Ephesians 1:11-14
It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious 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.
When my husband and I first started our own business, we stuck to a very strict monthly budget. We had allotted so much for the basics… groceries, utilities, gas for the vehicles, insurance, and other household expenses. We also had allotted a certain amount each month for business expenses…office supplies, postage, telephone bill, and more. Because we had planned carefully and spent frugally early in our careers, we had saved enough money to pay for our home outright. So we didn’t have the monthly expense of a house payment or rent. This was very liberating!
We also had what we called a “nest egg” – money we had set aside from our retirement funds and savings, in case we had an emergency or the business did not develop and go well. We worked very hard… God blessed us… and our business was successful. After a few years, we didn’t have to adhere to the budget nearly as tightly as we did those first years.
Think of your life sort of like a budget. You must be careful with the details… how you conduct yourself, where you spend your time and energy. When you give your heart to Jesus, it’s sort of like when we paid for our house… there is a burden lifted… you no longer have to worry about eternity or forgiveness for your sins. Does this mean you can “blow the budget?” Absolutely not! You still must be careful, monitor all “expenditures” and how you conduct your life. But you have the security of knowing that your future is secure in Jesus Christ… you will spend eternity with Him in heaven someday.
Now think of the Holy Spirit as your “nest egg” – the gift God has given you of a guiding force in your life… someone who you can fall back on in hard times... something of a security blanket. Again, you can’t expect the Holy Spirit to carry you while you coast along and do as you please. But you know He is there… that He is directing your path when you ask for help… that He will watch over you and help you plan a future filled with abundance and blessings.
Budgets and plans are wonderful tools. I’m so glad that God “budgeted and planned” for me… and that the Holy Spirit is helping me each and every day. What an amazing God we serve. To think that He cares that deeply for each of us boggles my mind. But I’m surely glad He does… aren’t you?
How are you budgeting these days… not just in the regular world, but spiritually, as well? Are you a good steward of God’s gifts? Do you take advantage of the presence of His Holy Spirit? Are you living in a way that says, “I’m ready for the next level! I know that God has great things in store for me, and I can’t wait to experience them!”? Today is the perfect time to start to live according to God’s plan… to pay closer attention to how you are using the gifts and blessings He has provided… and to “operate within the budget.” Are you ready to do this?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label using our gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label using our gifts. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 25, 2012
James 1:16-18
Don’t be fooled, my dear friends. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have ever gone to a garage sale and discovered an item on the table that you gave a friend or family member, you know the sinking feeling that comes with this discovery – especially if the item has clearly never been used. Did the recipient not like your gift? Did you insult him/her? Was there something wrong with it? Worse yet… have you ever been holding your own sale and someone arrived who had given YOU a gift… and now that item was clearly in sight on the table and available for purchase? Even if the gift was something you could not use, didn’t like, or simply didn’t work for you in some manner, the feeling of embarrassment can weigh heavily.
I try to give “good gifts”…to select items that I believe the recipient will enjoy or really wants or needs. But I also have tried to develop a spirit of giving that goes like this… once I present another person with a gift, it is theirs to do with as they please. They can use it, love it, wear it, sell it, give it away… or throw it in the trash if they want. Once a gift leaves my hands, I no longer control it. The recipient is free to use the item as he/she pleases.
I will be the first to admit, if I give someone a gift and they tear it up or discard it right away, I’m a little disappointed. I am quite delighted when I give a friend or family member something and then see it proudly displayed, worn or utilized. I want to offer others gifts that will please them or enhance their life in some way. But I must be prepared to let go of these bequests and trust the receiver’s use of them.
God is such a wonderful giver. He picks out the very best gifts for each of us. Out of His incredible wisdom and care for us, He grants unsurpassed blessings upon our lives… He selects perfectly and bestows generously. He also gives unconditionally. Certainly, God is disappointed when we do not appreciate the things He gives us. I imagine He is heartbroken when we don’t even bother to take them out of the box, so to speak – as in talents and abilities we never cultivate. But He blesses us anyhow and gives us the freedom to do as we please with His endowments.
