Joshua 24:13-15
I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build—the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them.
“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I found a suggestion on Pinterest for rewarding children for good behavior at home. This idea involves a little printed card with blocks for numbers 1-20. We are trying this with Timothy. Each time he deserves to be recognized for what he has done, a number is punched. When all of the blocks on the card have been punched, Timothy gets to pick a “treat” from a box or basket. Everything Timothy needs for growth and survival is provided in our home… food, clothing, shelter, love and nurture, and more. We freely provide all of this for him. But let’s be honest… it’s great when he chooses to behave nicely and honor our nurture and provisions - to play carefully with his toys and put them away when he is done, to use good table manners, and to respond quickly and positively when we ask him to do something!
I tell Timothy and Zola often… “It’s your choice.” But I had to laugh as I read this passage, where it said…”if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve.” Often I say to them, “It’s your choice,” and add…”but choose now!” Even at ages four and two, children are able to make simple choices and to understand the outcomes of each option, and there is no sense in prolonging the decision!
From an early age, we learn to make choices. We learn that choices determine the outcome… and some come with consequences. The choices may seem easier when you are two and four… but essentially, they are no different. You know what it means to serve God… you’ve read the scriptures… you’ve seen true Christian discipleship in action. You know that the life of a Christian isn’t always easy… but you also know the rewards – both promised for Eternity, and those here on earth each and every day.
This passage seems a little cold and callous on the surface, but when you boil it all down, it’s really pretty basic. Pick a side. Serve God or serve whoever or whatever you like. But understand what you are in for if you choose to serve something or someone else. I’m happy to be able to say that for me and my family, it’s a no brainer! One day with God is better than a zillion without Him. I’m going to be “punching the discipleship card” and reaping God’s rewards “to infinity and beyond”! What about you? It’s your choice…what have you decided?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label wise choices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wise choices. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 20, 2013
Joel 3:14
Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision.
There the day of the Lord will soon arrive.
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.
Recently, a Facebook friend posted an interesting question. In part, she said, “What is with the people on Facebook who literally spill their guts about woes, heartbreaks, and how ‘just when u think u can trust someone... Blah blah blah’?? I seriously don't understand what they believe they will be gaining from it?? AND THEN 150 LIKE THE POST?? What do they like?? Do they like that their ‘friend’ is miserable? Do they like that their ‘friend’ is writing this depressing stuff on here?” She made some valid points. She also mentioned that she has grown weary of posts from people who are “in a relationship” one day, “it’s complicated” the next, and then suddenly there is someone new – and wonderful – in their life.
Now you may be wondering… “What does this have to do with this passage from Joel 3?” I’m glad you asked! Joel is prophesying about the end of the world… when Christ will return and “thousands upon thousands” will gather in the “Valley of Decision” for judgment. I believe this is important… but I also believe that this has relevance in terms of today – and somewhat answers my friend’s Facebook question. Here’s how… we find “safety in numbers”. People want to know that others relate to them… that we care… that someone else has gone through what they are experiencing. Even if others judge us, we want to know that we are not alone.
Now this doesn’t mean I am excusing – or condoning – the kinds of posts my friend mentioned. I’m weary of them, too. But when a friend posts that her brother has been placed on Hospice and dying of cancer, I can respond to her, because I know firsthand what it’s like to have a brother on Hospice who is dying. When someone says, “I am a terrible mother… my 4-year-old cannot use scissors and the pre-K sent a note that we need to work on this”… I can speak to her as a teacher and a “foster-mother” to little ones that he is just not ready – and she is an excellent mother.
When a friend posts that she wants to crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head as she tries to juggle the challenges of a job, marriage, parenthood, ownership of a retail business, and the in-home care of her father… as well as caregiving duties for her aging grandmother…I can commiserate, offer to pray for her, and assure her that she is not alone and that others care.
See, we are all waiting in the Valley of Decision for something… whether even our own self-judgment. We have gathered together with decisions to make, challenges to face, worries, concerns, joys and sorrows. And we eagerly await feedback… just as those on Facebook want others to reassure them that they are not the only person with such-and-such problem or experience. The bottom line is that you are not unique… your challenges, choices, and their outcomes are shared by countless other people. This doesn’t lessen the impact… make you less worried, upset, or important. It just means that you’re not the first person that XYZ has ever happened to… and you won’t be the last.
In the Spiritual sense, you are incredibly unique and valuable to God… while at the same time, He feels this way about millions of others. We will all have to answer to Him for the events and choices of our lives. So why not choose to live for Him every minute… to trust Him for outcomes in all circumstances and act in a way that honors and pleases Him, no matter what happens? Why not choose to be one of those in the crowd on Judgment Day who hears, “Well done, my servant. You weren’t perfect… but you were obedient and faithful… you honored the gift of My Only Son with your conduct.”? Why not bare your soul to God about many of your issues - instead of to your Facebook friends - and live in such a way that the things you DO choose to post reflect a life of faith-filled discipleship?
When the LORD arrives, and you stand among the thousands, it won’t matter how your neighbors chose. God will judge each of us on our own merits. This should affect the choices we make now… how we handle today’s challenges and experiences – and how we respond to others in similar situations. What are your choices? How are you managing the blessings and resources God has given you? Are you ready to stand in the Valley of Decision with a clear conscience? Isn’t it time you were?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision.
There the day of the Lord will soon arrive.
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.
Recently, a Facebook friend posted an interesting question. In part, she said, “What is with the people on Facebook who literally spill their guts about woes, heartbreaks, and how ‘just when u think u can trust someone... Blah blah blah’?? I seriously don't understand what they believe they will be gaining from it?? AND THEN 150 LIKE THE POST?? What do they like?? Do they like that their ‘friend’ is miserable? Do they like that their ‘friend’ is writing this depressing stuff on here?” She made some valid points. She also mentioned that she has grown weary of posts from people who are “in a relationship” one day, “it’s complicated” the next, and then suddenly there is someone new – and wonderful – in their life.
Now you may be wondering… “What does this have to do with this passage from Joel 3?” I’m glad you asked! Joel is prophesying about the end of the world… when Christ will return and “thousands upon thousands” will gather in the “Valley of Decision” for judgment. I believe this is important… but I also believe that this has relevance in terms of today – and somewhat answers my friend’s Facebook question. Here’s how… we find “safety in numbers”. People want to know that others relate to them… that we care… that someone else has gone through what they are experiencing. Even if others judge us, we want to know that we are not alone.
Now this doesn’t mean I am excusing – or condoning – the kinds of posts my friend mentioned. I’m weary of them, too. But when a friend posts that her brother has been placed on Hospice and dying of cancer, I can respond to her, because I know firsthand what it’s like to have a brother on Hospice who is dying. When someone says, “I am a terrible mother… my 4-year-old cannot use scissors and the pre-K sent a note that we need to work on this”… I can speak to her as a teacher and a “foster-mother” to little ones that he is just not ready – and she is an excellent mother.
When a friend posts that she wants to crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head as she tries to juggle the challenges of a job, marriage, parenthood, ownership of a retail business, and the in-home care of her father… as well as caregiving duties for her aging grandmother…I can commiserate, offer to pray for her, and assure her that she is not alone and that others care.
See, we are all waiting in the Valley of Decision for something… whether even our own self-judgment. We have gathered together with decisions to make, challenges to face, worries, concerns, joys and sorrows. And we eagerly await feedback… just as those on Facebook want others to reassure them that they are not the only person with such-and-such problem or experience. The bottom line is that you are not unique… your challenges, choices, and their outcomes are shared by countless other people. This doesn’t lessen the impact… make you less worried, upset, or important. It just means that you’re not the first person that XYZ has ever happened to… and you won’t be the last.
In the Spiritual sense, you are incredibly unique and valuable to God… while at the same time, He feels this way about millions of others. We will all have to answer to Him for the events and choices of our lives. So why not choose to live for Him every minute… to trust Him for outcomes in all circumstances and act in a way that honors and pleases Him, no matter what happens? Why not choose to be one of those in the crowd on Judgment Day who hears, “Well done, my servant. You weren’t perfect… but you were obedient and faithful… you honored the gift of My Only Son with your conduct.”? Why not bare your soul to God about many of your issues - instead of to your Facebook friends - and live in such a way that the things you DO choose to post reflect a life of faith-filled discipleship?
When the LORD arrives, and you stand among the thousands, it won’t matter how your neighbors chose. God will judge each of us on our own merits. This should affect the choices we make now… how we handle today’s challenges and experiences – and how we respond to others in similar situations. What are your choices? How are you managing the blessings and resources God has given you? Are you ready to stand in the Valley of Decision with a clear conscience? Isn’t it time you were?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 17, 2013
Isaiah 30:19-21
O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,
you will weep no more.
He will be gracious if you ask for help.
He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.
Though the Lord gave you adversity for food
and suffering for drink,
he will still be with you to teach you.
You will see your teacher with your own eyes.
Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left.
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.
“You can teach yourself to type.” That’s what several people told me when I was in high school. I really thought I would save the time block allotted for typing class and take something else in its place. I got a manual – maybe from the local library, and I practiced over the summer. This was long before the Internet, and so long ago that I’ve forgotten some of the details. Suffice it to say that when the school year rolled around, I decided I needed to take the class…I needed the teacher’s help. I can still remember her hovering over me as I typed… giving me instruction about not only how to type, but also how to care for the typewriter itself.
Since I type every single day, I am so grateful that I chose to take that class and learn the proper technique. Typing served both Greg and me very well through college… and it certainly played a huge role in our publishing business! I think of my grandfather and how he “hunted and pecked” as he typed information onto insurance and real estate forms, and I am thankful for every struggle… every minute of frustration and boredom as I learned how to type properly.
Could I have learned to type on my own? Probably. Would I have been good at it, in my own way? Possibly. But knowing that I had an expert standing behind me to whisper, “Do this” or “Don’t do that” made a difference. I know that now… just as I know that I can’t make it on my own without help from the LORD. Believe me, there have been plenty of times when I have tried. But there have been more when I’ve cried out for help… and received it.
People ask why God allows us to go through trials. Why are we challenged? A friend posted on Facebook today… “I need a book or a course on how to not let "frustrating" customers annoy the bajeepers out of me and drain me of life.” I responded…”Not to sound trite or "preachy", but I know a GOOD ONE! Start with Philippians 4:9... ‘Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.’ Philippians 4:13 is a good ‘mantra’ to repeat when frustrated... ‘For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.’”
A lot of what happens to us in life boils down to a choice… whether to try to handle things on our own – or to “let go and let God.” I don’t know about you, but I’m not up for living life via the “hunt and peck” method. I’m ready to ask for God’s help… and to listen to His reply. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,
you will weep no more.
He will be gracious if you ask for help.
He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.
Though the Lord gave you adversity for food
and suffering for drink,
he will still be with you to teach you.
You will see your teacher with your own eyes.
Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left.
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.
“You can teach yourself to type.” That’s what several people told me when I was in high school. I really thought I would save the time block allotted for typing class and take something else in its place. I got a manual – maybe from the local library, and I practiced over the summer. This was long before the Internet, and so long ago that I’ve forgotten some of the details. Suffice it to say that when the school year rolled around, I decided I needed to take the class…I needed the teacher’s help. I can still remember her hovering over me as I typed… giving me instruction about not only how to type, but also how to care for the typewriter itself.
Since I type every single day, I am so grateful that I chose to take that class and learn the proper technique. Typing served both Greg and me very well through college… and it certainly played a huge role in our publishing business! I think of my grandfather and how he “hunted and pecked” as he typed information onto insurance and real estate forms, and I am thankful for every struggle… every minute of frustration and boredom as I learned how to type properly.
