Proverbs 13:20
Wise friends make you wise, but you hurt yourself by going around with fools.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There is an old adage that says something like, “You are known by the company you keep.” In other words, people will judge you based on your friends and acquaintances. Does this mean you don’t want to be seen in the company of those who are sick, needy, homeless or helpless? Absolutely not! Does this mean you can’t hang out with unchurched people or un-believers and minister to them? No way!
But if you are continually running with a crowd of people who have a reputation for drinking, drug use, and illegal or illicit behavior, you are going to be lumped with them in the eyes of many. If you are constantly in the company of adults who are blatantly vocal about social issues, politics or gossip, you may be considered “one of them.” If you go to local sporting events and sit with a group of parents and other adults who continually berate the referees and coaches over every single play and call, people will assume that you are on board with this… if not an active participant.
If you are known to be friends with people who have a reputation for being disciples of Christ and always speaking kindly and fairly, with a loving voice and heart for others, you will probably be thought of in much the same way. Call it “guilt by association” in a good way.
Does who you spend time with ensure that you will behave in a certain manner? Not necessarily… but it is a fairly good gauge. And distancing yourself from people you truly like who are behaving and speaking in a manner that belies your faith and your values can be very hard… but it has to be done.
This is why some have talked lately about cleaning up their “friends” on Facebook – and I’ve done this myself. If someone is making statements and claims that you feel do not line up with God’s instruction… or they are behaving in ways you know are improper or unkind at best – and immoral or illegal in the worst cases – you have no choice but to walk away.
I know these are hard choices. We don’t want to appear to be unkind. We don’t want these people to think we are judging them (even if we are) or that we feel we are superior in any way. But part of following Jesus – being His disciple – is setting ourselves apart from the mainstream. This doesn’t mean stepping away to stick out like a sore thumb and make a scene. Rather, we are to follow the example of Jesus and quietly go about sharing His message of salvation and operating in love, grace and mercy… imitating Him at every turn.
We have a choice, albeit a hard one sometimes… we can choose to follow Jesus and choose to associate with people who operate within His framework and according to His will... or we can hang out with those who are foolish enough to think they can do things their own way and “write the rules” themselves. And our decision does matter!
How are you choosing these days? Are you willing to make necessary changes and hard decisions? Are you willing to ask God to give you the wisdom and will power to move closer to Him and adjust your circle of friends and acquaintances accordingly? Are you really ready to be His disciple 100% of the time?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 3, 2010
Proverbs 27:11
My child, show good sense! Then I will be happy and able to answer anyone who criticizes me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This passage seemed hard to understand at first, and then I began to think about it in terms of recent events… particularly the general election. I am not going to “talk politics” here, but while many were elated over at least some of the outcomes, a lot of folks were disappointed. So what do we do when “our guy” loses? How do we react? I laughingly told one friend whose outcome was not as hoped that “I don’t know whether to cry or hit something.”
But honestly, while elections are important, the world isn’t coming to an end because one or more of our candidates didn’t win. And the real “acid test” of our faith and our Christian discipleship lies in how we react now. God wants us to show good sense and leave no room for criticism.
So if your candidates won, congratulations! I pray that you will conduct yourself with dignity and decency… that you won’t gloat over those on “the other side,” and that you will kindly and quietly go about helping your candidate work for the good of all people. I pray that you will ask God to show you how and where to concentrate your efforts in the days to come… to outline your role as His disciple and what you must do to accomplish His work.
If your candidate was on the short end of the vote, I pray that you will also behave with dignity and decency… gracious in defeat and ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work on whatever God has in store for you next.
In the days leading up to the election, I did not pray for specific candidates to win… not even “my” candidates. I prayed that sensibility, responsibility, and decency would prevail… that God would allow candidates who could move our country forward and work together for common goals to be elected. I did pray that God would bless and care for each candidate and move in him/her according to His will and purposes.
Now, I have to be sensible and trust these outcomes. I know that God is just as much in control today as he was yesterday or the day before. I know that He has plans for each of us, regardless of the election results… and it’s our job to figure out what those plans are and get busy working on them! Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and do your part? Are you ready to be sensible and make God proud?
©2010 Debbie Robus
My child, show good sense! Then I will be happy and able to answer anyone who criticizes me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This passage seemed hard to understand at first, and then I began to think about it in terms of recent events… particularly the general election. I am not going to “talk politics” here, but while many were elated over at least some of the outcomes, a lot of folks were disappointed. So what do we do when “our guy” loses? How do we react? I laughingly told one friend whose outcome was not as hoped that “I don’t know whether to cry or hit something.”
But honestly, while elections are important, the world isn’t coming to an end because one or more of our candidates didn’t win. And the real “acid test” of our faith and our Christian discipleship lies in how we react now. God wants us to show good sense and leave no room for criticism.
So if your candidates won, congratulations! I pray that you will conduct yourself with dignity and decency… that you won’t gloat over those on “the other side,” and that you will kindly and quietly go about helping your candidate work for the good of all people. I pray that you will ask God to show you how and where to concentrate your efforts in the days to come… to outline your role as His disciple and what you must do to accomplish His work.
If your candidate was on the short end of the vote, I pray that you will also behave with dignity and decency… gracious in defeat and ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work on whatever God has in store for you next.
In the days leading up to the election, I did not pray for specific candidates to win… not even “my” candidates. I prayed that sensibility, responsibility, and decency would prevail… that God would allow candidates who could move our country forward and work together for common goals to be elected. I did pray that God would bless and care for each candidate and move in him/her according to His will and purposes.
Now, I have to be sensible and trust these outcomes. I know that God is just as much in control today as he was yesterday or the day before. I know that He has plans for each of us, regardless of the election results… and it’s our job to figure out what those plans are and get busy working on them! Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and do your part? Are you ready to be sensible and make God proud?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 2, 2010
November 2 ~ Mark 4:18-19
The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I mean no offense to my preacher friends, but have you ever sat through a sermon at church and thought of a zillion things other than what was being said in the sermon? Maybe you planned what you were going to do later that day. Maybe you were thinking about lunch, the big games on TV that afternoon, what all you had to do the next week… or even the hairdo on the person sitting in front of you!
Maybe you’ve sat down to study your Bible and ended up thinking about the new clothes you want to buy or how to pay your bills. Maybe you’ve been so busy working and “trying to get ahead” that you have not had time for church, much less God. And maybe you have all sorts of excuses that you think are pretty good… “I have to feed my family”… “I work late on Saturdays and I’m just too tired for church on Sundays”… “I have a short attention span and lose concentration when I pray or read the Bible.”
For starters, I am not buying the short attention span excuse in any form… and God surely isn’t! We seem to have no trouble concentrating on our favorite television show, sporting event, movie, or video game. We seem to be plenty capable of paying attention to something that makes us money or gets us noticed by others and appears to win us the approval of our peers and the people around us. But we have all sorts of excuses and distractions when it comes to spending time with God and truly getting His message.
In The Message, this passage says…”The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.”
Is stress strangling what you hear? Are you so caught up in the busyness of your life that you are missing the message God is trying to send you? Have you gotten so engrossed in making money, gaining friends and popularity, doing as you please and making excuses that you have lost sight of God and choked out His influence in your life?
So often we fail to realize that things would actually go better, easier, faster, and more to our liking if we would include God… if we would find time to communicate with Him and truly cultivate our relationship with Him. We don’t seem to understand that we are choking ourselves by excluding our Heavenly Father. Let’s start today to find our way back to God. Let’s slow down and evaluate our life and where we are… how we are doing things… and where we need to make some serious adjustments.
Nobody wants to be stressed, but nobody wants to be choked either… and we have gotten pretty good at both. Ask God to give you relief… to flood you with His grace and mercy… to restore you to right relationship and realign your priorities. He is waiting to do just this… and more… are you ready?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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.
The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I mean no offense to my preacher friends, but have you ever sat through a sermon at church and thought of a zillion things other than what was being said in the sermon? Maybe you planned what you were going to do later that day. Maybe you were thinking about lunch, the big games on TV that afternoon, what all you had to do the next week… or even the hairdo on the person sitting in front of you!
Maybe you’ve sat down to study your Bible and ended up thinking about the new clothes you want to buy or how to pay your bills. Maybe you’ve been so busy working and “trying to get ahead” that you have not had time for church, much less God. And maybe you have all sorts of excuses that you think are pretty good… “I have to feed my family”… “I work late on Saturdays and I’m just too tired for church on Sundays”… “I have a short attention span and lose concentration when I pray or read the Bible.”
For starters, I am not buying the short attention span excuse in any form… and God surely isn’t! We seem to have no trouble concentrating on our favorite television show, sporting event, movie, or video game. We seem to be plenty capable of paying attention to something that makes us money or gets us noticed by others and appears to win us the approval of our peers and the people around us. But we have all sorts of excuses and distractions when it comes to spending time with God and truly getting His message.
In The Message, this passage says…”The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.”
Is stress strangling what you hear? Are you so caught up in the busyness of your life that you are missing the message God is trying to send you? Have you gotten so engrossed in making money, gaining friends and popularity, doing as you please and making excuses that you have lost sight of God and choked out His influence in your life?
So often we fail to realize that things would actually go better, easier, faster, and more to our liking if we would include God… if we would find time to communicate with Him and truly cultivate our relationship with Him. We don’t seem to understand that we are choking ourselves by excluding our Heavenly Father. Let’s start today to find our way back to God. Let’s slow down and evaluate our life and where we are… how we are doing things… and where we need to make some serious adjustments.
Nobody wants to be stressed, but nobody wants to be choked either… and we have gotten pretty good at both. Ask God to give you relief… to flood you with His grace and mercy… to restore you to right relationship and realign your priorities. He is waiting to do just this… and more… are you ready?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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.
Daily Devotional for November 1, 2010
Proverbs 23:26
My son, pay close attention, and gladly follow my example.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy is like a sponge… soaking up information and ideas from everything and everyone he encounters. He loves to dance and move to the music of shows like those on NickJr., and his Uncle Greg taught him to pat his arm with one hand instead of clapping… a good example of how he mimics what he sees and hears.