When God comes to the “garage sale” that is your life, do you really want Him to see the gifts He has given you on the table, discounted deeply, and perhaps “new in the box”? Do you want God to find His offerings discarded in the trash can? We’re not talking a trinket you were given just because someone felt obligated to offer you something. We’re talking hand-selected presents from GOD! Remember, God doesn’t make junk… and He doesn’t give it to His children, either!
How are you treating God’s gifts today? Are you recognizing that what He gives you is perfect and uniquely designed just for YOU? Are you showing respect for His ultimate gift - His only Son, Jesus Christ - and the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood on the cross for your sins? When was the last time you thanked God…REALLY thanked Him… for being such a generous, loving Father? Isn’t this the perfect time to do exactly that?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Don’t be fooled, my dear friends. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have ever gone to a garage sale and discovered an item on the table that you gave a friend or family member, you know the sinking feeling that comes with this discovery – especially if the item has clearly never been used. Did the recipient not like your gift? Did you insult him/her? Was there something wrong with it? Worse yet… have you ever been holding your own sale and someone arrived who had given YOU a gift… and now that item was clearly in sight on the table and available for purchase? Even if the gift was something you could not use, didn’t like, or simply didn’t work for you in some manner, the feeling of embarrassment can weigh heavily.
I try to give “good gifts”…to select items that I believe the recipient will enjoy or really wants or needs. But I also have tried to develop a spirit of giving that goes like this… once I present another person with a gift, it is theirs to do with as they please. They can use it, love it, wear it, sell it, give it away… or throw it in the trash if they want. Once a gift leaves my hands, I no longer control it. The recipient is free to use the item as he/she pleases.
I will be the first to admit, if I give someone a gift and they tear it up or discard it right away, I’m a little disappointed. I am quite delighted when I give a friend or family member something and then see it proudly displayed, worn or utilized. I want to offer others gifts that will please them or enhance their life in some way. But I must be prepared to let go of these bequests and trust the receiver’s use of them.
God is such a wonderful giver. He picks out the very best gifts for each of us. Out of His incredible wisdom and care for us, He grants unsurpassed blessings upon our lives… He selects perfectly and bestows generously. He also gives unconditionally. Certainly, God is disappointed when we do not appreciate the things He gives us. I imagine He is heartbroken when we don’t even bother to take them out of the box, so to speak – as in talents and abilities we never cultivate. But He blesses us anyhow and gives us the freedom to do as we please with His endowments.
When God comes to the “garage sale” that is your life, do you really want Him to see the gifts He has given you on the table, discounted deeply, and perhaps “new in the box”? Do you want God to find His offerings discarded in the trash can? We’re not talking a trinket you were given just because someone felt obligated to offer you something. We’re talking hand-selected presents from GOD! Remember, God doesn’t make junk… and He doesn’t give it to His children, either!
How are you treating God’s gifts today? Are you recognizing that what He gives you is perfect and uniquely designed just for YOU? Are you showing respect for His ultimate gift - His only Son, Jesus Christ - and the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood on the cross for your sins? When was the last time you thanked God…REALLY thanked Him… for being such a generous, loving Father? Isn’t this the perfect time to do exactly that?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 10, 2012
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.
The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others. Some of us can speak with wisdom, while others can speak with knowledge, but these gifts come from the same Spirit. To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God's Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean. But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The last week or so, I’ve been sewing with fabrics in the same color family – a base of black or grey, with hues of deep teal, fuchsia, white, and celadon green. It may sound awful, but it’s really nice fabric. I’ve sewn stripes, “groovy guitars,” zoo animals, various sized circle outlines, mod daisy-like flowers, and polka dots. Now you are probably really thinking I’m nuts! But trust me, all of these fabrics work together in various combinations – with pleasing results!
And that’s the thing… I can combine stripes and guitars or zoo animals… but not stripes and flowers. Zoo animals and guitars don’t work in the same outfit, but they both work great with the stripes or polka dots… and maybe the circles, depending on how I use them. For instance, I made my great-niece Zola a striped dress with a border of guitars… and I made Timothy shorts in both the guitar and stripes fabrics. I made my cousin a sundress in the mod flowers… and her daughter is getting a blouse that has flowers bordered in polka dots!