Could I have learned to type on my own? Probably. Would I have been good at it, in my own way? Possibly. But knowing that I had an expert standing behind me to whisper, “Do this” or “Don’t do that” made a difference. I know that now… just as I know that I can’t make it on my own without help from the LORD. Believe me, there have been plenty of times when I have tried. But there have been more when I’ve cried out for help… and received it.
People ask why God allows us to go through trials. Why are we challenged? A friend posted on Facebook today… “I need a book or a course on how to not let "frustrating" customers annoy the bajeepers out of me and drain me of life.” I responded…”Not to sound trite or "preachy", but I know a GOOD ONE! Start with Philippians 4:9... ‘Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.’ Philippians 4:13 is a good ‘mantra’ to repeat when frustrated... ‘For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.’”
A lot of what happens to us in life boils down to a choice… whether to try to handle things on our own – or to “let go and let God.” I don’t know about you, but I’m not up for living life via the “hunt and peck” method. I’m ready to ask for God’s help… and to listen to His reply. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 13, 2013
September 13 ~ Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Everything you were taught can be put into a few words:
Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about. God will judge everything we do, even what is done in secret, whether good or bad.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My late cousin Carla Lou came from Ohio for a visit one year near the end of November. As I decorated our house for Christmas, she sat on the couch and read recipes aloud to me from some of my cookbooks. We would discuss whether the dish sounded tasty or not and exactly how we would prepare it. She came to a recipe for peanut butter cookies… and it only had 3 ingredients – 1 egg, 1 cup of peanut butter, and 1 cup of sugar. “That can’t be right!” we agreed… but we both said we were going to try it and see what happened!
That peanut butter cookie recipe has become one of my staples…a family favorite that is quick and easy – and oh, so delicious! No one can believe that there isn’t more to the recipe. How can something so simple be so perfect? Doesn’t it need flour, salt, baking powder… SOMETHING else? The answer is a solid, “NO!”
Do you realize that this is how we often are in our relationship with God? We want to add unnecessary things to the mix… rituals, rules that He never established, ideas and expectations that don’t belong. In short, we want to take something that is sheer perfection and ruin it with added ingredients. What we need to do is to study this scripture passage and take it to heart… “Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about.”
In everything we do, we need ask only one question… “Does this respect and obey God?” Getting ready to judge someone else or say something hateful or unkind? Does this respect and obey God? Want to cheat… anyone or on anything? Will God be respected and obeyed? Feel like doing as you please, regardless of who gets hurt or what responsibilities are shirked? Do your actions represent respect and obedience to God’s will? Choose to take a little time off from serving God to serve yourself? How do you think God will judge this?
In every word and action of our lives… every choice… every breath… if we would only ask this question, the end result might be far more beautiful…more perfect… more pleasing, and even more peaceful. If only we would consider how God will judge what we are about to say or do, we might choose otherwise. Instead, we often choose to add our own interpretation to the mix… to “play with the recipe” – often with horrible results.
Today, let’s stop and ask this simple question… “Will this choice reflect respect and obedience to God?” Let’s let this question guide how we decide… what we choose. We know His “recipe” is perfect… so why do we insist on tinkering with it? If you are swayed to decide in favor of God’s judgment, I’m betting the outcome will be far better. It’s worth a shot… isn’t it?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Everything you were taught can be put into a few words:
Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about. God will judge everything we do, even what is done in secret, whether good or bad.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My late cousin Carla Lou came from Ohio for a visit one year near the end of November. As I decorated our house for Christmas, she sat on the couch and read recipes aloud to me from some of my cookbooks. We would discuss whether the dish sounded tasty or not and exactly how we would prepare it. She came to a recipe for peanut butter cookies… and it only had 3 ingredients – 1 egg, 1 cup of peanut butter, and 1 cup of sugar. “That can’t be right!” we agreed… but we both said we were going to try it and see what happened!
That peanut butter cookie recipe has become one of my staples…a family favorite that is quick and easy – and oh, so delicious! No one can believe that there isn’t more to the recipe. How can something so simple be so perfect? Doesn’t it need flour, salt, baking powder… SOMETHING else? The answer is a solid, “NO!”
Do you realize that this is how we often are in our relationship with God? We want to add unnecessary things to the mix… rituals, rules that He never established, ideas and expectations that don’t belong. In short, we want to take something that is sheer perfection and ruin it with added ingredients. What we need to do is to study this scripture passage and take it to heart… “Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about.”
In everything we do, we need ask only one question… “Does this respect and obey God?” Getting ready to judge someone else or say something hateful or unkind? Does this respect and obey God? Want to cheat… anyone or on anything? Will God be respected and obeyed? Feel like doing as you please, regardless of who gets hurt or what responsibilities are shirked? Do your actions represent respect and obedience to God’s will? Choose to take a little time off from serving God to serve yourself? How do you think God will judge this?
In every word and action of our lives… every choice… every breath… if we would only ask this question, the end result might be far more beautiful…more perfect… more pleasing, and even more peaceful. If only we would consider how God will judge what we are about to say or do, we might choose otherwise. Instead, we often choose to add our own interpretation to the mix… to “play with the recipe” – often with horrible results.
Today, let’s stop and ask this simple question… “Will this choice reflect respect and obedience to God?” Let’s let this question guide how we decide… what we choose. We know His “recipe” is perfect… so why do we insist on tinkering with it? If you are swayed to decide in favor of God’s judgment, I’m betting the outcome will be far better. It’s worth a shot… isn’t it?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 11, 2013
Psalm 121:1-2
I look to the hills!
Where will I find help?
It will come from the Lord,
who created the heavens
and the earth.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We cannot ignore the historical significance of this day… and frankly, we must talk about it. Every year on this anniversary, people recall exactly where they were when the Twin Towers fell in New York City. Social media is filled today with photo montages and video tributes. We will all pause for today and feel sad and talk about where we were twelve years ago and how horrible this event was for so many.
But what we don’t ponder – at least for very long – is how the victims and their families have endured the ramifications of this tragedy every day for twelve years. We don’t stop to consider how Veronica Glascoe Squef, a mother of two with a third baby on the way, put one foot in front of the other… so that she dropped off boys for 10th, 8th, and 6th grades this week. She wrote a love note to her husband, Keith Glascoe (a NYC firefighter with Ladder Co. 21 who perished on 9-11) on her Facebook page that says in part…
I’ve told this story before, but it bears repeating… shortly after 9-11, I reached out to the families of the NYC firefighters in Ladder Company 21 who lost a loved one on that fateful day. A music minister in our community had visited New York with a touring choir a few weeks after the tragic event, and he returned with a list of names and addresses for firefighters from Ladder Co. 21 in the “Hell’s Kitchen” area of NYC. He suggested that we drop these families a note of sympathy and encouragement. I did this, and three families responded. Over the years, I lost touch with the family of William Krukowski; the correspondence became sparse with Ed and Alice Henry…parents to 25-year-old Joe, whose remains were never recovered. Ed was also a NYC firefighter, as were some of Joe’s brothers, uncles, and other family members.
To this day, I still correspond with Veronica Squef and keep up with her three boys… mostly via Facebook. I am continually impressed with how she has managed… how happy and vibrant the boys appear… how she shuttles them to football and baseball practices and games… takes them fishing and to other events in their area…and how she and the boys even travel to Argentina to visit her family. We have never had an in-depth conversation about her faith, but I’ve seen the countless posts on her Facebook page from others who are praying for Veronica and her boys – and I am among them.
I have to believe that Veronica is one of many directly affected by this tragedy who “look to the hills” for strength from the LORD on a daily basis. I also have to believe that they have made a conscious choice to allow God to help them get through this. How else could they survive it? Family and friends can offer a certain amount of encouragement and support… but Who makes the real difference? Who sends these “earthly angels”? Who fills in the gaps and does the supernatural things that are necessary to survive such an ordeal?
I pray that you and I never have to endure a tragedy and challenge of this magnitude. But let’s be honest… we are all faced with life-changing trials and events. We all have decisions to make… choices that can change the course of our life. And at the end of the day, we can choose to “look to the hills” and call on the LORD for strength, wisdom, courage, comfort and peace… or we can “wing it” and hope for the best. The latter is not an option for me…what about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I look to the hills!
Where will I find help?
It will come from the Lord,
who created the heavens
and the earth.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We cannot ignore the historical significance of this day… and frankly, we must talk about it. Every year on this anniversary, people recall exactly where they were when the Twin Towers fell in New York City. Social media is filled today with photo montages and video tributes. We will all pause for today and feel sad and talk about where we were twelve years ago and how horrible this event was for so many.
But what we don’t ponder – at least for very long – is how the victims and their families have endured the ramifications of this tragedy every day for twelve years. We don’t stop to consider how Veronica Glascoe Squef, a mother of two with a third baby on the way, put one foot in front of the other… so that she dropped off boys for 10th, 8th, and 6th grades this week. She wrote a love note to her husband, Keith Glascoe (a NYC firefighter with Ladder Co. 21 who perished on 9-11) on her Facebook page that says in part…
“I can still remember 12 years ago the night before...you picking me up at Macy's from my part-time job... We went to bed with Owen still sleeping with us and Nolan was in his big boy bed. He would be 3 years old in a couple of weeks. He was ready - or we thought he was. That morning we woke up with Nolan and Owen in our bed.*lol* I will never forget that night, and I treasure it like it was yesterday. Just a reminder... never take anything for granted. Live and love today!!!”Most of us cannot relate… to Veronica and others whose spouses never came home…to boys and girls who went to school that morning and returned to find that one of their parents was gone forever. We have no clue what it must feel like to be the family member whose loved one’s remains have never been recovered.
I’ve told this story before, but it bears repeating… shortly after 9-11, I reached out to the families of the NYC firefighters in Ladder Company 21 who lost a loved one on that fateful day. A music minister in our community had visited New York with a touring choir a few weeks after the tragic event, and he returned with a list of names and addresses for firefighters from Ladder Co. 21 in the “Hell’s Kitchen” area of NYC. He suggested that we drop these families a note of sympathy and encouragement. I did this, and three families responded. Over the years, I lost touch with the family of William Krukowski; the correspondence became sparse with Ed and Alice Henry…parents to 25-year-old Joe, whose remains were never recovered. Ed was also a NYC firefighter, as were some of Joe’s brothers, uncles, and other family members.
To this day, I still correspond with Veronica Squef and keep up with her three boys… mostly via Facebook. I am continually impressed with how she has managed… how happy and vibrant the boys appear… how she shuttles them to football and baseball practices and games… takes them fishing and to other events in their area…and how she and the boys even travel to Argentina to visit her family. We have never had an in-depth conversation about her faith, but I’ve seen the countless posts on her Facebook page from others who are praying for Veronica and her boys – and I am among them.
I have to believe that Veronica is one of many directly affected by this tragedy who “look to the hills” for strength from the LORD on a daily basis. I also have to believe that they have made a conscious choice to allow God to help them get through this. How else could they survive it? Family and friends can offer a certain amount of encouragement and support… but Who makes the real difference? Who sends these “earthly angels”? Who fills in the gaps and does the supernatural things that are necessary to survive such an ordeal?
I pray that you and I never have to endure a tragedy and challenge of this magnitude. But let’s be honest… we are all faced with life-changing trials and events. We all have decisions to make… choices that can change the course of our life. And at the end of the day, we can choose to “look to the hills” and call on the LORD for strength, wisdom, courage, comfort and peace… or we can “wing it” and hope for the best. The latter is not an option for me…what about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 10, 2013
Deuteronomy 30:19
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
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.
