Jeremiah 29:13
You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Through no fault of their
own, countless animals found themselves displaced in the April 27th
tornados that ravaged central Arkansas. My Facebook wall is littered
with photos of pets that have been found…and some who are still lost. I
am thrilled every time I read a post about a happy reunion – and there
have been many. People are earnestly seeking pets – and their owners –
and there are quite a few “success stories”.
A few months ago, we
took Timothy and Zola to the park to play after church one Sunday, and
Timothy wandered away from the swings and went on an “exploration”. He
was walking farther and farther away from us, but I had my eye on him
the entire time. At one point, I could hear him yelling, “HELP! HELP!
I’m LOST! Somebody save me!”…but of course, he was not lost at all!
He would hold his hands to his face and wail, “WHY! Oh, WHY? Why won’t
somebody save me?!” So we pretended to “rescue” him, and he came
running to our open arms.
Now here’s the thing…we are never lost
to God. Whether we have been tossed about in an actual tornado, the
“storms of life”, or the pretend melodrama of a 4-year-old, God knows
exactly where we are…and He is there with us. He is there in the
rescues…but He is also with us when it seems that no help will ever
come. If we look for Him, we will find Him. The trouble is that too
many of us aren’t truly looking.
It’s a pretty safe bet that God
is not going to literally tap you on the shoulder and say, “Hey, I’m
right here!” So how DO you find God? Start by making Him a part of
your daily routine. Talk to Him – often. Read the scriptures and think
about the words in terms of your own life. How do they relate to what
is happening at this very moment. How can they guide you and give you
insights, hope and encouragement? I am confident that you will find
that the scriptures are far more relevant and in tune with your life
today than you ever imagined. Associate with fellow believers, and
learn to share your thoughts and ideas about God…where He is, and how He
shows up in your life in all kinds of circumstances.
The next
time you feel “lost”…remember that you really aren’t. God is always
with you. If you look for Him in earnest, you will find Him. If you
make God a part of the very fabric of your life, you will find that He
seems to show up more often! He has been there all along…you just
didn’t know where to look. And now you do!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label where is God when we need Him. Show all posts
Showing posts with label where is God when we need Him. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 22, 2013
James 1:2-4
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
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.
On Monday, May 20th, Special Education aide Suzanne Haley sheltered her two daughters and several students in a classroom as an F5 tornado barreled down on Briarwood Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma. When the storm passed, Haley said she “felt a heaviness” on her right leg, as if something was pinning her down. She could not lift her leg at all, and she asked one of her daughters to take a look and see if there was something in the way that could be removed. The daughter screamed when she saw that her mother’s leg had been impaled by the metal leg of what appeared to be a child’s school desk or table. Remarkably, the teacher’s aide/mother remained calm in front of her students. In an interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan, Haley later said, “"Amazingly by the grace of God I kept it together. If it's shock, it's shock. I couldn't go into hysterics in front of my children, in front of the other students. I had to be calm for them. Not even until after surgery, when I came out of anesthesia, did I lose it."
This heroic single mother of two protected her students and children at risk of her own life. In her interview with Morgan, she related that First Responders had whisked her away to the nearest available hospital…which was not a facility that honored her insurance coverage. While the table leg missed any bones and pierced the flesh and muscles underneath her leg, Haley still faces three months of therapy and recovery. On top of this, she reported, “My car is now in a pond near the school.” Haley said a fund had been established already to help defray her expenses, but that she didn’t truly know how she would make ends meet. Morgan assured her that a link to information about her expense fund would be posted on CNN’s website.
This morning, Piers Morgan’s blog included a post that announced that Suzanne Haley’s insurance company plans to cover her entire hospital bill. Whether this will include the therapies she will require is unknown… but it’s a start. Surely, Suzanne Haley’s faith – and that of countless other Oklahomans – was tested on May 20th… and rewarded. And I can’t help but believe that her endurance will grow as a result. She will no doubt be a better mother, teacher’s aide, friend, and servant because of her troubles and the chance to strengthen because of them.
