the long term is what keeps everyone from giving up.
In my lifetime, there have been many situations where I felt like things were falling apart on the outside… but I could not see the “new life” God was creating on the inside. When I taught a junior high Sunday school class, I came home discouraged most Sundays. I felt as if the kids didn’t understand what I was sharing with them… or care. People told me over and again, “You may never know the seeds you have planted.” There were similar feelings with some of my kindergarten and first grade students. Did I really teach them anything? Did God really use me to make a difference in their lives? Over time, I am realizing that the answer is a resounding… “YES!”
Some of the “results” are still questionable… while others are readily visible. I’ve reconnected with many of my students in recent years, particularly via Facebook. To see all that they have accomplished…to witness how they have developed into productive, upstanding, faith-filled adults... to hear them say, “I remember when you taught us this or that – or when we did such-and-such”… to hear a student say, “I was incredibly blessed to have a Sunday school teacher who cared so much for me and my classmates”…this tells me that something went right. God’s grace unfolds before me as I see how He has worked in these young lives.
In other situations, I am still waiting on answers and results… and I bet you are, too. Not everything in life will turn out like we anticipate or in the timetable we desire… and there will be plenty of times when we want to throw up our hands and say, “I simply cannot take this anymore.” But we must never give up! We must keep on listening for God’s wisdom and guidance… and doing what He wants us to do. We must trust Him to make the difference… to turn these “small potatoes hard times” into lavish good times through His amazing grace. We must have hope… and we must have it abundantly!
If we never physically “see” results from our efforts, we must have confidence that they still exist. If the scale never shows that we have lost an ounce, yet we are more fit and healthy than ever - and working hard to stay that way - we must trust that God’s not done with us yet. We must hope and wait on Him… and trust that what we can’t see is most certainly in the works – and built to last forever. Do you have this kind of hope in God’s power and promises? I'm not giving up... are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 17, 2013
1 Samuel 26:9-11
“Don’t kill him!” David whispered back. “The Lord will punish anyone who kills his chosen king. As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord will kill Saul, or Saul will die a natural death or be killed in battle. But I pray that the Lord will keep me from harming his chosen king. Let’s grab his spear and his water jar and get out of here!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know about you, but I do not like snakes. In fact, they scare me half to death. So when I tell you that we had at least one black rat snake that lived underneath our porch and deck most of the summer, you will probably think I am crazy. I tend to fall into that camp that says “the only good snake is a dead snake!” Had this been a copperhead living underneath our deck, I would probably have begged Greg to send him on to wherever it is snakes go when they die!
We could have killed the black snake. And a couple of summers ago, a “Speckled King Snake” that was hanging out in our yard wandered into the neighbor’s yard, and he did exactly that! But Greg and I both agreed that as long as these “harmless” snakes were in our yard, there was less likelihood that we would encounter the poisonous ones… or so we hoped. And to my knowledge, no copperheads or rattlesnakes were seen in our yard – or near it – this past season. And as much as I dislike snakes – and a big black rat snake on our front porch scared the life out of me a couple of summers ago (and yes, I screamed and ran in the house and left Greg and his mother standing on the driveway!) – I respect the role that this particular reptile plays in keeping our yard relatively safe.
As long as I know to watch for him/her, I trust that he will do his job… and I will do mine… and we will keep our distance from each other! Having said all of this, when the snake ventured into our front yard one day and was very curious about entering the garage while Greg was mowing, he didn’t hesitate to scurry the serpent into the woods and away from the house!
Here’s the deal…David could easily have killed King Saul… and a lot of people would probably have thanked him. But David knew that this was up to God to decide. It was one thing to disarm the king and leave him without water… but to take his life was quite another. And there are many times when we would absolutely LOVE to take matters into our own hands about a myriad of situations… but it’s simply not our place.
We have to respect God and trust Him to handle a lot of things that we are simply not equipped to manage. Most of the time, we don’t have all of the facts. And if we do, we still may often lack the proper wisdom and ability to do or say the right thing. So we must allow God to do what is best and remain faithful that He will create the perfect outcome.
Where have you tried to take matters into your own hands? Where have you made a mess of things in the process? How have you disrespected God by stepping in where you shouldn’t? When have you “killed the snake” that should have been allowed to slither back underneath the porch? Isn’t it time you started communicating more closely with God and allowing Him the final say in things? Will this be the week that you begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“Don’t kill him!” David whispered back. “The Lord will punish anyone who kills his chosen king. As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord will kill Saul, or Saul will die a natural death or be killed in battle. But I pray that the Lord will keep me from harming his chosen king. Let’s grab his spear and his water jar and get out of here!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know about you, but I do not like snakes. In fact, they scare me half to death. So when I tell you that we had at least one black rat snake that lived underneath our porch and deck most of the summer, you will probably think I am crazy. I tend to fall into that camp that says “the only good snake is a dead snake!” Had this been a copperhead living underneath our deck, I would probably have begged Greg to send him on to wherever it is snakes go when they die!