Almost two decades ago, a woman I knew took her own life. Her funeral was one of the most difficult experiences I’ve ever endured. No one could understand why this vibrant, beautiful grandmother took her own life. The pastor explained at the service that this was not truly the person we all knew and loved… that surely something must have gone terribly wrong in her mind and heart in order for her to choose to die. When I think of all she had to live for… grandchildren she has never seen, all kinds of opportunities that might have been in store for her…I have to believe that my pastor was exactly right. Had she been of sound mind, there is no way she would have ever chosen to die.
As hard as it is for us to comprehend taking our own life, this is essentially what many of us choose to do when we do not follow God. Those who believe that they don’t need God’s help have virtually pulled the trigger and committed to their own spiritual death. We are not superhuman. We do not have the capacity to make it on our own in this world. When we try, we often end up like my friend…overcome by the pressures, challenges and demons… and ugly things can result that can have a ripple effect for generations to come.
So many of us know that a relationship with the Holy Spirit is the answer, but we choose otherwise… human relationships, material accumulation, work, alcohol, drugs, money, gambling, and more. We stay “on the run” – continually seeking something that will satisfy, solve all of our problems and/or answer all of our questions. Timothy has a little Sesame Street book called I Can Do It Myself. That’s a pretty good mantra when you are a toddler… but even toddlers seem to have more sense about when to ask for help than the rest of us!
Don’t misunderstand me… I look forward to heaven… but only when GOD says it’s time for me to move there! Meanwhile, I know that I cannot navigate this earth successfully on my own. Furthermore, I know that the only way to spend eternity with God is to choose to serve Him now – here – in this lifetime. Not every day will be fun… there will be challenges, sorrows, heartaches and disappointments along the way. Choosing to follow God does not mean that life becomes instantly perfect! But even the worst day with Him is better than one day without.
So what do you say? How will you choose? Are you “holding the gun to your head, ready to pull the trigger”? Isn’t it time you “let go and let God” have control in your life? Are you ready to choose Eternal Life and truly live for the rest of your days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
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.
Almost two decades ago, a woman I knew took her own life. Her funeral was one of the most difficult experiences I’ve ever endured. No one could understand why this vibrant, beautiful grandmother took her own life. The pastor explained at the service that this was not truly the person we all knew and loved… that surely something must have gone terribly wrong in her mind and heart in order for her to choose to die. When I think of all she had to live for… grandchildren she has never seen, all kinds of opportunities that might have been in store for her…I have to believe that my pastor was exactly right. Had she been of sound mind, there is no way she would have ever chosen to die.
As hard as it is for us to comprehend taking our own life, this is essentially what many of us choose to do when we do not follow God. Those who believe that they don’t need God’s help have virtually pulled the trigger and committed to their own spiritual death. We are not superhuman. We do not have the capacity to make it on our own in this world. When we try, we often end up like my friend…overcome by the pressures, challenges and demons… and ugly things can result that can have a ripple effect for generations to come.
So many of us know that a relationship with the Holy Spirit is the answer, but we choose otherwise… human relationships, material accumulation, work, alcohol, drugs, money, gambling, and more. We stay “on the run” – continually seeking something that will satisfy, solve all of our problems and/or answer all of our questions. Timothy has a little Sesame Street book called I Can Do It Myself. That’s a pretty good mantra when you are a toddler… but even toddlers seem to have more sense about when to ask for help than the rest of us!
Don’t misunderstand me… I look forward to heaven… but only when GOD says it’s time for me to move there! Meanwhile, I know that I cannot navigate this earth successfully on my own. Furthermore, I know that the only way to spend eternity with God is to choose to serve Him now – here – in this lifetime. Not every day will be fun… there will be challenges, sorrows, heartaches and disappointments along the way. Choosing to follow God does not mean that life becomes instantly perfect! But even the worst day with Him is better than one day without.
So what do you say? How will you choose? Are you “holding the gun to your head, ready to pull the trigger”? Isn’t it time you “let go and let God” have control in your life? Are you ready to choose Eternal Life and truly live for the rest of your days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 8, 2013
Daniel 1:8-10
But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king’s food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff to exempt him from the royal diet. The head of the palace staff, by God’s grace, liked Daniel, but he warned him, “I’m afraid of what my master the king will do. He is the one who assigned this diet and if he sees that you are not as healthy as the rest, he’ll have my head!”
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 Timothy began to “wind up” and whirl around yesterday afternoon, squealing and yelling at a shrill high pitch, I knew that he was approaching “the wall” and needed a nap. As his “meltdown” ensued and we lay down on his bed, he kept pointing to the door and saying, “But I want to get up.” Timothy must have told me 2 dozen times that he wanted to get up… that he didn’t need to rest. But his body language and demeanor indicated otherwise. This was one time when I had to be the grownup and choose what was best for him. It’s not that his choice was necessarily wrong… it just was not in his best interest – or the best interest of anyone else in the household! In this passage from Daniel, things were the other way around…the king’s choice was not necessarily wrong… but it was not best for Daniel.
The king wanted even the prisoners to be fed exactly what he ate. Quite literally, they were to “eat like royalty” – the king’s idea of keeping everyone healthy and fit. But Daniel’s diet was not the same as the king’s… most likely for religious reasons. He told the steward that he wanted only vegetables and water. He probably did not eat meat – in particular, pork. Nonetheless, his choice was not wrong… just different. If you continue reading beyond verse 10, you will see that Daniel and the other captives were indeed served only vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of that time, they were still perfectly healthy. In fact, they were in better physical shape than others in the king’s court! The steward continued to feed only vegetables to Daniel and his fellow prisoners afterward. The scripture says that… “God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in both books and life.”
There were two decisions here: 1) Daniel’s choice not to eat what was served; and 2) the steward’s choice to allow Daniel a period of ten days to prove himself. Both were risky…both decisions involved a lot of faith and wisdom. And I believe both were orchestrated by God. There are times in our lives when we have options… many of which may have their merits. It would have been so easy for Daniel to say, “I’m in a bind here (quite literally), and I think I will just eat what is served and not complain.” It would have been understandable for the steward to say, “Look, I have to serve what the king tells me… and you have to eat it.” Both would have been plausible options.
There may be times when we feel as though it would be easier just to go along with the crowd… to make excuses or cover for a friend who isn’t exactly doing the right thing (but it isn’t necessarily so bad, either – think “Don’t tell So-and-so I’m here!”). We may opt to put up with the foul language from a co-worker, coach, teacher, parent, relative, friend or boss… to stand in silence when someone is saying or doing something we disagree with rather than make a scene… or to allow a 4-year-old to get back up and skip his much-needed nap. These choices don’t necessarily make us bad people.
But there are times when we have to listen to the voice of God nudging us to take a stand… to do the right thing… to speak up and out and say, “I must choose differently.” We have to trust that God will orchestrate the outcome… that He will make a way where none seems possible. We have to “stick to our [Spiritual] guns” and make the choices that God indicates to us are the right ones – those that honor and please Him. In my case, I had to wait out an overly-tired 4-year-old who said he didn’t need a nap and trust God to bring sweet sleep and much-needed rest… and He did!
If you read the book of Daniel, you see that he had an extraordinary relationship with God. But the neat thing is that we can have this relationship, too. We can cultivate a deep and abiding faith in hearing from our Heavenly Father… and trusting that He will work in ways we cannot even fathom. We can ask Him to guide every single one of our choices… and trust Him to know best how things should go in the end. There is a tremendous peace and confidence in this…as well as an opportunity to grow and cultivate our courage and “faith muscle.”
Are you ready to trust God in the choices you are making? Are you ready to stand up for what you decide… and believe that He will handle the outcome? Will you take the easy way out and go along with the crowd… or are you ready to let God speak through you – to make what can sometimes seem like very difficult – and unpopular - decisions? The choice is yours… how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king’s food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff to exempt him from the royal diet. The head of the palace staff, by God’s grace, liked Daniel, but he warned him, “I’m afraid of what my master the king will do. He is the one who assigned this diet and if he sees that you are not as healthy as the rest, he’ll have my head!”
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 Timothy began to “wind up” and whirl around yesterday afternoon, squealing and yelling at a shrill high pitch, I knew that he was approaching “the wall” and needed a nap. As his “meltdown” ensued and we lay down on his bed, he kept pointing to the door and saying, “But I want to get up.” Timothy must have told me 2 dozen times that he wanted to get up… that he didn’t need to rest. But his body language and demeanor indicated otherwise. This was one time when I had to be the grownup and choose what was best for him. It’s not that his choice was necessarily wrong… it just was not in his best interest – or the best interest of anyone else in the household! In this passage from Daniel, things were the other way around…the king’s choice was not necessarily wrong… but it was not best for Daniel.
The king wanted even the prisoners to be fed exactly what he ate. Quite literally, they were to “eat like royalty” – the king’s idea of keeping everyone healthy and fit. But Daniel’s diet was not the same as the king’s… most likely for religious reasons. He told the steward that he wanted only vegetables and water. He probably did not eat meat – in particular, pork. Nonetheless, his choice was not wrong… just different. If you continue reading beyond verse 10, you will see that Daniel and the other captives were indeed served only vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of that time, they were still perfectly healthy. In fact, they were in better physical shape than others in the king’s court! The steward continued to feed only vegetables to Daniel and his fellow prisoners afterward. The scripture says that… “God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in both books and life.”
There were two decisions here: 1) Daniel’s choice not to eat what was served; and 2) the steward’s choice to allow Daniel a period of ten days to prove himself. Both were risky…both decisions involved a lot of faith and wisdom. And I believe both were orchestrated by God. There are times in our lives when we have options… many of which may have their merits. It would have been so easy for Daniel to say, “I’m in a bind here (quite literally), and I think I will just eat what is served and not complain.” It would have been understandable for the steward to say, “Look, I have to serve what the king tells me… and you have to eat it.” Both would have been plausible options.
There may be times when we feel as though it would be easier just to go along with the crowd… to make excuses or cover for a friend who isn’t exactly doing the right thing (but it isn’t necessarily so bad, either – think “Don’t tell So-and-so I’m here!”). We may opt to put up with the foul language from a co-worker, coach, teacher, parent, relative, friend or boss… to stand in silence when someone is saying or doing something we disagree with rather than make a scene… or to allow a 4-year-old to get back up and skip his much-needed nap. These choices don’t necessarily make us bad people.
But there are times when we have to listen to the voice of God nudging us to take a stand… to do the right thing… to speak up and out and say, “I must choose differently.” We have to trust that God will orchestrate the outcome… that He will make a way where none seems possible. We have to “stick to our [Spiritual] guns” and make the choices that God indicates to us are the right ones – those that honor and please Him. In my case, I had to wait out an overly-tired 4-year-old who said he didn’t need a nap and trust God to bring sweet sleep and much-needed rest… and He did!
If you read the book of Daniel, you see that he had an extraordinary relationship with God. But the neat thing is that we can have this relationship, too. We can cultivate a deep and abiding faith in hearing from our Heavenly Father… and trusting that He will work in ways we cannot even fathom. We can ask Him to guide every single one of our choices… and trust Him to know best how things should go in the end. There is a tremendous peace and confidence in this…as well as an opportunity to grow and cultivate our courage and “faith muscle.”