It shouldn’t take an F5 tornado to get our attention. We should be fully developed in our faith and without any need. But that is simply not the case for 99.9% of us. We do have doubts, challenges, and frustrations. We often have no clue how strong we truly are… much less Who is responsible for that strength! But we can grow and learn… even from the horrific experiences of others like Suzanne Haley and the people of Moore, Oklahoma.
The next time your faith is tested, think of May 20th. Remind yourself that the God who gave men, women and children Supernatural strength and courage in the face of what must have appeared to be most certain death and destruction will do the same for you. I pray that your faith is never tested in this manner. But I know that we will all be tested in some way. How will you react? Will you patiently endure your trials and grow through them? Will you come out stronger and more sure of God’s love and care for you?
Just how needy are you today? What is missing in your life and your “faith walk?” Are you patiently working through whatever God has allowed to come your way? Do you know that He is with you every step of the journey? Won’t you allow Him to help you work through your tests… and to find joy on the other side? Aren’t you ready to lack for nothing in the LORD? Isn’t today a good day to start the process?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
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.
On Monday, May 20th, Special Education aide Suzanne Haley sheltered her two daughters and several students in a classroom as an F5 tornado barreled down on Briarwood Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma. When the storm passed, Haley said she “felt a heaviness” on her right leg, as if something was pinning her down. She could not lift her leg at all, and she asked one of her daughters to take a look and see if there was something in the way that could be removed. The daughter screamed when she saw that her mother’s leg had been impaled by the metal leg of what appeared to be a child’s school desk or table. Remarkably, the teacher’s aide/mother remained calm in front of her students. In an interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan, Haley later said, “"Amazingly by the grace of God I kept it together. If it's shock, it's shock. I couldn't go into hysterics in front of my children, in front of the other students. I had to be calm for them. Not even until after surgery, when I came out of anesthesia, did I lose it."
This heroic single mother of two protected her students and children at risk of her own life. In her interview with Morgan, she related that First Responders had whisked her away to the nearest available hospital…which was not a facility that honored her insurance coverage. While the table leg missed any bones and pierced the flesh and muscles underneath her leg, Haley still faces three months of therapy and recovery. On top of this, she reported, “My car is now in a pond near the school.” Haley said a fund had been established already to help defray her expenses, but that she didn’t truly know how she would make ends meet. Morgan assured her that a link to information about her expense fund would be posted on CNN’s website.
This morning, Piers Morgan’s blog included a post that announced that Suzanne Haley’s insurance company plans to cover her entire hospital bill. Whether this will include the therapies she will require is unknown… but it’s a start. Surely, Suzanne Haley’s faith – and that of countless other Oklahomans – was tested on May 20th… and rewarded. And I can’t help but believe that her endurance will grow as a result. She will no doubt be a better mother, teacher’s aide, friend, and servant because of her troubles and the chance to strengthen because of them.
It shouldn’t take an F5 tornado to get our attention. We should be fully developed in our faith and without any need. But that is simply not the case for 99.9% of us. We do have doubts, challenges, and frustrations. We often have no clue how strong we truly are… much less Who is responsible for that strength! But we can grow and learn… even from the horrific experiences of others like Suzanne Haley and the people of Moore, Oklahoma.
The next time your faith is tested, think of May 20th. Remind yourself that the God who gave men, women and children Supernatural strength and courage in the face of what must have appeared to be most certain death and destruction will do the same for you. I pray that your faith is never tested in this manner. But I know that we will all be tested in some way. How will you react? Will you patiently endure your trials and grow through them? Will you come out stronger and more sure of God’s love and care for you?
Just how needy are you today? What is missing in your life and your “faith walk?” Are you patiently working through whatever God has allowed to come your way? Do you know that He is with you every step of the journey? Won’t you allow Him to help you work through your tests… and to find joy on the other side? Aren’t you ready to lack for nothing in the LORD? Isn’t today a good day to start the process?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 27, 2011
John 20:1-2
Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, "They took the Master from the tomb. We don't know where they've put 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.
