1 Peter 4:7-11
Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My brother Tim started to lose his hair in his late 20s. By his mid-thirties, he wore his hair trimmed very closely to his head, because he was almost bald on top. But shortly before he died at age 37, his hair started to grow for some reason. He didn’t necessarily reclaim the receding hairline, but he had enough hair that he started to look shaggy around the edges. Tim was very sick and had trouble breathing. So our friend Shelly, who is a hairdresser, came to my parents’ house and gave Tim a haircut. It was a simple task that comes very easily for Shelly. But to us, it was a huge gift. This was an act of love for our Tim…a gesture of compassion from one friend to another. I can still see my brother sitting on the carport on a stool as Shelly trimmed his hair and gave him a neat, clean appearance…and lifted his mood in the process.
Not everyone can offer someone else a haircut. After my brother died, our friend Allison, who is a veterinarian, came and got Tim’s dog Carmen for the day…bathed her and checked her over. My cousin Franklin took Carmen out for a car ride and a romp. These don’t seem like a big deal…but trust me, it was to us! A young friend of ours had all four wisdom teeth removed at once. His mom reported that his face was swollen – and he was in a lot of pain. I made him a “rice bag” that could be placed in the freezer and used like an ice pack. The young man’s mom said that this was the only thing that felt gentle and soothing to him. It took all of maybe 10 minutes to make this bag…and a little side trip to deliver when I ran errands. But it meant the world to a mother who doesn’t sew and her son who was in pain.
The words of this scripture are pretty clear. Every one of us has “gifts” we can use to help others. Some possess skills like cutting hair, sewing and veterinary care…while others are “gifted” cooks, chauffeurs, pet-sitters, listeners, and all-around good friends. Some know just what to say and when to say it…others are better at “doing” things to show their care and concern.
I don’t know what “gifts” you possess…but just as these verses in 1 Peter tell us – each of us has been blessed with certain gifts and skills from God…and He wants us to use them! When we offer others God’s love and care through the gifts He has given us, He gets the glory. This is what true Christian discipleship is all about!
Our job as disciples of Christ is to show our gratitude for all we have been given by prayerfully asking God continually to show us how – and where – to love others. Notice how important Peter says this is - he tells us to “love each other as your life depended on it”…because truly it does! A full life in Christ Jesus happens when we love cheerfully, unconditionally, and generously. Ask God to reveal your “gifts” to you…and to show you what you are supposed to do with them. Someone needs you…even now! Are you ready to offer “God’s hearty help” today? How will you honor His gifts to you by giving to others?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label using Gods gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label using Gods gifts. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 27, 2014
Galatians 5:22-23
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way.
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.
Recently, I spoke with several girls who are members of a “small group” ministry hosted by my church. Since these girls are all high school seniors, the girls’ leaders had asked me to address the question, “What do you wish you had known when you were 18?” The first thing I listed was how I wished I had understood more fully just how much God loves me…that I had truly comprehended His grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion for me. While those who nurtured me in the first 18 years of my life loved God and meant well, much of my teaching was based in fear and an image of God – at least in my mind - as a strong disciplinarian (think lion tamer with a chair in one hand and a whip in the other!) who was watching and waiting to cast me into hell at the first misstep. The girls got quite a laugh when I said that the phrase “You’ll go to hell for that!” rang in my head much of the time.
It wasn’t until much later in life that I truly learned just how much God loves me… even when I screw things up – as we all do from time to time. I told the girls I wish I had understood that people make mistakes in life…it’s part of how we grown and learn. While this is not a license to sin or do things we shouldn’t…it is important that we realize that God can forgive and restore us…He has no desire to see any of us punished…much less condemned to hell for all eternity. By the same token, I didn’t have a clear understanding of how the Holy Spirit works. Most of my childhood, we heard of the “Holy Ghost”…and it was in a vague, sometimes eerie context. I did not understand that the Holy Spirit’s presence in our hearts equips us with compassion, holiness, affection for others, the ability to discern God’s wisdom…and so much more.
I shared with the girls how I have come to recognize the Holy Spirit’s presence… how He has calmed me in situations that almost literally took my breath…how He has shrouded me in peace and confidence when there was no “legal” – or human – explanation for the presence of either one! And I tried to convey to them how helpful it would have been to fully understand – and acknowledge – the Holy Spirit’s manifestation in my life when I was their age. It would have made a lot of situations easier…answered a lot of questions…and equipped me to handle many things far better than I did.