Are you ready to trust God in the choices you are making? Are you ready to stand up for what you decide… and believe that He will handle the outcome? Will you take the easy way out and go along with the crowd… or are you ready to let God speak through you – to make what can sometimes seem like very difficult – and unpopular - decisions? The choice is yours… how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 7, 2013
Colossians 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of 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.
Timothy and Zola have been staying with us for the better part of 4 days and three nights, while their mother has been under the weather. One night as we settled into bed, I said to Timothy, “Let’s say our prayers. What should we say to God?” Timothy instantly replied, “Let’s thank God for EVERYTHING!” And so we did. We sang our hearts out to God as we thanked Him for Timothy and Zola… their parents, their brother Nathan, their grandparents and great-grandparents and others – including Timothy’s teachers and friends at his new pre-K. Then Timothy thanked God for his Uncle Greg, Aunt Debbie, Lucy and Mabel (the cats), and he said, “God, thank you for letting me stay with Uncle Greg and Aunt Debbie. Thank you for letting me get to come here and play with my toys and see all my friends (his dinosaurs).” It doesn’t get much sweeter than that!
Here’s the thing…Greg and I never had children of our own. Somehow God saw fit to involve us quite actively in the lives of these three little ones… our great-nephews and niece. We do not take this lightly. Our roles in their lives are in direct response to the Master, Jesus… and He guides us every step of the way. I don’t know why God thought we would be suitable for this… but I’ve learned not to question His plans too much. I reminded myself today as Timothy and I headed to Wal-Mart for groceries (while Zola napped at home under Uncle Greg’s careful watch) that there are things “in the works” here that we cannot see and may never understand. Best-selling author Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) wrote in My Utmost for His Highest for September 6th… “A river reaches places which its source never knows.” Chambers explained that Jesus’ “rivers of living water” will flow from us and bless others even beyond any visible effects we may ever realize. He concluded… “God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.”
There are two profound thoughts here… 1) that we, like rivers, reach places beyond what we will ever know; and 2) that God rarely allows us to see the full impact of what we do in His name. Sit and think about these thoughts for a while. Let them really resonate with your heart. Consider the responsibility of each choice we make… in light of the ripple/river effect that it has – on us and on others. Do you see how important it becomes that we cultivate the peace of Christ in our heart, an attitude of thankfulness, and a heart for the message of Jesus? Can you even begin to appreciate the potential impact that every detail of our lives – words, actions, reactions, and gestures great and small – can have on others… and on the Kingdom of Heaven? When you choose to go one direction… and God chooses to send you another… what do you do? How you answer this makes all the difference.
Are you making wise choices? Are you serving God obediently and with your whole heart? Have you cultivated an attitude of thankfulness to God in all things and for all outcomes – both those you see and those you don’t? Are God’s “rivers of living water” flowing from you? Are you offering God the opportunity bless others through you? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of 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.
Timothy and Zola have been staying with us for the better part of 4 days and three nights, while their mother has been under the weather. One night as we settled into bed, I said to Timothy, “Let’s say our prayers. What should we say to God?” Timothy instantly replied, “Let’s thank God for EVERYTHING!” And so we did. We sang our hearts out to God as we thanked Him for Timothy and Zola… their parents, their brother Nathan, their grandparents and great-grandparents and others – including Timothy’s teachers and friends at his new pre-K. Then Timothy thanked God for his Uncle Greg, Aunt Debbie, Lucy and Mabel (the cats), and he said, “God, thank you for letting me stay with Uncle Greg and Aunt Debbie. Thank you for letting me get to come here and play with my toys and see all my friends (his dinosaurs).” It doesn’t get much sweeter than that!
Here’s the thing…Greg and I never had children of our own. Somehow God saw fit to involve us quite actively in the lives of these three little ones… our great-nephews and niece. We do not take this lightly. Our roles in their lives are in direct response to the Master, Jesus… and He guides us every step of the way. I don’t know why God thought we would be suitable for this… but I’ve learned not to question His plans too much. I reminded myself today as Timothy and I headed to Wal-Mart for groceries (while Zola napped at home under Uncle Greg’s careful watch) that there are things “in the works” here that we cannot see and may never understand. Best-selling author Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) wrote in My Utmost for His Highest for September 6th… “A river reaches places which its source never knows.” Chambers explained that Jesus’ “rivers of living water” will flow from us and bless others even beyond any visible effects we may ever realize. He concluded… “God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.”
There are two profound thoughts here… 1) that we, like rivers, reach places beyond what we will ever know; and 2) that God rarely allows us to see the full impact of what we do in His name. Sit and think about these thoughts for a while. Let them really resonate with your heart. Consider the responsibility of each choice we make… in light of the ripple/river effect that it has – on us and on others. Do you see how important it becomes that we cultivate the peace of Christ in our heart, an attitude of thankfulness, and a heart for the message of Jesus? Can you even begin to appreciate the potential impact that every detail of our lives – words, actions, reactions, and gestures great and small – can have on others… and on the Kingdom of Heaven? When you choose to go one direction… and God chooses to send you another… what do you do? How you answer this makes all the difference.
Are you making wise choices? Are you serving God obediently and with your whole heart? Have you cultivated an attitude of thankfulness to God in all things and for all outcomes – both those you see and those you don’t? Are God’s “rivers of living water” flowing from you? Are you offering God the opportunity bless others through you? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 6, 2013
2 Corinthians 5:17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
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.
Yesterday after pre-K, I took Timothy to get a haircut. Our friend Tiger is a barber, and Timothy loves to go to his barber shop. Tiger has a lot of pictures of tigers (go figure). He is also a pilot, and he has a framed photograph of his plane hanging on the wall. Timothy asked “Mr. Tiger” all about flying his plane while he got his haircut. He said to Tiger several times, “You’re gonna cut my hair too long, right?” He meant, “You’re not going to cut off all my hair, are you?”! Tiger assured him that he would leave plenty of hair… and that new hair would grow to replace what had been cut!
Timothy went in the door looking a little shaggy and ragged around the edges, and he emerged neatly trimmed. I looked at him later as he played in the floor, and I could see the soft, round, still-little-boyish edges to his face. But in many ways, he looked like a new person. Out with the old… in with the new!
I don’t know about you, but I always feel a little like a “new person” when I get a haircut. Everything seems crisper and neater…like a “weight” has been lifted. It gives me a mental boost and makes me feel better about myself. And on a much grander scale, this is what happens when we invite Jesus into our heart to be the LORD of our life! But unlike the decision to get a haircut… our salvation is anything but temporary!
Life is filled with choices… none more important than when we choose to follow Jesus. Our salvation is a game changer…it not only makes us feel like a new person – we truly are changed forever! And the cool thing is that the changes are permanent. We may need a “spiritual trim” from time to time, but this is one “makeover” that trumps all others. We never have to go back to our “old life”… we don’t ever have to revisit the sins of our past or wrestle with the mistakes and poor choices we’ve made. We’re done with all of that… or we should be!
A once-every-six-weeks haircut is about as close to a makeover as a 4-year-old comes. But someday, he will be old enough to understand what it means to choose Jesus for himself. Do you understand this choice? Is your old life gone forever? Have you chosen a new life in Christ? Wouldn’t you like to leave your past behind and receive His salvation… to face the promise of Eternity in heaven with Him? Are you living the life of one who has had a “Spiritual makeover?” Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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.
Yesterday after pre-K, I took Timothy to get a haircut. Our friend Tiger is a barber, and Timothy loves to go to his barber shop. Tiger has a lot of pictures of tigers (go figure). He is also a pilot, and he has a framed photograph of his plane hanging on the wall. Timothy asked “Mr. Tiger” all about flying his plane while he got his haircut. He said to Tiger several times, “You’re gonna cut my hair too long, right?” He meant, “You’re not going to cut off all my hair, are you?”! Tiger assured him that he would leave plenty of hair… and that new hair would grow to replace what had been cut!
Timothy went in the door looking a little shaggy and ragged around the edges, and he emerged neatly trimmed. I looked at him later as he played in the floor, and I could see the soft, round, still-little-boyish edges to his face. But in many ways, he looked like a new person. Out with the old… in with the new!
I don’t know about you, but I always feel a little like a “new person” when I get a haircut. Everything seems crisper and neater…like a “weight” has been lifted. It gives me a mental boost and makes me feel better about myself. And on a much grander scale, this is what happens when we invite Jesus into our heart to be the LORD of our life! But unlike the decision to get a haircut… our salvation is anything but temporary!
Life is filled with choices… none more important than when we choose to follow Jesus. Our salvation is a game changer…it not only makes us feel like a new person – we truly are changed forever! And the cool thing is that the changes are permanent. We may need a “spiritual trim” from time to time, but this is one “makeover” that trumps all others. We never have to go back to our “old life”… we don’t ever have to revisit the sins of our past or wrestle with the mistakes and poor choices we’ve made. We’re done with all of that… or we should be!
A once-every-six-weeks haircut is about as close to a makeover as a 4-year-old comes. But someday, he will be old enough to understand what it means to choose Jesus for himself. Do you understand this choice? Is your old life gone forever? Have you chosen a new life in Christ? Wouldn’t you like to leave your past behind and receive His salvation… to face the promise of Eternity in heaven with Him? Are you living the life of one who has had a “Spiritual makeover?” Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 4, 2013
1 Peter 5:5
In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
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.
The movie 42, written and directed by Brian Helgeland, tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in the National Baseball League. Robinson was mistreated at every turn by fellow players, hotel managers, bus drivers, restaurant staff, and other teams…because of his race. His owner, Branch Richey, insisted that Robinson not react to the taunts and abuse from others. He believed that this just encouraged those who were mistreating Robinson… that they wanted him to react to their hatefulness… to give them a reason to say, “See… he doesn’t belong in baseball!”
The movie does a good job of depicting how difficult things were for Jackie Robinson and his family… how he struggled with the abuse and mistreatment. But I also read a recent interview with Jackie Robinson’s wife, Rachel, in AARP Magazine, where she divulged that Jackie frequently left the baseball field and went to a driving range after games and practices. There, he would hit golf balls… sometimes for hours… until his anger and hurt subsided. Only then would he come home.
Jackie Robinson found a way to accept the authority of his owner…to humble himself to the influence of his leaders. He didn’t necessarily accept the abuse and racism of others; but he chose to react in a way that was unexpected and contrary to the effect his enemies desired. By doing so, he honored God, his family, and himself. He maintained his dignity and made God proud.
There are many times when we have to choose whether to do what people expect and react in a certain manner… or to humble ourselves and respond differently. A good example of this is when fellow “Christians” are being critical of those who think otherwise… participating in name calling or derogatory remarks toward certain persons or groups of people…or even speaking out on certain social issues and creating a “buzz” that often is more harmful than if they had remained silent. If we “chime in” and add our support, we may feel better (at least temporarily), but we are not acting as God’s humble servants… and His work is not furthered by these actions and behaviors.
In essence, there are times when we all need to “go to the driving range and hit a few buckets of balls” (at least figuratively). We need to choose to hold our tongues, keep our opinions to ourselves, and refrain from jumping on the latest bandwagon. Our Ultimate Leader is God Almighty… and we must accept His authority and operate in a way that serves His will and makes Him proud. We would all do well to check ourselves often to see if we are operating in humility… to ask if what we are saying and doing pleases God and furthers His Kingdom. If we find that we are doing anything less, we probably should choose to go in a different direction.
©2013 Debbie Robus
In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
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.