As he grows, Timothy will learn to make choices, and he will “pick and choose” which examples to follow. Like most humans, he will pay close attention to the behaviors of others… and some of those examples may not necessarily be good ones, even from Godly influences in his life. Even the best, most devout Christians sometimes set poor examples. We all let life get the best of us from time to time and “show out.” And as I’ve said many times, people are watching!
Additionally, we humans want to do things our way… to make our own choices about what to say and do. We really don’t want anyone else telling us how to live, do we?! But clearly, we all need help. We all need Someone to guide our steps and provide us with strong, clear, perfect examples of operating within the will of God. And we have these examples in the life of Jesus Christ … and they are documented in the Bible.
Can I tell you something? These perfect examples don’t help us one whit if we aren’t paying attention! They surely are of no use if we have decided to do things our way. And whether we want to admit it or not, if we are not following the examples of Jesus, we’ve chosen to follow the examples and guidance of Satan. Do we really want to let the devil have a foothold in our lives, much less the upper hand?
Find some time every day to study God’s word. At least once or twice a day, take a few minutes to spend in prayer. It doesn’t have to be lengthy… just acknowledge God’s presence in your life and ask Him to give you His guidance throughout your day. Pay close attention! Gladly follow His example and don’t give the devil any room to drag you off course. Choose God’s examples… and follow them closely. Ask Him to help you set good examples for others, as well.
The world is watching… whose examples are you showing them?
©2010 Debbie Robus
My son, pay close attention, and gladly follow my example.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy is like a sponge… soaking up information and ideas from everything and everyone he encounters. He loves to dance and move to the music of shows like those on NickJr., and his Uncle Greg taught him to pat his arm with one hand instead of clapping… a good example of how he mimics what he sees and hears.
As he grows, Timothy will learn to make choices, and he will “pick and choose” which examples to follow. Like most humans, he will pay close attention to the behaviors of others… and some of those examples may not necessarily be good ones, even from Godly influences in his life. Even the best, most devout Christians sometimes set poor examples. We all let life get the best of us from time to time and “show out.” And as I’ve said many times, people are watching!
Additionally, we humans want to do things our way… to make our own choices about what to say and do. We really don’t want anyone else telling us how to live, do we?! But clearly, we all need help. We all need Someone to guide our steps and provide us with strong, clear, perfect examples of operating within the will of God. And we have these examples in the life of Jesus Christ … and they are documented in the Bible.
Can I tell you something? These perfect examples don’t help us one whit if we aren’t paying attention! They surely are of no use if we have decided to do things our way. And whether we want to admit it or not, if we are not following the examples of Jesus, we’ve chosen to follow the examples and guidance of Satan. Do we really want to let the devil have a foothold in our lives, much less the upper hand?
Find some time every day to study God’s word. At least once or twice a day, take a few minutes to spend in prayer. It doesn’t have to be lengthy… just acknowledge God’s presence in your life and ask Him to give you His guidance throughout your day. Pay close attention! Gladly follow His example and don’t give the devil any room to drag you off course. Choose God’s examples… and follow them closely. Ask Him to help you set good examples for others, as well.
The world is watching… whose examples are you showing them?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 31, 2010
Job 8:11-13
Papyrus reeds grow healthy only in a swamp, and if the water dries up, they die sooner than grass. Such is the hopeless future of all who turn from God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever picked a flower or a leaf out in the yard, brought it inside, and forgotten about it for a few hours? Most likely when you found it again, it had withered, shriveled, and begun to dry up and die. Had you put the flower or leaf in water right away, it might still be beautiful and healthy … filled out and flourishing. And maybe, if you were fortunate, you could revive the withered flower or leaf by giving it a big dose of sustenance in the form of water – and possibly other plant nutrients.
It’s amazing how quickly we begin to wither, fade and falter when we step away from God’s Living Waters. When we turn our backs on Him and decide we know more about how to run our lives than He does, we start having problems very quickly. And pretty soon, we are like the flower and leaf – or the papyrus reeds in a swamp that has gone dry… we are weak and dried up - done in, hopeless and helpless.
The good news for us is that we can rejuvenate and restore ourselves by returning to right relationship with God. He stands ready to revive us with His Living Water… to give us His sustenance and nutrients in the form of His Holy Word. Communication with God through prayer, Bible study, and spending time with His disciples will soon have us nourished, healthy, and standing tall and sturdy in the winds of life.
Where are you these days? Are you withering like a flower or leaf left on the kitchen counter? Or are you thriving and healthy, enjoying the joys of a life that is filled with the light of our Heavenly Father? Are you serving the One who gives us daily sustenance that feeds our body and our soul? Or have you stepped out of the Water? The choice is ours… and the solution is an easy one. Where are you standing today?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Papyrus reeds grow healthy only in a swamp, and if the water dries up, they die sooner than grass. Such is the hopeless future of all who turn from God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever picked a flower or a leaf out in the yard, brought it inside, and forgotten about it for a few hours? Most likely when you found it again, it had withered, shriveled, and begun to dry up and die. Had you put the flower or leaf in water right away, it might still be beautiful and healthy … filled out and flourishing. And maybe, if you were fortunate, you could revive the withered flower or leaf by giving it a big dose of sustenance in the form of water – and possibly other plant nutrients.
It’s amazing how quickly we begin to wither, fade and falter when we step away from God’s Living Waters. When we turn our backs on Him and decide we know more about how to run our lives than He does, we start having problems very quickly. And pretty soon, we are like the flower and leaf – or the papyrus reeds in a swamp that has gone dry… we are weak and dried up - done in, hopeless and helpless.
The good news for us is that we can rejuvenate and restore ourselves by returning to right relationship with God. He stands ready to revive us with His Living Water… to give us His sustenance and nutrients in the form of His Holy Word. Communication with God through prayer, Bible study, and spending time with His disciples will soon have us nourished, healthy, and standing tall and sturdy in the winds of life.
Where are you these days? Are you withering like a flower or leaf left on the kitchen counter? Or are you thriving and healthy, enjoying the joys of a life that is filled with the light of our Heavenly Father? Are you serving the One who gives us daily sustenance that feeds our body and our soul? Or have you stepped out of the Water? The choice is ours… and the solution is an easy one. Where are you standing today?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 30, 2010
Proverbs 23:19
Listen to me, my children! Be wise and have enough sense to follow the right path.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently some former schoolmates of mine were having a discussion on Facebook about climbing Sugar Loaf. One of them said she had never made the climb, and she had heard it is quite dangerous. The rest of us remarked that yes, the climb could possibly be dangerous if you took the wrong path or tried to ascend to the top in the wrong divide in the rocks.
Honestly, the path is pretty clear. There is very little room for error… until you get to the rock outcropping. If you venture too far, you’ll find yourself at a crevice that is too steep and treacherous to climb… and there is a faint path that leads in this direction (probably from those who have so frequently gone too far!). We suggested to this friend that she take someone with her who is familiar with the mountain and has made the climb… a seasoned guide who can “show her the ropes.”
I know you see where I’m going with this. The path to living for Jesus is pretty clear, but there are times we need a Guide to help us with the more difficult areas or to keep us on the right course… and we have One! All we have to do is listen to God… to follow His lead and stay on the path He shows us, and we will “ascend to the top” safely and with relative ease. But so often, we are not sensible. We listen to the voice of the devil whispering in our ear that “our way is better, or more fun, faster, or easier.” And the next thing you know, we’ve made a huge mess of things.
We need to learn to listen to God. We need to pay attention to His guidance and stick to His pathway. He will NEVER steer us wrong. He will ALWAYS keep us safe. And as a bonus, the “views at the Top” are amazing! Who are you listening to these days? Do you have enough sense to follow the right path?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Listen to me, my children! Be wise and have enough sense to follow the right path.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently some former schoolmates of mine were having a discussion on Facebook about climbing Sugar Loaf. One of them said she had never made the climb, and she had heard it is quite dangerous. The rest of us remarked that yes, the climb could possibly be dangerous if you took the wrong path or tried to ascend to the top in the wrong divide in the rocks.
Honestly, the path is pretty clear. There is very little room for error… until you get to the rock outcropping. If you venture too far, you’ll find yourself at a crevice that is too steep and treacherous to climb… and there is a faint path that leads in this direction (probably from those who have so frequently gone too far!). We suggested to this friend that she take someone with her who is familiar with the mountain and has made the climb… a seasoned guide who can “show her the ropes.”
I know you see where I’m going with this. The path to living for Jesus is pretty clear, but there are times we need a Guide to help us with the more difficult areas or to keep us on the right course… and we have One! All we have to do is listen to God… to follow His lead and stay on the path He shows us, and we will “ascend to the top” safely and with relative ease. But so often, we are not sensible. We listen to the voice of the devil whispering in our ear that “our way is better, or more fun, faster, or easier.” And the next thing you know, we’ve made a huge mess of things.
We need to learn to listen to God. We need to pay attention to His guidance and stick to His pathway. He will NEVER steer us wrong. He will ALWAYS keep us safe. And as a bonus, the “views at the Top” are amazing! Who are you listening to these days? Do you have enough sense to follow the right path?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 29, 2010
Jeremiah 2:19
Your own sins will punish you, because it was a bitter mistake for you to reject me without fear of punishment. I, the LORD All-Powerful, have spoken.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On TV’s “The Biggest Loser,” contestants sometimes make crazy choices. This is a game, so a contestant may weigh the pros and cons of choosing to participate in a “challenge” where the participants have to eat a lot of calorie-laden sweets to have a chance at “immunity.” Or… a contestant may deliberately attempt to keep from losing weight in an effort to “throw” the results of the weigh-in at the end of each show. In all cases, the trainers inevitably come back to these contestants with one question… “Was it worth it?”
Very seldom do these choices work out well. One contestant had a “extra weight” card that he could use any week he chose. This card would allow him to add pounds to his weight-loss total for the week, and it increased exponentially with each passing week. He opted not to use the card at a weigh-in, and his weight loss was not all that great. He could have used another 3-pound loss to stay in the game. As it was, he lost… and his fellow contestants voted him off and sent him home.
I know that “The Biggest Loser” is just a game… and these people are hoping to win up to $250,000 at the end of the season. But they are also risking their lives, in a sense, because these are morbidly obese people with serious health issues. Losing this weight could also mean the difference between life and death for them.