Each fabric is very different. On the surface, they don’t appear to have much in common. But when I combine them thoughtfully, the end result is something quite surprising and pleasant… and the recipients are blessed by the outcome. All I have to do is stand back, look at the fabrics, and take time to consider how they might work best together… and the ideas begin to flow!
We all have gifts and abilities that may not seem to work well together. But when the Holy Spirit is involved in combining them and orchestrating things, the end result is always a blessing to others – and to God. And often the outcome is quite surprising and pleasant. You may feel you that have no “Spiritual gift,” but I assure you that this is not the case. Maybe you have not opened your heart to the Holy Spirit’s guidance… and maybe He has held your gift in reserve. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman… He will not force Himself upon us. We must invite Him in… and make Him welcome.
Whatever your “Spiritual gifts” may be, it would be such a shame not to receive them – and to use them for God’s glory. I encourage you to step back and look at the “fabrics” of your life and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how they go together. Invite Him to dwell in your heart, and listen for His voice each and every day. Call upon the Holy Spirit to bless you with your Spiritual gifts… and get busy using them. You will be amazed – and delighted – at the outcomes… and so will those who receive a blessing as a result.
©2012 Debbie Robus
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.
The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others. Some of us can speak with wisdom, while others can speak with knowledge, but these gifts come from the same Spirit. To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God's Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean. But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The last week or so, I’ve been sewing with fabrics in the same color family – a base of black or grey, with hues of deep teal, fuchsia, white, and celadon green. It may sound awful, but it’s really nice fabric. I’ve sewn stripes, “groovy guitars,” zoo animals, various sized circle outlines, mod daisy-like flowers, and polka dots. Now you are probably really thinking I’m nuts! But trust me, all of these fabrics work together in various combinations – with pleasing results!
And that’s the thing… I can combine stripes and guitars or zoo animals… but not stripes and flowers. Zoo animals and guitars don’t work in the same outfit, but they both work great with the stripes or polka dots… and maybe the circles, depending on how I use them. For instance, I made my great-niece Zola a striped dress with a border of guitars… and I made Timothy shorts in both the guitar and stripes fabrics. I made my cousin a sundress in the mod flowers… and her daughter is getting a blouse that has flowers bordered in polka dots!
Each fabric is very different. On the surface, they don’t appear to have much in common. But when I combine them thoughtfully, the end result is something quite surprising and pleasant… and the recipients are blessed by the outcome. All I have to do is stand back, look at the fabrics, and take time to consider how they might work best together… and the ideas begin to flow!
We all have gifts and abilities that may not seem to work well together. But when the Holy Spirit is involved in combining them and orchestrating things, the end result is always a blessing to others – and to God. And often the outcome is quite surprising and pleasant. You may feel you that have no “Spiritual gift,” but I assure you that this is not the case. Maybe you have not opened your heart to the Holy Spirit’s guidance… and maybe He has held your gift in reserve. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman… He will not force Himself upon us. We must invite Him in… and make Him welcome.
Whatever your “Spiritual gifts” may be, it would be such a shame not to receive them – and to use them for God’s glory. I encourage you to step back and look at the “fabrics” of your life and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how they go together. Invite Him to dwell in your heart, and listen for His voice each and every day. Call upon the Holy Spirit to bless you with your Spiritual gifts… and get busy using them. You will be amazed – and delighted – at the outcomes… and so will those who receive a blessing as a result.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 21, 2012
Proverbs 23:1-3
When you are invited to eat with a king, use your best manners. Don't go and stuff yourself! That would be just the same as cutting your throat. Don't be greedy for all of that fancy food! It may not be so tasty.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was in high school, my parents scraped together enough money to buy me a used car. My parents both worked, and my mom also commuted nearly every day to UCA to attend classes toward her degree in education, so their vehicles were always in use. We needed a way for me to get myself and my sister and brother to school and back – and anywhere else we needed to go. So my dad found a little pale green Dodge Lancer that he thought would fill the bill.