The movie 42, written and directed by Brian Helgeland, tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in the National Baseball League. Robinson was mistreated at every turn by fellow players, hotel managers, bus drivers, restaurant staff, and other teams…because of his race. His owner, Branch Richey, insisted that Robinson not react to the taunts and abuse from others. He believed that this just encouraged those who were mistreating Robinson… that they wanted him to react to their hatefulness… to give them a reason to say, “See… he doesn’t belong in baseball!”
The movie does a good job of depicting how difficult things were for Jackie Robinson and his family… how he struggled with the abuse and mistreatment. But I also read a recent interview with Jackie Robinson’s wife, Rachel, in AARP Magazine, where she divulged that Jackie frequently left the baseball field and went to a driving range after games and practices. There, he would hit golf balls… sometimes for hours… until his anger and hurt subsided. Only then would he come home.
Jackie Robinson found a way to accept the authority of his owner…to humble himself to the influence of his leaders. He didn’t necessarily accept the abuse and racism of others; but he chose to react in a way that was unexpected and contrary to the effect his enemies desired. By doing so, he honored God, his family, and himself. He maintained his dignity and made God proud.
There are many times when we have to choose whether to do what people expect and react in a certain manner… or to humble ourselves and respond differently. A good example of this is when fellow “Christians” are being critical of those who think otherwise… participating in name calling or derogatory remarks toward certain persons or groups of people…or even speaking out on certain social issues and creating a “buzz” that often is more harmful than if they had remained silent. If we “chime in” and add our support, we may feel better (at least temporarily), but we are not acting as God’s humble servants… and His work is not furthered by these actions and behaviors.
In essence, there are times when we all need to “go to the driving range and hit a few buckets of balls” (at least figuratively). We need to choose to hold our tongues, keep our opinions to ourselves, and refrain from jumping on the latest bandwagon. Our Ultimate Leader is God Almighty… and we must accept His authority and operate in a way that serves His will and makes Him proud. We would all do well to check ourselves often to see if we are operating in humility… to ask if what we are saying and doing pleases God and furthers His Kingdom. If we find that we are doing anything less, we probably should choose to go in a different direction.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 3, 2013
1 Kings 3:25-28
“Cut the baby in half! That way each of you can have part of him.”
“Please don’t kill my son,” the baby’s mother screamed. “Your Majesty, I love him very much, but give him to her. Just don’t kill him.”
The other woman shouted, “Go ahead and cut him in half. Then neither of us will have the baby.”
Solomon said, “Don’t kill the baby.” Then he pointed to the first woman, “She is his real mother. Give the baby to her.”
Everyone in Israel was amazed when they heard how Solomon had made his decision. They realized that God had given him wisdom to judge fairly.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine recently took a test to acquire further certification for her job. She was telling me about the questions and how confusing some of them were. She tried to think through the multiple choice answers and select the one that made the most sense. Sometimes, she felt a very clear indication in one direction or another. But there were some questions where several choices seemed plausible, and she truly had to guess at the answer.
We’ve all been there… if not an actual pencil-and-paper test, there have been times when we had to make a choice, and several options seemed reasonable – or confusing! I really like this story in 1 Kings about the two women who went before King Solomon. Both had given birth to babies at approximately the same time. One rolled over on her infant in the night and smothered him/her. In a panic, she got up and swapped babies with the other woman. Both mothers insisted to King Solomon that the living baby was theirs.
Think about it… there was no way King Solomon could know which woman was truly the mother of this infant - based on the information he had been given. There was a 50-50 chance of getting this right… or wrong! The scripture doesn’t tell us that Solomon paused to talk to God about this… but it does say that God gave him the wisdom to make the right choice. And this is where we find our message for today… when we listen to God, He will give us wise answers. When we stay in close contact with God and pray about everything, He will provide us with the necessary wisdom – and courage – to make the right decisions.
Sometimes, these choices will be abundantly clear… other times, we will have to take a leap of faith and trust that God is leading us. I cannot imagine that Solomon was eager to tell these women to “cut the baby in half” and each take a portion. Yet that was the perfect way to get a “confession” from the “wannabe” mother. Sometimes, we have to “call a bluff”…take a risk…make a choice that is unpopular – or even scary! If we feel that God is leading us in this direction, we must trust that He will manage the outcome and help us deal with the consequences.
I can tell you firsthand that letting God guide our choices can be daunting – and at times, almost petrifying! But I can also tell you that I have never regretted following His lead. And the more that I listen to God… the more clearly I hear His voice. I find “signs” that He is directing my choices, and I experience an inexplicable peace in the options I select… even the scary ones!
Life is often like my friend’s certification exam… fraught with multiple choices that all seem possible – and/or confusing. Every day we make decisions that leave us wondering if we did the right thing. Thankfully, this will probably never extend to selecting to cut a baby in half! But when we call on God to guide us – and trust His direction – we can be satisfied that we have chosen well in the end. With God’s wisdom to judge things fairly, we can live with courage and confidence. Who is guiding your choices today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“Cut the baby in half! That way each of you can have part of him.”
“Please don’t kill my son,” the baby’s mother screamed. “Your Majesty, I love him very much, but give him to her. Just don’t kill him.”
The other woman shouted, “Go ahead and cut him in half. Then neither of us will have the baby.”
Solomon said, “Don’t kill the baby.” Then he pointed to the first woman, “She is his real mother. Give the baby to her.”
Everyone in Israel was amazed when they heard how Solomon had made his decision. They realized that God had given him wisdom to judge fairly.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine recently took a test to acquire further certification for her job. She was telling me about the questions and how confusing some of them were. She tried to think through the multiple choice answers and select the one that made the most sense. Sometimes, she felt a very clear indication in one direction or another. But there were some questions where several choices seemed plausible, and she truly had to guess at the answer.
We’ve all been there… if not an actual pencil-and-paper test, there have been times when we had to make a choice, and several options seemed reasonable – or confusing! I really like this story in 1 Kings about the two women who went before King Solomon. Both had given birth to babies at approximately the same time. One rolled over on her infant in the night and smothered him/her. In a panic, she got up and swapped babies with the other woman. Both mothers insisted to King Solomon that the living baby was theirs.
Think about it… there was no way King Solomon could know which woman was truly the mother of this infant - based on the information he had been given. There was a 50-50 chance of getting this right… or wrong! The scripture doesn’t tell us that Solomon paused to talk to God about this… but it does say that God gave him the wisdom to make the right choice. And this is where we find our message for today… when we listen to God, He will give us wise answers. When we stay in close contact with God and pray about everything, He will provide us with the necessary wisdom – and courage – to make the right decisions.
Sometimes, these choices will be abundantly clear… other times, we will have to take a leap of faith and trust that God is leading us. I cannot imagine that Solomon was eager to tell these women to “cut the baby in half” and each take a portion. Yet that was the perfect way to get a “confession” from the “wannabe” mother. Sometimes, we have to “call a bluff”…take a risk…make a choice that is unpopular – or even scary! If we feel that God is leading us in this direction, we must trust that He will manage the outcome and help us deal with the consequences.
I can tell you firsthand that letting God guide our choices can be daunting – and at times, almost petrifying! But I can also tell you that I have never regretted following His lead. And the more that I listen to God… the more clearly I hear His voice. I find “signs” that He is directing my choices, and I experience an inexplicable peace in the options I select… even the scary ones!
Life is often like my friend’s certification exam… fraught with multiple choices that all seem possible – and/or confusing. Every day we make decisions that leave us wondering if we did the right thing. Thankfully, this will probably never extend to selecting to cut a baby in half! But when we call on God to guide us – and trust His direction – we can be satisfied that we have chosen well in the end. With God’s wisdom to judge things fairly, we can live with courage and confidence. Who is guiding your choices today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 1, 2013
1 Corinthians 10:13
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
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.
A few weeks ago, I bought a stack of vintage linens at an estate sale. I carefully selected what I thought were “good” linens… or those that still had useful embroidery or details. After washing everything, I discovered that a few were pretty tattered. In particular, there was a pair of embroidered pillowcases that I really wanted to use to make little girls’ dresses. I decided that I could cut around the bad spots on one pillowcase and create a cute little blouse for our niece, Zola. There was almost the same scenario with a pair of pale pink pillowcases… and I decided I could use the “best” one to make a pair of pants to match Zola’s blouse.
I began to sew the blouse together, and about two-thirds of the way into the project, I tugged on the fabric to pull it taught… and it ripped. The fabric was so old and fragile that it gave way under stress. “No worries,” I thought…”I’ll stitch a decorative flower over that spot! After all, this is vintage fabric!” Then another spot tore…and another. I was almost ready to give up. This was too much. I had spent a couple of hours on the garment at this point. The temptation to cut my losses was there… did I dare succumb to it? In the end, I decided to keep going…to reinforce the torn spots with sturdy stitching and cover them in fabric flower enhancements. If Zola only wore this blouse one time and it fell apart in the wash, so be it!
The end result was darling… and then I experienced virtually the same thing when I made the pants. The fabric tore as I stitched the waistband! I added a little more sturdy “over-stitching”…and I was done. Again, the temptation was to throw in the towel and start another project. But I was able to work through this and finish both garments. I know there will be times when it is right to change directions and leave a project unfinished. But the lesson I learned from this experience and others is that God will tell me when that time comes. Until then, I am to persevere. I know that God will help me handle all of my temptations.
Every day, EVERY ONE of us tempted in one way or another, just as this scripture declares. No one is immune to this. Temptations go far beyond food, alcohol, nicotine and drugs, which are some of the ones that generally come to mind first.
Do we really think so little of God that we cannot trust Him to help us handle temptation? Is the choice really so tantalizing that we cannot resist with His help? Every day we have choices to make… and temptations to resist. God stands ready – and able – to help us in this. The only temptation we should entertain is the one to accept His help and care in all things. When impulses and decisions arise in your life… how – and WHO – will you choose to handle them? Will you opt to give up, give in… or let God guide your choices?
©2013 Debbie Robus
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
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.
A few weeks ago, I bought a stack of vintage linens at an estate sale. I carefully selected what I thought were “good” linens… or those that still had useful embroidery or details. After washing everything, I discovered that a few were pretty tattered. In particular, there was a pair of embroidered pillowcases that I really wanted to use to make little girls’ dresses. I decided that I could cut around the bad spots on one pillowcase and create a cute little blouse for our niece, Zola. There was almost the same scenario with a pair of pale pink pillowcases… and I decided I could use the “best” one to make a pair of pants to match Zola’s blouse.
I began to sew the blouse together, and about two-thirds of the way into the project, I tugged on the fabric to pull it taught… and it ripped. The fabric was so old and fragile that it gave way under stress. “No worries,” I thought…”I’ll stitch a decorative flower over that spot! After all, this is vintage fabric!” Then another spot tore…and another. I was almost ready to give up. This was too much. I had spent a couple of hours on the garment at this point. The temptation to cut my losses was there… did I dare succumb to it? In the end, I decided to keep going…to reinforce the torn spots with sturdy stitching and cover them in fabric flower enhancements. If Zola only wore this blouse one time and it fell apart in the wash, so be it!
The end result was darling… and then I experienced virtually the same thing when I made the pants. The fabric tore as I stitched the waistband! I added a little more sturdy “over-stitching”…and I was done. Again, the temptation was to throw in the towel and start another project. But I was able to work through this and finish both garments. I know there will be times when it is right to change directions and leave a project unfinished. But the lesson I learned from this experience and others is that God will tell me when that time comes. Until then, I am to persevere. I know that God will help me handle all of my temptations.
Every day, EVERY ONE of us tempted in one way or another, just as this scripture declares. No one is immune to this. Temptations go far beyond food, alcohol, nicotine and drugs, which are some of the ones that generally come to mind first.