We could have killed the black snake. And a couple of summers ago, a “Speckled King Snake” that was hanging out in our yard wandered into the neighbor’s yard, and he did exactly that! But Greg and I both agreed that as long as these “harmless” snakes were in our yard, there was less likelihood that we would encounter the poisonous ones… or so we hoped. And to my knowledge, no copperheads or rattlesnakes were seen in our yard – or near it – this past season. And as much as I dislike snakes – and a big black rat snake on our front porch scared the life out of me a couple of summers ago (and yes, I screamed and ran in the house and left Greg and his mother standing on the driveway!) – I respect the role that this particular reptile plays in keeping our yard relatively safe.
As long as I know to watch for him/her, I trust that he will do his job… and I will do mine… and we will keep our distance from each other! Having said all of this, when the snake ventured into our front yard one day and was very curious about entering the garage while Greg was mowing, he didn’t hesitate to scurry the serpent into the woods and away from the house!
Here’s the deal…David could easily have killed King Saul… and a lot of people would probably have thanked him. But David knew that this was up to God to decide. It was one thing to disarm the king and leave him without water… but to take his life was quite another. And there are many times when we would absolutely LOVE to take matters into our own hands about a myriad of situations… but it’s simply not our place.
We have to respect God and trust Him to handle a lot of things that we are simply not equipped to manage. Most of the time, we don’t have all of the facts. And if we do, we still may often lack the proper wisdom and ability to do or say the right thing. So we must allow God to do what is best and remain faithful that He will create the perfect outcome.
Where have you tried to take matters into your own hands? Where have you made a mess of things in the process? How have you disrespected God by stepping in where you shouldn’t? When have you “killed the snake” that should have been allowed to slither back underneath the porch? Isn’t it time you started communicating more closely with God and allowing Him the final say in things? Will this be the week that you begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 14, 2013
Acts 10:34-36
Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
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.
On a cold, snowy February night just over 20 years ago, I stood with my friend Kathy under the portico to the Pierre Hotel in New York City and watched as stars and entertainers arrived and departed from limousines. We were in town on a business trip… the entertainers and celebrities were attending a party inside the Pierre that was being held by the executives at Arista Records to celebrate the Grammy Awards ceremony the following night. Kathy and I are both about as “southern” as they come… and when we opened our mouths, it was evident that we were NOT native New Yorkers. However, we kept quiet and tried to blend in with the crowd as I snapped photos with my camera.
A couple standing next to us began to heckle the stars and the doorman. They were being incredibly vulgar and rude, and the hotel security official shot them more than one ugly glance. He even walked over to where we were standing and asked them to pipe down, which only made the couple laugh harder and become more offensive. Finally, he insisted that this young man and woman leave the hotel property. They immediately began to question this, and the doorman told them, “You do not belong here… you are not guests of the hotel… you need to leave – NOW!” The couple protested and pointed to Kathy and me and said, “But why don’t THEY have to leave? They don’t belong here!” The doorman told them, “They are guests of the hotel.”
To be clear, we were not staying at the hotel. We had merely wandered through the lobby to take in its ornate décor, and we happened to notice Cindi Lauper and a couple of other “famous” people as we stepped back outside. So we quietly parked ourselves along a velvet rope and tried to look inconspicuous. AND… the key word most likely was “quietly”. We were not heckling anyone. We were not shouting obscenities and looking the other way, as if someone else had uttered them and we didn’t know where the offensive words originated. We were not arguing with anyone or being a bother. So we got to stay… and the doorman treated us quite kindly. And in the end, the hecklers moved along down the sidewalk (and probably crashed another party at a neighboring hotel).
I have every confidence that this entire spectacle could have been avoided. Had the couple shown a little respect and honored the doorman’s authority and position, they could have been “wannabe paparazzi” like Kathy and me. We were no better than they were. And if you want to “go there”… the celebrities we were ogling were truly no “better” either! We give far too much credence to “celebrity” in this world – at least in my book! But the point I want to make is that these people forfeited the “privilege” of standing on that hotel portico and taking in the sights by failing to respect the authority of those in charge. They did not recognize… or accept… the parameters. They were unwilling to do as they were asked. And so “the door was closed.”