I don’t know about you, but I have had things scare me so badly that I ran for help, breathlessly panting in fear and panic. So I can easily get an idea of how Mary Magdalene felt when she approached Jesus’ tomb and realized that the massive, heavy stone had been rolled away from the entrance. All of us have probably known moments of panic so profound that we felt as if we couldn’t catch our breath. And in these moments, most of us run to someone we can trust… our parents, a spouse or significant other, a dependable relative, teacher or coach, our pastor, or perhaps our dearest friend.
Sometimes, when we are truly desperate and scared out of our wits, we run to our Heavenly Father. We fall to our knees (if only figuratively), and ask God to please rescue us and/or show us what to do. And God answers! Not only does He answer when we run directly to Him… He answers when we turn to a trusted friend or relative, as well. I believe that God uses others in those moments to guide us… to calm our fears… to speak rationally and calmly on His behalf and tell us what to do.
I am thankful that God meets our every need… especially when we are in a panic. I am so grateful to know that He will place people in my path to help me through the scariest, most breathless times of my life. When I don’t know where to turn or what to do… God knows. If I will only stop and listen for His voice, He will handle the rest.
Aren’t you glad that God is always busy looking out for us? Doesn’t it give you joy to know that even when you are in a breathless panic, God is putting people in front of you to help you figure out the best course of action? This is a good time to stop and thank God for all He does… for always loving us and having our back. Praise God for being available to us 24/7, and thank Him for always giving good gifts. Rest in the knowledge that you can run to Him anytime - with everything… joys, sorrows, accomplishments, dejections, excitements, fears and concerns… and He will always be there to respond.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, "They took the Master from the tomb. We don't know where they've put 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.
I don’t know about you, but I have had things scare me so badly that I ran for help, breathlessly panting in fear and panic. So I can easily get an idea of how Mary Magdalene felt when she approached Jesus’ tomb and realized that the massive, heavy stone had been rolled away from the entrance. All of us have probably known moments of panic so profound that we felt as if we couldn’t catch our breath. And in these moments, most of us run to someone we can trust… our parents, a spouse or significant other, a dependable relative, teacher or coach, our pastor, or perhaps our dearest friend.
Sometimes, when we are truly desperate and scared out of our wits, we run to our Heavenly Father. We fall to our knees (if only figuratively), and ask God to please rescue us and/or show us what to do. And God answers! Not only does He answer when we run directly to Him… He answers when we turn to a trusted friend or relative, as well. I believe that God uses others in those moments to guide us… to calm our fears… to speak rationally and calmly on His behalf and tell us what to do.
I am thankful that God meets our every need… especially when we are in a panic. I am so grateful to know that He will place people in my path to help me through the scariest, most breathless times of my life. When I don’t know where to turn or what to do… God knows. If I will only stop and listen for His voice, He will handle the rest.
Aren’t you glad that God is always busy looking out for us? Doesn’t it give you joy to know that even when you are in a breathless panic, God is putting people in front of you to help you figure out the best course of action? This is a good time to stop and thank God for all He does… for always loving us and having our back. Praise God for being available to us 24/7, and thank Him for always giving good gifts. Rest in the knowledge that you can run to Him anytime - with everything… joys, sorrows, accomplishments, dejections, excitements, fears and concerns… and He will always be there to respond.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 27, 2011
Psalm 139:13-18
You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below, but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do. Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine. I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach. And when I awake, I will find you nearby.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1979, the teacher whose classroom was next-door to mine traveled to Oklahoma with her family for the Thanksgiving holiday. The day after Thanksgiving, a big truck careened through an intersection and plowed directly into her car. Only 34 years old, Vicki was killed instantly. Her 8-year-old son and her mother survived. Several years later on the day after Thanksgiving, the 15-year-old son of friends we have known since childhood was killed in a car accident, along with a young child traveling in the other vehicle. You probably could share similar experiences that have affected your own life at some point.
All of this is hard to understand. We can’t wrap our brains around how God could allow such shocking tragedy… such seemingly unnecessary catastrophe… especially in light of this passage of scripture. How could a God who knows us before we were formed in our mother’s womb… who knows everything about us… know that this will happen to us or someone we love, and allow it? Believe me, I’ve asked these same questions, particularly when people I knew personally were affected by such horrific events.