- We are tempted to quit our job or give up on relationships.
- We are tempted to drop out of school or a class that seems too difficult.
- We are tempted to stop caring and trying with loved ones and friends who reject us.
- We are tempted to give up on exercise when results are slow in materializing.
- We are tempted to leave the church when we disagree with fellow members… someone is critical of us… or we experience a conflict of some sort.
- We are tempted to give others a piece of our mind when we are irritated.
- We are tempted to stick our noses in where they don’t belong.
- We are tempted to drink too much, dress too provocatively, curse, tell off-color jokes, and agree with derogatory slurs in order to fit in with the crowd.
- We are tempted to criticize or put down the other guy in order to make ourselves look more important or special.
- We are tempted to spend too much and acquire more “stuff” than we will ever need or use.
- We are tempted to fall apart when grief and/or tragedy strikes.
- We are tempted to pull the covers over our head and never get out of bed again!
Do we really think so little of God that we cannot trust Him to help us handle temptation? Is the choice really so tantalizing that we cannot resist with His help? Every day we have choices to make… and temptations to resist. God stands ready – and able – to help us in this. The only temptation we should entertain is the one to accept His help and care in all things. When impulses and decisions arise in your life… how – and WHO – will you choose to handle them? Will you opt to give up, give in… or let God guide your choices?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 3, 2013
Romans 1:28-32
Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
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.
Have you ever told a child, “Don’t touch that… it’s hot!”? Or maybe you have said, “You’re going to turn over in that chair,” or “You’ll fall and hurt yourself!” In the end, chances are good that the child had to learn the hard way! It can be terribly frustrating and upsetting to watch a child do something that could very well lead to physical harm… and not be able to prevent it. You turn your back for one minute, and the unthinkable has happened. We truly cannot prevent all accidents or shield our children from every single injury. Kids will fall and skin knees… they will try the very thing we told them would hurt them… and all we can do is be there to pick them up and soothe them - or cart them off to the Emergency Room!
No matter how much we tell teenagers and young adults that we were young once… that we know – often firsthand – the perils of certain situations... they often either don’t believe us or simply have to try these for themselves. So kids start smoking…drinking…experimenting with drugs…cursing…texting while driving…driving too fast…and testing the waters in countless other ways. And often, they “encourage” their friends to do the same. Again, all we can do is stand by and offer support when things go awry.
God is really no different from any other parent in this regard… when His children show out and try things He has warned them against… when they choose to “do it anyway,” He has no choice but to “abandon them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.” Just as there are times when there is absolutely nothing a parent can do to rescue a child… there comes a time when God cannot rescue us either, because He allows us to operate with free will. And like any parent, God is grieved when things fall apart.
For his/her part, the “child” has a myriad of excuses… ranging from stubbornness to peer pressure to curiosity – and even sheer stupidity! And unless we “children” come clean and change course… admit our mistakes, beg for mercy and acknowledge God…He will have no choice but to leave us “wandering in the desert” of sin, hopelessness, and despair – and ultimately, the depths of hell. Think of the parent who leaves his/her child in jail and refuses to post bond - times a gazillion!
How would you feel to know that God wasn’t coming after you? What would you think if you realized that your choices and actions had essentially sealed the gates of heaven closed? After all He has done for you, can you really bear to grieve God by making selfish choices… could you really turn away and deny Him completely?
I know that temptations surround us. None of us likes to be told what to do… or that someone else knows what is best for us. But God truly DOES know best… His ways are perfect… His love for us is so great that He would never steer us in the wrong direction or tell us to do something that wasn’t in our very best interest. When we choose to directly contradict God, we have shown ourselves to be heartless and without mercy… two things we would NEVER wish to experience from Him! If we are so foolish as to turn our backs on God and decide that we have no need for Him in our lives, we have essentially abandoned Him. Yet we would NEVER want God to abandon us!
So why are we treating God this way? What excuse could possibly be good enough to ignore God… even for one day? Isn’t it time we fully acknowledged Him, submitted OUR desires to His will for our lives, and operated in humble obedience and gratitude? What is holding you back today? What is your excuse?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
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.
Have you ever told a child, “Don’t touch that… it’s hot!”? Or maybe you have said, “You’re going to turn over in that chair,” or “You’ll fall and hurt yourself!” In the end, chances are good that the child had to learn the hard way! It can be terribly frustrating and upsetting to watch a child do something that could very well lead to physical harm… and not be able to prevent it. You turn your back for one minute, and the unthinkable has happened. We truly cannot prevent all accidents or shield our children from every single injury. Kids will fall and skin knees… they will try the very thing we told them would hurt them… and all we can do is be there to pick them up and soothe them - or cart them off to the Emergency Room!
No matter how much we tell teenagers and young adults that we were young once… that we know – often firsthand – the perils of certain situations... they often either don’t believe us or simply have to try these for themselves. So kids start smoking…drinking…experimenting with drugs…cursing…texting while driving…driving too fast…and testing the waters in countless other ways. And often, they “encourage” their friends to do the same. Again, all we can do is stand by and offer support when things go awry.
God is really no different from any other parent in this regard… when His children show out and try things He has warned them against… when they choose to “do it anyway,” He has no choice but to “abandon them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.” Just as there are times when there is absolutely nothing a parent can do to rescue a child… there comes a time when God cannot rescue us either, because He allows us to operate with free will. And like any parent, God is grieved when things fall apart.
For his/her part, the “child” has a myriad of excuses… ranging from stubbornness to peer pressure to curiosity – and even sheer stupidity! And unless we “children” come clean and change course… admit our mistakes, beg for mercy and acknowledge God…He will have no choice but to leave us “wandering in the desert” of sin, hopelessness, and despair – and ultimately, the depths of hell. Think of the parent who leaves his/her child in jail and refuses to post bond - times a gazillion!
How would you feel to know that God wasn’t coming after you? What would you think if you realized that your choices and actions had essentially sealed the gates of heaven closed? After all He has done for you, can you really bear to grieve God by making selfish choices… could you really turn away and deny Him completely?
I know that temptations surround us. None of us likes to be told what to do… or that someone else knows what is best for us. But God truly DOES know best… His ways are perfect… His love for us is so great that He would never steer us in the wrong direction or tell us to do something that wasn’t in our very best interest. When we choose to directly contradict God, we have shown ourselves to be heartless and without mercy… two things we would NEVER wish to experience from Him! If we are so foolish as to turn our backs on God and decide that we have no need for Him in our lives, we have essentially abandoned Him. Yet we would NEVER want God to abandon us!
So why are we treating God this way? What excuse could possibly be good enough to ignore God… even for one day? Isn’t it time we fully acknowledged Him, submitted OUR desires to His will for our lives, and operated in humble obedience and gratitude? What is holding you back today? What is your excuse?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 4, 2012
October 4 ~ Ephesians 2:1-6
It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
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.
One day as I walked my students across the school campus, one of them spotted a Coke bottle on the sidewalk. He picked it up and smashed it to the ground, watching it splinter into a bazillion pieces. I asked him why he did this, and he said, “They (meaning his classmates) told me to.” In the mind of a child somewhere around the age of six, this was a good enough reason. The other children could not comprehend the magnitude of this action. They had no clue that the glass could ricochet and cut them… that someone could step on the debris on the sidewalk and get hurt… that this was an irresponsible thing to do. It was a teachable moment… and even though the student was only a young child, there were consequences for his actions. I am quite certain that I spoke sternly to him about how he was never to do this again!
Don’t you know that God wants to yank us out of line and give us a stern talking to… or worse… when we disobey Him? Can’t you imagine that He would like to “knock a knot on our head” as you may have heard a grown-up say at some point? None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes. And on any given day, we’ve all “smashed the Coke bottle” because someone told us, “It won’t hurt anything!”
The most amazing part of this scripture passage to me is where it says, “It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us.” God didn’t pick us up by the collar and ask, “What do you think you’re doing?” He wrapped His arms around us and said, “Here you go… meet my Son who died for your poor choices and indiscretions. Because of Him, you are forgiven.” I have to tell you, this is deeply humbling for me. I know that I do not deserve such a gift… and quite frankly, neither do you. But that has not stopped God from swinging the doors wide open and inviting us to come directly to Him.
What happens next is totally up to us. We can continue to breathe in garbage and the lies of the devil and his posse, or we can cough up the sin, so to speak and clear our lungs once and for all. We can stop spinning our wheels and spiraling deeper into the mud of depravity… and we can reach for the extended hand of God Almighty, who waits to rescue us and give us a second chance.
Where do you see yourself? Are you drowning under the burdens of living to please others instead of the One who offers you hope and true redemption? Are you ready to accept His offer and make a fresh start, once and for all? Isn’t today the perfect time to give your burdens, misdeeds, lapses and disobedience to Jesus and allow Him to wipe them completely away… to fully restore you? Aren’t you ready to rest in the LORD… and to give Him thanks for such an amazing gift?
What are you waiting for? Let go… let God… and praise His grace and mercy forever.
©2012 Debbie Robus
It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
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.
One day as I walked my students across the school campus, one of them spotted a Coke bottle on the sidewalk. He picked it up and smashed it to the ground, watching it splinter into a bazillion pieces. I asked him why he did this, and he said, “They (meaning his classmates) told me to.” In the mind of a child somewhere around the age of six, this was a good enough reason. The other children could not comprehend the magnitude of this action. They had no clue that the glass could ricochet and cut them… that someone could step on the debris on the sidewalk and get hurt… that this was an irresponsible thing to do. It was a teachable moment… and even though the student was only a young child, there were consequences for his actions. I am quite certain that I spoke sternly to him about how he was never to do this again!
Don’t you know that God wants to yank us out of line and give us a stern talking to… or worse… when we disobey Him? Can’t you imagine that He would like to “knock a knot on our head” as you may have heard a grown-up say at some point? None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes. And on any given day, we’ve all “smashed the Coke bottle” because someone told us, “It won’t hurt anything!”
The most amazing part of this scripture passage to me is where it says, “It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us.” God didn’t pick us up by the collar and ask, “What do you think you’re doing?” He wrapped His arms around us and said, “Here you go… meet my Son who died for your poor choices and indiscretions. Because of Him, you are forgiven.” I have to tell you, this is deeply humbling for me. I know that I do not deserve such a gift… and quite frankly, neither do you. But that has not stopped God from swinging the doors wide open and inviting us to come directly to Him.
What happens next is totally up to us. We can continue to breathe in garbage and the lies of the devil and his posse, or we can cough up the sin, so to speak and clear our lungs once and for all. We can stop spinning our wheels and spiraling deeper into the mud of depravity… and we can reach for the extended hand of God Almighty, who waits to rescue us and give us a second chance.
Where do you see yourself? Are you drowning under the burdens of living to please others instead of the One who offers you hope and true redemption? Are you ready to accept His offer and make a fresh start, once and for all? Isn’t today the perfect time to give your burdens, misdeeds, lapses and disobedience to Jesus and allow Him to wipe them completely away… to fully restore you? Aren’t you ready to rest in the LORD… and to give Him thanks for such an amazing gift?
What are you waiting for? Let go… let God… and praise His grace and mercy forever.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 22, 2012
Psalm 128:1
The Lord will bless you if you respect him and obey his laws.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently I saw a news report on a documentary film that has been made about drug dealers in Mexico… except the actors were all children instead of adults. The four-minute film is a commentary on the upcoming presidential elections in our neighboring country to the south. Deemed a “wake-up” call, this “mocumentary” has gone viral on YouTube and ends with a little girl saying, “If this is the future that awaits me, I don't want it. Enough of working for your political parties instead of for us. Enough of cosmetic changes.”