I can’t recall the exact year of my Lancer, but it was probably between 1962 and 1965… and it was in sad shape. We talked about how to fix it up… a new coat of paint would surely help wonders. So I began dreaming of the paint color… a nice blue, or maybe even white. I went to band camp for two weeks, and when I returned, my dad had painted the car… the same ugly pale green as the original color. I was crushed. His reasoning was that it was cheaper to repaint the same color than to choose a new one. So for the next year or so until I married and went off to college, I was stuck with what we dubbed, “The Green Weenie.”
That awful car got us back and forth to school. It carried me over the roads and back to UCA the summer I married, so that I could get a jump start on college. It had a “three on the tree” (for you youngsters, that means it had a manual transmission, and I shifted three forward gears with a gear stick on the steering column), and some days it didn’t want to start. But it got good gas mileage and served as fairly reliable transportation.
Today, I could probably buy virtually any car I want (within reason)… yet my vehicle of choice is now ten years old and has very few miles. Every time I think about buying a nice, new, shiny vehicle, I think of those who would give anything just to have a “Green Weenie,” and I can’t bring myself to do it. I have good, safe, reliable transportation. I’ve owned a sports car – and rarely drove it. Just as it is with lots of thing, the “new” wore off. Getting the car I’d dreamed of owning was almost as exciting as actually owning it.
What does this mean for us as Christians? So often, we are struck by the flash and sizzle of “things.” It’s like going to an all-you-can-eat-buffet and being so enamored of the beautiful array of food that we pile our plate completely full before we get past the salad options. We went into the restaurant needing to feed our body and satisfy our hunger, but we ended up stuffing ourselves miserable. A “Green Weenie” soup and sandwich would have fully nourished us, but we thought we had to have more.
And so it is with God. Often we overlook the wonderful – and more than ample – gift He has given us in salvation through Jesus and our daily blessings and abundance. We want more. We want “stuff” – and lots of it! We want big houses, high-paying jobs, fame and fortune and a chance to “run with the big dogs.” We even want to grow our churches to a membership of thousands… and we don’t have a clue how to handle such wealth. We come away full and miserable… confused and frustrated.
Today, I challenge you to settle in and sit for a while. Consider what you have… the richness in which you already live. Ask yourself, “Are my basic needs met? Do I have more than enough? What am I doing with the excess? How am I serving God out of my abundance? Will more of anything really satisfy me or make life better – for me and others?” Humbly ask God to show you where you already have enough… and how to use what is left over for His glory. If He blesses you with a “buffet” in any area of your life… ask Him to help you handle the riches according to His will. Know when to say “When!”… and how to manage whatever God gives you.
©2012 Debbie Robus
When you are invited to eat with a king, use your best manners. Don't go and stuff yourself! That would be just the same as cutting your throat. Don't be greedy for all of that fancy food! It may not be so tasty.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was in high school, my parents scraped together enough money to buy me a used car. My parents both worked, and my mom also commuted nearly every day to UCA to attend classes toward her degree in education, so their vehicles were always in use. We needed a way for me to get myself and my sister and brother to school and back – and anywhere else we needed to go. So my dad found a little pale green Dodge Lancer that he thought would fill the bill.
I can’t recall the exact year of my Lancer, but it was probably between 1962 and 1965… and it was in sad shape. We talked about how to fix it up… a new coat of paint would surely help wonders. So I began dreaming of the paint color… a nice blue, or maybe even white. I went to band camp for two weeks, and when I returned, my dad had painted the car… the same ugly pale green as the original color. I was crushed. His reasoning was that it was cheaper to repaint the same color than to choose a new one. So for the next year or so until I married and went off to college, I was stuck with what we dubbed, “The Green Weenie.”
That awful car got us back and forth to school. It carried me over the roads and back to UCA the summer I married, so that I could get a jump start on college. It had a “three on the tree” (for you youngsters, that means it had a manual transmission, and I shifted three forward gears with a gear stick on the steering column), and some days it didn’t want to start. But it got good gas mileage and served as fairly reliable transportation.