For me, the answer lies in the second part of this passage. “Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding.” I know that God has plans for each of us… plans we can’t begin to imagine – and may not ever fully understand this side of heaven. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is always with us. Wherever we wake up – whether safe and secure on this earth or in His arms in heaven – God allowed things to happen in the best way possible for us.
Last week, an Arkansas Razorback football player died suddenly, only one day after he had participated in a game in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. By all accounts, Garrett Uekman was a wonderful young man… a standout athlete in several sports, a bright student, and most importantly – a devout Christian who served his God well. The cause of death was apparently a genetic heart disorder that caused irregular heartbeats and a thickening of the heart muscle. We ask, “If God knew that Garrett had this condition, couldn’t He have fixed it?” What we fail to ask is, “What did God prevent in Garrett’s life that could have been far worse? Did He save him from suffering and anguish… a lengthy illness or sadness beyond description in his own life? What was God’s purpose for Garrett on this earth… had he fulfilled this already?”
We don’t know everything about God’s plans. We’re not supposed to. But we are supposed to trust Him to do exactly what is exactly right for us. We are supposed to believe that God would never leave us… and He would never deliberately harm us. I am believing today that God looked at each of us and said, “I’m going to make So-and-So this way… and I’m going to take care of him/her every step of the way. There will be bumps in the road, but nothing that I can’t handle. And I am going to ask Him to guide my steps… and to give me courage and confidence to handle whatever He allows to come my way. If you see me doing a less than stellar job of trusting Him in this, you have my permission to remind me!
Someday, all of this will become crystal clear to us… if we still even care to question it. When we stand before God and bask in the light of His glory in Heaven, we will understand fully how amazing He is… how beautifully He formed each of us… and how perfectly He orchestrated every moment of our lives. And we will know for certain that He was always nearby… even into Eternity. For that, let’s give Him praise even in seasons of sadness. Let’s look toward a day when He will restore our joy. Let’s bolster our faith by trusting God to handle even the worst situations for us – and step forward with confidence that He is always nearby.
©2011 Debbie Robus
You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below, but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do. Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine. I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach. And when I awake, I will find you nearby.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1979, the teacher whose classroom was next-door to mine traveled to Oklahoma with her family for the Thanksgiving holiday. The day after Thanksgiving, a big truck careened through an intersection and plowed directly into her car. Only 34 years old, Vicki was killed instantly. Her 8-year-old son and her mother survived. Several years later on the day after Thanksgiving, the 15-year-old son of friends we have known since childhood was killed in a car accident, along with a young child traveling in the other vehicle. You probably could share similar experiences that have affected your own life at some point.
All of this is hard to understand. We can’t wrap our brains around how God could allow such shocking tragedy… such seemingly unnecessary catastrophe… especially in light of this passage of scripture. How could a God who knows us before we were formed in our mother’s womb… who knows everything about us… know that this will happen to us or someone we love, and allow it? Believe me, I’ve asked these same questions, particularly when people I knew personally were affected by such horrific events.
For me, the answer lies in the second part of this passage. “Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding.” I know that God has plans for each of us… plans we can’t begin to imagine – and may not ever fully understand this side of heaven. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is always with us. Wherever we wake up – whether safe and secure on this earth or in His arms in heaven – God allowed things to happen in the best way possible for us.
Last week, an Arkansas Razorback football player died suddenly, only one day after he had participated in a game in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. By all accounts, Garrett Uekman was a wonderful young man… a standout athlete in several sports, a bright student, and most importantly – a devout Christian who served his God well. The cause of death was apparently a genetic heart disorder that caused irregular heartbeats and a thickening of the heart muscle. We ask, “If God knew that Garrett had this condition, couldn’t He have fixed it?” What we fail to ask is, “What did God prevent in Garrett’s life that could have been far worse? Did He save him from suffering and anguish… a lengthy illness or sadness beyond description in his own life? What was God’s purpose for Garrett on this earth… had he fulfilled this already?”