As I watched the video, I was struck by the thought that every adult is someone’s child. And in that context, I would hope we find it a little more difficult to be so harsh and judgmental toward others. At the very least, when we think about the person who commits a heinous crime and see his/her grieving parents on the news, we should have compassion… for them AND – to some degree - for the culprit. Somewhere along the line, this person lost his/her respect for – and obedience to – God’s laws. And in many ways, we have all done the same thing as we choose to follow our own desires – or the will of man – rather than God’s.
We are all familiar with the “Ten Commandments” as given to Moses by God. We probably all know them pretty well by heart. But in the New Testament, Jesus gave us two basic “laws”… “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind and soul,” and “Love one another as He has loved us.” If/when we do these things, everything else falls into place. All you have to do is stop and ask yourself if your words and actions reflect a love for God with all your heart, mind and soul… and whether they show a love for others. It’s truly that simple… and that complicated all at once!
If we consider Jesus’ commands, we cannot be judgmental, immoral, unkind, indecent, or perverse. We cannot be arrogant, pious, or proud. We cannot murder, steal, lie or cheat. To love God on this level means we must fully surrender our “program” for God’s… and walk in respect and reverence of Him at all times.
I don’t know what man-made “laws” - or interpretations of God’s law - are governing (and/or burdening) you today. But I do know that the only laws that matter are God’s… and it’s up to us to determine which are which! If we operate in the fear (respect and reverence) of the LORD and walk in His ways… obey His laws… our choices and decisions become fairly simple – and the blessings are sure to be evident. Ask yourself simply and prayerfully, “Does this line up with the word and will of God?” Your answer will determine how you proceed… and inevitably control the outcome.
To paraphrase the little girl in the movie…“Enough of living according to man’s law and his interpretation of the word of God. Enough of pretending to serve God while serving our own interests.” It’s time to make sure we are in step with God’s will at all times. Are you asking the right questions? Whose laws are you following these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
The Lord will bless you if you respect him and obey his laws.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ©1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently I saw a news report on a documentary film that has been made about drug dealers in Mexico… except the actors were all children instead of adults. The four-minute film is a commentary on the upcoming presidential elections in our neighboring country to the south. Deemed a “wake-up” call, this “mocumentary” has gone viral on YouTube and ends with a little girl saying, “If this is the future that awaits me, I don't want it. Enough of working for your political parties instead of for us. Enough of cosmetic changes.”
As I watched the video, I was struck by the thought that every adult is someone’s child. And in that context, I would hope we find it a little more difficult to be so harsh and judgmental toward others. At the very least, when we think about the person who commits a heinous crime and see his/her grieving parents on the news, we should have compassion… for them AND – to some degree - for the culprit. Somewhere along the line, this person lost his/her respect for – and obedience to – God’s laws. And in many ways, we have all done the same thing as we choose to follow our own desires – or the will of man – rather than God’s.
We are all familiar with the “Ten Commandments” as given to Moses by God. We probably all know them pretty well by heart. But in the New Testament, Jesus gave us two basic “laws”… “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind and soul,” and “Love one another as He has loved us.” If/when we do these things, everything else falls into place. All you have to do is stop and ask yourself if your words and actions reflect a love for God with all your heart, mind and soul… and whether they show a love for others. It’s truly that simple… and that complicated all at once!
If we consider Jesus’ commands, we cannot be judgmental, immoral, unkind, indecent, or perverse. We cannot be arrogant, pious, or proud. We cannot murder, steal, lie or cheat. To love God on this level means we must fully surrender our “program” for God’s… and walk in respect and reverence of Him at all times.
I don’t know what man-made “laws” - or interpretations of God’s law - are governing (and/or burdening) you today. But I do know that the only laws that matter are God’s… and it’s up to us to determine which are which! If we operate in the fear (respect and reverence) of the LORD and walk in His ways… obey His laws… our choices and decisions become fairly simple – and the blessings are sure to be evident. Ask yourself simply and prayerfully, “Does this line up with the word and will of God?” Your answer will determine how you proceed… and inevitably control the outcome.
To paraphrase the little girl in the movie…“Enough of living according to man’s law and his interpretation of the word of God. Enough of pretending to serve God while serving our own interests.” It’s time to make sure we are in step with God’s will at all times. Are you asking the right questions? Whose laws are you following these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 21, 2012
2 Chronicles 16:7-9
Just after that, Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said, "Because you went for help to the king of Aram and didn't ask God for help, you've lost a victory over the army of the king of Aram. Didn't the Ethiopians and Libyans come against you with superior forces, completely outclassing you with their chariots and cavalry? But you asked God for help and he gave you the victory. God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God's help. Now you're in trouble—one round of war after another."
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.
Timothy has a book that we must have read a thousand times or more, entitled I Can Do It Myself. The book features Sesame Street characters that tie their own shoes, make their own bed, button their own buttons, and much more. Even though Timothy could not do many of these things himself, he loved reading about his friends like Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Bettie Lou and Elmo who could do many things for themselves and enjoyed exerting their independence.
Learning to do things for themselves marks monumental milestones in the life of a toddler or small child. We want our children to function independently. But I can tell you firsthand that watching your little ones learn to depend less on you for certain things is bittersweet. I liked that Timmy needed me to read bedtime stories to him. I know the day will come all too quickly when he will outgrow this. I liked pushing him in the stroller… and when he began to balk at riding in it, I was a little sad. Even though I’m glad he can walk and run and is growing in his abilities, the day he learned to crawl – then walk – changed the entire game around our house! And as he gets older and “outgrows” us, he will listen less and less to our advice and try more and more to do things his own way… with mixed results.
Imagine how God must feel as He sits and watches us flounder and try to do things on our own that we are in no way equipped to accomplish. Whether we physically voice it or not, we tell Him all the time that “I can do it myself.” And quite often, nothing could be farther from the truth. Then we have the nerve to question why we’re in such a pickle.
Things don’t have to be this way. Your pride is at stake here… but not in the way you imagine. By asking God for His help, acknowledging His will and listening to His answers, you are assuring victory and success. Trying to do things by yourself will result in a wounded pride at best… and the potential for disaster.
Don’t place yourself in a position to fail. Wouldn’t you rather go to God in the beginning than have to crawl to Him later after you’ve made a royal mess of things? God wants to open up and show His strength on our behalf. In order to do this, we have to operate in His kingdom and do His will. Yes, I can do it myself in many instances… but I must let God show me how and when this applies. Do you respect His decisions and guidance… are you really listening?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Just after that, Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said, "Because you went for help to the king of Aram and didn't ask God for help, you've lost a victory over the army of the king of Aram. Didn't the Ethiopians and Libyans come against you with superior forces, completely outclassing you with their chariots and cavalry? But you asked God for help and he gave you the victory. God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God's help. Now you're in trouble—one round of war after another."
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.
Timothy has a book that we must have read a thousand times or more, entitled I Can Do It Myself. The book features Sesame Street characters that tie their own shoes, make their own bed, button their own buttons, and much more. Even though Timothy could not do many of these things himself, he loved reading about his friends like Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Bettie Lou and Elmo who could do many things for themselves and enjoyed exerting their independence.
Learning to do things for themselves marks monumental milestones in the life of a toddler or small child. We want our children to function independently. But I can tell you firsthand that watching your little ones learn to depend less on you for certain things is bittersweet. I liked that Timmy needed me to read bedtime stories to him. I know the day will come all too quickly when he will outgrow this. I liked pushing him in the stroller… and when he began to balk at riding in it, I was a little sad. Even though I’m glad he can walk and run and is growing in his abilities, the day he learned to crawl – then walk – changed the entire game around our house! And as he gets older and “outgrows” us, he will listen less and less to our advice and try more and more to do things his own way… with mixed results.
Imagine how God must feel as He sits and watches us flounder and try to do things on our own that we are in no way equipped to accomplish. Whether we physically voice it or not, we tell Him all the time that “I can do it myself.” And quite often, nothing could be farther from the truth. Then we have the nerve to question why we’re in such a pickle.
Things don’t have to be this way. Your pride is at stake here… but not in the way you imagine. By asking God for His help, acknowledging His will and listening to His answers, you are assuring victory and success. Trying to do things by yourself will result in a wounded pride at best… and the potential for disaster.
Don’t place yourself in a position to fail. Wouldn’t you rather go to God in the beginning than have to crawl to Him later after you’ve made a royal mess of things? God wants to open up and show His strength on our behalf. In order to do this, we have to operate in His kingdom and do His will. Yes, I can do it myself in many instances… but I must let God show me how and when this applies. Do you respect His decisions and guidance… are you really listening?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 29, 2012
Proverbs 2:1-7
My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions. Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense. Beg as loud as you can for good common sense. Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God. All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) ran out of coffee filters one morning, so she tried using a paper plate as a substitute. I can only imagine the mess that ensued… and she readily admitted that this did not work. In north-central Arkansas, the aunt of little 4-year-old Caleb Linn told him to follow a dirt road alongside a wooded riverbank and catch up with cousins who had returned to camp, while she continued working to clear debris from a low-water bridge on the river. Little Caleb apparently got lost or lost his footing, and rescue workers searched for approximately four days before locating his lifeless body a half a mile down river.
I truly do not mean to judge the people in these examples. But in each case, there appears to be a clear lack of common sense. While the mess that resulted from the coffee pot fiasco was no fun to remedy, the ramifications of allowing this little child to wander down a dirt road unattended will be life-long for all who survive him.
My point for today is reinforced in this scripture passage… “Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.” We all have lapses in judgment… and I have plenty of what I call “blond moments.” As I have illustrated, some can be relatively harmless… while others change the course of our life forever. Underestimating the size of a container and pouring in too much liquid is one thing. Driving through flood waters that rush across a roadway can be something else entirely. Making a sudden turn that upends your purse or something else in the passenger seat of your car can cause a mess (think a soupy dish you are taking to a church supper or that jug of milk that overturns on the way home from the store). Reaching down to retrieve something that has spilled can cause a crash… and possible injury to you, your vehicle, and others in your path.
We’ve all seen the funny home videos of ridiculous things people have attempted… and lived to tell. But we’ve also heard news reports of people who attempted something they shouldn’t (think climbing onto a steep roof to hang Christmas lights) and suffered life-changing injuries – or even death. Pulling a harmless prank on a friend may not turn out as you hoped… and even result in some hurt feelings temporarily. Accepting a dare from your buddies to do something stupid could result in all kinds of trouble, personal injury, and damage to your reputation that follows you for decades.
The message for all of us is to seek God’s wisdom at all times… in all things. We need to beg Him every single day for good common sense. We should ask God to protect us… from the devil – and ourselves! Ask Him to speak to you when He sees you sliding off course… even in the small things. Then listen to that “still small voice” in your head that says, “Are you really sure you want to do this?” Take a moment to stop and ask God, “Is this a good idea? What are the potential pitfalls?”
I don’t believe that God causes the disasters (large and small) that result when we fail to exercise common sense. But I do think He uses them to teach us… to remind us to rely on Him more - and our own devices less. Often, we act – or react – in a split second… with little or no time to really think through what we are doing. This is where we truly need to depend on common sense - and God’s wisdom - to help us make the right choices. Today, let’s ask God to give us huge, healthy doses of His wisdom – AND common sense - and to help us respect these treasures… and to always pay close attention when He delivers them.