Where in your life have you “closed the door” in effect… on your relationships with people…on opportunities for improvement and/or advancement… and most significantly, on God? How have you disrespected the authority and guidelines? Where have you refused to “play by the rules” and essentially cost yourself a place at the table? How have you treated the people and situations in your life… and what has been the outcome?
We make a lot of our own messes, it seems. We make life and relationship choices that alter our course… and often close a lot of doors. We can correct this… especially with God. We can recognize and respect His authority in our lives… and His will. In turn, as we begin to give God the proper reverence and regard, He will open doors for us to repair and restore relationships and the conditions of other circumstances in our lives. God can put together what we have broken… if only we will bow before Him and ask for His forgiveness… and His help.
I don’t know about you, but the one door I never want closed is the door to heaven. I never want to behave in a manner that causes me to hear God say, “You need to leave.” I hope you feel the same way… and that you will do whatever it takes today to reconnect with Him… and to repair other relationships and situations where you have been disrespectful. You can regain your place at God’s table… you can stand once again alongside the “velvet rope” and enjoy the party. The choice is totally yours. How will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
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.
On a cold, snowy February night just over 20 years ago, I stood with my friend Kathy under the portico to the Pierre Hotel in New York City and watched as stars and entertainers arrived and departed from limousines. We were in town on a business trip… the entertainers and celebrities were attending a party inside the Pierre that was being held by the executives at Arista Records to celebrate the Grammy Awards ceremony the following night. Kathy and I are both about as “southern” as they come… and when we opened our mouths, it was evident that we were NOT native New Yorkers. However, we kept quiet and tried to blend in with the crowd as I snapped photos with my camera.
A couple standing next to us began to heckle the stars and the doorman. They were being incredibly vulgar and rude, and the hotel security official shot them more than one ugly glance. He even walked over to where we were standing and asked them to pipe down, which only made the couple laugh harder and become more offensive. Finally, he insisted that this young man and woman leave the hotel property. They immediately began to question this, and the doorman told them, “You do not belong here… you are not guests of the hotel… you need to leave – NOW!” The couple protested and pointed to Kathy and me and said, “But why don’t THEY have to leave? They don’t belong here!” The doorman told them, “They are guests of the hotel.”
To be clear, we were not staying at the hotel. We had merely wandered through the lobby to take in its ornate décor, and we happened to notice Cindi Lauper and a couple of other “famous” people as we stepped back outside. So we quietly parked ourselves along a velvet rope and tried to look inconspicuous. AND… the key word most likely was “quietly”. We were not heckling anyone. We were not shouting obscenities and looking the other way, as if someone else had uttered them and we didn’t know where the offensive words originated. We were not arguing with anyone or being a bother. So we got to stay… and the doorman treated us quite kindly. And in the end, the hecklers moved along down the sidewalk (and probably crashed another party at a neighboring hotel).
I have every confidence that this entire spectacle could have been avoided. Had the couple shown a little respect and honored the doorman’s authority and position, they could have been “wannabe paparazzi” like Kathy and me. We were no better than they were. And if you want to “go there”… the celebrities we were ogling were truly no “better” either! We give far too much credence to “celebrity” in this world – at least in my book! But the point I want to make is that these people forfeited the “privilege” of standing on that hotel portico and taking in the sights by failing to respect the authority of those in charge. They did not recognize… or accept… the parameters. They were unwilling to do as they were asked. And so “the door was closed.”
Where in your life have you “closed the door” in effect… on your relationships with people…on opportunities for improvement and/or advancement… and most significantly, on God? How have you disrespected the authority and guidelines? Where have you refused to “play by the rules” and essentially cost yourself a place at the table? How have you treated the people and situations in your life… and what has been the outcome?
We make a lot of our own messes, it seems. We make life and relationship choices that alter our course… and often close a lot of doors. We can correct this… especially with God. We can recognize and respect His authority in our lives… and His will. In turn, as we begin to give God the proper reverence and regard, He will open doors for us to repair and restore relationships and the conditions of other circumstances in our lives. God can put together what we have broken… if only we will bow before Him and ask for His forgiveness… and His help.
I don’t know about you, but the one door I never want closed is the door to heaven. I never want to behave in a manner that causes me to hear God say, “You need to leave.” I hope you feel the same way… and that you will do whatever it takes today to reconnect with Him… and to repair other relationships and situations where you have been disrespectful. You can regain your place at God’s table… you can stand once again alongside the “velvet rope” and enjoy the party. The choice is totally yours. How will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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