We don’t know everything about God’s plans. We’re not supposed to. But we are supposed to trust Him to do exactly what is exactly right for us. We are supposed to believe that God would never leave us… and He would never deliberately harm us. I am believing today that God looked at each of us and said, “I’m going to make So-and-So this way… and I’m going to take care of him/her every step of the way. There will be bumps in the road, but nothing that I can’t handle. And I am going to ask Him to guide my steps… and to give me courage and confidence to handle whatever He allows to come my way. If you see me doing a less than stellar job of trusting Him in this, you have my permission to remind me!
Someday, all of this will become crystal clear to us… if we still even care to question it. When we stand before God and bask in the light of His glory in Heaven, we will understand fully how amazing He is… how beautifully He formed each of us… and how perfectly He orchestrated every moment of our lives. And we will know for certain that He was always nearby… even into Eternity. For that, let’s give Him praise even in seasons of sadness. Let’s look toward a day when He will restore our joy. Let’s bolster our faith by trusting God to handle even the worst situations for us – and step forward with confidence that He is always nearby.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 10, 2011
Luke 14:33-35
"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.
"Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing.
"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"
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.
A friend of mine posted on Facebook that she was staying up late at night reading the book Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. I downloaded it onto my Kindle and began reading. Just like my friend… I could not put the book down. I encourage you to get a copy of this book and read it for yourself. Whether you believe that this truly happened or not, I pray that you will glean some insights into how much God loves us… the power of prayer… the reality of the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives… and how important it is to focus on the right things.
The Burpo family faced several life-changing challenges, but none more gut-wrenching than the sudden, near-fatal illness of their 4-year-old son, Colton. And in this experience, they had to wrestle with the possibility of giving Colton – literally – to God. It’s a decision we all pray we never have to make… choosing to trust God even in the loss of our child. But as Todd Burpo points out in this book, our Heavenly Father turned away as Jesus died on the cross… and Burpo surmises it was largely because He would not have been able to allow it, had He watched.
Still, we must be willing to do whatever God asks… trusting that He will be with us every step of the way. And after reading this book, I think you will have a better understanding of just how God is with us – in everything. Nobody said being a disciple of Christ was going to be easy… but more and more I am convinced that it is worth the cost, no matter what that may be.
I know it’s hard sometimes… I know that many of us face gut-wrenching challenges and struggles… and we often cry out to God and ask, “Why is this happening? Where are you?” I am confident that He is still here… with us every step of the way. He has given everything – even to His own Son – so that we can be with Him. The question is… “What are we willing to give to be with Him?”
©2011 Debbie Robus
"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.
"Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing.
"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"
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.
A friend of mine posted on Facebook that she was staying up late at night reading the book Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. I downloaded it onto my Kindle and began reading. Just like my friend… I could not put the book down. I encourage you to get a copy of this book and read it for yourself. Whether you believe that this truly happened or not, I pray that you will glean some insights into how much God loves us… the power of prayer… the reality of the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives… and how important it is to focus on the right things.
The Burpo family faced several life-changing challenges, but none more gut-wrenching than the sudden, near-fatal illness of their 4-year-old son, Colton. And in this experience, they had to wrestle with the possibility of giving Colton – literally – to God. It’s a decision we all pray we never have to make… choosing to trust God even in the loss of our child. But as Todd Burpo points out in this book, our Heavenly Father turned away as Jesus died on the cross… and Burpo surmises it was largely because He would not have been able to allow it, had He watched.
Still, we must be willing to do whatever God asks… trusting that He will be with us every step of the way. And after reading this book, I think you will have a better understanding of just how God is with us – in everything. Nobody said being a disciple of Christ was going to be easy… but more and more I am convinced that it is worth the cost, no matter what that may be.
I know it’s hard sometimes… I know that many of us face gut-wrenching challenges and struggles… and we often cry out to God and ask, “Why is this happening? Where are you?” I am confident that He is still here… with us every step of the way. He has given everything – even to His own Son – so that we can be with Him. The question is… “What are we willing to give to be with Him?”
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 29, 2011
Psalm 139:7-12
Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight?
If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there.
If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.
Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean.
Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.
Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over.”