We talked about how so many people have opinions these days about what the girls should do with the rest of their lives…which college they should attend…what they should choose for a major…even which dress they should wear to the prom! Everyone has an opinion…and while many are offered in love and genuine care, the ultimate decisions reside with these girls. I encouraged them to think for themselves… to listen to the advice of others - but to lean on the Holy Spirit for guidance…and to understand that they don’t have all of the answers yet – and they aren’t supposed to at this age!
In short, my message to these girls is the same missive I give to each of you today…and serves as a reminder to myself, as well: The “world” can tell you a lot of things. The “legalism” of right and wrong can serve us just fine. Etiquette and a societal “moral code” can help us figure out what to say and do in many situations. But ultimately, the guidance that will supply us best comes from God…often through the manifestation of His Holy Spirit in our lives. When we listen to the Holy Spirit and operate in God’s will, we don’t have to operate in fear or uncertainty. We are equipped with a true sense of “affection for others, exuberance about life…and serenity.” We truly develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of gentleness and compassion in the heart, and a true understanding of holiness and self-control.
While I wish I had fully understood some of these things when I was eighteen, I honestly have no regrets. God has directed each day of my journey. Even when I didn’t fully recognize His presence – or that of the Holy Spirit – He was with me. But I could have been more compassionate and caring at times…I could have been less fearful and more confident…and “marshaled my energies” more wisely. And this is my challenge for all of us…to take whatever time we have left on this earth and make the most of it as we live God’s way.
If we start every day by asking God to show us what He wants us to do…and call on His Holy Spirit to fill us and guide our steps…we can proceed with confidence that we are operating in His will – and producing “good fruit” in the process.
Whose “laws” are guiding you today? Will you listen to the “legalism” of today’s society…or will you be guided by the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit? Will you operate in God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion…and share these “fruits” with others? Or will you strike out on your own…and take your chances?
©2014 Debbie Robus
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way.
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.
Recently, I spoke with several girls who are members of a “small group” ministry hosted by my church. Since these girls are all high school seniors, the girls’ leaders had asked me to address the question, “What do you wish you had known when you were 18?” The first thing I listed was how I wished I had understood more fully just how much God loves me…that I had truly comprehended His grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion for me. While those who nurtured me in the first 18 years of my life loved God and meant well, much of my teaching was based in fear and an image of God – at least in my mind - as a strong disciplinarian (think lion tamer with a chair in one hand and a whip in the other!) who was watching and waiting to cast me into hell at the first misstep. The girls got quite a laugh when I said that the phrase “You’ll go to hell for that!” rang in my head much of the time.
It wasn’t until much later in life that I truly learned just how much God loves me… even when I screw things up – as we all do from time to time. I told the girls I wish I had understood that people make mistakes in life…it’s part of how we grown and learn. While this is not a license to sin or do things we shouldn’t…it is important that we realize that God can forgive and restore us…He has no desire to see any of us punished…much less condemned to hell for all eternity. By the same token, I didn’t have a clear understanding of how the Holy Spirit works. Most of my childhood, we heard of the “Holy Ghost”…and it was in a vague, sometimes eerie context. I did not understand that the Holy Spirit’s presence in our hearts equips us with compassion, holiness, affection for others, the ability to discern God’s wisdom…and so much more.
I shared with the girls how I have come to recognize the Holy Spirit’s presence… how He has calmed me in situations that almost literally took my breath…how He has shrouded me in peace and confidence when there was no “legal” – or human – explanation for the presence of either one! And I tried to convey to them how helpful it would have been to fully understand – and acknowledge – the Holy Spirit’s manifestation in my life when I was their age. It would have made a lot of situations easier…answered a lot of questions…and equipped me to handle many things far better than I did.
We talked about how so many people have opinions these days about what the girls should do with the rest of their lives…which college they should attend…what they should choose for a major…even which dress they should wear to the prom! Everyone has an opinion…and while many are offered in love and genuine care, the ultimate decisions reside with these girls. I encouraged them to think for themselves… to listen to the advice of others - but to lean on the Holy Spirit for guidance…and to understand that they don’t have all of the answers yet – and they aren’t supposed to at this age!