Today, I could probably buy virtually any car I want (within reason)… yet my vehicle of choice is now ten years old and has very few miles. Every time I think about buying a nice, new, shiny vehicle, I think of those who would give anything just to have a “Green Weenie,” and I can’t bring myself to do it. I have good, safe, reliable transportation. I’ve owned a sports car – and rarely drove it. Just as it is with lots of thing, the “new” wore off. Getting the car I’d dreamed of owning was almost as exciting as actually owning it.
What does this mean for us as Christians? So often, we are struck by the flash and sizzle of “things.” It’s like going to an all-you-can-eat-buffet and being so enamored of the beautiful array of food that we pile our plate completely full before we get past the salad options. We went into the restaurant needing to feed our body and satisfy our hunger, but we ended up stuffing ourselves miserable. A “Green Weenie” soup and sandwich would have fully nourished us, but we thought we had to have more.
And so it is with God. Often we overlook the wonderful – and more than ample – gift He has given us in salvation through Jesus and our daily blessings and abundance. We want more. We want “stuff” – and lots of it! We want big houses, high-paying jobs, fame and fortune and a chance to “run with the big dogs.” We even want to grow our churches to a membership of thousands… and we don’t have a clue how to handle such wealth. We come away full and miserable… confused and frustrated.
Today, I challenge you to settle in and sit for a while. Consider what you have… the richness in which you already live. Ask yourself, “Are my basic needs met? Do I have more than enough? What am I doing with the excess? How am I serving God out of my abundance? Will more of anything really satisfy me or make life better – for me and others?” Humbly ask God to show you where you already have enough… and how to use what is left over for His glory. If He blesses you with a “buffet” in any area of your life… ask Him to help you handle the riches according to His will. Know when to say “When!”… and how to manage whatever God gives you.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 15, 2011
Proverbs 21:2-3
We may think we are doing the right thing, but the LORD always knows what is in our hearts. Doing what is right and fair pleases the LORD more than an offering.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am continually in awe of how God uses His word to feed us – to give us exactly what we need when we need it. And I really needed this scripture passage now. At a recent funeral, the pastor shared a memory of “offerings and collections” that occurred when we were children. He talked about this lovingly… and about the genuine servitude of those who collected and gave. But for me, this memory spurred something far less heartwarming.
My parents worked hard when I was a child… both often holding down more than one job at a time. While my sister, brother and I had all of our basic needs met plus a few extras, there wasn’t a lot of spare change. So when the March of Dimes volunteer handed out the cards for us to fill with our dimes, we didn’t have very much to contribute. When our church had an annual “Lottie Moon” Mission drive, we put our change in little boxes to turn in on the designated day. But some church members gave large amounts of money and got to light up a bulb on a giant map that hung in our church sanctuary. I know it sounds silly, but when I was a kid, I so wanted to be able to light up one of those bulbs… to be one of those people who could afford to give that much money to missions.
So recollections of giving to missions and fundraisers are not happy ones for me, because I never felt my “gift” was enough. Now I know differently. Now I get that God was more interested in my heart than my handout. He was more concerned that I do the right thing… more concerned that I love Him and serve Him to the best of my ability than He was that I fill a card with dimes or light up a bulb on a silly map.
I know that those who were in charge of the drives had no intention of making anyone feel badly… especially a little kid. I know that there are those who can readily afford to give a lot of money to missions and other projects that serve the LORD… and we should all give to the best of our ability. But tossing money at God without the right heart and attitude does not please Him nearly as much as those who have little to give, but serve with a loving, willing heart in whatever manner they can.
We should get two things from this passage today… 1) we must never pressure others to give a certain amount – or to serve God in a particular way, and 2) God doesn’t expect us to give what we don’t have… time, service or money. He only asks that we serve Him with a loving, willing heart – to the best of our ability. If we do the right thing and keep our motives pure, God will honor and bless whatever we are able to do in His name. I know He has done this for me over and again. And now I know for certain that serving in whatever way I can from a sincere, humble heart is the best, most pleasing offering He could ever desire.