But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
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 was sharing with a group of friends recently about how children take things so literally, and often they don’t understand concepts like “the blood of Jesus,” or “How can Jesus live in my heart – how does He get in there?” One of my friends said she heard about a child who leaned over to his mother in church and said, “If this is God’s house, why ain’t He ever home?”
I know, I know… it’s probably just a joke. But let’s give it a serious look for a minute or two. Just exactly where is God? More importantly, where is He in your world? Do you find Him in your church sanctuary on Sunday? Do you feel His presence with you every day? Do you have such an intimate relationship with God that you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He is always with you? Do you get it that you could never hide from God… even if you wanted to do so?
Have you ever looked at the moon on a bright, clear night and considered that people halfway around the world are seeing the same bright orb in the sky? When a Sunday-school student of mine was deployed to Afghanistan, we talked about the moon … how our God made that moon and positioned it so that we could both see it! Our God is big enough to do a lot of things… and just as He is able to position the moon, He is able to follow us wherever we go and be with us at all times.
The trouble is… some of us keep trying to hide from God, for a number of reasons. Some of us want to “test the waters” and try a few things we know are sinful. Some of us feel we can’t measure up to what God desires for us or expects of us… so we want to “pull the covers over our head” and disappear from Him. Still others have decided that they know what is best for themselves… better than God does… and they wish He would just leave them alone.
The truth is… God is always at home… and He wants to be wherever we are. And we should want God to be with us at all times. He’s not interested in making us feel badly about ourselves. He wants to give us courage, strength, peace and comfort. God doesn’t want us to hide from Him or try to make a go of it alone. He knows the struggles and challenges that we face, and He wants to face them with us! And just like the Psalmist made clear… we really can’t hide from God in the first place. So why not invite Him into our heart and take advantage of the love, grace and mercy He offers?!
God loves us so much. He doesn’t want to nag and pester us to love and serve Him in return. That’s really not how He rolls! Why don’t you invite Him to be where you are and find out for yourself just how amazing life can be when you recognize His presence! Isn’t it time you gave God a permanent residence in your heart? Isn’t it time you recognized God and welcomed Him home?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight?
If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there.
If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.
Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean.
Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.
Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over.”
But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
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 was sharing with a group of friends recently about how children take things so literally, and often they don’t understand concepts like “the blood of Jesus,” or “How can Jesus live in my heart – how does He get in there?” One of my friends said she heard about a child who leaned over to his mother in church and said, “If this is God’s house, why ain’t He ever home?”
I know, I know… it’s probably just a joke. But let’s give it a serious look for a minute or two. Just exactly where is God? More importantly, where is He in your world? Do you find Him in your church sanctuary on Sunday? Do you feel His presence with you every day? Do you have such an intimate relationship with God that you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He is always with you? Do you get it that you could never hide from God… even if you wanted to do so?
Have you ever looked at the moon on a bright, clear night and considered that people halfway around the world are seeing the same bright orb in the sky? When a Sunday-school student of mine was deployed to Afghanistan, we talked about the moon … how our God made that moon and positioned it so that we could both see it! Our God is big enough to do a lot of things… and just as He is able to position the moon, He is able to follow us wherever we go and be with us at all times.
The trouble is… some of us keep trying to hide from God, for a number of reasons. Some of us want to “test the waters” and try a few things we know are sinful. Some of us feel we can’t measure up to what God desires for us or expects of us… so we want to “pull the covers over our head” and disappear from Him. Still others have decided that they know what is best for themselves… better than God does… and they wish He would just leave them alone.
The truth is… God is always at home… and He wants to be wherever we are. And we should want God to be with us at all times. He’s not interested in making us feel badly about ourselves. He wants to give us courage, strength, peace and comfort. God doesn’t want us to hide from Him or try to make a go of it alone. He knows the struggles and challenges that we face, and He wants to face them with us! And just like the Psalmist made clear… we really can’t hide from God in the first place. So why not invite Him into our heart and take advantage of the love, grace and mercy He offers?!