“But I’m not overweight,” you may be saying… “and I’m certainly not morbidly obese… what does this have to do with me?” We are no different from the contestants on “The Biggest Loser” when it comes to life decisions. We gamble every day with all sorts of choices that affect our relationship with God… choices that could have Eternal consequences.
Just like thinking we will eat cupcakes today and worry about the weight tomorrow, we decide we will “live for today,” and worry about our salvation later. We choose to “sow wild oats” and, in our mind, enjoy our life on our own terms, with little to no regard for the long-term effect on our lives, the lives of those around us… and our Eternal life.
The question of “The Biggest Loser” trainers applies to this situation, as well… “Was it worth it?” What are we thinking to turn our back on God for even one second? None of us are promised tomorrow… a second chance. Like the contestant on the show who gambled with his “bonus card” and lost, we risk losing something far more important… our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Let’s take a look at our lives today and see where we are “living outside the box” and excluding God in the process. Let’s ask God to show us where we need to make changes and better choices - and re-align ourselves with His plan. Let’s make sure we are “winners” where it really matters – not for $250,000 or the title of “The Biggest Loser” – but in the race to the cross, where we find the ultimate Prize… life everlasting with our Heavenly Father.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Your own sins will punish you, because it was a bitter mistake for you to reject me without fear of punishment. I, the LORD All-Powerful, have spoken.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On TV’s “The Biggest Loser,” contestants sometimes make crazy choices. This is a game, so a contestant may weigh the pros and cons of choosing to participate in a “challenge” where the participants have to eat a lot of calorie-laden sweets to have a chance at “immunity.” Or… a contestant may deliberately attempt to keep from losing weight in an effort to “throw” the results of the weigh-in at the end of each show. In all cases, the trainers inevitably come back to these contestants with one question… “Was it worth it?”
Very seldom do these choices work out well. One contestant had a “extra weight” card that he could use any week he chose. This card would allow him to add pounds to his weight-loss total for the week, and it increased exponentially with each passing week. He opted not to use the card at a weigh-in, and his weight loss was not all that great. He could have used another 3-pound loss to stay in the game. As it was, he lost… and his fellow contestants voted him off and sent him home.
I know that “The Biggest Loser” is just a game… and these people are hoping to win up to $250,000 at the end of the season. But they are also risking their lives, in a sense, because these are morbidly obese people with serious health issues. Losing this weight could also mean the difference between life and death for them.
“But I’m not overweight,” you may be saying… “and I’m certainly not morbidly obese… what does this have to do with me?” We are no different from the contestants on “The Biggest Loser” when it comes to life decisions. We gamble every day with all sorts of choices that affect our relationship with God… choices that could have Eternal consequences.
Just like thinking we will eat cupcakes today and worry about the weight tomorrow, we decide we will “live for today,” and worry about our salvation later. We choose to “sow wild oats” and, in our mind, enjoy our life on our own terms, with little to no regard for the long-term effect on our lives, the lives of those around us… and our Eternal life.
The question of “The Biggest Loser” trainers applies to this situation, as well… “Was it worth it?” What are we thinking to turn our back on God for even one second? None of us are promised tomorrow… a second chance. Like the contestant on the show who gambled with his “bonus card” and lost, we risk losing something far more important… our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Let’s take a look at our lives today and see where we are “living outside the box” and excluding God in the process. Let’s ask God to show us where we need to make changes and better choices - and re-align ourselves with His plan. Let’s make sure we are “winners” where it really matters – not for $250,000 or the title of “The Biggest Loser” – but in the race to the cross, where we find the ultimate Prize… life everlasting with our Heavenly Father.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 28, 2010
Proverbs 23:15-16
My children, if you show good sense, I will be happy, and if you are truthful, I will really be glad.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Watching a child master something you have taught him/her is incredibly rewarding. I remember countless times when I was teaching kindergarten and first grade students and a child would master a task or skill… learning to tie his/her shoes, being able to write his/her name legibly, counting to twenty or more, reading a passage in a book and understanding the meaning… so many accomplishments. Each one was a victory for the child… but also for me as I watched this child grow and develop with my guidance.
I related to someone recently how my husband and I have observed the little boy we sponsor through Compassion International go from drawing self-portraits that consisted of a circle with two big eyes and a smile and stick arms and legs protruding to intricately detailed drawings of himself, cars, buildings, and more… all in the span of four years. We can physically see the growth and development that is occurring in Kodjo, and we are proud of all he is accomplishing.
God takes the same kind of pride in seeing us grow… mentally, physically, and spiritually. And as we develop a deeper relationship with Him and truly start to “get it,” He is delighted. But the real joy comes when we begin to share His truths with others… and to genuinely walk in them and speak them.
It’s one thing to love God and want to serve Him, but it’s quite another to cultivate a deep, abiding relationship with Him… one where He is front and center, and the focus of your very being is to serve Him truthfully in everything you say and do. Imagine the joy you can experience, knowing that you are pleasing God. Envision His joy and pride in you, as you serve Him truthfully, with good sense!
This should be our goal as Christian disciples. Once we get to a point (or closer to it) where we operate totally from a desire to please God… to always use good sense and speak His truths… doors open, opportunities to serve Him even more appear, and blessings flow. Ask God to show you how you can cultivate a deeper relationship with Him. Ask Him to give you common sense and the wisdom to always speak His truths. He will be glad you asked… and so will you.
©2010 Debbie Robus
To learn more about Compassion, International - or to sponsor your own child - visit www.compassion.com.
My children, if you show good sense, I will be happy, and if you are truthful, I will really be glad.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Watching a child master something you have taught him/her is incredibly rewarding. I remember countless times when I was teaching kindergarten and first grade students and a child would master a task or skill… learning to tie his/her shoes, being able to write his/her name legibly, counting to twenty or more, reading a passage in a book and understanding the meaning… so many accomplishments. Each one was a victory for the child… but also for me as I watched this child grow and develop with my guidance.
I related to someone recently how my husband and I have observed the little boy we sponsor through Compassion International go from drawing self-portraits that consisted of a circle with two big eyes and a smile and stick arms and legs protruding to intricately detailed drawings of himself, cars, buildings, and more… all in the span of four years. We can physically see the growth and development that is occurring in Kodjo, and we are proud of all he is accomplishing.
God takes the same kind of pride in seeing us grow… mentally, physically, and spiritually. And as we develop a deeper relationship with Him and truly start to “get it,” He is delighted. But the real joy comes when we begin to share His truths with others… and to genuinely walk in them and speak them.
It’s one thing to love God and want to serve Him, but it’s quite another to cultivate a deep, abiding relationship with Him… one where He is front and center, and the focus of your very being is to serve Him truthfully in everything you say and do. Imagine the joy you can experience, knowing that you are pleasing God. Envision His joy and pride in you, as you serve Him truthfully, with good sense!
This should be our goal as Christian disciples. Once we get to a point (or closer to it) where we operate totally from a desire to please God… to always use good sense and speak His truths… doors open, opportunities to serve Him even more appear, and blessings flow. Ask God to show you how you can cultivate a deeper relationship with Him. Ask Him to give you common sense and the wisdom to always speak His truths. He will be glad you asked… and so will you.
©2010 Debbie Robus
To learn more about Compassion, International - or to sponsor your own child - visit www.compassion.com.
Daily Devotional for October 27, 2010
Philippians 2:14-16
Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world, as you hold firmly to the message that gives life. Then on the day when Christ returns, I can take pride in you. I can also know that my work and efforts were not useless.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve been watching episodes of CBS’s Undercover Boss. Inevitably, the “boss” will go undercover and be paired with an employee who has a job that is either incredibly hard, boring, physically or mentally challenging, or a combination of all of these. Yet the employee does the work with a smile, enthusiasm, and a great attitude.
More than once, the “boss” has discovered that this cheerful employee also had a lot to be unhappy or unpleasant about away from the job. As if his/her work wasn’t difficult enough, the employee had to go home to a child or spouse with an illness, a sub-standard living situation or several hungry children, or some other challenge. One 26-year-old motel clerk with a 10-year-old son said her mom kicked her out of the house the day she announced she was pregnant. The “boss” asked, “Where did you live?” She replied, “For quite a while, I lived in my car.”
Similar stories are prevalent on other television shows. And we wonder, “How do these people continue to live such lives of joy, enthusiasm, positive energy, and determination in the midst of these incredible odds?” Could it be that these folks have tapped into the power of Philippians 2:14-16?
Maybe these people have learned, like the Apostle Paul, to be content in whatever circumstances they find themselves. Maybe they have figured out that the worst day with Jesus is better than the best day without Him. Maybe they understand that we are called to serve Jesus Christ… to go into the world and share His message with others… to set the example for truly living in Him.
Every one of us has days when we don’t really want to get up and “do it all over again.” We all have times when there are things we would rather not do… like work, school, housekeeping, yard maintenance, and other chores. There are moments when life is boring at best, or downright drudgery. There are events we don’t want to attend, people we don’t want to be around, and choices we don’t want to have to make.
But in the life of a Christian, grumbling and arguing, complaining and misbehaving are really not part of the deal. If we want to truly make Jesus proud… if we honestly want to bring Him joy and honor His sacrifice… we must shine as lights among the other people in this world, as we hold firmly to His message of salvation and Eternal Life. Living this way isn’t easy, for sure. But the “stakes” are high – and the reward is great. And the more we begin to operate in joy and contentment - “no matter our circumstances”… the more we begin to focus on pleasing and serving Jesus, the easier it gets.
Isn’t it worth a shot? Don’t you want to honor Jesus and make Him proud? Are you willing to try? If Jesus is your “Undercover Boss”… are you working for Him with a smile and a “can-do” attitude?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world, as you hold firmly to the message that gives life. Then on the day when Christ returns, I can take pride in you. I can also know that my work and efforts were not useless.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve been watching episodes of CBS’s Undercover Boss. Inevitably, the “boss” will go undercover and be paired with an employee who has a job that is either incredibly hard, boring, physically or mentally challenging, or a combination of all of these. Yet the employee does the work with a smile, enthusiasm, and a great attitude.