What is in your heart? Are you doing the right thing and pleasing God with your offerings? How are you serving Him today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
We may think we are doing the right thing, but the LORD always knows what is in our hearts. Doing what is right and fair pleases the LORD more than an offering.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am continually in awe of how God uses His word to feed us – to give us exactly what we need when we need it. And I really needed this scripture passage now. At a recent funeral, the pastor shared a memory of “offerings and collections” that occurred when we were children. He talked about this lovingly… and about the genuine servitude of those who collected and gave. But for me, this memory spurred something far less heartwarming.
My parents worked hard when I was a child… both often holding down more than one job at a time. While my sister, brother and I had all of our basic needs met plus a few extras, there wasn’t a lot of spare change. So when the March of Dimes volunteer handed out the cards for us to fill with our dimes, we didn’t have very much to contribute. When our church had an annual “Lottie Moon” Mission drive, we put our change in little boxes to turn in on the designated day. But some church members gave large amounts of money and got to light up a bulb on a giant map that hung in our church sanctuary. I know it sounds silly, but when I was a kid, I so wanted to be able to light up one of those bulbs… to be one of those people who could afford to give that much money to missions.
So recollections of giving to missions and fundraisers are not happy ones for me, because I never felt my “gift” was enough. Now I know differently. Now I get that God was more interested in my heart than my handout. He was more concerned that I do the right thing… more concerned that I love Him and serve Him to the best of my ability than He was that I fill a card with dimes or light up a bulb on a silly map.
I know that those who were in charge of the drives had no intention of making anyone feel badly… especially a little kid. I know that there are those who can readily afford to give a lot of money to missions and other projects that serve the LORD… and we should all give to the best of our ability. But tossing money at God without the right heart and attitude does not please Him nearly as much as those who have little to give, but serve with a loving, willing heart in whatever manner they can.
We should get two things from this passage today… 1) we must never pressure others to give a certain amount – or to serve God in a particular way, and 2) God doesn’t expect us to give what we don’t have… time, service or money. He only asks that we serve Him with a loving, willing heart – to the best of our ability. If we do the right thing and keep our motives pure, God will honor and bless whatever we are able to do in His name. I know He has done this for me over and again. And now I know for certain that serving in whatever way I can from a sincere, humble heart is the best, most pleasing offering He could ever desire.
What is in your heart? Are you doing the right thing and pleasing God with your offerings? How are you serving Him today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 5, 2011
1 Samuel 15:16-23
"Enough!" interrupted Samuel. "Let me tell you what GOD told me last night."
Saul said, "Go ahead. Tell me." And Samuel told him. "When you started out in this, you were nothing— and you knew it. Then GOD put you at the head of Israel—made you king over Israel. Then GOD sent you off to do a job for him, ordering you, 'Go and put those sinners, the Amalekites, under a holy ban. Go to war against them until you have totally wiped them out.' So why did you not obey GOD? Why did you grab all this loot? Why, with GOD's eyes on you all the time, did you brazenly carry out this evil?"
Saul defended himself. "What are you talking about? I did obey GOD. I did the job GOD set for me. I brought in King Agag and destroyed the Amalekites under the terms of the holy ban. So the soldiers saved back a few choice sheep and cattle from the holy ban for sacrifice to GOD at Gilgal—what's wrong with that?"
Then Samuel said, “Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what GOD tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around GOD is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. Because you said No to GOD's command, he says No to your kingship.”
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 have to laugh at some of the people in the public eye these days who claim that they are “not in it for the publicity.” Clearly some of the stories we are hearing over and over again in our news are nothing more than publicity stunts… attempts to get people to “look at me!” Many of the “candidates” for public office who made us think they were going to run have already withdrawn… but they left us talking about them! Others are still at it… milking the media for every last ounce of attention.