In short, my message to these girls is the same missive I give to each of you today…and serves as a reminder to myself, as well: The “world” can tell you a lot of things. The “legalism” of right and wrong can serve us just fine. Etiquette and a societal “moral code” can help us figure out what to say and do in many situations. But ultimately, the guidance that will supply us best comes from God…often through the manifestation of His Holy Spirit in our lives. When we listen to the Holy Spirit and operate in God’s will, we don’t have to operate in fear or uncertainty. We are equipped with a true sense of “affection for others, exuberance about life…and serenity.” We truly develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of gentleness and compassion in the heart, and a true understanding of holiness and self-control.
While I wish I had fully understood some of these things when I was eighteen, I honestly have no regrets. God has directed each day of my journey. Even when I didn’t fully recognize His presence – or that of the Holy Spirit – He was with me. But I could have been more compassionate and caring at times…I could have been less fearful and more confident…and “marshaled my energies” more wisely. And this is my challenge for all of us…to take whatever time we have left on this earth and make the most of it as we live God’s way.
If we start every day by asking God to show us what He wants us to do…and call on His Holy Spirit to fill us and guide our steps…we can proceed with confidence that we are operating in His will – and producing “good fruit” in the process.
Whose “laws” are guiding you today? Will you listen to the “legalism” of today’s society…or will you be guided by the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit? Will you operate in God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion…and share these “fruits” with others? Or will you strike out on your own…and take your chances?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 4, 2014
Matthew 19:16
Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
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’ll admit that I am sometimes a slow reader… and it’s taken me a LONG time to read through Anne Graham Lotz’ book - Just Give Me Jesus. Maybe that’s by God’s design, because each time I pick it up and read a few pages, I gain a new insight. And today was no exception.
As I read this passage from Matthew, I asked God, “Where is the message of compassion in these words?” Then I opened Lotz’ book and read about how Jesus was tried by the Romans, who were so preoccupied and legalistic that they totally neglected moral law. In other words, like the man who asked Jesus what good thing he had to do to get into heaven, they over looked the truths that He was presenting…His spiritual message. And in turn, we often overlook the more primary focus of Christian discipleship.
See, it’s not about what we do, per se… or certainly how good we are. As Lotz points out, these are secondary issues that we have chosen to make the priority. So as she puts it, we gripe about our health while we fail to maintain a proper diet and exercise. We yell at our kids or our spouse and don’t see that we are YELLING! We focus on the money and raising funds for redecorating the church – or even to support a mission project… but we fail to reach out to those smack dab in our midst who need to hear about Jesus or experience His love, grace and mercy through our kindness. We worry about how our church is growing distant and disinterested as a collective body or denomination…while we don’t even seem to see the needs of those who live a few doors down the street.
In a nutshell, we can’t see the forest for the trees! We’re so focused on being good enough for God that we know we’ll “make it” to Heaven, and we totally miss our reason for being on this earth in the first place. If it’s all about being good and going to heaven, then God just as well snatch us on up there the minute we commit our hearts to Jesus. For many of us, this is the sad truth… because we’re wasting the time we have been given to serve as Christ’s disciples here and now!
I’m sure I am stepping on some toes here… and mine are just a bit sore, as well. But maybe we need a “wake-up call” of sorts! Maybe we need to be asking some questions of Jesus, too… like “Where can I better serve?” or “Who needs me today?” …or even, “What do You want me to do?”. When we start to focus on the needs of Jesus… and those of others He wishes us to reach…our priorities begin to line up with His. We can never be “good enough” for eternal life… this is God’s ultimate gift to us. He gave us Jesus… Who is all we ever need. And out of our sheer love and gratitude, we should stand ready to share Him with others… however He deems necessary.
What questions do you need to ask today? Where have you clouded the issue and gotten lost in the trees on your way to the forest? Will this be the day you begin to figure out what –and who - really matter?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
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’ll admit that I am sometimes a slow reader… and it’s taken me a LONG time to read through Anne Graham Lotz’ book - Just Give Me Jesus. Maybe that’s by God’s design, because each time I pick it up and read a few pages, I gain a new insight. And today was no exception.