More than once, the “boss” has discovered that this cheerful employee also had a lot to be unhappy or unpleasant about away from the job. As if his/her work wasn’t difficult enough, the employee had to go home to a child or spouse with an illness, a sub-standard living situation or several hungry children, or some other challenge. One 26-year-old motel clerk with a 10-year-old son said her mom kicked her out of the house the day she announced she was pregnant. The “boss” asked, “Where did you live?” She replied, “For quite a while, I lived in my car.”
Similar stories are prevalent on other television shows. And we wonder, “How do these people continue to live such lives of joy, enthusiasm, positive energy, and determination in the midst of these incredible odds?” Could it be that these folks have tapped into the power of Philippians 2:14-16?
Maybe these people have learned, like the Apostle Paul, to be content in whatever circumstances they find themselves. Maybe they have figured out that the worst day with Jesus is better than the best day without Him. Maybe they understand that we are called to serve Jesus Christ… to go into the world and share His message with others… to set the example for truly living in Him.
Every one of us has days when we don’t really want to get up and “do it all over again.” We all have times when there are things we would rather not do… like work, school, housekeeping, yard maintenance, and other chores. There are moments when life is boring at best, or downright drudgery. There are events we don’t want to attend, people we don’t want to be around, and choices we don’t want to have to make.
But in the life of a Christian, grumbling and arguing, complaining and misbehaving are really not part of the deal. If we want to truly make Jesus proud… if we honestly want to bring Him joy and honor His sacrifice… we must shine as lights among the other people in this world, as we hold firmly to His message of salvation and Eternal Life. Living this way isn’t easy, for sure. But the “stakes” are high – and the reward is great. And the more we begin to operate in joy and contentment - “no matter our circumstances”… the more we begin to focus on pleasing and serving Jesus, the easier it gets.
Isn’t it worth a shot? Don’t you want to honor Jesus and make Him proud? Are you willing to try? If Jesus is your “Undercover Boss”… are you working for Him with a smile and a “can-do” attitude?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 26, 2010
Proverbs 19:20
Pay attention to advice and accept correction, so you can live sensibly.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It doesn’t matter what age we are, many of us would rather learn the hard way than take advice or correction from someone else. Toddlers are told, “You’re going to pinch your fingers in that door,” and until they do, they will probably keep sticking them there. Teenagers and young adults are told, “We aren’t trying to run your lives, but we’ve ‘been there, done that,’ and this is what happens,” yet they sometimes have to discover for themselves that this is the outcome Older adults are told, “If you don’t slow down and take it easy, you are going to fall and end up breaking a hip,” and they continue trying to do things just as they did them twenty years earlier… and often end up having hip replacement surgery and rehab – or going to a nursing home.
It seems that our definition of “sensibly” is often something far different from the other guy’s – and certainly that of scripture. So it’s no wonder that we are no more willing to take the advice and correction found in the Bible, is it?!
The trouble with this logic is that the advice and correction of other humans may help us short-term, but the teachings of the Bible have ramifications for Eternity. Yes, God wants us to live sensibly on this earth, but He is far more concerned with what we are building for our heavenly future. If we are spinning our wheels making one mistake after another, we are not honoring God and serving Him as we should… and it’s possible we may miss the mark completely and fail to accept the salvation of Jesus Christ. In turn, this could mean that we do not receive the gift of Eternal Life – and the promise of a future in heaven.
I’m not saying this is where you are today, but we humans are stubborn know-it-alls sometimes… especially in our spiritual walk. Are you sure you are listening to God and paying attention to His advice and correction? Are you merely assuming your friends and relatives have accepted Jesus and will join you in heaven someday? Have you made sure that those in your “circle” have had exposure to the scriptures and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ? Have you shared the advice of God and His Holy Word with others?
Is it time for us to have a talk with God and ask for His advice and correction, so that we “get it together”? Just how sensibly are we living these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Pay attention to advice and accept correction, so you can live sensibly.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It doesn’t matter what age we are, many of us would rather learn the hard way than take advice or correction from someone else. Toddlers are told, “You’re going to pinch your fingers in that door,” and until they do, they will probably keep sticking them there. Teenagers and young adults are told, “We aren’t trying to run your lives, but we’ve ‘been there, done that,’ and this is what happens,” yet they sometimes have to discover for themselves that this is the outcome Older adults are told, “If you don’t slow down and take it easy, you are going to fall and end up breaking a hip,” and they continue trying to do things just as they did them twenty years earlier… and often end up having hip replacement surgery and rehab – or going to a nursing home.
It seems that our definition of “sensibly” is often something far different from the other guy’s – and certainly that of scripture. So it’s no wonder that we are no more willing to take the advice and correction found in the Bible, is it?!
The trouble with this logic is that the advice and correction of other humans may help us short-term, but the teachings of the Bible have ramifications for Eternity. Yes, God wants us to live sensibly on this earth, but He is far more concerned with what we are building for our heavenly future. If we are spinning our wheels making one mistake after another, we are not honoring God and serving Him as we should… and it’s possible we may miss the mark completely and fail to accept the salvation of Jesus Christ. In turn, this could mean that we do not receive the gift of Eternal Life – and the promise of a future in heaven.
I’m not saying this is where you are today, but we humans are stubborn know-it-alls sometimes… especially in our spiritual walk. Are you sure you are listening to God and paying attention to His advice and correction? Are you merely assuming your friends and relatives have accepted Jesus and will join you in heaven someday? Have you made sure that those in your “circle” have had exposure to the scriptures and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ? Have you shared the advice of God and His Holy Word with others?
Is it time for us to have a talk with God and ask for His advice and correction, so that we “get it together”? Just how sensibly are we living these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 25, 2010
Psalm 119:9
Young people can live a clean life by obeying your word.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve been reading in Oswald Chambers’ book My Utmost for His Highest about human impulse. We humans love to act impulsively. Even on the most basic level, if your hands get dirty, your first impulse may be to wash them. When your clothes are stained or you’ve worn them for a while, you feel the urge to wash them.
When something goes wrong in your life, is your first impulse often to run to God and pray? Is one of your immediate thoughts…”Lord, I need you to fix this… to ‘clean’ up this mess!”? Often, our next “impulse” is that we have to correct this situation as fast as possible… we are embarrassed, ashamed, panicked, and fearful… all tools that Satan loves to wield in our direction.
Chambers says that God doesn’t pay any attention to our impulses. In fact, He ignores them. God doesn’t want us to act impulsively in our relationship with Him. He is waiting for us to get so deeply ingrained in His word… to develop such a constant, abiding relationship with Him… that He is not even “second nature” to us – but rather, first nature. God wants us to relate to Him so deeply that living a clean life is a no-brainer, because we are totally immersed in obeying His word and teaching, and we don’t know how to act otherwise.
In order to keep our clothes clean, we would have to sit perfectly still and never move. Even sitting still would not prevent our bodies from becoming dirty over time. But we can keep our spiritual body clean and remove any need for impulse… or desperation. In our relationship with God, we can grow beyond the human confines of such emotions and behaviors as impulse… and in doing so, remove the need to operate in the realm of Satan’s fear, guilt and shame.
No matter what age you are, it’s not too late to start digging deeper into God’s word. It’s never too late to start cultivating a more intimate relationship with Him – one where His presence is as vital and constant as the air you breathe. Young people of all ages can “come clean” today and begin to remove the opportunity for impulsiveness, as you grow closer to God. Are you ready to clean up your act?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Young people can live a clean life by obeying your word.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I’ve been reading in Oswald Chambers’ book My Utmost for His Highest about human impulse. We humans love to act impulsively. Even on the most basic level, if your hands get dirty, your first impulse may be to wash them. When your clothes are stained or you’ve worn them for a while, you feel the urge to wash them.
When something goes wrong in your life, is your first impulse often to run to God and pray? Is one of your immediate thoughts…”Lord, I need you to fix this… to ‘clean’ up this mess!”? Often, our next “impulse” is that we have to correct this situation as fast as possible… we are embarrassed, ashamed, panicked, and fearful… all tools that Satan loves to wield in our direction.
Chambers says that God doesn’t pay any attention to our impulses. In fact, He ignores them. God doesn’t want us to act impulsively in our relationship with Him. He is waiting for us to get so deeply ingrained in His word… to develop such a constant, abiding relationship with Him… that He is not even “second nature” to us – but rather, first nature. God wants us to relate to Him so deeply that living a clean life is a no-brainer, because we are totally immersed in obeying His word and teaching, and we don’t know how to act otherwise.
In order to keep our clothes clean, we would have to sit perfectly still and never move. Even sitting still would not prevent our bodies from becoming dirty over time. But we can keep our spiritual body clean and remove any need for impulse… or desperation. In our relationship with God, we can grow beyond the human confines of such emotions and behaviors as impulse… and in doing so, remove the need to operate in the realm of Satan’s fear, guilt and shame.
No matter what age you are, it’s not too late to start digging deeper into God’s word. It’s never too late to start cultivating a more intimate relationship with Him – one where His presence is as vital and constant as the air you breathe. Young people of all ages can “come clean” today and begin to remove the opportunity for impulsiveness, as you grow closer to God. Are you ready to clean up your act?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 24, 2010
Proverbs 6:20-22
Obey the teaching of your parents -- always keep it in mind and never forget it. Their teaching will guide you when you walk, protect you when you sleep, and talk to you when you are awake.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, my grandmother was involved in a car accident, and she was treated at our local hospital emergency room for a bruised sternum. This was not a life-threatening injury, but at her age, the ER staff told me she would be woozy the first night and needed someone to stay with her. So I went home with her and spent the night.
My grandmother keeps a very warm house, and I was anything but chilly. However, the next morning, she got up and said, “I woke up in the night and thought… ‘I bet that kid is cold.’” At 53, I scarcely consider myself a kid, but I guess I still am to someone who is 98! And I had to laugh that, at my age, she is still worried about me with a motherly instinct… even when I sleep!
As we watch our baby Timothy learn to walk and run and talk… and we stand over him as he sleeps to make sure he is warm and cozy and safe… I find myself thinking about our Heavenly Parent – our Father God – and how He is constantly looking out for us. He is always teaching us… always talking with us and walking with us … even when we sleep.
Doesn’t this make everything better? Doesn’t it give you a laugh to think that the God of the Universe still considers you His kid and cares about the smallest details of your life? Doesn’t this make you want to live smarter, walk and talk better, and represent Him with honor and glory at every turn?