A lot of these people grabbing the headlines are multi-millionaires. They could afford to send thousands of dollars – if not a million or more – to devastated areas like Joplin, Missouri, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They could build orphanages and create clean water supplies in Third World countries. And some of them do this. But many of them spend their money on lavish homes and cars, mega-parties, and gargantuan empires of “toys” and “stuff” – and more media buzz!
At the same time, I know people who barely get buy each month on a fixed income… yet they find a way to visit the sick and the needy… to cook food for those who are hungry… to rescue a stray dog or cat that doesn’t have a home… and much more. They spend their time and energy lifting others in the name of Jesus… and yes, they probably sent drinking water, toothpaste, soap and more in the truckload of goods that our church or another local group delivered to one of the tornado-ravaged areas.
A lot of the media seekers will stand at the microphone and thank God for blessing them and guiding their steps and decisions. But talk is cheap. God would rather they do something with the blessings He has given them and listen to Him when He says, “Use what I have given you to bless and care for others in my name.” He would rather they be obedient servants than celebrity seekers who are filled with hot air.
What about you? Do you “talk a good game?” Do you tell others how much God has done for you, show up on Sunday at church… and maybe even during the week for a youth service, prayer meeting or Bible study… and then return to your cushy life of focusing on yourself? Or do you ask God, “Where do you want me to serve today? How do You want me to use the blessings You have given me? What is YOUR plan for me this day?”
Selfishness and failure to listen to God cost Saul the kingship… what might it be costing you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"Enough!" interrupted Samuel. "Let me tell you what GOD told me last night."
Saul said, "Go ahead. Tell me." And Samuel told him. "When you started out in this, you were nothing— and you knew it. Then GOD put you at the head of Israel—made you king over Israel. Then GOD sent you off to do a job for him, ordering you, 'Go and put those sinners, the Amalekites, under a holy ban. Go to war against them until you have totally wiped them out.' So why did you not obey GOD? Why did you grab all this loot? Why, with GOD's eyes on you all the time, did you brazenly carry out this evil?"
Saul defended himself. "What are you talking about? I did obey GOD. I did the job GOD set for me. I brought in King Agag and destroyed the Amalekites under the terms of the holy ban. So the soldiers saved back a few choice sheep and cattle from the holy ban for sacrifice to GOD at Gilgal—what's wrong with that?"
Then Samuel said, “Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what GOD tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around GOD is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. Because you said No to GOD's command, he says No to your kingship.”
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 have to laugh at some of the people in the public eye these days who claim that they are “not in it for the publicity.” Clearly some of the stories we are hearing over and over again in our news are nothing more than publicity stunts… attempts to get people to “look at me!” Many of the “candidates” for public office who made us think they were going to run have already withdrawn… but they left us talking about them! Others are still at it… milking the media for every last ounce of attention.
A lot of these people grabbing the headlines are multi-millionaires. They could afford to send thousands of dollars – if not a million or more – to devastated areas like Joplin, Missouri, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They could build orphanages and create clean water supplies in Third World countries. And some of them do this. But many of them spend their money on lavish homes and cars, mega-parties, and gargantuan empires of “toys” and “stuff” – and more media buzz!
At the same time, I know people who barely get buy each month on a fixed income… yet they find a way to visit the sick and the needy… to cook food for those who are hungry… to rescue a stray dog or cat that doesn’t have a home… and much more. They spend their time and energy lifting others in the name of Jesus… and yes, they probably sent drinking water, toothpaste, soap and more in the truckload of goods that our church or another local group delivered to one of the tornado-ravaged areas.
A lot of the media seekers will stand at the microphone and thank God for blessing them and guiding their steps and decisions. But talk is cheap. God would rather they do something with the blessings He has given them and listen to Him when He says, “Use what I have given you to bless and care for others in my name.” He would rather they be obedient servants than celebrity seekers who are filled with hot air.
What about you? Do you “talk a good game?” Do you tell others how much God has done for you, show up on Sunday at church… and maybe even during the week for a youth service, prayer meeting or Bible study… and then return to your cushy life of focusing on yourself? Or do you ask God, “Where do you want me to serve today? How do You want me to use the blessings You have given me? What is YOUR plan for me this day?”