As I read this passage from Matthew, I asked God, “Where is the message of compassion in these words?” Then I opened Lotz’ book and read about how Jesus was tried by the Romans, who were so preoccupied and legalistic that they totally neglected moral law. In other words, like the man who asked Jesus what good thing he had to do to get into heaven, they over looked the truths that He was presenting…His spiritual message. And in turn, we often overlook the more primary focus of Christian discipleship.
See, it’s not about what we do, per se… or certainly how good we are. As Lotz points out, these are secondary issues that we have chosen to make the priority. So as she puts it, we gripe about our health while we fail to maintain a proper diet and exercise. We yell at our kids or our spouse and don’t see that we are YELLING! We focus on the money and raising funds for redecorating the church – or even to support a mission project… but we fail to reach out to those smack dab in our midst who need to hear about Jesus or experience His love, grace and mercy through our kindness. We worry about how our church is growing distant and disinterested as a collective body or denomination…while we don’t even seem to see the needs of those who live a few doors down the street.
In a nutshell, we can’t see the forest for the trees! We’re so focused on being good enough for God that we know we’ll “make it” to Heaven, and we totally miss our reason for being on this earth in the first place. If it’s all about being good and going to heaven, then God just as well snatch us on up there the minute we commit our hearts to Jesus. For many of us, this is the sad truth… because we’re wasting the time we have been given to serve as Christ’s disciples here and now!
I’m sure I am stepping on some toes here… and mine are just a bit sore, as well. But maybe we need a “wake-up call” of sorts! Maybe we need to be asking some questions of Jesus, too… like “Where can I better serve?” or “Who needs me today?” …or even, “What do You want me to do?”. When we start to focus on the needs of Jesus… and those of others He wishes us to reach…our priorities begin to line up with His. We can never be “good enough” for eternal life… this is God’s ultimate gift to us. He gave us Jesus… Who is all we ever need. And out of our sheer love and gratitude, we should stand ready to share Him with others… however He deems necessary.
What questions do you need to ask today? Where have you clouded the issue and gotten lost in the trees on your way to the forest? Will this be the day you begin to figure out what –and who - really matter?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 4, 2013
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.
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.
For all of the cooking shows I watch each week, I ought to be Julia Child's twin! I’ve learned a lot of useful… and some not-so-helpful… information from these shows. (I don’t think I will be cooking fish heads for a rich broth any time soon!) I’ve discovered how to turn ordinary ingredients in my pantry into amazingly tasty and creative dishes… to “make something from nothing,” as it were. I’ve learned about flavors… how delicious food not only looks good but is filled with taste and aroma from the right blends of spices, stocks and sauces. I now know several tips, tricks and techniques that could not only help me be a better cook… but also a more efficient and confident one.
The thing is… I still gravitate toward the same handful of dishes I’ve brought to our table for nearly 40 years. I would rather grab a pizza from the freezer and give it less than 20 minutes in a hot oven… or open a can of chicken noodle soup and serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich than spend an hour creating something from scratch. And let’s not forget take-out! In other words…I have acquired all of this knowledge and ability… I know how to make the food “sing.” But on most days, I’m complacent and lazy in the kitchen!
Over and over on these shows, the judges and experts refer to the depth of flavor that chefs are able to create within their dishes. They talk a lot about how various ingredients are “infused” into the food by cooking in a rich stock… marinating in sauces, oils and rubs… and blending ingredients in a way that produces something marvelous, sometimes unexpected, and chock full of flavor! Still, many of us have become quite comfortable substituting a plateful of “fast and easy” for a beautiful portion of savory deliciousness!
Are we like this in our Spiritual life? Do you see that God has cleared the road for us… then poured out his love on each of us and everyone in our circle? Do you get that He offers to infuse us with His strength, purity and confidence… and to “pretty us up” to others – to make us appealing and delightful like a beautiful plate of food? The question is… are we “cooking creatively” with all of the ingredients God has given us? Or are we lazy and complacent… content to get by with a quick fix or the least effort that will get the job done and satisfy appetites?