My prayer today is that we would recognize how God is monitoring our every breath … that we would remember His teachings and strive to continually grow closer to Him in every aspect of our daily living. Always keep God in your mind, and never forget Him. He will never leave your side… even when you sleep… and you will always be His kid.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Obey the teaching of your parents -- always keep it in mind and never forget it. Their teaching will guide you when you walk, protect you when you sleep, and talk to you when you are awake.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, my grandmother was involved in a car accident, and she was treated at our local hospital emergency room for a bruised sternum. This was not a life-threatening injury, but at her age, the ER staff told me she would be woozy the first night and needed someone to stay with her. So I went home with her and spent the night.
My grandmother keeps a very warm house, and I was anything but chilly. However, the next morning, she got up and said, “I woke up in the night and thought… ‘I bet that kid is cold.’” At 53, I scarcely consider myself a kid, but I guess I still am to someone who is 98! And I had to laugh that, at my age, she is still worried about me with a motherly instinct… even when I sleep!
As we watch our baby Timothy learn to walk and run and talk… and we stand over him as he sleeps to make sure he is warm and cozy and safe… I find myself thinking about our Heavenly Parent – our Father God – and how He is constantly looking out for us. He is always teaching us… always talking with us and walking with us … even when we sleep.
Doesn’t this make everything better? Doesn’t it give you a laugh to think that the God of the Universe still considers you His kid and cares about the smallest details of your life? Doesn’t this make you want to live smarter, walk and talk better, and represent Him with honor and glory at every turn?
My prayer today is that we would recognize how God is monitoring our every breath … that we would remember His teachings and strive to continually grow closer to Him in every aspect of our daily living. Always keep God in your mind, and never forget Him. He will never leave your side… even when you sleep… and you will always be His kid.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 23, 2010
Proverbs 10:11
Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble, and God's servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Lately, it seems like I’ve had one stupid and senseless argument after another with my grandmother. And I admit, many of them are a direct result of my impatience. At almost 98 years of age, things in her world are changing rapidly, and everything I say is viewed as a direct challenge. But knowing when I should speak and when to keep quiet has been quite difficult… especially in recent years.
A few weeks ago, I was driving her to the beauty shop, and she was upset with me over something I had said. She told me, “Y’all never come to see me, so you don’t know anything about how I operate.” I began to remind her that someone – I, my husband, my sister … SOMEONE had been to visit her every day that week except one. She retorted, “No you haven’t!” As we got out of the car at the beauty shop, she said, “I’m frustrated,” and I told her, “I’m frustrated, too.” But I realized that arguing about this situation was not helping. Getting her to admit that someone – and often several “someones” - visits her every day was not going to make either of us feel any better.
It’s a lot like repeatedly telling Timothy he can’t touch the “pretties” that are his Aunt DebDeb’s… at some point, it is easier to put them in the closet or cabinet where he cannot reach them than to repeatedly argue over his touching them. And much the same can be said for our relationships with friends, family members and acquaintances. We have to “pick our battles,” and many of us often pick them poorly.
So we end up arguing or disagreeing over trivial, silly things that don’t matter. We get our feelings hurt over something that shouldn’t have been on our radar screen. We take things the wrong way and “make mountains out of molehills.” And all of this dishonors our role as God’s servants.
I know that my grandmother “pushes my buttons,” and she’s gotten really good at it. But I also know that I have to do better at exercising patience and holding my tongue. I must make prayerful decisions about when to speak up, and when to let something slide.
And this might be a good time for us to take stock of our lives and ask God to show us where to incorporate a lot of the lessons of these recent devos in order to serve Him better. Where and how do we need to distance ourselves from “friends” and acquaintances – and even family members – who “push our buttons?” If you can’t seem to keep from arguing with someone, then maybe you need to evaluate the time you spend with that person and see if you can make adjustments that help limit opportunities for conflict.
How can you incorporate prayer and communion with God to help diffuse troublesome situations before they even begin? Are you calling on God to guard your comments for you – to give you the right words (and the right tone of voice) to speak to others? Are you asking Him to hold your tongue when unpleasant, or argument-provoking thoughts dare to spill out in the form of a sentence? Who can mentor you in these situations? Have you asked God to direct you to wise, experienced counsel who can help you diffuse troublesome relationships – or those that have the potential for such trouble?
This is a very hard scripture passage for me to discuss, because I know I often act out of impatience… especially with my grandmother. I don’t mean to be unkind – or to argue. And sometimes, a confrontation over something like asking her to give up cooking on her stove, so that she is safe and doesn’t get burned, is inevitably going to lead to a heated discussion, at best. But there are plenty of times when I could let things go and avoid the argument… and I am working on doing so. As I’ve said many times, “I am a work in progress,” and I am grateful that we serve such a patient God will not give up on me – or any of us, if we seek His help.
Where do you need help today? Who – or what – is “pushing your buttons” and causing you to instigate needless trouble? Let’s be honest… all of this is the work of the devil, and it makes me furious to think he gets even a second of satisfaction out of my actions. So let’s agree today to keep in constant contact with God… and ask Him to guide our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. Let’s ask God to help us learn when the argument is worth it… and when we’re being stupid and senseless. Let’s pray for HUGE doses of patience and kindness… and the wisdom to be honorable servants who avoid stirring up trouble. And let’s be smart and sensible in our daily living.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble, and God's servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Lately, it seems like I’ve had one stupid and senseless argument after another with my grandmother. And I admit, many of them are a direct result of my impatience. At almost 98 years of age, things in her world are changing rapidly, and everything I say is viewed as a direct challenge. But knowing when I should speak and when to keep quiet has been quite difficult… especially in recent years.
A few weeks ago, I was driving her to the beauty shop, and she was upset with me over something I had said. She told me, “Y’all never come to see me, so you don’t know anything about how I operate.” I began to remind her that someone – I, my husband, my sister … SOMEONE had been to visit her every day that week except one. She retorted, “No you haven’t!” As we got out of the car at the beauty shop, she said, “I’m frustrated,” and I told her, “I’m frustrated, too.” But I realized that arguing about this situation was not helping. Getting her to admit that someone – and often several “someones” - visits her every day was not going to make either of us feel any better.
It’s a lot like repeatedly telling Timothy he can’t touch the “pretties” that are his Aunt DebDeb’s… at some point, it is easier to put them in the closet or cabinet where he cannot reach them than to repeatedly argue over his touching them. And much the same can be said for our relationships with friends, family members and acquaintances. We have to “pick our battles,” and many of us often pick them poorly.
So we end up arguing or disagreeing over trivial, silly things that don’t matter. We get our feelings hurt over something that shouldn’t have been on our radar screen. We take things the wrong way and “make mountains out of molehills.” And all of this dishonors our role as God’s servants.
I know that my grandmother “pushes my buttons,” and she’s gotten really good at it. But I also know that I have to do better at exercising patience and holding my tongue. I must make prayerful decisions about when to speak up, and when to let something slide.
And this might be a good time for us to take stock of our lives and ask God to show us where to incorporate a lot of the lessons of these recent devos in order to serve Him better. Where and how do we need to distance ourselves from “friends” and acquaintances – and even family members – who “push our buttons?” If you can’t seem to keep from arguing with someone, then maybe you need to evaluate the time you spend with that person and see if you can make adjustments that help limit opportunities for conflict.
How can you incorporate prayer and communion with God to help diffuse troublesome situations before they even begin? Are you calling on God to guard your comments for you – to give you the right words (and the right tone of voice) to speak to others? Are you asking Him to hold your tongue when unpleasant, or argument-provoking thoughts dare to spill out in the form of a sentence? Who can mentor you in these situations? Have you asked God to direct you to wise, experienced counsel who can help you diffuse troublesome relationships – or those that have the potential for such trouble?
This is a very hard scripture passage for me to discuss, because I know I often act out of impatience… especially with my grandmother. I don’t mean to be unkind – or to argue. And sometimes, a confrontation over something like asking her to give up cooking on her stove, so that she is safe and doesn’t get burned, is inevitably going to lead to a heated discussion, at best. But there are plenty of times when I could let things go and avoid the argument… and I am working on doing so. As I’ve said many times, “I am a work in progress,” and I am grateful that we serve such a patient God will not give up on me – or any of us, if we seek His help.
Where do you need help today? Who – or what – is “pushing your buttons” and causing you to instigate needless trouble? Let’s be honest… all of this is the work of the devil, and it makes me furious to think he gets even a second of satisfaction out of my actions. So let’s agree today to keep in constant contact with God… and ask Him to guide our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. Let’s ask God to help us learn when the argument is worth it… and when we’re being stupid and senseless. Let’s pray for HUGE doses of patience and kindness… and the wisdom to be honorable servants who avoid stirring up trouble. And let’s be smart and sensible in our daily living.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 22, 2010
Proverbs 3:21-24
My child, use common sense and sound judgment! Always keep them in mind. They will help you to live a long and beautiful life. You will walk safely and never stumble; you will rest without a worry and sleep soundly.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Insomnia has become a huge problem in recent years for many people. Or maybe we are just more aware of how widespread this problem is for a number of people. In any case, there are now a lot of medications that are reputed to help with insomnia… from Ambien to Lunesta to over-the-counter solutions like Tylenol P.M. and more. Who knew that perhaps one of the best “cures” for insomnia could be found in Proverbs 3 … and why are we surprised?!
“But you don’t have any idea how many worries and stresses I have,” you may be saying. “When my head hits the pillow at night, my mind just races.” I do know… I’ve been there myself.
Proverbs 3:21-24 and scripture passages such as Psalm 127:2, which says in the King James Version…”It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep,” tell us clearly that God wants us to clear our mind, to give our worries and cares to HIM, and to sleep and rest soundly. I know this is hard… and I’m not saying some of us don’t need a little something to help us over the hump with this from time to time.
I do believe that we often fail to give our worries and burdens, stresses and “busyness” completely to God. We give Him our troubles to hold for a few minutes – and then we pick them back up again. As for common sense and sound judgment, I know firsthand that I make the mistake of failing to consult God often enough… in all situations. How hard would it be to stop and take five seconds to say, “Lord, help me to say the right things,” or to ask, “Lord, what should I do?” Even if you have to put down the phone, or raise your hand and say to someone, “Excuse me for a second,” then close your eyes and silently pray for guidance… imagine how this could affect the outcome!