Selfishness and failure to listen to God cost Saul the kingship… what might it be costing you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 17, 2010
1 Peter 4:11
If you have the gift of speaking, preach God's message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve had some sort of virus for a few days that left me with acute laryngitis. I know some of you will find this incredibly amusing – or even “poetic justice” – so go ahead and laugh. The truth is, being unable to make a sound above a whisper for more than five days has given me time to reflect in depth on speech and communication … how and why we communicate – and what we are really saying.
I’ve considered my inability to talk – and the ramifications. What if my voice didn’t return … how would I manage? Thankfully, I can write notes by hand, send texts and e-mails, post on Facebook, and even use charades and sign language to get a message to my husband. But there are things that I cannot do … like respond to my cats when they call. I can’t read or sing to Timothy – and he isn’t old enough to understand laryngitis. I can’t telephone people who don’t have e-mail, like my grandmother and my sister. I can’t console a little friend I saw in Wal-Mart who had scraped her knee.
Satan may be having the biggest laugh over my inability to speak … but he has not won. I can still write devos. I can still mail notes of encouragement, sympathy, get well wishes, and congratulations. I can still work with my hands to do everything from housekeeping to meal prep to hugging husbands, kitties and babies. I can still give a grieving friend a hug and a smile in Wal-Mart. I can still pray.
I can still honor God in a number of ways, because we are none of us limited to one method. If God takes your hands, feet, speech, eyesight, hearing … whatever, ask Him to show you another way to serve Him. Because I assure you, with God there is always a way.
I know that in a few days my speech will return. But I won’t forget the lesson of my laryngitis. I won’t forget the blessing of being able to open your mouth and answer the telephone … or read/sing to a baby. I won’t underestimate the spoken words, “I love you.” I also won’t underestimate the power of God to use us in a variety of ways … and to bless us immensely. I will thank Him for good health and strong bodies … and a few days to learn more about Him in the peace and quiet of a raspy whisper.
How will God use you today? What will be your “tools” and gifts? Will you recognize them and ask God to give you strength and power to honor Him by their use?
©2010 Debbie Robus
If you have the gift of speaking, preach God's message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve had some sort of virus for a few days that left me with acute laryngitis. I know some of you will find this incredibly amusing – or even “poetic justice” – so go ahead and laugh. The truth is, being unable to make a sound above a whisper for more than five days has given me time to reflect in depth on speech and communication … how and why we communicate – and what we are really saying.
I’ve considered my inability to talk – and the ramifications. What if my voice didn’t return … how would I manage? Thankfully, I can write notes by hand, send texts and e-mails, post on Facebook, and even use charades and sign language to get a message to my husband. But there are things that I cannot do … like respond to my cats when they call. I can’t read or sing to Timothy – and he isn’t old enough to understand laryngitis. I can’t telephone people who don’t have e-mail, like my grandmother and my sister. I can’t console a little friend I saw in Wal-Mart who had scraped her knee.
Satan may be having the biggest laugh over my inability to speak … but he has not won. I can still write devos. I can still mail notes of encouragement, sympathy, get well wishes, and congratulations. I can still work with my hands to do everything from housekeeping to meal prep to hugging husbands, kitties and babies. I can still give a grieving friend a hug and a smile in Wal-Mart. I can still pray.
I can still honor God in a number of ways, because we are none of us limited to one method. If God takes your hands, feet, speech, eyesight, hearing … whatever, ask Him to show you another way to serve Him. Because I assure you, with God there is always a way.
I know that in a few days my speech will return. But I won’t forget the lesson of my laryngitis. I won’t forget the blessing of being able to open your mouth and answer the telephone … or read/sing to a baby. I won’t underestimate the spoken words, “I love you.” I also won’t underestimate the power of God to use us in a variety of ways … and to bless us immensely. I will thank Him for good health and strong bodies … and a few days to learn more about Him in the peace and quiet of a raspy whisper.
How will God use you today? What will be your “tools” and gifts? Will you recognize them and ask God to give you strength and power to honor Him by their use?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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