God loves us so much. He doesn’t want to nag and pester us to love and serve Him in return. That’s really not how He rolls! Why don’t you invite Him to be where you are and find out for yourself just how amazing life can be when you recognize His presence! Isn’t it time you gave God a permanent residence in your heart? Isn’t it time you recognized God and welcomed Him home?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 28, 2011
Psalm 10:16-18
Our LORD, you will always rule, but nations will vanish from the earth. You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help. You defend orphans and everyone else in need, so that no one on earth can terrify others again.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend shared with us recently that her daughter laughed at those who so eagerly share photos of their children on Facebook… until she had her own baby. She said, “Now I get it.” And truly, until we have walked in others’ shoes, we often don’t understand their thinking… the things that make them happy, sad, proud, embarrassed, encouraged or defeated.
But God always understands. He knows the heartache of orphans who long for a home and someone to love them. He understands the fears and disappointment of those who are abused by a parent, spouse, or someone else. He sees the child who is bullied, and His heart is grieved. He “gets it” when someone we love is sick and we are unable to help heal.
I remember feeling so helpless when my brother was ill and slipping away from us. There was nothing we could do to restore his health this side of heaven. I know the frustration of holding a screaming child who can’t tell me where he hurts or what is wrong… and wondering what on earth I can possibly do to soothe him. But GOD knows exactly what to do. He hears everything… feels the pain and suffering… understands the heartache and sorrow… and HE can fix what we mere mortals cannot.
It may seem like small consolation to think that God knows what is happening when you are being abused or mistreated… when you are sick and/or suffering. You may be wondering… “If God knows this is happening, why doesn’t He DO something about it?” The answer is complicated, but here’s the “nuts and bolts” of it… God does see our needs, and He IS meeting them. What we have to understand is that God’s timing may not align with ours. Also, we must learn to stay faithful and close to God even when we feel He is not hearing our cries… the times we feel He is not listening… much less answering.
We will never fully understand how God operates in this lifetime. But we must stay faithful that He is “on the clock” on our behalf. He will always rule… He will always have our back… and He will always be right on time. Our job is to believe this… stay strong in our faith… and not resort to criticism of God’s timing. Someday, just like my friend’s daughter, we will “get it.” For now, let it be enough to know that God is always working in your behalf… for the perfect outcome when the time is right.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Our LORD, you will always rule, but nations will vanish from the earth. You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help. You defend orphans and everyone else in need, so that no one on earth can terrify others again.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend shared with us recently that her daughter laughed at those who so eagerly share photos of their children on Facebook… until she had her own baby. She said, “Now I get it.” And truly, until we have walked in others’ shoes, we often don’t understand their thinking… the things that make them happy, sad, proud, embarrassed, encouraged or defeated.
But God always understands. He knows the heartache of orphans who long for a home and someone to love them. He understands the fears and disappointment of those who are abused by a parent, spouse, or someone else. He sees the child who is bullied, and His heart is grieved. He “gets it” when someone we love is sick and we are unable to help heal.
I remember feeling so helpless when my brother was ill and slipping away from us. There was nothing we could do to restore his health this side of heaven. I know the frustration of holding a screaming child who can’t tell me where he hurts or what is wrong… and wondering what on earth I can possibly do to soothe him. But GOD knows exactly what to do. He hears everything… feels the pain and suffering… understands the heartache and sorrow… and HE can fix what we mere mortals cannot.
It may seem like small consolation to think that God knows what is happening when you are being abused or mistreated… when you are sick and/or suffering. You may be wondering… “If God knows this is happening, why doesn’t He DO something about it?” The answer is complicated, but here’s the “nuts and bolts” of it… God does see our needs, and He IS meeting them. What we have to understand is that God’s timing may not align with ours. Also, we must learn to stay faithful and close to God even when we feel He is not hearing our cries… the times we feel He is not listening… much less answering.
We will never fully understand how God operates in this lifetime. But we must stay faithful that He is “on the clock” on our behalf. He will always rule… He will always have our back… and He will always be right on time. Our job is to believe this… stay strong in our faith… and not resort to criticism of God’s timing. Someday, just like my friend’s daughter, we will “get it.” For now, let it be enough to know that God is always working in your behalf… for the perfect outcome when the time is right.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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