If we spent more time involving God in our lives and consulting Him about even the smallest choices and decisions, our sleep might be more restful and sound… and come more easily. Our life would most certainly be more beautiful and peaceful, and we would stumble far less often.
My prayer for all of us is that we would commit to involving God more completely in our day-to-day living, and that we would experience more rest and peace in our sleep… and more safety, comfort, and blessings in our very lives. Do you have a few seconds to spare to communicate with God? Are you willing to see what a difference it can make?
©2010 Debbie Robus
My child, use common sense and sound judgment! Always keep them in mind. They will help you to live a long and beautiful life. You will walk safely and never stumble; you will rest without a worry and sleep soundly.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Insomnia has become a huge problem in recent years for many people. Or maybe we are just more aware of how widespread this problem is for a number of people. In any case, there are now a lot of medications that are reputed to help with insomnia… from Ambien to Lunesta to over-the-counter solutions like Tylenol P.M. and more. Who knew that perhaps one of the best “cures” for insomnia could be found in Proverbs 3 … and why are we surprised?!
“But you don’t have any idea how many worries and stresses I have,” you may be saying. “When my head hits the pillow at night, my mind just races.” I do know… I’ve been there myself.
Proverbs 3:21-24 and scripture passages such as Psalm 127:2, which says in the King James Version…”It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep,” tell us clearly that God wants us to clear our mind, to give our worries and cares to HIM, and to sleep and rest soundly. I know this is hard… and I’m not saying some of us don’t need a little something to help us over the hump with this from time to time.
I do believe that we often fail to give our worries and burdens, stresses and “busyness” completely to God. We give Him our troubles to hold for a few minutes – and then we pick them back up again. As for common sense and sound judgment, I know firsthand that I make the mistake of failing to consult God often enough… in all situations. How hard would it be to stop and take five seconds to say, “Lord, help me to say the right things,” or to ask, “Lord, what should I do?” Even if you have to put down the phone, or raise your hand and say to someone, “Excuse me for a second,” then close your eyes and silently pray for guidance… imagine how this could affect the outcome!
If we spent more time involving God in our lives and consulting Him about even the smallest choices and decisions, our sleep might be more restful and sound… and come more easily. Our life would most certainly be more beautiful and peaceful, and we would stumble far less often.
My prayer for all of us is that we would commit to involving God more completely in our day-to-day living, and that we would experience more rest and peace in our sleep… and more safety, comfort, and blessings in our very lives. Do you have a few seconds to spare to communicate with God? Are you willing to see what a difference it can make?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 21, 2010
Psalm 71:17
You have taught me since I was a child, and I never stop telling about your marvelous deeds.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you remember your first “lesson” from God? I’m not talking about a Sunday School lesson or attending church when you were little. I’m talking about the first time you saw firsthand Christian behavior or witnessed an act of God. Sadly, one of my first memories associated with church was a shouting match that occurred one evening when I was about four. There was some sort of dispute between the pastor and several church members, and a man in our congregation actually tried to “shout down” the pastor as he spoke. I can still see the man who was yelling, and I can see the pastor calmly continuing to speak. This was not one of the finer moments for our church. I can’t even tell you what caused the dispute – nor the outcome - but some nearly 50 years later, I still can vividly recall that evening service.
In contrast, I recall positive influences – the fact that my parents and all of my grandparents were faithful members of their church and attended regularly. Bibles were not only visibly displayed in all our homes … they were used regularly! My paternal grandparents had really poor television reception “out in the country,” so they spent their spare time in the evenings and on weekends reading their Bibles and listening to gospel music on the radio. My great-grandfather died when I was about ten, and I remember sitting on my great-grandmother’s lap as she reassured me that “the Lord will take care of me.”
A lot of the things that God taught me as a child, I truly didn’t recognize… much less understand… until I was a lot older. But the wisdom was there… the knowledge and the groundwork were present. And I see that now in the children I encounter… my own nieces and nephews, young cousins and the children of dear friends … and even those of you I have been blessed to serve as a Sunday School teacher.
I have been told over and over, “You are planting seeds.” I know that in actuality, God is planting the seeds – I am just the “field hand.” But the result is that someday – maybe not even in my lifetime – those seeds will grow and bear fruit. The lessons God taught all of us in our childhood stay with us forever and can continue to bless us and guide us well into adulthood.
So today, think about the lessons God has taught you since childhood – the people who have surrounded you and influenced you in your faith walk. And think about the children in your circle of influence. Are you showing them examples of God’s wisdom, love, grace and mercy? Are you behaving in a way that gives little ones a good example to follow? Children are watching us … especially the older teens and young adults they so want to emulate. They are seeking role models and gauging their faith by how we exemplify ours. So how are we doing? What sort of “field hand” are you being for God these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
You have taught me since I was a child, and I never stop telling about your marvelous deeds.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you remember your first “lesson” from God? I’m not talking about a Sunday School lesson or attending church when you were little. I’m talking about the first time you saw firsthand Christian behavior or witnessed an act of God. Sadly, one of my first memories associated with church was a shouting match that occurred one evening when I was about four. There was some sort of dispute between the pastor and several church members, and a man in our congregation actually tried to “shout down” the pastor as he spoke. I can still see the man who was yelling, and I can see the pastor calmly continuing to speak. This was not one of the finer moments for our church. I can’t even tell you what caused the dispute – nor the outcome - but some nearly 50 years later, I still can vividly recall that evening service.
In contrast, I recall positive influences – the fact that my parents and all of my grandparents were faithful members of their church and attended regularly. Bibles were not only visibly displayed in all our homes … they were used regularly! My paternal grandparents had really poor television reception “out in the country,” so they spent their spare time in the evenings and on weekends reading their Bibles and listening to gospel music on the radio. My great-grandfather died when I was about ten, and I remember sitting on my great-grandmother’s lap as she reassured me that “the Lord will take care of me.”
A lot of the things that God taught me as a child, I truly didn’t recognize… much less understand… until I was a lot older. But the wisdom was there… the knowledge and the groundwork were present. And I see that now in the children I encounter… my own nieces and nephews, young cousins and the children of dear friends … and even those of you I have been blessed to serve as a Sunday School teacher.
I have been told over and over, “You are planting seeds.” I know that in actuality, God is planting the seeds – I am just the “field hand.” But the result is that someday – maybe not even in my lifetime – those seeds will grow and bear fruit. The lessons God taught all of us in our childhood stay with us forever and can continue to bless us and guide us well into adulthood.
So today, think about the lessons God has taught you since childhood – the people who have surrounded you and influenced you in your faith walk. And think about the children in your circle of influence. Are you showing them examples of God’s wisdom, love, grace and mercy? Are you behaving in a way that gives little ones a good example to follow? Children are watching us … especially the older teens and young adults they so want to emulate. They are seeking role models and gauging their faith by how we exemplify ours. So how are we doing? What sort of “field hand” are you being for God these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 20, 2010
Proverbs 17:28
Even fools seem smart when they are quiet.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
How many times have you assumed you knew what someone else was thinking because that person didn’t say anything to give you another impression? Here’s an example… you are standing with a group of people, and one of them expresses a social opinion about a particular religious group. Many in the crowd speak up and agree with the comments, but a couple of people don’t say a word. How many people in the group do you suppose will assume that those who didn’t speak up are in agreement with what was said?
See, it’s not just what you say and how you say it. As this scripture points out, even foolish people can seem smart when they are not saying anything. Haven’t you ever heard someone say, “I thought Joe was really smart until he opened his mouth!”? We often make assumptions about a person based on their environment, their education level, social status, and more. But unless they communicate with us and express their thoughts and feelings, we can’t be certain of anything.
Why am I sharing this scripture? What importance does it have for us today? I believe that a lot of people are operating heavily in the realm of assumption. If you stand silent while others berate people of other races, religions, lifestyle choices and more, many will assume you endorse these opinions. I’m not saying you have to go on a verbal attack or start participating in public protests. But quite often, we feel like we simply don’t want to get involved… and by default, that’s exactly what we do.
Additionally, if we are silent about our faith, we not only waste opportunities to honor and serve Christ… we pretty well deny our own walk with Him. Not standing up - or speaking up - for the teachings of Jesus… failing to act and speak in a way that conveys our dependence upon the love, grace and mercy of the Holy Spirit and how He works in our lives… is as foolish as the actions and words of a person who says something ridiculous – or downright stupid.
The Christian life is a delicate balance. We must ask God to continually guide our thoughts, words, and deeds. But I would rather open my mouth and stand up for the teachings of my Lord and Savior – and risk seeming foolish – than to stand silent and have others assume I agree with something that denies my faith. I would rather stand up for the values I cherish and risk being ostracized or ridiculed than to remain silent and have those who think differently decide I agree with their opinions. The “delicate balance” comes in how I express my views. I must always remember to behave and speak in a manner that honors God and respects my relationship with Him.
Talk with God and ask Him to show you how and when to speak… and to give you the words and actions that honor your relationship with Him. And the next time you are with someone who remains visibly silent on an issue, do not assume you know what he/she is thinking or feeling. Silence can be a result of great wisdom – or Spiritual foolishness. Make sure you are listening to God as you choose your opportunities to speak up for Him … and the times when your silence is appropriate.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Even fools seem smart when they are quiet.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
How many times have you assumed you knew what someone else was thinking because that person didn’t say anything to give you another impression? Here’s an example… you are standing with a group of people, and one of them expresses a social opinion about a particular religious group. Many in the crowd speak up and agree with the comments, but a couple of people don’t say a word. How many people in the group do you suppose will assume that those who didn’t speak up are in agreement with what was said?
See, it’s not just what you say and how you say it. As this scripture points out, even foolish people can seem smart when they are not saying anything. Haven’t you ever heard someone say, “I thought Joe was really smart until he opened his mouth!”? We often make assumptions about a person based on their environment, their education level, social status, and more. But unless they communicate with us and express their thoughts and feelings, we can’t be certain of anything.