Let’s be honest… a frozen pizza or take-out from our favorite restaurant will often fill our bellies quite heartily. And it may even taste pretty good in the bargain. But these “quick fixes” can’t hold a candle to a well-prepared and served gourmet meal that gratifies all of our senses and leaves us feeling loved and sated through and through. And it’s the same in our relationship with God. We may be able get by on minimal effort… and a few of us will skirt through life relatively unscathed. But this is not really a “gourmet life” in Christ.
I don’t know about you, but I want the “full course meal!” I want all that God stands ready to splash over me and every “flavor” He desires to infuse into my soul. I want to take all of the mismatched items in the “pantry” of my life and allow God to show me how to transform them into an incredible “dish!” I want to be a vehicle of the incredible “meal” God delights in serving to others… to be a reflection of the love, strength, purity, confidence, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion He offers to each of us. Now this sounds like a flavorful plate of “soul food!”
What have you done with God’s ingredients? Is your “dish” pleasing to Him, or could you use a little polish and finesse? God will help you become a better “cook.” If you will only ask, He will show you how to tweak your “recipes” for a life in Christ and come up with something delectable and incredible. It’s time to stretch beyond a life of frozen pizza and take-out discipleship. What are you serving today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.
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.
For all of the cooking shows I watch each week, I ought to be Julia Child's twin! I’ve learned a lot of useful… and some not-so-helpful… information from these shows. (I don’t think I will be cooking fish heads for a rich broth any time soon!) I’ve discovered how to turn ordinary ingredients in my pantry into amazingly tasty and creative dishes… to “make something from nothing,” as it were. I’ve learned about flavors… how delicious food not only looks good but is filled with taste and aroma from the right blends of spices, stocks and sauces. I now know several tips, tricks and techniques that could not only help me be a better cook… but also a more efficient and confident one.
The thing is… I still gravitate toward the same handful of dishes I’ve brought to our table for nearly 40 years. I would rather grab a pizza from the freezer and give it less than 20 minutes in a hot oven… or open a can of chicken noodle soup and serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich than spend an hour creating something from scratch. And let’s not forget take-out! In other words…I have acquired all of this knowledge and ability… I know how to make the food “sing.” But on most days, I’m complacent and lazy in the kitchen!
Over and over on these shows, the judges and experts refer to the depth of flavor that chefs are able to create within their dishes. They talk a lot about how various ingredients are “infused” into the food by cooking in a rich stock… marinating in sauces, oils and rubs… and blending ingredients in a way that produces something marvelous, sometimes unexpected, and chock full of flavor! Still, many of us have become quite comfortable substituting a plateful of “fast and easy” for a beautiful portion of savory deliciousness!
Are we like this in our Spiritual life? Do you see that God has cleared the road for us… then poured out his love on each of us and everyone in our circle? Do you get that He offers to infuse us with His strength, purity and confidence… and to “pretty us up” to others – to make us appealing and delightful like a beautiful plate of food? The question is… are we “cooking creatively” with all of the ingredients God has given us? Or are we lazy and complacent… content to get by with a quick fix or the least effort that will get the job done and satisfy appetites?
Let’s be honest… a frozen pizza or take-out from our favorite restaurant will often fill our bellies quite heartily. And it may even taste pretty good in the bargain. But these “quick fixes” can’t hold a candle to a well-prepared and served gourmet meal that gratifies all of our senses and leaves us feeling loved and sated through and through. And it’s the same in our relationship with God. We may be able get by on minimal effort… and a few of us will skirt through life relatively unscathed. But this is not really a “gourmet life” in Christ.
I don’t know about you, but I want the “full course meal!” I want all that God stands ready to splash over me and every “flavor” He desires to infuse into my soul. I want to take all of the mismatched items in the “pantry” of my life and allow God to show me how to transform them into an incredible “dish!” I want to be a vehicle of the incredible “meal” God delights in serving to others… to be a reflection of the love, strength, purity, confidence, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion He offers to each of us. Now this sounds like a flavorful plate of “soul food!”
What have you done with God’s ingredients? Is your “dish” pleasing to Him, or could you use a little polish and finesse? God will help you become a better “cook.” If you will only ask, He will show you how to tweak your “recipes” for a life in Christ and come up with something delectable and incredible. It’s time to stretch beyond a life of frozen pizza and take-out discipleship. What are you serving today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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