©2012 Debbie Robus
My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions. Keep in tune with wisdom and think what it means to have common sense. Beg as loud as you can for good common sense. Search for wisdom as you would search for silver or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to respect and to know the LORD God. All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) ran out of coffee filters one morning, so she tried using a paper plate as a substitute. I can only imagine the mess that ensued… and she readily admitted that this did not work. In north-central Arkansas, the aunt of little 4-year-old Caleb Linn told him to follow a dirt road alongside a wooded riverbank and catch up with cousins who had returned to camp, while she continued working to clear debris from a low-water bridge on the river. Little Caleb apparently got lost or lost his footing, and rescue workers searched for approximately four days before locating his lifeless body a half a mile down river.
I truly do not mean to judge the people in these examples. But in each case, there appears to be a clear lack of common sense. While the mess that resulted from the coffee pot fiasco was no fun to remedy, the ramifications of allowing this little child to wander down a dirt road unattended will be life-long for all who survive him.
My point for today is reinforced in this scripture passage… “Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.” We all have lapses in judgment… and I have plenty of what I call “blond moments.” As I have illustrated, some can be relatively harmless… while others change the course of our life forever. Underestimating the size of a container and pouring in too much liquid is one thing. Driving through flood waters that rush across a roadway can be something else entirely. Making a sudden turn that upends your purse or something else in the passenger seat of your car can cause a mess (think a soupy dish you are taking to a church supper or that jug of milk that overturns on the way home from the store). Reaching down to retrieve something that has spilled can cause a crash… and possible injury to you, your vehicle, and others in your path.
We’ve all seen the funny home videos of ridiculous things people have attempted… and lived to tell. But we’ve also heard news reports of people who attempted something they shouldn’t (think climbing onto a steep roof to hang Christmas lights) and suffered life-changing injuries – or even death. Pulling a harmless prank on a friend may not turn out as you hoped… and even result in some hurt feelings temporarily. Accepting a dare from your buddies to do something stupid could result in all kinds of trouble, personal injury, and damage to your reputation that follows you for decades.
The message for all of us is to seek God’s wisdom at all times… in all things. We need to beg Him every single day for good common sense. We should ask God to protect us… from the devil – and ourselves! Ask Him to speak to you when He sees you sliding off course… even in the small things. Then listen to that “still small voice” in your head that says, “Are you really sure you want to do this?” Take a moment to stop and ask God, “Is this a good idea? What are the potential pitfalls?”
I don’t believe that God causes the disasters (large and small) that result when we fail to exercise common sense. But I do think He uses them to teach us… to remind us to rely on Him more - and our own devices less. Often, we act – or react – in a split second… with little or no time to really think through what we are doing. This is where we truly need to depend on common sense - and God’s wisdom - to help us make the right choices. Today, let’s ask God to give us huge, healthy doses of His wisdom – AND common sense - and to help us respect these treasures… and to always pay close attention when He delivers them.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 12, 2012
James 4:4-6
You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On the reality TV show, “The Biggest Loser,” there are frequent “temptation” games. Often, the contestants will be presented with tables laden with their favorite foods… pizza, cheeseburgers, cupcakes, candy, ice cream and more. The challenge is offered… whichever team eats the most calories will win an advantage in the overall game. Then contestants are brought in one at a time and given a certain number of minutes to eat as much as they can.
Some contestants go nuts and cram high-calorie, fat-laden foods into their mouths as fast as possible for the allotted time. Others come into the room, fold their arms and say, “I’m not sabotaging my health and weight loss for this.” Some teams agree as a group not to cave in to the pressure… and none of them eat. Virtually every time this challenge is presented, at least one person will take the dare…often with dire consequences.
Usually, the rest of the team feels betrayed. In some instances, the “prize” involves the “winner” getting to make decisions that alter the course of the entire game – and the lives of those who are participating. More than once, this decision to “flirt with danger” and eat the tempting foods has had disastrous payoffs… from weight gain to alienation from the group to actually being ousted from the game by fellow contestants. The sense of separation cannot possibly be worth those brief times of satiation with the rich, delicious foods.
If you think about your Spiritual life in this context, you can readily see that a few minutes of flirting with the devil’s temptations can lead to heartbreaking results. Not only might your selfish choices cost you directly in some way… they can also lead to alienation and/or separation from other people – and worse yet, from God.
As much as it would pain me to experience the distance or rejection of my friends and family, I cannot bear to think of disappointing God. As a disciple of Christ, I know that God would never completely turn His back on me. But just the idea that the One who has done so much for me could be heartbroken over my choices – even temporarily – is not a thought I care to entertain… much less make a reality.
So I am choosing NOT to take the dare… to “step away from the table” of temptations of this world. I know it won’t be easy. I know that Satan is clever… and persistent… and we are weak human creatures. But I also know that I am made strong by the word and wisdom of the LORD… cleansed by the blood of Jesus… and equipped with His full armor to fight against whatever the devil throws in my face.
How is your armor… does it need a little polish and refreshing? Do you need to reconnect with God and give your resolve a bit of a facelift? When your turn comes at the “temptation table,” will you eat… or will you fold your arms and say “No thanks”? Will you operate in pride or humility? Who has your heart these days… the enticements of this world and all that Satan has to offer? Or are you trusting in God’s promises to bless you and meet your every need – both now, and for all eternity?
©2012 Debbie Robus
You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On the reality TV show, “The Biggest Loser,” there are frequent “temptation” games. Often, the contestants will be presented with tables laden with their favorite foods… pizza, cheeseburgers, cupcakes, candy, ice cream and more. The challenge is offered… whichever team eats the most calories will win an advantage in the overall game. Then contestants are brought in one at a time and given a certain number of minutes to eat as much as they can.
Some contestants go nuts and cram high-calorie, fat-laden foods into their mouths as fast as possible for the allotted time. Others come into the room, fold their arms and say, “I’m not sabotaging my health and weight loss for this.” Some teams agree as a group not to cave in to the pressure… and none of them eat. Virtually every time this challenge is presented, at least one person will take the dare…often with dire consequences.
Usually, the rest of the team feels betrayed. In some instances, the “prize” involves the “winner” getting to make decisions that alter the course of the entire game – and the lives of those who are participating. More than once, this decision to “flirt with danger” and eat the tempting foods has had disastrous payoffs… from weight gain to alienation from the group to actually being ousted from the game by fellow contestants. The sense of separation cannot possibly be worth those brief times of satiation with the rich, delicious foods.
If you think about your Spiritual life in this context, you can readily see that a few minutes of flirting with the devil’s temptations can lead to heartbreaking results. Not only might your selfish choices cost you directly in some way… they can also lead to alienation and/or separation from other people – and worse yet, from God.
As much as it would pain me to experience the distance or rejection of my friends and family, I cannot bear to think of disappointing God. As a disciple of Christ, I know that God would never completely turn His back on me. But just the idea that the One who has done so much for me could be heartbroken over my choices – even temporarily – is not a thought I care to entertain… much less make a reality.
So I am choosing NOT to take the dare… to “step away from the table” of temptations of this world. I know it won’t be easy. I know that Satan is clever… and persistent… and we are weak human creatures. But I also know that I am made strong by the word and wisdom of the LORD… cleansed by the blood of Jesus… and equipped with His full armor to fight against whatever the devil throws in my face.
How is your armor… does it need a little polish and refreshing? Do you need to reconnect with God and give your resolve a bit of a facelift? When your turn comes at the “temptation table,” will you eat… or will you fold your arms and say “No thanks”? Will you operate in pride or humility? Who has your heart these days… the enticements of this world and all that Satan has to offer? Or are you trusting in God’s promises to bless you and meet your every need – both now, and for all eternity?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 4, 2011
Psalm 141:3-5
Post a guard at my mouth, God, set a watch at the door of my lips. Don't let me so much as dream of evil or thoughtlessly fall into bad company. And these people who only do wrong—don't let them lure me with their sweet talk! May the Just One set me straight, may the Kind One correct me.
Don't let sin anoint my head. I'm praying hard against their evil ways!
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.
We have entered the “Holiday Season” – the time when diets are broken and people throw caution to the wind. It’s the Christmas Season, after all… we are supposed to indulge. So go ahead… eat that extra piece of fudge… have too much to drink at the office Christmas party… celebrate with your friends when finals are over… get in the holiday spirit! NOT!!!
We are so easily swayed, and we will use the smallest excuse to misbehave. We want to give our children, significant others, our family, and ourselves the best Christmas possible. So we max out every credit card and blow our entire paycheck on things we cannot afford and truly don’t need. Our lights and decorations have to be as good as – or better than – the neighbor’s, so we blow the budget trying to create the “Clark Griswold Extravaganza” that will leave the town talking! And these are just the things we do in November and December!
Think of the countless other ways we are so easily influenced by peer pressure and the wiles of advertisers. At every turn, the devil is at work using others to make us feel inferior… to tempt us to do things we know we shouldn’t just to create an image that makes us feel good about ourselves and accepted by others.
This passage is so important for us. We simply cannot stay on the right path by ourselves… we must rely on God to keep us headed in the right direction and to correct us when we wander. And the only way to do this is to stay in continual contact with Him. We must always be seeking Him in prayer, Bible study, and through association with others who are seeking Him as well.
Don’t let the devil use excuses cloud your judgment. There is no “free pass” because of the holiday season. There is never a time when it’s okay to let down your guard for even an hour. All Satan needs is a tiny crack, and he can worm his way in and wreak havoc. Stay close to God. Ask Him to guard your heart and your thoughts at all times… then LISTEN for His voice and guidance. Enjoy your holiday season knowing that you are operating fully within God’s will… and both of you are pleased with your choices.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Post a guard at my mouth, God, set a watch at the door of my lips. Don't let me so much as dream of evil or thoughtlessly fall into bad company. And these people who only do wrong—don't let them lure me with their sweet talk! May the Just One set me straight, may the Kind One correct me.
Don't let sin anoint my head. I'm praying hard against their evil ways!
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.
We have entered the “Holiday Season” – the time when diets are broken and people throw caution to the wind. It’s the Christmas Season, after all… we are supposed to indulge. So go ahead… eat that extra piece of fudge… have too much to drink at the office Christmas party… celebrate with your friends when finals are over… get in the holiday spirit! NOT!!!
We are so easily swayed, and we will use the smallest excuse to misbehave. We want to give our children, significant others, our family, and ourselves the best Christmas possible. So we max out every credit card and blow our entire paycheck on things we cannot afford and truly don’t need. Our lights and decorations have to be as good as – or better than – the neighbor’s, so we blow the budget trying to create the “Clark Griswold Extravaganza” that will leave the town talking! And these are just the things we do in November and December!
Think of the countless other ways we are so easily influenced by peer pressure and the wiles of advertisers. At every turn, the devil is at work using others to make us feel inferior… to tempt us to do things we know we shouldn’t just to create an image that makes us feel good about ourselves and accepted by others.
This passage is so important for us. We simply cannot stay on the right path by ourselves… we must rely on God to keep us headed in the right direction and to correct us when we wander. And the only way to do this is to stay in continual contact with Him. We must always be seeking Him in prayer, Bible study, and through association with others who are seeking Him as well.
Don’t let the devil use excuses cloud your judgment. There is no “free pass” because of the holiday season. There is never a time when it’s okay to let down your guard for even an hour. All Satan needs is a tiny crack, and he can worm his way in and wreak havoc. Stay close to God. Ask Him to guard your heart and your thoughts at all times… then LISTEN for His voice and guidance. Enjoy your holiday season knowing that you are operating fully within God’s will… and both of you are pleased with your choices.
©2011 Debbie Robus
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