Why am I sharing this scripture? What importance does it have for us today? I believe that a lot of people are operating heavily in the realm of assumption. If you stand silent while others berate people of other races, religions, lifestyle choices and more, many will assume you endorse these opinions. I’m not saying you have to go on a verbal attack or start participating in public protests. But quite often, we feel like we simply don’t want to get involved… and by default, that’s exactly what we do.
Additionally, if we are silent about our faith, we not only waste opportunities to honor and serve Christ… we pretty well deny our own walk with Him. Not standing up - or speaking up - for the teachings of Jesus… failing to act and speak in a way that conveys our dependence upon the love, grace and mercy of the Holy Spirit and how He works in our lives… is as foolish as the actions and words of a person who says something ridiculous – or downright stupid.
The Christian life is a delicate balance. We must ask God to continually guide our thoughts, words, and deeds. But I would rather open my mouth and stand up for the teachings of my Lord and Savior – and risk seeming foolish – than to stand silent and have others assume I agree with something that denies my faith. I would rather stand up for the values I cherish and risk being ostracized or ridiculed than to remain silent and have those who think differently decide I agree with their opinions. The “delicate balance” comes in how I express my views. I must always remember to behave and speak in a manner that honors God and respects my relationship with Him.
Talk with God and ask Him to show you how and when to speak… and to give you the words and actions that honor your relationship with Him. And the next time you are with someone who remains visibly silent on an issue, do not assume you know what he/she is thinking or feeling. Silence can be a result of great wisdom – or Spiritual foolishness. Make sure you are listening to God as you choose your opportunities to speak up for Him … and the times when your silence is appropriate.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 19, 2010
Proverbs 4:13
Hold firmly to my teaching and never let go. It will mean life for you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If I have learned one thing in recent months, it’s that God is continually teaching us… and we’d better be paying attention! And most recently, Proverbs 3:5-6 has come to my mind more than once as I struggled with some really tough decisions. In the King James Version, it reads, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
The teaching of these two verses alone can make all the difference in the world in our lives. These words truly can mean life for us. And there are many other examples of scriptural teaching that can give us life skills and wisdom that can make a huge difference.
At the end of a recent sermon, our pastor commented that “there’s a heartache on every pew this morning.” And he’s right. Each of us has struggles and challenges every single day. And while some are bigger than others, if they are ours, they seem pretty large, don’t they?!
This leads me back to our passage for today – a message that we are to hold firmly to the teaching of the Lord and never let it go. As I have faced some challenges the last few weeks, I have found that God has impressed the words of Proverbs 3:5-6 on my heart and into my mind more than once. I am not often good at recalling scripture verses, but these were given to me with such clarity. I “remembered” every word… and I meditated on them and clung to their promise. And you know what? God has led me over many hurdles and through several decisions… and He has granted me peace and joy, even when some of the choices I had to make were difficult and/or unpleasant.
During a worship service, we sang, “Jesus conquered the grave.” I distinctly felt the Holy Spirit saying to me, “If I can conquer the grave, surely I can manage your needs. If I can conquer the grave, I can heal bodies, broken hearts, and downtrodden spirits. If I can conquer the grave, I can bring nations together and resolve conflicts.”
This is my teaching for the moment. My God is mighty to save, and He will meet all of my needs according to His will. This is the life-giving instruction I am clinging to for now. Maybe it is yours… or maybe God is showing you another set of scriptures - or speaking to you through prayer, an experience, a fellow believer, or some other format. Whatever teaching you are receiving, hold firmly to it and never let go. Recognize the life-giving essence of God’s instruction, and trust in His power to guide your steps perfectly.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Hold firmly to my teaching and never let go. It will mean life for you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If I have learned one thing in recent months, it’s that God is continually teaching us… and we’d better be paying attention! And most recently, Proverbs 3:5-6 has come to my mind more than once as I struggled with some really tough decisions. In the King James Version, it reads, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
The teaching of these two verses alone can make all the difference in the world in our lives. These words truly can mean life for us. And there are many other examples of scriptural teaching that can give us life skills and wisdom that can make a huge difference.
At the end of a recent sermon, our pastor commented that “there’s a heartache on every pew this morning.” And he’s right. Each of us has struggles and challenges every single day. And while some are bigger than others, if they are ours, they seem pretty large, don’t they?!
This leads me back to our passage for today – a message that we are to hold firmly to the teaching of the Lord and never let it go. As I have faced some challenges the last few weeks, I have found that God has impressed the words of Proverbs 3:5-6 on my heart and into my mind more than once. I am not often good at recalling scripture verses, but these were given to me with such clarity. I “remembered” every word… and I meditated on them and clung to their promise. And you know what? God has led me over many hurdles and through several decisions… and He has granted me peace and joy, even when some of the choices I had to make were difficult and/or unpleasant.
During a worship service, we sang, “Jesus conquered the grave.” I distinctly felt the Holy Spirit saying to me, “If I can conquer the grave, surely I can manage your needs. If I can conquer the grave, I can heal bodies, broken hearts, and downtrodden spirits. If I can conquer the grave, I can bring nations together and resolve conflicts.”
This is my teaching for the moment. My God is mighty to save, and He will meet all of my needs according to His will. This is the life-giving instruction I am clinging to for now. Maybe it is yours… or maybe God is showing you another set of scriptures - or speaking to you through prayer, an experience, a fellow believer, or some other format. Whatever teaching you are receiving, hold firmly to it and never let go. Recognize the life-giving essence of God’s instruction, and trust in His power to guide your steps perfectly.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 18, 2010
Proverbs 21:23
Watching what you say can save you a lot of trouble.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend posted a comment on Facebook about how a couple of his college professors were two of the most despised instructors on campus. This may seem like a harmless comment, but think about it … on the off chance that one of these instructors saw your post, do you really think this would make them go easier on you?
Most of us have probably shared something with someone in confidence and asked them not to repeat it … only to discover later that the person did just that. Or, we have gotten in stressful situations where we spoke nervously and said things we regretted later. The result of both is a lousy feeling.
You have no idea how God has used this scripture to speak to me … and maybe He is doing the same with you. More than ever, we are living in an age where every word we speak can be monitored, recorded, preserved for posterity, and misconstrued. In my case, I often encounter miscommunication challenges with my grandmother and her friends. I say one thing … she hears another. Or, she forgets what I told her and repeats her version of the conversation to family members and friends. In this situation, even watching what you say can still result in trouble!
For many of you, the current challenge is watching what you say online, via text and chat, and in social settings with your friends. Many innocent statements made using electronic media take on a completely different connotation when posted. Context is lost. Voice tone and inflection are not present … and the words take on a very different meaning. So “jokes” passed back and forth on a friend’s Facebook wall are seen by others and taken as an insult. A seemingly harmless rant about a college professor gets shown to him/her, and chances are good that things will be more difficult for you in that class.
Worse yet, trusting a wide circle of “friends” and sharing every detail of your personal life can lead to misunderstandings, gossip, and potentially hurtful untruths being spread. A good example is when you start dating someone. Sure, you want to get to know the person – especially if you really like him/her. But sharing your whole life history on the first few dates is probably going too far and could cause serious heartache and trouble down the road - particularly if this relationship doesn’t last.
I have been having a serious conversation with God in recent days, asking Him to help me to moderate my speech – and to give me more wisdom and discernment in this area. I am asking Him to show me how to be more cautious, less trusting, and far less naïve. I am asking for wisdom in my communication, so that my words and their meaning are not misunderstood or misconstrued by others. And I am asking that what I speak would always be the truth, spoken with love, care and respect … and exactly what HE wants me to say.
I have a long ways to go, but I know that God can perform miracles where I make messes. I know that He can accomplish things I never dreamed possible. And I know that He can guide our thoughts, our words, and how they are interpreted by others. The key is to ask for His help … and then to listen for His guidance - and take it! This honors our relationship with God, which should be motivation enough. But if this also keeps us from getting into trouble, wouldn’t you agree that it’s even more worth the effort?
Even if you don’t feel this is an issue for you, I invite you to ask God to “double-check your work” – and your thoughts and speech. Make sure He is guiding your words and keeping you in agreement with His plans … and safe from the trouble that comes from dropping your guard.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Watching what you say can save you a lot of trouble.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, a friend posted a comment on Facebook about how a couple of his college professors were two of the most despised instructors on campus. This may seem like a harmless comment, but think about it … on the off chance that one of these instructors saw your post, do you really think this would make them go easier on you?
Most of us have probably shared something with someone in confidence and asked them not to repeat it … only to discover later that the person did just that. Or, we have gotten in stressful situations where we spoke nervously and said things we regretted later. The result of both is a lousy feeling.
You have no idea how God has used this scripture to speak to me … and maybe He is doing the same with you. More than ever, we are living in an age where every word we speak can be monitored, recorded, preserved for posterity, and misconstrued. In my case, I often encounter miscommunication challenges with my grandmother and her friends. I say one thing … she hears another. Or, she forgets what I told her and repeats her version of the conversation to family members and friends. In this situation, even watching what you say can still result in trouble!
For many of you, the current challenge is watching what you say online, via text and chat, and in social settings with your friends. Many innocent statements made using electronic media take on a completely different connotation when posted. Context is lost. Voice tone and inflection are not present … and the words take on a very different meaning. So “jokes” passed back and forth on a friend’s Facebook wall are seen by others and taken as an insult. A seemingly harmless rant about a college professor gets shown to him/her, and chances are good that things will be more difficult for you in that class.
Worse yet, trusting a wide circle of “friends” and sharing every detail of your personal life can lead to misunderstandings, gossip, and potentially hurtful untruths being spread. A good example is when you start dating someone. Sure, you want to get to know the person – especially if you really like him/her. But sharing your whole life history on the first few dates is probably going too far and could cause serious heartache and trouble down the road - particularly if this relationship doesn’t last.
I have been having a serious conversation with God in recent days, asking Him to help me to moderate my speech – and to give me more wisdom and discernment in this area. I am asking Him to show me how to be more cautious, less trusting, and far less naïve. I am asking for wisdom in my communication, so that my words and their meaning are not misunderstood or misconstrued by others. And I am asking that what I speak would always be the truth, spoken with love, care and respect … and exactly what HE wants me to say.
I have a long ways to go, but I know that God can perform miracles where I make messes. I know that He can accomplish things I never dreamed possible. And I know that He can guide our thoughts, our words, and how they are interpreted by others. The key is to ask for His help … and then to listen for His guidance - and take it! This honors our relationship with God, which should be motivation enough. But if this also keeps us from getting into trouble, wouldn’t you agree that it’s even more worth the effort?
Even if you don’t feel this is an issue for you, I invite you to ask God to “double-check your work” – and your thoughts and speech. Make sure He is guiding your words and keeping you in agreement with His plans … and safe from the trouble that comes from dropping your guard.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 17, 2010
1 Corinthians 15:33
Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of the hardest things to do in life is to ditch a friend. Even on Facebook, where there is some semblance of anonymity, deleting a friend can be a daunting challenge. But there are times when we must recognize that people who appear to be our “friends” really are not.
Let’s face it ... Satan does a good job of making sinful activities, thoughts and behaviors fun and enjoyable. So when He introduces us to bad friends, it’s often hard to let them go. This is why people who go to prison for getting involved in drugs, gang activity, and other crimes return home and go right back to their old crew of friends. This is why spouses and children sometimes can’t leave abusive situations. During the times when there is no abuse – or there is an “apology” for the vile behavior – the abuser can be a lot of fun or really enjoyable.
A friend who enables you – or “drags you down” in some way can do a lot of damage that you don’t even recognize. That “friend” who encourages you to pig out on junk food every time you are together, even though you are struggling with your weight… or party excessively… or even to wallow in self-pity and negative thinking… is not really a good friend.
We must prayerfully ask God to show us the truth about our friends. First, we must surround ourselves with Godly friends – people who share our faith and trust in Him to guide our every step. That doesn’t mean that every friend we have must be a believer. We need to befriend unbelievers from time to time in order to disciple them and share the love of Christ with them. But our dearest friends and support group should be strong, faith-filled Christians who encourage us and build us up in our daily walk with Jesus.
We don’t have to be rocket scientists to recognize “bad friends” in our lives. But we do have to call on the power of God to strengthen us in our resolve to distance ourselves from those who can potentially destroy us. If you need a good model of the perfect friend, look no further than your Forever Friend – Jesus Christ. All others will fall short of His example, but His model will give you standards and marks to which your friends can aspire … and clear indications of who is missing them.
Spend some time with God and ask Him to show you which friends He wants you to cultivate – and which ones need to be kicked to the curb. Who you choose for friends and associates is serious business. Your health and well-being – mentally, physically, and spiritually – depend on choosing wisely.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of the hardest things to do in life is to ditch a friend. Even on Facebook, where there is some semblance of anonymity, deleting a friend can be a daunting challenge. But there are times when we must recognize that people who appear to be our “friends” really are not.
Let’s face it ... Satan does a good job of making sinful activities, thoughts and behaviors fun and enjoyable. So when He introduces us to bad friends, it’s often hard to let them go. This is why people who go to prison for getting involved in drugs, gang activity, and other crimes return home and go right back to their old crew of friends. This is why spouses and children sometimes can’t leave abusive situations. During the times when there is no abuse – or there is an “apology” for the vile behavior – the abuser can be a lot of fun or really enjoyable.
A friend who enables you – or “drags you down” in some way can do a lot of damage that you don’t even recognize. That “friend” who encourages you to pig out on junk food every time you are together, even though you are struggling with your weight… or party excessively… or even to wallow in self-pity and negative thinking… is not really a good friend.
We must prayerfully ask God to show us the truth about our friends. First, we must surround ourselves with Godly friends – people who share our faith and trust in Him to guide our every step. That doesn’t mean that every friend we have must be a believer. We need to befriend unbelievers from time to time in order to disciple them and share the love of Christ with them. But our dearest friends and support group should be strong, faith-filled Christians who encourage us and build us up in our daily walk with Jesus.
We don’t have to be rocket scientists to recognize “bad friends” in our lives. But we do have to call on the power of God to strengthen us in our resolve to distance ourselves from those who can potentially destroy us. If you need a good model of the perfect friend, look no further than your Forever Friend – Jesus Christ. All others will fall short of His example, but His model will give you standards and marks to which your friends can aspire … and clear indications of who is missing them.
Spend some time with God and ask Him to show you which friends He wants you to cultivate – and which ones need to be kicked to the curb. Who you choose for friends and associates is serious business. Your health and well-being – mentally, physically, and spiritually – depend on choosing wisely.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 16, 2010
Proverbs 15:28
Good people think before they answer, but the wicked speak evil without ever thinking.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched an episode of The View recently where one of the guests was a television commentator who has written a new book. I won’t name him here, because I don’t feel he deserves further recognition. I will preface my comments by saying that I understand that controversial talk show guests sell books and boost ratings. But this man made such vile statements about certain people in relation to the events of 9.11 that two of the hosts of The View – Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg – stood and left the studio in protest. While they may have used language and behavior that was less than stellar themselves, their visible protest to the wicked statements of this man were the only recourse they felt possible at the moment.
Aside from the fact that what the man said was wrong – and he did somewhat apologize and rephrase his remarks – the basic intent of his statements was evil. This man didn’t necessarily think about what he was saying … at least I hope he didn’t. He didn’t give his answer to the interviewers’ questions any thought … he just spouted off an opinion and comments he thought would be popular among the viewers – or generate controversy. His comments were designed to sell books and promote his own agenda.
Do you know people who do this? Do you know people who make outlandish statements, and when called on them, defend them with comments like, “Well, it’s true,” (whether they know it is or not) or “That’s what I heard!” It’s sort of like the crazy things that are printed on those tabloids sold in the supermarket check-out aisles. You know those claims are ridiculous. You know that those words are designed to sell the rags on which they are printed. You know that the claims are hurtful, absurd, and downright evil. But people still buy these publications – and buy into the lies they contain.
We’re seeing a lot of this in e-mails about the state of our country, politics and politicians, and personal lifestyle choices. We’re hearing a lot of this on those “comedy” shows on cable television. Sadly, we’ve elevated some of those “comedians” to the status of “expert analyst” and begun to actually listen to their opinions. And worse yet, we’re learning from them in many cases – and beginning to speak without thinking, just as they do.
It’s time for us to “get a grip” – on the hand of Jesus. It’s time for us to firmly root ourselves in the word of God and time spent in His presence … to ask for wisdom, discernment, patience and a protective cover over our mouths as we speak. We need to ask God to protect us from the wicked speech and evil thinking of others as Satan attempts to permeate our mind and our heart with it. We should be busy every day asking God to fill us with His love, grace, mercy, kindness, and peace … and to control our every thought and word accordingly.
Quite frankly, more of us need to stand and walk out of the room (albeit quietly and without profanity) when we are confronted with the evil speech of others. At best, we should become confident in the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lovingly let the person speaking know that we do not agree. I have had to say to others, “I do not agree with you on this,” or “We will have to agree to disagree on this subject and talk about something else.” We do not have to tolerate evil or wicked speech in our presence, but we cannot descend to the level of such talk in an effort to confront it.
Ask God to guide your thoughts and your speech. Ask Him to send the Holy Spirit to fill your heart, guide and protect you as you go about your day. And pray for those who speak evil without thinking. Ask God to change their hearts and minds, to fill them with His presence and goodness … and to give each of us loving, positive thoughts and words to share with others.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Good people think before they answer, but the wicked speak evil without ever thinking.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched an episode of The View recently where one of the guests was a television commentator who has written a new book. I won’t name him here, because I don’t feel he deserves further recognition. I will preface my comments by saying that I understand that controversial talk show guests sell books and boost ratings. But this man made such vile statements about certain people in relation to the events of 9.11 that two of the hosts of The View – Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg – stood and left the studio in protest. While they may have used language and behavior that was less than stellar themselves, their visible protest to the wicked statements of this man were the only recourse they felt possible at the moment.
Aside from the fact that what the man said was wrong – and he did somewhat apologize and rephrase his remarks – the basic intent of his statements was evil. This man didn’t necessarily think about what he was saying … at least I hope he didn’t. He didn’t give his answer to the interviewers’ questions any thought … he just spouted off an opinion and comments he thought would be popular among the viewers – or generate controversy. His comments were designed to sell books and promote his own agenda.
Do you know people who do this? Do you know people who make outlandish statements, and when called on them, defend them with comments like, “Well, it’s true,” (whether they know it is or not) or “That’s what I heard!” It’s sort of like the crazy things that are printed on those tabloids sold in the supermarket check-out aisles. You know those claims are ridiculous. You know that those words are designed to sell the rags on which they are printed. You know that the claims are hurtful, absurd, and downright evil. But people still buy these publications – and buy into the lies they contain.
We’re seeing a lot of this in e-mails about the state of our country, politics and politicians, and personal lifestyle choices. We’re hearing a lot of this on those “comedy” shows on cable television. Sadly, we’ve elevated some of those “comedians” to the status of “expert analyst” and begun to actually listen to their opinions. And worse yet, we’re learning from them in many cases – and beginning to speak without thinking, just as they do.
It’s time for us to “get a grip” – on the hand of Jesus. It’s time for us to firmly root ourselves in the word of God and time spent in His presence … to ask for wisdom, discernment, patience and a protective cover over our mouths as we speak. We need to ask God to protect us from the wicked speech and evil thinking of others as Satan attempts to permeate our mind and our heart with it. We should be busy every day asking God to fill us with His love, grace, mercy, kindness, and peace … and to control our every thought and word accordingly.
Quite frankly, more of us need to stand and walk out of the room (albeit quietly and without profanity) when we are confronted with the evil speech of others. At best, we should become confident in the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lovingly let the person speaking know that we do not agree. I have had to say to others, “I do not agree with you on this,” or “We will have to agree to disagree on this subject and talk about something else.” We do not have to tolerate evil or wicked speech in our presence, but we cannot descend to the level of such talk in an effort to confront it.
Ask God to guide your thoughts and your speech. Ask Him to send the Holy Spirit to fill your heart, guide and protect you as you go about your day. And pray for those who speak evil without thinking. Ask God to change their hearts and minds, to fill them with His presence and goodness … and to give each of us loving, positive thoughts and words to share with others.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)